DUKE 

UNIVERSITY 


j 


LIBRARY 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/minnesotaitsstor31cast 


MINNESOTA 

ITS  STORY  AND 
BIOGRAPHY 


BY 

HENRY  A.  CASTLE 

and  Board  of  Advisory  Editors 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME  III 


CHICAGO  AND  NEW  YORK 

THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  CO. 
1915 


■ 


- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


John  Washburn.  Around  the  name  Washburn 
revolve  the  most  important  industrial  achievements 
of  the  City  of  Minneapolis.  Through  a period  be- 
ginning in  the  pioneer  times  of  St.  Anthony  down 
to  the  present,  the  Washburn  family  have  been  active 
as  millers,  industrial  leaders  and  generous  con- 
tributors to  the  civic  and  social  welfare,  and  along 
with  great  enterprise  and  wealth  they  have  measured 
up  to  the  highest  standards  of  character  and  conduct. 

The  John  Washburn  above  named  is  now  presi- 
dent of  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company,  which  was 
founded  many  years  ago  by  his  uncle,  C.  C.  Wash- 
burn. John  Washburn  was  born  at  Hallowell,  in 
the  State  of  Maine,  August  I,  1858.  His  parents 
were  Algernon  S.  and  Anna  (Moore)  Washburn. 
Algernon  S.  was  a son  of  Israel  Washburn,  and 
while  a man  of  unusual  character  and  achievement 
himself,  had  his  greatest  distinction  in  being  the 
father  of  so  many  brilliant  sons.  Israel  Washburn 
was  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  families  in 
America,  that  of  John  Washburn,  who  was  secretary 
of  the  Plymouth  Colony  in  England  and  afterwards 
joined  its  settlement  on  the  shores  of  Massachusetts 
early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  After  arriving  in 
America  he  married  Patience,  daughter  of  Francis 
Cook,  who  was  a member  of  the  Mayflower  com- 
pany. Israel  Washburn  was  born  in  1784,  and  was 
the  son  of  a Revolutionary  soldier,  while  Martha 
Benjamin,  whom  he  married  in  1812,  likewise  was 
the  daughter  of  a Revolutionary  patriot.  Israel 
Washburn  and  wife  lived  on  a farm  at  Livermore, 
Maine,  and  it  was  in  that  vicinity  that  all  his  dis- 
tinguished sons  were  born  and  reared,  a group  of 
men  who  constituted  perhaps  the  most  distinguished 
family,  measured  by  their  varied  accomplishments, 
in  the  United  States.  Israel  Washburn  and  wife 
had  eleven  children,  and  their  seven  sons  all  gained 
high  stations  in  affairs.  Most  of  them  gained  signal 
recognition  in  public  affairs,  and  it  will  not  be  out 
of  place  to  indicate  some  of  their  stations  in  Ameri- 
can public  life.  Israel  Washburn,  Jr.,  was  elected  to 
Congress  in  1850,  served  five  terms,  and  in  i860  was 
elected  governor  of  his  native  state.  Elihu  B.  Wash- 
burn was  one  of  Illinois’  most  distinguished  men, 
having  represented  that  state  in  Congress  from  1853 
to  1869,  and  then  filled  the  post  of  secretary  of  state 
under  President  Grant.  During  the  Franco-Prussian 
war  in  1870  he  was  minister  plenipotentiary  to 
France.  Cadwallader  C.  Washburn,  the  founder  of 
the  great  Washburn  milling  interests  in  Minneapolis, 
was  in  Congress  both  before  and  after  the  war, 
gained  the  rank  of  general  in  the  Union  army,  and 
in  1871  was  elected  governor  of  Wisconsin.  An- 
other son,  Charles  A.  Washburn,  held  the  post  of 
minister  to  Paraguay.  Samuel  B.  Washburn  was  a 
distinguished  officer  in  the  United  States  navy,  while 


Minneapolis  and  Minnesota  only  recently  lost  by 
death  former  Senator  W.  D.  Washburn,  who  was 
prominent  as  a miller,  railroad  builder  and  in  state 
and  national  affairs. 

Algernon  S.  Washburn,  father  of  John  Washburn, 
was  the  second  among  these  sons,  and  while  never 
active  in  politics,  became  well  known  as  a banker 
and  merchant  in  the  State  of  Maine.  He  was  for 
many  years  a banker  at  Hallowed,  and  prior  to  that 
had  been  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  business  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts.  Algernon  S.  Washburn  and 
wife  both  died  in  Hallowed. 

John  Washburn  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
Westbrook  Seminary  and  the  Hallowed  Classical 
Academy,  prepared  for  college  there,  and  entering 
Bowdoin  College  remained  at  his  studies  for  one 
year.  During  the  second  year  his  scholastic  pursuits 
were  interrupted  by  the  death  of  his  father  in  1879, 
and  in  February  of  the  following  year  he  came  out 
to  Minneapolis  and  at  once  launched  into  practical 
affairs.  He  was  given  a place  in  the  Washburn  mills, 
for  a year  performed  manual  labor,  then  was  pro- 
moted to  the  clerical  staff,  and  after  a time  was 
intrusted  with  the  responsibilities  of  buying  wheat 
for  the  mills.  His  most  important  work  has  been 
in  this  department  of  the  business.  With  the  energy 
which  has  been  the  notable  characteristic  of  the 
Washburn  family  he  spent  years  in  mastering  ad 
the  details  of  markets,  grades  and  qualities  of  grain, 
gained  rank  as  an  expert  along  these  lines,  and 
became  one  of  the  best  known  figures  not  only  on 
the  grain  exchanges  of  the  Northwest,  but  through- 
out the  country. 

In  1887  Mr.  jolm  Washburn  became  a member  of 
the  milling  firm  of  Washburn,  Crosby  & Company, 
and  continued  as  a stockholder  and  director  of  that 
corporation  and  also  of  its  successor.  While  a mem- 
ber of  the  operating  firm,  he  was  also  director  and 
vice  president  of  the  C.  C.  Washburn  Flouring  Mill 
Company,  which  controlled  the  mills,  water  rights 
and  real  estate  that  were  the  basis  of  the  practical 
operations.  He  held  those  offices  with  the  C.  C. 
Washburn  Company  until  its  property  and  business 
were  consolidated  under  the  present  corporate  form  of 
Washburn-Crosby  Company.  Mr.  Washburn  was  vice 
president  of  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company,  and 
since  the  death  of  the  late  J.  S.  Bell  has  become 
president  of  the  greatest  milling  company  in  the 
world. 

Mr.  Washburn  is  president  of  the  St.  Anthony 
Elevator  Company  and  president  of  the  St.  Anthony 
and  Dakota  Elevator  Company;  president  of  the 
Royal  Milling  Company  of  Great  Falls,  Montana; 
vice  president  of  the  Imperial  Elevator  Company; 
president  of  the  Kalispell  Milling  Company  of  Kali- 
spell,  Montana;  president  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 


1273 


52*7918 


1274 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Elevator  Company  of  Great  Falls,  Montana;  vice 
president  of  the  Huhn  Elevator  Company  of  Min- 
neapolis; a director  of  the  Brown  Grain  Company, 
of  the  Barnum  Grain  Company  of  Duluth.  He  is 
a director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Min- 
neapolis, is  trustee  of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics 
Savings  Bank  of  Minneapolis,  and  director  Min- 
neapolis Trust  Company.  He  has  membership  in 
the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  the  New  York  Pro- 
duce Exchange,  the  Winnipeg  Grain  Exchange,  the 
Duluth  Board  of  Trade  and  the  Kansas  City  Board 
of  Trade.  For  two  years,  1900-01,  Mr.  Washburn 
was  president  of  the  Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  is  still  one  of  the  honored  members  of 
that  organization. 

He  is  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Universalist,  at  Min- 
neapolis. His  social  relations  are  with  the  Min- 
neapolis Club,  the  Minikahda  Club,  the  Lafayette 
Club,  and  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association.  Mr.  Washburn  and  family  have  their 
city-  residence  at  2218  First  Avenue  South,  and  a 
beautiful  country  home  known  as  Spirit  Knob  at 
Maplewood  on  Lake  Minnetonka. 

July  29,  1884,  John  Washburn  was  married  at 
Hallowell,  Maine,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Harding, 
daughter  .of  Rev.  H.  F.  and  Mary  Elizabeth 
(O’Brien)  Harding  of  Hallowed.  Through  her 
mother  Mrs.  Washburn  is  connected  with  the 
O'Brien  family  that  has  long  been  distinguished  in 
civil  and  military  history  of  Maine.  Not  long  after 
the  battle  of  Lexington  which  inaugurated  the  Revo- 
lution, the  commander  of  a British  warship  im- 
prudently ordered  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Machias 
to  take  down  a liberty  pole  that  had  been  erected 
by  them  on  the  common  of  the  town.  The  patriots 
refused,  and  in  anticipation  of  sterner  measures  a 
party  of  volunteers  was  formed  and  captured  the 
British  vessel  and  turned  over  its  captain  and  crew 
as  prisoners  of  war.  The  commander  of  that  vol- 
unteer party  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Washburn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Washburn  are  the  parents 
of  three  daughters : Margaret  is  the  wife  of  H.  O. 

Hunt  of  Minneapolis,  and  when  their  little  son  was 
born  July  4,  1914,  he  was  given  the  name  of  his 
grandfather,  John  Washburn  Hunt;  Elizabeth  Pope 
is  now  a student  at  Bryn  Mawr  College : while  the 
youngest  daughter,  Sidney,  is  a pupil  of  Stanley  Hall 
in  Minneapolis. 

Claude  C.  Campbell.  Since  1902  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  The  Eagle  at  Ellendale,  Mr.  Campbell  is 
a newspaperman  of  broad  experience  in  different 
parts  of  the  West  and  Northwest,  and  since  taking 
up  his  residence  at  Ellendale  has  identified  himself 
as  a useful  factor  with  the  community.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell is  now  postmaster  of  that  city. 

Claude  C.  Campbell  was  born  in  Garrettsville, 
Ohio,  January  19,  1875.  His  parents  were  Daniel 
Richard  and  Arminta  F.  (Sapp)  Campbell.  The 
Campbell  family  came  from  Scotland  originally,  but 
settled  a number  of  generations  ago  in  Pennsylvania. 
On  the  maternal  side,  William  Sapp,  Mr.  Campbell’s 
grandfather,  was  a veteran  of  the  War  of  1812,  and 
died  in  Danville,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 
Daniel  Richard  Campbell  was  born  at  Danville, 
Ohio,  in  1841,  and  died  at  Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  Can- 
ada, September  13.  1889.  He  was  a substantial  busi- 
ness man  and  lived  in  a number  of  localities  in  the 
Northwest.  He  was  at  one  time  in  the  marble  busi- 
ness, and  for  a number  of  years  was  engaged  in  the 


manufacture  of  pottery,  while  during  his  residence 
in  Winnipeg  he  was  in  the  insurance  business.  Early 
in  the  Civil  war,  in  1861,  he  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  Union  Army,  but  at  the  end  of  a year  and  a 
half  was  discharged  for  disability.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  the  chief 
battle  in  which  he  was  under  fire  was  at  Shiloh. 
His  widow  is  now  living  with  her  only  son  and 
child,  Mr.  Campbell,  at  Ellendale.  The  daughter, 
Bertha  M.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three. 

Claude  C.  Campbell  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  at  Brookings,  South  Dakota,  where 
his  father  then  lived,  and  for  one  year  was  a stu- 
dent in  the  South  Dakota  Agricultural  College,  leav- 
ing after  his  freshman  year  in  1891.  Mr.  Campbell 
began  learning  the  printer’s  trade  at  Brookings  in 
1887,  and  worked  along  that  line  in  Brookings  until 
1894.  He  then  became  editor  and  publisher  of  a 
paper  at  Douglas,  W3'oming,  for  six  months,  re- 
turned to  Brookings  to  publish  the  Individual  with 
Stacy  Cochrane  as  partner  for  a j'ear  and  a half, 
was  next  employed  two  years  with  a publishing  house 
at  Pierre,  South  Dakota,  and  after  returning  to 
Brookings  again  was  connected  with  the  Brookings 
Register.  Mr.  Campbell  located  at  Ellendale,  Min- 
nesota, in  1902,  and  bought  the  Eagle,  of  which  he 
has  since  been  the  proprietor  and  publisher.  The 
Eagle  is  one  of  the  influential  newspapers  of  Steele 
County,  maintains  an  independent  position  in  politics, 
and  as  a business  proposition  has  been  developed  to 
a growing  concern  under  Mr.  Campbell’s  manage- 
ment. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  post- 
master at  Ellendale  on  May  9,  1909,  and  is  still  serv- 
ing. He  has  also  served  as  president  of  the  town 
council  for  two  years,  and  as  recorder  for  one  year, 
and  is  now  secretary  of  the  park  board.  Fraternally 
he  is  affiliated  with  Blooming  Prairie  Lodge  No.  123, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  at  one 
time  was  a member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans.  On 
March  20,  1898,  at  Brookings,  South  Dakota,  Mr. 
Campbell  married  Miss  Lillian  Loretta  Lewis,  of 
Brookings.  Their  two  children  are : Cecil  Richard, 

now  a student  in  the  Pillsbury  Academy  at  Owa- 
tonna : and  Richard  Valentine,  in  the  public  schools 
at  Ellendale. 

Seabury  Divinity  School.  Closely  connected 
with  the  fortunes  and  the  history  of  Shattuck  School, 
a sketch  of  which  is  found  on  other  pages,  has  been 
the  Seabury  Divinity  School.  Both  institutions 
existed  side  by  side  for  many  years,  and  were  the 
outgrowth  of  the  Bishop  Seabury  Mission.  Since 
1905  the  Seabury  Divinity  School  has  been  a separate 
corporation. 

The  Bishop  Seabury  Mission  as  a corporate  body 
had  its  beginning  on  May  22,  i860.  In  September, 
1857,  the  Rev.  J.  Lloyd  Breck,  the  Rev.  Solon  W. 
Manney  and  the  Rev.  E.  Steele  Peake  had  visited 
Faribault  with  a view  to  select  a church  schoal.  On 
the  same  day  they  formed  an  associate  mission  to  be 
known  as  “The  Saint  Columba  Mission,”  the  work 
of  which  was  to  extend  around  the  communities  of 
Faribault,  Owatonna,  Northfield  and  Waterville, 
with  several  of  the  intervening  villages.  The  selec- 
tion of  Faribault  was  a strategic  point  for  an  educa- 
tional center  in  the  Great  Northwest,  due  to  the 
natural  advantages  of  the  place,  its  central  location 
in  the  state,  the  favorable  conditions  for  missionary 
work,  and  the  receptive  attitude  of  its  people.  The 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1275 


work  of  the  mission  was  to  include  both  the  white 
and  the  Indian  fields,  and  was  originally  planned  to 
start  a coeducational  "university,”  the  women's  de- 
partment offering  primary  instruction  to  both  sexes. 
Later  when  Rev.  Mr.  Breck  became  identified  with 
mission  work  among  the  Chippeway  Indians,  his  mis- 
sion was  called  St.  Columba,  and  to  avoid  confusion 
it  was  deemed  expedient  to  change  the  name  of  the 
mission  at  Faribault  to  Bishop  Seabury  Mission,  in 
honor  of  Bishop  Seabury,  the  first  bishop  of  this 
church  in  the  United  States. 

While  the  work  of  instruction  was  largely  confined 
to  the  teaching  of  small  pupils  in  the  fundamentals, 
the  leaders  in  the  mission  endeavored  so  far  as 
possible  to  offer  instruction  for  those  preparing  for 
holy  orders.  At  the  opening  of  the  school  in  a 
vacant  store  building  on  June  3,  1838,  fifteen  pupils 
were  present,  and  three  of  them  were  preparing  for 
the  ministry.  Arrangements  were  made  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a larger  building  for  the  use  of  the  school 
during  the  week  and  for  a chapel  on  Sunday's.  The 
building  was  small  and  architecturally'  of  the  "early 
Minnesota  pointed  style.”  It  was  the  first  building 
of  the  "Bishop  Seabury  University.”  Later  addi- 
tions were  made  of  north  and  south  transepts,  and 
in  that  building  the  entire  academic  work  of  the  mis- 
sion was  carried  on  until  the  erection  of  Seabury 
Hall  on  the  present  site  of  Shattuck  School.  The 
instructors  in  the  primary'  school  during  the  fall  of 
1858  comprised  George  C.  Tanner  as  headmaster  and 
S.  D.  Hinman  as  a teacher,  and  these  with  George 
Barnhart  constituted  the  first  class  in  the  theological 
department,  under  the  Rev.  D.  P.  Sanford.  In  the 
fall  of  1858  the  work  of  the  Divinity  School  and  the 
parish  was  legally  separated,  although  the  parish 
remained  connected  with  the  mission  for  some  tim£. 

In  1859  the  consecration  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Ben- 
jamin Whipple  as  first  bishop  of  Minnesota  marked 
an  important  stage  in  the  history  of  the  Bishop  Sea- 
bury Mission,  and  it  was  through  his  instrumentality' 
that  this  mission  became  known  throughout  the  land 
as  the  seat  of  Bishop  Whipple's  schools.  Ar  the 
bishop’s  suggestion  the  title  of  "Bishop  Seabury'  Uni- 
versity” was  changed  to  the  simple  name  of  Grammar 
School,  as  more  indicative  of  the  real  work  done 
there.  In  i860  the  first  graduates  of  the  Divinity 
School  were  ordained.  They  were  Rev.  George  C. 
Tanner,  who  remained  in  educational  work,  and  Rev. 
Samuel  D.  Hinman,  who  was  the  first  missionary  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  to  the  Sioux  Indians. 

During  the  following  years  several  graduates  from 
eastern  colleges  were  added  to  the  staff  of  instruc- 
tion. Seabury  Hall  was  completed,  and  the  fame  of 
the  school  and  its  enrollment  were  constantly'  grow- 
ing. In  1869  it  was  found  necessary  to  provide  a 
building  for  the  exclusive  use  of  the  grammar 
schools,  and  from  its  chief  donor  it  received  the 
name  Shattuck  Hall. 

As  told  in  the  sketch  of  Shattuck  School.  Bishop 
Whipple  had  succeeded  in  interesting  Mrs.  Shumway 
of  Chicago  in  his  work  in  the  Northwest,  and  after 
her  death  in  1884  a provision  was  found  in  her  will 
bequeathing  the  sum  of  about  a hundred  thousand 
dollars  to  the  Seabury  Divinity'  schools,  half  of  which 
was  to  be  used  in  the  construction  of  Johnstone  Hall 
in  memorial  to  her  father.  The  cornerstone  of 
Johnstone  Hall  was  laid  May  15,  1888,  and  its  com- 
pletion provided  a library  and  recitation  rooms  for 
the  daily  work  of  the  seminary'.  The  original  Sea- 
bury Hall  had  burned  in  1872.  and  in  May,  1S73, 
the  cornerstone  of  the  Divinity  College  building  was 


laid  by  Bishop  Whipple.  The  hall  was  completed 
and  occupied  one  y'ear  from  the  date  of  the  burn- 
ing of  the  original  hall. 

By  1872  Seabury  had  supplied  a third  of  the  clergy 
to  the  Minnesota  diocese,  and  its  work  in  preparing 
men  for  the  ministry  has  been  of  broadening  scope 
and  efficiency'  through  all  the  successive  y'ears.  The 
spirit  and  aim  of  the  institution  were  expressed  more 
than  forty  y'ears  ago  by  Bishop  Whipple  as  follows : 
"It  aims  to  give  y'oung  men  a thorough  training  in 
every  department  of  Christian  science.  It  recognizes 
no  school  in  theology,  it  aims  to  inculcate  that  spirit 
of  love  and  charity'  which  allows  men  to  differ  upon 
all  questions  where  they  have  the  right  to  differ.  \Ye 
design,  each  y'ear.  to  elevate  our  standard  of  scholar- 
ship. for  the  times  demand  and  the  world  needs  an 
educated  clergy'.  In  these  times  we  want  men  to 
know  what  they'  believe,  and  in  their  love  for  Christ 
will  labor  to  bring  back  unity'  and  peace  to  our  divided 
Christendom.  The  West  needs  men  clergy'  of  a 
peculiar  kind  of  character.  We  need  men  who 
understand  the  social  problems,  the  reasonings  of 
science,  and  who  can  unravel  human  sophistry  and 
brush  away  the  web  of  infidel  reasoning.” 

As  the  man  whose  spirit  and  work  were  so  inti- 
mately identified  with  the  early  growth  of  Seabury, 
the  following  brief  sketch  is  given  of  Bishop 
Whipple.  He  was  bom  in  Adams,  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary' 15,  1822,  and  prepared  for  college,  but  owing 
to  feeble  health  turned  to  business  pursuits.  Later 
he  decided  to  enter  the  ministry  and  followed  the 
course  under  Dr.  William  D.  Wilson,  and  was  or- 
dained deacon  in  Trinity'  Church  in  Geneva.  New 
York,  in  1849,  and  a year  later  ordained_  priest  in 
Christ’s  Church  in  Sackett’s  Harbor,  New  York.  He 
remained  as  rector  of  the  Church  of  Holy  Com- 
munion in  Chicago  until  1859.  and  was  then  conse- 
crated the  first  bishop  of  Minnesota.  Having  many' 
Indians  in  his  jurisdiction,  his  time  was  devoted 
largely  to  their  improvement  education  and  evangel- 
ization. He  was  known  among  the  tribes  as 
"Straight  Tongue"  and  for  many  years  was  a recog- 
nized authority'  on  Indian  problems.  For  over  forty- 
one  years  Bishop  Whipple  was  a central  figure  among 
the  citizens  of  Faribault,  and  was  a man  of  rare 
personality'  and  noble  character.  He  died  Febru- 
ary 16.  1901. 

Rev.  Frederick  F.  Kramer.  The  present  warden 
of  Seabury  Divinity'  School  at  Faribault  is  Rev. 
Frederick  F.  Kramer.  Doctor  Kramer  was  born 
at  Erie.  Pennsylvania,  July'  13,  1861,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  Trinity  College  at  Hartford.  Connecti- 
cut. with  the  degrees  A.  B..  M.  A.  and  D.  D.  He 
graduated  from  the  General  Theological  Seminary 
at  New  York  City'.  B.  D.,  and  received  his  degree 
Doctor  of  Philosophy-  from  the  University  of  Colo- 
rado. Doctor  Kramer  was  rector  of  St.  John's 
Church  at  Boulder,  Colorado,  five  years,  and  then 
for  fifteen  y'ears  was  rector  of  All  Saints  Church  in 
Denver.  In  1912  he  became  warden  of  the  Seabury 
Divinity  School  at  Faribault,  and  occupies  the  chair 
of  professor  of  homiletics. 

Johx  I.  Davis.  Though  a member  of  the  Swift 
County  bar  only  twelve  years,  John  I.  Davis  has  the 
reputation  o.f  possessing  the  largest  law  practice  in 
the  county,  and  all  his  time  and  energies  are  taken 
up  with  the  handling  of  the  splendid  business  which 
has  rewarded  his  talent.  Mr.  Davis  is  a native  of 


527918 


1276 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Minnesota  and  the  product  of  its  schools  and  col- 
leges. 

He  was  born  at  Judson,  Minnesota,  February  18, 
1877,  son  °f  Reese  and  Jennie  (Jones)  Davis.  The 
Davis  family  were  Welsh  people,  and  the  paternal 
grandparents  came  to  the  United  States  in  1848, 
spending  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  Ohio.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather,  John  Jones,  was  an  elder  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  lived  for  a number  of 
years  in  the  State  of  Minnesota.  Reese  Davis  was 
born  in  Wales  in  1844,  and  his  wife  in  Ohio  in  1848, 
and  they  are  still  living.  Mr.  Davis  grew  up  in  Ohio, 
and  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age  enlisted  in 
Company  C of  the  Fifty-sixth  Ohio  Infantry  and 
served  a term  of  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
he  re-enlisted  and  continued  with  the  Union  forces 
a year  and  eight  months,  making  an  aggregate  service 
of  almost  five  years,  a very  exceptional  record  among 
the  volunteer  army.  He  participated  in  many  of  the 
campaigns  down  the  Mississippi  Valley,  including 
the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Iuka,  Champion  Hills, 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  Missionary  Ridge  and  other 
battles  in  the  progress  of  Grant’s  army  through  the 
heart  of  the  Confederacy.  He  suffered  one  severe 
wound  and  also  a sunstroke.  After  the  war  he  was 
married  and  then  took  up  a homestead  near  Tracy  in 
Lyon  County,  Minnesota,  lived  there  until  1883, 
spent  four  years  in  the  Village  of  Tracy,  and  has 
since  been  a resident  of  Marshall.  For  many  years 
he  combined  the  occupation  of  carpenter  with  that 
of  farmer  and  was  in  active  work  until  1899,  since 
which  time  he  has  lived  retired  and  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  a well  spent  career.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  has  been 
active  in  church  affairs,  and  in  politics  is  a re- 
publican. There  were  five  children : Mrs.  William 
Russell,  whose  husband  is  a prosperous  attorney  at 
Moorhead ; Mrs.  Krook,  wife  of  the  postmaster  at 
Marshall ; Mrs.  Rigney,  whose  husband  is  a civil 
engineer  and  at  the  present  time  postmaster  at  Laurel, 
Montana;  John  I.  and  Thomas  E.,  twins, -the  latter 
also  an  attorney  with  residence  at  Marshall.  Thomas 
E.  Davis  finished  the  high  school  course  in  Marshall, 
spent  two  years  in  Macalester  College  at  St.  Paul, 
and  studied  law  at  Marshall  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  1901. 

John  I.  Davis  received  the  bulk  of  his  public  school 
training  at  Marshall,  where  he  graduated  from  the 
high  school  in  1894.  The  following  year  he  was  not 
in  school,  then  spent  two  years  in  Macalester  College 
at  St.  Paul,  was  a teacher  for  two  years,  and  on 
resuming  his  studies  was  in  the  law  department  of 
the  state  university  two  years.  Once  more  he  left 
school  to  get  some  of  the  necessary  names  to  finish 
his  education,  spent  a year  as  teacher  at  Donaldson, 
and  finished  his  law  course  in  1903  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  the  same  year.  Mr.  Davis  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother  in  practice  for  one  year,  in 
September,  1904,  located  at  Appleton,  was  elected 
county  attorney,  and  in  1907  removed  to  Benson,  in 
which  city  he  has  his  offices  and  looks  after  his  splen- 
did practice.  He  served  two  years  as  county  attor- 
ney of  Swift  County.  In  his  private  practice  Mr. 
Davis  has  specialized  in  personal  injury  cases. and  has 
greater  skill  in  handling  this  class  of  practice  than 
any  other  lawyer  in  Swift  Count}^. 

In  1906  Mr.  Davis  married  Mrs.  May  Webster  of 
Appleton.  There  are  two  children  : Thomas  Edwin, 
born  May  5,  1907;  and  Willard  John,  born  March  31, 
tgn.  Mrs.  Davis  is  a member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  is  a leader  in  church  work,  and  is  also 
president  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 


Union.  Mr.  Davis  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Order,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks  in  Lodge  No.  952,  and  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees. Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Ernest  G.  Melander.  The  active  citizenship  of 
the  City  of  Moorhead  has  no  more  energetic  factor 
than  Ernest  G.  Melander,  whose  chief  business  is 
as  proprietor  and  editor  of  the  Moorhead  Citizen, 
whose  various  interests  have  also  given  him  promi- 
nence in  the  local  city  government,  in  fraternal  work 
both  at  home  and  over  the  state,  and  he  is  well 
known  in  the  local,  state  and  national  bodies  of  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  and  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees. 

Ernest  G.  Melander  was  born  in  St.  Paul,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1872,  and  though  still  a young  man,  has 
spent  a great  many  years  in  the  printing  and  publish- 
ing business.  His  father,  Andrew  Melander,  was 
born  in  Sweden,  and  on  coming  to  the  United  States 
settled  at  St.  Paul,  being  a carpenter  by  trade.  His 
wife,  Johanah  Melander,  was  also  borii  in  Sweden, 
and  died  in  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  in  1908.  Their 
children  were : Ernest  G. ; Hilda  J.,  who  lives  in 

Fargo,  North  Dakota,  and  married  M.  J.  Burns : 
Edward  F.,  who  married  Mattie  Engvik,  is  a printer 
at  Fargo ; Harry,  who  married  Ida  Dougherty,  is 
manager  of  the  Pokegama  Springs  Bottling  Works 
at  Detroit,  Minnesota. 

In  1877  Ernest  G.  Melander’s  parents  removed  to 
Lake  Park,  Minnesota,  and  in  1881  to  Fargo,  North 
Dakota,  and  in  these  two  places  he  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  However,  his  univer- 
sity was  a printing  office,  and  at  the  early  age  of 
fourteen  he  began  vocational  training  for  life,  first 
in  the  trade  of  harnessmaker,  and  afterwards  as,  a 
printer’s  apprentice  with  the  Fargo  Sun  and  later 
the  Fargo  Argus.  He  was  employed  on  the  Call 
at  Superior,  Wisconsin,  for  several  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Duluth,  and  worked  in  job  printing 
offices  and  also  in  the  offices  of  the  News-Tribune 
and  the  Herald  in  that  city.  In  1896  Mr.  Melander 
became  associated  with  the  Fargo  Forum,  was  con- 
nected with  several  printing  offices  in  that  city,  and 
then  came  to  Moorhead  and  for  five  years  was  with 
the  Independent. 

On  October  17,  1902,  Mr.  Melander  established 
the  Moorhead  Citizen,  of  which  he  has  since  been 
proprietor  and  editor.  At  the  beginning  he  had  a 
partner,  Mr.  Zeller,  but  became  sole  proprietor  on 
April  4,  1906.  The  Citizen  is  a democratic  news^ 
paper,  and  has  a large  circulation  through  Clay, 
Becker  and  neighboring  counties,  and  many  sub- 
scribers are  located1'  in  other  states  and  in  foreign 
countries.  The  offices  and  plant  are  on  Front  Street 
in  the  Kiefer  Block.  Mr.  Melander  is  himself  a 
democrat.  He  has  also  been  active  in  politics  and 
was  at  one  time  a candidate  for  coroner  of  Clay 
County  and  at  another  time  for  mayor  of  the  City 
of  Moorhead.  Although  he  was  defeated  he  made 
an  excellent  run  both  times. 

In  local  affairs  he  is  a member  of  the  Key  City 
Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  and  has  also  served  as 
captain  and  treasurer  of  the  company  and  treasurer 
of  the  fire  department.  He  belongs  to  the  Com- 
mercial Club,  and  both  personally  and  through  his 
newspaper  accepts  every  opportunity  to  do  good  to 
his  home  city.  Mr.  Melander  became  affiliated  with 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  in  1900,  in  White 
Cloud  Tribe  No.  53,  at  Moorhead,  and  with  the 
exception  of  the  first  year  has  been  a representative 
to  the  State  Great  Council  fourteen  consecutive 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1277 


years,  and  has  also  been  representative  to  the 
Great  Council  of  the  United  States  three  times,  at 
Norfolk,  Virginia,  in  1907;  at  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, in  1908,  and  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1909.  He  is 
a past  great  sachem  of  the  State  of  Minnesota,  is 
deputy  great  sachem  of  the  state  at  the  present  time, 
and  is  also  collector  of  the  wampum  of  Tribe  No. 
53.  In  connection  with  this  fraternity  he  has  taken 
the  lead  in  stimulating  interest  in  athletic  sports  at 
Moorhead.  Two  years  ago  he  organized  the  base- 
ball team  among  the  members  of  the  Red  Men,  and 
has  since  been  manager  of  the  team.  This  team 
has  played  the  strongest  amateur  baseball  organiza- 
tions in  that  part  of  the  state,  and  in  1913  won  eight 
games  out  of  twelve  and  in  1914  ten  games  out  of 
seventeen. 

Mr.  Melander  is  also  prominent  in  the  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees,  his  local  affiliation  being  with 
North  Star  Tent  No.  7,  of  which  he  is  past  com- 
mander, and  is  now  first  master  of  the  guard,  and 
is  a past  state  commander  of  the  State  of  North 
Dakota.  He  is  a past  consul  in  the  Hazel  Camp 
No.  3079  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  June  3,  1896,  at  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  Mr. 
Melander  married  Miss  Mary  Musolf,  daughter  of 
Martin  Musolf,  who  is  a molder  by  trade  and  lives 
at  Duluth.  Their  three  children  are:  Norman  F., 

in  the  sophomore  class  of  the  Moorhead  High 
School ; Marguerite,  a freshman  in  the  high  school ; 
and  Edna  G.,  who  is  a student  at  Faribault,  Minne- 
sota, in  the  school  for  the  deaf  and  dumb. 

Alfred  Emmett  Haven  is  editor  and  publisher 
of  the  Faribault  Democrat.  He  is  a veteran 
newspaper  man,  of  the  older  school  of  journalism, 
began  learning  the  printer’s  trade  when  a boy, 
and  after  a service  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  the  Civil  war  in  the  ranks  of  a Wisconsin 
regiment,  resumed  the  profession,  and  more  than 
forty  years  ago  came  to  Faribault  and  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  journalists  in  the  state.  In  the  Demo- 
crat he  has  a newspaper  which  is  an  influential 
moulder  of  public  opinion,  and  a complete  index  of 
the  news  in  Rice  County. 

Alfred  Emmett  Haven  was  born  in  the  Town  of 
Guilford,  Chenango  County,  New  York,  February  4, 
1840.  His  father,  Asa  Haven,  was  born  in  Benning- 
ton, Vermont,  in  1780,  and  died  at  Guilford,  Chen- 
ango County,  New  York,  in  1858,  his  parents  having 
moved  to  Guilford  when  he  was  twelve  years  of  age. 
He  was  a wheelwright,  a millwright,  and  also  a 
farmer,  and  a man  of  some  substance  and  consider- 
able influence  in  his  community.  Mr.  Haven’s  great- 
great -grandfather,  Richard  Haven,  was  a native  of 
Scotland,  and  settled  at  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
in  1746.  Grandfather  Asa  Haven  moved  from 
Lynn,  Massachusetts,  to  Bennington.  Vermont, 
and  was  a New  England  farmer.  Both  Richard 
and  Asa  Haven  were  volunteers  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  in  the  Colonial  forces  that  beat 
back  the  ‘army  of  Burgoyne,  and  participated 
in  the  brilliant  victory  at  Bennington  under  Gen- 
eral Stark.  Richard  Haven  is  twice  mentioned  in 
the  official  records  of  the  Revolution.  Asa  Haven, 
the  father,  married  Harriet  Esther  Clark,  who  was 
born  in  1800  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  while  her  parents 
were  coming  from  The  Hague,  Holland.  She  died 
at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  in  April,  1866. 

Alfred  Emmett  Haven,  spent  the  first  eighteen 
years  of  his  life  at  Guilford.  New  York.  His  father 
died  then,  and  his  mother  in  the  same  year  moved 
west  and  located  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  where  he 


continued  his  education  in  the  high  school  for  two 
years.  In  i860  Mr.  Haven  took  up  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  of  Judge  Hugh  and  Angus  Cameron  at 
La  Crosse,  and  at  the  same  time  learned  the  printer’s 
trade  in  the  office  of  the  La  Crosse  Democrat,  which 
was  the  first  daily  paper  established  in  La  Crosse. 
This  paper  was  established  by  Mr.  Haven’s  half- 
brother,  C.  P.  Sykes  under  the  name  of  the  Daily 
Union.  Subsequently  Mr.  Sykes  bought  out  the 
Democrat  and  merged  the  two  papers  under  the  name 
The  Democrat.  Mr.  Haven’s  studies  in  law  and  his 
training  as  a printer  were  interrupted  by  the  out- 
break of  hostilities  between  the  North  and  South. 
Only  a few  days  after  Fort  Sumter  had  been  fired 
upon,  he  enlisted  on  April  18,  1861,  in  Company  B 
of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Wisconsin  Infantry.  His 
service  as  a Union  soldier  continued  for  four  years 
and  four  months.  A complete  record  of  his 
military  experiences  would  cover  many  of  the  battles 
and  important  campaigns  of  the  war.  He  was 
in  the  battles  of  Blackburn  Ford,  the  first  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  assisted  in  the  building  of  the  fort  at 
Chain  Bridge,  and  in  October,  1861,  his  regiment 
became  a part  of  the  famous  Iron  Brigade,  composed 
of  the  Second,  Sixth  and  Seventh  Wisconsin  regi- 
ments and  the  Nineteenth  Regiment  of  Indiana. 
With  the  Iron  Brigade  he  fought  at  the  battles  of 
Sulphur  Springs,  Fredericksburg,  Antietam,  Gettys- 
burg, the  battles  of  the.  Wilderness,  and  altogether 
was  in  twenty-one  major  engagements. 

After  the  war  and  after  his  return  to  Wisconsin, 
Mr.  Haven  was  soon  ready  for  admission  to  the 
bar,  and  it  was  his  intention  to  follow  a career  as 
a lawyer.  The  necessity  for  immediate  provision  for 
his  financial  needs  caused  a change  in  his  plans,  and 
directed  his  energies  to  a profession  in  which  he  has 
perhaps  served  with  better  usefulness  than  in  the 
law,  though  perhaps  not  with  as  great  financial 
success.  He  returned  to  the  trade  of  printer  in  the 
office  of  the  La  Crosse  Democrat,  eventually  became 
associate  editor,  and  for  eight  years  was  active 
manager  of  the  journal.  In  1872  Mr.  Haven  moved 
to  Faribault,  Minnesota,  where  he  purchased  the 
Faribault  Leader,  changing  the  name  to  the  Demo- 
crat. For  more  than  forty  years  that  influential 
journal  has  been  under  his  direction  as  proprietor 
and  editor.  The  offices  and  plant  are  situated  in  the 
Masonic  Block  at  the  corner  of  Third  Street  and 
Central  Avenue  and  have  been  in  this  one  location 
since  1878. 

Aside  from  his  work  as  an  editor,  Mr.  Haven 
has  identified  himself  with  many  civic  and  social 
organizations  during  his  residence  in  Faribault.  He 
served  as  county  superintendent  of  school  for  Rice 
County  for  four  years,  and  was  postmaster  at  Fari- 
bault five  years  and  three  months,  having  been  ap- 
pointed by  President  Cleveland  during  his  second 
administration  and  serving  more  than  a year  under 
President  McKinley.  Mr.  Haven  is  a democrat.  He 
was  elected  in  1872  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Faribault  public  library,  and  has  served  in  that 
position  more  than  forty  years.  For  twenty-six 
years  he  was  a member  of  the  school  board,  and 
is  now  a trustee  and  vice  president  of  the  Soldiers’ 
Home.  In  a business  way  he  was  at  one  time  a 
director  of  the  Faribault  Rattan  Works.  Mr.  Haven 
has  served  as  a warden  and  vestryman  in  the  Cathe- 
dral Episcopal  Church  at  Faribault  for  twenty-eight 
years,  and  is  a trustee  of  the  Girls  School,  the  St. 
Mary’s  Hall.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  Fari- 
bault Lodge  No.  9,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  being  the  oldest 
living  past  master,  for  twelve  consecutive  years  was 


1278 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


high  priest  of  Tyrian  Chapter  No.  6,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
for  two  terms  was  commander  of  Faribault  Com- 
mandery  No.  8,  K.  T.  He  was  formerly  a member 
of  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  belonged  to  other  fra- 
ternities. 

On  November  13,  1867,  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin, 
Mr.  Haven  married  Miss  Mary  Ann  Meeker,  a 
daughter  of  Cornelius  S.  Meeker,  a former  merchant 
of  La  Crosse,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Haven  has  two 
children : Reide  M.,  who  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  Shattuck  Military  School  at  Fari- 
bault and  has  been  foreman  in  the  office  of  the  Dem- 
ocrat since  1898;  Freeda  M.  is  the  wife  of  Andrew 
B.  Eddy,  who  is  secretary  of  the  Hope  Club  at  Prov- 
idence, Rhode  Island. 

Frank  W.  McKellip.  Representative  of  a family 
which  since  the  earliest  pioneer  times  has  been  iden- 
tified with  Minnesota,  Frank  W.  McKellip  since 
leaving  university  has  been  engaged  in  engineering, 
has  been  connected  with  the  engineering  depart- 
ment of  several  western  railways,  and  for  the  past 
six  years  has  been  city  engineer  of  Faribault. 

Frank  W.  McKellip  was  born  in  Faribault,  Min- 
nesota, October  12,  1872,  a son  of  Charles  D.  Mc- 
Kellip, who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1843  and 
died  in  Chicago  in  December,  1906.  It  was  Grand- 
father William  McKellip,  whose  ancestors  came  from 
the  North  of  Scotland  who  founded  the  McKellip 
family  in  Minnesota  Territory  as  early  as  1855. 
Charles  D.  McKellip  was  a boy  when  the  family 
came  to  Rice  County,  and  they  all  lived  as  farmers 
in  that  section.  He  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  in  1864  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union  army 
in  Company  D of  the  Eleventh  Minnesota  Infantry, 
and  saw  one  year  of  service.  Returning  to  Faribault, 
he  taught  school  for  some  time,  but  for  many  years 
was  connected  with  the  Faribault  Republican,  and 
continued  in  newspaper  work  until  his  death.  He 
married  Emily  Woodmas,  who  was  born  in  Ohio 
and  now  lives  with  her  son  Frank.  The  other  son, 
W.  S.  McKellip  is  outside  superintendent  of  the 
School  for  the  Deaf  at  Berkeley,  California. 

Frank  W.  McKellip  grew  up  at  Faribault,  grad- 
uated from  the  high  school  in  1892,  and  after  a 
varied  experience  in  other  lines  of  employment  pre- 
pared for  his  regular  profession  by  graduation  from 
the  University  of  Minnesota  in  1898  with  the  degree 
electrical  engineer.  For  a few  months  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Minneapolis  General  Electric  Com- 
pany, then  returned  to  Faribault,  and  practiced  his 
profession  individually  for  two  years.  Then  fol- 
lowed six  months  of  employment  with  the  Chicago 
Telephone  Company  in  Chicago,  and  he  was  then 
employed  on  the  engineering  staff  of  the  Kansas  City, 
Mexico  & Orient  Railroad,  in  Old  Mexico  for  a 
year  and  a half.  After  that  Mr.  McKellip  was  an 
engineer  with  the  Great  Northern  Railway  in  Ne- 
braska and  Montana,  and  in  1908  returned  to  Fari- 
bault, for  one  year  was  employed  in  making  maps 
of  the  county,  and  in  May,  1909,  was  elected  to  his 
present  office  as  city  engineer  of  Faribault.  He  has 
planned  and  supervised  practically  every  munici- 
pal improvement  at  Faribault  in  the  past  five  years. 

For  three  months  he  filled  an  unexnired  term  as 
auditor  of  Rice  County.  Mr.  McKellip  is  a re- 
publican, a member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  has  affiliations  with  Faribault  Lodge  No.  q,  A.  F. 
& A.  M„  with  Faribault  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  with  Fari- 
bault Commandery  No.  8,  K.  T..  with  Osman  Temple 
of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  with  Faribault 
Lodge  No.  1166,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  formerly  was  iden- 


tified with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  McKellip 
resides  at  623  Third  Street,  S.  W.,  Faribault. 

James  M.  Punderson.  One  of  the  flourishing  and 
important  industrial  enterprises  that  is  centralized  at 
Northfield,  Rice  County,  and  lends  greatly  to  the 
commercial  prestige  of  the  city,  is  that  controlled 
by  the  Northfield  Seed  and  Nursery  Company,  and 
of  this  representative  corporation  Mr.  Punderson  is 
secretary  and  treasurer — known  as  a citizen  of  ster- 
ling character  and  marked  loyalty  and  as  a business 
man  of  strong  personality  and  much  initiative  power, 
orous  in  his  chosen  field  of  enterprise,  he  is  a young 
man  of  strong  personality  and  much  initiative  power, 
and  he  has  proved  himself  eminently  qualified  for 
the  executive  responsibilities  that  devolve  upon  him 
in  connection  with  the  extensive  business  of  the  com- 
pany with  which  he  is  identified. 

Mr.  Punderson  takes  distinctive  pride  in  claiming 
Minnesota  as  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  he  is 
fully  appreciative  of  the  manifold  advantages  and 
attractions  of  this  great  commonwealth  of  the 
Northwest.  He  was  born  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul, 
on  the  24th  of  December,  1889,  and  thus  became  a 
right  welcome  Christmas  arrival  in  the  home  of  his 
parents,  John  W.  and  Mary  (Soare)  Punderson,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  at  Hudson,  Columbia 
County,  New  York,  in  1862,  and  the  latter  of  whom 
was  a native  of  England.  John  W.  Punderson  was 
reared  and  educated  in  the  old  Empire  State,  has 
been  a resident  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  since  1884, 
and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  representative  busi- 
ness men  of  the  capital  city,  where  he  is  a director 
of  the  wholesale  hardware  corporation  of  Farwell, 
Osman,  Kirk  & Co.,  besides  which  he  is  pres- 
ident of  the  Northfield  Seed  and  Nursery  Company, 
of  which  his  only  son,  subject  of  this  review,,  is 
secretary  and  treasurer.  He  is  a republican  in  his 
political  allegiance.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred 
in  1912.  Of  the  three  children,  James  M.  is  the  eld- 
est, and  the  two  daughters,  Carolyn  Eleanor  and 
Dorothy  Mary,  remain  at  the  paternal  home  in  St. 
Paul. 

John  W.  Punderson  is  a son  of  James  M.  Punder- 
son, who  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York  in 
1830,  and  who  died  at  Hudson,  that  state,  in  1902. 
For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  freight  for- 
warding business  along  the  Hudson  River,  and  he 
owned  and  operated  a line  of  steamboats  on  that 
great  watercourse,  his  father,  Frank  Punderson,  like- 
wise a native  of  New  York,  having  been  identified 
with  the -same  line  of  enterprise  during  the  course  of 
a signally  active  and  successful  career.  Frank  Pun- 
derson was  a son  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Punderson,  a 
clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  third 
of  the  name  Ebenezer  to  have  represented,  in  as 
many  generations,  the  family  in  the  ministry  of  this 
denomination,  from  which  one  of  the  number  with- 
drew to  become  a member  of  the  clergy  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  Punderson  fam- 
ily lineage  is  traced  back  to  fine  old  colonial  stock  in 
New  England,  and  the  original  American  progenitor 
was  John  Punderson,  who  immigrated  from  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  in 
1637. 

He  whose  name  initiates  this  review  is  indebted 
to  the  public  schools  of  St.  Paul  for  his  early  edu- 
cational discipline,  and  after  his  graduation  in  the 
high  school,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1908,  he 
completed  a two  years'  course  in  the  Minnesota 
State  Agricultural  College,  at  St.  Anthony’s  Park, 
this  training  having  been  such  as  to  fortify  him  most 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1279 


excellently  for  the  supervision  of  the  scientific  and 
practical  details  of  the  extensive  industry  with  which 
he  is  now  actively  concerned. 

In  the  spring  of  1911  Mr.  Punderson  established 
his  residence  at  Northfield,  where  he  passed  one 
year  in  effective  service  with  the  United  States  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  here  maintained  under  the 
auspices  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  His  atten- 
tion was  given  principally  to  statistical  work,  and  in 
the  same  year  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  North- 
field  Seed  & Nursery  Company,  this  action  definitely 
signifying  his  deep  interest  in  agriculture,  horticul- 
ture and  allied  industries.  The  business  of  which  he 
is  now  the  active  executive  officer  was  established  in 
1906,  under  the  title  of  the  Nichols  & Sherpy  Seed 
Company,  which  title  was  changed  to  that  of  the 
Northfield  Seed  & Nursery  Company  in  1910.  Under 
the  aggressive  and  effective  direction  of  Mr.  Punder- 
son the  enterprise  has  been  greatly  expanded  in  scope 
and  importance,  and  it  was  in  consonance  with  his 
ideas  that  the  company  was  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  the  state,  in  1912.  His  father  has  been  presi- 
dent from  the  time  of  incorporation  and  he  himself 
has  retained  the  dual  office  of  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. The  company  controls  a large  and  substan- 
tial wholesale  seed  business  and  makes  a specialty 
of  the  handling  of  seed  corn  grown  under  contract 
and  sold  to  dealers  throughout  Minnesota,  North 
Dakota.  South  Dakota,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  and  the 
Canadian  Northwest.  The  company’s  finely  equipped 
nurseries  are  situated  three-fourths  of  a mile  east 
of  the  Northfield  postoffice,  and  the  warehouses  and 
offices  in  Northfield  are  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Washington  streets. 

Mr.  Punderson  is  active  and  progressive  not  only 
in  connection  with  his  business  affairs,  but  also  as  a 
citizen  of  broad  views  and  distinctive  public  spirit. 
He  is  an  independent  republican  in  his  political  pro- 
clivities and  thus  far  in  his  career  has  manifested 
no  predilection  for  public  office.  He  is  a communi- 
cant of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  is  an  active 
and  valued  member  of  the  Northfield  Commercial 
Club,  and  is  affiliated  with  Northfield  Lodge,  No.  50, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Punder- 
son is  distinctively  a popular  factor  in  both  business 
and  social  circles  of  his  adopted  city,  and  is  num- 
bered among  the  eligible  young  bachelors  of  North- 
field. 

Fred  Stalley.  Clay  County  has  no  more  popular 
citizen  than  Fred  Stalley,  who  has  been  continuously 
identified  with  the  office  of  registrar  of  deeds  for 
sixteen  years,  the  first  five  years  as  deputy  and 
since  then  as  the  elected  official.  Mr.  Stalley  was 
one  of  the  early  farmer  settlers  of  Clay  County, 
and  while  developing  his  land  also  took  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs  and  from  a township  office 
received  promotion  to  the  county  seat  at  Moorhead. 

Fred  Stalley  is  a native  of  England,  born  in  Hert- 
fordshire, twenty-five  miles  north  of  London,  April 
18,  1851.  His  family  has  resided  for  many  genera- 
tions in  England,  but  the  original  people  of  the 
name  were  French  Huguenots  who  after  the  revoca- 
tion of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  fled  to  England.  Henry 
B.  Stalley,  father  of  the  Moorhead  citizen,  was  born 
in  the  same  locality  in  1820,  was  a general  mer- 
chant and  died  there  in  1878.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Anne  Turner,  was  born  in  1825. 
and  after  the  death  of  her  husband  came  to  the 
United  States  in  188.3  and  died  in  Clay  County, 
Minnesota,  in  1893.  Their  children  were : Henry, 

who  is  connected  with  the  Christ  Hospital  in  Eng- 


land; Fred;  Mary  A.,  who  lives  in  Forest  Grove, 
Oregon ; William,  who  is  connected  with  one  of  the 
large  stores  of  St.  Paul;  Alice  M.,  wife  of  F.  South- 
well,  a resident  of  Minneapolis  and  collector  for  the 
Tri-State  Telephone  Company;  Annie  M.,  wife  of 
A.  F.  Burlingham,  a seed  merchant  at  Forest  Grove, 
Oregon;  and  Charles,  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  at  Vancouver,  B.  C. 

Fred  Stalley  grew  up  and  received  his  education 
in  England.  Not  long  after  attaining  manhood  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  sought  a new  home 
in  Clay  County,  Minnesota,  which  was  then  almost 
undeveloped,  and  contributed  his  share  towards  the 
progress  of  the  community  by  improving  a home- 
stead claim.  His  career  as  a farmer  continued  until 
1897,  when  he  accepted  a position  in  the  office  of 
the  register  of  deeds  and  moved  to  Moorhead.  Later 
he  was  himself  elected  register  of  deeds  and  the 
voters  have  seen  fit  to  re-elect  him  at  each  succeed- 
ing two  years,  while  on  November  3,  1914,  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  extended  time  of  four  years. 

During  his  residence  in  the  country  Mr.  Stalley 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  Town  of 
Hawley  for  thirteen  years,  and  was  also  a member 
of  the  school  board.  He  is  a republican,  a member 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  is  secretary  and  man- 
ager of  the  Clay  County  Abstract  Company,  belongs 
to  the  Moorhead  Commercial  Club,  and  has  fraternal 
affiliations  with  Moorhead  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
with  Moorhead  Lodge  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  with 
the  Royal  Arcanum.  At  Hawley,  Minnesota,  in 
1890,  Mr.  Stalley  married  Miss  Nellie  H.  Axtell, 
whose  father  was  the  late  Doctor  Axtell,  a physi- 
cian of  Troy,  Pennsylvania.  To  their  marriage  have 
been  born  two  children : Francis  C.,  now  attending 
Fargo  College  at  Fargo,  North  Dakota;  and  Harold 
A.,  who  graduated  from  the  Moorhead  High  School 
and  took  a business  course  in  Concordia  College  at 
Moorhead,  and  is  now  one  of  his  father’s  deputies 
in  the  office  of  register  of  deeds. 

Harry  C.  Howe.  A native  son  of  Owatonna, 
judicial  center  and  metropolis  of  Steele  County,  Mr. 
Howe  is  a representative  of  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  influential  pioneer  families  of  this  county, 
and  his  father,  a man  of  sterling  character  and  dis- 
tinctive ability,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Owa- 
tonna Manufacturing  Company,  which  for  nearly 
half  a century  has  conducted  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant industrial  enterprises  in  Steele  County.  Of 
this  company,  of  which  Harry  C.  Howe  is  now  sec- 
retary and  treasurer,  it  is  imperative  that  brief  rec- 
ord be  made  in  this  history,  and  the  following  ex- 
tracts are  taken,  with  but  slight  paraphrase,  from 
an  interesting  circular  issued  by  the  company,  under 
the  virtual  title  of  “Half  a Century  of  Seeding  Ma- 
chinery” : 

“The  manufacture  of  Owatonna  seeding  machin- 
ery was  commenced  in  1865,  by  Michael  F.  Lowth 
and  Thomas  J.  Howe,  who  built  a factory  in  Owa- 
tonna, Minnesota,  and  began  making  Owatonna 
seeders,  under  the  firm  name  of  Lowth  & Howe. 
The  following  year  Henry  N.  LaBare  entered  the 
business.  In  1888  the  business  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  the  Owatonna  Manufacturing 
Company,  by  which  title  it  has  been  known  since 
that  time.  The  manufacture  of  Owatonna  seeding 
machinery  has  been  under  the  same  management 
for  almost  fifty  years. 

“Fifty  years  is  a long  span  in  the  history  of  the 
United  States.  When  the  building  of  Owatonna 


1280 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


seeding  machinery  was  initiated,  the  Civil  war  was 
just  over,  the  boundless  prairies  of  our  great  West 
were  hardly  scratched,  Minnesota  was  a sparsely  set- 
tled western  State,  but  recently  admitted  to  the 
Union,  and  the  Dakotas  and  Montana  were  peopled 
only  by  the  Indians.  The  building  of  farm  ma- 
chinery was  in  its  infancy. 

“Among  the  first  ten  men  who  were  granted  pat- 
ents by  the  United  States  government  for  seeding 
machinery  were  Michael  F.  Lowth  and  Thomas  J. 
Howe.  They  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  in 
the  designing  and  building  of  force-feed  grain  seed- 
ing machines.  They  started  their  modest  factory  in 
the  little  village  of  Owatonna,  in  southern  Minne- 
sota; and  there,  in  conjunction  with  Henry  N. 
LaBare,  who  joined  them  the  following  year,  they 
built  for  many  years  the  Owatonna  seeder, — crude 
and  awkward  looking  to  modern  eyes,  but  a machine 
which  would  do  the  work  for  which  it  was  designed, 
and,  above  all,  a machine  that  would  last.  We  have 
in  our  factory  to-day  an  Owatonna  seeder  which 
was  built  about  1867,  which  put  in  thirty-six  con- 
secutive crops,  and  which  is  capable  of  putting  in  a 
crop  of  grain  to-day. 

“Many  farmers  in  the  Northwest  will  remember 
the  old-style  Owatonna  seeder  with  which  their 
father,  and  perhaps  their  grandfathers,  put  in  their 
crops  thirty,  forty,  or  almost  fifty  years  ago.  The 
inventors  and  builders  of  those  seeders  always  put 
into  them  the  best  iron,  the  best  lumber,  the  most 
skillful  labor  they  could  buy.  They  gave  an  honest 
dollar’s  worth  for  every  dollar  they  received,  and 
thousands  of  farmers  to-day  can  testify  to  the 
sturdy,  lasting  qualities  of  Owatonna  seeders. 

“And  what  the  fathers  founded,  the  sons  have  car- 
ried forward  and  increased.  It  is  a far  cry  from 
the  old-style  Owatonna  seeder,  with  its  wood  frame 
and  wood  bars,  to  the  latest  type  of  the  Owatonna 
drill,  built  in  over  a hundred  sizes  and  styles.  But 
the  same  sturdy,  lasting  qualities  are  in  each.  The 
same  care  in  selecting  materials,  in  procuring  labor, 
in  overseeing  the  manufacture  of  Owatonna  seeding 
machinery  is  found  in  our  factory  to-day.  We  were 
never  trained  in  building  machines  cheap. 

"The  building  of  Owatonna  seeding  machinery  has 
been  under  the  same  management  for  almost  half  a 
century.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are 
'on  the  job’  every  day,  watching,  planning,  experi- 
menting, designing;  personally  supervising  the  con- 
struction of  every  machine  that  goes  out  of  the 
factory.  The  Owatonna  Manufacturing  Company  is 
not  a part  of  any  giant  combination  or  ‘trust.’  We 
are  not  so  large  but  that  our  officers  give  their  per- 
sonal attention  to  every  detail  of  the  business. 
* * * Owatonna  seeding  machines  are  built  to 

meet  every  condition,  it  being  well  understood  that 
modern  farming  demands  many  different  kinds  of 
seeding  machines,  and  that  what  is  adapted  to  one 
locality  is  not  adapted  to  another.’’ 

The  preceding  quotations  are  more  suggestive  and 
significant  than  would  be  any  mere  outline  descrip- 
tion of  the  company’s  factory,  details  concerning  the 
processes  of  manufacture,  and  record  of  gradual 
growth  and  development.  It  is  necessary  to  say  only 
that  the  products  of  this  splendid  manufactory  are 
used  in  all  agricultural  sections  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada,  with  an  export  trade  that  has  been  of 
broad  scope.  Of  the  founders  of  the  business  it  may 
be  noted  that  Michael  F.  Lowth  was  born  in  1823 
and  died  in  1882;  Thomas  J.  Howe  was  born  in 
T827  and  died  in  1008;  and  Henry  N.  LaBare,  who 
was  born  in  1835,  died  in  1906.  Frank  LaBare,  son 


of  Henry  N.,  is  now  president  of  the  company; 
George  S.  Barr,  son-in-law  of  Thomas  J.  Howe,  is 
vice  president ; and  II.  C.  Howe,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  article,  is  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Harry  C.  Howe  was  born  at  Owatonna,  Minnesota, 
on  the  16th  of  November,  1873,  and  is  a son  of 
Thomas  J.  and  Sarah  M.  (Chapman)  Howe,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  New 
York,  in  1827,  and  the  latter  of  whom  likewise  was 
a native  of  the  old  Empire  State,  where  she  was 
born  in  the  year  1831.  The  mother  of  Thomas  J. 
Howe  was  a lineal  descendant  of  that  historic  New 
England  character,  Peregrine  White.  The  lineage 
of  the  Howe  family  is  traced  back  to  sterling  English 
stock  and  representatives  of  the  name  settled  in  New 
England  in  the  colonial  epoch  of  American  history, 
the  name  having  been  one  of  special  prominence  in 
Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  and 
also,  in  later  generations,  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

Thomas  J.  Howe  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  state  and  early  gave  evidence  of  superior 
mechanical  and  inventive  talent.  In  1848,  shortly 
after  attaining  to  his  legal  majority,  he  came  to  the 
West  and  established  his  residence  in  Wisconsin,  and 
though  he  thereafter  passed  varying  intervals  in 
New  York  State,  he  continued  virtually  a resident  of 
Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin,  until  his  removal  to  Owa- 
tonna, Minnesota,  in  1865.  Not  only  did  he  aid  in 
the  upbuilding  of  a great  industrial  enterprise  at 
Owatonna,  but  his  strong  and  noble  influence  was 
potent  in  the  furtherance  of  the  social  and  material 
progress  and  advancement  of  the  town  and  county 
which  represented  his  home  for  many  years  and  in 
which  his  name  and  memory  are  revered  and  hon- 
ored. He  was  eighty-one  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1908.  his  loved  and  devoted  wife 
having  been  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  1893  and 
he  having  been  an  active  and  zealous  member  of  the 
LTniversalist  Church.  Mr.  Howe  was  affiliated  with 
the  York  Rite  lodge,  chapter  and  commandery  bodies 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  Owatonna,  and  his 
political  allegiance  was  given  to  the  republican  party, 
though  he  had  naught  of  aspiration  for  the  honors 
or  emoluments  of  public  office. 

It  may  be  stated  that  the  fine  modern  plant  of  the 
Owatonna  Manufacturing  Company  is  situated  on 
West  Rose  Street,  the  office  number  being  118  on 
that  thoroughfare.  The  output  now  includes  grain 
drills  and  seeders,  which  are  extensively  used 
throughout  the  Mississippi  Va'ley  and  Middle  West, 
and  a department  is  now  devoted  also  to  the  manu- 
facturing of  churns  for  creamery  use,  these  improved 
products  finding  sale  in  all  parts  of  the  Union  and 
in  the  principal  countries  of  Europe,  with  substan- 
tial export  trade  in  other  countries. 

H.  C.  Howe,  who  as  a citizen  and  business  man 
is  well  upholding  the  high  prestige  of  the  honored 
name  which  he  bears,  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Owatonna,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated in  the  high  school  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  t8go,  after  which  he  was  for  three  years  a stu- 
dent in  the  University  of  Minnesota.  In  the  spring 
of  1803.  when  nineteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Howe  as- 
sumed the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the  office_  of  the 
Owatonna  Manufacturing  Company,  and  with  the 
passing  years  he  has  familiarized  himself  with  all 
practical  and  executive  details  pertaining  to  the 
carrying  forward  of  the  extensive  and  important 
industry  with  which  he  has  continued  to  be  actively 
identified.  He  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
company,  is  to  be  designated  as  one  of  Minnesota  s 
representative  business  men  of  the  younger  genera- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1281 


tion,  and  commands  a secure  place  in  popular  confi- 
dence and  esteem. 

It  may  well  be  understood  that  Mr.  Howe  is  ani- 
mated by  a spirit  of  unswerving  loyalty  to  and  ap- 
preciation of  the  city,  county  and  state  that  have 
ever  represented  his  home,  and  he  gives  his  influence 
and  cooperation  in  support  of  those  measures  and 
enterprises  that  tend  to  conserve  the  general  welfare 
of  the  community.  He  is  found  staunchly  arrayed 
in  the  ranks  of  the  republican  party,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  His  is  a deep  appreciation  of 
the  history  and  teachings  of  the  time-honored  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  in  which  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
following  organizations  in  his  native  city : Star  in 

the  East  Lodge,  No.  33,  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  which  he  is  past  master ; Owatonna  Chap- 
ter, No.  15,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  and  Cyrene  Com- 
mandery,  No.  9,  Knights  Templar,  of  which  he  was 
commander  in  1913  and  1914.  He  was  formerly  in 
active  affiliation  with  the  lodge  of  Elks  at  Austin, 
Mower  County. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  1900,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Howe  to  Miss  Jane  F.  Semple,  at 
Marshalltown,  Iowa.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Howe 
are  residents  of  Huntsville,  Missouri,  and  she  her- 
self was  born  in  the  City  of  St.  Louis,  that  state. 
Air.  and  Mrs.  Howe  have  two  children — Sarah  and 
Samuel — and  the  attractive  family  home  is  at  No. 
387  East  Main  Street. 

Willis  E.  Kenyon.  Steele  county  is  signally 
favored  in  the  personnel  of  its  executive  corps  at  the 
present  time,  and  the  able  and  honored  incumbent 
of  the  office  of  judge  of  the  Probate  Court  of  the 
county  is  he.  whose  name  introduces  this  paragraph 
and  who  has  proved  most  circumspect  and  faithful  in 
the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  his  important 
office. 

Judge  Kenyon  was  born  in  Chautauqua  County, 
New  York,  on  the  5th  of  November;  1852,  and  is  a 
son  of  Dr.  Thomas  Kenyon  and  Mary  (Smith) 
Kenyon,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Otsego 
County,  New  York,  in  1823,  and  the  latter  of 
whom  was  born  in  Chautauqua  County,  that 
state,  in  1818.  Doctor  Kenyon,  an  able  ex- 
ponent of  the  benignant  homeopathic  school  of  med- 
icine, became  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  Steele  County,  Minnesota,  where  he  settled, 
in  Somerset  Township,  in  1856.  He  served  as  the 
first  coroner  of  Steele  County  and  was  a prominent 
and  influential  citizen,  a physician  of  high  attain- 
ments, and  a man  whose  kindliness  and  self-abne- 
gating service  gave  him  secure  place  in  popular  con- 
fidence and  esteem,  so  that  his  memory  is  revered  in 
the  county  that  was  long  his  home.  He  retired  from 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  several  years 
prior  to  his'death,  which  occurred  at  his  old  home  in 
Steele  County,  in  1882,  his  loved  and  devoted  wife, 
held  in  affectionate  esteem  by  all  who  knew  her, 
having  survived  him  by  a decade  and  having  been 
summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  1892.  The  genealogy 
of  the  Kenyon  family  is  traced  back  to  staunch 
English  origin  and  the  founders  of  the  American 
branch  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and 
came  to  this  country  in  the  colonial  era  of  our  na- 
tional history.  Though  the  Quaker  or  Friends’  faith 
is  opposed  to  warfare,  it  is  virtually  a matter  of  as- 
surance that  representatives  of  the  Kenyon  family 
were  found  arrayed  as  loyal  patriots  and  soldiers  in 
the  War  of  the  Revolution.  From  the  old  Empire 
State  members  of  the  family  finally  came  to  the  West 


and  established  a residence  in  Illinois,  and  from  the 
latter  state  the  parents  of  Judge  Kenyon  came  as 
pioneers  to  Minnesota,  about  two  years  prior  to  the 
admission  of  the  state  to  the  Union. 

Judge  Kenyon  was  about  four  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  family  removal  to  Minnesota  and  he 
acquired  his  early  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  of 
Steele  County,  which  has  been  his  home  from  child- 
hood. He  eventually  became  a prosperous  farmer 
and  influential  citizen  of  Somerset  Township,  and 
there  he  continued  to  give  his  personal  supervision 
to  his  fine  landed  estate  until  1905,  in  the  meanwhile 
having  served  six  years  as  treasurer  of  his  school 
district,  eight  years  as  township  assessor,  and  twelve 
years  as  chairman  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors. 
Known  as  a man  of  broad  information  and  mature 
judgment  and  as  a citizen  of  impregnable  integrity 
of  purpose,  he  was  naturally  called  upon  to  serve  in 
positions  of  public  trust,  and  the  maximum  prefer- 
ment along  this  line  came  in  his  election  to  the  office 
of  judge  of  the  Probate  Court  of  the  county,  in 
November,  1908.  By  successive  reelections  he  has 
since  continued  the  incumbent  of  this  exacting  posi- 
tion and  this  fact  offers  the  best  voucher  for  the  effi- 
ciency of  his  administration  and  the  popular  estimate 
placed  upon  the  same.  He  has  maintained  his  resi- 
dence in  Owatonna  since  1905  and  the  family  is  one 
of  prominence  in  the  representative  social  activities 
of  the  community.  Within  his  regime  as  judge  of 
probate  nine  cases  adjudicated  by  Judge  Kenyon  have 
been  appealed  to  the  District  Court,  and  in  all  save 
one  of  these  cases  his  decision  has  been  confirmed. 
The  judge  is  a staunch  advocate  of  the  principles  and 
policies  which  have  made  the  republican  party  the 
conservator  of  the  best  interests  of  the  nation  and 
has  found  no  grounds  for  abating  his  allegiance  to 
the  cause.  He  is  a stockholder  and  secretary  of  the 
Owatonna  creamer  and  still  owns  his  fine  farm  in 
Somerset  Township.  Both  he  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Universalist  Church. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1883,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Judge  Kenyon  to  Miss  Annie  Schwesio, 
daughter  of  the  late  John  Schweiso,  who  was  born 
in  Germany  and  who  settled  in  Steele  County,  Minne- 
sota, in  an  early  day ; he  became  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative agriculturists  of  this  section  of  the  state 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  continued  to  reside  on  their 
old  homestead  until  their  death.  In  conclusion  is 
given  brief  record  concerning  the  children  of  Judge 
and  Mrs.  Kenyon:  Nellie  and  Jessie,  both  of  whom 
were  graduated  in  the  Owatonna  High  School,  are 
now  efficient  and  popular  teachers  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  city;  Orissa  was  graduated  in  the  high 
school  and  the  Canfield  Business  College  and  is  now 
stenographer  for  her  father  in  the  office  of  the  judge 
of  probate ; Irvin  is  engaged  in  the  express  business 
in  the  City  of  Madison,  Wisconsin;  and  Ferna  like- 
wise is  a popular  teacher  in  the  Owatonna  schools, 
she  also  having  been  graduated  in  the  high  school 
of  this  place. 

Judge  Kenyon  takes  a lively  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  state  that  has  represented  his  home 
from  his  early  childhood  and  is  well  informed  con- 
cerning the  conditions,  incidents  and  influences  of 
the  pioneer  days. 

Stephen  B.  Haessly,  M.  D.  Both  in  the  broad 
field  of  good  citizenship  and  in  devotion  to  the  inter- 
ests of  his  profession.  Doctor  Haessly  has  made  a 
notable  success,  particularly  as  a surgeon  and  as 
an  authority  and  one  of  the  successful  practitioners 


1282 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  Minnesota  in  the  special  branch  of  medicine  and 
surgery  pertaining  to  the  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear, 
nose  and  throat.  Doctor  Haessly  has  practiced  at 
Faribault  since  1912,  and  has  been  identified  with  the 
profession  in  this  state  for  the  past  ten  years. 

Stephen  B.  Haessly  was  born  in  Fond  du  Lac 
County,  Wisconsin,  December  25,  1875.  His  father, 
George  Haessly,  born  near  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1839,  was  descended  from  ancestors  who  came  from 
the  vicinity  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  and  his  father 
was  the  American  emigrant,  settling  near  Reading  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  a farmer.  George 
Haessly  died  in  Pierce  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1900, 
having  located  in  that  state  in  i860,  and  followed 
farming  as  his  vocation.  George  Haessly  married 
Mary  T.  Schurck,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1842  and 
died  in  Pierce  County,  Wisconsin,  in  November, 
1913.  Their  children  were:  James  A.,  a Pierce 

County  farmer ; Margaret,  wife  of  Patrick  Shannon, 
a farmer  in  Pierce  County,  Wisconsin;  Joanna,  a 
dressmaker  in  Chicago ; Phillip,  a hardware  merchant 
at  Ellsworth,  Wisconsin ; Robert,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-four;  George  M„  a farmer  in  Pierce 
County;  Stephen  B. ; Thomas,  an  engineer  in  Pierce 
County;  Catherine,  wife  of  E.  P.  Callahan,  super- 
intendent of  concrete  construction  work  lives  in 
Little  Falls,  Minnesota;  Louis,  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen;  and  John  H.,  who  resides  in  Faribault  with 
his  brother,  Doctor  Haessly. 

Doctor  Haessly,  the  seventh  in  this  large  family  of 
children,  removed  to  Pierce  County,  Wisconsin,  in 
1884,  with  his  parents,  spent  his  early  life  on  a farm, 
and  while  attending  the  public  schools  and  develop- 
ing a good  constitution  by  farm  labors,  Doctor 
Haessly  attended  the  high  school  at  Ellsworth,  Wis- 
consin, and  spent  four  years  as  a teacher  in  Pierce 
County.  In  1900  he  graduated  M.  D.  from  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  and  is 
a member  of  the  Alpha  Omega  Alpha  Greek  Letter 
Honorary  Medical  Fraternity.  After  his  early  expe- 
rience as  a general  physician  and  surgeon,  Doctor 
Haessly  in  1908  returned  to  Chicago  and  took  post- 
graduate special  studies  in  the  diseases  of  the  eye, 
ear,  nose  and  throat.  Doctor  Haessly  practiced  in 
Cannon  Falls,  Minnesota,  from  1904  to  1909,  was 
located  at  Red  Wing  for  several  years,  and  in  1912 
came  to  Faribault.  Since  then  he  has  specialized  in 
surgery,  particularly  in  the  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear, 
nose  and  throat,  and  is  less  and  less  engaged  in  gen- 
eral medical  practice.  On  coming  to  Faribault  Doc- 
tor Haessly  became  associated  with  A.  M.  Hanson, 
M.  D.,  and  in  their  partnership  they  are  probably  the 
ablest  men  in  the  special  lines  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery in  Rice  County.  They  had  constructed  for  their 
use  a building  on  Central  Avenue  at  the  corner  of 
Fifth  Street,  and  have  their  offices  as  thoroughly 
equipped  as  any  in  Minnesota. 

Doctor  Haessly  served  on  the  health  board  during 
his  residence  at  Cannon  Falls,  Minnesota,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  County,  State,  American  and  South- 
ern Minnesota  Medical  Association.  Politically  he 
is  a democrat,  a member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
affiliates  with  Faribault  Lodge  No.  1166,  B.  P.  O.  E., 
and  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  Doctor  Haessly 
was  married  in  1907  to  Miss  Effie  H.  Johnson,  daugh- 
ter of  C.  B.  Johnson,  who  is  a retired  merchant  in 
Minneapolis.  Doctor  Haessly  and  wife  were  married 
in  Cannon  Falls.  They  have  one  child,  Stuart,  four 
years  old.  Their  home  is  at  610  Second  Street. 


George  Molm.  President  of  the  Morristown  State 
Bank  of  Morristown,  George  Molm  has  been  identi- 
fied with  this  section  of  Minnesota  upwards  of  half 
a century,  came  to  manhood  here,  worked  at  a trade 
for  several  years,  then  engaged  in  farming,  and  from 
agriculture  and  his  live  stock  operations  accumulated 
the  capital  which  he  has  now  chiefly  employed  in  the 
Morristown  State  Bank. 

George  Molm  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  8,  1856.  His  father,  J.  W.  Molm, 
was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1828,  and  is  now 
living  retired  in  that  kingdom,  after  having  won  a 
modest  fortune  in  the  United  States.  He  emigrated 
to  America  in  1849,  not  long  after  the  Revolution  of 
1848,  settled  in  Wayne  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
1866  came  out  to  the  northwestern  frontier,  locating 
in  Morristown,  Minnesota.  There  he  became  a pio- 
neer merchant.  In  Germany  he  had  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  and  for  a number  of  years  made  shoes 
by  custom  order  for  the  people  in  and  about  Morris- 
town. Subsequently  he  moved  to  Dakota  Territory. 
Besides  his  trade  and  business  as.  a merchant,  he  was 
a very  successful  buyer  and  seller  of  farm  lands,  and 
also  cultivated  a number  of  farms,  and  in  that  way 
accumulated  the  competence  with  which  he  finally 
returned  to  his  fatherland.  J.  W.  Molm  married 
Elizabeth  Edelheiser,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and 
died  while  they  lived  in  Morristown,  Minnesota. 
Their  children  were:  George;  Henrietta,  wife  of 

William  Downine,  an  editor  at  Millbank,  South 
Dakota;  Fred,  a butcher  and  farmer  in  the  State  of 
Washington;  and  Howard,  a merchant  and  farmer 
at  Gaylord,  North  Dakota. 

George  Molm  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Wayne  County,  Pennsylvania,  was  ten  years  of 
age  when  his  father  located  in  Minnesota,  and 
finished  his  training  in  the  public  schools  at  Morris- 
town. Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  Mr. 
Molm  first  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which 
had  been  his  father’s  occupation,  and  worked  as  a 
cobbler  six  years,  and  then  at  the  harness  trade  until 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  then  turned  to  a field 
promising  more  profit  and  a better  scope  for  his 
energies  and  ability,  and  from  1877  to  1881  was  en- 
gaged in  the  harness  business  at  Morristown.  His 
next  venture  was  the  purchase  of  a farm,  and  farm- 
ing has  more  than  thirty  years  constituted  his  regular 
business.  At  the  present  time  Mr.  Molm  owns  a fine 
estate  of  more  than  two  hundred  acres  one  mile 
northeast  of  Morristown,  where  he  does  general 
farming,  and  for  a long  time  has  been  a stock  dealer. 
Mr.  Molm  has  been  president  of  the  Morristown 
State  Bank  since  1910.  This  bank  was  established 
in  1899,  and  for  fifteen  years  has  offered  a reliable 
service  to  the  country  in  and  about  Morristown.  Its 
capital  stock  is  $20,000,  with  a surplus  of  $5,000. 

Mr.  Molm  is  a democrat  in  politics,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  served  as  town  supervisor.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  are  with  Cannon  River  Lodge  No.  52, 

A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  now  master,  and  alto- 
gether has  held  that  position  in  the  lodge  for  seven- 
teen years;  also  with  Faribault  Lodge  No.  1166, 

B.  P.  O.  E.  Mr.  Molm  is  secretary  of  the  Morris- 
town Cemetery  Association. 

In  1880  occurred  his  marriage  to  Miss  Cora  Spauld- 
ing, daughter  of  E.  A.  Spaulding,  who  was  a promi- 
nent business  man  of  Morristown,  a merchant,  owner 
of  a sawmill  and  timber  tracts,  farms,  and  other 
property.  He  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Molm’s  children 
are : Harry  G..  cashier  of  the  Morristown  State 

Bank;  and  Gay  L.,  bookkeeper  in  the  bank. 


J. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1283 


Robert  J.  Inness.  Cashier  of  the  Farmers  State 
Bank  at  Morristown,  Robert  J.  Inness  is  a capable 
young  banker,  a college  bred  man,  and  practically  all 
his  business  experience  has  been  concentrated  on 
banking,  in  which  profession  his  qualifications  are 
well  recognized  in  Rice  County. 

Robert  Inness  was  born  in  Shelby,  Nebraska, 
March  3,  1891.  His  grandfather  John  Inness,  a na- 
tive of  England,  established  the  family  in  Nebraska 
about  thirty-five  years  ago,  and  was  a farmer  at 
Shelby.  James  M.  Inness,  father  of  Robert  J.,  was 
born  in  Wooler,  England,  in  1858,  was  about  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  other  members 
of  the  family  to  America,  and  followed  farming  at 
Shelby,  Nebraska,  for  a number  of  years,  but  is  now 
living  there  retired.  James  M.  Inness  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Smith,  a native  of  Racine,  Wisconsin. 

Robert  J.  Innes,  the  only  child  of  the  family,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Shelby,  spent  two 
years  as  a student  in  the  University  of  Nebraska,  and 
then  interrupted  his  college  career  to  take  employ- 
ment with  the  Shelby  State  Bank  as  assistant  cashier, 
a position  he  filled  for  a year  and  a half.  Mr.  Inness 
was  then  a student  in  the  University  of  Nebraska  for 
another  year,  and  in  1912  left  college  to  take  up  his 
active  career.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Sigma  Phi 
Epsilon  college  fraternity.  After  leaving  school,  Mr. 
Inness  found  his  first  employment  with  the  Arizona 
Bank  and  Trust  Company  at  Douglas,  Arizona,  but 
the  bank  failed  in  a short  time,  and  he  then  went 
with  the  Bank  of  Douglas,  the  largest  financial  insti- 
tution in  that  important  mining  center  of  Southern 
Arizona.  On  April  1,  1914,  Mr.  Inness  came  to  Min- 
nesota and  took  his  present  position  as  cashier  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  of  Morristown. 

Mr.  Inness  is  independent  in  politics,  and  has 
taken  his  first  degree  in  the  Masonic  order.  On  May 
12,  1914,  at  Osceola,  Nebraska,  he  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Kepner.  Her  father,  W.  F.  Kepner,  is  a hard- 
ware merchant  and  undertaker  at  Osceola. 

John  T.  Shelland,  M.  D.  A physician  and  sur- 
geon who  has  practiced  both  with  ability  and  distinc- 
tion at  Ada  in  Norman  County  for  the  past  ten 
years,  John  T.  Shelland  comes  of  an  old  American 
family,  with  at  least  six  successive  generations  rep- 
resented in  this  country,  and  many  of  the  name  have 
been  successful  in  the  professions  as  well  as  in -voca- 
tions of  farming  and  business. 

Dr.  John  T.  Shelland  was  born  at  Norwich,  New 
York,  June  20,  1872.  His  father  is  Rev.  J.  C.  Shel- 
land,. D.  D.,  Ph.  D„  who  is  now  living  retired  from 
the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  his  home, 
1523  Sixth  Street,  S.  E.,  Minneapolis.  The  Shelland 
ancestry  came  to  America  from  Scotland  but  a 
number  of  generations  prior  to  that  the  name  appears 
in  Central  Norway.  For  many  years  the  Shelland 
family  lived  in  Otsego  County,  New  York,  where 
J.  C.  'Shelland  was  born  at  the  Village  of  Worcester 
in  1845.  He  came  west  and  located  at  Huron,  South 
Dakota,  in  1883.  He  has  spent  a long  and  active 
life  as  a Methodist  minister,  and  the  chief  places 
at  which  he  was  pastor  were  Wyoming,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Huron,  South  Dakota,  Aberdeen,  South  Da- 
kota, Pierz,  Minnesota.  J.  C.  Shelland  married 
Annie  Trickey,  who  was  of  a Boston,  Massachusetts, 
family.  At  her  death  in  1897  she  left  Dr.  John  T. 
and  Annie,  who  is  now  county  superintendent  of 
schools  in  Koochiching  County,  Minnesota,  and  has 
a state  wide  reputation  in  the  larger  phases  of  edu- 
cational work.  Reverend  Doctor  Shelland  married 


for  his  second  wife  Julia  Bulkley,  one  of  America's 
foremost  woman  educators,  who  was  for  a number 
of  years  dean  of  women  in  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago and  prior  to  her  connection  with  that  institu- 
tion was  an  instructor  at  Princeton  University,  New 
Jersey,  and  among  her  pupils  at  Princeton  was  Doc- 
tor Vincent,  now  president  of  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota. Miss  Bulkley  had  the  distinction  of  having 
been  the  fifth  woman  educator  in  the  United  States. 

Dr.  John  T.  Shelland  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  near  Huron,  South  Dakota, 
and  in  1894  was  graduated  in  pharmacy  from  the 
South  Dakota  Agricultural  College.  After  working 
as  a pharmacist  for  several  years  he  entered  the 
Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  attended  that  insti- 
tution two  years,  and  then  followed  with  two  years 
in  the  medical  department  of  Hamline  University 
of  St.  Paul,  where  he  was  graduated  M.  D.  in  1900. 
Doctor  Shelland  for  the  first  year  practiced  at  For- 
man, North  Dakota,  and  then  for  four  years  was 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Hankinson  Hospital 
of  South  Dakota.  Since  1905  he  has  had  his  home 
and  office  in  Ada,  and  is  the  leading  physician  and 
surgeon  of  that  village,  his  practice  extending  over 
a wide  radius  of  country  in  Norman  County.  Doctor 
Shelland  has  taken  post-graduate  courses  in  surgery 
at  Hamline  University,  and  a course  in  eye,  ear, 
nose  and  throat  at  the  Chicago  Policlinic.  His 
offices  are  in  the  Barlow  Block  at  Ada. 

Doctor  Shelland  maintains  an  independent  posi- 
tion in  politics.  For  three  years  he  served  as  coroner 
of  Norman  County.  He  is  affiliated  with  Norman 
Lodge  No.  151,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  Trinity  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M.,  at  Ledgerwood,  North  Dakota ; past 
chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias ; a member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  also  belongs 
to  the  Ada  Commercial  Club.  In  1905  at  Sauk  Cen- 
ter, Minnesota,  Doctor  Shelland  married  Miss  Etta 
Carpenter,  daughter  of  A.  D.  Carpenter,  a retired 
farmer  and  land  holder  at  Sauk  Center.  To  this 
union  have  been  born  three  children : Beatrice  and 

David,  both  in  the  public  schools ; and  Hildred. 

Security  State  Bank  of  Owatonna.  The  First 
State  Bank  of  Owatonna,  the  name  of  which  has 
subsequently  been  changed  to  the  Security  State 
Bank,  was  incorporated  December  28,  1895,  with 
Nicholas  J.  Schafer  president;  Pierce  L.  Howe,  vice 
president ; and  Fred  E.  Church,  cashier.  The  origi- 
nal directors  were  Messrs.  N.  J.  Schafer,  F.  E. 
Church,  P.  L.  Howe,  B.  J.  Meixner  and  G.  Bosshardt. 
The  bank  opened  its  doors  for  business  May  11, 
1896,  in  the  building  now  owned  by  James  Lee  on 
North  Cedar  Street.  Mr.  Schafer  continued  as 
president  until  1902.  Mr.  Howe  was  succeeded  as 
vice  president  by  Gottfried  Bosshardt  in  1898,  and 
was  in  turn  succeeded  in  1899  by  J.  E.  Malone,  who 
served  until  1902.  Mr.  Church  was  cashier  until 
1899,  and  after  him  W.  J.  Naylor  served  until  1902. 

On  January  14,  1902,  financial  interests  of  Fari- 
bault secured  a controlling  interest  and  changed  the 
name  of  the  bank  to  the  Security  State  Bank  of 
Owatonna,  thus  indicating  its  association  with  the 
Security  Bank  of  Faribault,  controlled  by  the  same 
group  of  financiers.  The  officers  elected  at  that  time 
were:  President,  B.  B.  Sheffield,  of  Faribault;  vice 

president,  N.  J.  Schafer,  of  Owatonna;  cashier, 
Lynne  Peavey,  of  Faribault.  In  September,  1902, 
the  bank  was  established  in  a new  home  in  the  Kelly 
Block  at  the  corner  of  Cedar  and  Broadway. 

In  May,  1906,  began  a third  period  in  the  history 


1284 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  the  bank.  J.  H.  Robson,  a director  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Owatonna,  associated  with  T.  H. 
Kelley  and  others,  secured  two-thirds  of  the  stock, 
and  the  Faribault  interests  then  retired.  The  officers 
elected  under  the  reorganization  were : President,  J. 

H.  Robson ; vice  president,  T.  H.  Kelley ; cashier, 
Sidney  Robson.  In  May,  1907,  the  present  regime 
came  into  existence.  Norman  and  P.  H.  Evans,  who 
had  previously  been  with  the  First  National  Bank, 
sold  their  holdings  in  that  institution  to  the  Kinyon 
interests  and  bought  a controlling  interest  in  the 
Security  State  Bank.  The  officers  since  that  date  to 
the  present  time,  with  beginning  of  service  indicated, 
are:  President,  Norman  Evans  (1907);  vice  presi- 

dent, T.  H.  Kelley  (1906);  cashier,  P.  H.  Evans 
(1907);  assistant  cashier,  R.  J.  Deinfnget,  and  assist- 
ant cashier,  O.  M.  Hegnes.  Besides  the  first  three 
named  officers  the  other  directors  are:  Thomas  E. 

Cashman  (1905)  ; John  Watowa  (1903)  ; B.  J.  Meix- 
ner  (1895)  ; and  J.  H.  Robson  (1906). 

Norman  Evans.  Prominent  and  influential  as  a 
citizen  and  business  man  of  Owatonna,  Steele 
County,  Mr.  Evans  is  one  of  the  substantial  capi- 
talists and  representative  financiers  of  this  section 
of  the  state  and  is  essentially  loyal  and  public-spirited 
in  his  civic  attitude.  He  is  president  of  the  Security 
State  Bank  of  Owatonna,  one  of  the  leading  finan- 
cial institutions  of  Steele  County,  and  one  that  has 
exercised  much  influence  in  conserving  the  industrial 
and  general  stability  of  the  community  throughout 
which  its  business  ramifies. 

Norman  Evans  was  born  in  the  Village  of  Min- 
erva, Essex  County,  New  York,  and  is  a son  of 
Richard  and  Cynthia  (West)  Evans,  both  likewise 
natives  of  the  old  Empire  State,  where  they  were 
reared  and  educated  and  where  they  continued  to 
reside  until  1879,  when  they  came  to  Minnesota  and 
established  their  home  in  Olmsted  County,  where 
their  son  Norman  had  located  in  the  preceding  year. 
In  1890  they  removed  to  Owatonna,  where  they 
passed  the  residue  of  their  lives  in  the  home  of  their 
son  Norman,  of  this  review.  The  lineage  of  the 
Evans  family  traces  back  to  sturdy  Welsh  origin 
and  the  progenitors  of  the  American  branch  settled 
in  New  York  City  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  The  West  family,  of  which  the  mother  of 
Mr.  Evans  was  a representative,  became  identified 
with  New  England  in  the  colonial  era  of  our  national 
history  and  the  family  record  indicates  that  its  first 
representatives  in  America  came  from  England  on 
the  historic  ship  Mayflower. 

He  whose  name  introduces  this  review  acquired 
his  early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  village,  his  father  having  been  an  extensive 
land  owner  and  lumber  dealer  in  the  Adirondack 
Mountain  district  of  New  York  and  having  been  one 
of  the  substantial  and  influential  citizens  of  Essex 
County  for  many  years  prior  to  his  removal  to  Min- 
nesota. Norman  Evans  was  afforded  also  the  advan- 
tages of  a high  school  in  his  native  county  and  later 
completed  a course  in  the  Bryant  & Stratton  Business 
College  at  Troy,  New  York.  In  1878,  as  a young 
man,  Mr.  Evans  came  to  Minnesota  and  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  in  the  Village  of 
Dover,  Olmsted  County,  where  he  remained  thus 
engaged  for  three  years.  Thereafter  he  conducted 
a general  store  at  Blooming  Prairie,  Steele  County, 
for  seven  years,  and  finally  he  went  to  Sioux  Falls, 
South  Dakota,  where  he  conducted  a shoe  store  until 
1890,  when  he  returned  to  Steele  County,  Minnesota, 


and  established  his  residence  at  Owatonna.  For 
eight  years  he  was  here  engaged  in  the  dry-goods 
business,  as  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the 
progressive  little  city,  and  he  then  indicated  his  en- 
terprise and  circumspection  by  turning  his  attention 
to  the  banking  business,  in  which  his  success  has  been 
of  unequivocal  order  and  in  connection  with  which 
he  has  maintained  inviolable  place  in  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  local  public.  He  initiated  opera- 
tions by  purchasing  the  business  of  an  established 
private  bank  at  Dodge  Center,  and  incidentally  he 
also  developed  an  extensive  real-estate  business,  his 
operations  being  principally  in  Dodge  County. 
Finally  he  organized  the  Farmers  National  Bank  at 
Dodge  Center,  of  which  institution  he  became  presi- 
dent. In  1904  Mr.  Evans  purchased  a large  block 
of  stock  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Owatonna,  of 
which  he  was  a director  for  three  years.  He  there- 
after made  an  extensive  tour  through  the  West,  and 
gave  special  study  and  investigation  to  civic  and 
business  conditions  in  the  leading  cities  which  he 
visited.  His  incidental  impressions  but  vitalized  his 
allegiance  to  Minnesota  and  upon  his  return  to 
Owatonna  he  purchased  the  controlling  interest  in 
the  Security  State  Bank,  of  which  he  has  since  been 
president  and  of  which  his  elder  son  is  cashier.  A 
specific  record  concerning  this  bank  is  given  on  other 
pages  of  this  volume,  as  is  also  a brief  sketch  of  the 
career  of  its  cashier,  Paul  H.  Evans. 

Mr.  Evans  is  a man  of  broad  mental  ken  and  ma- 
ture judgment,  has  achieved  pronounced  success  in 
connection  with  normal  lines  of  enterprise  and  has 
stood  exponent  of  loyal  and  progressive  citizenship. 
The  Security  State  Bank  was  founded  in  1895  and 
Mr.  Evans  has  been  its  president  since  1907,  when  he 
purchased  a controlling  interest,  as  previously  stated. 
In  politics,  though  never  ambitious  for  public  office, 
he  is  aligned  as  a loyal  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the 
republican  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zeal- 
ous members  of  the  Owatonna  Congregational 
Church,  of  which  he  has  served  as  a trustee  since 
1903.  Mr.  Evans  is  affiliated  with  Star  of  the  East 
Lodge,  No.  33,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons; 
Owatonna  Chapter,  No.  15,  Royal  Arch  Masons; 
Cyrene  Commandery,  No.  9,  Knights  Templar;  and 
with  Owatonna  Camp,  No.  387,  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  While  a resident  of  Dodge  County  he 
served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  education  of 
Dodge  Center. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1875,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Evans  to  Miss  Helena  M.  Bradley, 
daughter  of  Commodore  Henry  Bradley,  a prominent 
and  distinguished  citizen  of  Essex  County,  New 
York.  Of  the  children  of  this  union  the  eldest  is 
Paul  H.,  of  whom  individual  mention  is  made  on 
other  pages ; Robert  K.  is  a member  of  the  class  of 
19x6  in  Pillsbury  Academy,  one  of  the  fine  educa- 
tional institutions  of  Minnesota.  The  beautiful  fam- 
ily home,  known  as  Gynnedd  Crag,  is  situated  on 
South  Cedar  Street,  Owatonna,  and  is  a center  of 
gracious  hospitality  and  of  much  of  the  representa- 
tive social  activity  of  the  community. 

Paul  H.  Evans.  The  efficient  and  popular  cashier 
of  the  Security  State  Bank  of  Owatonna  has  passed 
the  major  part  of  his  life  in  Steele  County,  Minne- 
sota, in  which  state  his  parents  established  their  resi- 
dence when  he  was  about  two  years  of  age,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  representative  business  men  and 
popular  citizens  of  Owatonna,  with  deep  and  abiding 
interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  civic  and  material 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1285 


welfare  of  the  community.  On  other  pages  of  this 
work  is  entered  a brief  review  of  the  career  of  his 
father,  Norman  Evans,  who  is  president  of  the  Se- 
curity State  Bank,  and  thus  it  is  not  necessary  to 
give  in  the  present  connection  further  data  concern- 
ing the  family  history. 

Paul  H.  Evans  was  born  at  Minerva,  Essex  County, 
New  York,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1876,  and  in  1878 
his  parents  came  to  Minnesota  and  established  their 
home  in  Olmsted  County,  whence  they  removed  to 
Steele  County  three  years  later,  thereafter  residing 
for  several  years  in  Dodge  County.  Paul  H.  Evans 
is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  for  his  preliminary 
educational  training  and  in  1895  was  graduated  in 
Pillsbury  Academy.  Thereafter  he  continued  higher 
academic  studies  in  Beloit  College,  at  Beloit,  Wiscon- 
sin, in  which  institution  he  was  a student  for  two 
years.  After  leaving  college  Mr.  Evans  devoted 
about  one  year  to  newspaper  work,  and  he  then  be- 
came bookkeeper  in  the  Farmers  National  Bank  at 
Dodge  Center,  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  of  which 
his  father  was  president,  and  with  the  executive 
affairs  of  this  institution  he  continued  to  be  identi- 
fied six  years.  In  1904  he  assumed  the  position  of 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Owatonna,  in 
which  he  and  his  father  had  become  stockholders 
and  directors,  and  of  this  office  he  continued  the 
incumbent  until  1907,  when  he  became  the  cashier  of 
the  Security  State  Bank  of  Owatonna,  in  which  he 
and  his  father  purchased  a controlling  interest  in 
that  year.  He  has  proved  a careful  and  conserva- 
tive executive  in  the  handling  of  financial  affairs  of 
broad  scope  and  importance  and  has  done  much  to 
make  the  Security  State  Bank  one  of  the  leading 
financial  institutions  of  Steele  County.  A brief  re- 
view of  the  history  of  this  bank  is  given  on  other 
pages  of  this  work.  Though  essentially  liberal  and 
public-spirited,  Mr.  Evans  has  manifested  no  predi- 
lection for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  political 
office,  his  allegiance  being  given,  however,  to  the 
republican  party.  In  addition  to  his  interest  in  the 
bank  of  which  he  is  cashier  he  is  a stockholder  also 
in  the  Ellendale  Bank,  at  Ellendale,  Steele  County. 
He  is  an  appreciative  and  influential  member  of  the 
Owatonna  Business  Men's  Club,  of  which  he  was 
president  in  1913.  In  the  time-hinored  Masonic 
fraternity  his  affiliations  are  as  here  noted : Star 

of  the  East  Lodge,  No.  33,  Ancient,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons;  Owatonna  Chapter,  No.  15.  Royal 
Arch  Masons;  Cyrene  Commandery,  No.  9,  Knights 
Templar;  and  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  in 
the  City  of  St.  Paul.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Phi  Kappa  Psi  college  fraternity.  Both  Mr.  Evans 
and  his  wife  are  most  zealous  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  their  home  city,  and  in  the 
same  he  is  treasurer,  besides  being  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school. 

In  1905  . Mr.  Evans  wedded  Miss  Adaline  C. 
Wheelock,  daughter  of  Lewis  L.  Wheelock,  who  was 
a prominent  lawyer  of  Owatonna  and  an  influential 
citizen  of  Steele  County  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  have  four  children — Norma, 
Ruth,  Martha,  and  Paul. 

Thomas  S.  Morton.  In  the  attractive  little  Vil- 
lage of  Blooming  Prairie,  Steele  County,  Mr.  Morton 
conducts  an  automobile  garage  and  a general  repair 
shop  for  farming  machinery,  automobiles,  etc.  He 
has  been  for  many  years  known  as  one  of  the 
skilled  mechanics  of  Steele  County  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  Minnesota  since  boyhood,  his  father  hav- 
ing established  a home  in  Olmsted  County  in  1856, 


about  two  years  before  Minnesota  became  one  of 
the  sovereign  states  of  the  Union.  Mr.  Morton  is  a 
brother  of  Edwin  Morton,  another  of  the  honored 
and  influential  citizens  of  Blooming  Prairie  and  one 
of  whom  individual  mention  is  made  on  other  pages 
of  this  publication.  He  whose  name  initiates  this 
review  was  one  of  the  valiant  soldiers  who  repre- 
sented Minnesota  in  the  Union  ranks  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  his  record  in  that  great  conflict  is  one  that 
will  stand  to  his  enduring  honor. 

Thomas  S.  Morton  was  born  in  the  little  City  of 
St.  Helen's  Lancastershire,  England,  on  the  24th  of 
October,  1840,  and  is  a son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Sharpies)  Morton,  of  whom  definite  mention  is 
made  in  the  sketch  of  the  career  of  the  younger 
son,  Edwin  Morton,  on  other  pages  of  this  work. 
In  1850,  when  Thomas  S.  Morton  was  about  ten 
years  old,  the  family  immigrated  to  America,  his 
rudimentary  education  having  been  acquired  in  his 
native  land  and  having  been  supplemented  by  his 
attending  the  common  schools  in  Ulster  County, 
New  York,  where  his  parents  first  established  their 
home  after  coming  to  the  United  States.  Later  the 
family  removed  to  New  York  City,  and  in  the 
national  metropolis  likewise  Mr.  Morton  was  ena- 
bled to  attend  school.  His  mother  died  in  the  State 
of  New  Jersey,  the  father  having  in  the  meanwhile 
been  identified  with  business  activities  in  New  York 
City,  and  in  1856  the  father  came  with  his  children 
to  the  Territory  of  Minnesota  and  became  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Olmsted  County,  where  he 
reclaimed  a farm  from  the  virgin  soil  and  continued 
to  reside  until  his  death,  in  1864. 

Sixteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  to  Minnesota,  Thomas  S.  Morton  gave  zeal- 
ous aid  in  the  development  and  other  work  of  the 
home  farm,  and  his  memory  forms  a connecting  link 
between  the  pioneer  days  and  the  present  era  of  opu- 
lent prosperity  and  progress  in  Minnesota.  He 
finally  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  to  the  black- 
smith’s trade,  to  the  work  of  which  he  gave  his  at- 
tention until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he 
soon  subordinated  all  else  to  the  call  of  loyalty  and 
tendered  his  services  in  defense  of  the  Union.  On 
the  12th  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Morton  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  K,  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  gallant  command  he  proceeded 
to  the  front  and  with  which  he  continued  in  active 
service  until  victory  had  crowned  the  Union  arms 
and  the  weary  struggle  came  to  an  end.  He  took 
part  in  numerous  engagements,  including  the  battles 
of  Guntown,  Tupelo,  Nashville  and  Spanish  Fort, 
and  proved  himself  a faithful  and  valiant  soldier 
of  the  republic. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  reception  of 
his  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Morton  resumed  the 
work  of  his  trade,  in  Olmsted  County,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1872,  when  he  established  his  home  at 
Blooming  Prairie,  which  place  has  continued  to  be 
his  place  of  residence  during  the  long  intervening 
period  of  more  than  forty  years.  Here  he  has  con- 
tinuously worked  at  his  trade,  besides  developing 
his  ability  as  an  expert  general  mechanic,  and  he 
now  gives  his  personal  supervision  to  his  large  and 
well  equipped  garage  and  repair  shop.  Strong  of 
mind  and  body,  he  is  still  active  as  a practical  me- 
chanic, and  he  stands  as  a sturdy,  upright  and  liberal 
citizen  who  commands  the  unqualified  esteem  of  the 
community  which  has  long  represented  his  home  and 
been  the  stage  of  his  industrious  and  successful 
endeavors. 


1286 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Mr.  Morton  is  a stalwart  in  the  local  camp  of 
the  republican  party  and  is  a man  of  strong  and 
well  fortified  convictions.  When  Blooming  Prairie 
was  incorporated  as  a village  he  had  the  distinction 
of  being  chosen  the  first  president  of  the  village 
council,  and  he  continued  on  the  board  as  an  efficient 
and  progressive  incumbent  for  a period  of  six  years. 
He  is  now  serving  as  a member  of  the  school  board, 
and  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  his  home  vil- 
lage and  county  is  a matter  of  lively  concern  to  him. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  Prairie  Lodge,  No. 
123,  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  the  while 
he  perpetuates  the  more  gracious  memories  and  asso- 
ciations of  his  military  career  by  retaining  member- 
ship in  Goodwin  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
at  Owatonna,  the  county  seat  of  Steele  County. 

In  1874  was  recorded  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Morton 
to  Miss  Ardelia  Johnson,  of  Olmsted  County,  and 
of  the  two  children  the  younger,  Anna  E.,  died  in 
childhood ; Byron  H.  is  associated  with  his  father  in 
business  and  is  one  of  the  representative  business 
men  of  the  younger  generation  at  Blooming  Prairie. 

Edwin  Morton.  Engaged  in  the  hardware  and 
farm  implement  business  in  the  Village  of  Bloom- 
ing Prairie  and  the  owner  of  one  of  the  fine  landed 
estates  of  Steele  County,  Mr.  Morton  is  known  and 
honored  as  one  of  the  substantial  business  men  and 
progressive  citizens  of  the  state  that  has  represented 
his  home  from  boyhood  and  in  which  his  father  was 
a pioneer,  the  family  having  come  to  the  Territory 
of  Minnesota  about  two  years  prior  to  the  admission 
of  the  state  to  the  Union. 

Mr.  Morton  is  one  of  a comparatively  limited 
number  of  Minnesota  citizens  who  can  claim  the 
“right  little,  tight  little  isle’’  of  England  as  the  place 
of  their  nativity.  He  was  born  in  the  Town  of  St. 
Plelen’s,  Lancastershire,  England,  on  the  1st  of  July, 
1849,  and  is  a son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Sharpies)  Morton,  both  representatives  of  staunch 
old  families  of  Lancastershire.  George  Morton  was 
born  at  St.  Helen’s,  in  1812,  and  he  died  on  his  pio- 
neer farm,  in  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  on  the 
29th  of  June,  1864,  his  wife  having  died  in  the  State 
of  New  Jersey.  In  1850  George  Morton  immi- 
grated with  his  family  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  Rochester  Township,  Ulster  County,  New 
York.  Three  years  later  he  removed  to  New  York 
City,  where  he  found  employment  in  a wholesale 
grocery  establishment  and  where  he  remained  until 
1856,  when  he  came  with  his  wife  and  children  to 
the  Territory  of  Minnesota  and  entered  claim  to  a 
tract  of  Government  land  in  Olmsted  County.  He 
gave  himself  with  characteristic' energy  to  the  devel- 
opment of  a farm  and  became  one  of  the  honored 
and  influential  pioneer  citizens  of  that  county,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  in  1864.  His 
wife  had  died  five  or  six  years  previously. 

Edwin  Morton  was  a lad  of  seven  years  at  the  time 
of  the  family  removal  to  Minnesota  and  he  was 
reared  to  adult  age  under  the  invigorating  influences 
of  the  old  homestead  farm,  in  Olmsted  County.  _ He 
attended  the  pioneer  schools  until  he  had  attained 
to  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  was  fifteen  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  father’s  death,  after  which  he 
found  employment  at  farm  work  and  other  occupa- 
tions until  he  was  nineteen  years  old,  in  the  mean- 
while attending  school  when  opportunity  offered — 
principally  in  the  winter  months.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  Mr.  Morton  entered  upon  an  appren- 


ticeship to  the  trade  of  tinsmith,  in  a shop  at  St. 
Charles,  Winona  County,  and  with  the  work  of 
this  trade  he  continued  to  be  identified  nearly  three 
years. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1873,  as  a young  man 
of  limited  means  but  distinctive  energy  and.  ambi- 
tion, Mr.  Morton  established  his  residence  in  the 
little  Village  of  Blooming  Prairie,  Steele  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  on  a 
modest  scale.  From  this  nucleus  he  has,  by  energy, 
progressive  methods  and  fair  dealings,  developed  a 
business  that  is  conceded  to  be  the  largest  conducted 
in  any  village  of  the  same  appreciable  population  in 
the  entire  state,  the  while  he  has  attained  success  of 
the  most  worthy  and  substantial  order.  He  has  aided 
in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  the  village  and 
county,  has  ordered  his  course  along  the  line  of 
inviolable  integrity  and  honor,  and  has  the  confidence 
and  high  regard  of  all  who  know  him.  His  business 
enterprise  stands  today  as  the  most  extensive  and 
substantial  in  Steele  County  outside  of  the  City  of 
Owatonna,  the  county  seat.  Such  success  comes  to 
no  man  without  being  justly  due,  and  the  career  of 
Mr.  Morton  should  offer  both  lesson  and  incentive 
to  the  younger  generation.  The  well  equipped  estab- 
lishment of  Mr.  Morton  is  located  on  Fourth  Street, 
not  far  distant  from  the  railway  station  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  its  trade  extends  over  a territory  of  ten 
miles  _ radius,  special  attention  being  given  to  the 
handling  of  farm  implements  and  machinery,  the 
while  the  stock  of  heavy  and  shelf  hardware  is 
larger  than  that  carried  in  the  average  establish- 
ments of  the  kind  in  places  of  many  times  the  popu- 
lation of  Blooming  Prairie. 

Alert  and  liberal  in  supporting  those  measures 
and  undertakings  which  conserve  the  general  wel- 
fare of  the  community,  Mr.  Morton  is  a stalwart 
supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  and 
he  served  several  years  as  president  of  the  village 
council  of  Blooming  Prairie.  He  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Blooming  Prairie  Separator  Creamery 
Association  for  a total  of  nearly  twenty  years,  and 
further  evidence  of  the  prosperity  that  is  his  is 
shown  in  his  ownership  of  a finely  improved  stock 
farm  of  330  acres,  eligibly  situated  one  mile  south 
of  Blooming  Prairie,  and  in  his  possession  also  of 
another  valuable  farm  of  200  acres,  eight  miles  dis- 
tant from  the  village.  He  is  an  extensive  breeder 
and  grower  of  the  best  grades  of  livestock,  including 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland-China  swine. 

In  his  home  village  Mr.  Morton  is  affiliated  with 
Prairie  Lodge,  No.  123,  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons ; and  in  the  county  seat  he  holds  member- 
ship in  Owatonna  Chapter,  No.  15,  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  and  Cyrene  Commandery,  No.  9,  Knights 
Templar,  besides  which  he  is  a member  of  Zurah 
Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  and  influential 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  their  home 
village  and  he  is  serving  as  deacon  in  the  same. 

At  St.  Charles,  this  state,  on  the  20th  of  August, 
1874,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Morton 
to  Miss  Mabel  Johnson,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: Mabel  is  the  wife  of  George  L.  Taylor,  who 

is  county  auditor  of  Dodge  County,  and  they  reside 
at  Mantonville,  the  county  seat;  Edna  is  the  wife  of 
William,  E.  Carman,  who  is  engaged  in  the  jewelry 
business  at  Blooming  Prairie ; and  George  E.  is 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
extensive  hardware  and  implement  business. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1287 


Rt.  Rev.  Timothy  Corbett.  The  grovvth  and 
advancement  of  Catholic  institutions  in  Minnesota 
have  gone  forward  apace  with  the  development  of 
the  state  at  large.  Not  many  years  ago  the  admin- 
istration of  the  churches  all  over  the  state  was  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  one  bishop.  Now  there  are  five 
episcopal  sees,  and  both  Duluth  and  Crookston  are 
cathedral  cities,  and  each  the  center  of  a great 
Catholic  population.  The  last  of  these  to  be  created 
was  the  See  of  Crookston,  and  its  first  and  present 
bishop  is  Rt.  Rev.  Timothy  Corbett,  who  for  more 
than  twenty  years  was  rector  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
Cathedral  at  Duluth. 

Bishop  Corbett  was  consecrated  to  his  present 
office  in  1910.  In  five  years  time  a magnificent  work 
has  gone  forward  under  his  capable  leadership.  In 
June,  1910,  there  was  only  one  small  Catholic  Church 
property  at  Crookston,  valued  at  $7,000.  Since  then 
has  been  built  the  beautiful  Cathedral  of  Crookston 
at  a cost  of  $75,000,  also  the  Cathedral  High  School, 
at  a cost  of  $60,000  and  an  episcopal  residence  cost- 
ing $25,000,  and  through  the  direct  influence  of 
Bishop  Corbett  the  St.  Joseph's  Academy,  a boarding 
school  for  girls  and  young  ladies,  has  been  erected 
at  a cost  of  $60,000.  Thus  in  five  years  the  cathe- 
dral property  has  increased  in  value  from  seven 
thousand  to  more  than  a quarter  of  a million  dollars, 
with  an  indebtedness  of  only  $15,000.  In  accom- 
plishing this  great  work  Bishop  Corbett  contributed 
the  savings  of  his  lifetime,  and  his  self-sacrificing 
leadership  was  all  the  stimulus  that  was  needed  for 
prompt  response  on  the  part  of  all  the  Catholic 
families  in  the  diocese. 

Rt.  Rev.  Timothy  Corbett  was  born  in  1858  at 
Mendota,  the  oldest  town  in  Minnesota,  near  historic 
Fort  Snelling.  When  a boy  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Minneapolis,  and  attended  a Catholic 
school  in  Bishop  (then  Father)  McGolrick’s  parish. 
Here  the  youth  came  under  the  observation  of 
Bishop  McGolrick,  who  observing  his  priestly  voca- 
tion, gave  him  a private  course  in  Latin,  Greek  and 
English,  and  in  1876  personally  placed  him  in  the 
old  college  of  Meximieux,  in  France,  where  Arch- 
bishop Ireland  and  Bishop  O’Gorman  had  completed 
their  classical  studies.  At  the  end  of  four  years 
Father  Corbett  returned  to  pursue  his  course  in 
philosophy  and  theology  at  the  Grand  Seminary  in 
Montreal  and  in  Brighton  Seminary  at  Boston.  At 
the  latter  place  he  was  ordained  a priest  in  1886. 

Bishop  Corbett  returned  to  Minneapolis  to  become 
assistant  to  Bishop  McGolrick,  and  remained  in  that 
city  until  1889.  He  then  preceded  Bishop  McGolrick 
to  Duluth  by  a few  months,  and  became  pastor  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  Cathedral,  to  the  service  and 
upbuilding  of  which  he  devoted  twenty-one  years. 
At  the  beginning  of  his  work  in  Duluth  he  found  a 
very  small  church  property  and  to  build  up  almost 
from  the  foundation.  In  1892  his  church  and  resi- 
dence were  burned  to  the  ground,  but  almost  imme- 
diately he  undertook  the  task  of  rebuilding.  The 
foundation  of  the  church  was  laid,  but  owing  to  the 
severe  financial  panic  beginning  with  1893  nothing 
could  be  done  towards  further  construction  until 
1894.  The  cornerstone  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Cathe- 
dral was  laid  in  1894  and  the  beautiful  building  was 
dedicated  in  July,  1896.  During  all  the  years  spent 
at  Duluth  Father  Corbett  was  incessant  in  his  activi- 
ties not  only  as  a pastor  but  as  a church  organizer 
and  builder,  and  seldom  have  stronger  ties  of  affec- 
tion, loyalty  and  co-operation  existed  between  priest 
Vol.  hi— 2 


and  people  than  in  the  case  of  Father  Corbett  and 
the  Sacred  Heart  Parish  at  Duluth. 

Bishop  Corbett’s  work  at  Duluth  was  character- 
ized by  one  of  his  fellow  workers  as  follows : “In 

reviewing  the  success  of  these  twenty  years,  Bishop 
McGolrick  does  not  hesitate  to  give  due  credit  to 
the  zeal  and  energy  of  the  boy  whom  he  selected 
for  the  priesthood.  As  pastor  of  the  Cathedral  for 
twenty  years,  and  chancellor  of  the  diocese  for  fif- 
teen, Father  Corbett  has  displayed  ability  of  a high 
order.  His  activity  in  the  cause  of  religion  has  been 
prudent,  farseeing  and  disinterested.  A dauntless 
defender  of  truth  and  justice  and  a friend  of  the 
working  man.  Father  Corbett  is  nevertheless  of  a 
retiring  disposition.  He  has  been  called  the  ‘thun- 
dering orator’  for  the  pulpit  has  been  to  him  a 
throne  from  which  he  ruled  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  his  hearers.  He  does  his  duty  without  fear  or 
favor,  making  no  compromise  with  error  and  ready 
on  all  occasions  to  do  battle  for  reason  or  religion, 
letting  the  chips  fall  where  they  may.  . . . His 

activity  and  the  material  progress  of  church  and 
schools  needs  no  comment,  but  over  and  above  the 
material  edifice  there  is  the  higher  edifice  of  con- 
science and  character,  which  by  the  patient  labors 
of  over  twenty  years  he  has  reared  in  the  hearts 
and  homes  of  his  people.  His  many  friends,  while 
rejoicing  to  see  his  elevation  to  the  episcopate,  will 
sincerely  regret  his  departure  and  will  miss  in  him 
a model  priest,  a tireless  worker  and  a gifted 
preacher  of  the  word  of  God.” 

At  the  time  of  his  elevation  to  the  bishopric  at 
Crookston  one  of  the  secular  press  at  Duluth  spoke 
of  him  as  follows : “Father  Corbett  is  distinctly  an 

organizer,  and  the  new  diocese  will  take  shape, 
coherence  and  orderly  form  very  quickly  under  his 
direction ; while  his  appointment  is  a boon  to  the 
new  diocese,  it  is  a notable  loss  to  the  Cathedral 
parish  and  to  Duluth.  Father  Corbett's  indomitable 
energy,  his  courage,  aggressiveness  and  persistence, 
as  well  as  his  vigorous  commonsense,  his  uncom- 
promising fidelity  to  the  right,  and  his  tireless  work 
for  church,  parish  and  people,  have  made  him  a 
strong  figure  in  the  community,  and  these  qualities 
furnish  him  with  an  equipment  of  personality  that 
fits  him  peculiarly  for  his  new  and  higher  duties.” 

Bishop  Corbett  was  consecrated  in  St.  Mary's 
Chapel  of  St.  Paul  Seminary  May  19,  1910.  The 
solemn  and  imposing  ceremony  was  attended  by 
many  dignitaries  of  the  church  and  also  men  of 
prominence  in  civil  and  public  life.  There  were 
twenty-one  visiting  bishops,  six  bishops  elect,  three 
archbishops,  accompanied  by  the  papal  delegate.  The 
governor  of  Minnesota  and  his  staff  were  also  pres- 
ent. 

When  Bishop  Corbett  was  transferred  to  Crooks- 
ton his  pro-cathedral  and  residence  were  of  a most 
unimposing  character.  The  St.  Mary’s  congregation 
at  Crookston  was  organized  in  1885,  the  membership 
consisting  of  English  speaking  Catholics  that  had 
theretofore  belonged  to  St.  Anne’s  parish.  The 
church  building  which  was  still  standing  when 
Bishop  Corbett  arrived  was  erected  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1886,  and  the  first  resident  pastor  was 
Fr.  E.  J.  Lawlor.  The  greatest  period  of  growth  in 
the  parish  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Francis 
Hufnagle,  who  came  in  1900.  He  paid  off  the  old 
debt  of  the  church,  bought  adjoining  property,  and 
erected  the  parochial  residence,  and  left  the  parish 
not  only  out  of  debt  but  with  considerable  money  on 
hand  as  a building  fund.  Father  Hufnagle  went  to 


1288 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Duluth  in  1907  and  was  succeeded  by  Father  Smiers, 
who  remained  as  pastor  until  the  spring  of  1910. 

The  present  Cathedral  of  Crookston,  which  cost 
altogether  $75,000,  is  a beautiful  edifice  of  the 
Romanesque  architecture,  built  of  pressed  brick  with 
stone  trimmings,  and  remarkable  for  the  beauty  of 
its  three  towers,  each  bearing  a massive  cross.  The 
seating  capacity  of  the  auditorium  is  1,000,  and 
the  interior  decorations  and  furnishings  are  in 
keeping  with  the  high  dignity  of  the  cathedral. 

Between  the  Cathedral  and  the  Cathedral  High 
School  is  located  the  bishop’s  residence.  The  Cathe- 
dral High  School  is  a two-story  pressed  brick  struc- 
ture which  cost  $60,000,  and  is  an  institution  of 
which  Bishop  Corbett  may  properly  be  very  proud, 
since  it  was  largely  under  his  energetic  leadership 
that  it  became  possible  to  bring  about  its  construc- 
tion. Two  older  institutions  in  the  cathedral  city 
which  have  also  made  great  progress  in  the  past 
five  years  are  St.  Joseph’s  Academy,  which  was 
opened  in  1905,  and  St.  Vincent’s  Hospital,  which  is 
now  one  of  the  leading  institutions  of  its  kind  in. 
the  entire  Red  River  Valley  and  has  been  in  suc- 
cessful operation  since  1902. 

The  Crookston  Public  Library.  The  present 
building  occupied  by  the  Crookston  Public  Library 
was  erected  in  1907.  The  site,  beautifully  and  cen- 
trally located,  was  donated  by  citizens ; and  the  build- 
ing, which  cost  $17,500,  was  given  by  Andrew  Car- 
negie. The  institution  is  under  the  control  of  a 
board  of  nine  members,  appointed  by  the  mayor. 
They  serve  for  a term  of  three  years,  without  com- 
pensation. Three  members  are  appointed  every  year, 
the  other  six  holding  over,  thus  securing  continuity 
in  the  policy  of  management. 

The  tax  levy  for  the  support  of  the  institution 
this  year  is  $2,000.  The  librarian  is  paid  a salary  of 
$55  per  month  and  the  services  of  a janitor  are  se- 
cured at  $25  per  month. 

The  library  contains  at  the  present  time  4,851  vol- 
umes, of  which  2,229  are  general  literature — history, 
biography,  sociology,  scientific  and  technical  works, 
etc. — and  2,622  fiction.  The  number  of  magazines 
received  per  month  are  thirty-two  and  the  number 
of  newspapers  eight. 

The  number  of  books  loaned  during  the  year  1914 
were  16,934.  The  reading  rooms  connected  with  the 
library  are  well  patronized  at  all  times,  not  only  by 
those  who  come  to  read  the  magazines  and  newspa- 
pers which  are  not  allowed  to  be  taken  out  of  the 
building,  but  also  by  many  who  come  to  consult 
works  of  reference. 

The  amount  expended  in  the  purchase  of  books 
during  1914  was  $509.65,  and  for  magazines  $75.60. 

The  amount  collected  in  fines  and  for  books  lost 
and  injured  the  same  period  was  $221.80. 

Beside  the  library  proper,  and  the  reading  rooms, 
there  are  two  lecture  rooms  which  are  used,  free  of 
charge,  by  debating  societies  and  other  organizations 
of  non-commercial  and  non-religious  nature.  Taken 
as  a whole,  the  library  forms  the  center  of  an  intel- 
lectual activity  of  much  promise  to  the  future  wel- 
fare of  the  city. 

Peter  M.  Ringdal.  A resident  of  Crookston  more 
than  a quarter  of  a century,  Peter  M.  Ringdal  has 
gained  a prominent  position  both  in  business  and  in 
public  affairs  and  democratic  politics.  Many  people 
in  the  state  will  remember  him  as  the  democratic 
candidate  for  governor  in  1912.  He  has  also  served 


on  several  state  commissions,  and  as  a business  man 
is  president  of  the  Crookston  Marble  Works  and  of 
the  Polk  County  State  Bank. 

Peter  M.  Ringdal  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  born 
in  Goodhue  County  in  1861.  Nineteen  years  were 
spent  on  a farm  and  following  that  he  was  for  a 
number  of  years  engaged  in  railway  work.  His  home 
has  been  in  Crookston  since  1888.  In  1885  Mr. 
Ringdal  married  Mary  J.  Shirley. 

Since  reaching  his  majority  he  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs  both  of  county  and  state. 
In  1894  as  a populist  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  and  during  his  term  made  vigorous  efforts 
for  better  control  of  common  carriers  and  for  re- 
duction in  transportation  rates.  It  was  Mr.  Ringdal 
who  inaugurated  the  movement  which  resulted  in 
the  establishment  of  a State  Experiment  Station  at 
Crookston  in  1896,  an  institution  that  has  since  been 
developed  into  a State  Agricultural  School.  lie  also 
took  an  important  hand  in  reorganizing  the  State 
Labor  Bureau  on  a more  efficient  basis.  After  his 
first  term  in  the  State  Senate  he  was  unanimously 
renominated  in  1898,  but  withdrew  his  name  from 
the  legislative  ticket  to  accept  a unanimous  nomina- 
tion for  Congress  by  both  the  people’s  and  demo- 
cratic parties.  In  that  election  he  was  unsuccessful. 
In  1899  Mr.  Ringdal  was  appointed  a member  of  the 
State  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commission,  and 
during  the  following  two  years  while  he  was  on  the 
commission  considerable  progress  was  made  in  re- 
ducing and  equalizing  railroad  rates  and  removing 
discriminations.  In  January,  1907,  h,e  was  appointed 
a member  of  the  State  Board  of  Control,  having 
charge  of  all  the  charitable  and  correctional  institu- 
tions of  the  state,  and  was  on  that  board  for  more 
than  six  years.  At  the  present  time  Mr.  Ringdal 
is  register  of  the  LInited  States  Land  Office  in 
Crookston,  to  which  position  he  was  appointed  in 
January,  1914.  He  has  always  been  a radical  demo- 
crat, supporting  all  measures  aimed  at  the  equalizing 
of  opportunity  and  at  the  destruction  of  monopoly 
and  special  privilege. 

Christian  C.  Strander.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
Christian  C.  Strander  came  to  the  United  States 
and  soon  found  doors  of  opportunity  open  to  him 
in  the  great  State  of  Minnesota.  He  possessed  in- 
dustry and  capacity  for  real  service,  and  his  advance- 
ment was  only  a matter  of  time.  Mr.  Strander  is 
now  president  of  a large  abstract  and  investment 
company,  and  has  numerous  financial  and  business 
relations  with  his  home  City  of  Crookston,  with 
which  he  has  been  identified  as  a resident  more  than 
a quarter  of  a century. 

Christian  C.  Strander  was  born  October  31,  1870, 
in  Hamar,  Norway,  a son  of  Ole  and  Eline  Strander. 
His  father  was  a Norwegian  merchant.  The  son 
came  to  America  in  1888  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  located  in  Crookston.  The  next  five  years  were 
spent  in  work  as  clerk  and  as  deputy  register  of 
deeds  for  Polk  County.  That  experience  gave  him 
the  training  and  equipment  which  he  has  since  util- 
ized in  his  chief  business.  After  spending  three 
years  as  an  abstracter  with  the  firm  of  Christianson 
Brothers,  he  bought  a half  interest  in  the  business, 
which  was  then  conducted  under  the  name  Chris- 
tianson & Strander.  In  1905  Mr.  Strander  became 
sole  owner,  and  then  organized  the  Strander  Ab- 
stract & Investment  Company,  capitalized  at  $40,000. 
He  has  since  been  president  of  this  company,  which 
has  the  only  complete  set  of  abstract  books  in  Polk 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1289 


County.  It  is  a prosperous  business,  and  the  com- 
pany owns  its  own  building,  25x60  feet,  two  stories, 
with  the  business  headquarters  on  the  first  floor  and 
offices  above.  Mr.  Strander  is  a former  president 
of  the  Minnesota  State  Abstracters  Association. 

He  is  also  vice  president  of  the  Scandia-American 
Bank  in  Crookston,  is  treasurer  of  the  Valley  Farm- 
ing Company,  which  operates  a place  of  640  acres 
near  Crookston,  and  in  addition  owns  considerable 
city  and  country  property  in  his  own  name.  Mr. 
Strander  has  taken  the  Knight  Templar  degrees  in 
Masonry,  is  a member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  also 
of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He 
is  well  known  in  local  affairs,  is  one  of  the  popular 
members  of  the  Crookston  Commercial  Club,  and 
for  recreation  is  a member  of  the  Tennis  Club.  Mr. 
Strander  is  a trustee  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
active  in  its  affairs.  He  was  married  September 
12,  1895,  at  Crookston  to  Miss  Inez  H.  Dahl.  They 
have  a fine  family  of  five  children  : Herman  Chris- 

tian, Helen  Gertrude,  Mildred  Allette,  Agna  Elfrida 
and  Osmun  Randolph. 

FIon.  Andrew  D.  Stephens.  With  a character 
and  exceptional  ability  as  a financier,  an  experienced 
executive  in  the  handling  of  large  business  affairs, 
the  services  of  Andrew  D.  Stephens  have  been  called 
upon  in  the  direction  of  six  different  banks,  in  each 
of  which  he  holds  the  office  of  president.  Mr. 
Stephens  was  born  in  Minnesota  when  it  was  a ter- 
ritory, and  for  more  than  thirty  years  has  been 
active  not  only  as  a banker  but  as  a public  spirited 
and  useful  citizen,  has  devoted  himself  to  the  im- 
provement of  Minnesota’s  resources  as  an  agricul- 
tural state,  and  among  other  public  honors  is  remem- 
bered for  his  valuable  work  while  a state  senator. 

Andrew  D.  Stephens  was  born  in  Carver  County, 
Minnesota,  May  27,  1855,  a son  of  Lewis  and  Hannah 
(Peterson)  Stephens.  His  father  was  a farmer,  and 
one  of  the  pioneers  in  Carver  County.  Andrew  D. 
Stephens  spent  his  early  youth  when  Minnesota  was 
still  on  the  frontier,  and  after  public  schools  finished 
his  education  in  the  Gustavus  Adolphus  College 
at  St.  Peter.  His  experience  in  merchandising  began 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  up  to  1884  he  employed 
his  energies  as  a store  manager  and  as  traveling 
salesman.  In  that  year  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  and  farm  loans,  and  conducted  an  office  for 
that  service  until  1891.  In  that  year  Mr.  Stephens 
entered  the  Merchants  National  Bank  at  Crookston 
as  cashier.  Since  then  his  advancement  to  promi- 
nence in  banking  affairs  has  brought  him  not  only  to 
the  head  of  the  Merchants  National,  in  which  he 
was  elected  president  in  January,  1909,  but  also  to 
the  executive  management  of  five  other  banks,  the 
Mentor  State  Bank,  the  Fosston  First  National,  the 
Bagley  First  National,  the  Twin  Valley  State,  and 
the  State  Bank  of  Missoula,  Montana. 

The  Merchants  National  Bank  of  Crookston  was 
organized  in  1879  as  a private  institution  under  the 
name  of  Merchants  Bank.  In  1884  it  was  incor- 
porated under  the  national  banking  laws,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $75,000,  which  has  been  preserved 
to  the  present  time.  Besides  the  capital  stock  the 
surplus  in  1915  amounted  to  $51,000,  and  undivided 
profits  $6,000.  It  is  a United  States  depository,  and 
the  average  deposits  at  the  present  time  aggregate 
$1,100,000.  The  bank  also  has  savings  department, 
and  also  departments  covering  farm  loans,  building 
and  loan,  and  gives  a general  commercial  service. 
The  bank  pays  4 per  cent  interest  on  savings,  and 


5 per  cent  on  time  certificates  of  deposit.  The  bank 
is  located  in  its  own  building,  a structure  26x140 
feet,  two  stories,  with  offices  above  the  bank.  The 
vice  president  is  William  E.  McKenzie,  the  cashier  is 
V.  L.  MacGregor,  and  the  assistant  cashiers  are 
Marcus  Stephens  and  C.  E.  Gildersleeve. 

Several  paragraphs  might  easily  be  used  in  speak- 
ing of  Mr.  Stephens’  public  services.  Two  terms  he 
was  mayor  of  Crookston,  has  been  a member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Immigration,  and  also  served  as 
lumber  surveyor  for  the  Ninth  District.  In  1902  he 
was  elected  a member  of  the  State  Senate,  and  re- 
mained with  that  body  until  1911.  It  was  Senator 
Stephens  who  first  introduced  the  bill  supporting 
the  somewhat  unusual  doctrine  but  manifestly  hu- 
manitarian principle  of  allowing  state  prisoners 
while  serving  their  terms  in  the  penitentiary  a salary 
which  should  be  paid  to  them  upon  their  liberation. 
However,  both  while  in  the  Senate  and  as  a private 
citizen,  Senator  Stephens  has  been  indefatigable  in 
his  efforts  in  behalf  of  agricultural  development. 
Fie  was  instrumental  in  securing  for  Crookston  the 
first  agricultural  experiment  station,  and  in  honor 
of  his  efforts  the  first  building  was  named  Stephens 
Hall.  The  training  school  at  Red  Wing  also  owes 
much  to  his  earnest  efforts  in  its  behalf.  Mr. 
Stephens  deserves  probably  the  chief  credit  for  se- 
curing the  abolition  of  corporal  punishment  in  the 
public  schools  of  Minnesota. 

Senator  Stephens  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
order,  being  a Knight  Templar  and  a member  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  also  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  was  married  January  1,  1878,  to  Chrissie  Cam- 
eron, who  was  born  in  Canada.  They  are  the  parents 
of  three  children : Marcus  is  assistant  cashier  of  the 
Merchants  National  Bank  of  Crookston ; and  Marian 
and  Andrea  both  live  at  home.  The  son  Marcus 
married  Ethel  Mudgett  of  Minneapolis,  and  their 
two  children  are  Marion  and  Homer. 

Frank  A.  Grady.  A native  of  Minnesota  and  the 
son  of  pioneer  settlers,  Frank  A.  Grady  has  for 
twenty  years  been  actively  identified  with  the  law, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  Crooks- 
ton. Along  with  a large  practice  Mr.  Grady  has 
found  time  to  serve  the  community  in  various  official 
relations,  and  in  whatever  community  has  been  his 
home  he  has  shown  the  qualities  of  leadership  and 
has  exercised  an  influence  commensurate  with  the 
powers  of  his  mind  and  character. 

Frank  A.  Grady  was  born  at  Eyota  in  Olmsted 
County,  Minnesota,  March  2,  1870,  being  a son  of 
James  and  Bridget  (Doyle)  Grady.  His  father  was 
a farmer,  and  came  out  to  Minnesota  in  1858,  at  a 
date  which  classes  him  among  the  territorial  pioneers. 
The  son  Frank  A.  Grady  was  educated  in  public 
schools,  and  was  graduated  from  the  college  at 
Brookings,  South  Dakota,  with  the  degree  Bachelor 
of  Science  in  1889.  The  next  three  and  a half  years 
were  spent  in  the  work  of  teaching,  after  which  he 
entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota and  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  June,  1894.  Mr. 
Grady  practiced  at  Anoka  until  1895,  was  located  at 
Thief  River  Falls  until  1897,  and  for  the  following 
fourteen  years  was  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  at 
Red  Lake  Falls.  While  at  Thief  River  Falls  he 
served  one  year  as  city  attorney,  and  at  Red  Lake 
Falls  was  county  attorney  of  Red  Lake  County  four 
years.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  board  of  school 
examiners  in  Red  Lake  County  two  years.  Mr. 


1290 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Grady  located  at  Crookston  and  opened  his  law  office 
in  1911,  and  has  a large  and  flourishing  law  business 
in  Polk  County. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Polk  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion, of  the  Crookston  Commercial  Club,  and  frater- 
nally is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  On  December  29,  1897,  at  Anoka,  he 
married  Harriet  Ryan.  Their  three  sons  are  named 
Clarion,  Willard  and  Lowell. 

William  E.  Rowe.  The  professional  career  of 
William  E.  Rowe  has  identified  him  with  the  law. 
He  has  been  in  active  practice  at  Crookston  over 
twenty  years,  has  won  high  rank  as  attorney,  and 
has  enjoyed  many  of  the  best  rewards  of  the  suc- 
cessful lawyer.  Through  his  varied  relations  out- 
side his  profession  he  is  also  well  known  as  a citizen 
of  Crookston. 

William  E.  Rowe  was  born  in  Chickasaw  County, 
Iowa,  April  4,  1871,  a son  of  William  H.  and  Ellen 
(Thompson)  Rowe.  His  father  was  a farmer  and 
from  Iowa  moved  out  to  South  Dakota,  where 
William  E.  Rowe  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  Town  of  Gary.  He  subse- 
quently entered  the  University  of  Minnesota,  took 
the  law  course  and  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1893. 
Since  1894  Mr.  Rowe  has  been  a member  of  the 
Crookston  bar.  He  spent  four  years  as  clerk  with 
the  law  firm  of  Halvor  & Steenerson,  then'  was 
taken  in  as  a partner,  but  since  1900  has  been  in 
individual  practice  and  now  has  a large  and  profit- 
able clientage.  He  served  as  county  attorney  of 
Polk  County  from  1900  to  1904  and  was  city  attor- 
ney of  Crookston  from  1902  to  1913.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Polk  County  Bar  Association. 

Mr.  Rowe  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Crookston  Commercial  Club.  He  is  well 
known  over  the  state  as  a marksman,  and  during 
1914  his  record  of  performance  gave  him  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  best  trap  shot  in  the  state, 
while  in  1911  he  held  the  diamond  badge  as  state 
champion  for  that  year.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Crookston  Rod  and  Gun  Club. 

Mr.  Rowe  was  married  April  26,  1897,  to  Jose- 
phine Elizabeth  Kirseh  of  Crookston.  They  have 
one  son,  Everett  Paul,  born  October  23,  1898. 

Ole  O.  Christianson.  One  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  real  estate  men  in  Polk  County  is  Ole  O. 
Christianson,  who  opened  his  office  at  Crookston 
thirty  years  ago,  and  with  energy  and  honesty  on  his 
own  side,  and  with  the  confidence  of  a large  patron- 
age in  his  integrity  has  enjoyed  a success  that  places 
him  among  the  leading  business  men  of  that  city. 

Ole  O.  Christianson  was  born  in  Allamakee 
County,  Iowa,  June  28,  1858,  only  a few  weeks  after 
his  father  had  come  from  the  Scandinavian  countries 
to  America.  His  father  was  an  Iowa  farmer.  Mr. 
Christianson  received  a public  school  education,  and 
also  attended  business  college  in  preparation  for  his 
career.  He  has  been  a resident  of  Polk  County, 
Minnesota,  since  1879,  and  was  first  identified  with 
this  community  as  a homesteader.  He  spent  two 
years  in  proving  up  and  working  his  claim,  and  then 
worked  as  clerk  in  a general  store  until  1885.  In  that 
year  he  came  to  Crookston  and  has  since  been  in  the 
real  estate  and  insurance  business.  Other  interests 
have  come  in  the  course  of  time,  and  Mr.  Christian- 
son is  now  a director  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Crookston  and  has  given  much  time  to  public 


service  in  his  locality.  For  four  years  he  held  the 
office  of  register  of  deeds  in  Polk  County,  having 
been  elected  for  two  terms.  For  four  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  city  council  and  city  treasurer  eight 
years,  and  is  a former  member  of  the  school  board 
and  of  the  library  board.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Crookston  Commercial  Club. 

On  December  30,  1886,  Mr.  Christianson  married 
Ella  Helland  of  Ada,  Minnesota.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children:  Ole  and  Ella. 

Edwin  Teigen.  The  head  of  the  Edwin  Teigen 
Land  Company  at  Crookston  is  a native  Minnesotan, 
a young  man  of  possessive  ability  and  thoroughness 
in  everything  he  undertakes,  and  has  already  made 
for  himself  a position  as  a business  man  and  citizen 
of  Crookston. 

Edwin  Teigen  was  born  in  Pope  County,  Minne- 
sota, October  13,  1885,  a son  of  Ivor  J.  and  Kari 
Teigen,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Norway  and 
came  to  Minnesota  many  years  ago.  The  father  was 
a farmer.  Edwin  Teigen  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm,  received  a public  school  education,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1910  arrived  in  Crookston,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  as  the  successor  of 
his  brother  Ole,  who  had  first  opened  an  office  in  that 
line  in  1901.  Mr.  Teigen  is  now  the  active  head  of 
the  Edwin  Teigen  Land  Company,  which  has  a large 
business  in  both  local  and  outside  real  estate. 

Mr.  Teigen  is  a member  of  the  Commercial  Club, 
is  active  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having  taken  the 
Knight  Templar  degrees,  and  also  in  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Charles  Edward  Kiewel.  One  of  Crookston’s 
notable  institutions  is  the  Kiewel  Brewing  Company, 
a business  which  was  founded  by  Charles  Edward 
Kiewel  and  which  has  since  been  under  his  efficient 
and  experienced  management.  Mr.  Kiewel  is  a 
native  of  Minnesota  and  since  early  youth  has  been 
identified  with  the  brewing  business.  He  has  a num- 
ber of  other  valuable  interests  in  Crookston  and 
vicinity,  including  a fine  stock  farm  near  that  city. 

Charles  Edward  Kiewel  was  born  at  Moorhead, 
Minnesota,  October  28,  1875,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Rose 
(Niggler)  Kiewel.  His  father  was  in  the  butcher 
business  at  Moorhead,  and  later  in  the  brewing  busi- 
ness at  Little  Falls,  and  the  son  after  getting  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  learned  the  business 
under  his  father.  He  early  demonstrated  independ- 
ent business  capacity,  is  a hard  worker,  an  excellent 
manager  of  men,  and  by  concentrated  effort  has  made 
himself  a successful  factor  in  Minnesota  business 
affairs.  In  1899  he  established  the  Kiewel  Brewing 
Company  at  Crookston,  and  has  built  that  up  as  an 
important  local  industry.  The  business  was  incorpo- 
rated in  1906  and  he  has  since  served  as  secretary  and 
treasurer  and  manager.  Mr.  Kiewel  is  also  presi- 
dent of  the  Northern  Sign  Company,  vice  president 
of  the  Crookston  Cordage  Company,  and  as  a farmer 
owns  an  estate  of  600  acres  three  and  a half  miles 
from  Crookston,  where  he  specializes  in  thorough- 
bred stock.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  United  Commercial  Travelers  and  with  the 
Crookston  Commercial  Club. 

Mr.  Kiewel  was  married  November  17,  1896,  to 
Miss  Catherine  Blake  of  Little  Falls,  Minnesota. 
They  have  two  children,  Dewey  John  and  Charles 
Blake. 


■sJ 


1 


r 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1291 


Helvor  Holte,  M.  D.  While  the  extent  of  his 
practice  indicates  his  high  standing  as  a physician 
and  surgeon,  Dr.  Helvor  Holte  is  known  outside  the 
limits  of  his  own  clientage  on  account  of  his  promi- 
nent associations  with  various  medical  bodies  and 
institutions  and  his  activity  as  a civic  worker  in  the 
City  of  Crookston. 

Helvor  Holte  is  a native  of  Norway,  born  in 
Stavanger  July  n,  1857.  In  1873  his  parents  came  to 
America,  locating  on  a farm  in  Fillmore  County, 
Minnesota.  Doctor  Holte  himself  was  a farmer 
until  the  age  of  twenty-five,  and  then  started  out  to 
get  a college  education  and  fit  himself  for  a larger 
work  than  could  be  found  within  the  limits  of  a 
farm.  He  attended  St.  Olaf  College  at  Northfield, 
and  in  1893  was  graduated  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  at  once 
removed  to  Crookston,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  general  practice,  with  somewhat  of  a spe- 
cialty in  surgery.  He  is  secretary  of  the  Polk  and 
Norman  Counties  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  Commis- 
sion and  served  as  county  physician  one  year.  In 
1897  he  built  the  Bethesda  Hospital,  which  he  owned 
for  a short  time,  and  sold  it  to  the  Bethesda  Hospi- 
tal Association  of  Crookston,  and  it  is  now  con- 
ducted by  the  Lutheran  Deaconesses.  Doctor  Holte 
is  an  active  member  of  the  county  and  state  medical 
societies,  the  Red  River  Valley  Medical  Society,  the 
State  Medical  Association  and  the  American  Medical 
Association,  and  is  a member  of  the  American  Pub- 
lic Health  Association.  He  is  a director  of  the 
Scandia-American  Bank  at  Crookston  and  is  a for- 
mer trustee  and  now  a deacon  in  the  English  United 
Lutheran  Church.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Crookston  Commercial  Club.  Doctor  Holte  was 
married  to  Henrietta  Lunde  of  Franklin,  Minnesota. 
Their  three  children  are  Harold  Oliver,  Evelyn  Irene 
and  Junius  Augustin. 

Sheldon  Ward  Vance.  The  late  Sheldon  Ward 
Vance  was  a business  factor  of  prominence  during 
his  residence  at  Crookston.  He  was  a manufacturer, 
built  up  and  developed  a large  brick  and  tile  indus- 
try, and  at  hi.s  death  left  extensive  interests  which 
have  since  been  capably  handled  by  his  son  E.  W. 
Vance.  The  late  Mr.  Vance  was  a scholar,  a man 
of  thorough  culture,  and  had  been  identified  with 
educational  work  prior  to  coming  to  Crookston. 

Sheldon  Ward  Vance  was  born  in  Toronto,  On- 
tario, Canada,  February  8,  1854.  He  was  educated 
abroad  in  different  colleges,  and  on  coming  to  the 
United  States  spent  several  years  as  a teacher  in 
languages  in  Racine  College  at  Racine,  Wisconsin. 
He  was  a resident  of  Racine  about  ten  years,  and  in 
1888  came  to  Crookston  and  began  the  manufacture 
of  brick  with  his  father-in-law  George  L.  Erskine. 
Sheldon  W.  Vance  married  Ethel  A.  Erskine  of 
Racine.  In  Crookston  Mr.  Vance  was  an  alderman 
and  for  several  years  president  of  the  city  council. 
He  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order  through 
thirty-two  degrees  of  the  Scottish  Rite,  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  was  an  elder  for  many 
years  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  death  oc- 
curred June  19,  1914,  and  Crookston  was  thus  be- 
reaved of  the  services  of  a business  man,  manufac- 
turer and  public  spirited  citizen  of  unquestioned 
integrity  and  broad  capabilities.  He  was  survived 
by  his  widow,  who  is  still  living  in  Crookston,  and 
by  two  children  : Erskine  W.  and  Ethel  G. 

Erskine  Ward  Vance  was  born  at  Racine,  Wiscon- 


sin, August  12,  1889,  and  was  liberally  educated,  at- 
tending the  Crookston  High  School  and  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1910.  The  year  following  his  university 
career  was  spent  as  cashier  of  the  People's  Security 
Bank  at  Castleton,  North  Dakota,  but  in  1911  he  re- 
turned to  Crookston  to  take  the  active  management 
of  his  father’s  brick  making  industry.  The  Crooks- 
ton Brick  & Tile  Company  was  incorporated  in  1907, 
and  has  a working  capital  of  $50,000.  Its  products 
are  distributed  all  over  Northern  Minnesota  and  even 
to  other  states,  and  about  fifty  men  are  given  regular 
employment.  Mr.  Vance  also  has  the  active  manage- 
ment of  the  S.  W.  Vance  & Company,  a real  estate, 
loan  and  fuel  business.  Mr.  Vance  is  one  of  the 
young  and  energetic  factors  in  Crookston  business 
affairs,  and  stands  high  in  social  circles.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Commercial  Club  and  of  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Harvey  Wells  Misner.  The  name  Misner  has 
been  one  of  prominence  in  business  affairs  in  the 
Red  River  Valley  of  Minnesota  more  than  thirty- 
five  years.  The  late  Harvey  Chase  Misner  was  for 
many  years  identified  with  merchandising  at  Euclid, 
and  for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  was  in  the 
real  estate  and  banking  business  at  Crookston.  His 
son,  Harvey  Wells  Misner,  has  succeeded  to  many 
of  the  large  interests  controlled  by  his  father,  and 
has  also  developed  many  of  his  own. 

The  late  Harvey  Chase  Misner  was  born  in 
Batavia,  Wisconsin,  on  a farm,  January  9,  1854. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  his  parents  located  in  Fond 
du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  and  in  April,  1879,  he  came  to 
Northern  Minnesota  and  established  a store  at  Euclid 
under  the  firm  name  of  Misner  & Lindsley.  Later 
the  business  went  under  the  name  of  E.  Taylor  & 
Company  and  still  later  as  Misner  & Pitkin,  chang- 
ing from  that  to  Misner,  Chapin  & Fisk  and  finally 
to  H.  C.  Misner  & Company.  In  the  spring  of  1904 
Mr.  H.  C.  Misner  moved  with  his  family  to  Crooks- 
ton, and  organized  the  Wheeler-Misner  Loan  Com- 
pany. In  January,  1912,  he  was  elected  vice  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Crookston,  but  after 
about  a year  resigned  on  account  of  failing  health. 
Mr.  Misner  died  June  1,  1914. 

Harvey  C.  Misner  was  married  June  15,  1881,  to 
Miss  Ida  Taylor  at  Lyons,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Misner,  who 
is  still  living  at  Crookston,  was  the  mother  of  three 
children,  two  of  whom,  Florence  and  Carl,  died  at 
Euclid  during  the  winter  of  1893,  aged  respectively 
nine  and  five  years.  The  two  surviving  children  are : 
Harvey  W.  Misner  and  Helen  M.,  the  latter  of 
whom  was  an  adopted  daughter.  Harvey  C.  Misner 
will  long  be  remembered  both  in  business  and  social 
circles  in  Northern  Minnesota.  He  was  devoted  to 
his  family  and  home,  was  a man  of  practical  charity 
and  generosity,  and  one  who  did  good  works  without 
ostentation  but  none  the  less  effectively.  He  was 
for  two  years  president  of  the  Crookston  Commer- 
cial Club,  and  a man  of  leadership  wherever  he 
lived.  Fraternally  he  was  well  known  in  Masonic 
circles,  was  a member  of  Constantine  Commandery 
No.  20,  K.  T.,  and  served  a year  during  190S-09  as 
eminent  commander.  He  was  also  affiliated  with 
Crookston  Lodge  No.  342,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  was 
venerable  consul  of  Euclid  Camp  of  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  from  the  time  of  its  organization 
until  he  left  Euclid  to  take  up  his  home  in  Crooks- 
ton. During  his  residence  in  Euclid  he  also  served 
as  town  clerk. 


1292 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Harvey  Wells  Misner  was  born  at  Euclid  Minae- 
sota,  July  io,  1883,  was  educated  in  the.  public  schools 
there,  attended  the  Crookston  High  School  and  fin- 
ished his  training  in  the  McAllister  College  at  St. 
Paul.  Two  years  with  his  father  in  the  general 
store  at  Euclid  gave  him  the  foundation  of  a busi- 
ness experience,  and  from  1904  to  1911  he  was 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Pasadena, 
California.  In  1911  he  returned  to  Crookston  on 
account  of  his  father's  failing  health  and  became  the 
managing  head  of  the  Wheeler-Misner  Loan  Com- 
pany and  the  other  real  estate  interests  of  his  father. 
This  company  is  incorporated  with  a capital  stock 
of  $25,000,  and  Mr.  Misner  is  now  its  secretary  and 
treasurer.  The  company  has  a surplus  of  $25,000 
and  is  in  the  abstract  business  in  Polk  Countv. 
Mr.  Misner  is  also  president  of  the  Crookston 
Investment  Company,  capitalized  at  $25,000,  and  sec- 
retary of  the  Crookston  Cordage  Company,  an  incor- 
porated company  with  $75,000  of  capital  stock.  He 
served  as  president  of  the  Crookston  Commercial 
Club  from  January,  1913,  to  January,  1915,  and  as  a 
director  of  Crookston  Commercial  Club  and  North- 
western Minnesota  Fair  Association.  Like  his 
father,  he  is  foremost  in  all  civic  enterprises  and 
hardly  any  important  undertaking  would  be  com- 
plete without  his  active  co-operation. 

Mr.  Misner  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order, 
being  a Knight  Templar  Mason,  and  with  Lodge 
No.  342  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  Pie  is  treasurer  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Crookston.  On  June  12,  1906,  Mr.  Misner 
married  Ethel  L.  Scott  of  De  Pere,  Wisconsin. 

Edward  Peterson.  A man  who  has  in  the  past 
thirty  years  impressed  himself  and  his  work  upon 
the  community  of  Crookston,  with  a growing  capacity 
for  useful  service  and  an  increasing  individual  suc- 
cess, Edward  Peterson  is  serving  as  treasurer  and 
superintendent  of  the  Crookston  Waterworks,  Power 
and  Light  Company,  a public  utility  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  for  many  years,  and  has  official 
relations  with  several  other  local  industries  and  com- 
mercial institutions. 

Edward  Peterson  was  born  in  Sweden  August  7, 
i860,  a son  of  Peter  and  Anna  Peterson.  His  par- 
ents were  farmers,  and  they  all  emigrated  to  America 
in  1882,  the  father  establishing  a home  at  Thief  River 
Falls,  Minnesota.  Edward  Peterson  grew  up  on  a 
farm,  was  educated  in  the  Swedish  schools,  and  was 
already  a grown  man  when  he  came  to  Minnesota. 
In  1886  he  removed  to  Crookston,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  the  waterworks  department.  It  was 
through  that  institution  that  he  got  his  start,  and 
besides  an  efficiency  in  the  technical  management  of 
the  plant  has  shown  a capacity  for  large  business 
responsibilities.  He  finally  became  engineer  of  the 
plant,  and  from  that  was  promoted  to  superintendent 
of  Crookston  Waterworks,  Power  and  Light  Com- 
pany, in  1892,  and  has  since  been  elected  treasurer 
of  that  company. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is 
president  of  the  Crookston  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation ; is  a director  and  president  of  the  Crookston 
Cordage  Company,  a director  in  the  Electrical  De- 
velopment Company,  a director  and  chairman  of  the 
Industrial  Committee  of  the  Commercial  Club,  and 
his  counsel  and  cooperation  are  frequently  sought  in 
any  movement  of  importance  for  local  welfare.  He 
is  also  a member  of  the  Crookston  School  Board. 

On  January  1,  1888,  at  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Peterson 


married  Hannah  Anderson,  who  died  in  1892.  On 
August  22,  1894,  he  married  Anna  Pherson  of  Chi- 
cago, Illinois.  Mr.  Peterson  has  nine  children,  named 
as  follows:  Julia,  who  lives  in  Santa  Barbara,  Cali- 
fornia; Esther,  who  is  employed  by  the  Light  and 
Power  Company  of  Crookston ; Agnes,  a graduate  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota  with  the  class  of  1915; 
Ethel,  a student  in  the  University  of  Minnesota;  Al- 
bert Edward,  a graduate  of  the  Crookston  High 
School;  Herbert  Kingsley,  a high  school  student; 
Florence,  also  in  school;  Adeline  and  Paul  Malcolm. 

Sivert  M.  Sivertson.  One  of  the  most  active  busi- 
ness men  in  Northern  Minnesota  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  years  has  been  S.  M.  Sivertson,  for- 
merly of  Atwater,  and  now  of  Crookston,  where  he 
is  identified  officially  and  financially  with  several  of 
the  leading  commercial  and  industrial  enterprises  of 
that  city.  Success  in  business  has  meant  to  the  pub- 
lic spirited  mind  of  Mr.  Sivertson  only  larger  oppor- 
tunities to  serve  the  public,  and  his  name  has  bfeen 
associated  in  numerous  capacities  with  local  affairs. 
His  has  been  efficient  leadership  at  all  times. 

Sivert  M.  Sivertson  was  born  in  Norway  June  19, 
i860,  at  Gudbrandsdalen,  Lesje  Parish.  His  father 
brought  him  to  America  in  1869,  locating  near  Dia- 
mond Lake  in  Minnesota,  where  the  father  was  a 
blacksmith  and  later  a farmer.  Sivert  M.  Sivertson 
was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America, 
finished  his  education  in  the  country  schools  and 
later  attended  schools  in  Minneapolis.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  found  employment  as  clerk  in  a gen- 
eral merchandise  store,  and  in  1878  went  into  the 
store  conducted  by  Marcus  Johnson.  With  broaden- 
ing experience  and  enlarging  capacity  his  career  has 
been  one  successful  progress  of  attainment  since  that 
time.  In  1887  he  became  associated  in  business  as  a 
partner  with  Mr.  Johnson  at  Atwater.  Since  taking 
up  his  residence  in  Crookston  Mr.  Sivertson  has 
given  his  chief  attention  to  the  business  of  the 
Crookston  Milling  Company  and  the  Red  Lake  Falls 
Milling  Company,  with  offices  at  Crookston,  in  both 
of  which  corporations  he  is  secretary  and  manager. 
He  is  also  secretary  and  manager  of  the  Johnson- 
Marshall  Land  Company  at  Crookston. 

In  a public  way  Mr.  Sivertson  during  his  residence 
at  Atwater  was  president  of  the  village  five  years, 
also  a member  of  the  council  ten  years,  and  since 
moving  to  Crookston,  four  years  ago,  has  held  a place 
on  the  school  board  for  three  years  and  has  been 
its  president  two  years.  He  still  retains  considerable 
business  interests  at  Atwater.  Mr.  Sivertson  is 
president  of  the  Crookston  Commercial  Club,  is  a 
past  master  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Atwater,  and 
also  affiliates  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  He  is  a trustee  and  secretary  of  the 
board  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Crookston. 

Mr.  Sivertson  married  Margaret  Sanderson  of 
Harrison,  Minnesota,  a daughter  of  Hugh  and  Isabel 
Sanderson,  who  came  to  Minnesota  about  i860.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Helen  Isabel,  now  in  s.chool. 

James  E.  Montague.  Some  well  earned  distinc- 
tions have  come  to  James  E.  Montague  during  his 
career  as  a lawyer  at  Crookston,  and  in  the  course 
of  ten  years  he  has  reached  a place  of  leadership 
in  the  Crookston  bar.  His  father  before  him  was 
one  of  the  distinguished  men  of  early  Minnesota, 
prominent  both  as  a lawyer  and  man  of  affairs. 

James  E.  Montague  was  born  at  Shieldsville,  Min- 
nesota, January  9,  1876,  and  has  lived  in  Crookston 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1293 


since  1881.  His  parents  were  Robert  J.  and  Mary 
(Kelly)  Montague.  His  father,  who  came  to  Min- 
nesota in  1856,  was  a lawyer  of  many  brilliant  parts 
and  attainments,  served  as  judge  of  probate  and  as 
county  attorney  and  as  registrar  of  the  United  States 
Land  Office  in  Polk  County.  At  Crookston  he  was 
mayor  of  the  city,  and  for  a number  of  years  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  still  living,  a 
resident  of  Virginia,  Minnesota,  and  serving  that 
city  as  attorney. 

James  E.  Montague  grew  up  in  Crookston,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  later  attended  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  and  for  his  professional 
preparation  enjoyed  the  peculiar  advantages  of  a 
student  career  in  the  Georgetown  University  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in 
1904,  and  in  1905  was  admitted  to  the  Minnesota 
bar.  Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  building  up 
a general  practice  as  a lawyer,  and  his  practice  takes 
him  into  all  the  courts,  and  he  has  been  retained  as 
attorney  in  some  of  the  important  litigation  in  Polk 
County. 

Mr.  Montague  is  a member  of  the  Polk  County 
and  Minnesota  State  Bar  associations,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Park  Board  of  Crookston.  He  is 
also  on  the  roll  of  membership  of  the  Commercial 
Club,  and  has  affiliations  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  On  December  9,  1901, 
Mr.  Montague  married  Marion  Chapin  of  Chicago, 
Illinois.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children : 
James  and  William. 

Charles  Lawrence  Bang.  One  of  the  enterpris- 
ing business  men  of  Crookston  with  a good  record 
for  accomplishment  and  public  spirit  is  Charles  Law- 
rence Bang,  who  has  spent  most  of  his  active  career 
in  this  section  of  Minnesota  and  has  found  oppor- 
tunities for  usefulness  in  different  lines  of  business 
endeavor. 

Charles  Lawrence  Bang  is  a native  of  Norway, 
where  he  was  born  August  17,  1874,  but  was  reared 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Minnesota.  For  eight  years  he  worked  as  cashier 
for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  part  of  the  time 
at  Crookston;  and  also  at  St.  Paul  and  Duluth.  He 
was  then  associated  for  a time  with  his  brother, 
Gilbert  H.,  in  the  restaurant  business,  and  for  four 
years  was  a manufacturing  and  retail  confectioner  at 
Crookston.  Then  followed  eighteen  months  as  cash- 
ier of  the  Northwestern  Telephone  Company,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  been  associated  with  his 
brother,  Gilbert  H.,  in  the  Crookston  Bottling- 
Works,  a business  which  has  been  steadily  growing 
and  no\y  has  a trade  and  distribution  for  its  products 
over  a w’ide  territory  about  Crookston. 

Mr.  Bang  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order, 
being  past  master  of  his  lodge,  and  is  also  a member 
of  the  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  belongs  to 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the 
Crookston  Commercial  Club,  is  secretary  of  Crooks- 
ton Council  No.  88  of  the  United  Commercial  Trav- 
elers, and  was  formerly  a trustee  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

On  January  1,  1906,  Mr.  Bang  married  Pearl  Tone 
Eox,  who  was  born  in  Vinton,  Iowa.  They  have 
two  children:  Kenneth  Oliver,  born  in  June,  1907; 

and  Lillian  Martha,  born  in  November,  1908. 

Gilbert  H.  Bang.  One  of  Crookston’s  successful 
business  men,  well  known  in  public  affairs  of  that 
city,  Gilbert  H.  Bang  has  been  a resident  of  that 


section  of  Minnesota  more  than  thirty,  years  and  has 
so  ordered  his  activities  as  not  only  to  give  him  a 
substantial  place  and  share  in  local  prosperity,  but 
also  to  add  to  the  advantages  and  the  worth  of  the 
community. 

Gilbert  H.  Bang  was  born  in  Norway,  June  24, 
1869,  a son  of  Thore  H.  and  Anna  Bang.  The  fam- 
ily came  to  Crookston  in  1882,  and  the  education 
which  he  had  begun  in  the  old  country  was  com- 
pleted in  the  local  public  schools.  He  started  in  life 
with  perhaps  fewer  advantages  than  most  boys,  and 
for  ten  years  was  employed  chiefly  in  restaurant 
work.  In  1908,  with  his  brother,  Charles  L.,  he 
bought  the  Crookston  Bottling  Works,  and  they  have 
since  made  this  one  of  the  local  industries,  have 
raised  the  standard  of  excellence  of  the  product, 
and  have  a large  business  covering  not  only  the 
local  territory  but  shipments  to  a considerable  dis- 
tance. 

Mr.  Bang  has  served  three  years  as  an  alderman 
in  Crookston,  and  is  one  of  the  public  spirited  men 
always  ready  to  help  out  in  any  local  enterprise. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Commercial  Club,  also  of  the 
United  Commercial  Travelers  and  of  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

In  February,  1900,  at  Crookston  he  married  Miss 
Thora  Guibrok.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren : George  Donald,  born  in  May,  1901 ; Charles 

Raymond,  born  in  August,,  1903 ; Edmund  Henry, 
born  in  February,  1908 ; Irene  Lucile,  born  May  22, 
1910;  Edna  Louise,  born  in  April,  1912;  and  Flor- 
ence Anna,  born  in  May,  1913. 

Charles  J.  Servatius.  Since  1904  Mr.  Servatius 
has  held  the  responsible  position  of  city  clerk  of 
Owatonna,  Steele  County,  and  his  long  retention  of 
the  office  vouches  for  his  ability  as  a municipal 
executive  and  for  his  popularity  in  the  attractive 
little  city  which  has  been  his  home  from  boyhood. 

Mr.  Servatius  was  born  on  a farm  near  Faribault, 
Rice  County,  Minnesota,  on  Christmas  day  of  the 
year  1868,  and  is  a scion  of  a sterling  pioneer  fam- 
ily of  that  section  of  the  state.  He  is  a son  of 
Henry  and  Margaret  (Mayer)  Servatius,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  Austria  and  both  of  whom  were 
children  at  the  time  of  the  immigration  of  the 
respective  families  to  the  United  States.  Henry 
Servatius  eventually  became  a farmer  in  McHenry 
County,  Illinois,  but  in  1856  he  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  the  Territory  of  Minnesota  and  settled  in 
Rice  County.  There  he  entered  claim  to  govern- 
ment land,  and  by  industry  and  careful  management 
he  reclaimed  and  developed  an  excellent  farm. 
There  he  continued  to  reside  until  1878,  when  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Owatonna,  the  judicial 
center  of  Steele  County,  where  he  engaged  in  mar- 
ket gardening  and  developed  a prosperous  enter- 
prise. With  this  business  he  here  continued  to  be 
identified  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  nth 
of  April,  1885.  His  widow  long  survived  him  and 
was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  the  14th  of 
January,  1914,  both  having  been  zealous  com-, 
municants  of  the  Catholic  church.  Of  their  children 
the  present  city  clerk  of  Owatonna  is  the  only  one 
living,  he  having  been  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 
The  names  of  the  deceased  children  were  as  here 
noted:  John,  Christine,  Eva  Michael,  Joseph,  Susan, 
Lizzie  and  Kate. 

Charles  J.  Servatius  was  about  ten  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Owatonna, 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  where  he  was 


1294 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


afforded  excellent  educational  advantages, — those  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  Academy.  After  leaving  school 
Mr.  Servatius  assumed  practical  responsibilities  and 
became  one  of  the  world’s  ambitious  and  productive 
workers.  In  Owatonna  he  held  various  positions  of 
trust  in  connection  with  business  activities  and  in 
1904  he  was  elected  city  clerk,  a position  of  which 
he  has  since  continued  the  able  and  valued  incum- 
bent, by  seven  successive  re-elections.  The  term  of 
office  was  one  year  until  1909,  since  which  time  the 
incumbent  is  elected  for  a term  of  two  years. 

Mr.  Servatius  is  a staunch  supporter  of  the  cause 
of  the  democratic  party  and  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  its  local  ranks.  His  religious  faith  is  that 
of  the  Catholic  church,  of  which  he  is  a communi- 
cant. He  has  been  a member  of  the  Owatonna  fire 
department  for  nearly  a quarter  of  a century  and 
served  eight  years  as  secretary  of  the  Owatonna 
Commercial  Club.  He  is  at  the  present  time  serving 
as  secretary  of  the  fire  department,  a position  which 
he  has  held  for  the  past  sixteen  years.  Until  the 
recent  leasing  of  the  Metropolitan  Opera  House  of 
Owatonna  Mr.  Servatius  was  associated  with  its 
management  for  thirteen  years,  and  was  the  active 
manager  for  a considerable  portion  of  this  period. 
He  is  a popular  factor  in  the  social  and  business 
circles  of  his  home  city  and  still  permits  his  name 
to  appear  on  the  list  of  eligible  bachelors,  his  resi- 
dence being  at  576  Oak  Street. 

Conrad  George  Selvig.  As  a Minnesota  educator 
Conrad  George  Selvig  stands  in  the  front  rank. 
From  work  in  rural  schools,  beginning  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  he  has  advanced  to  the  position  of  super- 
intendent of  the  Northwest  School  of  Agriculture 
and  Experiment  Station  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota at  Crookston,  and  through  his  individual  work, 
through  the  institution  of  which  he  is  now  at  the 
head,  and  through  his  associations,  with  various 
civic  and  technical  organizations  in  Northwest  Min- 
nesota has  identified  himself  conspicuously  with  the 
forward  movement  in  the  country  life  and  industrial 
progress  of  the  state. 

Conrad  George  Selvig  was  born  at  Rushford,  Min- 
nesota, October  ix,  1877,  and  is  therefore  still  a 
young  man  hardly  yet  in  the  prime  of  his  life  and 
accomplishment.  His  father  was  Gunder  C.  Selvig, 
and  his  mother,  Marie  Hogrestad,  both  born  in  Nor- 
way. They  were  married  a short  time  before  emi- 
grating to  the  United  States.  The  father  was  con- 
nected with  the  Great  Lakes  marine  a year  or  so,  and 
in  1874  brought  his  family  to  Rushford,  Minnesota. 

Conrad  G.  Selvig  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  at  Rushford,  and  in  1896  was  appointed  cadet 
to  the  United  States  Military  Academy  by  Congress- 
man James  A.  Tawney  of  the  First  Minnesota  Dis- 
trict. In  the  intervals  of  his  career  as  a teacher  he 
attended  various  summer  sessions  at  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  then  took  up  regular  resident  study 
there,  and  was  graduated  A.  B.  in  1907  and  Master 
of  Arts  in  1908.  Since  then  he  has  carried  on  fur- 
ther postgraduate  work.  Mr.  Selvig  began  teaching 
rural  school  at  the  age  of  eighteen  immediately  fol- 
lowing his  graduation  from  high  school.  In  1901 
he  became  superintendent  of  schools  _ at  Harmony, 
Minnesota.  He  had  previously  been  in  the  railway 
mail  service,  was  principal  of  schools  at  Granger, 
Minnesota,  and  in  1898  served  as  a private  in  Com- 
pany F of  the  Twelfth  Regiment,  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  during  the  Spanish-American  war. 
He  was  for  five  years  superintendent  of  schools  at 


Harmony,  and  after  that  remained  as  a student  in 
the  University  of  Minnesota  until  his  graduation. 
From  1907  to  1910  he  was  superintendent  of  schools 
and  principal  of  Stevens  Seminary  at  Glencoe,  Min- 
nesota. He  has  held  his  present  position  as  super- 
intendent of  the  Northwest  School  of  Agriculture 
and  Experiment  Station  at  Crookston  since  1910. 

His  accomplishments  as  an  organizer  and  admin- 
istrator are  of  greater  importance  than  as  an  indi- 
vidual instructor.  While  he  was  at  Harmony  as 
superintendent  the  schools  advanced  from  the  graded 
list  to  the  high  school  list.  While  at  Glencoe  he 
urged  successfully  the  introduction  of  practical  lines 
of  work,  resulting  in  creation  of  departments  of 
agriculture,  home  economics,  manual  training  and 
teachers’  training.  At  this  time  he  was  a member 
of  a committee  that  urged  the  adoption  of  a law 
providing  aid  to  high  schools  giving  this  work.  The 
organization  of  the  agricultural  extension  work  at 
Glencoe  was  considered  noteworthy  at  that  time 
when  such  work  was  new  not  only  in  Minnesota 
but  in  the  United  States  as  well. 

At  Crookston  Mr.  Selvig  has  identified  himself 
with  the  agricultural  movement  in  Northwestern 
Minnesota,  and  has  assisted  in  every  way  possible. 
The  Northwest  School  and  Station  has  grown  from 
an  institution  enrolling  101  students  to  over  five 
hundred,  including  179  in  the  regular  course.  There 
are  also  students  in  the  teachers’  training  course, 
summer  course,  in  the  farmers’  short  course  and  in 
the  junior  short  course.  In  related  lines  he  has 
assisted  in  organizing  and  managing  various  so- 
cieties and  organizations,  such  as  the  Northwestern 
Fair  Association,  the  Red  River  Valley  Dairymen’s 
Association,  the  Minnesota  Red  River  Valley  De- 
velopment Association,  and  others,  in  which  he  holds 
important  offices.  In  all  of  this  work  he  has  of 
course  been  assisted  by  other  efficient  workers,  all 
cooperating  loyally  for  the  development  of  North- 
western Minnesota. 

Mr.  Selvig  is  a director  of  the  Alumni  Association 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  treasurer  of  the 
Minnesota  Educational  Association,  a member  of  the 
American  Association  of  Agricultural  Colleges  and 
Experiment  Stations,  a charter  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Agricul- 
tural Teaching  and  a member  of  the  National 
Educational  Association.  He  is  a progressive  repub- 
lican, and  was  a delegate  to  the  last  republican  state 
convention  in  1908  from  McLeod  County.  He  has 
taken  the  Knight  Templar  degrees  in  Masonry  and 
is  affiliated  with  Kaph  Chapter  of  the  Acacia  Fra- 
ternity of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  His  church 
is  the  Congregational. 

In  addition  to  his  many  executive  responsibilities 
Mr.  Selvig  has  been  busy  as  a writer  and  lecturer, 
and  a number  of  his  reports  and  articles  have  been 
published.  His  university  thesis  presented  in  1908 
in  connection  with  postgraduate  work  for  the  M.  A. 
degree  was  entitled  “Federal  Aid  to  Education."  He 
is  author  of  the  report  on  “The  Use  of  Land  in 
Connection  with  Agricultural  Teaching,”  forming 
Bulletin  522,  United  States  Bureau  of  Education ; 
of  reports  on  “Home  Project  Work  in  Connection 
with  Agricultural  Teaching,”  in  Bulletin  601,  United 
States  Bureau  of  Education;  of  various  other  agri- 
cultural bulletins  and  reports,  numerous  articles  in 
the  daily  and  weekly  press  and  the  agricultural  and 
the  educational  press;  and  has  delivered  addresses 
and  lectures  on  various  subjects  relating  to  agricul- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1295 


ture,  agricultural  economics,  rural  sociology  and 
education. 

Mr.  Selvig  was  married  June  17,  1903,  at  Mabel, 
Minnesota,  to  Marion  E.  Wilcox.  Her  parents  were 
George  Aaron  and  Marietta  (Rowe)  Wilcox,  and 
several  of  her  ancestors  were  ministers,  while  others 
engaged  in  business  and  farming  in  Ohio  and  Michi- 
gan. Mrs.  Selvig  is  a graduate  of  the  Central  High 
School  at  Minneapolis  and  was  for  a time  a stu- 
dent in  the  University  of  Minnesota.  They  are  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Helen  Marion,  born  at 

Harmony,  July  31,  1904;  Margaret  Elizabeth,  born  at 
Minneapolis,  July  5,  1907;  and  Conrad  George,  Jr., 
born  at  Glencoe,  June  6,  1910. 

David  C.  Lightbourn.  Since  the  territorial  days 
in  Minnesota  the  name  Lightbourn  has  had  active 
association  with  the  printing  and  publishing  profes- 
sion. The  late  Edward  S.  Lightbourn  was  a printer 
in  St.  Paul  back  in  the  ’50s,  and  for  many  years  was 
connected  with  the  press  of  that  city.  The  chief 
representative  of  the  family  now  in  the  publishing 
business  is  David  C.  Lightbourn,  editor  and  proprie- 
tor of  the  Index  at  Ada,  Minnesota. 

David  C.  Lightbourn  was  born  at  Pinebend,  Min- 
nesota, January  30,  1858.  His  father  was  Edward  S. 
Lightbourn,  already  mentioned,  who  was  born  on  the 
Bermuda  Islands  in  1831.  The  Lightbourns  were 
English  settlers  on  the  Bermuda  Islands  many  gen- 
erations ago.  Edward  S.,  who  died  at  St.  Paul  in 
1911,  had  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  his  native 
islands,  when  a young  man  went  to  New  York  City, 
thence  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  married,  and  in 
1857  arrived  in  the  young  city  of  St.  Paul,  where  he 
worked  as  foreman  on  local  papers,  but  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war  in  1861  enlisted  in  the  Seventh  Min- 
nesota Regiment  of  Infantry,  and  remained  with  the 
Minnesota  troops  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After 
his  honorable  discharge  he  came  to  St.  Paul,  and  for 
many  years  continued  his  chosen  calling.  Edward  S. 
Lightbourn  married  Susannah  S.  Murray,  who  was 
born  in  Illinois  in  1834  and  died  in  St.  Paul  in  1913. 
Some  of  her  ancestors  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  The  children  were  ten  in  number,  and 
individual  mention  of  each  is  as  follows : Leni, 

widow  of  George  H.  Sheire,  who  was  a newspaper 
editor,  now  resides  at  St.  Paul;  David  C. ; E.  T.,  a 
letter  carrier  in  St.  Paul;  Emma,  widow  of  Ed  Van 
Horne,  now  occupying  her  large  farm.  estate  in 
Stevens  County;  Susie,  wife  of  George  W.  Harding, 
chief  clerk  for  the  R.  G.  Dun  & Company  Mercan- 
tile Agency  at  St.  Paul ; Charles,  a railway  engineer 
in  California;  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen; 
Sophia,  wife  of  M.  J.  Tyllie,  a contractor  and  builder 
at  St.  Paul;  Amelia,  wife  of  A.  G.  Kulander,  a 
merchant  at  Walker,  Minnesota;  and  Lily,  wife  of 
E.  P.  Hopwood,  who  is  circulation  manager  for  the 
Portland  Oregonian. 

David  C.  Lightbourn  grew  up  in  St.  Paul,  was 
educated  in  the  public  school,  and  completed  the 
course  of  the  high  school  in  1875.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  become  familiar  with  newspaper  work  and 
printing  shop,  and  after  leaving  high  school  was 
employed  on  several  of  St.  Paul  s leading  dailies, 
the  Pioneer  Press,  the  Globe  and  others.  In  the 
spring  of  1883  he  came  to  Ada,  and  bought  the  Index, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  editors  in  point  of  con- 
tinuous service  on  one  paper  in  Minnesota. 

The  Ada  Index  was  established  in  t88i  by  Fred 
Puhler,  and  is  a republican  paper.  It  has  a circula- 
tion in  Norman  and  adjoining  counties,  and  a con- 
siderable list  is  mailed  to  other  states  and  foreign 


countries.  Ihe  plant  and  offices  situated  on  West 
Main  Street  near  the  depot  are  owned  by  Mr.  Light- 
bourn, who  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a successful 
enterprise. 

Mr.  Lightbourn  is  a republican,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  actively  identified  with  public  affairs 
in  Ada.  He  has  served  the  city  as  mayor,  for  many 
years  was  on  the  council  and  a school  trustee,  and  is 
now  a member  of  the  water  and  light  board.  For 
ten  years  in  his  earlier  career  he  was  a deputy  insur- 
ance commissioner  in  St.  Paul,  and  for  one  year 
was  acting  insurance  commissioner  of  the  state. 
Among  other  business  interests  he  is  director  in  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Ada  and  in  the  Norman  County 
Telephone  Company.  He  belongs  to  the  Ada  Com- 
mercial Club,  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  to  the 
Modern  Samaritans,  and  attends  worship  in  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 

In  1887  at  Ada  Mr.  Lightbourn  married  Miss 
Emily  Ginsberg,  whose  former  home  was  Mantor- 
ville,  Minnesota.  At  her  death  in  1902  she  left  three 
children : Ada,  wife  of  Arthur  Mueller,  assistant 

cashier  in  the  First  State  Bank  of  Ada;  Alice,  a 
teacher  of  domestic  science  at  Walker,  Minnesota; 
and  Blanche,  a student  in  the  Ada  High  School.  At 
Denver,  Colorado,  in  1908,  Mr.  Lightbourn  married 
Miss  Carrie  Welley,  daughter  of  Andrew  Welley, 
who  is  a farmer  in  Norman  County,  Minnesota. 
Mrs.  Lightbourn  died  in  1911,  and  in  April,  1915,  Mr. 
Lightbourn  married  her  sister,  Miss  Ragna  Welley. 

Peter  A.  Peterson.  Under  the  governmental  sys- 
tem prevailing  in  Minnesota  there  is  no  county  office 
more  important  than  that  of  sheriff,  and  on  the 
whole  only  men  of  marked  capacity  for  executive 
and  administrative  work  and  citizens  enjoying  to  the 
full  the  confidence  of  the  county  are  chosen  for  such 
responsibility.  A remarkable  record  in  this  office 
is  that  enjoyed  bv  Peter  A.  Peterson,  now  sheriff 
of  Norman  County,  who  with  one  exception  has  had 
the  longest  continuous  service  of  any  sheriff  now 
holding  office  in  Minnesota. 

Peter  A.  Peterson,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
homesteaders  in  Norman  County,  was  born  in  Toten, 
Norway,  July  19,  1858.  His  father,  Andrew  Peter- 
son, was  born  in  Toten  in  1835  and  died  there  Janu- 
ary 1,  1868,  he  was  a farmer,  and  had  served  his 
regular  term  in  the  Norwegian  army.  The  mother, 
Bertha  Mary  Peterson,  born  in  Toten  in  1835,  and 
in  the  year  of  her  husband’s  death  brought  her 
two  children  to  America,  and  located  in  Freeborn 
County,  Minnesota,  where  she  lived  nearly  thirty 
years  until  her  death  in  1897.  Peter  was  her  oldest 
son  and  the  younger  son,  Anton,  is  now  a land  owner 
in  California. 

Peter  A.  Peterson  received  his  early  education  in 
Norway  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  Freeborn 
County  from  the  age  of  ten.  He  early  got  into  prac- 
tical life  as  a farm  workman,  and  in  1882  came  to 
Norman  County,  then  practically  an  unoccupied  dis- 
trict, and  took  up  a homestead.  He  proved  his  capa- 
bilities as  a farmer,  and  besides  providing  for  the 
needs  of  himself  and  family  performed  with  fidelity 
and  good  judgment  every  civic  relationship.  He  con- 
tinued the  active  cultivation  of  his  farm  until  1896, 
and  sold  it  in  1905. 

Tn  1896  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Norman  County 
for  the  first  time.  Every  subsequent  two.  years,  a 
laree  majority  of  the  people  confirmed  his  choice 
for  the  office,  and  on  November  3,  1014,  he  was  re- 
elected for  a term  of  four  years.  Sheriff  Peterson 


1296 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


is  now  in  the  twentieth  year  of  consecutive  service, 
and  as  already  stated  only  one  other  sheriff  in  the 
state  has  held  office  continuously  for  so  long  a period. 

In  Bear  Paw  Township,  where  his  homestead  was 
situated,  Mr.  Peterson  enjoyed  many  of  the  distinc- 
tions and  honors  of  public  office  prior  to  his  assum- 
ing the  duties  of  sheriff.  As  a republican,  he  shared 
as  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  was  assessor 
and  a member  of  the  school  board  in  his  township, 
and  was  also  identified  with  public  affairs  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  creamery  board  and  the  insurance  board. 
He  filled  nearly  every  town  office  in  that  locality. 
Mr.  Peterson  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  belongs  to  the  Ada  Commercial  Club. 

In  the  fall  of  1880  in  Freeborn  County  he  married 
Miss  Helen  Tronson,  who  was  born  in  Iowa,  a 
daughter  of  Tron  Olson,  an  Iowa  farmer.  To  their 
marriage  have  been  born  six  children,  practically  all 
of  whom  are  now  independent  and  carving  their  own 
careers : Mary  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Stensgard,  a but- 

ter maker  at  McIntosh,  Minnesota;  Tilly  is  the  wife 
of  Plans  Aldal,  a farmer  at  Fertile,  Minnesota;  Ber- 
tina,  who  lives  with  her  parents;  Alby,  manager  of 
the  bakery  at  the  Faribault  Institute  for  the  Deaf 
and  Dumb ; Carl,  who  lives  at  home  but  is  employed 
by  a bridge  company ; Arthur,  attending  school  in  the 
Faribault  Institute  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb. 

Lycurgus  R.  Moyer,  president  of  the  Chippewa 
County  Bank  at  Montevideo,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
living  pioneers  in  this  section  of  Minnesota.  He 
came  here  forty-five  years  ago,  when  the  town  was 
a frontier  settlement,  and  has  been  identified  with 
almost  every  phase  of  development.  He  is  a lawyer 
of  many  years’  standing,  has  filled  various  offices 
in  his  town  and  county,  and  is  a 'fine  representative 
type  of  the  older  class  of  Minnesota  people. 

Lycurgus  R.  Moyer  was  born  in  Niagara  County, 
New  York,  in  1848,  and  has  lived  in  Minnesota  since 
reaching  manhood.  His  parents  were  Amos  F.  and 
Cornelia  (Rose)  Moyer.  Plis  father  was  born  in 
Madison  County,  New  York,  in  1817  and  spent  his 
last  years  at  Montevideo,  Minnesota.  He  was  a 
New  York  State  farmer,  and  in  the  early  days  was 
an  abolitionist  and  republican.  The  mother  was  born 
in  Niagara  County,  New  York,  in  1823.  There  were 
six  children  : Lycurgus  R. ; Mrs.  Mary  Barber,  who 

is  the  only  one  of  the  family  now  deceased ; Dr. 
Frank  J.  Moyer,  a physician  at  Lockport,  New  York, 
and  bv  his  marriage  to  Loma  Richardson  has  four 
children ; Lloyd  G.,  vice  president  of  the  Chippewa 
County  Bank,  and  the  father  of  two  children  by  his 
marriage  to  Lillian  Wright;  Dr.  Galen  D.,  who  lives 
in  Minneapolis  and  married  Harriot  Page  and  has 
two  children ; and  Cornelia  M.  Budd,  whose  husband 
is  a banker,  and  they  have  three  children. 

Lycurgus  R.  Moyer  attended  the  country  schools 
back  in  New  York  and  also  a union  school  at  Lock- 
port.  After  coming  to  Minnesota  in  1869  he  taught 
school  two  or  three  years  in  Washington  County,  his 
pupils  being  collected  from  the  scattered  homesteads 
of  the  early  pioneers.  When  he  arrived  in  Minne- 
sota he  spent  a short  time  in  Duluth,  and  was  there 
before  the  railroads  were  built.  In  1870  he  came  to 
Montevideo,  and  walked  the  distance  from  Benson 
to  the  new  settlement.  He  took  a pre-emption  claim 
in  that  year,  and  in  1872  acquired  a homestead  of 
eighty  acres.  In  1870  the  population  of  Montevideo 
comprised  twelve  inhabitants,  living  in  two  log 
houses  and  one  frame  house.  At  that  time  the  post- 
office  was  located  across  the  river  and  bore  the  dig- 


nified title  of  Chippewa  City.  There  were  two  fami- 
lies located  near  the  postotnce.  Two  days  after  Mr. 
Moyer's  arrival  in  town  he  saw  the  removal  of  the 
postoffice  to  what  is  now  Montevideo.  The  postoffice 
equipment  was  carried  in  a small  box.  At  that  time 
the  mail  was  brought  from  Benson  on  wagons  along 
with  dry  goods  and  other  commodities.  The  rail- 
road was  not  built  to  Montevideo  until  1878.  These 
facts  indicate  that  Mr.  Moyer  has  known  Chippewa 
County  practically  from  the  time  of  its  first  settle- 
ment. Mr.  Moyer  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1872, 
but  his  profession  has  been  much  interrupted  by 
other  duties.  He  was  a land  surveyor  and  for  thirty 
years  held  the  office  of  county  surveyor  of  Chippewa 
County.  He  was  judge  of  probate  twenty  years.  He 
has  served  as  president  of  the  city  council,  as  presi- 
dent of  the  park  board  and  as  president  of  the  library 
board. 

In  1876  Mr.  Moyer  married  Anna  Wightman.  She 
was  born  in  Scott  County,  Minnesota,  in  1857,  a 
daughter  of  Ira  and  Rebecca  (Barrows)  Wightman, 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Scott  County. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moyer  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, and  the  four  now  living  are : Sumner  L.,  assist- 
ant cashier  of  the  Chippewa  County  Bank,  and  mar- 
ried to  Ann  Kieth ; Amos  F.,  a mechanical  engineer 
at  St.  Paul,  who  married  Marie  Evans ; Catherine 
C.  and  Rose  E.  are  both  students  in  Windom  College. 

Among  his  many  interesting  recollections  of  this 
section  of  Minnesota,  Mr.  Moyer  recalls  that  in 
1870  Eli  Pettijohn  established  a grist  mill,  which  by 
later  development  he  converted  into  one  of  the  first 
important  industries  in  America  for  the  manufacture 
of  breakfast  foods.  Mr.  Moyer  is  a member  of  the 
American  Association  for  advancement  of  Science, 
of  the  Torrey  Botanical  Club,  is  a life  member  of 
the  Minnesota  State  Historical  Society  and  the  State 
Horticultural  Society,  a member  of  the  Minnesota 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  and  these  various  af- 
filiations indicate  scholarly  interests  and  pursuits 
outside  of  strictly  business  affairs.  He  is  a member 
of  Sunset  Lodge  No.  109,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  polit- 
cially  is  a republican. 

Clarence  P.  Carpenter.  A resident  of  Minnesota 
from  early  childhood,  a representative  of  one  of  the 
territorial  pioneer  families  of  this  great  common- 
wealth of  the  Northwest,  Mr.  Carpenter  has  marked 
the  passing  years  with  worthy  achievement ; for  years 
he  was  the  editor  and  publisher  of  a weekly  news- 
paper of  wide  circulation,  and  in  that  way  exerted 
a marked  influence  upon  public  thought  and  action 
in  connection  with  civic  and  political  matters.  While 
conducting  his  newspaper  he  continued  a systematic 
course  in  the  study  of  law,  begun  some  time  before, 
while  working  at  his  trade,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  that  profession  at  the  City  of  North- 
field.  Rice  County,  Minnesota. 

Clarence  P.  Carpenter  was  born  at  Eastford,  Wind- 
ham County,  Connecticut,  February  4,  1853;  his 
father  was  Fredus  C.  Carpenter,  a member  of  a 
family  whose  history  goes  back  to  the  early  colonial 
era  of  that  state.  The  family  was  of  English  origin, 
with  a trace  of  Scotch  blood;  one  of  the  father’s 
brothers,  J.  H.  Carpenter,  LL.  D.,  was  for  many 
years  dean  of  the  law  faculty  of  the  Wisconsin  Uni- 
versity, and  Justice  Carpenter  of  the  Connecticut 
Supreme  Court  was  an  uncle  of  his  father.  His  pa- 
ternal great-grandfather  was  a patriot  soldier  during 
the  Revolutionary  war  and  among  those  who  win- 
tered with  Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  His  mother 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1297 


was  Mary  A.  (Gilbert)  Carpenter,  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts; she  was  a cousin  of  Dr.  J.  G.  Holland,  the 
distinguished  author  of  “Bitter  Sweet,”  “Kathrina,’ 
“The  Mistress  of  the  Manse,”  and  many  other  poet- 
ical and  prose  works,  and  for  many  years  the  editor 
of  Scribner’s  Magazine. 

In  1855  the  family  came  to  Minnesota  Territory, 
where  the  father  entered  a claim  on  Government 
land  in  what  is  now  the  Township  of  Lebanon,  in 
Dakota  County,  the  old  homestead  being  located 
about  six  miles  west  of  Rosemount.  Before  coming 
to  Minnesota  Fredus  C.  Carpenter  had  been  a school 
teacher;  he  was  a man  of  liberal  education  as  such 
matters  were  rated  in  those  days,  and  he  at  once  took 
an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  civic  affairs  in 
the  new  county.  He  was  the  first  town  clerk  of  the 
new  township,  serving  for  several  years,  and  after- 
ward served  the  township  as  chairman  of  super- 
visors for  many  years.  Before  coming  west  he  had 
been  one  of  those  valiant  argonauts  who  made  their 
way  across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  to  California,  at 
the  time  of  the  great  hegira  that  was  made  to  the 
New  Eldorado  in  1849-50,  following  the  discovery 
of  gold  in  that  state.  Many  years  later  he  again  went 
to  California,  where  he  was  living  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  October  18,  1891.  His  wife  survived  him,  re- 
turning to  Minnesota,  where  she  lived  for  some  years, 
later  going  to  North  Dakota,  to  live  with  a son, 
where  she  passed  away,  June  26,  1901. 

In  1867  the  original  farm  was  sold  and  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  another  in  the  Township  of  Eureka,  in 
the  same  county,  five  miles  from  Farmington.  This 
farm  is  now  owned  by  Clarence  P.  Carpenter,  who 
continued  to  live  there  until  he  was  sixteen,  enjoy- 
ing only  those  educational  advantages  common  to 
frontier  communities.  His  broader  education  was 
gained  entirely  through  self-discipline  and  availing 
himself  of  advantages  secured  by  his  own  efforts.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a 
printer  in  the  office  of  the  Western  Progress  at 
Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  County,  Minnesota.  Later 
he  worked  for  about  four  years  in  the  office  of  the 
Faribault  Democrat,  at  Faribault,  the  county  seat  of 
the  county  in  which  he  now  makes  his  home.  Later 
he  worked  at'  his  trade  in  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis, 
Fargo,  North  Dakota;  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Jack- 
sonville, Florida,  and  other  places,  thus  manifest- 
ing somewhat  the  peripatetic  proclivities  of  the  old- 
time  craftsmen  in  this  trade. 

In  1877  he  went  west  and  entered  a Government 
homestead  and  tree  claim  near  Herman,  in  Grant 
County,  Minnesota,  where  he  opened  a large  farm 
and  remained  for  six  years,  following  his  trade  at  in- 
tervals and  teaching  school  during  the  winters.  In 
1880  he  was  appointed  to  take  the  United  States  cen- 
sus in  the  south  half  of  Grant  County;  in  the  fall 
of  1883  he  was  elected  court  commissioner  of  that 
county,  but  shortly  after  decided  to  return  to  Dakota 
County.  In  March,  1884,  he  established  the  Dakota 
County  Tribune  at  Farmington,  Dakota  County,  Min- 
nesota, which  he  continued  to  edit  and  publish  until 
in  August,  1892,  when  he  sold  the  property  and  busi- 
ness. The  Tribune  early  took  a prominent  place 
among  the  newspapers  of  the  state,  exerting  a 
marked  influence  in  its  civic  and  political  affairs.  Mr. 
Carpenter  was  a natural  born  reformer,  and  in  his 
editorial  work  aided  much  in  blazing  the  way  for 
those  great  reforms  that  have  marked  public  affairs 
in  the  last  few  years.  It  was  while  at  Farmington 
that  he  continued  his  study  of  the  law,  studying  even- 
ings and  such  leisure  moments  as  he  could  get  from 


an  active  and  strenuous  life,  finally  taking  a course 
of  reading  under  the  direction  of  then  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Moses  E.  Clapp.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
September  29,  1890. 

After  selling  his  newspaper  business  at  Farming- 
ton,  in  August,  1892,  with  his  family  he  spent  the 
winter  in  the  East,  and  they  were  interested  specta- 
tors at  the  inauguration  of  President  Cleveland  in 
Washington,  March  4,  1893.  Returning  to  Minnesota 
in  the  spring,  he  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Lake- 
ville, Dakota  County,  and  also  took  an  interest  in  a 
mercantile  corporation. 

In  January,  1895,  Mr.  Carpenter  moved  to  North- 
field,  Rice  County,  where  he  purchased  the  Northfield 
Independent,  which  he  edited  and  published  alone 
until  September,  1908,  and  also  gave  more  or  less 
attention  to  legal  business  that  continued  to  come  to 
him  from  his  old  friends  in  Dakota  County.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1908,  he  joined  in'  the  incorporation  of  the 
Mohn  Printing  Company,  which  company  established 
a new  weekly  paper  known  as  the  Norwegian-Ameri- 
can,  and  continued  to  publish  the  Independent.  He 
continued  as  editor  of  the  Northfield  Independent 
and  business  manager  of  the  company  until  Septem- 
ber, 1910,  when  he  sold  his  remaining  interest  in  the 
printing  business  to  other  members  of  the  corpora- 
tion. Since  that  time  he  has  given  his  attention  to 
the  general  practice  of  law,  in  which  he  has  won  a 
marked  degree  of  success  and  a substantial  business. 

Politically,  Mr.  Carpenter  was  always  a reformer, 
early  advocating  those  principles  and  reforms  that 
have  occupied  so  large  a share  of  public  attention 
during  the  past  few  years,  when  to  do  so  required 
a strong  devotion  to  principle  and  a sacrifice  of  many 
personal  opportunities. 

His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  that  great 
reformer,  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  and  he  has  ever  contin- 
ued an  ardent  admirer  of  that  great  statesman.  Later 
he  affiliated  with  the  republican  party,  and  during 
that  time  was  elected  as  the  candidate  of  that  party 
to  the  office  of  second  assistant  clerk  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  the  Minnesota  Legislature  in 
1887,  and  chief  clerk  of  the  House  in  1889.  Adher- 
ing to  his  convictions  and  following  the  trend  of 
reform  that  was  active  in  those  days,  he  became 
identified  with  the  people’s  party  and  was  a delegate 
from  Minnesota  to  the  first  national  convention  of 
that  party,  held  at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  in  1890.  At 
that  convention  he  served  as  one  of  its  temporary 
secretaries.  On  purchasing  the  Northfield  Inde- 
pendent in  1895  he  allied  himself  with  the  dem- 
ocratic party,  to  which  he  has  since  adhered.  He 
was  the  candidate  of  that  party  for  the  office  of 
district  judge  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  District  in  1910. 
In  1906  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  Municipal  Court 
of  Northfield  and  was  re-elected  in  1910,  serving  in 
that  capacity  for  eight  years ; he  had  previously  held 
the  office  of  special  judge  of  that  court. 

Mr.  Carpenter  is  a member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having  held  such  member- 
ship for  forty  years  and  attained  the  rank  of  past 
grand.  He  was  a charter  member  of  a lodge  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  while  living 
at  Lakeville,  and  served  as  its  first  master  work- 
man. In  1896  he  represented  that  lodge  in  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Northfield  Commercial  Club,  was  a member  of  the 
charter  commission  that  drafted  the  present  char- 
ter of  the  City  of  Northfield,  and  as  a citizen  has 
ever  been  ready  to  give  his  aid  and  influence  in 
support  of  measures  and  enterprises  tending  to  ad- 


1298 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


vance  the  civic  and  material  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. As  editor  of  the  Independent  he  was  the 
first  one  to  advocate  the  building  of  a stone  arch 
bridge  across  the  Cannon  River  at  Northfield,  an 
improvement  he  has  lived  to  see  completed  in  the 
spring  of  1915. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  1885,  Mr.  Carpenter  was 
married  to  Miss  Lulu  M.  McElrath,  daughter  of 
the  late  William  McElrath,  a representative  farmer 
of  Dakota  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  have 
two  children,  Park  and  Delphine.  Park  Carpenter 
was  born  May  5,  1890;  he  was  graduated  from  the 
academy  connected  with  St.  Olaf  College,  Northfield, 
with  the  class  of  1909,  and  took  his  freshman  year 
in  college  at  St.  Olaf,  during  which  year  he  was 
an  active  member  of  the  famous  St.  Olaf  concert 
band.  In  the  fall  of  1910  he  entered  Carleton  Col- 
lege, Northfield,  as  a sophomore,  and  was  graduated 
with  class  honors  in  history  in  1913.  During  his 
senior  year  he  won  membership  in  the  honorary 
society  of  Delta  Sigma  Rho  by  securing  a place  on 
one  of  the  winning  intercollegiate  debating  teams. 
The  next  year  he  was  appointed  to  a fellowship  at 
Dartmouth  College,  Hanover,  New  Hampshire, 
where  he  took  post-graduate  work.  The  succeeding 
year  he  was  awarded  a scholarship  at  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  where  he  is  now 
doing  post-graduate  work  in  history  and  constitu- 
tional law. 

Miss  Delphine  Carpenter  was  born  September  2, 
1896;  completing  the  regular  high  school  work  in 
three  years,  she  entered  the  freshman  class  of  Albert 
Lea  College  for  young  women,  Albert  Lea,  Minne- 
sota, in  the  fall  of  1914;  she  is  now  a member  of  the 
class  of  1918  in  Carleton  College,  Northfield. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  and  their  children  are  all 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  Mr. 
Carpenter  was  for  five  years  superintendent  of  its 
Sunday  school  and  a member  of  its  official  board  for 
many  years. 

James  P.  McMahon.  For  more  than  twenty-five 
years  James  P.  McMahon  has  practiced  law  at  Fari- 
bault and  in  North  Dakota,  and  is  not  only  one  of 
the  oldest  members  of  the  local  bar  in  point  of  con- 
tinuous service,  but  his  success  has  been  of  such 
substantial  nature  as  to  place  him  among  the  leaders. 
Mr.  McMahon  is  now  serving  in  his  third  consecu- 
tive term  as  county  attorney  of  Rice  County. 

A native  of  Faribault,  James  P.  McMahon  was 
born  May  23,  1866.  His  father,  the  late  Thomas 
McMahon,  who  was  born  in  County  Clare,  Ireland, 
in  1823,  and  died  in  Faribault  in  1902,  was  one  of 
the  prominent  early  contractors  and  builders  in  Min- 
nesota territory  and  state.  Emigrating  when  about 
fourteen  years  of  age  to  the  United  States,  he  lived 
in  New  York  until  after  he  was  grown,  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter  there,  and  with  a successful 
experience  behind  him  went  west  to  Mount  Pleasant 
in  Henry  County,  Iowa,  and  in  1855  was  given  the 
contract  for  the  construction  of  the  state  school 
for  the  insane,  a large  and  important  work.  In  1857, 
Mr.  McMahon  moved  to  Minnesota,  locating  at 
Faribault  as  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  that  then 
village.  There  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  active 
career,  and  is  remembered  as  a public  spirited  citi- 
zen of  this  community.  Thomas  McMahon  married 
Bridget  Shanahan  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa.  She 
was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland. 

James  P.  McMahon  grew  up  in  Faribault,  attended 
the  public  schools,  finished  his  literary  training  in 


the  Shattuck  Military  School,  and  began  the  study 
of  law  with  the  firm  of  Mott  & Gipson.  Mr.  Mc- 
Mahon was  admitted  to  the  bar  November  27,  1887. 
Since  then  a large  general  civil  and  criminal  practice 
has  come  to  him,  and  he  has  enjoyed  many  of  the 
better  distinctions  of  the  able  lawyer.  For  seven 
years_  Mr.  McMahon  served  as  city  attorney,  and  is 
now  in  his  third  term  as  county  attorney. 

Mr.  _ McMahon  has  a number  of  affiliations,  is  a 
republican,  a member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
belongs  to  the  following  fraternal  orders : The 

Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters, 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  the  Equitable  Fraternal  Union,  the  Fra- 
ternal Order  of  Eagles,  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  He  has  membership  in  the 
Rice  County  and  Minnesota  State  Bar  and  American 
Bar  associations,  and  is  also  identified  with  the 
Faribault  Commercial  Club. 

Fred  Spafford  was  born  in  Lake  City,  Minnesota, 
December  17,  1865;  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Lake  City,  removing  to  Minneapolis  in  1881 ; entered 
the  banking  house  of  Valentine  G.  Hush  in  1883  and 
the  Security  Bank  of  Minnesota  in  1887.  After 
eleven  years’  service  as  paying  teller  of  that  large 
institution  he  was  made  assistant  cashier  in  1902; 
cashier  in  January,  1913,  and  in  March,  1915,  was 
elected  vice  president  of  the  First  and  Security  Na- 
tional Bank,  a combination  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Minneapolis  and  the  Security  National 
Bank,  and  having  a capital  and  surplus  of  $10,000,000 
and  deposits  of  $50,000,000. 

Mr.  Spafford  was  a son  of  Dr.  Heman  W.  Spafford 
and  Mary  E.  Spafford,  who  settled  in  Lake  City  in 
1865,  coming  from  Newburgh,  Ontario,  Canada.  The 
late  Dr.  Heman  Wightman  Spafford,  father  of  Fred 
Spafford,  and  in  the  seventh  generation  in  descent 
from  John  and  Elizabeth  (Scott)  Spafford,  was  born 
at  Earnestown,  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  April 
27,  1828,  and  died  at  Lake  City,  Minnesota,  on  the 
24th  of  November,  1877,  the  twentieth  anniversary 
of  his  marriage.  Doctor  Spafford  was  graduated  in 
1855  with  the  degree  M.  D.  from  Queen’s  College 
of  the  University  of  Toronto,  Canada.  He  was  a 
man  of  excellent  professional  ability,  and  came  from 
his  native  province  in  Canada  to  Minnesota  in  1865, 
in  which  year  he  established  his  home  at  Lake  City, 
Wabasha  County,  and  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  that  part  of  the  state. 
He  was  faithful  and  efficient  in  his  ministration,  en- 
dured many  hardships  in  visiting  his  patients  over  a 
wide  area  of  country,  and  was  honored  and  revered 
in  the  community  which  continued  to  be  his  place 
of  residence  until  his  death,  in  1877.  He  was  a 
grandson  of  Col.  John  Spafford,  who  was  born 
August  31,  1752,  and  who  died  at  Tinmouth,  Rut- 
land County,  Vermont,  on  the  24th  of  April,  1823. 
Colonel  Spafford  was  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Con- 
tinental Line  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  in  which 
he  was  colonel  of  his  regiment.  He  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Bennington  and  the  taking  of  Fort 
Ticonderoga,  besides  having  personally  received  the 
sword  of  the  commandant  of  Crown  Point  when 
that  place  surrendered.  This  sword  is  still  pre- 
served by  the  family  and  is  a valued  historic  heir- 
loom. The  ancestors  of  Col.  John  Spafford  were 
John  Spofford  and  Elizabeth  Scott,  who  immigrated 
from  England  to  America  in  1638,  and  established 
their  home  in  Rowley,  Essex  County,  Massachusetts, 


W QM'-M.c 


f 


■ 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1299 


he  and  his  wife  having  come  from  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land. 

Dr.  Heman  W.  Spafford  was  married  at  Belleville, 
Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  on  the  24th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1857,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Peterson,  who  was  there 
horn  and  reared.  She  survived  the  doctor  for  many 
years,  and  was  a resident  of  Minneapolis  at  the  time 
of  her  death  in  1893.  They  became  the  parents  of 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view having  been  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

On  the  12th  of  November,  1890,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Fred  Spafford  and  Miss  Elizabeth  D. 
MacLaurin,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two 
children,  Evelyn  M.  and  Harriet,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased. 

Henry  G.  Wyvell.  For  nearly  a quarter  of  a 
century  Henry  G.  Wyvell  has  occupied  a distinctive 
place  among  the  members  of  the  legal  profession 
of  Wilkin  County.  His  superior  attainments  and 
ability  attracted  attention  ere  he  had  been  engaged 
in  practice  at  Breckenridge  many  years,  and,  indeed, 
from  his  initial  steps  in  his  chosen  profession  it  was 
manifest  that  his  success  was  assured.  Official  posi- 
tions have  called  him,  and  he  has  not  been  found  lack- 
ing in  those  qualities  which  are  essential  to  public 
service. 

Mr.  Wyvell  was  born  at  Delaware,  Michigan,  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1868,  and  is  a son  of  John  Wyvell,  a 
native  of  Devonshire,  England,  who  died  at  Los 
Angeles,  California,  in  1911.  The  father  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  with  the  mother  and  their  eldest 
child,  and  first  settled  at  Delaware,  Michigan,  where 
Mr.  Wyvell  secured  employment  in  the  copper  mines. 
In  1872  he  removed  to  Wadena,  Minnesota,  taking 
up  a homestead  two  miles  west  of  that  place,  and, 
being  a carpenter  by  trade,  built  the  first  house  in 
that  community.  For  over  twenty  years  he  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  property,  then  re- 
moving to  Battle  Lake,  Minnesota,  where  he  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits  as  a furniture  dealer.  In 
1886  he  came  to  Breckenridge  in  the  same  line  of 
business,  here  continuing  as  the  proprietor  of  a suc- 
cessful store  until  1906,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
interests  and  removed  to  Los  Angeles.  California. 
Mr.  John  Wyvell  married  Jane  Peardon,  a young 
lady  who  had  been  reared  in  his  home  neighborhood, 
and"  who  was  born  in  1842.  She  met  her  death  in  the 
awful  disaster  at  Long  Beach,  California,  in  May, 
1913.  John  and  Jane  Wyvell  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  namely:  John  T.,  who  is  engaged  in 
merchandise  at  Glendale,  California;  William  H., 
who  died  in  Michigan  when  about  six  years  of  age ; 
James,  a dealer  in  real  estate  and  loans,  at  Cassa 
Verdugo,  California ; Mary  J.,  who  married  L.  D. 
Oliver,  also  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at 
Cassa  Verdugo;  Henry  G. ; Albert  E.,  a banker  of 
Ogema.  Minnesota ; Richard  C.,  formerly  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  business  in  Minneapolis,  but  now  a 
resident  of  Long  Beach,  California;  and  Gilbert  F.,  a 
graduate  of  the  North  Dakota  Law  School,  and  now 
a well  known  attorney  of  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Henry  G.  Wyvell  attended  the  public  grammar  and 
high  schools  of  the  state,  and  as  a youth  assisted 
his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm,  clerked  in 
his  father’s  store,  and,  in  odd  times,  worked  at  the 
carpenter’s  trade.  A predilection  for  the  law  guided 
him  to  the  University  of  Minnesota,  from  which  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  1891,  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  and  from  that  year  he  has  been 
engaged  successfully  in  general  practice  at  Brecken- 


ridge, his  offices  being  now  located  in  the  Benesh  & 
Pierce  Block  on  Minnesota  Avenue.  A republican 
in  his  political  views,  Mr.  Wyvell  has  been  frequently 
called  upon  to  serve  in  official  capacities,  and  his 
services  therein  have  been  of  a nature  to  commend 
him  to  the  best  citizen  element.  For  six  years  he 
was  county  attorney  of  Wilkin  County,  was  for  four 
years  city  attorney  of  Breckenridge,  served  very  ac- 
ceptably as  village  recorder,  was  a member  of  the 
council  for  several  years,  and  for  twelve  years  was 
president  of  the  school  board.  For  a number  of 
years  he  was  a member  of  the  Republican  County 
Central  Committee.  Mr.  Wyvell  attends  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  for  a long  period  was  one  of  its 
trustees.  Aside  from  his  professional  connections, 
he  is  a 'member  of  Frontier  Lodge  No.  152,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Breckenridge ; Breckenridge  Lodge  No. 
126,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  past  chan- 
cellor commander;  the  Jacoby  Chapter  No.  44,  Order 
of  the  Eastern  Star ; Wilkin  Lodge  No.  220,  Degree 
of  Honor;  and  Wilkin  Lodge  No.  101,  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen,  of  which  he  is  past  master 
workman.  He  is  a director  in  and  attorney  for  the 
Red  River  Building  & Loan  Association,  and  the 
Stratford  Hotel  Co.,  both  of  Breckenridge,  and  holds 
the  same  positions  in  the  Fraternity  Hall  Corpora- 
tion of  this  city,  and  is  local  attorney  for  the  Great 
Northern  Railway  Company. 

Mr.  Wyvell  was  married  af  Breckenridge,  in  1891, 
to  Miss  Pauline  C.  Abendschein,  a native  of  Ger- 
many, and  they  have  three  daughters : Misses  Alice 

G.  and  Irene  M.,  who  are  attending  the  Breckenridge 
High  School ; and  Ruth  M.,  who  is  still  in  the 
grammar  grades.  A son,  Milton  H.,  died  at  Breck- 
enridge, in  1895,  at  the  age  of  23  months. 

John  H.  Leebens,  M.  D.  The  medical  profession 
is  capably  and  creditably  represented  at  Lismore, 
Minnesota,  by  Dr.  John  H.  Leebens,  who  has  been 
engaged  in  practice  here  since  1910.  His  ability  has 
attracted  to  him  a large  and  profitable  practice  which 
demands  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention, 
yet  he  has  also  taken  an  active  participation  in  the 
affairs  of  the  community,  as  a public-spirited  citizen 
no  less  than  as  a talented  member  of  the  medical 
profession. 

John  H.  Leebens  was  born  at  Fulda,  Murray 
County,  Minnesota,  August  9,  1882,  and  is  a son  of 
John  and  Johannah  (Dobereiner)  Leebens.  His 
father,  a native  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  Germany,  was 
born  in  1847,  and  was  a lad  of  thirteen  years  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  in  their  emigration  to 
the  United  States.  Their  first  location  was  at  Chi- 
cago, but  subsequently  Mr.  Leebens  removed  to 
Fulda,  Minnesota,  where  he  became  engaged  as  a 
hotel  keeper  and  a pioneer  in  this  line  of  business, 
and  here  he  still  makes  his  home.  Mrs.  Leebens, 
also  a native  of  Germany,  still  survives,  and  has 
been  the  mother  of  six  children : George,  who  is  a 
retired  real  estate  man  and  makes  his  home  at 
Fulda,  Minnesota;  Anna,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-one  years,  as  the  wife  of  Olaf  Martin,  for- 
merly a merchant  and  now  a farmer  of  Gretchinger, 
Iowa;  John  H.,  of  this  review;  Martha,  who  married 
Joe  Oolman,  residing  at  Lismore,  on  a farm  ^Wil- 
liam, who  is'  engaged  in  a variety  of  pursuits  at 
Fulda;  and  Johannah,  who  resides  with  her  parents 
and  is  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Fulda. 

John  H.  Leebens  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Fulda,  where  he  was  graduated 
from  the  high  school  with  the  class  of  1898.  He 


1300 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


remained  at  home  for  several  years,  and  then,  de- 
ciding upon  a career  in  medicine,  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1907,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine.  He  entered  practice  at  Chicago,  but 
after  three  years  left  the  Illinois  metropolis  and  came 
to  Lismore,  where  he  has  been  successful  in  build- 
ing up  a representative  practice,  having  offices  in 
the  State  Bank  of  Lismore  Building.  Doctor  Lee- 
bens  has  continued  to  be  a close  and  careful  student, 
keeping  fully  abreast  of  the  advancements  and  dis- 
coveries of  his  profession,  and  is  a valued  member 
of  the  Nobles  County  Medical  Society,  the  Minne- 
sota State  Medical  Society,  the  Southwestern  Minne- 
sota Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Independent  in  his  political  vitws,  he 
has  served  for  several  years  as  a member  of  the 
health  board.  Fraternally,  Doctor  Leebens  is  con- 
nected with  Adrian  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.  His  re- 
ligious connection  is  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Doctor  Leebens  was  married  at  Chicago,  Illinois, 
to  Miss  M.  Moore,  daughter  of  John  Moore,  a native 
of  England,  who  was  for  some  years  in  the  employ 
of  the  LTnited  States  Government,  under  the  civil 
service,  and  is  now  deceased.  One  child  has  been 
born  to  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Leebens:  John,  who  is 

still  too  young  to  attend  school. 

Doctor  Leebens  possesses  in  generous  measure 
the  qualities  which  make  the  personally  popular  as 
well  as  financially  successful  physician,  and,  his  repu- 
tation is  firmly  established  as  an  earnest,  cautious 
and  painstaking  healer  of  men. 

Amos  Marcicel.  In  his  varied  capacities  as 
proprietor  of  a hardware  business,  implement  store, 
lumber  yard  and  automobile  garage,  Amos  Marckel, 
a resident  of  Perham  since  1886,  has  shown  him- 
self one  of  the  capable  business  men  of  Ottertail 
County.  When  he  first  established  himself  in  com- 
mercial circles  here  it  was  in  a modest  way,  but  his 
industry,  persistence  and  business  capacity  have 
caused  his  interests  to  grow  and  develop  to  large 
proportions,  and  at  the  same  time  he  has  been  able 
to  devote  a part  of  his  best  efforts  to  the  welfare  of 
the  community. 

Mr.  Marckel  was  born  on  a farm  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  June  11,  1863,  and  is  a son  of  John 
Lawrence  and  Mary  Marckel,  natives  of  Germany. 
John  Lawrence  Marckel  was  born  in  1812,  was  mar- 
ried in  his  native  land,  and  there  served  his  time  in 
the  regular  army.  He  was  in  middle  life  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Columbiana  County.  Ohio,  but  did  not  live 
long  to  enjoy  residence  in  this  country,  passing  away 
near  North  Georgetown,  Ohio,  February  19,  1868, 
aged  sixty-four  years.  Mrs.  Marckel  survived  him 
until  1872.  There  were  three  sons  in  the  family, 
namely  : Augustus,  who  was  a hotel  clerk  and  died 

at  Alliance,  Ohio ; Amos ; and  Ferdinand,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  near  Georgetown,  Ohio. 

Arnos  Marckel  was  but  four  years  of  age  when  his 
father  died,  and  only  nine  years  old  when  his  mother 
passed  away,  so  that  his  boyhood  was  one  in  which 
he  had  to  rely  largely  upon  himself.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Columbiana  County  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  spending 
the  summer  months  in  working  on  the  farm,  and 
at  that  time  secured  a position  as  clerk  in  a hard- 
ware store  at  Columbiana.  There  he  remained, 
carefully  saving  his  earnings,  until  1886,  when  he 
came  to  the  West  to  look  for  a suitable  opening  for 


a young  man  with  ambition.  He  finally  decided  upon 
Perham  as  his  place  of  future  residence  and  the 
scene  of  his  labors,  and  he  has  never  had  reason  to 
regret  his  decision,  for  here  he  has  steadily  risen  to 
a place  of  prominence  as  a business  man  and  citi- 
zen. On  first  locating  here,  he  bought  a hardware 
business,  two  doors  from  the  situation  of  his  present 
business,  to  which  he  moved  about  1895.  This  is 
situated  at  the  corner  of  Front  and  Seventh  streets, 
and  here  he  has  two  floors,  with  about  seven  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifty  square  feet  of  floor  space, 
stocked  with  an  up-to-date  assortment  of  first  class 
shelf  and  heavy  hardware  and  all  articles  to  be  found 
in  a modern  business  of  this  kind.  Across  the  street 
is  located  his  implement  business,  ' in  a building 
60  by  300  feet,  as  well  as  his  lumber  yard,  also  60  by 
300  feet,  and  an  automobile  garage,  50  by  90  feet.  Mr. 
Marckel’ s customers  are  attracted  from  the  four 
points  of  the  compass  in  a radius  of  twenty  miles, 
one  of  the  best  and  most  substantial  trades  in  these 
lines  in  the  country.  While  he  has  lost  no  oppor- 
tunity to  advance  his  interests,  Mr.  Marckel  has 
not  been  unmindful  of  others,  and  has  made  it  a 
policy  to  reward  those  who  have  served  him  faith- 
fully. In  this  connection  it  may  be  noted  that  he 
has  incorporated  his  business  by  admitting  to  part- 
nership his  employes,  who  will  ultimately  come  into 
its  ownership.  Always  an  enthusiastic  supporter 
of  the  interests  of  Perham,  he  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Perham  Advancement  Club,  and  has  taken 
a stirring  part  in  movements  which  have  worked  for 
civic  progress  and  betterment.  In  politics  Mr. 
Marckel  is  an  independent  republican.  He  has 
served  on  the  school  board  and  village  council  at 
various  times,  and  during  the  four  terms  that  he 
was  mayor  of  Perham,  this  village  received  able  and 
business-like  government.  As  a delegate  to  the 
national  convention  at  Chicago,  in  1912,  Mr. 
Marckel  assisted  in  nominating  Theodore  Roose- 
velt for  Jhe  presidency.  With  his  family,  he  is 
affiliated  with  Grace  Reformed  Church.  Mr. 
Marckel  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  Masonic 
circles,  holding  membership  in  Perham  Lodge  No. 
157,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Detroit  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; 
Wadena  Commandery,  K.  T.,  and  Osman  Temple, 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  St.  Paul. 

Mr.  Marckel  was  married  in  1888,  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  to- Miss  Emma  A.  Coblentz,  daughter 
of  Moses  Coblentz,  now  living  retired  at  Columbiana, 
after  many  years  passed  in  mercantile  pursuits.  To 
this  union  there  has  come  one  son  : George  E.,  who 
is  now  a sophomore  at  the  Perham  High  School. 

Franklin  William  Murphy.  While  the  profes- 
sional position  of  Franklin  W.  Murphy  has  been  in 
the  ranks  of  attorneys,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  lawyers  in  active  practice  at  Wheaton  in 
Traverse  County,  his  interests  have  had  such  a 
broad  scope  as  to  identify  his  name  with  almost  every 
movement  of  importance  in  the  development  of  this 
section  of  Minnesota  during  the  last  quarter  of  a 
century.  He  is  a well  equipped  lawyer,  and  pos- 
sesses those  faculties  of  civic  leadership  which  are 
of  primary  importance  in  any  community. 

Franklin  William  Murphy  was  born  at  Pleasant 
Valley.  Wisconsin,  August  24,  1869.  His  father,  Ed- 
ward Murphy,  was  born  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  in 
1832,  and  died  at  Hammond,  Wisconsin,  in  1895.  He 
was  brought  to  America  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and 
finally  settled  in  St.  Croix  County,  Wisconsin,  moved 
from  there  into  Pleasant  Valley,  and  later  to  Ham- 


OZIAS  WILCOX 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1301 


mond,  where  he  lived  retired  before  his  death.  He 
was  a pioneer  farmer  in  Wisconsin,  and  reared  and 
provided  for  a large  family  of  children.  Edward 
Murphy  married  Mary  McCue,  who  was  born  in 
Michigan  in  1841  ,and  died  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
in  1914.  Their  seven-  children  were:  Nellie,  wife  of 
Henry  *Hanloi^  living  on  a farm  at  Lawler,  Iowa; 
John,  a farmer  in  the  State  of  Washington  ; J.  W., 
a larid  owner  and  speculator  of  Lakota,  North 
Dakota.;  Franklin  W.,  who  was  the  fourth  child ; 
Virgil,  a grain  buyer  at  Hammond,  Wisconsin ; Lo- 
retta, a teacher  in  Seattle,  Washington ; and  Bernie, 
who  married  J.  A.  Doyle,  a railway  conductor  living 
at  St.  Paul. 

Franklin  William  Murphy  during  his  youth  man- 
aged to  acquire  a liberal  education.  Besides  attend- 
ing the  district  'schools  of  Pleasant  Valley,  his  birth- 
place, he  was  a student  in  the  normal  school  at  River 
Falls,  Wisconsin,  also  in  high  school  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  and  in  1893  took  his  degree  LL.  B.  from 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota. 
Mr.  Murphy  at  once  located  for  practice  at  Wheaton, 
which  was  then  a comparatively  new  town  and  in 
a new  and  undeveloped  section  of  the  state.  He  has 
since  developed  a large  and  profitable  general  prac- 
tice both  in  the  civil  and  criminal  branches  of  the 
law,  and  his  services  have  been  retained  on  one  side 
or  the  other  in  most  of  the  important  litigation 
tried  in  the  courts  of  Traverse  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties. Fie  has  his  offices  in  The  National  Bank  of 
Wheaton  Building  on  Broadway.  He  is  a member 
of  the  County  and  State  Bar  Associations  and  in 
politics  a republican. 

Not  all  his  time  and  ability  have  been  devoted  to 
his  private  practice,  but  much  of  it  has  gone  into 
channels  of  benefit  to  the  community.  For  many 
years  and  at  the  present  time  he  is  president  of  the 
school  board  of  Wheaton,  is  one  of  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  State  Fair  Association,  was  for 
three  years  president  of  the  West  Central  Minnesota 
Development  Association,  and  has  served  as  mayor 
of  Wheaton.  Mr.  Murphy  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  for  three  years  president  of  the  Traverse 
County  Fair  Association.  He  is  vice  president  of 
the  Minnesota  -Commission  to  the  Panama-Pacific 
Exposition  at  San  Francisco.  He  has  done  much  to 
promote  agricultural  and  general  rural  development, 
and  for  two  years  was  president  of  the  Traverse 
County  Farm  Bureau.  Among  other  interests  he  is 
connected  with  the  Weyburn  Security  Bank  of  Wey- 
burn,  Saskatchewan,  Canada. 

_ In  1895  at  Stillwater,  Minnesota,  Mr.  Murphy  mar- 
ried Miss  Estelle  M.  McGray,  daughter  of  W.  F. 
McGray,  who  is  living  retired  at  Stillwater.  They 
have  one  son,  F.  Mac.  who  was  born  December  27, 
1899,  and  is  now  a sophomore  in  the  Wheaton  High 
School. 

Ozias  Wilcox.  One  of  the  fine  old  pioneers  of 
the  Plainview  district  of  Minnesota  was  Ozias  Wil- 
cox, who  settled  in  Wabasha  County  during  the 
decade  of  the  ’50s  and  for  over  twenty  years  was 
an  enterprising  factor  in  its  development.  While  he 
possessed  the  practical  nature  of  the  true  pioneer, 
he  \va$  also  known  for  his  intellectual  interests  and 
took  an  active  share  in  the  broader  life  of  the  com- 
munity. 

He  was  born  in  1824  at  Crown  Point,  New  York, 
and  died  January  1,  1876,  at  Plainview,  Wabasha 
County,  Minnesota.  His  early  life  was  spent  at 
Crown  Point,  where  his  father  was  a harnessmaker, 


but  partly  from  his  nature  and  partly  for  reasons 
of  health  he  early  sought  changing  scenes  and 
activities.  At  fifteen,  going  to  Perry,  Lake  County, 
Ohio,  he  became  a sailor  on  the  Great  Lakes.  The 
years  from  1852  to  1854  were  spent  in  California, 
and  returning  from  the  gold  fields  with  a small 
capital,  he  invested  it  in  lake  boats  and  other  trans- 
portation facilities  and  engaged  in  the  forwarding- 
business  with  headquarters  at  Fairport,  his  brother, 
B.  O.  Wilcox,  being  his  partner  in  this  enterprise. 
Ill  health  soon  forced  him  from  office  management, 
and  he  resumed  the  life  of  a sailor  in  charge  of 
one  of  his  own  vessels.  At  the  end  of  a year  he 
was  little  improved,  and  then  acting  on  the  advice 
of  his  physician  came  out  to  the  northwestern  woods 
and  prairies  in  Minnesota. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1856  that  Ozias  Wilcox 
arrived  in  the  territory.  He  bought  forty  acres  from 
Hugh  Wiley,  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  8 at  Plainview.  On  that  land 
he  erected  a building  divided  into  a storeroom  and 
dwelling,  a structure  that  was  afterward  the  home 
of  the  Plainview  Bank.  At  the  same  time  he  took 
up  a homestead  claim  south  of  the  village  in  Wa- 
basha County.  He  was  soon  accorded  a position  of 
leadership  in  the  new  town,  and  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death  his  co-operation  and  counsel  were  always 
sought  in  public  matters.  He  was  a successful  gen- 
eral merchant  at  Plainview,  and  prosecuted  the  busi- 
ness actively  until  almost  the  end  of  his  life. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  Wilcox  had  limited  opportunities 
to  gain  an  education,  partly  from  the  lack  of  good 
schools  and  partly  from  the  necessities  which  forced 
him  to  become  self-supporting  when  a boy.  Through- 
out his  life  his  studious  tastes  led  him  constantly  in 
the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  and  he  became  acquainted 
with  a much  greater  field  of  literature  and  science 
than  most  men  considered  essential  for  their  prac- 
tical needs.  His  home  for  many  years  was  per- 
meated with  the  atmosphere  of  books  and  culture, 
and  on  his  reading  table  were  found  the  best  of 
current  magazines,  which  he  read  assiduously. 

Mr.  Wilcox  was  married  in  Northern  Ohio  Decem- 
ber 15,  1854,  to  Miss  Martha  Stearns,  daughter  of 
Asaph  Stearns.  She  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence 
County,  New  York,  February  18,  1828,  and  died  at 
Port  Allen,  Oregon,  May  23,  1893.  After  the  death 
of  her  husband  she  resided  a number  of  years  in 
Minneapolis,  where  she  had  a large  number  of 
friends,  especially  on  the  east  side.  About  1887  she 
went  west  to  live  with  her  daughter,  at  whose  home 
she  died.  Her  remains  were  brought  back  to  Min- 
neapolis, and  then  laid  beside  her  husband  at  Plain- 
view.  Of  the  eight  children  five  reached  maturity, 
and  the  three  now  living,  all  born  and  educated  ac 
Plainview,  are:  Dr.  Asa  S.  Wilcox,  of  Minneapolis, 
a sketch  of  whom  is  found  in  succeeding  pages ; 
Cassius  C.,  of  Minneapolis;  and  Frances  L.,  the  wife 
of  Frederick  L.  Washburn,  professor  and  chief  of 
the  division  of  entomology  and  zoology  in  the  school 
of  agriculture  of  the  University  of  Minnesota. 

Dr.  Asa  Stearns  Wilcox.  Minnesota  has  hun- 
dreds of  capable  and  skillful  physicians  and  sur- 
geons, but  as  in  every  other  profession  and  business 
there  are  a few  who  rise  above  the  uniformly  high 
level  of  attainment,  and  by  general  consent  are 
named  among  the  first  and  foremost.  A position  in 
such  a group  is  enjoyed  by  Doctor  Wilcox  at  Min- 
neapolis, a native  Minnesotan,  son  of  a pioneer,  and 
both  by  native  talent  and  most  varied  training  at 


1302 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


home  and  abroad  an  accomplished  authority  in  his 
field. 

Asa  Stearns  Wilcox  was  born  July  9,  1859,  on 
Greenwood  Prairie  in  the  Village  of  Plainview, 
Wabasha  County,  a son  of  Ozias  and  Martha 
(Stearns)  Wilcox,  some  account  of  whose  pioneer 
work  in  Minnesota  has  already  been  told  in  these 
pages.  Doctor  Wilcox  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  village  until  graduating  from  high 
school.  One  of  the  first  high  schools  of  the  state 
was  at  Plainview.  He  is  an  alumnus  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota.  Then  followed  two  years  at 
Cornell  University,  where  he  took  special  science 
course  preparatory  to  the  study  of  medicine.  Re- 
turning to  Minneapolis,  he  spent  an  entire  twelve- 
month  in  the  study  of  chemistry  at  the  university, 
and  is  exceptionally  well  grounded  in  the  chemical 
and  other  general  sciences  that  are  at  the  foundation 
of  medicine.  Doctor  Wilcox  took  his  regular  med- 
ical course  in  the  Hahnemann  Homeopathic  College 
of  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  three  full  years, 
summer  and  winter,  in  school  and  hospital,  until 
graduating  M.  D.  with  the  class  of  1885.  Before 
taking  up  regular  practice  he  spent  a year  abroad, 
most  of  it  in  Vienna,  attending  clinic  and  lectures 
held  by  foremost  specialists. 

Doctor  Wilcox  began  practice  at  Minneapolis,  and 
for  a number  of  years  was  associated  more  or  less 
actively  with  Drs.  D.  M.  Goodman  and  A.  E.  Higbee. 
He  was  with  Doctor  Goodman  about  five  years,  and 
then  interrupted  his  work  to  return  to  Vienna  and 
Prague  for  another  year  of  post-graduate  study  and 
observation.  His  association  with  Doctor  Goodman 
was  resumed,  but  for  the  most  part  he  has  been  in 
individual  practice  during  the  last  twenty  years. 
During  1913  Doctor  Wilcox  was  in  Chicago,  where 
he  was  associated  in  practice  with  Dr.  Lewis  Y. 
Bremerman,  whose  name  is  one  of  readily  recog- 
nized prominence  in  the  profession. 

Since  the  spring  of  1914  Doctor  Wilcox  has 
actively  resumed  practice  in  Minneapolis,  with  offices 
in  the  Pillsbury  Building.  While  formerly  in  gen- 
eral practice,  his  work  is  now  limited  in  office  con- 
sultation and  specializing  in  kidney  and  bladder  dis- 
eases. In  this  specialty  he  is  easily  one  of  the  ablest 
men  in  the  West.  He  has  the  distinction  of  having 
been  the  first  physician  in  the  Northwest  to  admin- 
ister antitoxin.  He  was  formerly  a member  of  the 
staff  of  the  City  Hospital,  for  one  year  in  general 
practice  and  five  years  in  surgery.  For  three  years 
he  was  professor  of  practice  in  the  homeopathic  col- 
lege of  the  state  university,  and  formerly  did  a large 
business  in  casualty  work,  having  all  the  work  of 
the  Aetna  Casualty  Company  in  Minneapolis,  and 
representing  over  seventy  firms  at  one  time. 

Doctor  Wilcox  is  affiliated  with  Minneapolis 
Lodge  No.  19,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  Lodge  No.  44, 
B.  P.  O.  E.,  at  Minneapolis,  and  the  Zeta  Psi  col- 
lege fraternity,  also  the  Knights  of  the  Modern 
Maccabees.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
Athletic  Club  and  St.  Mark’s  Episcopal  Church.  In 
that  church  he  was  married,  November  10,  1888,  by 
the  Reverend  Doctor  Wells,  to  Miss  Alice  Hurd, 
daughter  of  the  late  B.  C.  Hurd,  of  Minneapolis. 
Their  two  children,  both  born  in'  Minneapolis,  were 
Helen,  who  died  in  November,  1909,  and  Asa  S.,  Jr. 
Mrs.  Wilcox  was  educated  in  the  Minneapolis  public 
schools  and  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  was  a 
woman  of  many  activities  and  interests.  She  was 
a charter  member  of  the  University  Chapter  of  the 
Kappa  Kappa  Gamma  Sorority,  and  was  prominent 


in  social  affairs,  being  a member  of  the  Woman’s 
Club,  tne  Clio  Club  and  St.  Hild’s  Guild  in  St. 
Mark's  Church.  Mrs.  Wilcox  died  December  9,  1914. 

Clifford  C.  Leck,  M.  D.  Since  1901  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  at  Austin,  Doctor  Leck  is 
one  of  the  leaders  in  his  profession,  has  a thorough 
knowledge  of  medicine,  a high  standing  with  other 
physicians,  and  both  his  work  and  his  associations 
prove  his  high  position. 

Dr.  Clifford  C.  Leck  was  born  in  Halifax,  Nova 
Scotia,  October  28,  1873,  a son  of  Henry  and  Ellen 
(McLeod)  Leck.  His  grandfather,  William  Leck, 
was  born  in  Scotland  and  emigrated  to  Nova  Scotia 
and  reared  his  family  there  as  a farmer.  Henry 
Leck,  who  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia  in  1849,  is  now 
living  in  the  State  of  Washington.  For  many  years 
he  followed  his  trade  as  a carpenter,  but  is  now 
somewhat  retired  and  looking  after  a young  orchard 
in  the  State  of  Washington.  He  was  married  in 
1869  in  Nova  Scotia  to  Ellen  McLeod,  who  was 
born  there  in  1848  and  died  in  1903.  In  1885  they 
moved  out  to  Minnesota.  His  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  father  is 
a republican  in  politics  and  a member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Foresters.  Of  the  eight  children 
six  are  still  living. 

Doctor  Leck  acquired  his  first  training  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  city,  and  afterwards  in 
Minneapolis,  where  he  graduated  from  the  high 
school  in  1894.  His  home  has  been  in  this  state 
since  he  was  twelve  years  of  age.  After  finishing 
the  high  school  course  he  spent  a year  in  the  graded 
schools  of  LeRoy,  and  in  1897  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and 
was  graduated  M.  D.  in  1900.  The  following  year 
was  spent  as  an  interne  in  the  City  and  County 
Hospital  of  St.  Paul,  and  in  1901  he  moved  to 
Austin,  and  has  since  been  in  active  practice.  Doc- 
tor Leck  has  been  active  in  the  organized  move- 
ments of  the  profession,  has  served  one  year  as 
president  and  two  years  as  secretary  of  the  Mower 
County  Medical  Society,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Minnesota  State  Society  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  For  one  year  he  was  county  physician, 
and  has  also  served  as  examiner  of  Mower  County 
for  the  State  Sanitarium  for  Consumptives  and  local 
examiner  for  the  Central  Life  Insurance  Society  of 
Des  Moines  and  the  Mutual  Benefit  of  New  Jersey. 
Fraternally  he  has  affiliations  with  the  Masonic 
order,  with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and 
belongs  to  the  Phi  Alpha  Gamma  college  fraternity. 
He  is  now  acting  as  surgeon  for  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee & St.  Paul  Railway  at  Austin,  and  a large 
part  of  his  practice  is  in  surgical  cases.  Politically 
Doctor  Leck  is  independent. 

On  January  1,  1903,  Doctor  Leck  married  Flora  E. 
Horn,  daughter  of  W.  S.  Horn  of  LeRoy,  Minne- 
sota. Their  four  children  are  Ruth,  Paul,  Robert 
and  Ellen  The  three  oldest  children  are  in  school. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

Leroy  P.  Sisson.  For  more  than  thirty-five  years 
the  Sisson  family  have  been  identified  with  Lincoln 
County,  and  besides  their  substantial  efforts  .as 
farmers  they  have  also  been  active  in  public  affairs, 
in  teaching,  newspaper  work  and  other  lines  of 
service.  Leroy  P.  Sisson  is  the  present  county  reg- 
ister of  deeds,  and  the  record  of  his  father  as 
county  auditor  is  also  well  remembered. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1303 


Leroy  P.  Sisson  was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  De- 
cember 1 7,  1880.  His  father,  R.  H.  Sisson,  who 
was  born  in  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  March, 
1853,  and  now  resides  at  Tyler,  is  descended  from 
ancestors  who  came  over  from  France  about  the  time 
of  the  Revolution.  R.  H.  Sisson  came  west  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  locating  in  Martin  County,  Minne- 
sota, and  in  1877  located  in  Lincoln  County.  His 
career  has  been  passed  quietly,  in  the  main  as  a 
farmer,  but  for  eight  years  he  filled  with  honor  the 
office  of  county  auditor,  from  1903  to  1911.  He 
married  Marguerite  Jane  Starr,  who  was  born  near 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  still  living.  Their 
family  of  children  are:  Leroy  P. ; William  A., 

editor  of  a newspaper  at  Cottonwood,  Minnesota; 
Maud  J.,  wife  of  Ernest  Paul,  a farmer  near  Tyler; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Herbert  Soderlind,  at  present 
occupying  the  old  homestead  of  the  Sissons  in  Lin- 
coln County;  Alice  J.  and  Esther,  both  living  with 
their  parents  on  the  home  farm;  and  Frank  H.,  a 
teacher  in  Lincoln  County. 

Leroy  P.  Sisson,  after  attending  the  common 
schools  of  Lincoln  County  to  the  age  of  eighteen, 
with  incidental  rearing  and  training  on  a farm,  be- 
gan his  practical  career  by  learning  the  carpenter’s 
trade,  which  was  his  occupation  for  several  years 
in  that  county.  He  next  became  identified  with 
the  county  government  at  Ivanhoe,  as  deputy  in 
the  clerk  of  court’s  office,  and  in  1903  was  made 
deputy  county  auditor  under  his  father.  His  ability 
came  to  be  widely  appreciated,  and  in  November, 
1914,  he  was  elected  register  of  deeds,  beginning 
his  four-year  term  in  January,  1915. 

Mr.  Sisson  is  a democrat  in  politics.  He  is  a 
trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  August 
29,  1904,  at  Tyler,  he  married  Miss  Clara  Larson, 
daughter  of  Louis  Larson,  now  deceased,  who  was 
for  many  years , a prosperous  farmer  in  Lyon 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sisson  have  one  child,  Ruth 
Bernadine. 

Dr.  Byron  Walter  Parrott  of  Long  Prairie, 
Minnesota,  was  born  at  Faribault,  Minnesota,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1869,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Melissa 
(Hammond)  Parrott,  being  of  French-Canadian 
descent  on  his  father’s  side  of  the  family,  and  on 
his  mother’s  side  a descendant  of  Irish  ancestors 
who  located  in  New  York  long  before  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  William  Parrott  was  born  in  the 
Empire  State  in  1831  and  came  to  Faribault,  Minne- 
sota, as  a young  married  man,  here  establishing  him- 
self in  business  as  a miller.  He  had  hardly  started 
upon  his  career  when  death  called  him,  in  1872.  Mrs. 
Parrott  was  born  in  New  York  in  1842,  removed 
her  family  to  the  City  of  Minneapolis  in  1881,  and 
died  in  Long  Prairie  in  1913.  She  was  the  mother 
of  three  children : O.  W.,  who  resides  in  Minne- 

apolis and  is  a foreman  in  the  plant  of  the  Com- 
mercial Bulletin ; Herbert  D.,  also  a resident  of 
that  city  and  employed  by  the  proprietor  of  a fuel 
and  ice  business ; and  Byron  Walter,  of  this  review. 

Byron  Walter  Parrott  received  the  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Medicine  in  1897  from  the  University  of 
Minnesota.  He  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Browerville,  where  he  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1899,  when  he  came  to  Long  Prairie, 
his  present  field  of  practice  and  place  of  residence. 
He  has  offices  in  the  Reichert  Building.  He  has  done 
post-graduate  work  at  clinics  at  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
apolis and  Chicago,  and  in  1898  was  interne  for  three 
months  in  the  City  and  County  Hospital,  St.  Paul. 
Vol.  in— 3 


He  has  served  as  coroner  of  Todd  County  three 
terms,  and  is  at  present  village  health  officer  of 
Long  Prairie,  and  belongs  to  the  various  organiza- 
tions of  medical  men,  including  the  Upper  Missis- 
sippi Medical  Society,  the  Minnesota  State  Medical 
Society,  the  American  Medical  Association  and  the 
University  General  Medical  Alumni  Association. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  republican  party. 
Fraternally  Doctor  Parrott  is  a Mason  and  belongs 
also  to  Camp  No.  2564,  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, and  Camp  No.  143,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  both  at  Long  Prairie. 

While  a resident  of  Minneapolis,  in  1890,  Doctor 
Parrott  was  married  to  Miss  Clara  Y.  Chapman, 
daughter  of  the  late  Benjamin  Chapman,  who  died 
in  1913  as  a retired  farmer  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis- 
consin. One  child  has  been  born  to  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Parrott:  Earl  C.,  who  is  studying  for  a career 
in  dentistry,  at  Marquette  University,  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. 

Blanche  L.  Brennin.  The  responsibilities  of  the 
executive  position  of  county  superintendent  of 
schools  are  nowhere  more  fitly  bestowed  than  in  the 
case  of  Blanche  L.  Brennin,  who  has  the  general 
supervision  and  direction  of  the  public  school  sys- 
tem of  Grant  County,  with  residence  at  Elbow 
Lake.  Miss  Brennin  has  been  in  school  work  nearly 
fifteen  years,  has  had  experience  both  in  country 
and  village  schools,  and  has  made  a splendid  record 
of  efficiency  in  her  present  office. 

She  was  born  in  Grant  County,  Minnesota,  June 
13,  1880,  a daughter  of  John  Brennin.  Her  grand- 
father, John  Brennin,  was  a native  of  Ireland, 
whence  he  emigrated  to  Canada,  and  in  1846  re- 
moved his  family  to  Solon,  Maine,  and  lived  there 
until  his  death.  By  trade  he  was  a stone  mason. 
Miss  Brennin’s  father  was  born  in  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, in  1845,  and  died  in  Grant  County,  Minnesota, 
in  1902.  it  was  in  1875  that  he  emigrated  from 
Solon,  Maine,  to  Grant  County,  Minnesota,  where 
he  took  up  a homestead  farm,  developed  its  acres  for 
general  farming  purposes,  and  died  there.  He  mar- 
ried Mahala  Jewett,  who  was  born  in  Solon,  Maine, 
in  1850,  and  died  at  Elbow  Lake,  November  30,  1914. 
Their  children  were : Viola,  now  deceased,  who 

married  D.  J.  Dunn,  who  was  formerly  a teacher 
in  Grant  County;  James,  a Grant  County  farmer; 
Grace,  wife  of  Fred  Luckman,  in  Elbow  Lake; 
Blanche  L. ; and  John  H.,  who  spends  his  winters 
with  his  brother  James  on  the  farm  and  during 
the  summers  is-  engaged  in  the  automobile  business. 

Blanche  L.  Brennin  received  her  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Grant  County,  attended  the  nor- 
mal school  at  Moorhead,  and  was  graduated  from 
the  North  High  School  of  Minneapolis  in  the  class 
of  1900.  On  leaving  high  school  she  took  a teacher’s 
training  course  at  St.  Paul,  and  then  began  her  prac- 
tical work  as  a teacher  in  Grant  County  in  1901, 
having  brought  to  her  work  a thorough  training  and 
many  natural  talents  and  qualifications  for  this  pro- 
fession. She  was  employed  in  three  different  rural 
schools  and  also  in  the  graded  school  at  Hoffman, 
and  in  November,  1912,  was  elected  county  super- 
intendent of  schools,  beginning  her  duties  in  that 
office  January  1,  1913.  On  November  3,  1914,  she 
was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  and  is  now  on 
duty  for  a term  of  four  years.  Miss  Brennin  is  a 
member  of  various  teachers’  associations,  keeps  in 
close  touch  with  educational  progress  and  is  one  of 
the  busiest  women  in  Grant  County,  looking  after 


1304 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  interests  and  welfare  of  the  many  schools  under 
her  charge.  She  is  a member  of  the  Woman’s  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union. 

William  H.  Zeiher.  One  of  the  younger  bankers 
of  the  State  of  Minnesota  is  William  H.  Zeiher, 
now  president  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Dumont. 
Mr.  Zeiher  has  spent  most  of  his  active  career  in 
banking,  and  that  has  been  his  vocation  since  com- 
ing to  Dumont  about  thirteen  years  ago.  He  be- 
gan at  the  bottom  in  the  business,  knows  banking 
in  all  its  details,  both  as  a business  and  a technical 
profession,  and  now  is  at  the  head  of  one  of  the 
most  substantial  institutions  in  Traverse  County. 
He  is  also  active  in  citizenship  and  is  filling  the 
office  of  mayor  of  his  town. 

William  FI.  Zeiher  was  born  in  Buffalo,  Iowa, 
September  5,  1880.  His  father,  Lewis  Zeiher,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1845  and  is  now  living 
retired  at  Buffalo,  Iowa,  was  brought  out  to  Sibley 
County,  Minnesota,  when  a boy,  the  grandparents 
having  been  homesteaders  in  this  state  in  the_  early 
days.  Lewis  Zeiher  as  a young  man  engaged  in  the 
rough  and  venturesome  work  of  rafting  on  the 
rivers  in  the  lumber  districts,  but  later  moved  to 
Buffalo,  in  Scott  County,  Iowa,  and  is  now  retired 
from  active  affairs.  Lewis  Zeiher  was  married  in 
Buffalo,  Iowa,  to  Theresa  Neuwirth,  who  was  born 
in  Austria  in  1852.  Their  family  of  children  are 
briefly  mentioned  as  follows : John,  who  was  a far- 
mer and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  in  Buffalo ; 
Anna,  who  was  a teacher  for  several  years,  and 
then  married  George  E.  Egel,  now  a retired  res- 
ident of  Buffalo,  Iowa;  Emma,  who  also  taught  for 
several  years  before  her  marriage,  is  the  wife  of 
John  Brus,  a farmer  at  Walcott,  Iowa;  Elizabeth, 
who  is  a sister  in  the  convent  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa; 
Charles,  a carpenter  and  builder  at  Buffalo,  Iowa; 
William  H.,  who  was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth; 
Frank  J.,  a ship  carpenter  in  the  United  States  navy; 
Albert,  cashier  of  a bank  in  Oklahoma;  and  Helen, 
still  living  with  her  parents. 

William  H.  Zeiher  grew  up  in  Buffalo,  attended 
the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
took  a business  course  in  the  college  at  Davenport, 
Iowa.  Most  of  his  work  was  done  on  a farm  until 
1900,  and  he  was  then  employed  one  year  in  the 
elevator  and  machinery  business  in  Western  Iowa. 
Mr.  Zeiher  came  to  Dumont,  Minnesota,  in  the-  fall 
of  1902,  and  became  bookkeeper  in  the  private  bank 
of  Chrisman  & Wells,  which  had  been  established 
in  April,  1902.  The  company  took  out  a state  char- 
ter in  April,  1903,  and  the  institution  has  since  been 
known  as  the  First  State  Bank  of  Dumont.  Its 
modern  bank  building  was  erected  on  Main  Street  in 
1910.  With  the  incorporation  as  a state  bank  Mr. 
Zeiher  became  assistant  cashier,  was  advanced  to 
cashier  in  1904,  and  after  seven  years  in  that  posi- 
tion his  fidelity  and  his  extending  interests  advanced 
him  to  the  presidency  in  1911.  Mr.  J.  Heidelberger 
of  Wheaton  is  vice  president,  and  the  cashier  is 
Ole  D.  Fuglie.  The  First  State  Bank  has  a cap- 
ital stock  of  $10,000,  well  fortified  by  a surplus  which 
has  now  accumulated  to  the  amount  of  $8,000. 

Mr.  Zeiher  is  an  active  republican  in  national  pol- 
itics, but  in  local  affairs  is  strictly  a good  citizen 
and  primarily  interested  in  the  development  of  the 
community.  He  has  served  as  village  treasurer  and 
on  the  school  board,  and  since  March,  1914,  has  been 
mayor  of  Dumont.  Mr.  Zeiher  is  a member  of  the 


Catholic  Church  and  belongs  to  the  German  Roman 
Catholic  Insurance  Society  of  St.  Paul. 

In  1904,  at  Dumont,  Mr.  Zeiher  married  Miss 
Mary  W.  Danneker,  daughter  of  Joseph  Danneker, 
now  deceased,  who  was  a farmer  at  Dumont.  Into 
their  home  have  come  three  children  : Hildegarde 

and  Helen,  both  attending  the  public  schools,  and 
Clara. 

Harry  T.  Miller.  The  great  New  York  Life 
Insurance  Company,  one  of  the  most  substantial  and 
popular  in  the  United  States,  controls  a large  and 
well  ordered  business  from  its  Minneapolis  branch 
office,  which  is  established  in  the  New  York  Life 
Building,  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  Street  and  Second 
Avenue,  South.  With  this  branch  Mr.  Miller  is 
identified  in  a prominent  and  responsible  capacity, 
as  he  is  agency  director  for  this  district,  and  he  is 
known  as  one  of  the  representative  life-insurance 
men  of  the  Northwest,  with  a reputation  gained 
through  ability  and  admirable  service  in  his  chosen 
sphere  of  endeavor. 

Harry  T.  Miller  was  born  near  Harrisville,  the 
judicial  center  of  Ritchie  County,  West  Virginia, 
on  the  19th  of  November,  1881,  and  is  a son  of 
Henry  P.  and  Mary  S.  (Dotson)  Miller.  Henry  P. 
Miller  was  born  in  Selters,  Germany,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  in  company  with  his  father  and  mother  and 
other  kinsfolk,  he  came  to  America,  and  the  family 
home  was  established  in  West  Virginia.  When  the 
Civil  war  was  precipitated  on  the  country  of  his 
adoption  he  showed  distinctive  loyalty  to  the  cause 
of  the  Confederacy,  by  enlisting  in  Company  K, 
Third  West  Virginia  Infantry,  and  he  later  became 
identified  with  the  Sixth  West  Virginia  Cavalry. 
Fie  served  four  years  and  made  a record  as  an 
able  and  valiant  soldier.  His  entire  active  career 
was  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  1882  he 
removed  with  his  family  from  West  Virginia  to  a 
farm  near  Blair,  Washington  County,  Nebraska, 
where  he  continued  his  earnest  and  well  directed 
labors  until  his  death,  in  1887.  He  was  a man  of 
strong  individuality  and  sterling  integrity,  so  that 
he  ever  commanded  the  confidence  and  good  will  of 
his  fellow  men.  His  widow,  now  venerable  in  years, 
maintains  her  residence  in  the  City  of  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska. She  was  born  and  reared  in  West  Virginia, 
in  which  state  her  ancestors  were  prominent  as  own- 
ers and  operators  of  lumber  and  flour  mills.  The 
Dotson  family,  of  which  she  is  a representative,  was 
founded  in  Virginia  prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution, and  the  lineage  is  traced  back  to  English 
derivation,  the  name  in  England  having  been  spelled 
Dodson,  and  the  change  in  orthography  having,  for 
some  reason  now  unknown,  been  made  by  the 
American  branch.  In  the  section  of  the  Old  Domin- 
ion now  constituting  the  State  of  West  Virginia  the 
record  of  the  Dotson  family  is  traced  back  to  1798. 
Representatives  of  the  name  were  gallant  soldiers 
of  the  Continental  line  in  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, but  owing  to  incidental  records  having  been 
destroyed  by  fire  the  descendants  of  the  present  day 
have  not  as  yet  been  able  to  make  authoritative 
research  and  learn  the  names  of  these  patriot  sol- 
diers. A sister  of  the  subject  of  this  review  is  at 
the  present  time  giving  attention  to  tracing  back  the 
record  through  various  sources,  and  there  is  assur- 
ance that  her  investigations  will  eventually  render 
her  and  other  members  of  the  family  eligible  for 
membership  in  the  patriotic  organizations  commemo- 


r 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1305 


rative  of  the  revolutionary  epoch — the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Henry  P.  and  Mary  S.  Miller 
became  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom  survive  the  honored  father,  and  of 
the  number  Harry  T.,  of  this  review,  was  the  sixth 
in  order  of  birth. 

Harry  T.  Miller  was  an  infant  in  arms  at  the 
time  of  the  family  removal  from  West  Virginia  to 
Nebraska,  and  he  was  about  six  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  death  of  his  father.  When  he  was  eight 
years  old  the  family  home  was  established  in  the 
City  of  Omaha,  and  there  he  duly  availed  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools.  On  the 
1 8th  of  September,  1899,  about  two  months  prior  to 
his  eighteenth  birthday  anniversary,  Mr.  Miller 
assumed  a clerical  position  in  the  Omaha  office  of 
the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Company.  After  an 
effective  service  of  two  years  he  was  transferred  to 
the  company’s  office  in  the  City,  of  Burlington,  Iowa, 
where  he  assumed  the  position  of  cashier.  Six 
months  later,  however,  he  returned  to  Omaha  as 
cashier  of  the  Nebraska  branch  office  of  the  com- 
pany, and  his  record  with  this  great  corporation  has 
heen  one  of  consecutive  advancement.  After  re- 
maining two  years  in  Omaha,  he  was  transferred  to 
the  general  office  of  the  company  in  Chicago,  where 
he  had  charge  of  a department  for  the  ensuing 
three  years.  He  was  then  made  cashier  of  the  com- 
pany’s branch  office  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul,  Min- 
nesota, and  six  months  later  was  assigned  to  a 
similar  post  in  the  branch  office  at  Milwaukee,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  continued  as  the  incumbent  of  this 
position  for  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  agency  organizer 
for  Wisconsin.  During  his  residence  in  Milwaukee 
Mr.  Miller  devoted  two  years  to  the  study  of  law, 
in  the  night  school  of  the  law  department  of  Mar- 
quette University,  this  laudable  work  having  been 
done  not  with  the  intention  of  entering  the  practice 
of  law  but  as  a means  of  fortification  for  the  respon- 
sibilities that  might  devolve  upon  him  in  connection 
with  business  affairs. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1912,  Mr.  Miller  received 
merited  promotion  to  the  position  of  agency  director 
of  the  Minneapolis  branch  office  of  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  Company,  and  in  this  capacity  he 
had  direction  of  a large  and  important  field,  com- 
prising thirty-two  counties.  The  production  of  busi- 
ness within  his  regime  in  this  capacity  has  been 
double  the  amount  allotted  to  the  Minneapolis  office 
by  the  company  of  which  Mr.  Miller  is  a valued 
representative,  and  this  fact  bears  its  own  sig- 
nificance, -as  indicating  his  exceptional  initiative  and 
executive  ability.  When  he  assumed  his  post  with 
the  Minneapolis  office  this  branch  could  boast  of 
only  two  agents  in  its  territory,  and  at  the  present 
time  sixty  agents  are  employed,  each  giving  appre- 
ciative co-operation  to  Mr.  Miller  as  agency  director. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a young  man  who  has  had  the  ability 
to  recognize  and  make  the  most  of  opportunity,  and 
the  great  company  by  which  he  is  employed  consid- 
ered him  the  most  efficient  of  its  cashiers  during  the 
period  that  he  was  in  tenure  of  such  position,  in 
different  fields.  Mr.  Miller  has  gained  a wide  circle 
of  friends  in  business  and  social  circles  in  Minneapo- 
lis. He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  & 
Commerce  Association  and  also  holds  membership  in 
the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club.  In  the  metropolis  of 
Wisconsin  he  still  retains  membership  in  the  Mil- 
waukee Athletic  Club.  His  political  allegiance  is 


given  to  the  republican  party  and  he  is  loyal  and 
public-spirited  in  his  civic  attitude.  Mr.  Miller  still 
permits  ms  name  to  be  enrolled  on  the  list  of  eligi- 
ble bachelors  and  in  Minneapolis  he  resides  at  the 
Leamington  Hotel. 

Shattuck  School.  The  City  of  Faribault,  not 
only  among  the  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
but  among  all  residents  of  the  Northwest,  has  its 
most  familiar  associations  as  the  seat  of  the  Epis- 
copal diocese  and  as  the  educational  center  of  two 
noted  schools,  the  Shattuck  School  and  the  Seabury 
Divinity  School.  About  1857  the  Episcopal  mission- 
aries, who  were  then  prominent  in  the  religious  and 
educational  work  among  the  whites  and  Indians  in 
Minnesota,  determined  upon  Faribault  as  the  best 
location  for  educational  and  missionary  church  work. 
It  was  a town  centrally  located,  from  which  the 
services  of  the  church  could  be  carried  to  a number 
of  outlying  villages.  In  that  way  it  became  the 
seat  of  an  important  church  mission.  Out  of  the 
mission  grew  the  parish,  now  known  as  the  cathedral 
parish.  In  addition  to  their  labors  in  evangelization, 
the  pioneer  ministers  undertook  to  maintain  schools, 
one  of  which  became  a parish  school  for  boys  and 
under  the  same  auspices  was  conducted  a school 
for  the  training  of  young  men  for  holy  orders.  For 
many  years  the  day  school  and  boarding  academy 
and  the  divinity  school  were  maintained  side  by 
side,  but  for  the  past  ten  years  the  Shattuck  School 
and  the  Seabury  Divinity  School  have  been  sep- 
arate incorporations. 

From  an  article  written  by  Rev.  James  Dobbin, 
who  became  rector  of  Shattuck  School  in  1867,  are 
taken  the  chief  facts  with  regard  to  the  history  of 
this  institution,  as  stated  in  the  following  par- 
agraphs. 

No  men  have  been  identified  more  prominently 
with  the  making  of  Faribault  an  educational  center 
of  national  reputation  than  Bishop  Whipple  and 
Doctor  Breck.  In  point  of  time  the  name  of  James 
Lloyd  Breck  is  first  in  the  annals  of  the  church  and 
of  education  in  Faribault.  He  was  a pioneer  in  the 
territorial  days,  having  come  to  St.  Paul  in  1851, 
thence  to  Gull  Lake  as  a missionary  to  the  Indians 
until  1857,  and  came  to  Faribault  to  found  a mission 
and  with  it  a parish  school  in  1858.  The  former 
developed  into  the  cathedral  parish,  and  the  latter 
continued  as  a part  of  the  mission  and  was  largely 
supported  by  it  until  1868.  Out  of  it  grew  all  the 
church  schools.  It  was  this  feeble  beginning  and 
Breck’s  influence  that  turned  the  attention  of  Bishop 
Whipple  to  Faribault  and  convinced  him  this  was 
the  point  at  which  to  begin  his  great  work.  With 
this  in  view  he  at  once  secured  a charter  for  the 
Bishop  Seabury  Mission,  with  ample  powers  for 
schools  of  all  grades.  The  first  to  receive  attention 
was  the  divinity  school,  but  means  for  its  building 
were  not  secured  until  1864-65.  The  funds  for  build- 
ing the  first  hall  were  secured  elsewhere,  and  the 
location  of  the  building  was  on  the  grounds  now 
occupied  by  Shattuck. 

An  important  step  leading  to  the  establishment  of 
Shattuck  was  taken  when  a few  boys  from  the  Twin 
Cities  and  other  points  were  admitted  to  live  with 
the  divinity  students,  and  they,  with  others  selected 
from  the  parish  school  to  attend  as  daily  pupils, 
were  organized  into  what  was  called  a “grammar 
school.”  It  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  George 
C.  Tanner  as  principal,  with  James  Dobbin  and 
Charles  Plummer,  then  studying  theology,  as  his 


1306 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


assistants.  Doctor  Breck,  as  dean  of  the  mission 
school  and  head  of  the  household,  resided  in  Sea- 
bury  from  the  winter  of  1866  to  April,  1867,  when  he 
resigned  and  moved  to  California.  Professor  Tan- 
ner at  the  same  time  took  charge  of  the  parish  in 
Owatonna. 

Meantime  the  bishop’s  plans  were  matured  and 
greatly  expanded.  He  had  been  impressed  during 
a visit  to  England  by  the  remarkable  history  and 
influence  upon  national  affairs  of  the  ancient  schools 
that  had  been  founded  and  endowed  centuries  be- 
fore— Winchester  as  far  back  as  1387.  Eton  in  1440, 
Rugby  in  1567  and  Harrow  in  1571.  The  efficiency 
of  these  schools  in  training  the  character  of  boys 
seemed  to  him  one  of  the  best  features  in  English 
life.  With  the  conviction  that  what  was  done  in 
the  earlier  days  in  England  can  be  done  now,  he 
came  home  with  the  faith  and  courage  to  under- 
take it,  although  he  was  utterly  without  means  to 
attempt  so  great  a work.  It  was  a tremendous 
responsibility  to  place  upon  a young  man  inexpe- 
rienced in  such  work  and  with  no  assurance  of 
financial  help  that  would  be  necessary.  Nothing 
but  the  keen  sense  of  duty  which  long  continued 
urging  of  the  bishop  and  his  optimism  awakened  led 
Mr.  Dobbin  to  devote  his  life  to  building  it  up. 

The  new  organization  and  management  began  in 
April,  1867.  Owing  to  poverty  of  resources,  it  was 
necessary  for  the  students  of  Shattuck  Hall  to  live 
in  Seabury  with  the  divinity  students.  On  Thanks- 
giving Day,  1872,  Seabury . Hall  was  burned,  and 
the  divinity  school  was  then  moved  to  its  present 
site.  Meantime  a building  had  been  erected  in 
1868-69  for  the  increasing  needs  of  the  boys’  school, 
so  the  separation  of  the  two  departments  was  more 
easily  made.  For  a time  the  grammar  school  build- 
ing served  both  as  a schoolroom  and  a dormitory, 
with  the  dining  room  and  the  kitchen  in  the  base- 
ment. By  far  the  largest  contribution  for  this 
building  having  been  made  by  Dr.  George  C.  Shat- 
tuck of  Boston,  the  building  was  called  Shattuck 
Hall  in  recognition  of  that  and  other  benefactions 
to  the  bishop’s  work.  As  it  was  the  mam  building 
for  some  years,  and  no  official  action  was  taken  in 
the  matter  of  a name  until  it  was  separately  incor- 
porated thirty-six  years  later  as  Shattuck  School, 
this  name  naturally  clung  to  the  school  as  the  suc- 
cessive buildings  were  added.  A frame  building 
subsequently  constructed  was  finally  converted^  into 
a dormitory  and  is  now  known  as  The  Lodge. 

While  in  France  during  the  winter  of  1870-71 
Bishop  Whipple  met  Mrs.  Augusta  M.  Shumway  of 
Chicago.  The  school  had  begun  to  show  signs  of 
success  that  confirmed  the  bishop  s hopes  of  its  be- 
coming one  of  the  permanent  institutions  of  the 
great  Northwest,  and  he  talked  with  such  enthu- 
siasm of  his  plans  as  to  excite  a lively  interest  in 
her  mind.  This  led  her  to  offer  him  $10,000  for  a 
chapel  as  a memorial  to  her  little  daughter,  and 
the  amount  was  ultimately  increased  to  nearly  $3°>- 
000.  The  chapel  was  consecrated  in  1872  and  was 
for  a time  one  of  the  notable  buildings  of  the  state. 

The  military  teacher  at  Shattuck  School,  was  one 
of  those  incidental  facts  which  so  often  arise  unex- 
pectedly and  shape  the  future  of  institutions.  Among 
the  early  students  of  the  mission  was  one  who  had 
enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  and  had  gained  some 
knowledge  of  military  tactics.  He  formed  the  pupils 
of  the  school  into  a military  organization,  and  the 
boys  at  first  used  sticks  for  muskets.  Though  in- 
cidental, it  was  from  the  first  regarded  as  a valuable 


factor  in  school  life,  and  when  the  act  was  passed 
by  Congress  allowing  each  state  to  have  an  army 
officer  to  teach  military  science  Bishop  Whipple 
made  application  to  the  War  Department  to  secure 
the  appointment  for  Shattuck  School.  Thus  in  1868 
Maj.  A.  E.  Latimer  of  the  regular  army  was  detailed 
as  first  commandant  of  the  school,  and  Shattuck  was 
the  first  school  to  obtain  the  privileges  of  this  act. 

The  burning  of  Seabury  Hall  had  made  necessary 
an  additional  dormitory,  which  need  was  supplied 
by  the  erection  in  1873  of  Whipple  Hall,  named  in 
honor  of  Bishop  Whipple.  With  the  exception  of 
the  cottages  for  Professor  Whitney  and  the  com- 
mandant and  a comparatively  small  drill  hall  and 
gymnasium  in  1880,  no  further  building  was  pos- 
sible for  upwards  of  twelve  years.  The  gymnasium 
and  drill  hall,  known  as  Manney  Hall,  was  burned 
in  1893,  and  the  insurance  money  of  $15,000  was  ap- 
plied to  the  erection  of  a basement  story  of  a build- 
ing to  replace  it.  This,  however,  was  never  com- 
pleted according  to  the  original  plan,  the  school 
having  outgrown  it.  However,  it  served  as  a drill 
room  fifteen  years.  In  1907  the  Samuel  S.  Johnson 
Hall,  an  armory  and  drill  hall,  was  erected  on 
entirely  new  plans  from  a gift  of  $70,000  received 
from  the  widow  and  two  sons  of  Mr.  Johnson. 

In  the  meantime  Shattuck  School  was  enjoying 
a period  of  growth  and  strengthening  influence,  and 
its  needs  received  responses  from  various  sources. 
Every  summer  that  Mrs.  Shumway  was  not  traveling 
abroad  found  her  at  the  commencement  exercises, 
her  last  visit  having  been  made  in  1884,  only  two 
months  before  her  death  from  accident  in  Colo- 
rado. The  previous  year  she  had  rewritten  her  will 
and  provided  a bequest  of  $200,000  for  the  benefit  of 
Shattuck,  besides  an  additional  amount  of  $100,000 
to  the  divinity  school.  It  was  to  be  divided  between 
a building  as  a memorial  to  her  husband  and  the 
endowment  of  a fund  to  assist  poor  boys  to  enjoy 
the  advantages  of  the  school.  The  portion  of  the 
estate  that  was  available  for  this  bequest  realized 
about  $170,000,  of  which  $88,000  was  placed  at  inter- 
est and  the  remainder  devoted  to  the  erection  of 
Shumway  Hall,  which  was  opened  for  use  in  the 
fall  of  1887. 

During  his  visit  to  England  in  the  fall  of  1888 
Bishop  Whipple  received  from  his  friend,  Junius  S. 
Morgan  of  London,  a gift  of  $50,000  for  Shattuck 
School.  This  was  devoted  to  the  long-felt  need  of 
a suitable  refectory.  The  foundation  was  laid  in  the 
fall  of  1888,  and  the  building  was  ready  by  Septem- 
ber, 1889.  During  its  erection  funds  were  received 
from  Mrs.  J.  S.  Smyser  for  the  adjoining  building, 
the  Smyser  Memorial,  in  memory  of  her  son,  a for- 
mer cadet. 

In  1905  a plan  long  contemplated  of  severing  the 
corporate  relations  of  Seabury  and  Shattuck  was 
brought  about,  and  a new  board  of  trustees  was 
formed  and  incorporated  under  the  name  Shattuck 
School.  This  corporation  received  from  the  bishop 
Seabury  Mission,  under  which  the  school  had  been 
previously  conducted,  a net  property  of  nearly  half  a 
million  dollars,  which  had  been  accumulated  for  the 
benefit  of  Shattuck.  To  commemorate  this  impor- 
tant event  in  its  history  it  was  proposed  by  the 
alumni  members  of  the  board,  who  numbered  five 
of  the  nine  trustees,  that  plans  be  prepared  for  a 
gymnasium  and  office  building,  and  an  effort  made 
by  them  to  secure  funds  from  the  old  boys  and 
patrons  as  their  gift  to  the  new  corporation.  The 
cost,  including  the  connecting  corridor  to  Shum- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1307 


way  Hall,  was  $60,000.  It  is  absolutely  fireproof 
and  sanitary,  with  swimming  pool,  shower  baths  and 
toilet  rooms,  and  the  gymnasium  and  office  are 
equipped  with  every  appliance  desired.  The  upper 
story  provides  two  class  rooms  and  sleeping  rooms 
for  boys. 

Besides  this  building,  which  is  one  of  the  notable 
structures  on  the  school  campus,  the  Johnson  Armory 
and  Hall  is  a building  with  scarcely  an  equal  for  its 
purpose  in  any  schools  in  the  country.  It  contains 
a drill  room  and  an  indoor  earthen  athletic  court 
and  running  track,  also  a beautiful  reading  room  and 
library,  and  other  rooms.  Together  with  the  gym- 
nasium building,  it  marks  Shattuck  in  physical  ap- 
pointments, as  it  already^  was  in  rank  and  reputa- 
tion, as  one  of  the  foremost  boarding  schools  for 
boys  in  America. 

With  an  adequate  building  equipment  and  grounds, 
the  next  step  of  improvement  at  Shattuck  was  plan- 
ning for  an  endowment  to  reach  half  a million  dol- 
lars, and  the  authorities  are  at  present  engaged  in 
work  toward  that  end.  With  such  an  endowment 
Shattuck’s  value  to  the  community  and  to  the  coun- 
try will  be  greatly  increased,  and  the  school  will 
be  able  to  realize  those  fine  ideals  cherished  for 
it  by  Bishop  Whipple,  who  had  in  mind  the  fine 
old  English  schools  that  have  been  training  English 
boys  for  300  or  500  years. 

In  this  connection  the  words  of  Reverend  Doctor 
Dobbin  at  the  close  of  his  article  should  be  quoted: 
“By  this  far-reaching  policy  of  building  for  the 
future,  the  founders  and  builders  are  preparing  that 
Shattuck  shall  contribute,  as  the  years  and  genera- 
tions go  by,  to  the  increase  and  betterment  of  the 
local  prosperity  infinitely  more  than  anyone  is  yet 
able  to  comprehend.  There  is  no  other  enterprise 
of  so  great  and  varied  importance.  What  helps  the 
school  helps  the  town ; for  it  is  put  here  to  stay.  It 
can  never  move  elsewhere  as  anj?  commercial  bus- 
iness can.  The  names  of  the  benefactors  of  Shat- 
tuck School  will  be  preserved  for  all  time  in  the 
archives  and  in  the  names  and  usefulness  of  the 
buildings  or  endowments.  It  opens  a way  for  any- 
one interested  in  the  future  of  his  home  city  to 
make  an  investment  in  the  interest  of  education 
that  will  contribute  in  all  the  years  to  come  to  the 
benefit  and  credit  of  Faribault,  while  exerting  a long- 
lasting  influence  on  the  country  at  large  through  the 
multitude  of  boys  who  will  go  out  from  its  walls 
better  and  more  useful  men.’’ 

In  1907  Dr.  James  Dobbin  completed  his  fortieth 
year  as  rector  and  head  of  Shattuck  School.  As 
Doctor  Tanner  in  his  “Fifty  Years  of  Church  Work 
in  the  Diocese  of  Minnesota”  said : “Every  building 

now  standing  on  the  grounds  (1908)  has  been  erected 
under  his  personal  supervision.  To  the  oversight  of 
this  important  work  he  has  given  days  and  nights 
of  constant  thought.  The  summer  vacations  have 
been  devoted  to  the  erection  of  buildings  or  to 
plans  for  extending  the  usefulness  of  the  school. 
In  the  early  days  he  discharged  the  duties  of  rector, 
headmaster,  financial  manager  and  instructor.”  On 
September  1,  1914,  Reverend  Doctor  Dobbin  resigned 
the  rectorship  of  Shattuck,  and  the  Rt.  Rev.  F.  A. 
McElwain  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 

Bishop  McElwain  was  born  at  Warsaw,  New 
York,  December  14,  1875,  graduated  A.  B.  in  1899 
from  Trinity  College  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and 
later  from  the  same  institution  received  the  degrees 
of  A.  M.  and  D.  D.  In  1902  he  graduated  B.  D. 
from  the  Seabury  Divinity  School  at  Faribault,  and 


has  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  same 
school.  His  parochial  experience  has  been  in  the 
diocese  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  West  Mission, 
as  professor  and  warden  of  the  Seabury  Divinity 
School  and  as  dean  of  the  cathedral  at  Faribault. 
In  1912  he  was  elected  suffragan  bishop  of  Min- 
nesota and  still  holds  that  position  in  addition  to 
his  duties  as  rector  of  Shattuck  School.  The  pres- 
ent headmaster  of  Shattuck  School  is  Col.  V.  E. 
Stolbrand,  formerly  of  the  United  States  army,  who 
has  had  large  experience  both  as  an  engineer  and 
as  an  instructor  in  and  head  of  military  schools. 

David  L.  Evans.  Now  cashier  of  the  Farmers 
State  Bank  of  Delavan,  Mr.  Evans  is  a native  son 
of  Faribault  County,  and  prior  to  entering  banking 
was  a druggist  in  different  parts  of  the  state  for 
several  years.  Mr.  Evans  has  exceptional  financial 
ability,  the  thorough  confidence  of  the  community, 
and  was  the  organizer  and  has  been  the  chief  factor 
in  the.  success  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank. 

David  L.  Evans  was  born  in  Faribault  County, 
Minnesota,  September  1,  1872.  His  father,  John 
Evans,  was  born  in  Wales  in  1832,  came  to  the 
United  States  at  the  age  of  twenty,  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, moved  to  Wisconsin  in  1859,  and  in  1865 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  and  farmers  of 
Faribault  County,  Minnesota.  His  death  occurred  in 
that  county  in  1906.  John  Evans  married  Maria 
Owens,  who  was  also  of  Welsh  stock,  and  was  born 
at  Liverpool,  England,  and  now  lives  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Faribault  County.  She  was  born  in 
1834  and  has  now  attained  the  good  old  age  of  four 
score  years.  Their  children  are:  William  J.,  a 
farmer  at  Montevideo,  Minnesota;  Edward  O.,  on 
the  homestead  farm ; Samuel,  who  is  living  retired 
at  Mapleton,  Minnesota ; Richard,  a stock  buyer  and 
farmer  at  Delavan;  David  L. ; and  Henry,  a farmer 
at  Mankato. 

David  L.  Evans  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
in  Faribault  County,  finished  the  high  school  course 
at  Wells,  and  in  1900  graduated  from  the  pharmacy 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  After 
nine  months  of  practical  experience  in  the  drug  trade 
at  Blue  Earth,  he  opened  a drug  store  at  Ceylon, 
conducted  that  four  years,  and  in  1905,  moved  to 
Fairmont  and  continued  in  the  drug  trade  there  for 
six  months.  Since  1906  Mr.  EvansTas  given  all  his 
time  to  banking,  having  become  assistant  cashier 
of  the  Securities  State  Bank  at  Delavan  in  that  year. 
In  1909,  in  association  with  other  local  business  men, 
he  organized  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Delavan, 
and  has  since  been  cashier.  The  capital  stock  of 
the  bank  is  $10,000,  and  it  has  a surplus  of  $2,000. 
The  president  is  T.  J.  Lien. 

Mr.  Evans  is  a republican,  and  is  affiliated  with 
Blue  Earth  Valley  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Winnebago 
and  with  Lodge  No.  813,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  at  Albert  Lea. 

Oil  June  26,  1912,  at  the  home  of  her  parents  in 
Faribault  County,  Mr.  Evans  married  Miss  Blanche 
Thayer,  daughter  of  C.  W.  Thayer,  a well  known 
farmer  of  this  county.  They  have  one  child, 
Nadine. 

Jacob  H.  Heimaric,  M.  D.  Both  in  the  character 
of  his  practice  and  the  value  of  his  service  to  the 
community,  Doctor  Heimark  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading  physicians  of  Clay  County,  and  has 
been  attending  a growing  practice  at  Hawley  for 
the  past  six  years.  Both  there  and  at  Gary  his  name 


130S 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


and  influence  have  been  associated  with  many  local 
affairs  outside  of  the  immediate  domain  of  his  pro- 
fession. 

A native  of  Minnesota,  Doctor  Heimark  was  born 
in  Yellow  Medicine  County  May  n,  1877,  a son  of 
Halvor  and  Cecilia  (Storebo)  Heimark.  Both 
parents  were  natives  of  Bergen,  Norway,  and  his 
father  was  born  in  1846  and  died  August  8,  1914, 
while  the  mother  is  still  living  at  the  homestead  in 
Yellow  Medicine  County.  Halvor  Heimark  came 
to  this  country  in  1865,  settled  first  in  Winneshiek 
County,  Iowa,  and  subsequently  became  a home- 
steader and  pioneer  farmer  in  Yellow  Medicine 
County  near  Granite  Falls,  where  he  lived  and 
worked  and  made  a home.  The  children  were : Ole, 
a hardware  merchant  at  Warwick,  North  Dakota; 
Dr.  Jacob  H.;  John,  a merchant  and  manager  of 
a lumber  yard  at  Warwick,  North  Dakota;  Andrew, 
a farmer  at  Hawley ; Carrie,  Henry  and  Carl,  all 
living  with  their  mother;  and  Selmer,  clerk  in  a hard- 
ware store  at  Hawley. 

One  of  the  older  children  of  the  family,  Dr.  Jacob 
IT.  Heimark,  grew  up  in  Yellow  Medicine  County, 
with  a farm  for  his  physical  environment  and  dis- 
cipline, and  after  attending  the  public  schools  entered 
St.  Olaf  College  at  Northfield,  and  in  1903  graduated 
M.  D.  from  the  medical  department  of  Hamline 
University  at  St.  Paul.  In  1903  Doctor  Heimark 
interrupted  his  practice  in  order  to  take  a post- 
graduate course  for  six  months  in  the  Chicago  Poli- 
clinic. After  getting  his  degree  in  St.  Paul  he  re- 
moved to  Gary,  and  was  in  active  practice  there  for 
five  years.  Since  1909  he  has  looked  after  a general 
medical  and  surgical  practice  at  Hawley,  with  offices 
in  the  State  Bank  Building. 

Doctor  Heimark  is  a member  of  the  County  and 
State  Medical  societies  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  re- 
publican party.  During  his  residence  in  Norman 
County  he  served  as  coroner  four  years  and  for 
two  terms  was  mayor  of  Gary.  He  is  health  officer 
at  Hawley.  Doctor  Heimark  is  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  affiliates  with  Hawley  Lodge  No. 
256,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  a thirty-second  degree 
Scottish  Rite  Mason  of  the  Fargo  Consistory.  He 
is  also  a member  of  the  Sons  of  Norway.  At  Litch- 
field, Minnesota,  September  30,  1903,  Doctor  Hei- 
mark married  Miss  Cordelia  Thompson,  whose 
father,  Thomas  Thompson,  is  a farmer  in  Meeker 
County.  They  have  two  children  : Viola  and  Thelma, 
both  students  in  the  Hawley  public  schools. 

Gideon  Hollister  Pond.  A place  of  peculiar  dis- 
tinction in  Minnesota  history  belongs  to  the  life  of 
Gideon  Hollister  Pond.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
white  men  to  become  a permanent  settler  in  that 
state.  For  thirty  years  or  more  prior  to  his  arrival 
there  had  been  explorers,  trappers  and  hunters,  In- 
dian traders,  soldiers  and  missionaries,  but  their  rela- 
tions with  the  country  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi were  of  a temporary  character,  and  when 
their  work  was  done  for  the  most  part  they  moved 
on  to  other  scenes.  Mr.  Pond  also  came  to  Minne- 
sota, in  the  year  1834,  for  a definite  purpose,  as  mis- 
sionary to  the  Indians,  but  after  serving  the  Indian 
tribes  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  Minneapolis  for 
twenty  years  or  more  then  became  identified  with  the 
church  organization  of  civilized  men,  and  was  a 
farmer  and  minister  until  the  close  of  his  long  and 
eventful  life. 

Gideon  Hollister  Pond  was  born  in  Washington, 


Litchfield  County,  Connecticut,  June  30,  1810.  His 
parents,  Elnathan  Judson  and  Sarah  (Hollister) 
Pond,  were  farming  people  in  Connecticut,  and  were 
descended  from  old  English  stock.  Gideon  H.  Pond 
had  only  a common  school  education,  and  lived  at 
home  until  1834.  Prior  to  that  time  his  brother 
Samuel  W.  Pond  had  been  a teacher  in  Galena, 
Illinois,  then  a frontier  community  on  the  Illinois 
and  Mississippi  rivers,  and  Gideon  H.  accepted  a 
proposal  from  this  brother  that  they  should  go  to  the 
extreme  frontier,  along  the  headwaters  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  take  up  missionary  work  among  the 
Dakota  tribes  of  Indians.  Thus  these  two  men, 
young  and  unschooled  in  the  ways  of  the  wilderness, 
arrived  at  Fort  Snelling  on  May  6,  1834.  Though 
without  means  of  their  own,  and  working  as  lay- 
men, without  the  regular  support  of  any  organiza- 
tion, they  came  to  be  numbered  and  deserve  memory 
as  two  of  the  most  faithful  and  energetic  workers 
among  the  uncivilized  tribes  of  the  North.  They 
had  gained  permission  from  the  commandant  at 
Fort  Snelling  to  build  a log  house,  which  was  erected 
on  a high  bluff  on  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Calhoun 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Harriet.  At  that  time 
that  was  the  first  dwelling  on  the  present  site  of 
the  City  of  Minneapolis.  The  Village  of  St.  An- 
thony was  yet  to  be  founded,  and  the  fort  was  the 
only  settlement  for  a radius  of  many  miles.  A 
lumber  mill  had  been  built  at  Fort  Snelling  in  1820, 
but  as  no  one  was  allowed  to  settle  within  the  con- 
fines of  the  fort,  it  could  not  properly  be  called 
the  first  building  in  Minneapolis.  For  three  years 
the  brothers  carried  on  their  work  at  Lake  Cal- 
houn, and  then  spent  another  two  or  three  years 
among  the  Indians  at  Lac  qui  Parle. 

It  was  at  Lac  qui  Parle  on  November  2,  1837,  that 
Gideon  H.  Pond  married  Miss  Sarah  Poage,  who 
was  also  a missionary  to  the  Indians.  After  a few 
years  Mr.  Pond  returned  to  Lake  Harriet.  In  1843 
the  Dakota  Indians,  constituting  the  Sioux  tribe, 
moved  from  the  vicinity  of  Lakes  Harriet  and  Cal- 
houn to  the  vicinity  of  the  Minnesota  River  to 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Township  of  Blooming- 
ton. Mr.  Pond  followed  them  on  this  migration, 
and  located  there  a farm  which  is  still  in  the  family 
possession.  On  that  land  he  erected  a humble  home 
and  also  a schoolhouse  for  the  Indians. 

In  1849  Mr.  Pond  was  elected  a representative  to 
the  First  Territorial  Legislature,  which  met  at  St. 
Paul  on  September  3d.  His  constituents  wished  to 
send  him  back  for  another  term,  but  he  felt  obliged 
to  decline  this  honor  in  order  to  devote  himself 
to  his  more  important  labors.  Politically  he  was  a 
republican  after  the  formation  of  that  party,  and 
was  a man  of  great  public  spirit  in  his  relations  to 
the  community.  For  a number  of  years  he  served 
as  superintendent  of  schools,  and  discharged  other 
duties  of  public  trust  outside  of  his  immediate  work 
as  a churchman.  In  1852,  as  a result  of  a treaty 
with  the  Federal  Government,  the  Sioux  Indians 
were  removed  from  Bloomington  Township,  and 
Mr.  Pond’s  labors  were  then,  continued  for  nearly 
twenty  years,  thus  ended.  After  that  he  became  a 
farmer  in  Bloomington,  and  also  accepted  a call  as 
minister  to  the  Presbyterian  congregation  in  that 
locality.  He  had  been  ordained  as  a minister  of 
the  gosoel  by  the  St.  Paul  Presbytery. 

His  first  wife  died  in  1853  and  in  the  following 
year  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Hopkins.  This  vener- 
able woman,  now  nearly  ninety  years  of  age,  and 
regarded  as  the  oldest  Minneapolis  settler,  has  like- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1309 


wise  an  interesting  career  of  experience  in  the  Min- 
nesota country.  She  was  born  in  1825,  and  married 
Robert  Hopkins,  who  in  1843  brought  his  wife  out 
to  Minnesota,  driving  with  two  horses  all  the  way  to 
Lac  qui  Parle,  and  locating  at  St.  Peter,  then  called 
Traverse  des  Sioux.  Mr.  Hopkins  was  also  a mis- 
sionary and  preached  to  the  Indians  along  the  St. 
Peter  River.  In  1851  Robert  Hopkins  was  drowned 
in  the  St.  Peter  River,  and  his  widow  returned  to 
her  old  home  at  South  Salem,  Ohio,  where  she  re- 
mained until  her  marriage  in  1854  to  Mr.  Pond. 
The  old  home  at  Bloomington  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
Pond  was  constructed  by  Gideon  H.  Pond  with  such 
material  as  he  was  able  to  obtain,  and  he  made  the 
bricks  in  a kiln  of  his  own  construction,  after  dig- 
ging the  clay  and  sand  out  of  the  river  bank.  Gideon 
H.  Pond  by  his  first  marriage  had  seven  children, 
five  daughters  and  two  sons,  and  six  children  were 
born  to  his  second  wife,  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. One  of  the  sons  by  his  first  wife  was  Edward 
Robert  Pond,  who  was  born  at  Lake  Harriet  in 
Minnesota  in  1840.  In  1864  he  married  Mary 
Frances  Hopkins,  who  was  born  at  St.  Peter  in  1843, 
a daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hopkins.  Thus 
were  united  the  destinies  of  two  families  that  were 
among  the  most  prominent  in  the  early  settlement 
and  Indian  history  of  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Gideon  Pond 
now  lives  with  her  son  H.  H.  Pond. 

The  late  Gideon  H.  Pond  spent  twenty  years  as 
an  active  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Bloomington,  and  died  January  20,  1878.  His 
brother  Samuel  Pond,  who  had  been  associated  with 
him  as  an  Indian  missionary,  died  at  Shakopee  De- 
cember 12,  1891.  Gideon  H.  Pond  was  a man  of 
remarkable  attainments,  considering  his  early  ad- 
vantages and  the  fact  that  he  developed  his  re- 
sources through  his  own  ambition  and  labors.  With 
a common  school  education,  he  afterwards  in  the 
intervals  of  his  busy  career  studied  Greek,  French 
and  Latin,  and  became  familiar  with  all  those 
languages.  He  also  learned  the  Dakota  tongue,  and 
was  able  to  preach  to  the  Indians  in  their  own 
language.  In  association  with  his  brother  Samuel 
he  reduced  the  Dakota  language  to  writing.  In 
this  connection- he  deserves  mention  as  the  first  editor 
and  publisher  in  Hennepin  County,  Minnesota.  In 
November,  1850,  he  began  the  publication  of  the 
“Dakotah  Tawaxitka,”  the  translation  of  which 
means  the  Dakota  Friend.  It  was  a monthly  paper, 
printed  partly  in  English  and  partly  in  the  Dakota 
tongue,  and  was  published  in  St.  Paul.  It  was  con- 
tinued for  nearly  two  years,  but  in  its  main  purpose, 
to  furnish  a medium  of  communication  and  educa- 
tion for  the  Indian,  it  was  largely  a failure,  since 
the  Indians  showed  little  appreciation  of  the  journal- 
istic enterprise. 

The  labors  and  experiences  of  the  Pond  brothers 
as  Northwestern  missionaries  are  described  in  a book 
called  “Two  Volunteer  Missionaries  among  the  Da- 
kotas,” which  was  compiled  and  written  by  S.  W. 
Pond,  Jr.,  and  published  in  1893.  It  is  a valuable 
contribution  both  to  the  religious  and  secular  history 
of  the  Northwest.  The  author  in  his  preface  classi- 
fies the  white  men  from  whom  the  Dakotas  received 
their  first  impressions  of  civilization  as  the  military, 
including  Government  officials,  the  mercantile,  largely 
traders  and  trappers,  and  the  aggressively  religious. 
In  the  last  named  class  Gideon  H.  Pond  was  prob- 
ably one  of  the  most  persistent  and  careful  laborers 
in  improving  the  conditions  and  morals  of  the  Indian 
tribes  of  Minnesota,  and  however  the  results  of  his 


work  may  be  estimated,  his  name  must  always  be 
given  a high  place  among  the  missionaries  who  en- 
deavored to  uplift  the  native  tribes  of  America.  He 
not  only  preached  to  the  Indians,  but  worked  with 
them  and  for  them  in  planning  cultivation  of  land  and 
in  teaching  the  best  methods  of  using  the  soil,  and 
in  building  their  houses.  He  accompanied  them  on 
their  hunting  and  war  expeditions  in  order  to  fa- 
miliarize himself  with  their  language  and  customs, 
and  there  were  few  men  who  had  so  intimate  and 
practical  knowledge  of  the  red  men  of  Minnesota. 
For  many  years  he  gave  an  unstinted  outlay  of  time, 
patience  and  enthusiasm  to  the  work.  He  often  ad- 
mitted discouragement  himself,  and  realized  that  the 
Sioux  nature  was  probably  the  most  intractable 
among  all  the  American  tribes.  In  some,  of  his 
writings  he  says : “What  troubled  me  most  was 

the  apprehension  that  the  mission  money  that  I was 
spending  here  might  be  more  profitably  applied  in 
some  other  field,  and  I endeavored  to  get  along 
with  as  little  of  that  money  as  possible.  * * * 

Before  the  outbreak  of  1862  I saw  very  few  Dakotas 
who  seemed  to  give  evidence  of  piety.”  The  early 
Catholic  missionaries  had  likewise  abandoned  their 
attempts  to  civilize  the  Sioux,  and  it  was  with  the 
realization  of  this  superhuman  task  that  Mr.  Pond 
finally  gave  up  his  early  labors  for  the  conversion 
of  the  Indians  to  Christianity,  and  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  efforts  that  yielded  better  results.  Neverthe- 
less, these  labors  were  not  without  profit,  since  he 
succeeded  in  converting  many  individuals  of  the 
tribes  with  whom  he  worked,  and  there  are  not  lack- 
ing evidences  of  the  benefits  of  his  instruction. 
While  little  progress  was  made  towards  the  con- 
version of  the  Indians  during  the  first  twenty-five 
years  of  his  missionary  work,  the  author  of  the 
little  book  above  named  says  :*  “The  seed  of  truth, 
during  these  years,  seemed  to  lie  dormant,  and  as 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was  an  element  in  God’s 
plan  for  the  abolition  of  African  slavery,  so  the 
bloody  insurrection  of  the  Sioux  in  August,  1862, 
and  the  retribution  which  folllowed  seem  to  have 
been  necessary  to  break  the  rule  of  tradition  and 
superstition  which  prevented  an  ever  present  obstacle 
to  the  civilization  and  Christianization  of  the  Dako- 
tas.” It  was  found  that  none  of  the  Christian 
Indians  had  participated  in  that  insurrection,  and 
several  had  even  risked  their  own  lives  to  save  the 
lives  of  white  persons.  After  the  rebellion  had  been 
put  down  many  of  the  Indians  were  not  only  willing 
but  eager  to  accept  the  Christian  faith,  and  they  and 
their  descendants  have  remained  steadfast  in  the 
religion  ever  since.  Concerning  the  fruits  of  this 
early  missionary  enterprise,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  competent  among  the  workers  of  the  Dakotas 
of  Minnesota,  Doctor  Williamson,  wrote  in  1891  to 
Mr.  S.  W.  Pond,  Jr.,  as  follows:  “I  can  say  with 

all  sincerity  that  the  results  of  their  faithful  labors 
prove  that  they  were  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 
* * * Among  the  Sioux  who  lived  in  Minnesota 

previous  to  1862,  we  now  have  nine  Presbyterian 
and  two  Congregational  churches,  with  a member- 
ship of  one  thousand.  There  are  also  four  or  five 
Episcopal  churches,  with  membership  of  over  three 
hundred.  * * * As  to  civilization,  the  scale  is  a 

sliding  one,  but  the  Sioux  among  whom  the  first 
missionaries  labored  have  made  long  strides  in  that 
direction,  and  are  far  in  advance  of  any  other  Sioux.” 
The  work  of  Gideon  H.  Pond  as  a pioneer  of 

*This  quotation  is  from  a letter  of  G.  H.  Pond. 


1310 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Minnesota  is  impressive,  from  whatever  point  of 
view  it  may  be  considered,  and  his  personality  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  found  in  the  pages  of 
early  Minnesota  history.  He  was  the  author  of 
several  school  books,  and  of  hymns  which  were 
translated  into  the  Sioux  language,  and  also  of  the 
earliest  translation  of  the  Gospel  of  Luke. 

Charles  R.  Christenson,  M.  D.  Long  ex- 
perience, professional  associations  and  his  broadly 
recognized  skill  as  an  operator  place  Dr.  Charles  R. 
Christenson  of  Starbuck  among  the  leading  sur- 
geons of  the  State  of  Minnesota,  a state  which 
hardly  yields  to  any  in  the  Union  in  point  of  superi- 
ority in  its  medical  and  surgical  profession. 

It  was  on  a farm  in  Columbia  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, September  29,  1867,  that  Charles  R.  Christen- 
son was  born,  and  is  a son  of  Danish  people.  His 
father,  Hans  N.  Christenson,  was  born  in  Denmark 
in  1836  and  died  at  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  in  1891. 
He  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Danish  army  during 
the  War  of  1864  against  Germany  and  had  a leg 
shattered  by  an  exploding  shell,  an  injury  which 
ultimately  shortened  his  life.  He  came  to  America 
in  1863,  lived  in  Columbia  County,  Wisconsin,  sev- 
eral years,  and  in  1868  identified  himself  as  a pioneer 
farmer  with  Owatonna,  Minnesota.  Hans  N.  Chris- 
tenson married  Matilda  Hansen,  who  was  born  in 
Denmark  in  1841  and  died  at  Owatonna  in  1913. 
Their  children  were:  Hans  H.,  on  the  home  farm 
at  Owatonna;  Dr.  Charles  R. ; and  Peter  E.,  who 
is  principal  of  schools  at  Woodburn,  Oregon. 

Dr.  Charles  R.  Christenson  had  the  wholesome  en- 
vironment of  a farm  at  Owatonna,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Owatonna  City,  graduating  from 
high  school  in  1889,  and  after  one  year  in  the 
academic  department  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota and  three  years  in  the  medical  department  was 
graduated  M.  D.  in  the  class  of  1896.  Doctor  Chris- 
tenson has  twice  interrupted  his  practice  to  visit 
Europe,  where  he  has  spent  much  time  attending 
the  clinics  of  the  leading  hospitals  of  the  great  med- 
ical centers.  He  began  his  private  practice  in  1896 
at  Starbuck,  and  has  since  developed  an  exclusive 
surgical  practice.  Doctor  Christenson  is  chief  sur- 
geon of  the  hospital  staff  at  Starbuck.  His  reputa- 
tion as  a surgeon  is  such  that  his  patients  come 
from  all  over  Minnesota  and  even  from  neighbor- 
ing states.  The  hospital  in  Starbuck  was  established 
in  1897,  and  in  1912  a new  building  was  erected  at 
a cost  of  $20,000.  This  hospital  accommodates 
twenty  patients,  and  there  are  eight  attending  physi- 
cians on  the  staff.  The  success  of  the  institution 
has  largely  been  due  to  Doctor  Christenson’s  work 
as  its  chief  surgeon. 

While  devoted  to  his  profession,  he  has  been  active 
in  local  affairs.  For  three  terms  he  served  as  mayor 
of  Starbuck,  has  been  president  of  the  school  board, 
health  officer  at  Starbuck  and  coroner  of  Pope 
County.  Politically  he  is  an  independent  republican, 
and  worships  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  Doctor 
Christenson  has  membership  in  the  various  medical 
and  surgical  bodies,  and  is  affiliated  with  St.  Cloud 
Lodge  No.  156  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

In  1897  Doctor  Christenson  married  Miss  Nellie 
Grant.  The  three  children  of  that  marriage  are 
Franklin,  Grant  and  Helen,  all  of  whom  are  now 
in  the  public  schools  of  St.  Paul.  Doctor  Christen- 
son’s present  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Minneapolis 


in  1911,  was  Miss  Marion  Norstrom,  daughter  of 
J.  E.  Norstrom,  who  is  a commercial  photographer 
at  700  Temple  Court  in  Minneapolis. 

Andrew  Mason  Smith  was  born  on  the  4th  of 
February,  1841,  near  the  town  of  Holding,  Den- 
mark. His  family,  as  shown  by  official  records, 
has  been  of  unmixed  Danish  blood  for  several  hun- 
dred years  past.  His  ancestors  have  all  been  sol- 
diers in  the  Danish  army,  and  sailors  in  the  Danish 
navy  and  merchant  marine.  His  grandfather  was 
a lieutenant  in  the  Danish  battalion  of  heavy  ar- 
tillery which  accompanied  Napoleon  in'  his  famous 
Russian  campaign. 

A.  M.  Smith  early  in  life  followed  the  sea.  After 
making  several  voyages  to  South  America,  he  joined 
the  United  States  navy  in  Brazil,  sailing  in  the  S.  S. 
Mary  Comet  on  the  Paraguayan  expedition.  He  was 
discharged  from  the  navy  on  the  return  of  the  expe- 
dition to  the  United  States,  and,  after  experiencing 
many  trials  and  hardships,  found  himself  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  at  Galveston,  Texas.  He 
immediately  made  his  way  north,  and  on  the  22d  of 
April,  1861,  was  one  of  the  first  volunteers  to  enlist 
on  the  books  of  the  first  company  mustered  in  the 
State  of  Indiana.  This  was  originally  a three 
months  service,  but  it  was  mustered  into  the  Thir- 
teenth Regiment  of  the  Indiana  Volunteers  for  the 
duration  of  the  war  and  was  in  over  twenty  engage- 
ments in  Virginia.  In  October,  1862,  being  severely 
wounded,  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the 
army,  and  in  1863  again  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
navy,  shipping  on  the  gunboat  Conestoga,  and  after- 
wards being  transferred  to  gunboat  No.  13,  Fort 
Hineman,  of  the  Mississippi  flotilla,  and  was  at  the 
surrender  of  Vicksburg,  and  took  part  in  the  Red 
River  expedition.  At  the  attack  of  Fort  De  Russey, 
he  was  mentioned  for  bravery  by  Captain  Pierce, 
and  was  shortly  after  severely  wounded,  and  in 
July,  1864,  honorably  discharged  from  the  United 
States  army.  He  went  to  California,  and  shortly 
after  his  arrival  there  enlisted  in  the  Second  Cali- 
fornia Volunteers,  whose  entire  term  of  service  was 
spent  in  fighting  the  Indians.  In  1866  his  regiment 
was  mustered  out  of  service. 

Shortly  after  this  Mr.  Smith  became  engaged  in 
the  construction  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad 
from  Cisco  to  Elko,  Nevada.  After  this  he  started 
in  business  in  Salt  Lake  City,  but  was  forced  by 
Brigham  Young  to  leave  on  account  of  his  strong 
and  outspoken  anti-Mormon  sentiments.  He  then 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  remaining 
there  until  1886,  when,  realizing  the  opportunities 
of  the  Northwest,  he  transferred  his  business  and 
family  to  Minneapolis.  While  in  Philadelphia  he 
wrote  and  published  a “History  of  the  United  States 
Mint,”  “History  of  the  United  States  Coins,”  “A 
History  of  Colonial  Coins,”  and  also  edited  and 
published  the.  “Coin  Collector’s  Guide  and  Illus- 
trated Magazine,”  and  an  autobiography  entitled 
“The  Luck  of  a Wandering  Dane,”  and  finally  ended 
his  literary  labors  by  writing  and  publishing  the 
“Encyclopedia  of  Gold  and  Silver  Coins  of  the 
World,”  which  is  still  a standard  work  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  in  fact  is  the  only  work  on  the  subject 
published  which  so  thoroughly  and  exhaustively 
covers  the  ground.  Mr.  Smith  spent  seven  years 
and  many  thousands  of  dollars  in  preparation  of 
this  work  in  collecting  the  original  of  every  gold 
and  silver  coin.  While  in  Utah,  Mr.  Smith  married 
a Miss  Elberg,  a young  lady  whose  parents  lived  a 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1311 


short  distance  from  his  home  in  Denmark.  He  has 
two  sons,  the  older  of  whom,  George  Washington 
Smith,  is  residing  in  New  York  City.  The  younger 
son,  Author  Mason  Smith,  is  now  the  active  head 
of  the  business  which  his  father  founded. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic, of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  and  the  Knights  Templar.  He  is  also 
a life  member  of  the  Numismatic  Society.  Mr.  Smith 
is  a large  property  holder  of  Minneapolis  and  in 
his  active  days  had  great  faith  in  its  future  develop- 
ment. His  coin  collection  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
United  States.  In  his  active  days  he  was  a great 
traveler,  having  visited  every  country  of  the  world. 
His  principal  business  was  that  of  a dealer  in  Cali- 
fornia wines  at  247  and  249  Hennepin  Avenue.  This 
business,  together  with  a fine  delicatessen  establish- 
ment in  connection,  is  now  being  managed  success- 
fully by  the  younger  son,  Author  Mason  Smith. 

Thomas  Pearson  Kellett.  Zumbrota  is  one  of 
the  flourishing  small  cities  of  Minnesota,  and  more 
than  any  other  one  individual  the  late  Thomas  Pear- 
son Kellett  was  identified  with  the  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  that  locality  from  the  time  it  was  a house- 
less site  on  the  prairie  until  it  was  a town  of  sub- 
stantial proportions  surrounded  by  prosperous  and 
thrifty  community  of  farming  people.  The  origin 
of  the  town  was  largely  due  to  a company  of  settlers 
who  came  in  under  the  Stafford  Western  Emigra- 
tion. Company  and  also  the  Stafford  Western  Immi- 
gration Company,  in  both  of  which  organizations  Mr. 
Kellett  was  an  active  member.  He  had  many  rela- 
tions with  the  growing  town,  kept  the  first  store 
there,  was  the  first  postmaster,  was  one  of  the  early 
chairmen  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  and  in  a 
history  of  the  community  his  name  would  appear 
more  frequently  than  that  of  any  other  pioneer  citi- 
zen. 

Thomas  Pearson  Kellett  was  born  at  Leeds,  Eng- 
land, August  1,  1814,  and  died  at  Zumbrota,  Minne- 
sota, May  21,  1892.  His  father,  Samuel  Kellett,  was 
a woolen  manufacturer  at  the  industrial  City  of 
Leeds,  and  the 'son  grew  up  there  and  learned  the 
same  business  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  was  placed 
in  charge  of  his  father’s  factory.  He  had  left  school 
when  about  twelve  years  of  age,  and  the  rest  of  his 
education  was  acquired  through  rigid  economy  of 
time.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  in  1835,  having  mar- 
ried, Mr.  Kellett  put  in  execution  a long  cherished 
plan  to  seek  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World.  The 
first  two  years  in  America  were  spent  in  the  manu- 
facturing business  at  Laurel,  Chester  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  from  there  he  went  to  Lowell,  Massa- 
chusetts, a center  of  textile  industries,  and  there 
became  overseer  in  the  woolen  mills  of  the  Middle- 
sex Corporation. 

Mr.  Kellett  remained  in  Lowell  until  1856  and  then 
joined  the  Stafford  Western  Emigration  Company, 
and  with  half  a dozen  other  men  came  out  to  Min- 
nesota to  select  a site  for  a town.  In  the  summer  of 
that  year  they  located  at  Zumbrota,  and  in  Septem- 
ber Mr.  Kellett  aided  in  surveying  and  platting 
the  village.  He  devised  .a  name  for  the  place  by 
adding  one  syllable  to  the  name  of  the  River  Zumbro 
flowing  by  the  site.  Two  months  later,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1856,  Mr.  Kellett  opened  a general  store  in  a 
house  19  by  25  feet,  built  of  rough  boards  and 
batten.  For  many  years  he  continued  in  the  mer- 
chandise business,  carried  the  largest  stock  of  goods, 


and  in  that  time  saw  Zumbrota  grow  into  a prosper- 
ous town.  He  acted  as  president  of  the  Stafford 
Immigration  Company,  which  co-operated  with  the 
company  in  the  East,  and  made  his  influence  felt 
in  every  department  of  the  town’s  activities.  He 
served  as  a justice  of  the  peace  for  six  years,  was 
president  of  the -school  board,  represented  Goodhue 
County  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1872-73,  and  in 
politics  was  first  a whig  and  later  a republican,  and 
frequently  attended  state  and  other  conventions  as 
a delegate.  He  was  a member  of  high  degree  with 
the  lodge  and  chapter  of  the  Masonic  order  in 
Zumbrota,  and  for  seven  consecutive  years  was 
honored  with  the  office  of  master  of  his  lodge.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  organizers  and  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  Kellett  was 
married  in  Leeds,  England,  in  1835,  to  Miss  Anne 
Barker,  who  died  in  1872,  leaving  five  children.  A 
year  after  her  death  he  married  Mrs.  Frances  M. 
Cummings,  of  Bunker  Hill,  Illinois,  and  later  con- 
tracted a third  marriage  with  Mrs.  Louise  M.  Still- 
man, of  Galena,  Illinois,  who  survived  him  one  year. 

Throughout  his  life  Mr.  Kellett  stood  high  as  a 
citizen,  and  was  highly  respected  as  a man  of  un- 
usual strength  and  probity  of  character,  and  one 
whose  influence  was  invariably  found  on  the  right 
side  of  every  issue  of  public  or  moral  importance. 

Everett  A.  Kellett.  At  Zumbrota,  in  Goodhue 
County,  where  Everett  A.  Kellett  was  born  March 
27,  1871,  there  is  no  family  name  more  closely  and 
prominently  associated  with  the  history  and  develop- 
ment of  that  section  than  Kellett.  Mr.  Kellett’s 
grandfather  and  great-grandfather  were  the  leaders 
of  the  pioneer  colony  that  located  the  town  fully  a 
dozen  years  before  Minnesota  became  a state,  and 
when  Goodhue  County  was  on  the  very  fringe  of 
the  frontier  settlement. 

For  the  sake  of  local  history  it  will  be  appropriate 
to  consider  some  of  the  early  fortunes  and  activities 
of  the  Kellett  family  before  taking  up  the  present 
status  and  career  of  Mr.  Kellett  of  Minneapolis. 
The  Kelletts  came  from  England,  where  Grandfather 
Thomas  P.  Kellett  was  born,  a son  of  Samuel  Kellett, 
both  of  whom  were  subsequently  identified  with  the 
early  settlement  of  Zumbrota.  Thomas  P.  Kellett 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  a colony  known  as  the 
Stafford  Western  Emigration  Company,  which  came 
out  from  the  East  about  1850  and  founded  the  Town 
of  Zumbrota.  The  different  members  of  the  colony 
took  up  land  from  the  Government,  and  Thomas  P. 
Kellett  after  acquiring  title  to  a portion  of  the 
wilderness  engaged  in  business  at  Zumbrota  and 
at  the  time  was  regarded  as  the  wealthiest  man  in 
that  locality.  For  forty  years  he  was  proprietor  of 
a general  store  and  was  also  postmaster  at  Zumbrota. 
His  store  was  one  of  the  general  merchandise  estab- 
lishments so  common  in  a new  country,  but  was 
conducted  on  an  unusually  extensive  scale,  and  was 
really  prototype  of  a modern  department  store. 
Practically  every  article  of  merchandise  that  was 
needed  by  the  settlers  all  over  the  country  could  be 
found  in  the  Kellett  establishment.  Many  of  the 
articles  found  on  its  shelves  would  now  be  regarded 
as  fit  objects  for  preservation  in  a museum.  The 
general  merchant  of  those  days  had  to  depend  on 
wagon  transportation  from  the  central  markets,  and 
owing  to  lack  of  railroad  facilities,  telephones  and 
other  facilities  of  the  modern  merchant,  had  to  lay 
in  a large  stock  at  varying  intervals,  and  perishable 
goods  and  novelties  that  would  command  only  tempo- 


1312 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


rary  attention  were  out  of  place.  As  a merchant, 
banker,  land  owner  and  citizen  Thomas  P.  Kellett 
was  one  of  the  finest  examples  of  pioneer  days  in 
this  state.  His  integrity  was  secure  beyond  all 
cavil,  and  his  wealth  represented  the  soundest  prin- 
ciples of  fair  and  square  dealing.  Thomas  P.  Kellett 
died  in  May,  1892.  He  was  three  times  married,  but 
all  his  children  were  by  his  first  wife.  Of  the  three 
sons  and  two  daughters  all  are  living  except  one 
daughter. 

Albert  H.  Kellett,  father  of  Everett  A.,  was  the 
third  of  Thomas  P.  Kellett’s  children.  He  was  two 
years  old  when  the  family  settled  in  Minnesota,  was 
educated  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Goodhue  County, 
and  spent  a number  of  years  on  the  old  homestead. 
Later  he  engaged  in  merchandising,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  Zumbrota, 
continuing  the  same  activities  followed  by  his 
father,  although  his  store  is  not  in  strict  succession 
from  the  enterprise  of  the  older  merchant.  Albert 
H.  Kellett  was  married  at  Rochester,  Minnesota, 
January  1,  1869,  to  Ida  C.  Leonard.  She  was  born 
in  New  York  State,  while  her  husband  was  a na- 
tive of  Lowell,  Massachusetts.  She  was  brought 
as  a child  to  Minnesota,  and  is  still  living  at  Zum- 
brota. 

Everett  A.  Kellett  is  the  only  child  of  his  father 
and  mother,  and  is  the  only  male  child  in  three 
Kellett  families  descended  from  Grandfather  Thomas 
P.  Kellett.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Zumbrota,  was  employed  for  a time  in  the  store 
of  his  grandfather,  and  later  was  associated  with 
his  father.  Albert  H.  and  Everett  A.  subsequently 
bought  the  old  establishment  of  the  grandfather,  and 
conducted  the  business  under  the  name  A.  H.  Kellett 
& Son.  They  finally  closed  out  the  establishment, 
and  the  father  several  years  later  established  a gen- 
eral merchandise  store  in  another  locality  of  Zum- 
brota. 

Since  leaving  Zumbrota  Everett  A.  Kellett  has 
been  engaged  in  the  land  business,  as  a dealer  in 
wild  and  unimproved  property  and  other  classes  of 
real  estate  both  local  and  in  various  parts  of  the 
country.  For  a man  of  his  age  he  has  had  many 
and  varied  experiences,  vicissitudes,  and  set  backs  in 
his  progress  toward  the  achievement  of  prosperity. 
He  possesses  all  the  indomitable  traits  that  marked 
his  pioneer  forefathers  in  this  state.  A complete 
recital  of  his  varied  career  would  fill  a volume.  Mr. 
Kellett  is  a born  organizer  and  money  ma.ker,  and 
his  bent  toward  organization  and  leadership  is  not 
the  result  of  education  or  any  special  preparation, 
but  is  as  native  to  his  character  as  an  appetite  for 
food.  Through  all  the  ups  and  downs  of  his  career 
he  has  followed  a policy  of  fair  and  square-dealing, 
but  has  not  always  been  fortunate  in  choosing  busi- 
ness associates  of  equal  integrity.  Mr.  Kellett  has 
again  and  again  looked  on  the  dark  side  and  the 
rosy  side  of  life,  and  few  men  know  so  well  the 
sensations  of  quick  transition  from  abundance  to 
being  completely  “broke.”  For  several  years  past 
Mr.  Kellett  has  enjoyed  a successful  business  in 
the  handling  of  lands,  and  has  his  office  in  the  Ply- 
mouth Building  at  Minneapolis. 

Lie  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Athletic.  Club, 
the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association, 
and  various  other  orders,  and  religiously  believes  in 
the  Christian  Science  doctrines.  On  October  .31, 
1904,  at  Minneapolis  Mr.  Kellett  married  Catherine 
W.  Channell.  She  is  the  daughter  of  the  late  Leroy 
and  Susan  M.  (MacCraken)  Channell,  and  her 


mother  now  lives  in  Joplin,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Kellett 
is  eligible  both  through  her  mother’s  and  her  father’s 
lineage  to  membership  in  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Mrs.  Kellett  was  born  near 
Fort  Worth,  Texas,  and  was  educated  in  a convent 
in  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  They  are  the  parents  of 
one  daughter,  Jean  Catherine. 

Mr.  Kellett  is  a good  type  of  the  energetic,  aggres- 
sive, clean  living  American  citizen.  As  a “native 
son  of  Minnesota,”  he  has  done  his  share  to  upbuild 
and  maintain  the  high  ideals  of  his  state. 

David  Lewis  Curtice.  An  accurate  history  of  St. 
Paul  in  its  municipal  growth  and  improvement 
could  not  be  written  without  frequent  reference  to 
the  late  David  L.  Curtice,  who  was  for  a number  of 
years  at  different  times  city  engineer  and  in  that 
capacity  had  supervision  of  the  work  of  public  im- 
provements carried  on  in  the  city  thirty  or  forty 
years  ago.  He  was  also  identified  with  the  building 
of  several  early  railroads  through  the  Middle  West 
and  the  Northwest,  and  ranked  high  as  an  engineer 
and  deserves  to  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  St.  Paul  and  Minnesota. 

David  L.  Curtice  was  born  in  Auburn,  New  York, 
November  12,  1828,  and  died  at  his  home  in  St. 
Paul,  April  15,  1902.  His  parents  were  Amasa  and 
Hannah  (Thorpe)  Curtice.  Llis  father  was  a con- 
tractor and  builder  and  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1792.  £)avid  L.  Curtice  as  a boy  attended 
the  old  academy  at  Auburn,  and  some  of  his  class- 
mates were  among  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the 
generation  immediately  preceding  the  Civil  war,  in- 
cluding Roscoe  Conkling  and  Augustus  and  Fred- 
erick Seward.  While  Mr.  Curtice  prepared  for  col- 
lege he  abandoned  the  idea  of  taking  the  regular 
collegiate  course  and  instead  studied  engineering. 
He  was  connected  with  the  building  of  the  first 
railroad  in  Canada,  and  was  an  engineer  on  one  of 
the  New  York  lines  from  1852  to  1855.  It  was  In 
1856,  two  years  before  Minnesota  became  a state, 
that  Mr.  Curtice  first  came  to  St.  Paul.  He  was  in 
service  under  J.  Case,  then  city  engineer,  during 
1856-57,  filled  the  office  of  city  engineer  in  1858-59, 
and  in  1862  was  employed  to  locate  the  line  of  rail- 
way from  Big  Lake  to  St.  Cloud.  He  was  again 
city  engineer  from  1869  to  1874,  and  it  was  during 
that  five-year  period  that  the  present  street  grades 
were  established.  Another  important  improvement 
was  the  leveling  of  the  old  Baptist  Hill,  where  the 
wholesale  district  of  the  city  is  now  located.  Much 
opposition  was  encountered  in  this  improvement, 
since  many  of  the  property  owners  claimed  that  the 
city  authorities  were  crazy,  and  yet  the  only  proof 
needed  of  the  saneness  of  the  plan  is  the  fact  that 
in  that  vicinity,  then  worth  between  $75  and  $100 
per  front  foot,  land  is  now  valued  at  between  $700 
and  $1,000  a front  foot.  Mr.  Curtice  also  served  as 
county  surveyor,  and  in  many  other  ways  his  tech- 
nical ability  brought  him  into  active  relation  with 
the  great  constructive  movement  in  his  home  city 
and  in  the  Northwest. 

Mr.  Curtice  was  a democrat  of  the  old-fashioned 
type  as  represented  by  Andrew  Jackson.  He  was 
a member  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church,  and  his  widow 
was  confirmed  in  that  church  by  Bishop  Kemper 
when  Minnesota  was  still  a territory.  Mr.  Curtice 
was  affiliated  with  the  lodge  of  Masons  at  Auburn, 
New  York. 

On  February  1,  1859,  at  St.  Paul,  David  L.  Cur- 
tice and  Harriet  M.  Richardson  were  united  in 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1313 


marriage.  Her  father,  Ahira  Richardson,  brought 
his  family  to  St.  Paul  in  1853,  arriving  by  steam- 
boat, and  Mrs.  Curtice  is  now  one  of  the  very  few 
living  residents  whose  recollection  goes  back  to  the 
period  of  the  ’50s.  Mr.  Richardson  from  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  for  fifteen  years  had  charge 
of  the  military  stores  of  the  Government  at  St. 
Paul,  and  was  otherwise  prominent  in  local  af- 
fairs. His  death  occurred  at  St.  Paul  in  1877,  and 
as  a mark  of  respect  for  his  memory  and  as  in- 
dicating his  prominence  in  the  city  the  flag  on 
the  state  capitol  was  kept  at  half  mast  for  a day 
or  two  following  his  death.  The  three  sons  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtice  all  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Richardson,  like  Mr.  Curtice,  was  an  ardent  Jackson 
democrat.  Mrs.  Curtice,  who  now  resides  at  875 
Laurel  Avenue,  has  the  publishing  privilege  of  St. 
Paul's  street  maps.  Her  only  brother  is  W.  D. 
Richardson,  who  is  now  an  invalid,  but  for  sixteen 
years  managed  the  Ramsey  County  morgue,  and 
that  business  is  now  attended  to  by  Mrs.  Richard- 
son. Mrs.  Curtice’s  father  came  to  Minnesota  in. 
the  early  territorial  days  on  a commission  from 
the  United  States  Government  to  teach  the  Indians 
practical  agriculture,  and  was  associated  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Fort  Ridgeley,  in  the  vicinity  of  Brainerd, 
with  Bishop  Kemper,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
Episcopal  missionaries  among  the  Indians  of  the 
Northwest.  For  twenty  years  the  late  Mr.  Curtice 
was  grand  tyler  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Minne- 
sota Masons. 

William  Bradford  Brooks,  who  has  for  fourteen 
years  been  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Comfrey 
Times,  at  Comfrey,  Minnesota,  deserves  to  rank 
with  the  prominent  and  influential  of  those  men 
who  have  assisted  in  the  development  of  the  news- 
paper press  of  Brown  County.  From  the  time  that 
he  left  the  schoolroom,  when  a mere  lad,  he  had 
steadfastly  devoted  himself  to  the  highest  ideals  of 
journalism,  and  not  only  the  press,  but  the  com- 
munities in  which  his  labors  have  been  prosecuted, 
have  benefitted  by  his  conscientious  and  persevering 
efforts. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  born  at  Dunbar’s  Camp,  Pennsyl- 
vania, June  16,  1872,  and  is  a son  of  Capt.  E.  M. 
Brocks,  a native  of  Vermont.  The  Brooks  family 
originated  in  England,  from  whence  its  earliest  rep- 
resentatives came  to  America  on  the  Mayflower. 
On  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides  Mr.  Brooks 
traces  his  family  back  to  participants  in  the  struggle 
for  American  independence.  As  a young  man  Capt. 
E.  M.  Brooks  migrated  to  Illinois,  and  when  eighteen 
years  of  age,  in  1862,  enlisted  in  Company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Regiment,  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  as  a private  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war.  He  participated  in  numerous  engagements  dur- 
ing that  struggle,  and  through  brave  and  faithful 
service  rose  to  the  command  of  a company  of 
colored  troops,  considered  one  of  the  most  dangerous 
services  at  that  time.  Later  he  was  given  charge  of 
the  Federal  arsenal,  located  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  until  peace 
was  declared.  Captain  Brooks  remained  in  the 
South  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Washington 
County,  Kansas,  there  engaging  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1881,  when  he  went  to  King’s  Point, 
Tennessee,  and  in  1887  came  to  Redwood  Falls,  Min- 
nesota. He  continued  to  engage  in  active  busi- 
ness operations  until  several  years  ago,  when  he 
retired  and  returned  to  his  native  state,  at  this  time 


being  a resident  of  Rutland,  Vermont.  While 
located  at  Memphis,  Mississippi,  Captain  Brooks  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ellen  Waters, 
who  was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1841, 
and  who  was  at  that  time  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
schools  for  negroes  established  by  the  North.  Six 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  as  follows : War- 

ren, who  resides  at  Long  Prairie,  Minnesota,  and  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits ; Asa  P.,  a resident 
of  Minneapolis,  where  he  is  the  proprietor  of  a job 
printing  establishment;  Juliet,  who  became  the  wife 
of  C.  P.  Cooper,  New  England  manager  for  the 
Creamery  Package  Company,  at  Rutland,  Vermont; 
William  Bradford,  of  this  review;  George  W.,  an 
employe  for  a real  estate  concern  at  Pacific  Beach, 
California,  and  also  a member  of  the  police  force 
there;  and  Fannie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  G.  W. 
Rudolphi,  a practicing  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Cooksville,  Illinois. 

William  Bradford  Brooks  was  a small  child  when 
taken  by  his  parents  from  Pennsylvania  to  Wash- 
ington County,  Kansas,  and  there  his  primary  studies 
were  prosecuted  in  the  public  schools.  Subsequently 
he  attended  the  public  schools  of  King’s  Point,  Ten- 
nessee, and  Redwood  Falls,  Minnesota,  and  when 
about  nineteen  years  of  age  began  his  connection 
with  newspaper  work  when  he  started  to  learn  the 
printer’s  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Redwood  Falls 
Reveille,  a newspaper  which  is  still  published,  but 
now  under  the  name  of  the  Redwood  Falls  Sun. 
Mr.  Brooks  continued  to  be  identified  with  this  sheet, 
on  and  off,  until  1898,  when  he  went  to  Tracy, 
Minnesota,  and  had  two  years  of  experience  in  the 
same  line. 

During  this  time  Mr.  Brooks  studied  the  news- 
paper business  from  every  angle,  having  decided  to 
become  the  proprietor  of  a paper  of  his  own,  and 
in  December,  1900,  when  the  opportunity  offered, 
came  to  Comfrey  and  purchased  the  Comfrey  Times, 
which  had  been  founded  by  W.  R.  Hodges,  now  a 
newspaper  man  of  Sleepy  Eye,  Minnesota.  Mr. 
Brooks  has  continued  in  the  management  of  the 
Times  to  the  present,  and  has  made  it  one  of  the 
leading  papers  of  this  part  of  the  county,  with  a 
large  circulation  and  an  excellent  business  in  adver- 
tising. Its  political  policy  is  of  an  independent 
character,  its  editor  aiming  to  present  a fair  and  un- 
biased opinion  of  all  important  events  and  issues. 
Its  columns  have  been  freely  given  to  assisting 
movements  for  the'  advancement  of  Comfrey,  in 
which  Mr.  Brooks  has  taken  a decidedly  helpful 
part.  The  offices  and  plant  of  the  paper  are  located 
on  Brown  Street,  in  the  business  section  of  the 
town,  and  in  connection  therewith  is  operated  a 
fully-equipped,  up-to-date  job  printing  establishment, 
capable  of  turning  out  the  best  class  of  work.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Brooks  is  a republican,  and 
for  three  years  has  served  Comfrey  in  the  capacity 
of  recorder.  He  is  a Presbyterian,  but  as  there  is 
no  church  of  that  faith  here  he  has  affiliated  him- 
self with  the  Congregational  congregation.  Frater- 
« nally  Mr.  Brooks  belongs  to  Comfrey  Camp  No. 
7306,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  of  which  he 
has  been  worthy  adviser  and  is  now  venerable  con- 
sul. He  is  unmarried. 

Charles  L.  Kane.  A lawyer  at  Benson  since 
1899,  and  a former  mayor  of  that  city,  Charles  L. 
Kane  is  a native  Minnesotan,  and  has  been  a mem- 
ber of  the  bar  nearly  twenty  years. 

He  was  born  at  Green  Isle,  Sibley  County,  Minne- 


1314 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


sota,  September  27,  1869,  a son  of  Patrick  and  Anne 
(O’Neil)  Kane,  and  a grandson  of  Michael  Kane  and 
James  O’Neil,  both  of  whom  died  in  Ireland.  He 
was  sixth  in  a family  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  living:  James,  judge  of  Probate  Court  in 

Wilkin  County,  Minnesota;  T.  R.,  formerly  county 
attorney  of  Ramsey  County,  Minnesota,  for  many 
years  and  now  engaged  in  the  successful  law  prac- 
tice of  St.  Paul ; Mrs.  F.  M.  Dolan,  whose  husband 
is  proprietor  of  the  Crown  Mattress  Manufacturing 
Company  of  St.  Paul;  Charles  L.1;  W.  V.,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  International 
Falls,  Minnesota;  Henry,  in  the  real  estate  business 
at  St.  Paul;  Miss  Minnie,  unmarried,  and  living  in 
St.  Paul ; and  George,  in  the  real  estate  business  at 
St.  Paul. 

Charles  L.  Kane  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Green  Isle,  Minnesota,  and  after 
graduating  entered  upon  his  career  as  a teacher. 
He  had  already  determined  to  make  the  law  his 
profession,  and  school  work  was  only  a means  to 
that  end.  He  was  principal  of  schools  at  Fair- 
fax and  Winsted,  and  while  teaching  was  also  con- 
tinuing his  studies  preparatory  to  his  profession. 
He  completed  his  legal  training  in  the  law  offices 
of  McClelland  & Tifft  of  Glencoe,  Minnesota,  where 
after  an  examination  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1896.  He  at  once  opened  an  office  at  Fairfax, 
and  was  engaged  in  practice  there  from  1896  to 
1899.  In  the  latter  year  he  removed  his  home  to 
Benson,  where  he  has  continued  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a constantly  increasing  professional  business  to 
the  present  time.  As  a citizen  he  has  been  leader 
in  advocating  progressive  movements  and  has  con- 
tributed freely  to  them  of  his  time,  ability  and 
means. 

Mr.  Kane  was  married  in  June,  1911,  to  Miss 
Helen  Hoban  of  Benson,  daughter  of  Michael 
Hoban,  an  early  settler  of  that  place,  where  he  is 
still  engaged  in  general  merchandising  and  banking. 
To  their  marriage  have  been  born  two  children: 
Michael  Hoban,  born  in  May,  1912 ; and  Mary  Ellen, 
born  March  1,  1915.  Mr.  Kane  is  an  active  member 
of  several  social  and  fraternal  organizations,  and 
with  his  family  attends  the  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  has  been  a member  since  boyhood.  A 
democrat  in  politics,  he  has  frequently  been  honored 
by  his  fellow  citizens  with  election  to  public  office, 
having  twice  served  as  mayor  of  Benson,  and  at 
present  being  a member  of  the  hospital  and  other 
municipal  boards. 

Gustave  A.  Will.  A Minnesota  lawyer  to  whom 
have  come  many  of  the  successes  and  distinctions  of 
civil  practice  during  the  last  eighteen  years,  Mr.  Will 
has  also  been  a capable  leader  in  a public  way,  par- 
ticularly in  the  good  roads  movement.  He  repre- 
sents a family  that  through  residence  and  solid  busi- 
ness interests,  has  been  identified  with  the  City  of 
Minneapolis  for  the  last  thirty  years. 

Gustave  A.  Will  is  a native  of  Germany  and  was 
born  on  the  31st  of  December.  1871,  the  place  of  his 
nativity  being  the  Town  of  Kroterschoen.  He  is  a 
son  of  Reinhold  and  Amelia  (Schumacher)  Will, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  City  of  Berlin 
and  the  latter  in  Brumberg.  In  his  native  land 
Reinhold  Will  acquired  thorough  training  in  floricul- 
ture. and  in  the  spring  of  1873  he  emigrated  with 
his  family  to  America.  From  the  City  of  New  York 
he  proceeded  directly  to  Henderson,  the  judicial 
center  of  Sibley  County,  Minnesota,  and  in  1883  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Minneapolis,  where  he 


engaged  in  business  as  a florist  under  the  firm  name 
of  R.  Will  & Son.  The  enterprise  was  conducted 
along  wholesale  lines,  and  after  the  lapse  of  thirty 
years  it  continues  representative  in  its  domain  of 
operations,  the  business  being  now  incorporated  and 
conducted  under  the  title  of  Will  Brothers  Com- 
pany. The  founder  of  the  business  died  November 
28,  1906,  and  his  widow  died  June  17,  1914.  Of  the 
children  eight  survive  the  honored  mother  and 
father,  namely:  Mrs.  John  Taylor,  of  Minneapolis; 
Gustave  A.,  of  this  review;  O.  A.,  of  Roswell, 
New  Mexico;  Claire  E.,  a teacher  in  the  Clay  School 
of  Minneapolis;  H.  S.  Will,  a member  of  the  Will 
Brothers  Company  above  mentioned ; Eleanor ; H.  C. 
Will,  another  of  the  interested  principals  in  the 
Will  Brothers  Company;  and  Elsie.  The  three  old- 
est children  were  born  in  Germany,  and  all  the  rest 
in  the  State  of  Minnesota — the  two  youngest  in 
Minneapolis  and  the  others  at  Henderson.  All  re- 
ceived the  advantages  of  the  public  schools  of  Min- 
neapolis and  attended  the  University  of  Minnesota. 

Gustave  A.  Will  was  graduated  in  the  old  Central 
High  School  of  Minneapolis  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1890,  and  thereafter  he  continued  his 
studies  in  the  academic  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  from  which  he  withdrew  to  identify 
himself  with  the  banking  business,  at  Shell  Lake 
and  Washburn,  Wisconsin.  Later  he  became  man- 
ager for  the  largest  logging  company  operating  in 
the  vicinity  of  Washburn,  and  these  experiences 
have  proved  of  distinctive  value  to  him  in  connec- 
tion with  his  professional  career.  In  1893  Mr.  Will 
returned  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  became  manager 
of  the  City  Ice  Company,  the  business  of  which  he 
assisted  in  making  a substantial  success,  in  associa- 
tion with  the  late  Col.  John  T.  West.  After  the 
business  was  sold  he  entered  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  completed 
the  prescribed  curriculum  and  was  graduated  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1896.  He  was  granted  the 
degree  of  bachelor  of  laws  and  was  forthwith  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  of  his  native  state.  He  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  successful  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Minneapolis  and  has  confined  his  practice 
to  civil  law,  with  no  wish  to  identify  himself  with 
criminal  cases,  his  work  being  chiefly  in  corporation 
and  real  estate  law  business.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Bar  Association,  the  Minnesota 
State  Bar  Association  and  the  American  Bar  Asso- 
ciation. 

Mr.  Will  is  interested  also  in  the  floral  business 
founded  by  his  father,  and  probably  every  resident 
of  Minneapolis  is  familiar  with  the  name  of  the  Will 
family  in  connection  with  the  high-class  establish- 
ment conducted  by  the  Will  Brothers  Company. 
While  interested  in  public  movements  generally,  Mr. 
Will  has  come  to  be  regarded  as  the  father  of  the 
good  roads  movement  in  Minneapolis  and  vicinity, 
and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  he  has  given  a great 
deal  of  his  attention  to  the  advocacy  and  practical 
establishment  of  better  highways.  He  belongs  to 
the  Minneapolis  Automobile  Club  and  the  Minneapo- 
lis Athletic  Club,  and  in  a fraternal  way  is  affiliated 
with  Hennepin  Lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  Mr.  Will 
is  a bachelor,  but  he  maintains  a fine  summer  home 
on  Lake  Minnetonka,  where,  with  the  aid  of  his 
Japanese  valet,  he  enjoys  his  leisure  hours  through 
the  summer  months.  His  law  offices  are  in  the 
Andrus  Building. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1315 


Lewis  H.  Wilcox.  For  many  years  a well-known 
resident  of  Hastings,  Minnesota,  was  the  late  Lewis 
H.  Wilcox,  who  was  a New  England  man,  in  early 
life  had  studied  for  the  bar,  but  whose  career  in 
Minnesota  was  chiefly  identified  with  farming  and 
dairying. 

Lewis  H.  Wilcox  was  born  in  Halifax,  Vermont, 
October  3,  1847,  and  died  at  Hastings,  Minnesota, 
October  3,  1901.  At  the  place  of  his  birth  on  May 
19,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Emma  A.  Niles.  In  1886 
they  came  west  and  located  in  Benton  Harbor,  Mich- 
igan, and  in  the  fall  of  1888  removed  to  Hastings, 
Minnesota.  Mr.  Wilcox  was  a man  of  studious  incli- 
nation, and  had  read  law  at  Hartford,  Connecticut. 
At  Hastings  he  was  proprietor  of  what  was  known 
as  the  Lakeside  Dairy  Farm,  and  in  its  manage- 
ment and  improvement  he  spent  his  last  years  and 
was  a man  of  no  little  prominence  in  that  section 
of  the  state.  . 

He  was  long  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church  m 
Hastings,  and  was  devoted  to  the  interest  and  wel- 
fare of  his  home  and  family.  Mrs.  Wilcox  since 
the  death  of  her  husband  has  resided  in  Minne- 
apolis with  her  son,  Archie  N.  Wilcox.  The  oldest 
child  in  the  family  was  a daughter,  Linnie  E.,  who 
died  in  childhood  in  Michigan  before  the  family 
came  to  Minnesota.  Besides  Archie  N.  of  Minne- 
apolis there  are  two  other  sons:  Burton  T.  of 

Hastings ; and  Charles  L.,  who  lives  on  a farm  near 
Amery,  Wisconsin. 

Dr.  Josiah  R.  Dartt.  The  first  resident  phy- 
sician of  Dodge  County  was  the  late  Dr.  Josiah  R. 
Dartt,  but  this  distinction  as  the  pioneer  representa- 
tive of  medicine  in  that  vicinity  was  only  one  of 
the  many  that  are  associated  with  his  name  and 
character.  Doctor  Dartt  was  a strong  man,  his  fac- 
ulties were  exercised  in  behalf  of  the  developing 
country  in  which  he  settled  more  than  sixty  years 
ago,  and  with  all  his  practical  accomplishments  he 
was  even  more  noteworthy  for  the  strength  of  the 
friendship  with  which  he  bound  men  to  him  in 
lasting  ties.  Doctor  Dartt  at  his  death  was  un- 
doubtedly the  foremost  man  of  his  county,  and  the 
wealth  of  personal  affection  which  was  poured  out 
in  his  memory  completely  justifies  this  assertion. 

Josiah  R.  Dartt  was  born  in  Weathersfield,  Wind- 
sor County,  Vermont,  September  11,  1824,  and  died 
at  Mantorville,  Minnesota,  September  11,  1874,  on 
his  fiftieth  birthday.  His  father  was  Erastus  Dartt, 
who  was  born  April  5,  1792,  and  died  December  6, 
1831.  The  mother  was  Rebecca  Jackman,  who  was 
born  April  15,  1792,  and  died  November  9,  1877. 
Both  were  .natives  of  Windsor  County,  Vermont, 
and  spent  their  lives  there.  Doctor  Dartt  was  the 
fifth  in  a family  of  seven  children,  and  his  was 
the  first  death  after  that  of  the  father  to  break 
the  family  circle. 

The  first  twenty-two  years  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  his  native  town,  at  which  time  he  removed  to 
Groton,  Massachusetts,  and  on  September  3,  1850, 
was  married  there  to  Miss  Philomela  Lawrence, 
who  died  in  Minneapolis,  March  29,  1913-  an<l  is 
buried  beside  her  husband  in  the  cemetery  at  Man- 
torville. 

After  about  two  years  of  residence  at  Groton, 
Doctor  Dartt  removed  to  Kingston  in  Marquette 
County,  Wisconsin,  and  there  took  up  the  study  of 
medicine  with  a Doctor  Johnson.  He  completed 
his  studies  in  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  from 
which  institution  he  held  a diploma  of  graduation. 


It  was  in  the  fall  of  1854  that  Doctor  Dartt  located 
in  Minnesota,  and  in  Dodge  County,  and  his  com- 
ing was  really  in  advance  of  permanent  settlement, 
since  most  of  the  white  population  at  that  time 
were  largely  transient,  engaged  in  prospecting  over 
the  country  and  in  preparing  for  the  reception  of 
their  families.  The  Town  of  Mantorville  had  not 
yet  been  surveyed.  On  going  to  Dodge  County, 
Doctor  Dartt  took  up  a homestead  claim,  which  he 
developed  into  a farm  east  of  Mantorville.  For 
several  years  in  his  capacity  of  pioneer  physician 
the  early  settlers  demanded  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  and  attention  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  also  owned  a drug  store  at  Mantor- 
ville. Gradually  his  early  business  interests  as- 
sumed such  importance  that  he  abandoned  his  prac- 
tice wherever  possible  and  eventually  retired  from 
it  altogether. 

In  December,  i860,  Doctor  Dartt  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  A of  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Vol- 
unteers, but  before  leaving  the  state  for  service 
in  the  South  was  promoted  to  captain  of  the  same 
company.  In  that  position  of  leadership  he  did 
his  duties  as  a soldier  with  promptness  and  cour- 
age, but  ill  health  finally  obliged  him  to  resign  his 
commission  and  he  returned  home  in  the  fall  of 
1864.  From  that  time  until  his  death  ten  years 
later  he  lived  in  Mantorville. 

Doctor  Dartt  joined  the  Masonic  Order  in  Man- 
torville in  1856,  and  in  1867  was  made  a Royal 
Arch  Mason  at  Red  Wing.  After  the  formation  of 
a Royal  Arch  Chapter  in  Mantorville  he  became  affil- 
iated with  that  chapter,  and  for  the  year  preceding 
his  death  held  the  office  of  high  priest.  In  1871  he 
joined  the  Home  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar 
at  Rochester,  and  in  every  body  of  Masonry  with 
which  he  was  affiliated  stood  as  an  exemplar  of 
the  intrinsic  spirit  and  principles  of  the  Ancient 
Order.  Doctor  Dartt  was  a man  with  whom  friend- 
ship strengthened  with  acquaintance.  In  his  death 
the  community  lost  one  of  its  most  useful  factors. 
He  was  survived  by  his  widow  and  one  son,  George 
B.  Dartt,  now  one  of  the  leading  real  estate  men 
of  Minneapolis,  and  mentioned  on  other  pages.  A 
daughter,  Ella  M.  Dartt,  was  born  June  6,  1853,  and 
died  at  Mantorville,  March  4,  1872. 

Doctor  Dartt’s  was  the  largest  funeral  ever  wit- 
nessed in  Dodge  County.  It  was  held  on  the  Sun- 
day following  his  death,  a beautiful  day  in  early 
fall,  and  one  favorable  to  the  gathering  of  his  hun- 
dreds of  friends  and  admirers.  He  had  been  for 
many  years  master  of  Mantorville  Lodge  No.  11, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  prominently  affiliated  with  other 
Masonic  bodies,  and  his  funeral  was  held  under 
Masonic  auspices.  A special  train  came  from  Roch- 
ester bringing  the  Home  Commandery  No.  5,  in  full 
regalia,  and  also  the  Rochester  lodge.  In  the  pro- 
cession which  was  formed  near  the  Masonic  Hall 
and  proceeded  thence  to  the  church,  the  hearse  was 
preceded  by  the  following  Masonic  bodies : Relief 

Lodge  No.  108  of  Dodge  Center;  Huram  Abi  Lodge 
No.  83  of  Kasson ; Washington  Lodge  No.  38  of 
Wasioja;  Mystic  Tie  Lodge  No.  37  of  Pine  Island; 
Rochester  Lodge  No.  21;  Mantorville  Lodge  No.  11; 
and  Home  Commandery  No.  5,  K.  T.,  of  Rochester. 
The  Methodist  Church  where  the  funeral  services 
were  held  was  much  too  small  for  the  great  con- 
course that  followed  him  to  his  last  resting  place 
and  the  windows  having  been  removed  the  minister, 
Rev.  R.  Forbes,  standing  in  one  of  the  openings, 
delivered  a short  and  impressive  sermon  both  to 


1816 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


those  assembled  within  and  the  many  hundreds 
crowded  around  the  edifice.  The  Masonic  cer- 
emonies were  held  at  the  grave.  Doctor  Dartt's  son, 
George  B.,  of  Minneapolis,  has  erected  a fine  granite 
monument  to  the  memory  of  his  father  and  mother 
in  the  cemetery  at  Mantorville. 

George  B.  Dartt.  One  of  the  Minneapolis  real 
estate  men  who  have  made  their  business  a real 
service  in  the  development  of  the  city  and  in  pro- 
viding homes  for  the  growing  population  is  George 
B.  Dartt,  who  is  one  of  the  loyal  native  sons  of  Min- 
nesota and  has  spent  all  his  active  career  in  either 
the  mercantile  or  the  real  estate  business  at  Minne- 
apolis. Mr.  Dartt  has  his  offices  in  the  Phoenix 
Building,  and  now  handles  a general  business  in 
first  mortgage  loans,  exchanges,  rents  and  insurance. 
A work  for  which  he  should  be  given  permanent 
credit  was  the  platting  and  marketing  of  the  beauti- 
ful residence  district  known  as  Browndale,  an  ex- 
clusive Minneapolis  suburb  situated  in  the  lake  dis- 
trict west  of  Lake  Calhoun  and  Lake  Harriet. 

George  B.  Dartt  was  born  in  Mantorville,  Minne- 
sota. April  15,  i860,  and  is  a son  of  Josiah  R.  and 
Philomela  (Lawrence)  Dartt.  His  parents  were  pio- 
neers at  Mantorville,  and  on  other  pages  wdll  be 
found  a sketch  of  Josiah  R.  Dartt.  It  was  in  his 
native  village  that  George  B.  Dartt  spent  his  boy- 
hood, with  an  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
with  a business  training  at  the  old  Curtis  Business 
College  of  Minneapolis. 

His  first  independent  venture  in  the  business  field 
was  as  a grocery  merchant,  under  the  firm  name  of 
George  B.  Dartt  & Company.  For  nine  years  his 
establishment  at  the  corner  of  Nicollet  Avenue  and 
Tenth  Street  was  one  of  the  finest  grocery  houses 
in  Minneapolis.  Since  leaving  the  grocery  trade  Mr. 
Dartt  has  been  identified  with  real  estate  lands  for 
the  past  twenty  years.  Some  years  ago  he  platted 
the  Reeves  South  Shore  Addition,  also  platted  the 
Sunrise  Addition,  and  then  took  up  the  work  which 
he  considers  his  best  achievement,  the  platting  of 
Browndale  Park  of  100  acres.  This  is  a high  class 
residence  district  with  building  restrictions  such  as 
to  preserve  a high  grade  neighborhood  and  secure 
the  most  desirable  class  of  people  as  residents.  Mr. 
Dartt  successfully  promoted  the  sale  of  this  subdi- 
vision. and  after  disposing  of  many  of  the  lots 
sold  the  balance  to  the  firm  of  Tingdale  Brothers. 
Minneapolis  real  estate  men,  who  are  now  the  ex- 
clusive agents  for  the  property,  and  have  issued  a 
handsome  booklet  describing  the  site.  Among  the 
various  illustrations  of  homes  found  in  Browndale 
as  published  in  this  booklet  is  one  of  the  attractive 
California  Mission  style  residence  of  Mr.  Dartt,  a 
modern  home  that  cost  him  more  than  sixteen 
thousand  dollars  to  build.  Mr.  Dartt  owns  consider- 
able Minneapolis  real  estate  and  also  some  farm 
lands. 

Politically  he  is  a republican,  and  fraternally  is 
affiliated  with  Minneapolis  Lodge  No.  19,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  His  church  is  the  Congregational.  On  June 
14,  1902,  Mr.  Dartt  married  Miss  Alice  Bannochie, 
daughter  of  Alexander  and  Alice  (Smith)  Ban- 
nochie, who  are  now  living  at  Vine  Grove  Nursery 
in  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Dartt  was  born  in  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  from  which  country  the  family  came  to 
Minnesota  many  years  ago.  Mrs.  Dartt  is  a sister 
of  Frank  Bannochie.  who  owns  the  ideal  summer  re- 
sort at  Lake  Pulaski  near  Buffalo  in  Wright  County. 


Daniel  Colfax  Bennett.  A resident  of  Minne- 
apolis since  1901,  Daniel  C.  Bennett  has  his  work  as 
an  architect  exemplified  in  both  the  Twin  Cities  as 
well  as  in  various  towns  of  Minnesota.  His  busi- 
ness and  professional  experience  has  brought  him  a 
large  acquaintance,  and  his  friends  have  a high  ap- 
preciation of  his  sterling  qualities. 

Daniel  Colfax  Bennett  was  born  in  Sonora  Town- 
ship, Hancock  County,  Illinois,  December  9,  1868,  a 
son  of  John  F.  and  Agnes  L.  (Luce)  Bennett.  His 
father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  his  mother  in 
Illinois.  The  former  came  to  Illinois  in  1850  with 
his  parents,  who  settled  in  Hancock  County,  and 
in  that  section  he  has  spent  his  life,  largely  as 
a farmer.  He  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Daniel  C.  Bennett  has  had  a varied  career  as 
farmer,  traveling  salesman,  architect  and  builder. 
ITis  work  in  the  latter  profession  has  been  done  in 
Minneapolis,  St.  Paul  and  other  Minnesota  cities, 
and  many  of  the  modern  homes  in  the  Twin  Cities 
are  examples  of  his  creditable  skill  as  an  architect. 

Mr.  Bennett  can  claim  some  of  the  best  American 
stock  in  his  ancestry.  One  branch  of  his  family 
traces  its  descent  from  Stephen  Hopkins,  who  came 
to  America  on  board  the  Mayflower,  bringing  his 
family  and  servants,  and  on  the  voyage  a son  was 
born  to  him,  and  the  name  Oceanus  was  given  the 
child.  In  the  same  line  is  found  a descendant  of 
the  Stephen  Hopkins  whose  name  appears  in  the 
list  of  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
For  several  generations  the  Hopkins  family  fur- 
nished many  seafaring  men. 

Mr.  Bennett  married  Miss  Marion  H.  Robinson, 
who  was  born  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  a daughter  of 
Richard  and  Abbie  (Coon)  Robinson,  both  natives 
of  New  York  State  and  of  Revolutionary  ancestry. 
Mrs.  Robinson  died  at  her  home  in  Iowa  in  1912, 
and  Mr.  Robinson  is  now  a member  of  the  Bennett 
family  at  Minneapolis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  have 
one  child,  Dorothy  Agnes  Bennett,  born  at  Minne- 
apolis August  31,  1909. 

Jacob  Deutsch.  A sterling  pioneer  arid  honored 
citizen  who  left  a benignant  impress  upon  civic  and 
business  activities  in  Minneapolis  during  a residence 
of  more  than  forty  years  in  this  city  was  the  late 
Jacob  Deutsch,  who  here  resided  for  thirty  years 
in  the  home,  1209  Second  Avenue,  South,  where  his 
death  occurred  on  the  28th  of  March,  1914.  He  was 
a man  of  impregnable  integrity,  of  strong  charac- 
ter and  marked  generosity,  and  it  is  altogether  con- 
sistent that  in  this  history  of  Minnesota  be  entered 
a brief  tribute  to  his  memory. 

Jacob  Deutsch  was  born  in  the  County  of  Kaschau, 
Austro-Hungary,  on  the  28th  of  March,  1845,  and  he 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  1867,  when,  shortly  after 
attaining  to  his  majority,  he  severed  the  ties  that 
bound  him  to  home  and  fatherland  and  set  forth 
to  seek  his  fortunes  in  America,  where  he  felt  as- 
sured of  better  opportunities  of  gaining  independence 
and  success  through  individual  endeavor.  He  first 
settled  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  soon  removed  thence 
to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  his  marriage  occurred 
and  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1873.  when 
he  came  to  Minneapolis,  the  arrival  of  the  family  in 
the  Minnesota  metropolis,  which  then  had  a popula- 
tion of  only  24,000,  having  occurred  on  the  27th  of 
August.  Lie  was  one  of  the  first  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness on  lower  Nicollet  Avenue,  and  he  had  much 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1317 


to  do  with  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  that 
section  of  the  city.  His  first  store,  devoted  to  dry 
goods  principally,  was  at  the  corner  of  Nicollet  Ave- 
nue and  Third  Street,  where  the  Lincoln  Building 
now  stands,  and  his  next  place  of  business  was  on 
the  site  of  the  Kaiserhof,  244  Nicollet  Avenue.  He 
continued  as  one  of  the  representative  merchants  of 
Minneapolis  until  his  retirement,  about  ten  years 
prior  to  his  death,  and  for  many  years  his  was  one 
of  the  largest  dry  goods  establishments  of  retail 
order  to  be  found  in  the  city.  Mr.  Deutsch  was  in- 
sistently liberal  and  public-spirited  as  a citizen  and 
his  influence  and.  co-operation  were  ever  to  be 
counted  upon  in  support  of  measures  and  enterprise 
projected  for  the  best  interests  of  the  community. 
He  ordered  his  life  upon  the  highest  plane  of  in- 
tegrity and  honor  and  no  shadow  rests  upon  any  part 
of  his  career.  He  won  success  through  industry 
and  uprightness  and  no  citizen  commanded  more 
secure  place  in  popular  confidence  and  esteem  than 
did  this  strong  and  noble  man  and  honored  pioneer. 
He  was  a Republican  in  his  political  allegiance  and 
his  religious  affiliation  was  with  the  Reformed  Jew- 
ish Church  in  Minneapolis,  of  which  his  widow  is  a 
devout  member,  both  having  taken  zealous  part  in 
the  upbuilding  of  this  church  organization.  In  a 
fraternal  way  Mr.  Deutsch  was  identified  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
His  circle  of  friends  was  coincident  with  that  of 
his  acquaintances,  and  his  name  merits  enduring 
place  on  the  roster  of  the  most  worthy  and  valued 
pioneers  of  Minneapolis. 

At  Davenport,  Iowa,  on  the  12th  of  June,  1870, 
was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Deutsch  to  Miss 
Malchen  A.  Valfer,  who  was  born  and  reared  at 
Karlsruhe,  Kingdom  of  Baden,  Germany,  and  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1869,  about  one  year 
later  than  he  arrived  in  America.  Mr.  Deutsch  is 
survived  also  by  two  children : Henry,  of  whom  in- 
dividual mention  is  made  on  other  pages  of  this 
work;  and  Josephine,  who  is  the  wife  of  Barney 
Burton,  of  Little  Falls,  Minnesota. 

Henry  Deutsch.  It  has  been  given  to  Mr. 
Deutsch  to  gain'  distinctive  prestige  as  one  of  the 
able  members  of  the  bar  of  his  native  city  and  state, 
and  he  controls  a representative  practice  in  Minne- 
apolis, where  he  has  his  professional  headquarters  in 
suite  805-810,  Plymouth  Building.  Further  interest 
attaches  to  his  career  as  a citizen  and  representative 
lawyer  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  is  a scion  of 
a well  known  and  esteemed  pioneer  family  of  Min- 
nesota, and  in  this  connection  it  should  be  noted 
that  on  other  pages  of  this  publication  is  given  ade- 
quate review  of  the  family  history,  in  the  sketch 
dedicated  to  his  father,  Jacob  Deutsch. 

Henry  Deutsch  was  born  in  Minneapolis  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1874,  and  is  a son  of  Jacob  and 
Malchen  A.  (Valfer)  Deutsch.  He  gained  his  early 
educational  training  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  old 
Central  High  School,  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1891.  The  youth  had  in  the  meanwhile  formulated 
definite  plans  for  his  future  career,  and  in  harmony 
with  his  predilection  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  com- 
pleted the  prescribed  course  and  was  graduated  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1894;  he  received  from  this 
institution  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  Further 
technical  honors  of  a similar  order  were  to  be  his 


ere  the  initiation  of  his  professional  career,  for  he 
completed,  in  1895,  a post-graduate  course  in  the  law 
department  of  historic  old  Yale  University,  which 
gave  to  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Laws,  magna 
cum  laude.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Minnesota  bar 
in  October,  1895,  shortly  after  attaining  to  his  legal 
majority,  and  his  professional  novitiate  of  practical 
order  was  served  in  association  with  Hon.  Stephen 
B.  Howard,  of  Minneapolis,  who  was  at  that  time  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate.  Later  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Albert  J.  Smith,  who  afterward 
served  as  county  attorney  of  Hennepin  County.  Mr. 
Deutsch  proved  himself  well  fortified  in  his  profes- 
sion and  in  power  of  applying  the  same,  so  that  he 
made  rapid  and  substantial  advancement  and  became 
known  as  one  of  the  strong  practitioners  at  the 
Minnesota  bar.  In  1907  he  became  associated  in 
practice  with  Hon.  Frank  M.  Nye,  and  soon  a part- 
nership was  formed  under  the  firm  name  of  Nye  & 
Deutsch.  In  1908  this  alliance  was  dissolved,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  Mr.  Nye  had  been  elected  a member 
of  the  LTnited  States  Congress,  and  shortly  after- 
ward Mr.  Deutsch  became  allied  with  Edward  P. 

* Allen  and  Alfred  M.  Breding  in  forming  the  law 
firm  of  Deutsch,  Allen  & Breding.  Since  1912  Mr. 
Deutsch  has  conducted  an  individual  law  business, 
and  the  same  is  one  of  broad  scope  and  importance, 
in  commercial,  probate,  corporation  and  trial  depart- 
ments of  legal  work. 

Mr.  Deutsch  is  actively  identified  with  the  Amer- 
ican Bar  Association,  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, the  Hennepin  County  Bar  .Association,  and 
the  Minneapolis  Bar  Association.  In  1910  he  was 
president  of  the  Commercial  Law  League  of  America, 
the  representative  organization  of  its  kind  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  and  one  that  has  on  its 
membership  rolls  the  leading  commercial  legists  of 
the  two  nations. 

A stalwart  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  re- 
publican party,  Mr.  Deutsch  has  given  effective  serv- 
ice in  behalf  of  the  cause,  though  he  has  not  been 
imbued  with  ambition  for  political  office.  He  was 
formerly  a most  active  factor  in  the  work  of  the 
Minneapolis  Commercial  Club,  of  whose  public  en- 
tertainment and  convention  committee  he  was  chair- 
man for  two  years,  besides  having  served  as  a mem- 
ber of*  its  board  of  directors  and  as  its  second  vice 
president  in  1905.  He  was  chairman  of  the  enter- 
tainment committee  of  this  organization  at  the  time 
when  it  gave  a distinctive  ovation  to  Colonel  Theo- 
dore Roosevelt,  who  was  then  president  of  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Deutsch  was  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Executive  Committee  in  charge  of 
the  national  encampment  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  held  in  this  city  in  1906.  He  is  at  the 
present  time  an  active  and  valued  member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  & Commercial  Association  and  is 
serving  as  a member  of  the  board  of  education  of 
Minneapolis,  besides  which  he  was  formerly  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Minneapolis 
public  library. 

In  the  Masonic  fraternity  Mr.  Deutsch  has  re- 
ceived the  highest  grade  of  the  Scottish  Rite,  and 
he  has  been  a most  zealous  and  appreciative  worker 
in  the  various  Masonic  bodies  with  which  he  is 
affiliated.  He  is  past  master  of  Hennepin  Lodge, 
No.  4,  Free  & Accepted  Masons  and  also  past  master 
of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Chapter,  No.  2,  Rose  Croix, 
of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  in  which 
body  he  was  elevated  to  the  thirty-third  and  supreme 
degree,  in  the  City  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  1910. 


1318 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


In  his  home  city  he  holds  membership  in  the  adjunct 
Masonic  organization,  Zuhrah  Temple  of  the  Ancient 
Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  here 
also  is  he  affiliated  with  the  lodge  of  the  Benevolent 
& Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Mr.  Deutsch  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Second  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  Minneapolis,  and  he  is  president  of  the 
same  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in  1914.  He  was 
first  reader  of  this  church  for  three  years  and  for 
the  past  five  years  he  has  been  Minnesota  State 
Publication  Committee  of  this  religious  denomina- 
tion. He  and  his  wife  are  popular  in  representative 
social  activities  of  their  home  city,  and  their  attract- 
ive residence  is  known  for  its  hospitality. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1898,  was  solemnized,  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Deutsch  to  Miss  Grace  A.  Levi,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, Pennsylvania,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren; Clarence  S.,  Maria  N.  Hope  and  Henry  Noel. 

On  other  pages  of  this  publication  is  entered  brief 
memorial  tribute  to  Henry  Deutsch,  the  honored 
father  of  the  subject  of  the  foregoing  sketch,  and  to 
the  article  in  question  reference  may  be  made  for 
further  data  concerning  the  family,  Henry  Deutsch 
having  been  a sterling  pioneer  and  successful  mer- 
chant of  Minneapolis. 

Oliver  F.  Warnes.  A scientific  and  practical 
experience  covering  more  than  forty  years  has  made 
Mr.  Warnes  one  of  the  leading  representatives  of 
the  great  flour-milling  industry  in  Minnesota  and 
a recognized  authority  in  the  important  field  of 
enterprise  in  which  he  has  brought  his  energies 
and  fine  ability  to  bear.  He  is  one  of  the  well  known 
and  popular  citizens  of  Minneapolis,  has  maintained 
his  home  in  Minnesota  during  the  major  portion  of 
the  time  since  1877  and  is  now  the  valued  incumbent 
of  the  responsible  office  of  superintending  miller 
for  the  Pillsbury  Flour  Mills  Company,  as  a rep- 
resentative of  which  he  has  the  general  supervision 
of  the  great  mills  designated  as  the  Anchor,  the 
Palisade,  the  Lincoln  and  the  “B” — plants  that  in 
equipment  and  capacity  are  excelled  by  none  in  the 
world.  In  prefatory  way  may  be  briefly  given  the 
data  of  the  incumbencies  held  by  Mr.  Warnes  dur- 
ing his  career  in  the  milling  business,  the  names 
and  locations  of  the  various  mills  with  which  he 
has  been  connected  being  given,  together  with  the 
periods  of  his  service  in  each:  Smith  & Proctor 

mills,  Neenah,  Wisconsin,  September  15,  1872,  to 
May  1,  1876;  Foote  Brothers’  Mill,  Oshkosh,  Wis- 
consin, May  1,  1876,  to  May  1,  1877;  Otto  Troost 
Mill,  Minnesota  City,  Minnesota,  May  1,  1877,  to  the 
1st  of  the  following  September ; Greer  & Hunter  Mill, 
Decorah,  Iowa,  September  1,  1877,  to  February  1, 
1878;  Stillwater  Mill  Company,  Stillwater,  Minne- 
sota, February  15,  1878,  to  September  15,  1884; 
Crown  Roller  Mill,  Minneapolis,  thereafter  until 
June  1,  1885;  Florence  Mill  Company,  Stillwater, 
June  1,  1885,  to  May  1,  1886;  “B”  Mill  of  the  Pills- 
bury Flour  Mills  Company,  May  1,  1886,  to  Novem- 
ber 15,  1889;  head  miller  at  the  same  company’s  mill 
at  Anoka,  Minnesota,  from  that  time  forward  to 
August  15,  1909,  when  he  returned  to  Minneapolis 
and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  “B,”  Anchor  and 
Lincoln  mills  of  the  company;  and  since  August  I, 
1910.  he  has  had  continuous  charge  of  the  four  mills 
first  mentioned,  in  the  capacity  of  superintending 
miller.  His  record  has  been  one  of  admirable  service 
and  continuous  advancement,  and  his  various  im- 
portant preferments  indicate  alike  his  exceptional 
technical  ability,  his  executive  power  and  his  posses- 


sion of  those  personal  characteristics  that  ever  beget 
objective  confidence  and  esteem. 

Oliver  Franklin  Warnes  was  born  in  Michigan  on 
the  19th  of  June,  1856,  and  is  a son  of  Ishmael  and 
Melissa  (Llouse)  Warnes,  both  of  whom  were  born 
and  reared  in  the  State  of  New  York,  whence  they 
removed  in  the  early  ’50s  to  Michigan,  the  father 
having  been  a miller  by  trade  and  having  become  a 
pioneer  in  this  line  of  business  in  Michigan,  where 
also  he  was  actively  identified  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  a number  of  years,  as  the  owner  of  a farm 
in  the  county  in  which  his  son  Oliver  F.  was  born. 
When  the  latter  was  a lad  of  nine  years  the  family 
removed  to  Neenah,  Wisconsin,  where  the  father 
continued  in  charge  of  a flour  mill  about  ten  years. 
Removal  was  then  made  to  Oshkosh,  that  state, 
where  Ishmael  Warnes  was  in  charge  of  the  opera- 
tion of  the  old  Wakefield  mill  for  one  year.  He 
later  removed  to  the  southern  part  of  the  state, 
thence  went  a few  years  later  to  Tennessee,  and 
eventually  he  became  a resident  of  Oregon,  though 
he  did  not  follow  the  work  of  his  trade  after  leaving 
Tennessee.  In  Oregon  he  developed  a small  fruit 
ranch,  and  when  well  advanced  in  years  he  returned 
to  Wisconsin  and  established  his  home  in  its  capital 
city,  Madison,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  His  first  wife  died  when  their  son 
Oliver,  of  this  review,  was  seven  years  of  age,  and 
he  later  contracted  a second  marriage.  Of  the  two 
children  of  the  first  union  Oliver  F.  is  the  elder, 
and  the  younger,  Amy  L.,  is  the  wife  of  Norman 
Emerson,  of  Minneapolis.  Three  children  were  born 
of  the  second  marriage — William  Wallace,  who  was 
drowned  when  seven  years  of  age;  Miss  Jessie, 
who  resides  in  the  City  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin ; 
and  Miss  Sabina,  who  maintains  her  home  at  Madi- 
son, that  state. 

Oliver  F.  Warnes  was  afforded  the  advantages  of 
the  public  schools  of  Neenah,  Wisconsin,  and  from 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  to  the  present  time  he  has 
been  actively  identified  with  the  milling  industry, 
his  initial  training  having  been  received  under  the 
able  and  punctilious  direction  of  his  father.  While 
employed  at  his  trade  in  Oshkosh,  Mr.  Warnes  com- 
pleted an  effective  course  in  the  night  classes  of  the 
business  college  there  conducted  by  William  W. 
Daggett,  and  thus  fortified  himself  further  for  the 
large  responsibilities  that  later  were  to  devolve  upon 
him  in  his  signally  active  and  successful  business 
career. 

In  May,  1877,  about  one  month  prior  to  attaining 
to  his  legal  majority,  Mr.  Warnes  came  to  Minne- 
sota and  obtained  employment  in  the  mill  owned  and 
operated  by  Otto  Troost,  at  Minnesota  City,  where 
he  served  as  stone  dresser  during  the  summer  of 
that  year.  In  the  autumn  he  went  to  Decorah,  Iowa, 
where  he  was  employed  as  a general  miller  by  the 
firm  of  Grier  & Hunter  until  the  spring  of  1878, 
when  he  returned  to  Minnesota  and  identified  him- 
self with  the  newly  erected  mill  of  the  Stillwater 
Mill  Company,  in  which  he  held  the  position  of 
second  miller.  He  remained  at  Stillwater  until 
September,  1884,  and  in  the  meanwhile  had  been 
employed  in  three  different  mills  in  that  city.  From 
September,  1884,  until  the  following  June  Mr.  Warnes 
was  an  attache  of  the  Crown  Mill  in  Minneapolis, 
the  same  being  now  one  of  the  plants  operated  by 
the  Northwestern  Consolidated  Milling  Company. 
Thereafter  he  was  again  a resident  of  Stillwater 
about  a year,  and  his  subsequent  changes  have 
already  been  noted  in  the  opening  paragraph  of  this 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1319 


article.  It  should  be  emphasized,  however,  that  for 
nearly  twenty  years  he  retained  the  position  of  head 
mider  for  the  Pillsbury  mills  at  Anoka  and  that 
since  that  time  he  has  had  charge  of  the  three  Min- 
neapolis mills  of  the  Pillsbury  Flour  Mills  Company, 
the  while  he  retains  the  supervision  also  of  the 
Lincoln  Mill,  at  Anoka.  Mr.  Warnes’  long  associa- 
tion with  one  of  the  greatest  flour  mill  corporations 
in  the  world  bears  its  own  significance,  in  that  it 
attests  his  exceptional  technical  and  executive  abil- 
ity and  denotes  fidelity,  integrity  of  purpose  and 
inviolable  place  in  the  confidence  of  those  with  whom 
he  is  thus  associated.  Incidentally  it  may  be  stated 
that  of  the  four  mills  of  which  he  is  the  superin- 
tending miller,  the  “B”  Mill  has  a daily  capacity  for 
the  output  of  4,000  barrels  of  flour;  the  Anchor  Mill, 
2,100  barrels;  the  Palisade  Mill,  2,300  barrels;  and 
the  Lincoln  Mill,  1,500  barrels. 

In  the  Masonic  fraternity  Mr.  Warnes  is  affiliated 
with  the  blue  lodge  and  chapter  at  Anoka  and  in 
the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  he  has  received 
the  thirty-second  degree,  besides  holding  member- 
ship in  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic 
Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  in  Min- 
neapolis. While  a resident  of  Anoka  he  served 
two  terms  as  a member  of  the  board  of  education 
and  about  six  years  as  a member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  public  library,  of  which  he  was  sec- 
retary and  treasurer,  besides  which  he  was  a direc- 
tor of  the  State  Bank  of  Anoka  about  ten  years. 
In  politics  Mr.  Warnes  is  not  constrained  by  strict 
partisan  lines,  but  gives  his  support  to  the  men  and 
measures  meeting  the  approval  of  his  judgment. 
His  wife  is  a member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star,  with  which  body  he  likewise  is  identified,  and 
at  Anoka  he  passed  the  various  chairs  in  his  Masonic 
lodge  and  chapter,  of  which  latter  he  served  as 
high  priest. 

At  Stillwater,  Minnesota,  on  the  nth  of  April, 
1882,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Warnes 
to  Miss  Laura  Weatherbee,  who  was  born  and 
reared  at  Springfield,  Maine,  and  who  came  from 
Bangor,  that  state,  to  Minnesota  in  company  with 
her  mother  and  stepfather,  when  about  fourteen  years 
of  age,  the  family  home  having  been  established  at 
Stillwater,  where  she  completed  her  educational 
studies  in  the  public  schools.  She  is  a member  of 
the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Universalist,  and  is 
active  in  its  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warnes  have  one 
daughter,  Carrie  W.,  the  wife  of  Russel  L.  Fair- 
bairn,  who  is  general  passenger  agent  for  the  Ca- 
nadian Northern  Railroad,  with  residence  in  the  City 
of  Toronto.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  born  at 
Stillwater,  Minnesota,  and  Mrs.  Fairbairn  was 
graduated  in  the  high  school  at  Anoka,  after  which 
she  completed  a thorough  course  of  piano  study  in 
the  Northwestern  Conservatory  of  Music,  under 
the  personal  tutorship  of  Prof.  Emil  Oberhoffer, 
and  continued  to  take  private  lessons  for  two  years 
thereafter  from  Prof.  Emil  Oberhoffer,  director  of 
the  Minneapolis  Symphony  Orchestra. 

William  H.  Leonard,  M.  D.  For  more  than  half 
a century  the  late  Doctor  Leonard  was  known  in 
his  profession,  in  military  circles  and  as  a citizen 
of  Minneapolis.  His  death  occurred  on  the  morn- 
ing of  April  29,  1907,  at  his  home,  2121  Blaisdell 
Avenue,  Minneapolis,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty- 
one.  Such  were  his  character  and  services  that  his 
memory  shall  rest  on  the  Minnesota  metropolis  as 

a lasting  benediction.  Probably  the  best  tribute  to 
Vol.  in— 4 


his  life  and  work  is  that  found  in  the  memorial 
prepared  and  published  by  the  Minnesota  Command- 
ery  of  the  military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of 
the  United  States,  of  which  he  was  a loved  and  dis- 
tinguished companion.  The  following  is  a quotation 
from  that  article : 

“Dr.  William  Huntington  Leonard  was  born  De- 
cember 2,  1826,  in  Mansfield,  Tolland  County,  Con- 
necticut, and  was  therefore  in  his  eighty-first  year 
of  age.  His  father  was  Dexter  M.  Leonard,  a 
farmer  and  merchant.  His  mother  was  Electa 
(Owen)  Leonard.  His  mother  died  when  he  was 
an  infant  and  he  lived  with  different  ones  of  his 
kinsfolk  until  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when  he 
was  ‘bound  out’  to  a distant  relative,  one  Daniel  Russ, 
in  whose  family  he  lived  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  His  early  education  was  obtained  in 
the  district  and  select  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
in  which  he  was  born.  His  medical  education  was 
initiated  as  a student  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Orrin 
Witter,  of  Chaplin,  Connecticut,  and  was  continued 
in  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  New 
York,  in  New  York  City,  being  finally  completed  in 
the  medical  school  of  Yale  College. 

“He  married  Jane  Augusta  Preston  of  Eastford, 
Connecticut,  the  same  year  that  he  finished  his 
studies,  and  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Orangeville,  Wyoming  County,  New  York. 
Here  he  practiced  for  two  years,  having  bought  out 
a relative,  Dr.  Charles  Fuller.  From  Orangeville 
he  came  to  Minneapolis,  and  he  lived  a short  time 
on  a claim  near  what  is  now  known  as  Robbinsdale. 
From  there  he  moved  into  what  is  now  the  City  of 
Minneapolis.  The  date  of  his  original  coming  to 
Minneapolis  was  May  1,  1855,  antedating  the  day  of 
his  funeral  by  just  fifty-two  years.  In  Minneapolis 
he  practiced  medicine  until  November  22,  1862, 
when  he  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  served  as 
such  until  May  1,  1865,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
surgeon,  with  rank  of  major,  and  he  served  with 
that  rank  until  mustered  out  of  service  with  his  regi- 
ment, on  September  6th  of  the  same  year. 

“His  regiment  was  in  the  Second  Brigade  of  the 
Third  Division  of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps.  He 
served  in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  The  Doctor 
was  with  his  regiment  through  the  entire  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  as  was  he  also  in  the  Red  River  expedi- 
tion, the  battle  of  Nashville,  and  the  siege  of  Mobile. 
He  was  elected  a companion  of  the  first  class  original 
of  this  order  (Loyal  Legion)  March  3,  1886,  entering 
through  the  Commandery  of  Minnesota,  Insignia 
4544- 

“When  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  of 
his  country  Dr.  Leonard  returned  to  Minneapolis 
and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  addi- 
tion to  which  he  became  associated  with  Thomas 
Gardner  in  establishing  the  first  wholesale  and  retail 
drug  store  in  the  city.  As  a physician  he  was 
highly  esteemed  by  all  of  his  professional  confreres. 
In  his  dealing  with  all  men  it  can  be  said  of  him 
that  he  was  fair-minded,  honorable  and  conscien- 
tious. As  a citizen  he  was  progressive  and  public- 
spirited.  He  was  a charter  member  of  the  Athen- 
aeum, of  the  Hennepin  County  Medical  Society,  and 
of  the  Hahnemann  Medical  Society  of  Hennepin 
County.  He  was  the  first  health  officer  of  Minne- 
apolis after  the  union  of  Minneapolis  and  St.  An- 
thony. For  nearly  twenty-five  years  he  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  State  Board  of  Health.  He  was  a member 
of  the  first  State  Lunacy  Commission,  was  prominent 


1320 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  the  establishment  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities. 
He  was  three  times  elected  president  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Homeopathic  Institute,  of  which  he  was 
a charter  member.  He  was  a senior  member  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy  and  the 
only  Minneapolis  ' member  of  the  International 
Hahnemann  Association.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Minnesota  Academy  of  National  Sciences.  He 
was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  John  A.  Rawlins 
Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  the  oldest 
member  of  Minneapolis  Lodge  No.  19,  A.  F.  & A.  M. 

“Dr.  Leonard  was  not  only  a moral  man  but  also 
a man  entitled  to  be  characterized  a Christian  gentle- 
man. He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Plymouth  Congregational  Church  of  Minneapolis. 
This  church  he  served  as  a deacon  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  at  his  death  was  its  oldest  mem- 
ber. The  Doctor's  first  wife  having  died,  he  was 
again  married  in  October,  1886,  to  Josephine  Kehoe, 
who  survives  him,  as  do  also  a son,  Dr.  William 
E.  Leonard,  a member  of  this  commandery,  and  a 
daughter,  Gertrude  J.,  and  two  granddaughters. 

"Resolved,  That  this  commandery,  as  well  as  other 
societies  of  which  he  was  a member,  has  lost  in  the 
death  of  Dr.  Leonard  a valued  and  loved  member. 
That  the  State  has  lost  an  honorable  and  useful 
citizen.  That  his  family  has  lost  a thoughtful  and 
kind  husband  and  father.  Resolved,  That  we  do  ex- 
tend our  very  warm  sympathy  to  the  family  and  that 
a copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  by  the  recorder 
to  the  bereaved  ones.” 

In  conclusion,  a few  other  statements  of  fact9 
should  supplement  the  above.  Dr.  Leonard  com- 
pleted his  medical  studies  at  Yale  University  in  1853. 
His  lineage  is  traced  back  to  English  origin,  the  first 
representatives  having  settled  in  New  England  dur- 
ing the  colonial  days.  The  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Leonard  was  Dr.  Recompense  Leonard,  a prominent 
early  physician  of  Connecticut.  Dr.  Leonard's  first 
wife  died  in  July,  1885,  being  the  mother  of  the  two 
children  now  living.  The  widow  of  his  second  mar- 
riage and  daughter  now  reside  at  Hollywood,  a 
suburb  of  Los  Angeles. 

On  February  27,  1903,  Dr.  Leonard  was  tendered 
a complimentary  banquet  in  Minneapolis  in  honor 
of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  entrance  into  the 
practice  of  medicine.  The  occasion  was  a most  in- 
teresting one,  and  the  Doctor’s  many  friends,  in- 
cluding leading  members  of  his  profession  and  other 
representative  citizens,  vied  in  doing  him  honor. 
After  a well  spent  life,  filled  with  large  and  worthy 
accomplishment,  Dr.  Leonard  passed  to  his  reward, 
and  well  may  it  be  said  that  “his  works  do  follow 
him.” 

William  E.  Leonard,  M.  D.  The  most  conspic- 
uous name  in  homeopathic  medical  circles  in  the 
Northwest  for  over  half  a century  has  been  Leonard. 
The  position  and  services  of  the  late  Dr.  William 
H.  Leonard  have  been  described  on  other  pages, 
and  it  is  also  important  that  space  should  be  given 
to  his  son,  Dr.  William  E.,  who  for  upwards  of 
thirty  years  has  practiced  at  Minneapolis,  and  has 
been  prominent  both  as  a practitioner  and  as  a 
teacher  and  contributor  to  medical  literature. 

William  Edwin  Leonard  was  born  at  Minneapolis, 
July  27,  1855,  and  is  among  the  older  of  the  native 
sons  of  this  city,  which  at  that  time  was  known 
on  the  maps  as  St.  Anthony.  His  education  came 
from  the  public  schools  and  from  the  old  prepar- 
atory school  of  the  state  university.  He  was  grad- 


uated in  1876  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  the  University 
of  Minnesota.  He  was  salutatorian  in  the  fourth 
class  to  be  graduated  from  that  institution.  At  the 
university  Doctor  Leonard  was  a charter  member 
of  Alpha  Nu  Chapter  of  the  Chi  Psi  fraternity. 

Inspired  by  the  counsel  and  example  of  his  father, 
Doctor  Leonard  early  determined  upon  his  career 
and  also  chose  homeopathy,  in  which  school  his 
father  had  also  practiced.  Entering  the  Hahnemann 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  he  completed  a 
thorough  three-year  course  and  was  graduated  M.  D. 
in  March,  1879.  Then  followed  clinical  experience  of 
one  year  as  interne  in  Ward’s  Island  Homeopathic 
Hospital  at  New  York  City.  This  is  now  the  Met- 
ropolitan Hospital,  and  is  and  has  been  for  many 
years  the  largest  homeopathic  hospital  in  the  world. 
Doctor  Leonard  is  as  much  a student  today  as  thirty 
years  ago  and  has  always  been  eager  to  accumulate 
knowledge  and  perfect  himself  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  He  has  taken  a number  of  post- 
graduate courses,  and  spent  the  fall  of  1907  in  the 
New  York  Post-Graduate  Medical  College  and  the 
New  York  Polyclinic,  and  in  1912  was  abroad  in 
Europe  for  three  months  in  study  and  travel.  After 
returning  to  Minneapolis  Doctor  Leonard  became 
associated  with  his  father  in  practice,  and  they  con- 
tinued together  in  mutual  sympathy  and  helpfulness 
until  the  death  of  the  elder  Doctor  Leonard  in  1907. 

Doctor  Leonard  has  been  prominent  in  the  edu- 
cational side  of  his  profession,  both  as  instructor 
and  as  an  editor  and  contributor.  He  was  one  of 
the  leaders  in  the  movement  which  resulted  in  the 
establishment  of  the  College  of  Homeopathic  Med- 
icine and  Surgery  at  the  University  of  Minnesota 
in  1888,  and  from  that  time  until  1908  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  faculty,  filling  the  chair  of  materia  medica 
and  therapeutics.  From  1886  to  1889  he  was  editor 
of  the  Minnesota  Medical  Monthly.  For  two  terms, 
or  twelve  years,  he  was  a member  of  the  Minne- 
apolis Health  Department,  and  for  four  years  senior 
medical  inspector.  He  was  for  two  years  on  the 
surgical  staff  of  the  Minneapolis  City  Hospital,  is  a 
senior  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy, 
and  a member  and  former  president  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Institute  of  Homeopathy.  Doctor  Leon- 
ard is  the  author  of  “The  Healthy  Woman,”  a book 
widely  circulated  and  read  and  bearing  high  recom- 
mendations from  the  profession.  For  a quarter  of 
a century  he  has  been  a contributor  to  leading 
periodicals  of  the  profession,  and  is  the  author  of 
many  individual  articles  containing  the  results  of 
his  experience  and  personal  research. 

Doctor  Leonard  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  As  a public- 
spirited  citizen  he  has  placed  himself  in  nearly  every 
movement  for  the  welfare  and  best  interests  of  his 
native  city  and  state.  He  is  an  independent  in  poli- 
tics and  a member  of  the  Minnesota  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences,  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society, 
the  Native  Sons  of  Minnesota  and  the  Saturday 
Lunch  Club.  He  and  his  family  belong  to  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  Doctor  Leonard’s 
offices  are  in  the  Donaldson  Building. 

In  October,  1881,  Doctor  Leonard  married  Miss 
Marian  L.  Marshall  of  New  York  City.  Mrs.  Leon- 
ard died  in  1905,  being  survived  by  two  daughters, 
Elsie  P.  and  Miriam  L.  Miss  Elsie  was  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Minnesota  in  1906  and  from 
Simmons  College  at  Boston  in  1907,  was  director  of 
Sanford  Hall  at  the  University  of  Minnesota  up  to 
1914,  and  is  now  a member  of  the  faculty  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1321 


Teachers’  College  at  Columbia  University,  New  York 
City.  She  has  given  special  study  and  attention  to 
institutional  management.  Miriam,  the  younger 
daughter,  was  graduated  at  Wellesley  College,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1910,  completed  one  year’s  course  in 
the  New  York  State  Library  School  at  Albany,  and 
was  for  three  years  on  the  Minneapolis  Public 
Library  staff  as  cataloguer  and  later  as  manager  of 
the  city’s  industrial  libraries,  as  established  in  de- 
partment stores,  in  the  stations  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment, in  manufactories  and  other  places  where  this 
extension  of  the  library  service  brings  books  within 
ready  reach  of  the  readers.  Miriam  married  Rob- 
ert Silas  Fowler,  April  28,  1915,  and  lives  at  Lake 
Minnetonka. 

Capt.  William  H.  Donahue.  It  is  characteristic 
of  the  members  of  the  Minneapolis  bar  to  have 
varied  and  important  interests  outside  their  profes- 
sion, and  in  the  case  of  William  H.  Donahue,  who 
has  practiced  since  his  admission  in  1902,  his  chief 
distinction  aside  from  success  as  a lawyer  is  in  mil- 
itary affairs.  Captain  Donahue  has-been  for  many 
years  identified  with  the  Minnesota  National  Guard, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  officers  in  that 
organization. 

William  H.  Donahue  was  born  in  1879  at  Gold 
Hill,  Nevada,  then  an  isolated  and  frontier  mining- 
district,  when  it  required  thirteen  days  to  make  the 
journey  from  there  to  Bangor,  Maine,  which  was 
the  old  home  of  Captain  Donahue’s  parents.  His 
father  and  mother  were  William  J.  and  Honora 
(Quinn)  Donahue.  Captain  Donahue  and  his  mother 
both  reside  in  Minneapolis,  and  he  confesses  an  in- 
debtedness to  her  gentle  influence  and  motherly  am- 
bition for  his  early  instruction  and  for  much  of  his 
success  since  entering  his  profession.  Another  son, 
Frank,  died  in  infancy  at  Minneapolis.  Both  parents 
were  natives  of  Bangor,  Maine. 

Captain  Donahue  s home  has  been  in  Minneapolis 
since  1881,  though  at  about  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
returned  with  his  mother  to  Bangor  and  was  in 
school  there  for  one  year.  Captain  Donahue  took 
preparatory  work  under  a private  tutor,  and  much 
of  his  early  training  was  received  directly  from 
his  mother.  Before  entering  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Louis  K.  Hull, 
and  was  also  a night  student  of  law  in  the  uni- 
versity. In  1902  he  graduated  LL.  B.  from  the  uni- 
versity, and  in  1903  received  the  degree  LL.  M. 
Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1902,  his  practice  began  in 
the  same  year  in  partnership  with  George  W.  Meyer 
under  the  firm  name  of  Meyer  & Donahue,  and  was 
continued  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Meyer  in  1910. 
Since  that  time  Mr.  Donahue  has  practiced  alone, 
and  now  has  a reputation  and  clientage  which  rank 
him  among  the  most  successful  lawyers  of  Minne- 
apolis. For  several  years  Captain  Donahue  and  his 
partner  had  offices  in  the  Temple  Court  Building 
and  for  the  past  three  years  his  office  has  been 
in  the  Palace  Building.  Besides  his  regular  law 
practice,  Captain  Donahue  is  president  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Minneapolis  Roofing  and  Cornice  Works. 

Captain  Donahue  first  became  identified  with  the 
National  Guard  in  1896,  and  was  a member  of  the 
°Ca^  ,battery  at  time  of  the  Spanish-American 
war,  but  that  organization  was  not  called  into  active 
service.  After  six. years  he  left  the  National  Guard, 
but  joined  again  in  1908.  His  enlistment  in  both 
instances  was  with  Battery  B.  At  the  second  enlist- 
ment, after  three  months,  he  was  made  a corporal, 


and  in  six  months  became  sergeant,  and  at  the  end 
of  the  first  year  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant. 
In  1913  he  was  made  captain  of  Battery  D and 
appointed  captain  and  commissary  on  the  colonel's 
staff.  His  interests  in  military  theory  and  practice 
have  gone  much  beyond  that  of  most  men  who  take 
service  in  the  National  Guard,  and  this  is  indicated 
by  his  attendance  for  one  year  in  the  garrison 
school  at  Fort  Snelling,  where  he  secured  a cer- 
tificate for  efficiency,  and  for  twenty-eight  days  dur- 
ing July,  1913,  he  was  in  the  Fort  Riley  School  of 
Instruction  in  Kansas.  Fort  Riley  is  one  of  the 
largest  posts  of  the  United  States  army,  and  the 
school  is  conducted  primarily  for  the  officers  of  the 
regular  forces.  In  1913  Captain  Donahue  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  Officers’  Association  of  the  Minne- 
sota National  Guard. 

Captain  Donahue  is  unmarried  and  is  devoted  to 
the  welfare  and  comfort  of  his  mother,  who  in 
earlier  years  sacrificed  herself  so  uncomplainingly 
to  give  him  a home  and  proper  instruction.  They 
reside  at  1600  West  Lake  Street.  Captain  Donahue 
is  affiliated  with  the  Minneapolis  Lodge  of  Elks, 
with  the  Hennepin  County  Bar  Association,  with 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  and  the 
Athletic  and  Boat  clubs  of  Minneapolis. 

William  E.  Flynn.  A Minneapolis  lawyer,  with 
offices  in  the  Temple  Court  Building,  William  E. 
Flynn,  though  one  of  the  younger  members  of  the 
bar,  has  already  established  himself  securely  in  his 
profession,  and  gives  promise  of  a large  career  of 
usefulness  before  him. 

William  Edward  Flynn  was  born  in  Caledonia, 
Minnesota,  March  6,  1889.  His  father  is  Judge 
Arthur  J.  Flynn  and  his  mother  Mary  (Murphy) 
Flynn.  Judge  Flynn  is  one  of  the  prominent  cit- 
izens of  Caledonia,  served  twelve  years  as  post- 
master, and  for  twelve  years  was  judge  of  probate 
in  Houston  County.  He  now  lives  retired  at  Cal- 
edonia. He  was  born  in  Waterford,  Ireland,  June 
27,  1843,  came  to  the  United  States  with  relatives 
when  about  eight  years  of  age,  lived  a time  and  at- 
tended school  in  Chicago,  and  then  moved  to  Min- 
nesota. His  wife  was  also  a native  of  Waterford, 
Ireland,  came  to  this  country  with  her  parents,  and 
they  were  married  at  Rushford,  Minnesota.  Of  the 
eight  children  in  their  family  all  lived  to  grow  up 
but  one,  and  six  are  now  living : Arthur  P.,  who 
was  an  attorney  at  Colorado  Springs,  died  at  Cal- 
edonia, Minnesota,  about  1900,  at  the  age  of  thirty; 
Margaret  is  now  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Leighton  of*  Aus- 
tin, Minnesota;  George  F.  is  a traveling  salesman, 
with  headquarters  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin;  Anna, 
lives  at  home;  Pierce  J.  is  a conductor  on  the  North- 
ern Pacific  Railway,  with  headquarters  at  Dickin- 
son, North  Dakota;  Robert  E.  is  a physician  and 
surgeon  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  and  at  the  present 
time  county  physician.  All  the  children  were  born 
in  Minnesota  and  William  E.  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family. 

His  early  education  was  acquired  by  attending  the 
schools  of  Caledonia,  ending  with  "his  graduation 
from  the  high  school  in  the  class  of  1908.  Mr. 
Flynn  is  an  alumnus  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
law  department,  having  received  his  degree  LL.  B. 
in  1 91 1.  His  career  as  a practicing  lawyer  began 
at  Minneapolis  with  the  late  Fred  H.  Ayers,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Ayers  & Flynn.  This  partnership 
was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Ayers  on  March 


1322 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


27,  1913-  Mr.  Flynn  now  looks  after  a large  and 
growing  general  practice  and  is  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Bar  Association  and  the  Minnesota 
State  Bar  Association.  His  fraternal  orders  are  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  his  membership  being  in  the 
Hennepin  Council,  the  Order  of  Camels  of  the 
World,  and  his  church  home  is  the  Catholic  Pro- 
Cathedral  of  St.  Mary’s.  Mr.  Flynn  is  unmarried 
and  resides  at  1775  Hennepin  Avenue. 

Ferdinand  A.  Kranz.  Through  continued  effort 
and  the  closest  application  some  individuals  event- 
ually achieve  success  along  certain  lines  and  in 
various  professions,  but  theirs  is  a distinctively  dif- 
ferent order  of  success  than  that  which  is  gained  by 
the  men  who  are  born  to  their  work,  their  natural 
leanings  and  marked  talents  pointing  unmistakably  to 
the  career  in  which  they  subsequently  attain  distinc- 
tion. Some  obey  the  call  of  the  theological  domain ; 
others  find  the  science  of  healing  their  natural  field; 
the  business  mart  or  the  political  arena  engage  many, 
while  still  others  early  see  in  their  visions  of  the 
future  achievements  in  the  law  as  the  summit  of 
their  ambitions.  To  respond  to  this  call,  to  bend 
every  energy  in  this  direction,  to  broaden  and  deepen 
every  possible  highway  of  knowledge  and  to  finally 
enter  upon  this  chosen  career  and  find  its  rewards 
worth  while — such  has  been  the  happy  experience 
of  Ferdinand  A.  Kranz,  numbered  among  the  rising 
young  attorneys  of  the  Minneapolis  bar. 

Mr.  Kranz  was  born  April  6,  1879,  and  is  a son  of 
Nicholas  Frederick  William  and  Anna  M.  (Bohrn) 
Kranz,  natives  of  Germany,  who  accompanied  their 
parents  to  the  United  States  as  young  people  and 
were  early  settlers  of  Dakota  County,  Minnesota.  The 
grandfather,  Nicholas  Kranz,  was  a man  of  superior 
educational  attainments  and  in  his  young  manhood 
was  a teacher  in  the  schools  of  Germany.  During 
the  early  ’40s  he  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  Dakota  County,  Minnesota,  as  a pioneer  of  Hamp- 
ton Township.  Fie  was  one  of  the  first  justices  of 
the  peace  in  Dakota  County,  if  not  the  first,  and  per- 
formed the  ceremony  for  the  first  couple  married  in 
that  vicinity.  Nicholas  Frederick  William  Kranz  was 
the  seventh  son  of  his  parents,  and,  according  to 
custom,  had  he  stayed  in  Germany  would  have  been 
educated  by  the  crown.  He  was  given  a good  educa- 
tion here  and  like  his  father  early  adopted  educa- 
tional work,  teaching  the  first  school  in  the  Town- 
ship of  Hampton.  He  and  his  father  named  the 
Town  of  New  Trier,  Minnesota,  where  they  had 
located  in  the  early  ’40s,  and  there  he  was  married  to 
Anna'M.  Bohrn,  who  had  become  acquainted  with 
him  while  on  a visit  to  relatives,  although  her  own 
parents  were  early  settlers  of  Kenosha  County,  Wis- 
consin, where  they  had  located  in  the  early  ’40s. 
During  the  ’70s  and  ’80s  N.  F.  W.  Kranz  was  a prom- 
inent man  of  Dakota  County,  and  served  as  register 
of  deeds  there  for  a period  of  about  eighteen  years, 
or  longer  than  any  other  man  in  the  history  of  the 
county.  During  his  active  career  he  was  engaged 
successfully  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business 
at  Hastings  but  in  1908  retired  from  business  cares 
and  moved  to  Crookston,  Minnesota,  where  he  now 
makes  his  home.  The  mother  passed  away  at  Hast- 
ings in  1903.  There  were  nine  children  in  their 
family  as  follows:  Nicholas  W.  who  died  in  1908, 

at  the  age  of  forty-one  years,  was  engaged  for  a 
number  of  years  in  the  hardware  business  in  St. 
Paul ; Charles  B.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  in  St.  Paul,  Minnesota;  John  V.,  who  is  as- 


sistant superintendent  of  the  register  department  of 
the  Minneapolis  Postoffice  ; Mrs.  Frank  Bellerman,  of 
Mount  Angel,  Oregon ; Mrs.  Graham  W.  Munch,  of 
Crookston,  Minnesota;  Daisy  M.,  who  is  a teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota; 
Leonard  J.,  a resident  of  that  place;  Ferdinand  A.; 
and  James  P.,  who  is  secretary  of  the  Associated 
Charities  of  Memphis,  Tennessee. 

Ferdinand  A.  Kranz  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  German  parochial  schools,  following 
which  he  entered  the  high  school  at  Hastings,  Min- 
nesota, and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1898.  As 
had  his  father  and  grandfather  before  him,  he  then 
taught  school  for  a period,  but  after  five  years  gave 
up  educational  work  to  accept  employment  in  the 
United  States  railway  mail  service.  It  had  always, 
however,  been  Mr.  Kranz’s  ambition  to  enter  the 
legal  profession,  and  through  the  hardest  and  closest 
application  he  managed  to  secure  a training  in  the 
calling  while  working  in  the  postal  service.  He  en- 
tered the  University  of  Minnesota  in  1908,  and  in 
1911  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Laws,  but  this  could  have  only  been  achieved  by  one 
who  had  a natural  predilection  for  a profession 
which  demands  the  most  thorough  preparation.  Mr. 
Kranz  immediately  opened  an  office  at  No.  814-16 
Metropolitan  Life  Building,  and  from  that  time  to 
the  present  has  been  in  the  enjoyment  of  a steadily 
increasing  and  desirable  practice.  Hard  work  has 
been  a constant  companion  to  Mr.  Kranz;  his  office 
hours  are  seasons  of  activity  in  which  not  a moment 
is  wasted.  He  seldom  drops  the  woes  of  his  clients 
during  his  waking  hours,  has  never  shirked  a respon- 
sibility, and  no  effort  has  been,  with  him,  too  great  to 
gain  new  light.  He  belongs  to  the  various  organi- 
zations of  his  profession,  and  his  standing  among 
his  professional  brethren  is  high.  His  religious  con- 
nection is  with  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Kranz  is 
unmarried. 

Samuel  Hewes  Chute,  M.  D.  The  many  years 
spent  by  the  late  Doctor  Chute  in  Minneapolis,  from 
1837  until  his  death  on  October  12,  1913,  were  accom- 
panied by  the  practical  service  to  his  fellowmen 
and  the  community  such  as  is  only  possible  to  one 
who  has  positive  character,  courage  of  thought  and 
action,  and  the  real  welfare  of  others  at  heart. 
Anyone  who  has  followed  the  growth  of  the  village 
at  St.  Anthony  to  the  City  of  Minneapolis  knows  in 
how  many  different  ways  the  work  and  influence  of 
Doctor  Chute  were  identified  with  that  growth,  and 
often  so  intimately  as  to  make  him  chiefly  responsi- 
ble for  reforms  and  undertakings  that  mean  much 
to  the  modern  city. 

Samuel  Hewes  Chute  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
December  6,  1830,  and  was  already  a man  of  wide 
experience  when  he  arrived  at  St.  Anthony  on  May 
1,  1857.  He  was  a minister’s  son.  His  parents 
were  Rev.  James  and  Martha  Hewes  (Clapp)  Chute. 
Soon  after  his  birth  they  moved  to  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  where  his  early  youth  was  spent.  His  edu- 
cation, begun  in  the  Fort  Wayne  schools,  was  con- 
tinued as  a student  in  that  noted  old  Indiana  college, 
Wabash,  at  Crawfordsville.  His  medical  studies 
were  pursued  under  Drs.  C.  E.  Sturgis  and  J.  H. 
Thompson  at  Fort  Wayne,  beginning  in  November, 
1849,  followed  soon  afterward  by  his  matriculation 
at  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio  in  Cincinnati,  which 
gave  him  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  February,  1851. 

Hardly  was  the  ink  on  the  parchment  dry  when 
he  found  opportunity  for  professional  experience  in 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1323 


a novel  and  adventurous  way.  He  accepted  the 
nominal  post  of  physician  and  surgeon  to  a party 
of  friends  who  had  organized  an  expedition  bound 
for  far-off  Oregon.  The  Oregon  trail  had  all  the 
spice  of  adventure  and  hardship  such  as  are  now 
associated  with  journeys  to  the  few  unexplored 
regions  of  the  earth.  In  later  years  the  sight  of  a 
luxurious  overland  express,  passing  through  Min- 
neapolis, would  recall  to  the  doctor’s  mind  the  scenes 
of  that  long  and  often  perilous  struggle  over  the 
wilderness  of  plains  and  mountains,  suggesting  the 
remarkable  contrasts  wrought  by  a few  decades  in 
the  great  West.  Reaching  Portland,  Doctor  Chute 
spent  the  winter  of  1852  in  that  city  employed  at 
his  profession,  and  in  the  spring  of  1853  rode  horse- 
back to  California.  Six  months  as  a miner,  and  he 
then  exchanged  pick  and  shovel  for  the  implements 
of  his  profession.  For  four  years  he  had  charge  of 
the  hospital  at  Yreka  besides  his  general  practice, 
and  was  the  only  graduate  physician  in  that  locality. 
His  return  to  the  “States”  was  made  by  sea  from 
San  Francisco  to  Panama  and  thence  to  New  York, 
where  he  Arrived  in  1857. 

Without  delay  Doctor  Chute  set  out  from  New 
York  for  the  frontier  village  of  St.  Anthony  in  Min- 
nesota Territory.  A steamboat  carried  him  from 
Prairie  du  Chien  to  St.  Paul.  At  St.  Anthony  he 
became  associated  with  his  brother  Richard,  another 
pioneer  whose  sketch  is  found  on  other,  pages,  and 
they  entered  the  real  estate  business.  The  firm  name 
of  Chute  Brothers  was  assumed  in  1865,  and  after 
the  death  of  Richard  Chute  in  1S93  the  business  was 
incorporated  as  the  Chute  Brothers  Company,  of 
which  Doctor  Chute  was  president  until  his  death. 

From  1857  the  name  of  Doctor  Chute  appears  all 
through  the  records  of  the  development  of  Min- 
neapolis. His  business  interests  were  extensive.  At 
one  time  he  and  his  brother  owned  the  St.  Anthony 
Falls  Power  Company.  In  1869  occurred  the  dis- 
aster, the  caving  in  of  a tunnel  under  the  falls, 
which  threatened  to  ruin  the  power  plant.  The 
doctor  and  his  brother  labored  to  repair  the  damage 
through  their  individual  resources  and  were  after- 
wards influential  at  Washington  in  obtaining  an 
appropriation  for  the  reconstruction  of  a dam  on  a 
larger  scale.  During  the  course  of  these  early  im- 
provements, Doctor  Chute,  as  executive  officer  of 
the  board  of  construction,  was  in  charge,  with 
J.  H.  Stevens  as  engineer,  and  continued  that  respon- 
sibility until  relieved  by  Colonel  Farquhar,  sent  out 
by  the  Government  to  take  charge  of  the  permanent 
construction.  He  was  agent  of  the  St.  Anthony 
Falls  Power  Company  from  1868  to  1880,  at  which 
time  the  property  was  sold  to  James  J.  Hill  and 
associates.  He  had  also  been  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  company. 

In  the  days  when  the  log  cut  concentrated  at 
Minneapolis  aggregated  hundreds  of  millions  of  feet 
annually,  Doctor  Chute  was  associated  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Rum  River  Boom  Company,  first  as  its 
vice  president  and  director  and  from  1879  to  1886 
as  president.  However,  his  most  important  inter- 
ests were  in  real  estate,  and  numerous  subdivisions 
and  additions  have  been  platted  and  developed  by 
the  company  of  which  he  was  the  head. 

In  political  affiliation  Doctor  Chute  was  a repub- 
lican. But  his  chief  concern  was  the  betterment 
of  the  city,  and  during  his  long  residence  held  many 
municipal  offices,  both  elective  and  appointive.  In 
early  St.  Anthony  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
poor,  in  1858,  and  city  treasurer,  and  later  a member 


of  the  council.  His  services  were  especially  note- 
worthy in  connection  with  the  founding  of  a real 
public  school  system.  From  1861  to  1864  he  was  a 
member  and  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  education.  He  was  again  a 
member  of  the  board  in  1878,  when  the  separate 
educational  boards  of  the  east  and  west  divisions 
were  consolidated.  From  March,  1883,  to  April, 
1885,  he  was  a member  of  the  park  commission.  In 
all  his  public  positions  he  displayed  the  same  ability 
and  earnestness  which  characterized  him  in  his 
private  business.  His  church  was  the  Presbyterian. 

One  year  after  his  arrival  in  St.  Anthony,  Doctor 
Chute  was  married,  May  5,  1858,  to  Miss  Helen  E. 
A.  Day.  Six  children  were  born,  four  daughters 
and  two  sons.  The  sons,  Louis  P.  and  Fred  B.,  are 
both  lawyers  and  carry  on  the  Chute  Realty  Com- 
pany. The  surviving  daughters  are  Mary  J.,  Eliza- 
beth and  Agnes.  Their  mother  is  now  seventy-nine 
years  of  age  and  living  in  Minneapolis. 

Louis  P.  Chute.  Senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
L.  P.  & F.  B.  Chute,  lawyers,  and  also  of  the  Chute 
Realty  Company,  Louis  P.  Chute  is  the  oldest  son 
of  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  H.  Chute,  and  since  leaving 
college  has  been  instrumental  in  continuing  the  large 
business  established  by  his  father  and  uncle  and  in 
forwarding  many  improvements  and  public  spirited 
endeavors  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis. 

Louis  P.  Chute  has  lived  in  Minneapolis  all  his 
life,  was  born  there  October  17,  1868,  and  while 
growing  up  had  his  first  instruction  from  private 
tutors.  He  afterwards  took  a course  in  the  Archi- 
bald Business  College,  and  completed  both  the  clas- 
sical and  legal  courses  in  the  Notre  Dame  University 
at  South  Bend,  Indiana.  He  was  graduated  A.  B. 
in  1890  and  LL.  B.  in  1892,  and  in  1893  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota  awarded  him  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Laws.  Since  that  time,  Mr.  Chute  has  been  active 
in  the  real  estate  business,  and  since  1902  the  business 
has  been  conducted  under  the  name  of  the  Chute 
Realty  Company.  He  and  his  brother  Fred  B.  have 
been  particularly  active  in  the  upbuilding  and  devel- 
opment of  the  east  side  business  district,  and  among 
their  more  conspicuous  improvements  was  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Princess  Theater,  and  about  three  hun- 
dred feet  of  business  frontage  on  Central  Avenue 
between  University  and  Fourth  Streets. 

Louis  P.  Chute  is  identified  with  the  more  promi- 
nent organizations  in  the  civic  and  social  life  of 
Minneapolis.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
Club,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the  Minneapolis 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  the  St.  Anthony 
Commercial  Club,  the  Minnetonka  Yacht  Club,  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Lafayette  Country  Club, 
the  Society  of  Fine  Arts,  the  University  Club  and 
his  church  is  the  Catholic.  Mr.  Chute  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

Fred  B.  Chute.  The  young  son  of  the  late 
Dr.  Samuel  H.  and  Helen  E.  A.  (Day)  Chute,  Fred 
B.  Chute,  has  for  nearly  twenty  years  been  associ- 
ated with  his  brother  Louis  P.  Chute  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law  and  in  the  management  of  the  extensive 
interests  acquired  by  his  father,  whose  achievements 
as  a Minneapolis  pioneer,  and  activity  in  real  estate 
development  and  city  upbuilding,  have  been  recited 
in  preceding  paragraphs. 

Fred  B.  Chute  was  born  at  Minneapolis  Decem- 
ber 21,  1872.  His  early  education  was  received  under 
a private  tutor  and  in  the  local  schools,  and  at  the 


1324 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


age  of  twelve  years  he  was  sent  to  the  sub-prepara- 
tory department  of  the  Notre  Dame  University  in 
Indiana,  and  continued  there  as  a student  until 
graduating  from  the  academic  department  with  the 
degree  Bachelor  of  Letters  in  1892,  and  afterwards 
for  one  year  in  the  law  department.  In  September, 
1893,  Mr.  Chute  entered  the  law  department  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  and  was  graduated  LL.  B. 
in  June,  1895.  The  following  June  he  received  the 
degree  Master  of  Laws,  and  in  the  fall  of  1896 
re-entered  the  university  with  the  intention  of  con- 
tinuing his  studies  with  the  degree  Doctor  of  Civil 
Laws  as  his  object.  However,  owing  to  the  accumu- 
lation of  responsibilities  due  to  his  father’s  increas- 
ing age,  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  discontinue 
his  studies  and  devote  himself  entirely  to  business 
and  his  profession.  Both  brothers  are  officers  and 
directors  in  the  companies  conducting  the  interests 
of  the  original  Chute  Brothers,  which  was  estab- 
lished nearly  fifty  years  ago,  and  of  the  Chute  Broth- 
ers Company  and  the  Chute  Realty  Company.  In 
recent  years  they  have  conducted  a number  of 
building  operations  in  the  business  center  of  East 
Minneapolis,  and  large  blocks  of  valuable  and  promi- 
nent real  estate  are  controlled  and  managed  through 
the  offices  of  the  Chute  Realty  Company. 

Mr.  Fred  B.  Chute  has  been  active  in  public  affairs, 
and  from  1904  to  February,  1910,  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education  of  Minneapolis,  until 
the  pressure  of  private  business  obliged  him  to  re- 
sign. He  is  a member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
belongs  to  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Minneapolis 
Athletic  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association,  the  University  Club,  the  Minnikahda 
Club,  the  St.  Anthony  Commercial  Club,  the  Min- 
netonka Yacht  Club,  "the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  the  Minneapolis 
Automobile  Club,  the  Society  of  Fine  Arts,  and  the 
State  Bar  Association.  Mr.  Chute  was  married 
May  26,  1909,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  McKennan  Hawley, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Augustin  B.  and  Harriet  (Black- 
stock)  Hawley. 

Louis  FI.  Joss.  In  well  appointed  offices  in  the 
Minnesota  Loan  and  Trust  Building,  311-13  Nicollet 
Avenue,  Minneapolis,  are  maintained  the  professional 
headquarters  of  the  firm  of  Joss  & Ohman,  who  con- 
trol a substantial  law  business  and  are  recognized 
as  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  the  Minne- 
sota metropolis.  Mr.  Joss  is  a native  son  of  this 
state  and  within  its  borders  is  finding  ample  oppor- 
tunity for  the  achieving  of  success  in  his  chosen 
profession. 

Louis  Harvey  Joss  was  born  at  Northfield,  Rice 
County,  Minnesota,  on  the  27th  of  October,  1880,  and 
is  a son  of  Rev.  Augustus  Adolphus  Joss  and  Mary 
(Powell)  Joss,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the 
City  of  Antwerp,  Belgium,  and  the  latter  at  Little 
Falls,  Herkimer  County,  New  York,  their  marriage 
having  been  solemnized  in  the  City  of  Buffalo,  that 
state.  Rev.  Augustus  A.  Joss  was  about  five  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  immigration  to 
America,  and  the  family  home  was  established  at 
Constantine,  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  where  he 
was  reared  to  adult  age  and  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion. He  later  received  excellent  training  along 
higher  scholastic  lines  and  finally  was  graduated  in 
the  theological  department  of  Princeton  University, 
New  Jersey.  He  then  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  but  about  a decade  later  he  was 
confirmed  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in 


which  he  soon  afterward  received  holy  orders,  after 
his  graduation  at  Seabury  Seminary,  the  theological 
institution  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Faribault, 
Minnesota.  Since  the  time  of  ordination  as  a clergy- 
man of  the  Episcopal  Church  Rev.  Augustus  A.  Joss 
has  continued  his  pastoral  services  in  the  Northwest, 
and  he  is  now  rector  of  the  church  at  Redwood 
Falls,  the  metropolis  and  judicial  center  of  Redwood 
County,  Minnesota.  He  has  also  held  rectorships  in 
the  states  of  Illinois  and  North  Dakota  since  first 
coming  to  Minnesota,  in  1880.  He  is  a man  of  high 
attainments  and  of  great  zeal  and  earnestness,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  have  the  affectionate  regard  of 
all  who  have  come  within  the  sphere  of  their  gra- 
cious influence,  the  subject  of  this  review  being 
their  only  child. 

Louis  H.  Joss  was  graduated  in  the  high  school 
at  Little  Falls,  Minnesota,  in  1899,  and  thereafter  he 
attended  the  academic  or  literary  department  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota  for  a period  of  i)4  years, 
simultaneouly  pursuing  the  night  course  in  the  law 
department,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1906  and  from  which  he  received  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  For  one  year  after  his 
graduation  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  well  known 
law  firm  of  Henderson,  Wunderlich  & Henderson, 
of  Minneapolis,  and  having  thus  gained  valuable  ex- 
perience in  a preliminary  way  he  then  engaged  in 
practice  on’  his  own  responsibility.  After  one  year 
he  formed  a professional  alliance  with  Charles  M. 
Stockton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Joss  & Stockton, 
but  this  partnership  was  terminated  after  the  lapse 
of  about  eighteen  months.  In  June,  1908,  Mr.  Joss 
and  John  N.  Ohman  formed  a partnership,  and  the 
firm  of  Joss  & Ohman.  He  is  a republican  in  his 
political  allegiance,  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
Bar  Association,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  com- 
municants of  Floly  Trinity  Church,  Protestant  Epis- 
copal. 

On  the  2 1st  of  September,  1910,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Joss  to  Miss  Kate  Townsend 
Bennett,  who  was  born  at  Sterling,  Illinois,  and  who 
was  a child  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to 
Minneapolis,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated. 
She  is  a daughter  of  William  H.  and  Kate  Brascott 
(Wright)  Bennett,  and  her  father  was  one  of  the 
prominent  members  of  the  Minneapolis  bar  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1908;  he  was  a member  of  the 
representative  law  firm  of  Koon,  Whalen  & Bennett, 
and  since  his  death  his  widow  has  continued  her  resi- 
dence in  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Joss  was  graduated  in 
the  East  High  School  of  Minneapolis  and  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  in  which  she  became  affiliated 
with  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  and  Delta  Delta  Delta 
sororities,  and  she  holds  membership  also  in  the 
Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion. 

William  H.  Bennett.  From  1888  until  his  death 
on  October  14,  1908,  the  late  William  H.  Bennett  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  Minneapolis  bar,  and 
during  that  time  was  one  of  the  ablest  corporation 
lawyers  in  the  state.  On  moving  to  Minneapolis  Mr. 
Bennett  became  a partner  in  the  firm  of  Koon, 
Wheelan  & Bennett,  and  that  relation  was  continued 
until  1907,  from  which  time  for  about  a year  Mr. 
Bennett  devoted  himself  extensively  to  the  trial  of 
cases  for  the  Minneapolis  Street  Railway  Company. 
The  firm  of  Koon,  Whee’an  & Bennett  had  also  en- 
joyed a large  and  important  corporation  clientele. 
They  were  attorneys  for  the  Minneapolis  Street 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1325 


Railway  Company,  the  Minneapolis,  St.  Paul  & Sault 
Ste.  Marie  Railway  Company,  the  Pillsbury-Wash- 
burn  Flour  Mills  Company,  Limited,  the  Northwest- 
ern National  Bank,  the  Minneapolis  General  Electric 
Company,  and  a number  of  other  leading  business 
houses  and  corporations  of  the  city.  The  late  Mr. 
Bennett  was  a lawyer  of  eastern  ancestry  and  train- 
ing, had  come  west  to  Illinois,  in  1868,  and  with  a 
broad  foundation  and  thorough  experience  in  gen- 
eral practice  had  for  a number  of  years  confined  his 
attention  largely  to  the  law  dealing  with  corpora- 
tions. For  a number  of  years  before  his  death  he 
had  never  taken  a criminal  case. 

William  H.  Bennett  was  born  in  Scotland,  Wind- 
ham County,  Connecticut,  June  28,  1843,  the  only 
child  of  Samuel  F.  and  Harriet  (Spaulding)  Ben- 
nett, both  natives  of  Connecticut.  The  Bennett  fam- 
ily was  established  in  America  of  English  ancestry, 
the  first  representative  of  the  name,  William  Henry 
Bennett,  having  settled  at  Ipswich,  Massachusetts. 
In  1740  the  family  moved  to  Connecticut,  bought  a 
farm  in  Windham  County,  and  that  land  was  handed 
down  from  one  generation  to  the  other  and  its  last 
owner  was  the  late  William  H.  Bennett  of  Minneap- 
olis. Grandfather  William  Bennett  was  a loyal  sol- 
dier of  the  American  cause  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  for  a business  followed  farming,  dying  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years.  His  wife  was 
Sarah  Giddings,  of  Welsh  lineage.  Samuel  F.  Ben- 
nett, one  of  the  five  children  of  William  Bennett  and 
wife,  followed  farming  as  a means  of  livelihood  and 
remained  a resident  of  Connecticut  until  his  death 
in  1889,  when  about  eighty-three  years  of  age.  His 
wife,  Harriet  Spaulding,  who  died  when  about  thir- 
ty-six years  of  age,  was  a daughter  of  Benjamin 
Spaulding,  also  a native  of  Connecticut  and  a Wind- 
ham County  farmer.  His  first  wife  was  a Miss 
Ingalls,  who  became  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Samuel  F. 
Bennett.  After  her  death  he  married  Pamelia  Car- 
ter, a native  of  Canterbury,  Connecticut.  The  home 
of  the  Spaulding  family  for  many  years  was  at  Pom- 
fret,  Connecticut.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  F.  Bennett 
were  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

William  H.  Bennett  spent  his  boyhood,  youth  and 
early  manhood  in  Connecticut,  chiefly  at  Hampton, 
where  after  his  death  he  was  laid  to  rest.  He  ac- 
quired a liberal  education,  pursuing  a preparatory 
course  in  the  Phillips  Academy,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Yale  College  in  1866.  After  a year  of 
teaching  at  Easton,  Connecticut,  he  entered  the  Al- 
bany Law  School,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Albany  in  1868.  Mr.  Bennett  was  one  of  a number 
of  Albany  Law  School  graduates  who  sought  a field 
for  practice  in  Illinois,  and  in  the  same  year  of  his 
graduation  located  at  Sterling  in  Whiteside  County, 
where  his  services  as  a lawyer  and  a citizen  are 
still  gratefully  remembered.  He  then  formed  a part- 
nership with  Frederick  Sackett,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Sackett  & Bennett,  which  continued  until  the  re- 
moval of  Mr.  Sackett  to  Chicago.  During  his  rela- 
tions with  the  Whiteside  County  bar  Mr.  Bennett 
controlled  a large  clientage  and  had  a share  in  much 
of  the  important  litigation  tried  in  the  courts  of  the 
district.  He  was  subsequently  in  practice  with  Henry 
Green,  and  the  firm  of  Bennett  & Green  was  only 
dissolved  in  the  fall  of  1888,  when  Mr.  Bennett 
removed  to  Minneapolis.  The  late  Mr.  Bennett  was 
an  active  republican,  and  during  his  residence  at 
Sterling  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  was  for  sev- 
eral terms  an  alderman,  and  also  a member  of  the 
board  of  school  trustees.  He  regarded  a public 


office  as  a public  trust,  and  made  his  influence  felt 
for  good  and  improvement  in  both  the  Illinois  city 
and  in  Minneapolis. 

In  January,  1873,  at  Sterling,  Mr.  Bennett  married 
Miss  Frances  Green,  daughter  of  John  and  Caroline 
Green.  She  died  in  November,  1873,  after  the  birth 
of  her  daughter,  Frances.  In  1876  Mr.  Bennett 
married  Miss  Kate  Prescott  Wright  of  Bridgeport, 
Connecticut,  daughter  of  George  A.  and  Jane  (Pres- 
cott) Wright.  There  were  two  children  of  this  mar- 
riage : Kate  Townsend  And  Jane  Prescott  Bennett. 
The  late  Mr.  Bennett  was  a Unitarian  in  religious 
belief,  while  Mrs.  Bennett,  who  survives  with  her 
three  daughters,  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Mrs.  Bennett  is  still  living  at  Minneapolis 
at  the  family  homestead.  She  is  a member  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.  Her  three 
daughters  are : Mrs.  H.  F.  Marston,  Miss  Frances 

L.  Bennett  and  Mrs.  Louis  H.  Joss. 

William  S.  Dwinnell.  The  measure  of  ability 
in  the  legal  profession  is  most  effectively  defined 
by  the  success  attained,  and  by  this  metewand  Sen- 
ator Dwinnell  has  held  secure  prestige  as  one  of  the 
representative  members  of  the  bar  of  Minnesota, 
though  he  has  now  retired  from  the  active  practice 
of  law  to  meet  the  demands  placed  upon  him  by 
his  private  interests  of  business  and  capitalistic 
order.  He  has  been  a resident  of  Minneapolis  since 
1889  and  is  at  the  present  time  a member  of  the 
State  Senate — known  and  honored  as  a citizen  of 
distinctive  loyalty  and  public  spirit  and  as  one  of 
prominence  and  influence  in  professional,  civic  and 
business  circles. 

William  Stanley  Dwinnell  was  born  at  Lodi,  Co- 
lumbia County,  Wisconsin,  on  the  25th  of  December, 
1862,  and  thus  became  a right  welcome  Christmas 
arrival  in  the  home  of  his  parents,  John  Bliss  Dwin- 
nell and  Maria  C.  Dwinnell.  His  father  was  one  of 
the  early  merchants  and  influential  citizens  of  Colum- 
bia County,  and  later  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  The  Dwinnell  family  is  of  English 
lineage  and  the  founder  of  the  American  branch  set- 
tled at  Topsfield,  Essex  County,  Massachusetts,  in 
1660,  the  ancestral  homestead  at  that  place  being  still 
in  the  possession  of  his  descendants.  On  the  ma- 
ternal side  Senator  Dwinnell  is  a lineal  scion  of  the 
prominent  old  Dwight  and  Day  families  of  Connecti- 
cut and  New  York.  The  parents  of  Senator  Dwin- 
nell continued  to  reside  in  Wisconsin  until  the  close 
of  their  lives. 

He  whose  name  introduces  this  review  acquired 
his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town,  and  after  completing  the  curriculum 
of  the  high  school  he  took  a two  years’  undergrad- 
uate course  in  the  academic  or  literary  department  of 
the  University  of  Wisconsin.  He  completed  in  this 
great  institution  thereafter  the  course  prescribed  in 
its  law  department,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1886  and  from  which  he 
received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  with  con- 
comitant admission  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state. 
For  two  years  after  his  graduation  Senator  Dwinnell 
was  employed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Wisconsin  m 
the  preparing  of  opinions  of  that  tribunal  for  publi- 
cation, and  incidentally,  during  his  student  days  at 
Madison,  the  capital  of  the  state  and  the  seat  of 
the  University  of  Wisconsin,  and  during  the  period 
he  was  in  the  service  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  en- 
ioyed  the  close  friendship  of  the  late  Gov.  Jeremiah 
M.  Rusk.  Upon  invitation  of  the  governor  he  ac- 


1326 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


companied  the  latter  and  his  staff  to  the  funeral  of 
Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  in  New  York  City,  and  he 
was  with  Governor  Rusk  in  a confidential  relation 
during  the  .Milwaukee  riots  of  1886. 

.After  completing  his  work  for  the  Supreme  Court 
Senator  Dwinnell  established  his  residence  at  Black 
River  Falls,  judicial  center  of  Jackson  County,  Wis- 
consin, and  after  serving  as  district  attorney  of  that 
county,  in  1888-89,  he  came  to  Minneapolis  as  attor- 
ney, under  contract,  for  a large  building  and  loan 
association.  On  account  of.  radical  objection  to  cer- 
tain policies  adopted  by  this  corporation  the  senator 
soon  resigned  his  position,  and  he  then  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Minneapolis,  where 
he  became  specially  prominent  and  influential  as  a 
corporation  lawyer.  He  built  up  a very  large  and 
important  law  business,  to  which  he  gave  punctilious 
attention  for  fully  a decade,  but  since  1900,  largely 
to  avoid  the  close  confinement  of  his  offices  and  the 
exacting  demands  placed  upon  him  in  connection 
with  law  practice,  he  has  devoted  himself  largely  to 
the  supervision  of  his  outside  interests,  his  definite 
retirement  from  his  profession  having  occurred  in 
1904. 

Senator  Dwinnell  has  been  influential  and  notably 
successful  in  the  field  of  real  estate  operations  and 
through  his  liberality  and  progressiveness  has  done 
much  to  further  the  civic  and  material  advancement 
of  the  Minnesota  metropolis,  as  well  as  the  capital 
city  of  the  state.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  Urban 
Investment  Company,  of  St.  Paul,  and  he  has  been 
most  successful  in  the  handling  and  improving  of 
city  realty  in  both  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  as  well 
as  "timber  lands  in  California  and  British  Columbia. 
Senator  Dwinnell  has  exercised  large  and  benignant 
influence  in  connection  with  governmental  and  gen- 
eral civic  affairs  in  the  state  of  his  adoption,.  notably 
in  his  advocacy  of  the  direct  primary  election  law, 
which  was  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  1899,  and 
the  passage  of  the  effective  anti-trust  law.  He  has 
been  vital  and  insistent  as  a champion  of  good  gov- 
ernment, and  has  spared  himself  neither  time  nor 
effort  in  the  supporting  of  men  and  measures  meeting 
the  approval  of  his  judgment  having  been  specially 
active  in  his  endeavors  to  aid  in  the  choosing  of 
worthy  candidates  for  municipal,  state  and  federal 
offices.  He  is  a zealous  and  valued  member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  and 
prior  to  its  dissolution  was  equally  prominent  in  the 
affairs  of  the  Minneapolis  Commercial  Club,  both 
of  these  organizations  standing  sponsor  for  high 
civic  ideals  and  progressive  policies.  The  senator 
was  for  several  years  a member  of  the  public,  affairs 
committee  of  the  Commercial  Club,  and  was  its  vice 
chairman  in  1906.  He  was  elected  to  the  State. Senate 
in  1910,  and  in  this  important  body  his  service  has 
been  characteristically  earnest,  faithful  and  circum- 
spect. his  record  being  one  that  will  reflect  lasting 
credit  upon  him  and  that  has  been  of  benefit  to  the 
state  at  large  as  well  as  to  his  specific  constituency. 
He  was  reelected  and  his  present  term  will  expire 
in  November,  1918. 

Senator  Dwinnell  holds  membership  in  the  Ameri- 
can Bar  Association,  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Asso- 
ciation and  the  American  Economic  Association,  and 
in  a local  way  he  holds  membership  in  the  following 
named  and  representative  orsanizations : The  Min- 

neapolis Club,  Minnikahda  Club,  Six  O’Clock  Club, 
Minneapolis  Automobile  Club  and  the  Lafayette 
Country  Club.  He  and  his  wife  are  zealous  com- 


municants of  St.  Alark’s  Church,  Protestant  Epis- 
copal, and  he  is  a member  of  the  vestry  of  this 
parish. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1889,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Senator  Dwinnell  to  Miss  Virginia  Ing- 
man,  and  they  have  four  children — Stanley  W., 
Katherine,  James  B.,  and  William  S.,  Jr.  Stanley  W. 
Dwinnell  was  graduated  in  Yale  University  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1912,  and  in  the  same  year 
his  sister  Katherine  was  graduated  in  the  Rosemary 
School  for  Girls,  at  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  a vir- 
tual suburb  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

William  Fryberger.  A publication  of  this  order 
exercises  one  of  its  most  important  and  consistent 
prerogatives  when  it  enters  due  memorial  tribute  to 
such  honored  pioneers  and  sterling  citizens  as  the 
late  William  Fryberger,  who  contributed  his  quota 
to  the  civic  and  industrial  development  and  progress 
of  Minnesota  and  whose  life  was  dominated  by  the 
highest  principles  of  integrity  as  well  as  by  a deep 
appreciation  of  the  true  values  of  human  thought  and 
action.  He  became  one  of  the  substantial  agricul- 
turists and  influential  citizens  of  Goodhue  County, 
and  he  continued  to  reside  on  his  well  improved 
homestead  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  ioth  of  April,  1890,  about  one  month  prior  to  his 
sixty-seventh  birthday  anniversary. 

William  Fryberger  was  born  in  Goshen,  Cler- 
mont County,  Ohio,  on  the  gth  of  May,  1823,  and 
this  date  indicates  with  due  significance  that  his 
parents,  Andrew  and  Katherine  (Roudabush)  Fry- 
berger, were  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  that 
favored  section  of  the  old  Buckeye  State,  where  the 
family  was  one  of  no  little  prominence.  The  lineage 
of  William  Fryberger  traces  back  to  sturdy  German 
origin  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides,  and 
it  is  supposed  that  the  early  American  ancestors  of 
both  families  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  which  state 
contributed  a most  numerous  and  valuable  element 
to  the  pioneer  settlement  of  Ohio.  William  Fry- 
berger removed  in  1831  to  Indiana,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  year  1855,  when  he  removed,  with  his 
family  to  Minnesota  where  he  established  himself  as 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  state.  He  entered  claim  to  160  acres  of  Govern- 
ment land  in  Featherstone  Township,  Goodhue 
County,  and  there  he  developed  one  of  the  model 
farms  of  the  county,  marking  the  passing  years  with 
large  and  worthy  achievement  as  a man  of  industry, 
thrift  and  civic  loyalty.  He  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Featherstone  Township,  in  the  organization  of 
which  he  assisted,  and  during  the  long  period  of  years 
that  intervened  before  he  was  summoned  from  the 
stage  of  life's  mortal  endeavors  he  wielded  a large 
and  benignant  influence  in  the  community  that  rep- 
resented his  home  for  nearly  two-score  years.  No 
resident  of  Goodhue  County  had  more  inviolable 
place  in  popular  confidence  and  esteem  than  did  this 
sterling  pioneer,  and  such  a verdict  placed  upon  the 
man  gives  the  most  effective  voucher  for  his  true 
worth  as  we’l  as  for  his  kindliness  and  consideration, 
which  in  turn  beget  abiding  friendship.  Though  he 
never  sought  prominence  and  was  essentially  unas- 
suming, his  ability  and  character  made  him  especially 
eligible  for  positions  of  public  trust,  and  he  was  not 
permitted  to  remain  in  obscurity  along  this  line.  His 
loyalty  prompted  him  to  respond  to  the  wishes  of  his 
fellow  citizens  and  for  many  years  he  held  unmis- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1327 


takable  leadership  in  public  affairs  in  his  township, 
which  he  represented  as  a member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors,  of  which  body  he  was  chair- 
man for  eighteen  years.  His  record  in  this  respon- 
sible office  was  remarkable,  as  he  was  retained  as  a 
member  of  the  board  for  a total  of  thirty-three  years 
— covering  the  major  part  of  the  entire  period  of  his 
residence  in  Goodhue  County,  where  his  name  and 
memory  are  held  in  lasting  honor.  He  was  also 
elected  and  served  as  one  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners of  Goodhue  County.  Mr.  Fryberger  was  a 
democrat  in  his  political  allegiance  and  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  home  life  of  Mr.  Fryberger  was  one  of  ideal 
associations.  At  Cloverdale,  Putnam  County,  In- 
diana, on  the  27th  of  November,  1853,  was  solem- 
nized the  marriage  of  William  Fryberger  to  Miss 
Margaret  Burroughs,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  in 
which  state  her  parents  settled  in  the  pioneer  days. 
Of  this  union  were  born  seven  children,  the  first  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  and  five  of  whom  are  still 
living:  Clara  F.  is  the  wife  of  Janes  A.  Johnson, 

of  Minneapolis;  Dr.  William  O.,  an  able  physician 
and  surgeon;  Margaret  died  in  August,  1913;  Her- 
schel  B.  is  a representative  lawyer  of  Duluth,  this 
state;  Harrison  E.,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
Minneapolis,  is  individually  mentioned  on  other  pages 
of  this  work;  and  Helen  also  resides  in  Minneapolis 
with  her  mother. 

Harrison  E.  Fryberger.  The  bar  of  Minnesota 
has  enlisted  the  allegiance  of  many  of  the  native 
sons  of  the  state,  and  they  are,  almost  without  ex- 
ception, honoring  both  their  profession  and  the  com- 
monwealth which  they  claim  as  their  native  heath. 
This  is  significant^  true  in  connection  with  the  pro- 
fessional career  and  personal  characteristics  of  Mr. 
Fryberger,  who  is  a representative  of  a sterling  pio- 
neer iamily  of  Minnesota  and  who  is  engaged  in  the 
successful  practice  of  law  in  the  City  of  Minneapo- 
lis, with  a clientage  whose  scope  and  prominence 
vouches  for  his  ability  and  his  command  of  popular 
confidence  and  esteem.  Concerning  his  parents  and 
the  family  genealogy  adequate  record  is  given  on 
other  pages  of  this  work,  in  the  memoir  dedicated  to 
his  father,  the  late  William  Fryberger.  It  may  be 
noted  that  of  the  seven  children,  five  are  living,  and 
Harrison  E.  was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth,  all  hav- 
ing been  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  farm,  in 
Goodhue  County,  this  state. 

Harrison  Earl  Fryberger  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead farm,  in  Featherstone  Township,  Goodhue 
County,  and  his  early  life  was  compassed  by  the  in- 
vigorating and  benignant  influences  of  the  farm,  in 
connection  with  the  work  of  which  he  acquired  his 
initial  experience  in  the  practical  affairs  of  life.  He 
made  excellent  use  of  the  advantages  afforded  him  by 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  his  ambi- 
tion was  quickened  to  the  point  of  desire  for  broader 
education  and  a determination  to  prepare  himself  for 
the  legal  profession.  He  became  a student  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  in  the  academic  department  of 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1890,  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  after  the  completion  of  the  classical 
course.  In  the  law  department  of  the  university  he 
was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1892, 
which  year  marked  his  reception  of  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws  and  his  admission  to  the  bar  of 
his  native  state.  From  the  time  of  his  graduation 
Mr.  Fryberger  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 


his  profession  in  Minneapolis,  and  the  passing  years 
have  been  marked  with  earnest  and  effective  appli- 
cation on  his  part,  with  the  result  that  he  has  ap- 
peared in  connection  with  a large  amount  of  im- 
portant litigation,  has  won  distinctive  contests  in  the 
presentation  of  causes  before  both  court  and  jury, 
and  has,  in  short,  achieved  success  worthy  of  its 
name.  Mr.  Fryberger  has  conducted  an  individual 
law  business  with  the  exception  of  a few  months 
during  which  he  was  associated  in  practice  with 
his  brother,  Herschel  B.,  who  is  now  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  engaged  in  practice  in  the  City  of 
Duluth,  this  state. 

While  he  has  subordinated  all  other  interests  to 
the  exacting  demands  of  his  profession,  Mr.  Fry- 
berger has  shown  a lively  concern  in  public  affairs, 
especially  in  those  of  his  home  state,  and  he  served 
one  term,  1903-05,  as  a representative  of  the  Minne- 
apolis district  in  the  State  Legislature,  in  which  his 
record  was  one  of  signal  loyalty  and  zeal,  marked 
by  active  and  influential  service  in  the  deliberations 
of  the  house  and  those  of  the  various  committees 
to  which  he  was  assigned.  He  had  the  distinction 
of  being  the  author  of  the  bill  providing  for  the  in- 
crease of  railway  taxation  in  the  state  from  3 to 
4 per  cent,  having-  introduced  this  bill,  which  was 
presented  to  the  people  of  the  state  for  approval  or 
rejection  through  popular  election,  and  which  gained 
a heavy  affirmative  vote,  with  the  result  that  the  law 
was  enacted  and  has  proved  of  great  benefit  in  in- 
creasing the  just  revenues  of  this  commonwealth. 

Apropos  of  the  precedence  of  Mr.  Fryberger  in  his 
profession,  it  may  be  noted  that  he  has  recently  suc- 
ceeded in  winning  for  his  clients  a decisive  victory 
in  the  celebrated  litigation  concerning  the  Swedish- 
American  Publishing  Company,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  important  pieces  of  litigation  in  the  history  of 
legal  procedure  in  this  state,  the  litigation  having  con- 
tinued for  more  than  six  years  and  numbering  eight 
appeals  to  the  Minnesota  Supreme  Court,  the  record 
finally  covering  more  than  ten  thousand  pages.  He 
has  also  recently  won  a number  of  large  cases  of  al- 
most equal  importance  in  both  the  state  and  federal 
courts.  Mr.  Fryberger  is  an  appreciative  and  valued 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  Bar  Association  and  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  holds 
membership  in  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer  (Univer- 
salist)  and  is  a member  of  the  University  Club,  the 
Minneapolis  Athletic  Club  and  the  Minneapolis  Auto- 
mobile Club.  Mr.  Fryberger  is  a bachelor  and  resides 
at  the  Plaza  Hotel. 

Adolphus  Louis  Dornberg,  M.  D.  For  over 
thirty-five  years  Doctor  Dornberg  was  in  active 
practice  as  a physician  and  surgeon  at  Mankato, 
Minnesota.  He  located  in  that  city  in  1866,  and  when 
in  his  prime  enjoyed  the  best  practice  in  Mankato, 
and  was  always  successful  as  a physician  and  sur- 
geon. His  life  was  a busy,  active  one,  he  enjoyed  a 
wide  acquaintance  over  the  country  about  Mankato, 
and  had  hosts  of  warm  friends.  In  his  civic  rela- 
tions he  was  always  public  spirited  and  is  kindly 
remembered  by  a large  portion  of  the  people  still 
living  in  Mankato.  He  was  a member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Adolphus  Louis  Dornberg  was  born  at  Breiten- 
bach,  Germany,  June  30,  1828,  and  died  at  his  home 
in  Mankato  August  20,  1900,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two.  He  came  to  America  when  sixteen  years  of 
age,  having  previously  been  educated  in  Germany, 


1328 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


and  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  entered  the  Homeopathic 
Medical  College  and  was  graduated  in  1854.  He 
practiced  for  one  year  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  then 
for  ten  years  in  Indiana,  and  from  1866  until  his 
death  had  his  home  and  professional  relations  with 
Mankato. 

Doctor  Dornberg  was  married  in  1857  to  Miss 
Ellen  Bryan,  a descendant  of  the  same  family  to 
which  William  Jennings  Bryan  belongs.  Since  Doc- 
tor Dornberg’s  death  Mrs.  Dornberg  has  resided  in 
Minneapolis,  she  and  her  widowed  sister  living  to- 
gether at  2414  Garfield  Avenue.  Her  sister  has 
prepared  and  has  published  in  a small  pamphlet  the 
history  of  the  Bryan  family.  Mrs.  Dornberg  was 
eighty-three  years  of  age  in  October,  1914,  and  for 
one  of  her  years  still  active  with  an  excellent  mem- 
ory. She  became  the  mother  of  five  children,  one 
of  whom  resides  on  a farm  in  South  Bend  Town- 
ship near  Mankato,  Minnesota,  and  the  other  four 
sons  are  residents  of  Minneapolis.  The  names  of 
the  five  sons  are : Herman,  Richard,  Bernard  and 

Walter,  of  Minneapolis;  and  Elbert,  of  Mankato. 

Herman  Bryan  Dornberg.  A resident  of  Min- 
neapolis for  twenty-nine  years,  Mr.  H.  B.  Dornberg 
is  the  son  of  a long  prominent  physician  and  sur- 
geon at  Mankato,  Minnesota,  and  his  own  business 
and  private  career  has  been  one  that  is  distinctive 
for  its  accomplishments  and  influential  relations 
with  his  home  city. 

Herman  Bryan  Dornberg  was  born  in  Mishawaka, 
Indiana,  a twin  city  of  South  Bend,  on,  July  7, 
1864.  His  father,  whose  career  is  sketched  else- 
where in  this  work,  was  Adolphus  Louis  Dornberg, 
for  thirty-five  years  active  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine and  surgery  at  Mankato,  Minnesota.  The 
mother  was  Ellen  (Bryan)  Dornberg,  who  is  living 
at  Minneapolis  and  was  eighty-three  years  of  age 
in  October,  1914.  She  is  a descendant  of  the  same 
family  as  William  Jennings  Bryan.  Herman  B. 
Dornberg  was  one  of  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  in  Minneapolis,  and  the  other  is  a farmer  in 
South  Bend  Township,  Blue  Earth  County,  Min- 
nesota. 

Plerman  B.  Dornberg  was  educated  in  the  Man- 
kato High  School,  and  from  the  close  of  his  school 
days  to  the  present  has  been  an  energetic  worker 
and  steadily  progressing  in  prosperity  and  influ- 
ence. He  began  employment  in  the  Mankato  post- 
office  as  mailing  clerk,  and  then  spent  three  years  as 
a railway  mail  clerk  with  a run  on  the  Omaha  road 
between  St.  Paul  and  Sioux  City.  In  1886  Mr. 
Dornberg  came  to  Minneapolis,  was  a bookkeeper 
with  several  establishments,  and  subsequently  be- 
came office  manager  for  the  late  Col.  R.  M.  New- 
port, who  for  many  years  conducted  a real  estate, 
ioan  and  insurance  business  where  Mr.  Dornberg  is 
now  located  in  the  Phoenix  Building.  Colonel  New- 
port died  at  his  home  in  St.  Paul  in  1911,  and  after 
his  death  Mr.  Dornberg  bought  the  Minneapolis 
branch  of  the  business.  Under  the  name  of  H.  B. 
Dornberg  & Company  Mr.  Dornberg  handles  fire 
insurance,  real  estate,  loans  and  rentals,  has  a large 
clientage  in  the  care  and  management  of  property, 
and  also  looks  after  local  property  for  non-resi- 
dents. 

Prior  to  his  removal  to  Minneapolis  Mr.  Dornberg 
was  for  five  years  a member  of  Company  F in  the 
Second  Regiment  of  Minnesota  National  Guards  at 
Mankato,  and  with  his  honorable  discharge  he  also 
received  exemption  from  jury  service.  During  his 


childhood  back  in  Indiana  his  father’s  home  was  in 
the  locality  made  famous  by  the  enterprise  of  the 
Studebaker  Brothers,  and  Clem  Studebaker,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  of  that  firm,  often  would  take 
the  boy  Herman  and  other  children  of  the  Dornberg 
family  and  trot  them  on  his  knees.  Another  neigh- 
bor of  the  Dornberg  family  at  South  Bend  was 
Schuyler  Colfax,  who  served  as  vice  president  of 
the  United  States  with  General  Grant  as  president, 
and  was  the  most  distinguished  man  in  public  life 
to  live  in  South  Bend.  An  interesting  fact  in  this 
connection  is  that  when  Schuyler  Colfax  dropped 
dead  in  Mankato,  Mr.  H.  B.  Dornberg  was  detailed 
as  one  of  the  guard  who  watched  over  the  casket 
at  Doctor  Harrington’s  residence  there.  Neither 
Mr.  Dornberg  nor  anyone  else  knew  of  the  presence 
of  this  celebrity  in  Mankato  until  it  was  reported 
that  he  had  dropped  dead  at  the  depot  while  passing 
through  the  city  on  a lecture  tour.  In  politics  Mr. 
Dornberg  is  an  active  republican,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  cast  his  first  vote  for  James  G.  Blaine 
and  John  A.  Logan.  In  the  fall  of  1910  Mr.  Dorn- 
berg was  endorsed  for  park  commissioner  at  Min- 
neapolis, but  on  account  of  the  multitude  of  candi- 
dates from  the  primaries  was  not  elected.  His  in- 
terest in  public  affairs  and  improvements  has  been 
much  greater  than  that  of  the  ordinary  citizen,  and 
he  is  both  a student  of  local  conditions  and  at  every 
opportunity  uses  his  influence  to  secure  those  things 
which  make  for  a larger  and  better  city.  Mr.  Dorn- 
berg served  as  president  of  the  Linden  Hills  Im- 
provement Association,  and  is  now  an  active  mem- 
ber of  its  successor,  the  Lake  Harriet  Commercial 
Club,  and  chairman  of  three  of  its  important  com- 
mittees. He  is  also  a delegate  of  the  Joint  Improve- 
ment Association  from  the  Lake  Harriet  Commercial 
Club,  and  has  been  identified  with  the  Joint  Im- 
provement Association  movement  for  the  past  thir- 
teen years.  Through  these  organizations  and  as  a 
private  citizen  he  has  done  much  active  public  work 
for  the  good  of  the  Thirteenth  Ward  in  particular 
and  the  city  as  a whole.  Mr.  Dornberg  has  made  a 
study  of  parks  and  boulevards,  and  it  was  due  to 
his  thorough  qualifications  for  the  position  that  the 
citizens  of  the  west  side  of  the  Thirteenth  Ward 
prevailed  upon  him  to  permit  his  name  10  go  before 
the  primaries  for  the  office  of  alderman  as  succes- 
sor to  Doctor  Parks  in  1914.  Mr.  Dornberg  advo- 
cates the  immediate  improvement  of  all  unimproved 
parks  so  that  the  present  generation  may  have  use 
of  them,  and  particularly  favors  the  extension  and 
establishment  of  playgrounds  for  the  children,  near 
the  public  schools  wherever  possible,  and  also  ath- 
letic fields  and  a larger  number  of  public  bathing 
places  and  better  facilities  for  winter  sports.  An- 
other feature  of  his  program  for  public  improve- 
ment is  the  completion  of  the  proposed  boulevard 
for  the  encircling  of  the  city.  Pie  advocates  artesian 
wells  in  all  parks  and  better  lighting  in  parks  and 
parkways  all  the  year  around.  Mr.  Dornberg,  it 
may  be  stated,  is  one  of  the  city’s  tax  payers,  and 
his  advocacy  of  these  progressive  improvements  is 
entirely  disinterested  and  sincere. 

Mr.  Dornberg  has  many  prominent  associations 
with  the  social  and  civic  life  of  his  city,  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Lake  Harriet 
Commercial  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the 
Minneapolis  Real  Estate  Board  and  the  National 
Association  of  Real  Estate  Exchanges,  the  Minne- 
apolis Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  the  Min- 
nesota Association  of  Local  Fire  Insurance  Agents, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1329 


and  the  Minneapolis  Underwriters  Association.  His 
church  home  is  Westminster  Presbyterian. 

In  September,  1895,  Hr.  Dornberg  married  Miss 
Honoria  Lennox,  in  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Dornberg 
was  born  at  Sligo,  Ireland,  and  came  to  Minneapolis 
with  her  parents  when  about  eight  years  of  age. 
They  have  three  children,  all  born  in  Minneapolis : 
Wallace  Lennox,  Alice  Muriel  and  Elizabeth  Lucile. 
The  son  Wallace  is  now  a student  in  the  West  High 
School. 

Alexander  C.  Mengelkoch.  As  bonded  collectors 
and  adjusters,  the  firm  of  Mengelkoch  & Culhane 
have  the  chief  business  of  the  kind  in  Minneapolis. 
The  present  partnership  has  existed  five  years,  but 
the  business  was  established  in  1905.  Mr.  Mengel- 
koch, the  senior  partner,  is  a young  man  of  college 
training,  and  thoroughly  experienced  in  the  field 
where  the  scope  of  his  present  activities  is  found. 

Alexander  C.  Mengelkoch  was  born  in  Minneapolis 
October  3,  1889,  and  is  a son  of  the  late  Hubert  and 
Cecilia  (Weidenbach)  Mengelkoch.  The  Mengel- 
koch family  came  from  Germany,  and  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Minnesota,  having  located  west 
of  Minneapolis  while  the  Indians  were  still  there  and 
still  hostile.  The  late  Hubert  Mengelkoch  was  born 
in  Medina  Township,  at  Golden  Valley,  Minnesota, 
about  fifteen  miles  west  of  Minneapolis,  on  the  Per- 
kinsville  Road.  He  was  born  January  14,  1866,  and 
died  at  Minneapolis  April  15,  1909,  at  the  age  of 
forty-three.  The  old  homestead  is  now  owned  by 
his  brother  William.  Hubert  Mengelkoch  was  one  of 
the  most  prominent  of  the  German  citizens  of  the 
north  side  in  Minneapolis.  He  was  educated  in  dis- 
trict schools,  was  reared  on  a farm  and  when  about 
twenty-seven  years  of  age  came  to  Minneapolis  and 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  on  the  north  side, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  proprietor  of  a 
large  store  at  329  Plymouth  Avenue.  In  September, 
1907,  he  was  a candidate  for  alderman  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket  from  the  Third  Ward,  his  opponent  be- 
ing George  V.  B.  Hill,  the  present  alderman  of  that 
ward,  and  was  defeated  by  only  forty-seven  votes. 
He  is  quite  interested  in  politics  and  had  varied 
relations  with  city  affairs.  He  was  a stockholder  in 
several  manufacturing  institutions  in  Minneapolis. 
Fraternally  he  was  affiliated  with  Minneapolis  Lodge 
No.  169,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; with  the  Catholic  Knights;  with 
the  Ancient  Order  of  LTnited  Workmen ; the  German 
Catholic  Aid  Association ; the  Loyal  Order  of 
Moose;  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles;  and  the 
North  Side  Commercial  Club.  His  funeral  was  held 
from  St.  Joseph’s  Catholic  Church,  of  which  he  had 
been  a member  for  many  years.  He  and  his  wife 
were  married  at  St.  Boniface  German  Catholic 
Church  on  the  north  side.  Hubert  Mengelkoch  is 
survived  by  his  widow  and  two  children.  The  daugh- 
ter Irma  was  born  in  Minneapolis,  was  educated  in 
St.  Joseph’s  Catholic  School  and  graduated  from  St. 
Margaret’s  Academy  at  Minneapolis. 

Alexander  C.  Mengelkoch  acquired  his  education 
in  St.  Joseph’s  Catholic  School,  in  the  public  high 
school,  and  was  graduated  in  St.  John’s  University 
at  Collegeville,  Minnesota,  in  1907.  In  June,  1909, 
he  took  up  his  present  branch  of  business  in  partner- 
ship with  M.  C.  O’Donnell,  an  attorney,  having 
charge  of  the  collection  business.  After  six  months 
Mr.  E.  J.  Culhane  bought  Mr.  O’Donnell's  business, 
and  since  December  15,  1909,  the  firm  has  been  Men- 
gelkoch & Culhane,  with  offices  in  the  Andrus  Build- 
ing. They  handle  a large  business  as  collectors  and 


in  adjustments,  while  Mr.  Mengelkoch  individually 
is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business. 

Mr.  Mengelkoch  is  affiliated  with  the  Brotherhood 
of  American  Yeomen,  with  the  Fraternal  Order  of 
Eagles,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
the  West  Side  Commercial  Club.  He  and  his  family 
worship  in  the  pro-cathedral  at  Minneapolis.  On 
October  4,  1911,  Mr.  Mengelkoch  married  Miss  Jes- 
sie June  Scott,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Anna  Scott  of 
Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Mengelkoch  was  born  and  edu- 
cated in  Minneapolis.  Their  home  is  at  2420  Garfield 
Avenue,  South. 

Eugene  J.  Culhane.  As  bonded  collectors  and 
adjusters  the  firm  of  Mengelkoch  & Culhane,  of 
Minneapolis,  has  built  up  a substantial  and  import- 
ant enterprise  of  admirable  functions,  the  business 
having  been  established  in  1905  and  the  offices  of 
the  firm  being  at  635  Andrus  Building.  Of  this  firm 
the  junior  member  is  he  whose  name  initiates  this 
paragraph,  and  he  has  gained  place  as  one  of  the 
progressive  and  reliable  business  men  of  the  younger 
generation  in  the  Minnesota  metropolis. 

Eugene  Joseph  Culhane  was  born  at  Kilkenny, 
LeSueur  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  nth  of  August, 
1889,  and  is  a son  of  Thomas  E.  and  Bridget 
(Hickey)  Culhane,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  the  latter  in  the  City  of  Buffalo,  New 
York.  Thomas  E.  Culhane  was  a lad  of  about  nine 
years  at  the  time  when  he  came  with  his  widowed 
mother  from  the  Emerald  Isle  to  America,  and  his 
mother  established  a home  in  the  City  of  Buffalo, 
New  York,  and  having  bravely  faced  the  burden 
imposed  upon  her  in  providing  for  the  support  of 
her  two  sons  and  five  daughters.  Thomas  E.  Cul- 
hane was  reared  and  educated  in  Buffalo,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  where  he  became 
a successful  contractor  and  builder.  In  1867  he  came 
to  the  West  and  established  his  home  in  Wisconsin, 
but  shortly  afterward  he  removed  to  Minnesota, 
where  he  has  for  many  years  been  successfully  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building.  He  resides  at 
Kilkenny,  LeSueur  County,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  pioneer  citizens  of  that  section  of  the  state. 
It  may  be  consistently  said  that  there  is  not  a single 
square  mile  of  land  in  the  county  within  the  border 
of  which  he  has  not  erected  at  least  one  house,  and 
he  built  up  a large  and  prosperous  business  as  a 
contractor,  besides  gaining  place  as  one  of  the  lib- 
eral, progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the 
community  in  which  he  has  long  resided  and  in 
which  he  commands  unqualified  esteem.  He  is  now 
living  retired,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  devout 
communicants  of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  mother 
of  Mrs.  Culhane  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sweeney 
and  was  a first  cousin  of  Gen.  Philip  Sheridan.  Mr. 
Sweeney  was  a native  of  Ireland,  where  he  had 
served  as  secretary  to  one  of  the  distinguished  lords 
of  Great  Britain,  and  upon  coming  to  America  he 
became  one  of  the  first  Irish  settlers  in  Buffalo,  New 
York.  He  was  a man  of  wealth  and  large  influence 
in  Buffalo,  made  an  early  and  effective  survey  of  the 
city,  as  a practical  surveyor,  and  broke  the  ground 
for  the  first  Catholic  Church  in  the  city, — St. 
Michael’s  Church,  the  parish  of  which  remains  the 
most  important  of  the  Catholic  denomination  in  Buf- 
falo, where  this  sterling  pioneer  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death. 

Prior  to  his  removal  to  the  West  Thomas  E.  Cul- 
hane had  served  as  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Union 
in  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  was  a member  of  a 


1330 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


' New  York  regiment  of  volunteer  infantry.  He  took 
part  in  numerous  engagements  of  important  order, 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania,  and  after 
more  than  three  years  of  faithful  and  meritorious 
service  he  received  his  honorable  discharge.  His 
continued  interest  in  his  old  comrades  in  arms  is 
shown  by  his  active  affiliation  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  Thomas  E.  and  Bridget  (Hickey) 
Culhane  became  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  and 
of  the  nine  now  living  Eugene  J.,  of  this  review, 
is  the  youngest. 

Eugene  J.  Culhane  is  indebted  to  the  public  and 
parochial  schools  of  his  native  town  for  his  early 
educational  training,  which  was  supplemented  by  a 
thorough  course  in  De  La  Salle  Institute,  in  the  City 
of  Minneapolis.  In  this  institution  he  was  gradu- 
ated as  a member  of  the  class  of  1909,  and  he  soon 
afterward  entered  the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law,  in 
which  he  continued  his  studies  three  years,  his  exact 
and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  law  having 
proved  of  inestimable  value  to  him  in  the  business  to 
which  he  is  now  devoting  his  attention.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1909,  Mr.  Culhane  engaged  in  his  present  line 
of  enterprise,  the  enterprise  having  been  established 
by  his  associate,  Mr.  Mengelkoch,  about  four  years 
previously.  Giving  attention  exclusively  to  collec- 
tions and"  adjustments,  the  firm  has  built  up  a large 
and  representative  business,  with  an  appreciative 
clientele  including  many  of  the  prominent  business 
men  and  capitalists  of  the  Minnesota  metropolis.  On 
other  pages  of  this  work  is  given  a brief  sketch  of 
the  career  of  Alexander  C.  Mengelkoch,  the  able  and 
honored  coadjutor  of  Mr.  Culhane. 

Mr.  Culhane  is  affiliated  with  the  Yeomen  and  is  a 
communicant  of  the  Catholic  Church,  in  which  he 
holds  membership  in  the  Church  of  the  Incarnation. 
He  is  a bachelor. 

Clayton  D.  Bacon.  Of  the  native  sons  of  Minne- 
sota who  have  attained  to  official  position  and  the 
esteem  of  their  fellow-citizens,  none  is  better  known 
in  Cass  County  than  the  present  incumbent  of  the 
office  of  county  auditor,  Clayton  D.  Bacon.  A long 
experience  in  public  life,  combined  with  a practical 
knowledge  of  business  affairs,  commended  him  to 
the  people  as  an  acceptable  candidate  for  this  office 
in  the  November  elections  of  1914,  and  he  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  position  in  January,  1915. 
While  he  has  been  in  charge  of  the  county’s  affairs 
as  auditor  for  only  a comparatively  short  period,  he 
has  already  demonstrated  that  the  people  will  have 
no  reason  to  regret  their  choice. 

Clayton  D.  Bacon  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Alberta  Township,  Benton  County,  Minnesota,  July 
23,  1878,  and  is  a son  of  A.  G.  and  Margaret  (Don- 
nell) Bacon,  and  a member  of  a family  which  origi- 
nated in  England  and  whose  first  American  repre- 
sentative came  to  this  country  during  colonial  times. 
A.  G.  Bacon  was  born  at  Whitehall,  New  York,  in 
1838,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  enlisted 
in  the  band  of  the  Ninety-sixth  Regiment,  New  York 
Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  attached  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  with  which  he  served  bravely 
and  faithfully  for  one  year.  About  the  year  1871 
Mr.  Bacon  came  to  the  West,  locating  at  Ottawa, 
LeSueur  County,  Minnesota,  where  he  established 
himself  in  business  as  the  proprietor  of  a photog- 
rapher’s studio,  but  subsequently  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  and  located  on  a property  in  Alberta 
Township,  Benton  County.  Agricultural  operations 
there  occupied  him  until  1884,  when  he  came  to  Cass 


County  and  settled  on  a farm,  and  continued  to  cul- 
tivate the  soil  until  his  retirement,  at  which  time 
he  located  in  the  Village  of  Pillager,  his  present 
home.  Mr.  Bacon  married  Miss  Margaret  Donnell, 
who  was  born  at  Moriah,  New  York,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  E.  P., 

who  is  postmaster  and  a merchant  at  Pillager;  Wil- 
liam, whose  death  occurred  when  he  was  two  years 
of  age;  and  Clayton  D.,  of  this  notice. 

Clayton  D.  Bacon  received  his  education  in  the 
country  schools  of  Cass  County,  and  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm.  It  was  not  his  intention,  however, 
to  devote  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  secured  a position  as  clerk 
in  a store  at  Pillager,  being  thus  employed  until 
1900.  In  that  year  he  started  a grocery  store  of  his 
own  at  that  place,  which  he  conducted  with  a fair 
measure  of  success  for  five  years,  but  in  1905  dis- 
posed of  his  interests  therein  and  became  manager 
of  a creamery  company  and  cold  storage  plant.  He 
also  traveled  in  the  interest  of  several  ventures  of 
this  kind,  from  Wadena,  Minnesota,  and  Jamestown 
and  Kulm,  North  Dakota,  and  at  Jamestown  was 
manager  of  a branch  plant.  Returning  to  Pillager  in 
1911,  he  entered  a store  for  a time,  and  then  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  schools  of  Cass  County,  a 
position  to  which  he  was  subsequently  elected,  and 
which  he  held  until  elected  county  auditor  of  Cass 
County,  November  3,  1914,  for  a term  of  four  years, 
his  official  duties  beginning  January  1,  1915.  In 
December,  1914,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  the 
county  seat,  at  Walker,  and  here  his  offices  are  lo- 
cated in  the  courthouse.  Mr.  Bacon  maintains  an 
independent  stand  in  regard  to  political  matters,  and 
has  friends  and  admirers  in  all  parties.  While  a 
resident  of  Pillager  he  served  as  village  recorder  for 
two  years,  and  wherever  he  has  resided  he  has  been 
an  active  co-operator  in  beneficial  movements.  With 
his  family  he  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  Bacon  is  well  and  favorably  known  in 
fraternal  circles,  belonging  to  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  Camp  No.  6171,  Pillager,  of  which  he 
was  clerk  for  four  years  and  venerable  consul  one 
term,  and  to  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen, 
No.  848,  Pillager,  of  which  he  served  as  treasurer 
for  one  year. 

Mr.  Bacon  was  united  in  marriage  in  1899,  at 
Pillager,  to  Miss  Edith  M.  Wright,  daughter  of 
Charles  H.  Wright,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
operations  in  the  vicinity  of  Pillager.  To  this  union 
there  have  been  born  four  children,  all  of  whom  are 
attending  the  public  schools  of  Walker,  Vera  E.  being 
in  the  eighth  grade;  Glen  in  the  seventh  grade;  Lila 
in  the  sixth  grade  and  Warren  in  the  second  grade. 

Thomas  Kneeland.  Among  the  able  members 
contributed  to  the  Minnesota  bar  by  New  England, 
that  cradle  of  much  of  our  national  history,  is  the 
public-spirited  citizen  and  representative  Minne- 
apolis lawyer  whose  name  introduces  this  review. 
Pie  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  the  Minnesota  metropolis  for  nearly  forty 
years  and  has  long  controlled  a substantial  and  im- 
portant law  business.  He  was  elected  representative 
of  the  Forty-first  District  of  the  State  Legislature 
in  the  autumn  of  1908,  was  reelected  in  1910,  1912 
and  1914,  his  election  for  a fourth  consecutive 
term  offering  the  most  emphatic  evidence  of  the 
value  of  his  services  to  his  constituency  and  the  state 
at  large  and  of  the  popular  estimate  placed  upon  his 
work  in  the  Legislature. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1331 


Thomas  Kneeland  was  born  at  Harrison,  Cumber- 
land County,  Maine,  on  the  19th  of  June,  1851,  and  is 
a scion  of  a sterling  colonial  family  of  New  Eng- 
land. After  due  preliminary  preparation  Mr.  Knee- 
land  was  matriculated  in  historic  Bowdoin  College, 
at  Brunswick,  Maine,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  1874.  After  due  prepa- 
ration for  the  work  of  his  chosen  profession  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  at  Portland,  Maine,  in  1879,  and 
in  the  following  year  to  the  Minnesota  bar,  and  has 
also  been  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Kneeland  has  been  continuously  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law  in  Minneapolis  since  1880  and 
has  appeared  in  much  important  litigation,  with  high 
reputation  for  resourcefulness  in  the  trial  of  cases 
and  for  broad  and  accurate  knowledge  of  the  science 
of  jurisprudence.  Mr.  Kneeland  was  special  counsel 
to  the  attorney  general  of  Minnesota  in  the  cele- 
brated gross-earnings  tax  case  against  the  Great 
Northern  Railway  Company,  which  was  won  by  the 
state  after  a most  strenuous  litigation.  This  victory 
resulted  in  adding  millions  of  dollars  to  the  revenues 
of  the  state. 

Mr.  Kneeland  has  been  one  of  the  vigorous  and 
influential  advocates  of  the  principles  of  the  repub- 
lican party.  His  record  has  been  admirable  and  as  a 
legislator  he  has  done  much  to  conserve  and  for- 
ward the  best  interests  of  the  state.  He  has  served 
on  important  House  committees,  and  in  the  session 
of  1911  was  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee. 
He  has  given  earnest  efforts  in  promotion  of  the 
improvement  of  the  Mississippi  River,  particularly 
for  its  navigation  to  the  foot  of  the  Washington 
Avenue  bridge  in  Minneapolis.  He  assisted  in  draft- 
ing the  public-domain  bill,  which  abolished  several 
useless  state  boards  and  aimed  to  conserve  for 
the  people  of  Minnesota  the  3,000,000  acres  of 
state  land.  He  was  the  author  of  the  graduated- 
inheritance  tax  measure  that  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature  of  1911;  and  he  also  wielded  much 
influence  in  securing  the  legislation  that  served  to 
take  the  state  fair  board  out  of  politics  and  put 
its  activities  on  a business  basis.  He  was  also 
prime  mover  in  the  attempted  legislation  to  place 
state  employes  on  a civil-service  basis.  In  the  Legis- 
lature he  has  shown  broad-minded  zeal  and  deter- 
mined civic  loyalty  and  progressivene§s,  and  few 
have  entered  the  governing  body  of  the  state  with 
greater  eligibility  or  better  equipment  for  the  exer- 
cising of  large  influence  and  beneficent  functions. 

In  1887  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Knee- 
land to  Miss  Josephine  Underwood,  daughter  of 
Judge  William  H.  Underwood,  a distinguished  law- 
yer and  jurist  of  Illinois. 

Burdett  C.  Thayer.  Associated  with  Thomas  D. 
Schall,  with  offices  at  552  Security  Bank  Building, 
Minneapolis,  Mr.  Thayer  is  actively  engaged  in  prac- 
tice as  an  attorney  and  counselor  at  law  and  is  one 
of  the  able  and  representative  members  of  the  bar 
of  the  metropolis  of  his  native  state. 

Mr.  Thayer  was  born  at  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore 
County,  Minnesota,  on  the  2d  of  September,  1877, 
and  is  a son  of  Burdett  and  Sarah  (Lyman)  Thayer, 
his  mother  having  died  when  he  was  a lad  of  eight 
years.  Burdett  Thayer  was  born  in  fine  old  Craw- 
ford County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  5th  of  December, 
1856,  and  he  has  been  a resident  of  Minnesota  since 
November  8,  1864.  He  was  long  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  bar  of  Fillmore  County,  with  a large 


and  important  law  practice,  and  was  an  influential 
and  honored  citizen  of  Spring  Valley.  He  repre- 
sented the  Fifth  District  of  the  state  in  the  Minne- 
sota legislative  sessions  of  1883,  1905,  1907,  1909  and 
1911,  and  his  retention  of  this  important  official  pre- 
ferment for  so  long  a period  vouches  for  his  dis- 
tinctive ability  and  for  his  impregnable  hold  upon 
popular  confidence  and  esteem.  He  served  three 
terms  as  prosecuting  attorney  of  Fillmore  County, 
was  a republican  presidential  elector  from  Minnesota 
in  1896,  when  the  lamented  President  McKinley  was 
first  chosen  as  the  nation’s  chief  executive.  Both 
Burdett  Thayer  and  his  wife  were  children  at  the 
time  of  the  settlement  of  the  respective  families  in 
Spring  Valley,  Minnesota,  and  they  were  reared  and 
educated  in  Fillmore  County,  Mr.  Thayer  also  hav- 
ing availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota.  He  is  a son  of  Pliny  Thayer, 
who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Fillmore 
County,  where  he  obtained  Government  land  and  re- 
claimed a productive  farm,  this  old  homestead  con- 
tinuing to  be  his  place  of  residence  until  his  death. 
Mrs.  Sarah  (Lyman)  Thayer  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Massachusetts  and,  as  already  intimated,  was  a 
child  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Fillmore 
County,  Minnesota,  in  the  pioneer  days. 

Burdett  Thayer  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
influential  figures  in  the  councils  and  maneuvers  of 
the  republican  party  in  Minnesota  and  he  continued 
in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  at  Spring  Val- 
ley until  1912,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  virtually 
retired.  As  a youth  he  studied  law  under  the  able 
preceptorship  of  Judge  John  Q.  Farmer  and  the  lat- 
ter’s brother,  James  D.  Farmer,  who  were  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  at  Spring  Valley,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Farmer  & Farmer.  After  the  eleva- 
tion of  Judge  John  Q.  Farmer  to  the  bench,  Mr. 
Thayer  became  actively  associated  in  practice  with 
James  D.  Farmer,  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  D. 
Farmer  & Company,  but  during  the  major  part  of 
his  active  career  at  the  bar  Mr.  Thayer  conducted 
an  individual  practice,  in  which  he  appeared  in  con- 
nection with  much  important  litigation  in  the  various 
courts,  but  before  his  retirement  he  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  gaining  as  a professional  coadjutor  his  son 
Burdett  C.,  with  whom  he  was  for  a time  associated 
under  the  firm  name  of  Thayer  & Thayer.  In  1885 
Judge  Burdett  Thayer  was  elected  county  attorney 
of  Fillmore  County  and  of  this  office  he  continued 
the  incumbent  for  twelve . consecutive  years.  In 
1903-4  he  served  on  the  bench  of  the  Municipal  Court 
of  Spring  Valley.  Upon  his  retirement  from  active 
practice,  in  1912,  he  removed  to  the  City  of  Portland, 
Oregon,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home. 
In  1890-91  he  was  general  agent  for  the  United  States 
land  office  at  Portland,  Oregon,  and  incidental  to  this 
service  he  became  so  favorably  impressed  with  the 
attractions  and  advantages  of  Oregon  and  its  metrop- 
olis that  he  purchased  ten  acres  of  land  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  Portland  and  decided  to  estab- 
lish his  home  there  at  some  future  date.  On  this 
land  he  erected  his  present  modern  residence,  in 
1912.  He  finds  that  in  the  new  home,  while  every 
prospects  pleases,  he  is  not  able  to  abate  his  deep 
appreciation  of  the  older  home  and  many  friends  in 
Minnesota,  and  he  finds  great  satisfaction  in  his 
occasional  visits  to  the  state  which  was  his  place  of 
residence  from  early  youth  until  recent  years.  In 
1889  Judge  Burdett  Thayer  contracted  a second  mar- 
riage, when  Miss  Flora  Fleming,  of  Fillmore  County, 
became  his  wife,  she  being  a daughter  of  the  late 


1332 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Robert  Fleming,  who  was  one  of  the  leading  pio- 
neers of  that  county,  having  served  as  county  com- 
missioner and  as  a member  of  the  Legislature  in  the 
early  days,  and  having  been  an  ardent  supporter  of 
the  greenback  party  during  the  comparatively  brief 
period  of  its  existence,  after  which  he  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  populist  party.  Of  the  three  children 
of  the  first  marriage  of  Judge  Thayer,  Burdett  C. 
of  this  review  is  the  eldest;  George  is  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  at  Flemington,  Missouri ; and 
James  G.  is  state  manager  for  South  Dakota  of  the 
International  Correspondence  School,  with  headquar- 
ters at  Watertown. 

Burdett  C.  Thayer  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Spring  Valley  until  he  had  completed  the  curriculum 
of  the  high  school,  in  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1896,  and  thereafter  he  virtually  completed  a course 
in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota. in  which  he  attended  the  night  sessions,  and  in 
which  he  would  have  been  graduated  had  he  not 
withdrawn  shortly  before  the  completion  of  his 
course,  to  tender  his  services  as  a soldier  in  the 
Spanish-American  war.  While  attending  the  law 
school  Mr.  Thayer  also  held  a position  as  a member 
of  the  editorial  staff  of  the  West  Publishing  Com- 
pany, of  St.  Paul,  publishers  of  law  books,  and  in 
1899  be  was  one  of  the  clerks  of  the  House  in  the 
State  Legislature.  The  year  prior  to  his  graduation 
in  the  high  school  he  had  the  distinction  of  winning 
the  state  oratorical  contest  in  which  the  various  high 
schools  of  Minnesota  are  represented,  and  after  his 
graduation  he  taught  school  for  one  year,  1897,  at 
Carimona,  Fillmore  County. 

After  having  served  three  years  as  a member  of 
the  Minnesota  National  Guard,  in  which  he  held  the 
office  of  corporal  of  his  company,  Mr.  Thayer  joined 
his  regiment  in  its  entering  the  United  States  service 
at  the  inception  of  the  Spanish-American  war.  On 
the  28th  of  April,  1898,  he  was  mustered  in  as  a 
member  of  Company  F,  Twelfth  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  in  which  he  won  promotion  to  the 
office  of  second  lieutenant  from  that  of  battalion 
sergeant  major.  The  regiment  was  sent  to  the  re- 
serve camp  at  Chickamauga  but  was  not  called  into 
action  at  the  stage  of  active  warfare.  The  members 
of  the  regiment  were  mustered  out  in  November, 
1898,  and  duly  received  their  honorable  discharge. 
Mr.  Thayer  is  not  at  the  present  time  in  active 
affiliation  with  the  Minnesota  National  Guard  but  is 
an  appreciative  member  of  the  Spanish-American 
War  Veterans’  Association. 

In  the  spring  of  1899,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  Mr.  Thayer  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his 
native  state,  and  his  active  professional  career  was 
initiated  when  he  associated  himself  with  his  father 
in  practice,  at  Spring  Valley.  At  this  juncture  in  his 
career  he  was  given  his  first  taste  of  official  service 
for  the  public,  in  that  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  a position  of  which  he  continued  the  incum- 
bent for  only  a short  time,  since,  in  1900,  he  went  to 
the  West  as  special  agent  for  the  United  States  gen- 
eral land  office,  an  office  in  which  he  served  four 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  period  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  South  Dakota  and  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Pierre,  the  capital 
of  the  state,  where  he  continued  his  residence  two 
years  and  where  he  held  the  office  of  city  attorney. 
He  then  returned  to  Minnesota,  and  established  his 
residence  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul,  where  he  was  iden- 
tified with  the  legal  department  of  the  street-railway 
company  for  a time  and  thereafter  engaged  in  pri- 


vate practice  until  1909,  in  October  of  which  year  he 
removed  to  Minneapolis.  In  the  metropolis  of  his 
native  state  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  general 
practice.  Mr.  Thayer  is  a staunch  and  effective  ad- 
vocate of  the  principles  of  the  republican  party  and 
holds  membership  in  the  Minneapolis  Bar  Associa- 
tion. 

E.  Luther  Melin.  One  of  the  prominent  young 
professional  and  business  men  of  Minneapolis,  E. 
Luther  Melin,  is  successful  as  a lawyer  and  is  like- 
wise president  and  counsel  of  Melin  Brothers,  Incor- 
porated, a firm  of  extensive  operations  in  the  build- 
ing and  real  estate  field,  acting  as  brokers  in  in- 
surance, mortgages,  rentals  and  real  estate,  and  also 
maintaining  a service  as  architects,  builders,  con- 
tractors, engineers  and  promoters.  This  company 
cares  for,  improves,  rents,  mortgages,  insures  and 
sells  properties  in  all  parts  of  Minneapolis  and  else- 
where. 

Ebin  Luther  Melin  was  born  September  6,  1883, 
on  a farm  near  Harcourt  in  Webster  County,  Iowa. 

His  parents,  August  G.  and  Sarah  C.  Melin,  were 
both  natives  of  Sweden.  Mr.  Melin  went  through 
the  grade  schools  in  Iowa,  spent  four  years  in  the 
Minneapolis  High  School  and  almost  six  years  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  having  taken  both  the  lit- 
erary and  the  law  courses,  graduating  from  the  law 
department  and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1911. 
Since  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  has  been  in 
active  practice  and  has  also  been  associated  with  his 
brothers  in  extensive  real  estate  operations. 

He  is  unmarried.  Flis  successful  career  is  ex- 
plained by  the  two  words  study  and  work,  and  he 
is  already  one  of  the  leading  men  in  business  though 
only  in  his  early  thirties. 

Clarence  A.  Jones.  Lawyer,  editor  and  scientific 
farmer,  Clarence  A.  Jones  is  one  of  the  young  pro- 
fessional men  of  Minneapolis,  and  has  an  interesting 
record. 

He  was  born  in  Madison,  Wisconsin,  June  7,  1885, 
a son  of  Solomon  and  Ann  (Williams)  Jones.  Both 
parents  were  natives  of  Wales.  Flis  father  came  to 
the  United  States  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age, 
after  receiving  his  early  education  in  Wales,  lived 
in  Pennsylvania  several  years,  continued  his  school- 
ing there,  and  afterwards  located  in  Milwaukee, 
where  he  married  Ann  Williams.  She  came  as  a 
child  to  the  United  States,  her  parents  settling  in 
Milwaukee.  After  his  marriage  Solomon  Jones  went 
to  Madison  and  entered  the  University  of  Wiscon- 
sin, and  was  graduated  in  law  with  the  class  of  1886. 
Following  his  graduation  he  practiced  at  Milwaukee, 
later  in  Superior,  Wisconsin,  until  about  1907,  and 
has  since  been  retired  from  the  active  work  of  the 
law.  He  now  lives  at  Iron  River,  Wisconsin,  and 
spends  most  of  his  time  in  looking  after  his  farm 
property.  For  many  years  he  has  been  prominent 
in  York  Rite  Masonry.  There  were  five  children  in  |j 
the  family,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  living,  j 
and  Clarence  was  the  youngest  son. 

His  early  education  came  from  the  public  schools 
of  Superior.  Wisconsin,  and  his  inclination  for  scien- 
tific agriculture  led  him  to  enter  the  Minnesota 
School  of  Agriculture  at  St.  Anthony  Park,  where 
he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1908.  He  sebse- 
quently  entered  the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law  and  was  |l 
graduated  LL.  B.  in  1913.  Admitted  to  practice  the 
same  year  in  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Jones  now  occupies 
an  office  in  the  Metropolitan  Life  Building,  and  is 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1333 


one  of  the  rising  young  attorneys  of  the  city.  For 
the  past  four  years  Mr.  Jones  has  been  editor  of  the 
Minnesota  Farm  Review,  the  official  publication  of 
the  Alumni  Association  of  the  Minnesota  School  of 
Agriculture.  He  served  as  its  editor  while  a student 
in  law  school,  and  his  official  relations  with  the  paper 
were  continued  until  March,  1915.  The  Farm  Re- 
view, while  devoted  primarily  to  the  instruction  and 
the  dissemination  of  interesting  news  among  the 
alumni,  is  a standard  farm  publication,  and  is  now 
in  its  nineteenth  volume. 

Mr.  Jones  owns  a small  truck  farm  of  five  acres 
in  Plymouth  Township  of  Hennepin  County,  and  for 
several  years  has  made  a specialty  in  the  raising  of 
garden  truck  for  the  Minneapolis  market.  While  the 
increasing  demands  of  his  profession  may  interfere 
with  his  business  as  a farmer  and  truck  grower, 
Mr.  Jones  has  a deep  and  sincere  interest  in  prac- 
tical agriculture,  and  has  done  some  valuable  work  in 
that  line  both  for  himself  and  for  others. 

Mr.  Jones  is  affiliated  with  Minneapolis  Lodge  No. 
19,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  Northern  Light  Lodge,  No. 
121,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Minneapolis.  On  February  21, 
1914,  at  Stillwater  occurred  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Gale  L.  Clarke,  daughter  of  Lewis  W.  Clarke.  Mrs. 
Jones  is  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
with  the  class  of  1911,  and  was  born  and  reared  in 
Stillwater  and  graduated  from  the  high  school  of 
that  city  in  1907.  Her  father  has  been  for  many 
years  city  engineer  of  Stillwater. 

John  W.  Bell,  M.  D.  Among  the  medical  men  of 
Minneapolis  Doctor  Bell  has  long  enjoyed  a position 
of  commanding  respect.  He  has  practiced  in  that 
city  forty  years,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  been 
largely  engaged  in  consultation  practice  and  was 
one  of  the  first  members  of  the  faculty  of  instruction 
in  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota. He  now  holds  the  rank  of  professor  emeri- 
tus with  that  institution. 

Dr.  John  W.  Bell  was  born  at  London,  Ohio, 
March  18,  1853,  a son  of  Robert  J.  and  Ann  Bell. 
His  father  was  a farmer.  Reared  on  a farm,  with  an 
early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ohio,  Mr. 
Bell  followed  his 'inclinations  for  a professional  life, 
and  most  of  his  early  efforts  and  experiences  were 
directed  toward  the  attainment  of  one  aim.  After 
getting  the  foundation  of  a literary  education,  he 
entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati,  and 
graduated  M.  D.  in  1876.  Doctor  Bell  also  took  post- 
graduate work  in  New  York  City,  and  went  abroad 
and  studied  in  the  hospitals  and  clinics  of  Germany 
and  Austria.  With  this  thorough  equipment  he 
came  to  Minneapolis,  and  began  oractice.  soon  estab- 
lishing himself  securely  in  his  field.  From  1886  to 
1889  Doctor  Bell  was  professor  of  theory  and  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  the  Minnesota  Hospital  College 
and  was  professor  of  ohysical  diagnosis  and  clinical 
medicine  in  the  medical  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota  from  its  ooening  until  1910.  At  the 
present  he  is  consulting  physician  at  the  Northwest- 
ern Hosoital.  Probably  no  other  physician  is  more 
freouentlv  called  into  consultation  than  Doctor  Bell. 

Notwithstanding  the  demand  of  his  profession. 
Doctor  Bell  has  been  somewhat  in  public  life,  and 
was  a member  of  the  State  Senate  from  ioot  to 
1903.  He  is  a member  of  the  Charter  Commission, 
and  in  politics  an  independent  democrat.  Doctor 
Bell  has  been  honored  with  the  office  of  president 
in  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Association,  the 
Minnesota  Academy  of  Medicine,  and  the  Hennepin 


County  Medical  Society,  and  is  a member  of  the 
American  Medical  Association  and  the  American 
Gastro-Enterological  Association.  Other  civic  and 
social  relations  connect  him  with  the  Minneapolis 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association  and  the  University 
Club. 

Doctor  Bell  was  married  November  11,  1890,  to 
Kate  M.  Jones.  They  have  two  children:  Warren 
and  Robert.  Doctor  Bell’s  residence  is  on  Lake  Har- 
riet Boulevard  and  his  office  is  in  the  Andrus 
Building. 

Bryan  W.  Place.  A young  attorney  of  Minneap- 
olis whose  reputation  for  ability  and  thoroughness 
in  his  work  is  already  well  established,  Bryan  W. 
Place  is  a native  of  this  city,  son  of  an  old  and  well 
known  member  of  the  bar,  and  has  been  in  practice 
for  the  past  four  years. 

Born  at  Minneapolis,  January  26,  1888,  Bryan  W. 
Place  was  the  only  son  and  child  of  William  H.  and 
Jewell  M.  (Bryan)  Place.  His  father  is  a prac- 
ticing attorney  with  offices  in  the  Sykes  Building. 
The  father  was  born  in  Iowa  and  the  mother  in 
Wisconsin. 

Bryan  W.  Place  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Minneapolis  and  also  at  Menominee,  Wisconsin, 
and  graduated  from  the  Central  High  School  at  Min- 
neapolis with  the  class  of  1907.  For  two  years  he 
was  a student  in  the  law  department  of  the  Lffii- 
versity  of  Minnesota,  and  in  the  spring  of  1911  was 
admitted  to  practice  after  taking  the  state  bar  exam- 
inations. Mr.  Place  began  practice  in  the  office  of 
C.  D.  Gould,  although  he  has  always  practiced  alone. 
His  offices  are  in  the  Andrus  Building.  Mr.  Gould 
is  now  city  attorney,  and  Mr.  Place  has  been  one  of 
his  leading  and  most  vigorous  supporters  first  in  his 
candidacy  for  the  office  of  maYor  of  Minneapolis, 
and  also  when  Mr.  Gould  was  appointed  city  attorney 
in  1912.  Mr.  Place  is  a republican  and  one  of  the 
progressive  young  men  in  municipal  affairs.  He  is 
unmarried  and  resides  at  810  East  Fourteenth  Street. 
He  finds  his  recreation  in  all  kinds  of  athletics. 

George  T.  Blandford.  One  of  the  largest  general 
agencies  in  Minnesota  in  the  life  insurance  business 
is  that  at  Minneapolis  representing  the  Mutual  Ben- 
efit Life  Insurance  Company  of  Newark.  New  Jer- 
sey. Its  volume  of  business  aggregates  $2,300,000, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  chief  centers  in  the  activities  of 
the  company  which  has  finished  sixty-nine  years  of 
activity  in  the  life  insurance  field.  The  Mutual  Ben- 
efit of  Newark  is  one  of  the  older  and  most  sub- 
stantial of  American  companies.  Beginning  with 
something  over  six  hundred  policies  and  total  in- 
surance of  $2,000,000  in  1843.  the  company  at  the  end 
of  tot  a had  upwards  of  three  hundred  thousand  poli- 
cies in  force,  representing  nearly  seven  hundred  mil- 
lion dollars  of  insurance.  Mr.  Blandford  has  been 
with  this  one  company  since  doing  his  first  work  as 
an  agent,  and  on  his  record  was  promoted  from  one 
agency  to  another  in  advancing  responsibilities  until 
he  came  to  Minneapolis  at  the  beginning  of  1914. 

George  T.  Blandford  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Ken- 
tucky. 'Mav  17.  1878,  a son  of  T.  W.  and  Alice 
( Colvin)  Blandford.  Both  parents  were  natives  of 
Kentucky,  and  his  father  was  for  manv  years  en- 
gaged in  the  life  insurance  business  at  Lebanon,  and 
is  now  living-  retired  in  that  city.  Of  the  eight  chil- 
dren. five  sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living. 

George  T.  Blandford  is  the  only  member  of  his 
family  in  Minnesota.  His  early  education  was  ac- 


1334 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


quired  in  the  public  schools  of  Lebanon,  and  after 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1898  he  entered 
merchandising  at  St.  Louis  as  an  employe  in  the 
firm  of  Ferguson  & McKiney  Dry  Goods  Company. 
He  was  with  them  about  three  years,  and  then  chose 
the  work  which  has  brought  out  his  best  talents  and 
advanced  him  to  large  business  responsibilities  when 
still  a young  man.  Representing  the  Mutual  Benefit 
Life^  Insurance  Company,  Mr.  Blandford  went  out 
to  New  Mexico,  and  was  local  and  district  manager 
for  New  Mexico  with  headquarters  at  Albuquerque. 
In  1907  the  company  made  him  general  agent  for 
Arizona  with  headquarters  at  Phoenix.  In  1909 
came  a distinct  promotion  when  they  sent  him  to 
the  general  agency  at  Lincoln,  with  jurisdiction  over 
the  southern  half  of  Nebraska.  He  was  promoted  to 
the  state  agency  at  Omaha  in  1910,  and  in  January, 
1914,  came  to  take  charge  of  the  general  agency  at 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  with  jurisdiction  over  all 
the  state  except  Duluth  and  a few  adjoining  coun- 
ties. Mr.  Blandford  is  business  successor  to  the  late 
Col.  Frank  M.  Joyce,  who  formerly  represented 
the  Mutual  Benefit  Company  in  Minneapolis  and  who 
died  there  in  1912. 

Mr.  Blandford  was  married  December  26,  1901, 
to  Hattie  M.  Marshall  of  Lebanon,  Kentucky,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Dr.  Adire  Marshall.  Mrs.  Blandford 
was  born  and  educated  in  Lebanon,  and  also  was  a 
student  in  the  University  of  Kentucky. 

Robert  J.  Seiberlich.  Among  Minnesota’s  life 
insurance  men,  one  of  the  most  successful,  judged 
from  his  record  as  a business  getter,  is  Robert  J. 
Seiberlich,  state  agent  for  the  Fidelity  Mutual  Life 
Insurance  Company  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Seiberlich 
was  born  and  reared  in  Minnesota,  and  until  taking 
up  life  insurance  as  a business  worked  at  the  trade 
of  boiler  maker.  Personally  he  is  a man  of  quiet 
manners,  but  with  his  quietness  goes  a great  ef- 
ficiency and  an  inexhaustible  reserve  of  tactful  abil- 
ity, which  is  undoubtedly  the  secret  of  his  success. 
Among  the  many  hundreds  of  Fidelity  representa- 
tives in  different  states  of  the  Union,  Mr.  Seiberlich 
stands  in  the  very  front  ranks.  In  the  year  1914 
he  was  first  on  the  Fidelity  honor  roll  among  the 
fifty  leading  agents  ranked  according  to  first-year 
cash  premium  settlements,  and  his  agency  was  second 
among  the  leading  ten  ranked  according  to  settled 
premiums.  In  the  annual  convention  of  the  Fidelity 
agents,  in  the  absence  of  the  president,  Mr.  Seiber- 
lich was  chosen  to  open  the  convention  and  was  one 
of  the  speakers  and  active  men  in  its  proceedings. 
A special  mark  of  consideration  by  his  fellow  asso- 
ciates was  paid  him  in  election  as  president  of  the 
Fidelity  Leaders  Club  for  1914-15. 

Robert  J.  Seiberlich  was  born  near  Chaska,  Min- 
nesota, June  28,  1875.  a son  of  Frank  and  Margaret 
(Schlegel)  Seiberlich.  His  father  was  born  near 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  while  his  mother  was  a native 
of  Switzerland  and  came  alone  to  the  United  States 
when  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  being  attracted 
by  the  many  wonderful  stories  she  had  heard  about 
the  New  World.  She  settled  in  Milwaukee,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  was  married  there  about  1874.  In  1874  the 
parents  came  out  to  Minnesota  and  located  near 
Chaska  in  Carver  County,  which  was  their  home  for 
about  twenty-five  years.  They  now  live  on  a farm 
three  miles  west  of  Hopkins.  Of  the  seven  chil- 
dren, five  daughters  and  two  sons,  all  are  living 
except  one  daughter.  Robert  J.  is  the  oldest;  Emma 
is  Mrs.  J.  E.  Coleman  of  Minneapolis ; Edward  lives 
at  Hopkins ; Lena  is  Mrs.  Vern  Lonkey  of  Minneap- 


olis; Ella  is  Mrs.  Theodore  Reiter  of  Minneapolis; 
and  Lynda  lives  at  home.  All  the  children  were 
born  near  Chaska  and  received  their  education  in 
the  public  schools  there. 

When  his  school  days  were  ended,  Robert  J.  Sei- 
berlich went  to  Hopkins  and  found  employment  in 
the  boiler  shops  of  the  Minneapolis  Threshing  Ma- 
chine Company,  learning  the  trade  of  boilermaker 
and  following  it  with  the  same  company  for  about 
eight  years.  Mr.  Seiberlich  got  his  first  experience 
in  the  life  insurance  business  in  1901  at  Minneapolis, 
representing  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of 
New  York.  After  five  years  with  that  company  as 
a solicitor,  in  1906  he  became  identified  with  the 
Fidelity  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Phila- 
delphia, being  appointed  state  agent  for  Minnesota. 
During  the  past  eight  years  he  has  kept  this  agency 
well  to  the  front  in  the  production  of  business,  and 
has  shown  remarkable  ability  in  training  and  han- 
dling men  in  this  business. 

Mr.  Seiberlich  has  taken  considerable  interest  in 
politics  in  behalf  of  his  friends,  but  never  as  a can- 
didate himself.  He  is  a republican,  and  Governor 
Eberhart  in  November,  1914,  appointed  him  to  the 
office  of  major  on  his  staff.  Mr.  Seiberlich  is  a 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the  Inter- 
lachen  Country  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Lodge  No. 
44  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
and  the  Automobile  Club. 

On  October  1,  1902,  Mr.  Seiberlich  married  Miss 
Alida  P.  Cheney,  daughter  of  John  and  Laura  M. 
Cheney.  Her  mother  now  lives  at  Appleton,  Minne- 
sota, and  her  father  is  deceased.  John  Cheney  was 
a farmer  and  the  family  were  among  the  pioneers 
of  Minnesota,  the  town  of  Cheney  being  named  in 
their  honor.  Mrs.  Seiberlich  was  born  near  Dodge 
Center,  Minnesota,  was  educated  at  Appleton  and  in 
the  State  University.  To  their  marriage  have  been 
born  four  children : Irene,  Zella  and  Marion,  all 

born  at-  Hopkins  and  now  attending  public  schools 
in  Minneapolis ; and  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  months.  Mr.  Seiberlich  and  family  reside  at 
2424  Dupont  Avenue,  South. 

T.  Maxwell  Thompsen.  A resident  of  Minne- 
apolis for  the  past  five  years,  T.  Maxwell  Thompsen 
is  in  a well  established  business  as  a dealer  in  se- 
curities, with  offices  in  the  Plymouth  Building,  and 
is  also  interested  in  the  contracting  firm  of  Anderson 
Whitson  Company  of  Minneapolis.  Aside  from  his 
associations  as  a business  man,  Mr.  Thompsen  has 
some  interesting  distinctions  in  birth,  residence  and 
accomplishments.  He  is  a native  of  Japan,  a son 
of  Danish  parents,  and  is  probably  the  only  white 
man  in  Minnesota  who  possesses  a thorough  and 
fluent  knowledge  of  the  Japanese  language. 

T.  Maxwell  Thompsen  was  born  in  Japan,  October 
29,  1889,  a son  of  William  P.  and  Lovise  (Clausen) 
Thompsen.  His  mother  was  born  at  Rudkjobing, 
on  Langeland  Island,  Denmark,  and  his  father  at 
Nyborg,  Denmark,  where  both  are  now  living  re- 
tired. His  father  spent  fifty  years  on  the  sea,  and 
for  twenty-six  years  was  captain  of  a vessel  for  the 
Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha  (Japan  mail  steamship  com- 
pany), and  for  many  years  his  home  was  in  Japan. 
The  parents  never  resided  in  the  United  States,  al- 
though the  father  has  considerable  interests  on  the 
Pacific  Coast  at  Seattle,  and  also  has  investments  in 
Japan.  He  retired  from  the  sea  about  three  years 
ago. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1335 


T.  Maxwell  Thompsen  is  the  only  survivor  of 
three  sons.  He  received  his  early  education  in  a 
French  school  at  Yokohama  and  Tokio,  and  there 
studied  French  and  English.  While  still  a boy  he 
accompanied  his  father  on  a voyage  around  the 
world,  and  during  the  Russo-Japanese  war  of  1904- 

05  spent  about  two  months  in  and  about  Manchuria 
and  witnessed  from'  a safe  distance  the  siege  and 
naval  battle  at  Port  Arthur.  After  leaving  school 
he  spent  two  years  in  the  employment  of  Taylor, 
Cooper  & Company,  Ltd.,  of  Yokohama,  Japan,  im- 
porters and  exporters  of  general  merchandise,  their 
business  including  the  handling  of  everything  from 
a needle  to  a locomotive.  In  1909  Mr.  Thompsen 
came  to  the  United  States  and  has  since  been  em- 
ployed in  different  occupations  at  Minneapolis.  For 
about  a year  he  was  with  the  firm  of  R.  H.  Merriam 

6 Company,  investment  securities  and  brokers  of 
St.  Paul  and  Chicago,  and  for  a short  time  repre- 
sented the  eastern  banking  house  of  P.  W.  Brooks 
& Company,  New  York  and  Philadelphia  bankers. 
Since  September,  1914,  he  has  had  an  office  for  him- 
self as  a dealer  in  securities.  In  Minneapolis  he 
attends  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church. 

A reporter  of  the  Minneapolis  Journal  recently  in- 
terviewed Mr.  Thompsen  with  regard  to  his  ac- 
complishments in  the  Japanese  language.  He  was 
reported  as  saying  that  by  diligence,  perseverance 
and  pluck,  a fairly  good  and  workable  knowledge  of 
that  language  might  be  acquired  in  a dozen  or  fifteen 
years.  On  this  theme  he  said  in  part:  “Japanese  is 
peculiar  and  is  essentially  a language  of  courtesy. 
To  acquire  it  the  student  would  have  to  study  first 
the  peculiar  construction  of  the  tongue,  and  couple 
that  with  a thorough  understanding  of  the  social 
conditions  of  the  country  before  he  could  commence 
anything  like  a study  of  the  intricacies  of  Japanese 
speech.  A close  study  of  class  distinctions  is  neces- 
sary, for  a different  style  and  type  of  speech  is 
used  with  each  social  division,  and  of  the  latter 
there  are  many.  The  difference  amounts  almost 
to  a separate  language  for  each  class  and  grade  ot 
the  Japanese  people.  I have  known  missionaries 
in  Japan  who,  after  a residence  of  a dozen  years 
or  more,  and  living  among  Japanese  people,  acquired 
a fairly  good  speaking  knowledge  of  the  tongue,  but 
never  have  I known  one  who  mastered  the  accent, 
excepting  such  as  were  born,  like  myself,  in  the 
islands  and  learned  its  twists  and  turns  as  a child. 
Japanese  is  really  a score  of  languages,  for  each 
subdivision  of  it  amounts  to  something  different  than 
a mere  dialect.  Each  has  its  distinct  courtesy,  and 
each  must  be  carefully  observed.  To  address  a 
naval  officer  in  the  same  courtesy  employed  in  speak- 
ing to  a jinrickshawman  would  be  utterly  unheard 
of,  and  do  not  understand  this  to  mean  that  there 
are  not  certain  courtesies  to  which  the  humble  trans- 
portation man  of  Japan  is  properly  entitled.  The 
instant  a Japanese  speaks,  you  know  from  his  ac- 
cent and  courtesy  the  station  in  life  he  occupies,  and 
I never  heard-  of  one  attempting  to  assume  that  he 
was  of  a higher  degree  of  society  by  imitating  the 
speech  of  the  better  classes.  If  humble  he  is  born, 
humble  he  will  remain  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.’’ 

Concerning  the  type  or  class  of  Japanese  found 
most  numerously  in  America,  Mr.  Thompsen  had 
this  to  say : “The  Japanese  in  this  country  are 

not  from  the  lower  classes.  The  reverse  is  true, 
with  a possible  exception  here  and  there.  The  Jap- 
anese who  come  here  make  the  visit  either  to  get 
money  to  accomplish  a purpose  or  to  get  an  edu- 

Vol.  Ill — 5 


cation.  Possessed  of  a wonderful  energy,  they  can 
work  harder,  study  more  intensely  and  get  along  on 
less  sleep  than  any  other  race  in  the  world.  I 
know  several  Japanese  young  men  employed  in 
local  hotels  who  come  from  not  only  wealthy  but 
very  excellent  families,  and  for  the  most  part  all 
speak  the  better  Japanese,  although  not  that  em- 
ployed by  the  army,  navy,  university  teachers  and 
dignitaries  generally.” 

On  April  3,  1915,  Mr.  Thompsen  married  Miss 
Alma  A.  Goranson,  of  Kiester,  Minnesota.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a member  of  the  Elks,  and  his  club 
membership  is  with  the  Minnesota  Athletic  Club. 

Fred  Elmer  Wheaton.  One  of  the  pioneer  men 
in  the  printing  business  in  the  Northwest,  Fred 
Elmer  Wheaton  is  the  founder  and  has  for  thirty- 
two  years  published  and  edited  the  Pythian  Advo- 
cate at  Minneapolis,  and  during  this  period  has  also 
taken  an  active  part  in  democratic  politics  and  has 
filled  several  positions  of  public  responsibility  with 
distinction  and  credit. 

A native  of  Maine,  Fred  Elmer  Wheaton  was 
born  in  Machias,  Washington  County,  September  24, 
1862,  a son  of  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Lovina  H. 
(Clark)  Wheaton.  Educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  high  school  at  Machias,  his  early  opportunities 
and  inclinations  led  him  into  the  newspaper  business 
and  the  printing  art,  and  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship and  learned  his  trade  on  the  Machias  Union. 
About  the  time  he  reached  his  majority  he  left  Ma- 
chias and  came  to  the  Northwest,  locating  in  Min- 
neapolis and  found  plenty  of  work  to  do  in  his 
special  line  as  a job  printer.  He  was  associated  for 
a time  with  the  Minneapolis  Tribune,  arid  also  with 
the  St.  Paul  Pioneer  Press.  It  may  be  recalled  with 
special  interest  that  in  St.  Paul  Mr.  Wheaton  had 
charge  of  railroad  and  theatrical  printing  and  printed 
the  first  time  card  or  railroad  time  folder  for  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway.  For  a number  of  years 
he  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  business  of  law 
blank  publishing  at  Minneapolis.  It  was  in  1883  that 
he  founded  and  established  the  Pythian  Advocate. 
Along  with  his  special  business  from  time  to  time 
he  has  invested  and  acquired  holdings  in  valuable 
boulevard  residence  property  in  Minneapolis  and 
also  in  iron  and  agricultural  lands  in  Northern  Min- 
nesota. 

Outside  of  his  regular  business  Mr.  Wheaton 
served  a full  term  of  five  years  in  the  Minnesota 
National  Guard  in  Company  I of  the  First  Regiment. 
Under  appointment  and  commission  from  the  late 
Governor  John  Albert  Johnson  he  was  for  five  years, 
1905-1910,  surveyor  general  of  logs  and  lumber  in 
the  Second  Minnesota  District.  He  has  long  been 
one  of  the  active  leaders  in  the  democratic  party. 
He  was  at  different  times  nominated  for  city  comp- 
troller of  Minneapolis,  for  clerk  of  the  District 
Court  in  the  Fifth  Judicial  District  of  Minneapolis, 
and  clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Minnesota.  For 
two  years,  1912-13,  Mr.  Wheaton  was  treasurer  of 
the  State  Central  Committee,  and  at  this  writing 
is  a member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Democratic  State  Central  Committee. 

He  is  well  known  in  fraternal  circles,  having  mem- 
bership in  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  His  chief  work  has  been 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  having  served  as  grand 
chancellor  of  Minnesota  three  terms,  as  grand  keeper 
of  records  and  seal  sixteen  years,  and  for  the  past 


1336 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


five  years  has  been  supreme  keeper  of  records  and 
seal.  He  was  founder  of  the  National  Association 
of  Grand  Keepers  of  Records  and  Seal  and  of  the 
National  Pythian  Press  Association.  Mr.  Wheaton 
is  also  a member  of  the  Athletic  Club  and  of  the 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association  of  Minneapolis,  and 
while  not  a member,  is  an  attendant  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church. 

September  24,  1890,  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  Mr. 
Wheaton  married  Grace  Merrill,  daughter  of  Carlos 
A.  and  Sarah  Anne  Merrill.  Her  father  formerly 
was  in  the  lumber  business  in  Michigan  and  was  for 
many  years  a hotel  proprietor  in  both  Minnesota  and 
Iowa.  Mrs.  Wheaton  has  taken  much  interest  in 
music,  being  an  active  member  of  the  Ladies’  Thurs- 
day Musical  of  Minneapolis.  To  their  marriage  have 
been  born  a quartette  of  boys,  young  men  of  much 
promise  and  all  of  them  still  calling  the  home  of 
their  parents  their  own  home.  The  names  of  these 
boys  are:  Elmer  Merrill  Wheaton,  Grier  Franklin 

Wheaton,  Carlos  Frederick  Wheaton  and  Frederick 
Warde  Wheaton. 

Benjamin  Seth  Bull.  The  following  sketch  of 
the  late  Benjamin  Seth  Bull  appeared  in  the  “His- 
tory of  Minneapolis  and  Hennepin  County”  (1914) 
and  is  reproduced  here  without  change : 

“Among  the  early  settlers  of  Minneapolis  was 
Benjamin  S.  Bull,  born  October  19,  1832,  in  Essex 
county,  New  York.  His  ancestors  were  of  English 
Quaker  origin,  settling  in  Vermont.  His  father, 
Henry  Bull,  was  a man  of  moderate  means,  so  the 
son’s  education  was  necessarily  confined  to  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  neighborhood. 

“At  the  age  of  twelve  years  it  was  necessary  that 
Benjamin  Bull  support  himself  and  as  he  grew 
towards  manhood  he  developed  such  energy  and 
capacity  that  he  was  soon  operating  for  himself  in 
various  enterprises. 

“At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Stickney  of  his  native  village  and,  following 
the  example  of  others  in  the  neighborhood,  jour- 
neyed West  to  Illinois.  Before  very  long,  the  glow- 
ing accounts  of  Minnesota  became  alluring  and 
yielding  to  the  pioneer  instinct  he  made  the  trip 
with  his  wife  and  infant  daughter  by  team,  as  there 
were  no  railroads  running  to  Minneapolis  at  that 
time.  He  arrived  at  Minneapolis  in  1855  and  soon 
identified  himself  with  the  active  life  of  the  town. 

“Three  years  after  arriving  in  Minneapolis  Mrs. 
Bull  died  and  two  years  later  Mr.  Bull  married  Miss 
Beulah  Newell,  who  was  also  a native  of  Essex 
county,  New  York. 

“He  now  entered  the  grocery  business  with  a store 
near  Bridge  Square.  The  project  prospered,  busi- 
ness increased  rapidly  and  soon  a partnership  was 
formed  with  Mr.  Hugh  G.  Harrison,  a capitalist  who 
had  recently  arrived  in  Minneapolis.  This  partner- 
ship resulted  in  the  Harrison  Block  at  the  corner 
of  Washington  and  Nicollet  avenues,  which  building 
was  in  those  days  one  of  the  prides  of  Minneapolis. 
After  several  vears  of  success,  the  companv  sold  out 
to  Stevens  & Morse,  Mr.  Bull  and  Mr.  Harrison  con- 
tinuing their  partnership  in  the  lumber  business  with 
sawmills  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

“About  this  time  there  was  great  excitement  over 
Montana  mining  and  several  leading  citizens  of  Min- 
neapolis, Mr.  Bull  being  among  them,  made  a jour- 
ney of  investigation.  This  trip  resulted  in  a mining 
partnership  being  formed  with  Mr.  Isaac  I.  Lewis, 
the  enterprise  centering  in  the  ‘Legal  Tender’  mine 
of  the  ‘Silver  Bow’  district.  This  was  before  the 


days  of  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Great  Northern 
railroads,  and  it  was  necessary  to  make  the  trip 
via  the  Union  Pacific  to  Salt  Lake  City,  thence  north 
by  stage  to  Montana. 

“The  ‘Legal  Tender’  was  a mine  of  remarkably 
rich  ore,  but  capricious,  as  is  often  the  case,  and 
finally,  the  flour  milling  business  at  Minneapolis 
attracting  his  attention,  Mr.  Bull  disposed  of  the 
Montana  mine  and  erected  the  ‘Humboldt  Mill,’  the 
business  being  conducted  under  the  name  of  Bull, 
Newton  & Co.  The  original  LIumboldt  Mill  went 
down  in  the  great  mill  explosion  of  1878  but  was 
immediately  replaced  by  the  present  structure  now 
operated  by  the  Washburn-Crosby  Co.  Flour  from 
the  Humboldt  Mill  received  gold  medal  and  first 
prize  at  the  World’s  Paris  Exposition  in  1878. 

“Discontinuing  the  milling  business,  Mr.  Bull  took 
up  what  was  then  known  as  bonanza  farming.  His 
farms  were  located  in  various  parts  of  western  Min- 
nesota and  North  Dakota,  the  principal,  however, 
being  the  ‘Hancock  Farm,’  comprising  some  14,000 
acres  in  Stevens  and  Pope  counties,  Minnesota. 

"In  the  year  1869  Messrs.  Bull,  Gilson1  and  others 
introduced  the  first  street  railway  into  Minneapolis, 
the  concern  being  incorporated  as  the  Minneapolis 
Horse  Railway  Co.  Cars  were  run  on  a track  laid 
along  Second  street,  connecting  the  Milwaukee  and 
Manitoba  depots.  The  project  was  a little  prema- 
ture as  a street  railway  and  the  tracks  were  used 
mainly  for  the  purpose  of  transferring  cars  between 
the  two  systems  of  roads.  Soon  Mr.  Gilson  died 
and  it  was  decided  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  thus 
ending  the  first  street  railway  of  Minneapolis. 

"Mr.  Bull  was  a quiet  man,  keeping  much  with  his 
family  and  working  with  unceasing  energy  and  in- 
terest on  the  various  business  ventures  of  his  life. 
He  was  a member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  when 
that  church  occupied  a location  at  the  corner  of 
Nicollet  avenue  and  Third  street. 

“Benjamin  S.  Bull  died  November  21,  1889,  and 
there  survives  him,  his  widow,  two  daughters  and  a 
son — Mrs.  Louis  F.  Menage,  Mrs.  William  G. 
Crocker  and  Benjamin  S.  Bull,  a sketch  of  whom  is 
embraced  in  this  book.” 

Benjamin  S.  Bull  has  the  administration  of 
the  advertising  department  of  the  Washburn-Crosby 
Company,  and  directing  the  expenditure  of  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  dollars  for  printing  and 
advertising.  He  is  particularly  well  known  in  peri- 
odical circles.  In  this  field  he  has  earned  a reputa- 
tion for  being  a sagacious  and  discerning  judge  of 
publicity. 

Born  in  Minneapolis  on  June  21,  1869,  Mr.  Bull 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
city.  His  first  business  experience  was  with  his 
father  in  the  real  estate  business  in  1887  and  1888. 
From  1889  to  1895  he  was  associated  with  the  First 
National  and  other  Minneapolis  banks. 

It  was  in  the  latter  year  that  he  took  employment 
with  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company,  expending 
large  sums  of  money  for  advertising,  the  company 
found  it  necessary  to  create  a department  for  its 
systematic  and  judicious  handling  and  Mr.  Bull  was 
made,  manager  of  it.  His  success  in  this  position 
is  attested  by  the  fact  of  his  being  made  one  of  the 
eight  new  directors  elected  by  the  company  at  its 
annual  meeting  on  September  19,  1910,  and  also  his 
being  elected  secretary  of  the  company. 

Aside  from  the  publicity  department,  Mr.  Bull  is  in 
charge  of  the  auditing  and  clerical  forces  of  Ihe 
company. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1337 


Christian  Maas.  One  of  the  fine  old  pioneer 
characters  of  Minnesota  was  Christian  Maas,  who 
died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Frank  Ebel, 
in  Faribault,  Minnesota,  November  29,  1914.  His 
was  a life  of  quiet  effectiveness,  marked  by  a record 
of  many  duties  well  done  and  many  responsibilities 
faithfully  performed.  He  was  one  of  the  men  who 
helped  to  develop  the  wilderness  of  Minnesota  and 
deserves  the  honor  that  can  be  shown  by  placing 
his  name  and  record  in  the  history  of  the  state. 
Though  never  in  the  conspicuous  activities  of  ab- 
normal events  of  the  world,  he  was  faithful  and 
intelligent  in  the  performance  of  every  task  allotted 
to  him  during  his  long  life,  and  his  career  may  well 
be  an  inspiration  to  generations  that  follow  him. 

Christian  Maas  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Han- 
over, Germany,  November  13,  1833,  and  was  a few 
days  past  his  eighty-first  birthday  when  death  came 
to  him.  He  was  the  youngest  son  in  a family  of 
three  boys  and  four  girls,  and  the  only  one  now 
living  is  Mrs.  Carlton  Hawkes  of  Elmira,  New 
York.  His  parents  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Maas. 
The  father  was  a farmer  in  Germany,  and  after 
coming  to  the  United  States  was  employed  by  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Book  Concern.  Henry  Maas 
died  in  Galena,  Illinois,  at  the  home  of  a daughter, 
Mrs.  Schulz,  about  1884,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven. 

Christian  Maas  was  educated  in  Germany,  and 
was  the.  first  of  the  family  to  leave  the  fatherland 
and  seek  a home  in  the  New  World.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  when  about  seventeen  years  of 
age,  lived  for  about  three  years  in  New  York,  and 
while  there  sent  for  his  parents  and  brothers  and 
sisters.  From  New  York  he  went  south  to  Georgia, 
lived  in  that  state  about  six  months,  and  then  went 
to  the  Far  West  to  the  new  country  of  California. 
At  Grass  Valley  in  that  state  he  did  mining  and  also 
conducted  a sawmill.  On  returning  east  he  fol- 
lowed the  route  that  led  him  around  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  having  gone  out  the  same  way.  He  re- 
turned to  New  York  after  an  absence  of  about  three 
years,  and  in  1857  joined  the  pioneers  of  the  North- 
west in  Minnesota.  He  located  at  St.  Peter,  and  for 
a time  was  employed  in  driving  an  ox  team  for  the 
Government  between  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  hauling 
Government  supplies,  and  later  was  also  in  the  trans- 
portation business,  hauling  supplies  for  individual 
merchants  between  the  then  small  villages  of  St. 
Peter  and  St.  Paul.  In  his  reminiscences  of  this 
experience  he  often  spoke  of  the  speed  of  his  ox 
team,  which  he  said  could  trot  so  that  he  did  not 
have  to  take  the  dust  from  any  horse  team.  During 
the  Indian  outbreak  of  1862  he  was  a member  of  the 
Home  Guard  and  helped  to  defend  St.  Peter  from 
the  hostile  red  men.  From  St.  Peter  he  removed  to 
the  vicinity  of  Cleveland  in  the  midst  of  the  big 
woods  of  Minnesota,  and  there  took  up  farming.  In 
1878  he  located  in  Sibley  County,  near  Le  Sueur, 
and  there  his  later  years  were  spent  in  retirement. 
He  had  acquired  considerable  farm  land  and  was 
prosperous  not  only  on  the  score  of  his  material 
accumulations  but  also  as  the  father  of  a fine  family 
of  children.  For  many  years  he  had  an  active  part 
in  the  German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Le 
Sueur,  and  served  as  steward  or  trustee  most  of  the 
time  while  a resident  there  and  was  also  one  of  the 
class  leaders.  In  January,  1911,  he  and  his  wife 
went  to  Orange,  California,  but  his  old  home  state 
was  more  attractive  as  a place  of  residence  and  he 
returned  in  April,  1913,  to  Le  Sueur,  where  his  wife 
died  August  7,  1913.  After  the  death  of  his  wife  he 


lived  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Ebel,  in  Faribault 
until  his  death. 

Christian  Maas  was  married  at  St.  Peter,  Minne- 
sota, to  Miss  Henrietta  Eggers,  who  was  born  in 
Germany  and  came  to  the  United  States  alone  when 
about  nineteen  years  of  age.  The  old  sailing  vessel 
on  which  she  made  the  journey  across  the  ocean  was 
three  months  en  route,  and  she  often  told  many  in- 
teresting reminiscences  of  the  trip.  She  was  one 
of  the  real  pioneers  of  the  Minnesota  Valley,  and 
was  a few  months  over  seventy-seven  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  her  death.  Her  body  was  laid  to  rest 
in  the  family  lot  at  Le  Sueur.  She  and  Mr.  Maas 
were  married  October  24,  1857,  and  in  1907  they  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding  anniversary  at  their 
home  in  Le  Sueur,  surrounded  by  their  six  sons  and 
two  daughters,  and  the  grandchildren,  nine  in  num- 
ber. Mrs.  Maas  was  always  a faithful  assistant  to 
her  husband  in  all  his  undertakings.  Their  indus- 
try and  good  management  gave  them  in  time  a fine 
country  place,  and  some  years  before  Mrs.  Maas 
died  they  sold  the  farm  and  built  a fine  new  home 
in  Le  Sueur.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maas  were  the  parents 
of  a large  family  of  children.  Had  all  the  sons  lived 
they  would  have  numbered  an  even  dozen.  They 
reared  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  these  chil- 
dren are  briefly  mentioned  as  follows : Christian, 

Jr.,  of  Springville,  California;  Charles,  of  Lindsay, 
California;  Henry,  of  Alberta,  Canada;  William,  of 
Glen-Ullin,  North  Dakota;  Andrew  H.,  of  Minneap- 
olis, a sketch  of  whom  is  found  on  other  pages  of 
this  work;  Mrs.  Frank  Ebel  of  Faribault;  and  Theo- 
dore, of  Lowell,  Wisconsin.  All  the  children  were 
born  and  received  their  education  in  Minnesota. 

Andrew  H.  Maas.  The  A.  H.  Maas  Company,  of 
Minneapolis,  which  is  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  the  state,  has  become  one  of  the  important  Min- 
nesota corporations  engaged  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness, of  which  line  of  enterprise  Mr.  Maas,  the  foun- 
der of  the  business,  is  now  one  of  the  most  successful 
and  influential  representatives  in  the  metropolis  cl 
the  state.  He  is  president  of  this  company,  with 
office  in  the  Andrus  Building  and  is  also  affiliated 
with  other  corporations.  Mr.  Maas,  through  his  own 
efforts,  defrayed  the  expenses  of  his  professional 
education  and  is  an  able  member  of  the  bar  of  his 
native  state,  but  he  has  found  it  expedient  to  with- 
draw from  the  active  practice  of  law  and  devote  his 
attention  to  the  business  enterprises  in  connection 
with  which  he  has  shown  exceptional  initiative  and 
executive  ability  and  achieved  large  success. 

Andrew  H.  Maas  claims  as  his  native  heath  the 
“big  woods”  district  of  Minnesota,  as  he  was  born 
at  Cleveland,  LeSueur  County,  this  state,  on  the  20th 
of  April,  1874,  his  parents,  Christian  and  Henrietta 
(Eggers)  Maas,  having  become  pioneer  settlers  of 
that  county  and  individual  mention  of  them  being 
made  on  other  pages  of  this  publication.  He  whose 
name  initiates  this  article  is  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  seven  surviving  children, — six  sons  and 
one  daughter,  six  sons  having  died  in  infancy  and 
all  of  the  children  having  been  born  in  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Maas  acquired  his  rudimentary  education  in 
a little  pioneer  district  school  near  the  homestead 
farm,  but  located  across  the  line  in  Sibley  County, 
west  of  Le  Sueur,  and  this  discipline  was  supple- 
mented by  a course  of  study  in  the  high  school  at 
Le  Sueur  and  by  attendance  in  the  German  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  College  at  St.  Paul  Park,  Minnesota. 
After  leaving  this  institution  he  put  his  scholastic 


1338 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


attainments  to  practical  test  and  utilization  by  num- 
bering himself  among  the  successful  teachers  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  native  state.  He  devoted  vir- 
tually six  years  to  the  work  of  the  pedagogic  profes- 
sion, principally  in  the  district  schools  of  Nicollet 
and  Sibley  counties,  in  which  latter  he  taught  for  a 
time  in  the  Village  of  Rushriver,  whence  he  was 
called  to  a similar  position  in  his  home  Village  of 
Cleveland,  LeSueur  County,  his  final  term  of  service 
having  been  in  the  village  schools  of  Dresselville. 

Mr.  Maas  finally  determined  to  prepare  himself 
for  the  legal  profession,  and  his  ambition  was  one 
of  self-reliance  and  action,  as  he  was  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources  in  the  acquiring  of  the  requisite 
technical  training.  With  his  cash  capital  represented 
in  the  sum  of  $90  he  entered  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  while  diligently 
and  effectively  prosecuting  his  studies  he  so  employed 
himself  outside  of  study  and  class  hours  that  he  not 
only  was  able  to  defray  all  incidental  expenses  but 
also  to  come  forth  with  a capital  of  $450  at  the  time 
of  his  graduation,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1900. 
Simultaneously  with  his  reception  of  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws  he  was  admitted  to  the  Minnesota 
bar.  While  a student  in  the  university  Mr.  Maas 
served  as  president  of  Law  Literary  Society  and  was 
a member  of  the  Federal  Debating  Society,  in  which 
latter  relation  he  early  manifested  special  facility  in 
dialectics. 

On  the  2d  of  August,  1900,  Mr.  Maas  opened  an 
office  at  Hutchinson,  McLeod  County,  Minnesota, 
where  he  confidently  displayed  his  ‘‘shingle”  and  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  is  the 
type  of  man  to  whom  success  comes  as  a natural  pre- 
rogative and  he  built  up  a substantial  practice  at 
Hutchinson,  where  he  continued  his  professional 
services  until  the  spring  of  1907.  On  the  1st  of  April 
of  that  year,  impressed  with  the  splendid  opportuni- 
ties offered  in  the  domain  of  real-estate  operations  in 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Maas  established  his  residehce  in 
Minneapolis  and  turned  his  attention  to  this  import- 
ant line  of  enterprise,  in  which  his  success  has  been 
pronounced  and  unequivocal,  the  two  companies  with 
which  he  is  identified  as  an  executive  maintaining  a 
spacious  and  well  appointed  suite  of  offices  in  the 
Andrus  Building.  He  became  the  organizer  of  the 
Maas  Land  Company,  of  which  he  was  president, 
as  was  he  also  of  its  successor,  the  Maas-Tifft-Has- 
kins  Company.  Later  another  reorganization  oc- 
curred and  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the 
present  title  of  The  A.  H.  Maas  Company,  Mr.  Maas 
having  been  president  of  the  company  from  the  time 
of  its  incorporation.  He  became  also,  in  1911,  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Sulflow  & Maas  Company,  of 
which  he  was  secretary  and  treasurer  and  with  which 
he  had  the  special  supervision  of  the  mortgage,  land 
and  exchange  departments,  besides  which  he  has  be- 
come an  interested  principal  in  other  well  ordered 
business  corporations  in  Minneapolis.  The  two  com- 
panies which  owe  their  organization  and  advance- 
ment largely  to  his  energy  and  progressive  policies 
are  now  among  the  foremost  concerns  of  the  kind 
in  the  Minnesota  metropolis  and  control  a real- 
estate  business  that  ramifies  through  all  sections  of 
the  state,  as  well  as  into  other  states  of  the  North- 
west. Their  various  departments  of  business  are 
thoroughly  systematized  and  both  have  exercised 
much  influence  in  the  furtherance  of  civic  and  indus- 
trial progress  in  the  Gopher  State.  Though  he  has 
been  eligible  for  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Minnesota  since  June  8,  1900,  Mr.  Maas  has  been 


retired  from  the  practice  of  his  profession  during  the 
period  of  his  residence  in  Minneapolis,  save  when  his 
professional  interposition  is  demanded  in  connection 
with  his  business  affairs.  The  two  companies  with 
which  he  is  identified  hold  membership  in  the  Min- 
neapolis Real  Estate  Board. 

Mr.  Maas  and  his  wife  are  most  zealous  members 
of  the  Wesley  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Min- 
neapolis, and  both  are  specially  active  in  various  de- 
partments of  church  work.  Mr.  Maas  was  primarily 
instrumental  in  effecting  the  organization  of  the 
Groveland  Institute  at  Groveland,  Lake  Minnetonka, 
same  being  a training  school  in  religious  work  for 
the  young  people  of  the  organization  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Epworth  League,  of  which  he  served  as 
president  three  years,  1907-9.  He  is  most  earnest 
and  zealous  in  the  promotion  of  high  ideals  and  gen- 
eral uplift  work.  Masonically  Mr.  Maas  is  a mem- 
ber of  Hennepin  Lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  a 
Knights  Templar  York  Rite  Mason,  and  a member 
of  Zurah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  Mr.  Maas  is 
actively  identified  with  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and 
Commerce  Association  and  the  Minneapolis  Art  So- 
ciety, besides  which  he  is  a popular  member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  his  political  allegiance 
being  given  to  the  republican  party.  At  the  time  of 
the  Spanish-American  war  Mr.  Maas  enlisted  in  a 
company  of  volunteers  that  was  organized  at  LeSueur 
and  that  was  there  drilled  effectively  in  military  tac- 
tics, but  the  services  of  the  company  were  not  re- 
quired on  the  stage  of  the  conflict  and  it  was  never 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1899,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Maas  to  Miss  Emma  Achterkirch, 
who  was  born  near  Faribault,  Rice  County,  this  state, 
where  her  parents  settled  in  the  pioneer  days  and 
where  her  father  became  a prosperous  farmer,  both 
he  and  his  wife  being  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Maas  is 
a daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Lindeman) 
Achterkirch  and  her  father  was  a valiant  soldier  of 
the  Union  in  the  Civil  war.  In  addition  to  being 
accorded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools  of 
Faribault  Mrs.  Maas  attended  also  the  German  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  College  at  St.  Paul  Park,  where  she 
was  a student  at  the  same  time  as  was  her  husband. 

First  State  Bank  of  Ely.  This  institution  merits 
specific  mention  since  it  is  one  of  those  that  give 
ability  and  prestige  to  the  financial  activities  of  the 
Vermillion  Iron  Range  in  St.  Louis  County,  which 
is  the  oldest  iron  range  in  the  state.  The  bank 
was  incorporated  September  30,  1912,  and  opened 
its  doors  for  business  on  the  12th  of  the  following 
March,  in  a fine  modern  building  erected  for  the 
purpose.  Operations  are  based  on  a paid  in  capital 
of  $25,000,  most  of  the  stock  being  held  by  citizens 
of  Ely  and  vicinity,  and  that  the  bank  has  been 
exceptionally  successful  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
its  deposits  are  now  in  excess  of  $350,000. 

The  board  of  directors  comprises  the  following 
well  known  citizens : M.  J.  Murphy,  George  L. 

Brozich,  James  Moonan,  A.  S.  James,  A.  D.  Ellef- 
sen,  G.  H.  Good  and  Theodore  Albrecht.  The  ex- 
ecutive officers  are : M.  J.  Murphy,  president ; Theo- 
dore Albrecht  and  A.  S.  James,  vice  presidents ; 
George  L.  Brozich,  cashier;  and  Arthur  Toms  and 
Andrew  Harri,  assistant  cashiers.  The  bank  con- 
ducts a general  commercial  banking  business  and 
its  savings  department  pays  3 per  cent  interest 
on  time  deposits.  The  correspondents  of  the  bank 
include  the  following  well  known  institutions : Union 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1339 


Investment  Company  and  the  Northwestern  National 
Bank  of  Minneapolis,  First  National  Bank  of  Du- 
luth, National  Park  Bank  of  New  York  City,  and 
Continental  and  Commercial  National  Bank  of  Chi- 
cago. 

George  L.  Brozich.  The  cashier  of  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Ely,  regarded  now  as  one  of  the  most 
substantial  financial  institutions  of  St.  Louis  County, 
is  George  L.  Brozich,  who  is  also  one  of  the  di- 
rectors. In  large  measure  his  progressive  qualities 
and  able  executive  methods  have  brought  about  the 
advancement  of  the  bank  to  its  present  high  stand- 
ard and  marked  prosperity. 

George  Louis  Brozich  was  born  in  Austria, 
March  12,  1878,  a son  of  George  and  Katherine 
Brozich.  His  father  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1882,  followed  by  his  family  in  1888.  They 
established  their  home  in  Upper  Michigan,  where 
the  father  became  a successful  carpenter  and  builder, 
his  trade  having  been  learned  in  his  native  land. 
From  that  state  they  moved  to  Minnesota  in  1892, 
and  the  parents  are  now  living  on  their  homestead 
at  Ranch,  Minnesota. 

George  L.  Brozich  acquired  his  early  education  in 
public  and  private  schools  in  Michigan  and  Minne- 
sota. At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  the  services 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Virginia,  Minnesota, 
and  later  attended  'the  St.  John’s  University,  where 
he  graduated  in  1898.  Upon  graduating  he  was  em- 
ployed as  chief  bookkeeper  in  a large  department 
store  at  Joliet,  Illinois,  for  three  years,  from  where 
he  moved  to  Ely,  Minnesota,  in  1902,  to  be  identi- 
fied with  the  Bank  of  Ely  as  assistant  cashier,  which 
position  he  held  for  five  years,  resigning  to  estab- 
lish himself  in  real  estate  and  insurance  business 
which  he  conducted  until  he  organized  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Ely,  in  1912,  of  which  he  is  now 
cashier. 

Mr.  Brozich  has  exemplified  broad-minded  and 
progressive  citizenship,  has  been  active  and  liberal 
in  support  of  measures  and  enterprises  advanced  for 
the  general  good  of  the  community,  and  served  two 
years  as  city  treasurer  of  Ely,  and  for  a similar 
period  was  in  the  office  of  special  municipal  judge. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  St.  An- 
thony Catholic  Church,  and  since  1902  he  has  held 
the  office  of  .supreme  secretary  of  the  Slavonic 
Catholic  Union,  a fraternal  organization  numbering 
about  ten  thousand  members  and  operating  in 
twenty-seven  different  states.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  and  several  other  clubs  and 
societies.  In  addition  to  his  interests  at  Ely,  Mr. 
Brozich  is  president  of  Slovenian  Printing  and  Pub- 
lishing Co.,  in  the  City  of  Duluth,  Minnesota. 

On  June  9,  1908,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Brozich  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Horwat,  at  the  time 
a resident  of  Joliet,  Illinois.  The  one  child  of  their 
union  is  Robert  Julius,  who  was  born  on  November 
4,  1911- 

Norman  A.  Emerson.  Civic  and  industrial  devel- 
opment and  progress  in  the  Northwest  continue  to 
be  hastened  and  solidified  through  the  well  directed 
efforts  and  enterprise  of  reliable  and  far-sighted 
real-estate  men,  and  Norman  A.  Emerson,  who  main- 
tains his  offices  at  703-5  Metropolitan  Life  Building, 
Minneapolis,  has  made  splendid  achievement  in  the 
exploiting  and  sale  of  realty  in  both  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin,  especially  in  the  disposition  of  new  land 


well  adapted  to  varied  agriculture.  Through  his  in- 
terposition many  desirable  citizens  have  become 
settlers  of  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin,  as  well  as  cer- 
tain other  states  of  the  Northwest,  and  he  is  con- 
sistently to  be  designated  as  one  of  the  progressive 
and  representative  real-estate  men  of  the  City  of 
Minneapolis.  He  handles  city  property,  farm  and 
timber  lands ; is  special  agent  also  for  the  land  and 
industrial  department  of  the  Minneapolis,  St.  Paul  & 
Sault  Sainte  Marie  Railway  Company,  which,  through 
control  of  valuable  land  grants  of  the  Wisconsin 
Central  Railway,  now  a part  of  the  “Soo”  system, 
offers  to  settlers  most  excellent  investments  in  Wis- 
consin' lands.  In  the  handling  of  Wisconsin  lands 
Mr.  Emerson  represents  also  the  American  Immigra- 
tion Company,  of  Chippewa  Falls,  that  state,  and  his 
independent  or  individual  operations  have  grown  to 
be  of  wide  scope  and  importance,  he  being  one  of 
the  early  members  of  the  Minneapolis  Real  Estate 
Board. 

Norman  Asa  Emerson  claims  the  Badger  State  as 
the  place  of  his  nativity  and  is  a representative  of 
one  of  its  sterling  pioneer  families.  He  was  born 
at  Iron  Ridge,  Dodge  County,  Wisconsin,  on  the  26th 
of  April,  1863,  and  is  a son  of  Norman  and  Nancy 
(Chapman)  Emerson,  members  of  families  that  were 
founded  in  America  in  the  colonial  era.  Norman 
Emerson  was  born  near  Rochester,  Windsor  County, 
Vermont,  where  the  family  home  was  maintained  for 
four  generations,  and  his  wife  was  born  near  Lake 
Champlain,  in  Clinton  County,  New  York,  a repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  that  sec- 
tion of  the  Empire  State,  where  she  was  reared  and 
educated  and  where  her  marriage  was  solemnized. 
In  the  ’50s  Norman  and  Nancy  (Chapman)  Emerson 
came  to  the  West  and  established  their  home  in  Wis- 
consin, where  they  were  early  settlers  in  the  Village 
of  Iron  Ridge,  Dodge  County.  There  the  father  fol- 
lowed his  trade,  that  of  cooper,  but  in  1866  he  en- 
tered claim  to  a tract  of  Government  land  in  Clark 
County,  that  state,  where  he  developed  a fine  farm 
of  160  acres,  the  property  being  valued  today  at 
$100  an  acre. 

When  the  Civil  war  was  precipitated  on  the  nation 
Norman  Emerson  promptly  tendered  his  aid  in  de- 
fense of  the  Union.  He  enlisted  as  a private  in  Com- 
pany C,  Twenty-ninth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry, 
with  which  command  he  served  about  two  years  and 
took  part  in  numerous  engagements,  including  a num- 
ber of  the  important  battles  marking  the  progress 
of  the  war.  In  later  years  he  never  consented  to 
dpply  for  a pension,  though  he  was  justly  entitled 
to  one.  He  was  a man  of  large  mind  and  large 
heart,  tolerant  and  generous,  and  he  ever  held  the 
high  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact 
in  the  various  relations  of  life,  both  he  and  his  wife 
having  enjoyed  unequivocal  popularity  in  the  state 
that  was  long  their  home  and  Mrs.  Emerson  having 
been  a devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  She 
died  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  near  Loyal,  Clark 
County,  in  1887,  and  her  husband  passed  the  closing 
period  of  his  life  near  Tomahawk,  Lincoln  County, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  died  in  the  spring  of  1891. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  four 
daughters,  and  of  the  number  three  are  living.  Mary 
Isabelle,  who  died  in  1902,  was  the  wife  of  Joseph 
C.  Dunn,  of  Loyal,  Wisconsin ; Martha  E.,  who  died 
May  15,  1914,  in  Madison,  the  capital  of  Wisconsin, 
was  the  wife  of  Daniel  J.  Kinne;  Amanda  is  the 
widow  of  Albert  E.  Wheelock,  of  Algona,  Iowa; 
Nettie  died  on  the  old  home  farm,  about  twenty 


1340 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


years  ago;  John  W.  was  killed  by  lightning,  in  1907, 
in  Vilas  County,  Wisconsin;  David  W.  is  a resident 
of  Ashland,  that  state;  and  the  subject  of  this  review 
is  the  youngest  of  the  number. 

Norman  A.  Emerson  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  in  the  Town  of  Loyal,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  in  addition  to  gaining  experience  in  connec- 
tion with  the  work  of  the  home  farm  he  was  actively 
identified  with  the  lumbering  operations  which  were 
carried  forward  on  an  extensive  scale  in  Wisconsin 
during  the  period  of  his  youth  and  early  manhood. 
He  worked  in  lumber  camps  and  in  the  driying  of 
logs  down  the  rivers,  and  the  sturdy  discipline  did 
much  to  develop  the  physical  powers  which  have 
made  his  a strong  and  vigorous  constitution.  For  a 
score  of  years  Mr.  Emerson  has  been  identified  with 
the  real-estate  business,  in  which  his  operations  have 
been  of  broad  scope  and  of  varied  order.  For  five 
years  prior  to  becoming  associated  with  this  import- 
ant line  of  enterprise  he  had  been  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  in  his  native  state. 

In  1899  he  came  from  Wisconsin  to  Minnesota  and 
established  his  residence  in  Minneapolis,  where  he 
has  since  continued  to  be  successfully  engaged  in  the 
real-estate  business.  He  has  been  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Real  Estate  Board  since  1902  and  is 
identified  also  with  the  National  Real  Estate  Ex- 
change. He  takes  loyal  interest  in  all  that  concerns 
the  welfare  and  advancement  of  his  home  city,  and 
is  an  active  member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and 
Commerce  Association. 

Mr.  Emerson  finds  special  satisfaction  in  being  a 
life  member  of  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  which 
has  recently  completed  a clubhouse  that  is  conceded 
to  be  one  of  the  finest  in  the  West,  the  same  having 
been  erected  at  a cost  of  $735,000.  The  club  has 
an  enrollment  of  fully  2,6bo  members  and  all  of  the 
life  memberships,  300  in  number,  are  now  taken.  In 
the  Masonic  fraternity  the  ancient-craft  affiliation  of 
Mr.  Emerson  is  with  Cataract  Lodge,  No.  2,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  his  maximum  York 
Rite  affiliation  is  with  Zion  Commandery,  Knights 
Templars,  besides  which  he  is  a member  of  Zurah 
Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

At  Madison,  Wisconsin,  on  the  16th  of  February, 
1889,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Emerson 
to  Miss  Amy  L.  Warnes,  of  Neenah,  Winnebago 
County,  that  state,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
four  children:  Elsie  M.  is  now  the  wife  of  Arthur 
S.  Swenson,  of  Minneapolis;  Helen  E.  is  (1915)  a 
student  of  domestic  science,  in  a representative  edu- 
cational institution  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania; Norman  F.,  who  remains  at  the  parental 
home,  is  a graduate  of  a well  ordered  military  acad- 
emy; Paul  W.  was  with  his  uncle,  John  W.  Emerson, 
in  Vilas  County,  Wisconsin,  at  the  time  both  were 
killed  by  lightning,  on  the  27th  of  July,  1908,  and  the 
tragic  termination  of  this  fine  youth  and  devoted  son 
was  a source  of  irreparable  grief  to  his  parents.  The 
eldest  of  the  children  was  born  at  Loyal,  Clark 
County,  Wisconsin,  and  the  others  at  Tomahawk, 
Lincoln  County,  that  state.  Both  of  the  daughters 
were  graduated  in  the  Central  High  School  of  Min- 
neapolis, and  Norman  F.  was  graduated  in  St.  John’s 
Military  Academy,  at  Delafield,  Wisconsin. 

Melvin  Bailey  Stone.  As  a designing  and  con- 
struction engineer,  M.  B.  Stone,  whose  offices  are  in 
the  Andrus  Building  at  Minneapolis,  has  a record 
of  substantial  accomplishment  that  places  him  among 


the  leaders  in  his  profession  in  the  Northwest.  Mr. 
Stone’s  specialty  is  the  designing  and  construction 
of  bridges,  and  while  in  the  course  of  his  career  his 
work  has  included  hundreds  of  the  smaller  and  or- 
dinary examples  of  bridge  fabrication,  there  are 
several  large  and  conspicuous  structures  which  serve 
to  validate  his  skill  in  both  the  technical  and  prac- 
tical branches  of  his  profession. 

Melvin  Bailey  Stone  was  born  at  Darien,  Wal- 
worth County,  Wisconsin,  January  10,  1874.  His 
father  was  Avery  H.  Stone,  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  his  mother  Amelia  (Bailey)  Stone,  who 
was  born  in  Wisconsin,  in  which  state  they  were 
married.  The  father  came  with  his  parents  to  Wis- 
consin during  the  ’50s,  and  afterwards  served  two 
years  in  the  Second  Wisconsin  Cavalry  during  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  a miller  and  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  at  Darien,  his  father  having  followed  the 
same  line  before  him.  Later  the  family  removed  to 
Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota,  in  1878,  and  the  mother 
died  there  in  1879.  Avery  H.  Stone  spent  the  last 
year  of  his  life  in  New  York  City,  and  died  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter  there  March  18,  1914.  There 
were  three  children  in  the  family:  Jessie  G.,  who 

married  Edgar  D.  Stone  of  New  York  City,  of  the 
same  name  but  not  related ; Maurice  H.,  of  Minneap- 
olis; and  Melvin  B.  All  the  children  were  born  in 
Wisconsin,  and  the  older  sons  were  educated  there. 

M.  B.  Stone  attended  the  schools  at  Sioux  Falls, 
South  Dakota,  and  on  leaving  school  learned  the 
printer’s  trade,  and  was  employed  in  that  line  at 
Sioux  Falls  and  in  Chicago.  While  in  Chicago  he 
abandoned  the  printing  business  and  in  1896  entered 
the  University  of  Wisconsin,  taking  the  civil  en- 
gineering course  and  graduating  in  the  class  of  1900 
Bachelor  of  Science.  Returning  to  Minnesota,  he 
located  at  St.  Paul,  and  for  one  year  was  in  the 
engineering  department  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
way, and  since  1901  has  been  a resident  of  Minneap- 
olis. Here  he  was  with  the  American  Bridge  Com- 
pany in  the  civil  engineering  department,  and  then 
spent  nine  years  with  A.  Y.  Bayne,  contractor. 

Since  January  1,  1913,  Mr.  Stone  has  been  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  with  offices  in  Minneapolis,  though 
his  professional  work  has  been  done  all  over  the 
Northwest.  Mr.  Stone  designed  the  Thirty-second 
Avenue,  North,  bridge  at  Minneapolis,  a structure 
that  reflects  credit  upon  his  engineering  and  artistic 
skill,  and  another  piece  of  work  performed  by  him 
is  the  Soldiers’  Home  bridge  at  Minnehaha.  A 
number  of  years  ago  he  drew  the  plans  for  the  large 
bridge  across  the  Mississippi  at  Dubuque,  Iowa. 
Hundreds  of  small  bridges  designed  by  him  are  to 
be  found  all  the  way  from  Toronto,  Canada,  to  the 
coast,  notably  at  Winnipeg,  Calgary,  and  Yellow- 
stone Park. 

Mr.  Stone  has  a large  acquaintance  with  business 
and  professional  men  in  Minneapolis,  is  affiliated 
with  Minneapolis  Lodge  No.  19,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  has 
taken  thirty-two  degrees  in  the  Scottish  Rite  and 
belongs  to  the  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine 
at  Minneapolis.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  En- 
gineers’ Club  of  Minneapolis,  the  Civic  and  Com- 
merce Association  of  Minneapolis  and  the  Lake  Har- 
riet Commercial  Club. 

June  22,  1896,  Mr.  Stone  married  Miss  Fanny.  M. 
Way,  daughter  of  Merritt  M.  Way.  of  Vermillion, 
South  Dakota.  Mrs.  Stone  was  born  at  Murphys- 
boro,  Illinois,  but  received  most  of  her  education  in 
Vermillion,  South  Dakota,  being  a graduate  of  the 
high  school  there  in  1896.  Both  her  parents  are  now 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1341 


deceased.  Mrs.  Stone  takes  an  active  part  in  social 
affairs,  and  is  a member  of  the  Thursday  Musical 
Club  of  Minneapolis.  Three  children  have  come 
into  their  home  circle : Doris  G.  and  Ellen  L.,  both 
now  attending  the  West  High  School  at  Minneapo- 
lis; and  Margaret  W.,  still  in  the  grade  school. 

Francis  Stillman  Pollard.  A native  son  of 
Minnesota,  where  his  family  were  among  the  pio- 
neers, Francis  Stillman  Pollard  in  early  life  learned 
the  printer’s  trade,  was  connected  with  several  jour- 
nals in  this  state,  but  for  the  past  ten  years  has  given 
most  of  his  time  and  attention  to  the  duties  of  the 
office  of  postmaster  at  Morgan. 

Francis  Stillman  Pollard  was  born  in  Penn  Town- 
ship, McLeod  County,  Minnesota,  March  13,  1874. 
His  father,  Stillman  Pollard,  was  born  in  East  Troy, 
Walworth  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1846,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years  settled  at  New  Auburn  in  Sibley 
Countv.  Minnesota.  War  had  only  recently  closed, 
and  that  part  of  Minnesota  was  still  in  almost  a 
pioneer  condition.  From  1866  to  1876  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a teacher  in  country  schools  of  Sibley 
County,  much  of  his  work  being  done  in  Penn  Town- 
ship. From  1876  to  1879  he  followed  farming,  and 
in  the  latter  year  removed  to  Brownton,  and  was 
manager  of  a lumber  yard  there,  and  later  went  to 
Redwood  Falls,  where  his  death  occurred.  Stillman 
Pollard  married  Sophia  Lewis,  who  was  born  in 
1854  in  Prussia,  Germany,  and  is  now  living  at 
Hutchinson,  Minnesota.  When  she  was  six  months 
old  her  parents  came  across  the  ocean  and  settled 
in  Illinois,  and  soon  afterwards  removed  to  Sibley 
County,  Minnesota,  and  were  living  there  during  the 
Indian  troubles  of  1862-63. 

The  only  child  of  his  parents,  Francis  Stillman 
Pollard  acquired  a public  school  education  and  lived 
at  Brownton  until  the  age  of  eighteen.  His  first 
work  in  earning  his  own  way  was  on  a farm,  until 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  Redwood  Gazette  at  Red- 
wood Falls  and  learned  the  printer's  trade.  The 
Gazette  at  that  time  was  owned  by  the  firm  of 
Aiken  and  Small.  Mr.  Pollard  was  connected  with 
the  Gazette  altogether  for  eight  years.  In  1902  he 
came  to  Morgan  and  bought  the  Morgan  Messenger, 
editing  that  substantial  old  journal  until  1906.  In 
that  year  he  sold  out  to  C.  C.  Eaton,  who  is  now  pub- 
lisher of  the  Winthrop  News. 

Mr.  Pollard  in  October,  1904,  was  commissioned 
postmaster  of  Morgan,  and  has  been  the  efficient 
incumbent  of  that  office  down  to  the  present  writing. 
Politically  he  is  a republican,  is  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  has  affiliations  with  An- 
tiquity Lodge  No.  91,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  with 
Morgan  Camp  No.  2226,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

In  October,  1902,  at  Redwood  Falls,  Mr.  Pollard 
married  Miss  Catherine  I.  Stewart.  Her  father  was 
the  late  Donald  Stewart,  a farmer  near  Redwood 
Falls,  and  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pol- 
lard are  the  parents  of  three  children : Willis  and 
Evelyn  Leona,  both  of  whom  are  in  the  public 
schools  _ in  Morgan ; and  Eugene  Chafin,  who  was 
named  in  honor  of  Eugene  Chafin,  a second  cousin 
to  Mr.  Pollard,  and  who  several  years  ago  was  a 
candidate  on  the  prohibition  ticket  for  the  presi- 
dency of  the_  LTnited  States.  As  a matter  of  ances- 
tral history  it  is  also  interesting  to  note  that  Still- 
man Pollard  was  a descendant  through  his  mother 
of  General  Prescott,  the  gallant  leader  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary forces  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 


Erik  Waldeland.  One  of  the  largest  publishing 
houses  in  the  Northwest  is  the  Augsburg  Publishing 
House,  which  furnishes  a business  and  mechanical 
facilities  for  the  publication  of  all  the  periodicals 
and  literature  of  the  United  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Church  of  America,  and  the  house  also  acts  as  gen- 
eral publishers,  Importers,  printers  and  bookbinders. 
Erik  Waldeland  is  manager  and  treasurer  of  the 
Augsburg  Publishing  House,  is  treasurer  of  the- 
corporation  known  as  the  United  Norwegian  Lu- 
theran Church  of  America,  and  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous laymen  in  this  denomination  in  the  North- 
west. Mr.  Waldeland  is  a practical  printer,  a busi- 
ness man  of  wide  experience,  and  has  been  an  active 
resident  of  Minnesota  for  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century. 

Erik  Waldeland  was  born  in  Christiansand,  Nor- 
way, January  15,  1861,  a son  of  Erik  and  Karen  W. 
Waldeland.  His  father  was  an  educator,  and  for 
many  years  taught  in  the  town  where  his  son  was 
born.  The  latter  grew  up  in  his  native  country, 
attended  school  until  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  with 
this  preparation  gained  employment  which  furnished 
him  a thorough  training  and  qualifications  for  his 
present  position.  He  remained  in  Norway  until  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  and  in  1882  on  coming  to  the 
United  States  engaged  in  business  at  Decorah,  Iowa, 
was  there  until  1887  and  in  that  year  accepted  the 
position  of  manager  of  the  Northfield  Publishing 
Company  of  Northfield,  Minnesota.  This  business 
kept  him  at  Northfield  three  years,  and  he  devoted 
all  his  time  and  energies  to  the  establishment  of  a 
progressive  and  successive  publishing  concern. 

In  1890  the  business  at  Northfield  was  sold  to  the 
Augsburg  Publishing  House  at  Minneapolis,  and  on 
the  consolidation  Mr.  Waldeland  was  appointed  as- 
sistant general  manager  of  the  Minneapolis  house. 
In  1904  came  his  promotion  to  the  office  of  general 
manager,  and  he  now  has  entire  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness, which  is  one  of  the  most  important  of  its  class 
in  Minneapolis. 

In  1904  Mr.  Waldeland  was  also  appointed  treas- 
urer of  the  United  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  of 
America,  an  office  he  still  holds,  and  handles  most 
of  the  business  administration  of  this  corporation. 
In  1908  the  corporation  erected  a large  and  handsome 
business  building  at  425-429  South  Fourth  Street,  on 
the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue,  known  as  the  LTnited 
Church  Building,  which  has  been  occupied  since  the 
fall  of  1908  by  the  general  offices  of  the  church  and 
the  editorial  offices  of  the  Augsburg  Publishing 
House.  The  Augsburg  Publishing  House  through 
its  offices  and  plant  in  this  large  building  issues  all 
the  official  papers  of  the  Lutheran  denomination. 
They  are  four  in  number,  two  published  in  the  Eng- 
lish and  two  in  the  Norwegian  language.  They  are 
the  Lutheraneren,  the  Luthersk  Borneblad,  the 
United  Lutheran  and  the  Children’s  Companion. 

During  his  many  years  of  residence  in  Minnesota 
Mr.  Waldeland  has  in  many  ways  shown  his  public 
spirit,  and  while  never  active  in  politics  has  inter- 
ested himself  in  the  various  measures  tending  toward 
civic  improvement.  Among  several  agencies  which 
promote  such  end,  he  is  a member  of  the  Minneap- 
olis Civic  and  Commerce  Association  and  the  South 
Side  Commercial  Club.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Sat- 
urday Lunch  Club.  He  is  a member  and  president 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Bethlehem  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  Congregation  of  Minneapolis.  In 
July,  1886,  Mr.  Waldeland  married  Miss  Edvine 
Osmundsen,  who  died  in  1887,  leaving  a son  Karl, 


1342 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


who  is  now  living  in  Norway.  In  October,  1891, 
Mr.  Waldeland  married  Miss  Ida  G.  Ness.  By  this 
marriage  there  are  six  children:  Leonora,  Dorothy, 
Edmund,  Marie,  Henry  and  Valborg,  all  except  the 
first  at  home.  The  daughter  Leonora  is  now  Mrs. 
August  Nelson,  of  Sanborn,  North  Dakota;  and  by 
the  birth  of  a daughter  named  Constance,  in  March, 
1915,  Mr.  Waldeland  gains  the  happy  title  of  grand- 
father. All  the  children  by  the  second  marriage  were 
born  in  Minneapolis  and  all  have  received  their  edu- 
cation so  far  in  the  schools  of  that  city.  The  son 
Karl  was  born  in  Decorah,  Iowa. 

Hon.  Thomas  D.  Schall.  In  1914  Minnesota  was 
startled  by  the  announcement  that  Thomas  D.  Schall 
had  been  elected  upon  the  progressive  ticket  from 
the  Tenth  Congressional  District,  which  was  nor- 
mally republican  by  over  ten  thousand.  Dr.  Richard 
Burton  of  the  University  of  Minnesota  says,  “Schall 
will  be  for  Minnesota  what  the  blind  Senator  Gore  is 
for  Oklahoma.  He  is  a self-made  man,  of  sterling 
character.  His  remarkable  success  as  a practicing 
lawyer  demonstrates  his  business  and  professional 
qualities.  He  is  a man  of  exceptional  ability  and  an 
able  and  brilliant  speaker.  As  a congressman  he  will 
be  a credit  to  our  state.”  Dr.  Cyrus  Northup,  presi- 
dent emeritus  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  says, 
“He  is  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best  speaker  we 
have  ever  graduated  from  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota.” 

Judge  M.  D.  Purdy  says  of  Mr.  Schall,  “Thirty- 
seven  years  old,  the  orphan  of  a Civil  war  veteran, 
from  the  age  of  nine,  he  has  earned  every  dollar  of 
his  way  through  all  the  public  schools  of  our  state, 
with  no  kith  or  kin  to  contribute  one  dollar  to  his 
education,  or  to  lend  their  influence  to  his  success. 
Lie  is  a Minnesota  product;  educated  in  the  common 
school.  Wheaton,  Minnesota,  Ortonville  High 
School;  Llamline  University;  University  of  Minne- 
sota, and  completing  his  law  studies  at  the  St.  Paul 
College  of  Law.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
Minneapolis,  where  without  influence  and  pull  it  is 
truly  a survival  of  the  fittest.  He  was  successful 
and  had  acquired  a fair  practice  which  enabled  him 
and  his  life-mate  to  live  comfortably.  The  goal  of 
success  as  a practicing  lawyer  was  almost  within  his 
grasp.  His  self-sacrifices,  his  years  of  privation, 
his  hard  days  of  work  and  long  nights  of  toil  for 
his  education  had  not  been  in  vain.  He  would  soon 
have  the  wherewithal  that  he  might  take  time  from 
his  strenuous  life  for  some  relaxation.  Just  when 
the  object  for  which  he  was  contending  was  within 
his  grasp,  seven  years  ago,  like  a bolt  from  a clear 
sky,  he  received,  while  lighting  a cigar  at  an  electric 
cigar  lighter,  an  electric  shock  that  seared  out  his 
sight. 

“For  a year  Mr.  Schall  sought  all  over  the  country 
medical  aid  for  his  blindness  and,  having  spent  in 
this  search  what  money  he  had  accumulated  in  the 
three  years  of  his  law  practice,  and  all  he  could  bor- 
row, and  finally  realizing  there  was  no  hope  to  re- 
cover his  sight,  he  returned  to  Minneapolis  broke, 
worse  than  broke,  in  debt  and  blind,  but  the  indom- 
itable courage  of  the  man  was  undaunted  and  by 
the  use  of  his  wife’s  eyes  he  again  began  to  practice 
law.  He  is  successfully  coping  today  with  the  best 
legal  minds  of  this  and  other  states.  He  is  not  the 
ordinary  blind  man.  He  has  had  thirty  years  of 
sight  and  his  success  during  those  thirty  years  in 
the  conduct  of  his  own  affairs  was  unusual.  His 


success  in  the  conduct  of  his  own  affairs  during  the 
seven  years  of  darkness  is  phenomenal.” 

Charles  W.  Drew,  Ph.  B.,  M.  D.  During  a resi- 
dence in  Minneapolis  of  more  than  thirty  years  Doc- 
tor Drew  has  been,  in  earlier  years,  actively  identified 
with  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery,  has  been 
a member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Minnesota  Hospital 
College  and  of  the  medical  department  of  Hamline 
University,  was  the  original  investigator  on  the  sub- 
ject of  food  adulteration  in  the  state,  served  for  sev- 
eral years  as  state  chemist,  and  has  in  many  ways 
been  prominent  in  the  educational  and  scientific 
phases  of  his  profession.  Lie  is  the  director  of  the 
Minnesota  Institute  of  Pharmacy,  which  is  now  in 
the  twenty-ninth  year  of  its  existence.  Doctor  Drew 
also  has  offices  as  an  analytical  and  consulting  chem- 
ist and  assayer  and  is  extensively  employed  in  expert 
chemical  work. 

Charles  Wayland  Drew  was  born  at  Burlington, 
Vermont,  January  18,  1858.  His  father,  Llomer  C. 
Drew,  was  a successful  contractor  and  builder  in 
Vermont.  The  family  name  has  been  identified  with 
that  state  for  several  generations,  and  the  first  repre- 
sentative, of  English  descent,  moved  from  Connecti- 
cut to  Vermont  about  the  time  of  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  Doctor  Drew  attended  the  public  schools 
in  Burlington,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  was  qualified 
for  admission  to  the  University  of  Vermont.  Even 
at  that  age  he  showed  a marked  fondness  for  the 
sciences,  and  in  the  university  gave  special  attention 
to  chemistry  and  related  sciences.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Vermont  in  1877  as  a bache- 
lor of  philosophy,  Ph.  B.,  and  was  elected  a member 
of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  fraternity.  After  graduation 
he  continued  the  study  and  practical  work  of  chemis- 
try in  various  laboratories,  and  finally  returned  to 
the  University  of  Vermont  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment, where  he  was  graduated  as  a doctor  of  medi- 
cine, M.  D.,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class,  in 
1880.  During  the  following  year  he  practiced  at 
Brattleboro,  Vermont,  in  association  with  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  state. 

Doctor  Drew  came  to  Minnesota  and  located  in 
Minneapolis  in  1881.  He  was  soon  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a good  practice,  and  in  1882  his  scientific  attain- 
ments were  recognized  in  his  appointment  as  pro- 
fessor of  chemistry  in  the  Minnesota  Hospital  Col- 
lege. He  held  that  position  seven  years,  and  in  vari- 
ous ways  helped  advance  the  interests  of  the  college. 
In  1884  he  was  appointed  city  physician  of  Minne- 
apolis, an  office  he  held  two  years. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  fact  that 
Doctor  Drew  was  a pioneer  in  the  investigations  of 
food  adulteration  in  Minnesota.  He  began  his  work 
in  1886,  and  the  report  of  his  investigations,  which 
was  published  and  distributed,  did  much  to  awaken 
public  interest  at  a time  when  little  thought  was  given 
by  most  people  to  such  matters  and  long  before  pub- 
lic opinion  had  expressed  itself  in  the  numerous  laws 
relating  to  the  purity  of  food  products  which  are 
now  found  on  the  statute  books  of  the  various  states 
and  the  nation.  This  report  led  to  the  appointment 
of  Doctor  Drew  as  state  chemist  to  the  Dairy  and 
Food  Department  of  Minnesota,  and  during  the  six 
years  he  held  that  office  he  did  much  effective  work 
in  continuing  his  investigations  and  in  educating  pub- 
lic opinion  and  bringing  about  the  enactment  of  laws 
which  with  modifications  are  still  on  the  statute  books 
of  Minnesota. 

Doctor  Drew  established  the  Minnesota  Institute 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1343 


of  Pharmacy  in  1886,  and  for  twenty-nine  years  has 
been  its  director  and  executive  head.  The  general 
purpose  of  this  school  is  indicated  in  the  following 
sentences  taken  from  its  public  announcement  for 
1914:  “A  school  of  pharmacy  giving  short  courses 

of  instruction  for  the  benefit  of  pharmacists  who 
desire  to  prepare  themselves  for  registration  by  ex- 
amination, and  for  beginners  without  experience  who 
wish  to  study  the  principles  of  the  science  of  phar- 
macy.” The  Institute  of  Pharmacy  has  accomplished 
a valuable  work  over  a large  field.  Its  graduates  are 
now  numbered  by  the  hundreds,  and  it  is  a matter 
of  statistical  record  that  more  than  a half  of  all  the 
legally  qualified  and  registered  pharmacists  of  Min- 
nesota were  graduated  from  Doctor  Drew’s  institute. 
He  has  maintained  its  standards  at  the  highest  plane, 
and  his  personal  enthusiasm  and  high  individual  at- 
tainments as  a scientist  have  had  much  to  do  with  the 
success  of  the  institute.  Its  graduates  are  now  found 
not  only  in  Minnesota  but  in  many  other  states  of 
the  Northwest. 

Doctor  Drew  was  appointed  city  chemist  of  Minne- 
apolis in  1895,  and  filled  that  office  seven  years.  In 
1898  he  was  appointed  professor  of  chemistry  and 
toxicology  in  the  medical  department  of  Hamline 
University.  Thus  for  practically  thirty  years  Doctor 
Drew  has  been  one  of  the  leading  educators  in  the 
Northwest  in  those  sciences  which  constitute  the 
basis  of  the  professions  of  medicine  and  pharmacy, 
and  hundreds  of  their  practitioners  have  drawn  in- 
spiration as  well  as  solid  instruction  from  associa- 
tions with  Doctor  Drew.  He  resigned  his  chair  in 
Hamline  University  in  1902,  and  has  since  given  prac- 
tically his  entire  time  to  the  Minnesota  Institute  of 
Pharmacy  and  to  his  profession  as  an  expert  chemist 
and  assayer.  He  has  not  been  in  the  regular  practice 
of  medicine  and  surgery  for  a number  of  years. 

Doctor  Drew  is  a member  of  the  Hennepin  County 
Medical  Society,  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  So- 
ciety, the  American  Medical  Association,  the  Minne- 
sota State  Pharmaceutical  Association  and  the  Amer- 
ican Chemical  Society.  In  politics  he  is  aligned  with 
the  republican  party,  but  has  never  entered  politics 
for  the  sake  of  office,  and  his  only  services  in  public 
office  have  been  in  direct  line  with  his  profession.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Society  of  the  Colonial  Wars  of 
the  State  of  Minnesota  and  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution,  also  of  the  Phi  Rho  Sigma 
medical  fraternity. 

Doctor  Drew  is  one  of  the  leading  Masons  of  Min- 
neapolis. He  was  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of 
master  mason  in  1879  at  Burlington,  Vermont,  and 
on  coming  to  Minneapolis  became  affiliated  with 
Khurum  Lodge,  from  which  he  withdrew  to  become 
a charter  member  of  Minnehaha  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past  master.  His  present 
affiliations  are  with  Ark  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Ark 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; Minneapolis  Mounted  Command- 
ery,  Knights  Templar,  of  which  he  is  past  com- 
mander; Zuhrah  Temple  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine;  and  for  six  years  was  treasurer  of  the  Min- 
nesota Grand  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar.  He 
is  a member  of  Minneapolis  Lodge,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and 
of  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
On  September  18,  1884,  Doctor  Drew  married  Miss 
Annah  Reed  Kellogg,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry 
Kellogg  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  Their  two  chil- 
dren are  Julia  Kellogg  Drew  and  Charles  Wayland 
Drew,  Jr. 


Andreas  Hans  Southerland.  For  twenty  years 
a prominent'  attorney  at  Cambridge,  A.  H.  Souther- 
land came  to  this  state  from  a foreign  land,  an  un- 
trained American,  in  early  manhood,  worked  on 
railroads,  sawmills,  and  in  other  lines  which  re- 
quired physical  strength  and  endurance,  and  with 
growing  adaptibility  to  circumstances  and  with  some 
increase  in  material  prosperity  he  was  finally  able 
to  realize  his  ambition  to  become  a lawyer.  Mr. 
Southerland  has  for  a number  of  years  been  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  ’Cambridge. 

Andreas  Hans  Southerland  was  born  in  Sweden, 
September  14,  1862.  His  father  was  a farmer. 
Educated  in  Sweden,  Mr.  A.  H.  Southerland  arrived 
at  Cambridge,  Minnesota,  May  18,  1882,  when  not 
yet  twenty  years  of  age.  The  first  year  was  spent 
as  a small  contractor  for  the  grading  of  railroads. 
He  was  then  in  sawmills,  worked  both  in  the  woods 
and  in  the  mills,  followed- that  with  clerking  in  a 
general  store,  and  after  a course  at  a business  col- 
lege in  Minneapolis  became  bookkeeper.  Mr.  South- 
erland completed  his  course  in  the  law  in  Minne- 
apolis in  1895,  and  at  once  took  up  active  prac- 
tice in  Cambridge,  where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a 
good  business  in  the  general  branches  of  the  law. 

Mr.  Southerland  was  honored  by  election  to  the 
office  of  probate  judge  in  1904,  and  his  retention  in 
that  office  by  re-election  is  high  proof  of  his  effi- 
ciency and  the  confidence  felt  by  the  people  in  his 
management  of  the  interests  entrusted  to  his  charge. 
He  also  served  one  term  as  county  attorney,  and  for 
four  years  was  president  of  the  village  council. 
Judge  Southerland  is  a republican,  has  served  on 
the  central  committee,  and  in  addition  to  his  general 
law  business  also  handles  fire  insurance  and  farm 
loans.  He  is  a Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a member 
of  Helios  Lodge  No.  273,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  Cam- 
bridge, being  a past  master  of  this  lodge.  He  is  also 
affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a past  chancellor 
of  the  latter  order.  Judge  Southerland  is  married 
and  has  one  daughter,  Mae. 

Wesley  Sherman  Foster.  Representing  some 
of  the  oldest  and  most  rugged  of  New  England  stock, 
the  Foster  family,  exemplifying  the  same  qualities 
which  in  early  generations  sent  them  as  colonists  to 
a new  world  and  prompted  them  to  fight  for  its 
freedom,  had  its  share  in  developing  the  northwest- 
ern frontier  in  Minnesota  during  the  decade  before 
the  Civil  war.  A son  of  the  Minnesota  pioneer,  and 
himself  a native  of  the  state,  Wesley  Sherman  Fos- 
ter has  wrought  a career  that  may  well  be  consid- 
ered to  have  advanced  the  dignity  of  the  name  and 
the  achievements  associated  with  his  forbears.  About 
fifteen  years  ago,  fresh  from  university  studies,  he 
took  up  the  practice  of  law  in  Mille  Lacs  County. 
To  a large  degree  the  law  has  been  superseded  by 
his  voluminous  interests  in  real  estate  and  finance, 
and  he  now  directs  his  operations  from  Minneapolis. 
In  each  line  of  endeavor,  his  ability,  resourceful- 
ness, good  judgment  and  energy  have  allowed  him 
to  be  a leader  where  others  have  followed.  In  suc- 
cession the  law,  finance  and  the  real  estate  business 
have  responded  to  his  efforts,  and  in  all  his  rela- 
tions he  has  displayed  the  same  marked  character- 
istics of  absolute  integrity  and  honorable  dealing 
which  have  placed  his  reputation  above  the  sugges- 
tion of  stain  or  blemish. 

Mr.  Foster  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Elmira, 
Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  March  3,  1872,  a son 


1344 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  Alonzo  and  Sophia  (West)  Foster.  The  family 
was  founded  in  America  by  Reginald  Forster,  who 
came  to  this  country  from  England  with  his  five 
sons  and  two  daughters  and  settled  at  Ipswich,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1636.  Daniel  Forster,  a descendant  of 
that  emigrant,  fought  bravely  as  a soldier  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his  grandson,  Captain 
Asa  Foster,  served  as  an  officer  in  the  War  of  1812. 
The  family  has  always  been  noted  for  its  military 
valor.  The  family  coat  of  arms,  adopted  at  the  time 
of  the  Crusades,  bears  the  inscription  “Sequor 
Agnum,”  together  with  powder  horns  and  broken 
spear.  The  name  as  originally  spelled  was  “Fors- 
ter,” but  with  Daniel,  the  son  of  the  Revolutionary 
patriot,  was  changed  to  its  present  style. 

Alonzo  Foster  was  born  at  Canterbury,  New 
Hampshire,  January  30,  1838,  and  died  at  the  old 
home  farm  in  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  March  7, 
1895.  His  wife,  a native  of  Minerva,  New  York, 
was  born  November  15,  1847,  and  still  survives,  mak- 
ing her  home  with  her  son  Wesley  S.  Alonzo  Foster 
became  one  of  Olmsted  County’s  best  known  cit- 
izens, and  held  numerous  offices  of  minor  import- 
ance in  his  township.  He  was  frequently  urged  to 
make  the  race  for  higher  offices,  but  always  refused. 
Although  he  saw  much  active  service  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  war  he  would  never  apply  for 
a pension,  always  considering  that  he  had  but  done 
his  duty  by  his  country  and  his  family,  and  declin- 
ing any  reward  for  a service  which  he  regarded  as 
one  of  the  responsibilities  of  citizenship.  He  enlisted 
in  September,  1861,  in  Company  A,  Second  Regiment, 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  a private,  and  his 
subsequent  service  covered  a period  of  four  years 
lacking  two  months.  His  record  was  that  of  a 
brave  and  valiant  soldier,  cheerful  and  faithful,  win- 
ning the  regard  of  his  officers  and  the  esteem  of  his 
comrades.  His  bravery  and  faithfulness  won  his 
promotion  to  corporal  and  later  to  orderly  sergeant, 
and  with  the  latter  rank  he  received  his  honorable 
discharge  when  the  struggle  had  ceased.  Mr.  Foster 
saw  some  of  the  hardest  fighting  of  the  war,  par- 
ticipating in  such  sanguinary  engagements  as  Mill 
Springs,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chickamauga  and  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  and  was  with  General  Sherman  on 
his  famous  march  to  the  sea.  Fie  escaped  capture 
by  the  enemy  and  was  never  wounded.  When  the 
war  closed,  like  a good  soldier  turned  citizen,  he 
returned  to  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  the  farm'  and 
through  industry  and  hard  work  succeeded  in  ac- 
quiring and  developing  a handsome  farm  of  400 
acres  in  Elmira  Township,  Olmsted  County.  This 
farm  is  still  in  the  family,  and  is  now  owned  by 
Wesley  S.  Foster  and  his  mother,  being  used  as  a 
stock  farm  on  which  general  farming  is  conducted 
and  high  grade  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep  are  raised. 
Alonzo  Foster  was  a Unitarian  in  his  religious  be- 
lief and  lived  an  honest  and  God-fearing  life.  Mrs. 
Foster,  his  widow,  traces  her  ancestry  also  back  to 
Revolutionary  days,  being  a descendant  of  Samuel 
West,  who  with  three  brothers  enlisted  in  the  Con- 
tinental army  and  fought  through  the  war  for 
American  independence.  Of  the  children  born  to 
Alonzo  and  Sophia  (West)  Foster,  Wesley  Sherman 
is  the  eldest;  May,  who  died  in  1899,  was  a teacher 
in  Olmsted  and  Winona  counties  for  nearly  ten 
years ; and  Milton,  who  carried  on  operations  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Olmsted  County  for  many  years, 
passed  away  in  1907. 

After  completing  the  curriculum  of  the  district 
schools  of  Olmsted  County,  Wesley  Sherman  Foster 


entered  St.  Charles  High  School  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  1892.  At  that  time  he  came  to  Minneapolis 
and  entered  the  University  of  Minnesota,  being  grad- 
uated from  the  academic  department  in  1896  with  the 
degree  Bachelor  of  Literature  and  from  the  law 
department  of  that  institution  in  1899  with  the  de- 
gree Bachelor  of  Law.  Thus  fully  equipped,  he 
entered  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Milaca, 
Mille  Lacs  County,  being  attracted  to  this  beautiful 
country  by  promising  resources.  In  Olmsted  County, 
where  he  spent  his  boyhood  days,  there  were  no 
lakes  where  boating,  fishing  and  swimming  might 
be  enjoyed,  and  he  had  always  determined  that  when 
he  was  ready  to  settle  down  to  the  serious  business 
of  life  it  would  be  in  some  spot  adjacent  to  a large 
body  of  water.  He  has  never  regretted  his  choice 
of  locality,  for  in  this  lovely  Mille  Lacs  Region  he 
has  achieved  his  greatest  success.  Mr.  Foster  was 
first  in  partnership  in  law  with  Albert  F.  Pratt, 
under  the  firm  style  of  Foster  & Pratt,  a combina- 
tion which  continued  for  about  five  years.  Mr.  Pratt 
is  now  county  attorney  of  Anoka  County,  Minne- 
sota. Subsequently  Mr.  Foster  was  associated  with 
his  brother-in-law,  L.  G.  Sperry,  as  Foster  & Sperry. 

During  the  period  of  his  successful  legal  practice 
Mr.  Foster  had  become  interested  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  realty  interests  of  his  locality,  and  his 
holdings  in  this  line  became  so  large  and  the  duties 
of  the  management  of  his  business  so  heavy  that 
he  finally  decided  to  give  up  the  active  practice  of 
law  in  order  to  devote  a greater  part  of  his  time 
to  the  real  estate  business.  His  favorite  work  has 
been  the  preservation  of  natural  beauty  and  the 
development  of  lake  shore  properties  for  summer 
resort  purposes  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Mille  Lacs, 
located  in  Central  Minnesota,  in  the  northern  part 
of  Mille  Lacs  County,  his  headquarters  being  at 
Milaca,  where  he  remained  until  1911.  The  follow- 
ing description  of  this  delightful  section  will  give  the 
reader  some  idea  of  its  many  charms : “Lake  Mille 
Lacs,  as  its  name  implies,  is  associated  with  the 
earliest  French  and  Indian  history  of  the  North- 
west. It  marks  the  end  of  the  trail  of  such  explorers 
as  Father  Hennepin  and  Radisson,  and  its  shores 
form  a setting  for  much  interesting  tradition.  No 
lake  with  a greater  variety  of  charm  lies  within 
the  boundaries  of  Minnesota.  Limpid  bays,  long 
stretches  of  inviting  sandy  beach,  shimmering  har- 
bors, rugged  rock-bound  shores,  and  surging  surf  all 
combine  to  form  a grand  panorama  of  nature  in  her 
happiest  mood.  Magnificent  groves  of  oak,  maple, 
elm,  and  linden  supply  an  abundance  of  restful 
greenery  throughout  the  long  summer ; and  a ka- 
leidoscopic riot  of  color  in  the  autumn.  Many  of 
these  giant  trees  were  saplings  at  the  time  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  began  the  conquest  of  the  forests 
on  the  far  eastern  coast  of  the  continent.  While 
Minnesota  is  rich  in  charming  lakes  of  varying 
size  and  beauty,  there  is  but  one  Mille  Lacs.  This 
great  lake  in  all  its  varied  charms  lies  within  one 
hundred  miles  of  Minneapolis  and  is  of  easy  access 
to  city  dwellers.  Here  the  bracing  atmosphere  of 
the  north  woods  invites  to  rest  and  recreation ; and 
it  is  no  longer  difficult  for  anyone  to  avail  himself  of 
this  invitation.  The  obstacles  which  heretofore  pre- 
vented the  occupancy  of  these  shores  have  all  been 
removed,  and  it  is  now  of  easy  access  both  by  rail 
and  automobile.” 

Mr.  Foster’s  summer  home  is  on  the  shores  of 
Lake  Mille  Lacs,  and  he  makes  the  trip  twice  a 
week  from  Minneapolis  by  automobile  or  over  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1345 


Soo  Line.  The  time  is  not  far  distant  when  an 
electric  line  will  afford  direct  and  convenient  trans- 
portation from  the  Twin  Cities  to  this  attractive  lake. 
Mr.  Foster  has  already  platted  two  extensive  prop- 
erties, embracing  about  miles  of  water  front, 
known  as  “Izatys”  and  “Waldemere,”  the  last 
named  being  just  developed.  Waldemere,  lying 
about  one  mile  westerly  from  Wahkon,  embraces 
nearly  two  miles  of  most  entrancing  shore  line. 
Mr.  Foster  is  also  interested  in  Crescent  Point,  one 
of  the  choicest  and  most  beautiful  spots  on  the 
lake,  which  will  be  developed  about  the  year  1916. 
He  is  also  handling  farm  land  extensively  in  the 
Mille  Lacs  locality  and  perhaps  no  one  has  been  so 
actively  identified  with  the  settlement  and  develop- 
ment of  this  rich  region.  Wonderful  results  are 
being  obtained  there  by  the  industrious  farmer. 
Mr.  Foster  was  largely  instrumental  in  starting  the 
Milaca  Creamery,  now  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
state.  Through  his  efforts  drainage  ditches  have 
been  constructed  which  have  reclaimed  6,000  acres 
of  fertile  muck  land  in  the  counties  of  Kanabec  and 
Isanti. 

He  came  to  Minneapolis  in  1911,  from  which  city 
he  has  since  continued  to  direct  his  operations.  He 
is  president  and  owns  a full  half  interest  in  the 
Mille  Lacs  Investment  & Improvement  Company,  the 
office  of  which  is  at  517  Marquette  Avenue,  South. 
Mr.  Foster’s  own  office  is  in  this  same  building,  the 
State  Institution  for  Savings,  of  which  he  is  a di- 
rector and  stockholder.  He  was  also  one  of  the  in- 
corporators of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Onamia,  Min- 
nesota, and  a director  several  years,  in  addition  to 
which  he  was  vice  president  and  a director  of  the 
Milaca  State  Bank  for  five  years.  The  State  Insti- 
tution for  Savings  of  Minneapolis  is  one  of  the 
strong  financial  concerns  of  the  city,  is  capitalized 
at  $400,000,  and  has  paid  4 per  cent  interest  on 
savings  accounts  continuously  since  1888.  Its  state- 
ment issued  June  30,  1914,  shows  the  following  fig- 
ures : Assets : Bonds  and  mortgages,  $804,497.63 ; 
real  estate  and  office  building,  $184,362.05 ; insurance 
and  taxes  advanced,  $187.10;  bill  receivable,  $6,- 
§55-75;  furniture-  and  fixtures,  $8,842.24;  accrued 
interest,  $10,100;  cash  on  hand,  $80,263.45.  Liabili- 
ties : Capital  stock,  $400,000 ; reserve  and  undi- 

vided profits,,  $39,571.01 ; deposits,  $627,937.41 ; bills 
payable,  $27,500.00.  Total,  $1,095,008.22. 

Mr.  Foster  has  always  taken  a keen  interest  in  the 
advancement  of  education,  and  while  a resident  of 
Milaca  was  president  of  the  village  board  of  edu- 
cation for  ten  years,  during  which  time,  principally 
through  his  efforts,  there  was  erected  the  $60,000 
high  school  building.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Lincoln  Lodge  No.  221,  A.  F.  &r  A.  M„  at  Milaca, 
and  is  past  master  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  past  high 
priest  of  the  Chapter.  He  is  a noble  of  Zuhrah 
Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  arid  a thirty-second 
degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

On  October  21,  1899,  at  Wasioja,  Dodge  County, 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Foster  married  Miss  Halesia  Sperry, 
who  was  born  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  a daughter  of 
A.  M.  and  Thyrza  (Garrison)  Sperry.  Her  mother 
was  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock  and  a descendant 
of  the  noted  Garrison  family  of  which  the  great 
abolition  leader  and  editor,  William  Lloyd  Gar- 
rison, was  a member.  A.  M.  Sperry  was  treasurer 
of  the  Freedmen’s  Bureau,  during  the  Civil  war,  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  came  to  Minnesota  in  the 
’70s,  subsequently  serving  as  superintendent  of 


schools  of  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  for  sixteen 
years.  He  is  now  retired  from  active  life  and  is 
living  quietly  at  his  home  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 
Mrs.  Sperry  died  in  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  in 
1908. 

Mrs.  Foster  was  a child  when  brought  by  her 
parents  to  this  state  and  her  education  was  secured 
in  the  schools  of  Wasioja  Seminary  and  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota.  She  is  a talented  writer  along 
historical  lines,  and  her  literary  work  is  largely  an 
expression  of  her  sympathetic  studies  of  local  his- 
tory and  of  her  enthusiasm  for  the  wonderful  beau- 
ties of  Minnesota  scenery.  Probably  the  best 
example  of  her  literary  style  will  be  found  in  an 
article,  valuable  for  its  historical  contents,  published 
on  other  pages  of  this  work,  entitled  “Izatys,  where 
Nature  reigns,”  descriptive  of  the  historical  asso- 
ciations and  the  natural  beauties  found  on  the  south 
shore  of  Lake  Mille  Lacs.  Two  daughters  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster,  of  whom  one,  Imogen, 
survives.  She  was  born  at  Milaca,  Minnesota,  and  is 
being  given  excellent  educational  advantages.  The 
other  child,  Eleanor  Emily,  born  at  Milaca,  died 
in  September,  1913,  aged  six  years,  and  a beautiful 
cemetery  has  been  platted  at  Mille  Lacs  Lake,  which 
bears  her  name  and  is  known  as  Eleanor  Foster 
Cemetery. 


Foster  Coat-of-Arms 


Izatys.  The  American  is  gradually  becoming  ac- 
customed and  disciplined  to  an  appreciation  of  Na- 
ture’s beauty  as  a national  asset  of  life  and  living, 
along  with  the  wealth  of  mines  and  fields,  factories 
and  business  exchanges.  While  the  generations  of 
practical  men  who  have  developed  Minnesota  from 
a wilderness  have  been  primarily  concerned  with 
lumber  and  minerals,  grain  and  live  stock,  there  has 
also  been  manifest  a quiet  pride  in  the  wonderful 
excellence  of  climate  and  the  unlimited  variety  of 
landscape  with  which  Nature  has  endowed  the  state. 


1346 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


In  the  course  of  this  history  the  narrative  of  the 
historian  has  not  failed  to  take  account  of  these 
among  the  proper  resources  of  the  state.  While  in 
this  survey  references  have  been  made  to  the  at- 
tractive Mille  Lacs  region  of  Central  Minnesota,  it 
is  a matter  of  good  fortune  that  a special  contribu- 
tion has  been  secured  for  this  publication  of  a piece 
of  descriptive  writing,  characterized  by  a rare 
felicity  of  expression  in  keeping  with  the  subject. 
Under  the  title  of  “Izatys,  where  Nature  reigns,” 
Halesia  Sperry  Foster  has  written  an  account  of  the 
lake  and  surroundings  of  “Mille  Lacs”  which,  though 
quoted  elsewhere,  deserves  publication  in  its  en- 
tirety. The  article  of  Mrs.  Foster,  who  for  a num- 
ber of  years  has  had  her  home  at  Mille  Lacs,  is 
as  follows : 

“Of  all  the  lakes  of  Minnesota,  by  far  the  finest 
and  most  impressive  is  the  large  body  of  water  to 
which,  two  hundred  years  ago,  the  French  explorers 
gave  the  name  of  ‘Mille  Lacs’  it  being  then,  as  now, 
chief  in  size  of  the  ‘Thousand  Lakes’  of  the  region. 

“I  well  recall  my  first  impression  of  this  lake. 
Unaccustomed,  as  are  most  westerners,  to  large 
bodies  of  water,  it  was  with  a feeling  almost  of 
amazement  that  I stood  at  the  top  of  the  high  tree- 
clad  embankment  overhanging  the  beach,  and  saw 
before  me  the  wide-spread  waters  flashing  back  the 
smile  of  the  blue  sky  above.  Gazing  for  the  first 
time  upon  such  a scene,  imagination  could  readily 
give  one  at  least  a partial  realization  of  what  Bal- 
boa’s feeling  might  have  been,  as  he  broke  through 
the  last  obstacle  that  shut  from  his  view  the  broad 
Pacific;  for  truly  it  is  a new  sea  of  promise  that 
spreads  itself  before  the  vision,  and  though  less  gi- 
gantic, none  the  less  certain  are  the  possibilities 
it  represents. 

“I  have  since  watched  the  effect  of  the  first  sight 
of  Mille  Lacs  upon  other  amateur  discoverers,  and 
it  is  interesting  to  see  that  the  impression  is  always 
the  same.  The  question  often  arises,  ‘How  is  it 
that  the  spell  of  seclusion  has  so  long  kept  this 
enchanted  spot  from  the  knowledge  of  the  world? 
These  waters  spread  their  beautiful  expanses  within 
a few  hours’  journey  from  the  busy  cities  that  cen- 
tralize our  western  commerce ; why  have  they  not 
been  long  since  appropriated  by  the  railroads,  the 
excursionists  and  all  the  crowding  life  of  the  cities?’ 

“The  answer  of  course  is  the  familiar  statement, 
‘This  is  a big  country.’  We  are  only  now  at  the 
dawning  of  the  day  when  the  ever-increasing  stream 
of  population  and  industrial  development  shall  de- 
mand the  complete  opening  of  its  vast  treasure 
houses.  It  has  been  the  expansion  of  a single  gen- 
eration that  has  revealed  the  West  to  the  East.  By 
the  growth  of  great  railway  systems  there  have  been 
opened  up  to  the  uses  of  commerce  and  agriculture 
vast  territories  hitherto  practically  unknown.  The 
result  has  been  an  increase  in  national  wealth  and 
power  that  is  the  marvel  of  the  world. 

“And  what  the  swift  expansion  of  railway  enter- 
prise has  done  for  the  prairies  of  the  West,  it  is 
now  doing  for  these  fertile  and  promising  regions 
surrounding  _ Mille  Lacs,  which  needed  only  to  be 
made  accessible  in  order  to  prove  their  great  pos- 
sibilities. This  is  already  an  accomplished  fact; 
thrift  and  industry  have  here  brought  about  a de- 
velopment that  marks  sure  advancement  toward  a 
great  prosperity'.  Coincidently  there  has  been  made 
accessible  a place  of  refreshment  and  delight  for 
the  Nature-lover,  the  sportsman  and  the  pleasure 
seeker,  to  which  the  state  can  show  no  equal. 


“To  the  mind  given  to  philosophizing  on  the  vari- 
ous aspects  of  life,  the  wide  and  sparkling  waters 
of  Mille  Lacs  with  their  forest-fringed  shores  and 
shining  beaches  inevitably  call  to  mind  the  familiar 
truth  that  ‘God  made  the  country  and  man  made 
the  town.’  The  contrast  suggested  is  not  only  phys- 
ical; it  is  more.  A touch  of  Nature  lingers  in  the 
mental  constitution  of  even  the  most  sophisticated, 
and  there  are  few  persons,  however  absorbed  in  the 
stimulating  activities  of  our  modern  life,  to  whom 
there  does  not  come  at  times  a longing  for  transi- 
tion from  the  uproar  of  Man’s  world  to  the  peace 
of  the  good  green  world  of  Nature.  This  universal 
craving  for  relief  from  the  life  of  the  town  finds  one 
expression  in  the  general  rush  to  ‘the  country’  as  a 
place  for  Sunday  relaxation.  It  is  becoming  the 
custom  among  people  of  all  classes  and  habits  to  turn 
more  and  more  from  our  conventional  Sabbaths  to 
‘God’s  first  temples.’ 

“And  here  the  divine  Architect  has  surely  built 
in  splendor.  As  I trod  the  rustling  gold  and  crim- 
son carpet  spread  by  September,  or  watched  the 
mellow  autumn  light  sift  through  the  interlacing  tops 
of  majestic  pillars,  or  looked  down  long  aisles  whose 
broad  and  shadowy  peace  might  well  hush  into  rest 
the  discontent  of  even  the  most  world-weary,  I 
thought,  surely  here  is  something  better  than  the 
traditional  golden  streets  and  gates  of  pearl — a 
type  in  miniature  of  the  earthly  paradise,  where 
abides  not  only  peace,  but  the  active  and  conscious 
joy  of  life  in  its  freest  and  most  natural  form. 

“It  would  be  hard  to  guess  just  how  much  of  this 
philosophy  of  the  ‘outdoor’  life  was  breathed  into 
the  stolid  minds  of  the  original  dwellers  of  these 
shores,  but  certainly  the  love  of  outdoor  freedom  is 
so  ingrained  in  the  Indian  character  as  to  make  his 
obstinate  resistance  to  the  advance  of  ‘civilization’ 
at  least  comprehensible. 

“Since  the  day  when  Groseilliers  and  Radisson, 
leading  the  van  of  this  civilization  with  fearless 
zeal,  first  penetrated  this  remote  and  unknown  wil- 
derness, the  attitude  of  the  primitive  holders  of  the 
land  has  been  of  stubborn  though  silent  opposition 
to  all  the  claims  and  exactions  of  the  new  world 
that  then  began  to  thrust  itself  upon  them.  When 
the  two  adventurous  Frenchmen,  bent  upon  opening 
up  to  Europe  these  spacious  and  mysterious  ex- 
panses of  forest  and  plain,  first  came  within  their 
hitherto  unsought  confines,  the  tribes  of  the  new 
found  territory  sent  to  the  explorers,  it  is  true, 
gifts  and  tribute,  and  listened  at  least  passively  to 
their  counsel  of  peace  and  commerce.  Evidently, 
however,  their  toleration  of  the  invaders  was  based 
only  on  self-interest  and  perhaps  the  perception  of 
the  irresistible  forces  behind  them. 

“When,  a few  years  later,  the  brave  and  high- 
minded  soldier  and  patriot,  DuLuth,  saw  the  tre- 
mendous opportunities  for  his  country  in  this  same 
wilderness,  and  gathered  his  little  handful  of  young 
Frenchmen  to  make  the  long  journey  to  the  western 
extremity  of  Superior,  the  tribes  thereabouts  soon 
found  in  him  not  only  a friend  and  counsellor,  but 
undoubtedly  recognized  the  invincibility  of  the 
power  he  represented,  for  he  obtained  a mastery  of 
their  stubborn  and  unapproachable  nature  that  ex- 
tended even  to  the  breaking  down  of  their  inter- 
tribal hostilities.  Even  this,  however,  was  temporary 
policy  rather  than  any  change  in  their  impenetrable 
opposition  to  the  new  civilization  for  which  he  was 
to  pave  the  way. 

“It  was  in  1678  that  the  little  band  of  eight  men 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1347 


found  and  claimed  the  region  now  centralized  in  the 
city  called  by  DuLuth’s  name.  A year  later,  stand- 
ing on  the  spot  where  Mille  Lacs  finds  its  outlet,  in 
the  great  village  called  Izatys,  capital  town  of  the 
Sioux,  the  explorer  claimed  the  entire  territory,  in- 
cluding the  beautiful  lake,  sparkling  like  a _ great 
jewel  in  its  dark  setting  of  primitive  forest,  in  the 
name  of  France.  In  his  report  made  later  to  the 
French  Minister  of  the  Marine,  he  announces  the 
achievement  in  these  words:  ‘On  the  2nd  of  July, 
1679,  I had  the  honor  to  plant  his  Majesty’s  arms  in 
the  great  village  of  the  Nadouesioux,  called  Izatys, 
where  never  had  a Frenchman  been.’ 

“It  is  easy,  here  by  the  same  waters,  in  the  midst 
of  the  new  Izatys,  to  imagine  the  scene  of  two  and 
a quarter  centuries  ago;  the  sparkling  lake  and 
shadowy  forest,  the  picturesque  and  squalid  village 
stretching  far  back  from  the  shore,  the  eight  daring 
Frenchmen,  unafraid  in  the  midst  of  the  host  of 
savages,  the  dark  and  sullen  warriors,  undoubtedly 
comprehending  the  meaning  of  this  first  act  of  in- 
terference with  their  ancient  sovereignty,  yet  showing 
no  open  hostility.  For  DuLuth  was  allowed  to  go 
back  in  safety  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Great  Lakes, 
where  he  demonstrated  his  remarkable  influence  by 
convening  and  controlling  a great  assembly  of  these 
Sioux  with  the  nations  of  the  north — a peace  con- 
gress as  truly  as  those  of  today. 

“A  year  later,  in  1680,  he  and  his  companions 
found  themselves  again  on  the  shore  of  Mille  Lacs, 
on  another  patriotic  and  dramatic  mission.  He  had 
learned,  while  on  one  of  his  numerous  exploring 
trips  along  the  Mississippi  Valley,  of  the  capture  of 
his  fellow-explorer,  Father  Hennepin,  by  the  Sioux 
of  the  Mille  Lacs  territory.  He  found  the  mis- 
sionary held  in  captivity,  of  a semi-kindly  nature,  by 
the  ‘people  of  Issatti,’  as  he  called  them.  The 
priest’s  experiences,  as  described  by  himself,  strip 
the  romance  from  our  ideas  of  the  early  red  man, 
who  certainly,  as  a ‘child  of  nature,’  found  in  her 
none  of  the  beauty  and  little  of  the  beneficence 
that  she  shows  to  the  more  enlightened  vision  of 
the  race  that  has  supplanted  him. 

“Whether  or  not  the  legend,  long  established,  of 
the  imprisonment  of  Hennepin  on  the  rocky  island 
that  lies  far  out  toward  the  eastern  shore,  be  true, 
there  is  the  direct  report  from  both  his  own  and 
DuLuth’s  hands,  of  the  finding  of  the  priest  and 
his  two  companions  here  on  this  shore,  and  of  the 
stern  rebuke  which  DuLuth  administered  to  the  sav- 
ages for  this  affront  to  France.  His  words  were  ap- 
parently accepted  as  from  one  in  authority,  and  in 
the  autumn  the  Frenchmen,  rescuers  and  rescued, 
journeyed  down  the  Rum  River  to  the  Mississippi, 
and  thence  back  to  Green  Bay  and  Mackinaw. 

"It  was  nearly  a century  later,  at  about  the  time 
that  the  French  and  their  Indian  allies  were  con- 
tending with  the  English  for  the  mastery  of  the 
eastern  part  of  the  continent,  that  the  long  struggle 
between  the  Sioux  and  the  Ojibways  for  the  pos- 
session of  these  great  hunting  and  fishing  grounds 
culminated  in  a terrific  battle  at  the  outlet  of  the 
lake.  All  about  the  great  village  the  Sioux  furiously 
but  vainly  resisted  in  a three-days’  fight,  the  bloodiest 
Indian  battle  of  the  west,  the  advance  of  the  Ojib- 
ways, who  then  drove  them  out  to  the  south  and 
west  and  dispossessed  them  forever.  The  conquered 
Sioux,  in  accordance  with  a treaty  made  after  they 
were  driven  across  the  Mississippi  near  where  now 
the  village  of  Anoka  stands,  never  again  set  foot  in 
this  territory,  moving  on  toward  the  western  plains. 


The  victorious  Ojibways,  or  Chippewas,  to  use  the 
modernized  name,  here  found  the  final  limit  of 
their  western  advance.  ‘The  great  village  called 
‘Izatys’  gradually  disappeared  even  in  name,  for  the 
first  translator  of  DuLuth’s  letter  mis-read  it  as 
‘Kathio,’  transcribing  the  ‘Iz’  as  ‘K’  and  the  ‘ys’ 
as  ‘hio.’ 

“Fortunately  the  original  and  characteristic  Indian 
name  is  not  to  be  lost,  being  preserved  as  the  name 
of  the  park-like  shore  that  lies  at  the  base  of  the 
promontory  long  known  as  ‘Mozomonne  Point’  in 
the  remembrance  of  old  Chief  Mozomonne.  So 
strong  did  his  followers  and  descendants  find  the 
chain  of  ancient  association  that  for  thirty  years 
after  their  claims  to  the  lands  about  the  lake  had 
been,  by  their  own  consent,  abandoned  to  the  gov- 
ernment, a remnant  of  the  tribe,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Mozomonne’s  son  and  grandson,  lingered  in 
their  old  haunts,  obstinately  clinging  to  the  home 
of  their  ancestors  in  the  face  of  the  encroach- 
ments of  white  settlers  and  promoters  of  civiliza- 
tion. I understand  that  only  very  recently  did  Ain- 
dhu-so-ge-shig,  the  last  of  Mozomonne's  race  of 
chiefs,  submit  to  the  inevitable  and  depart  from  his 
native  shores  forever.  In  fact,  there  is  among  the 
last  handful  of  loiterers  on  the  shore  the  belief 
that  one  part  at  least  of  the  lake  is  theirs  forever 
by  supernatural  authority.  The  shining  white  rock 
island,  far  out  in  midlake,  represents  to  them  the 
last  stronghold  of  Indian  tradition.  They  tell  the 
story  of  the  maiden  who  long  ago  met  a tragic  death 
on  this  island  and  point  with  superstitious  awe  to 
the  bloodstains  still  visible  on  the  rocks,  firmly  con- 
vinced that  the  sounds  that  issue  by  night  from  the 
depths  of  the  island  are  the  lamentations  of  the 
spirit  that  lingers  forever  on  the  spot.  To  the  eye 
of  the  skeptical,  however,  it  appears  merely. a white 
and  shining  island,  animated  only  by  the  flight  of 
gulls,  making  a pleasing  break  in  the  expanse  of 
the  blue  water  rolling  far  toward  the  horizon,  and 
giving  the  additional  charm  of  romantic  legend  to 
the  beauty  of  the  world  that  opens  before  the 
shores  of  Izatys. 

“The  promontory  thus  left  to  the  uses  of  civiliza- 
tion stretches  its  bold  arm  far  out,  embracing  a bay 
of  great  size  and  quiet  beauty,  whose  waters  lie  in 
peace  and  security,  even  when  storms  are  lashing  the 
white-capped  waves  in  noisy  tumult  against  the  far- 
ther side  of  the  protecting  arm  of  land.  It  is  an  ex- 
perience worth  while  to  row  across  the  gently  undu- 
lating surface  of  the  harbor,  lying  almost  landlocked 
between  its  enclosing  shores,  to  the  wooded  point, 
there  to  beach  the  boat  and  follow  one  of  the  broad 
and  beautiful  ways,  each  with  its  musical  Indian 
name,  the  future  thoroughfares  of  Izatys,  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  promontory.  The  contrast  is  so 
sudden  as  to  be  thrilling;  the  heaving,  white-crested 
waters  hurl  themselves  in  oceanic  fury  up  the  beach 
and  against  the  rocky  point ; yet  in  the  quiet  enclosed 
harbor  behind  us,  no  trace  of  the  tumult  is  to  be  dis- 
cerned. save  for  the  distant  noise  of  the  waves  and 
the  gleam  of  the  whitecaps  far  out  beyond  the  en- 
closure. Nowhere  in  the  entire  hundred  miles  of 
shore  line  can  a condition  of  such  complete  contrast 
be  found  as  here  on  the  shore  of  Izatys,  where  on  one 
hand  is  the  wide  and  open  sea,  and  on  the  other  a 
perfect  refuge  from  all  its  turbulence  in  time  of 
storm. 

“Here,  too,  Nature’s  spontaneous  charms  have  al- 
ready received  added  grace  at  the  hands  of  Man, 
the  lover  of  beauty.  Artists  have  here  expended 


1348 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


their  skill,  intensifying  without  altering  the  natural 
graces  of  grove  and  shore.  Here  one  looks  down 
gently  curving  avenues  under  noble  elms,  oaks  and 
maples,  the  successors  of  the  ancient  pine  forest  that 
long  since  disappeared  before  the  axe  of  the  lumber- 
man. These  winding  avenues  furnish  to  the  discern- 
ing eye  the  certain  promise  of  the  future.  Fine 
boulevards  will  soon  make  of  the  driveway  that  now 
encircles  the  lake  a pleasure-course  of  over  a hun- 
dred miles  through  beautiful  groves  and  smiling 
meadows  always  with  the  great  waters  sparkling 
close  by.  Even  now  to  follow  this  driveway,  as  I did 
for  thirty  miles  along  the  southern  side  of  the  lake, 
is  to  fly  on  the  wings  of  delight  through  the  bright 
freedom  of  a fresh  new  region  full  of  charm  for  the 
present  and  cheerful  anticipation  for  the  future.  No 
one  can  fail  to  foresee  the  time,  already  near  at  hand, 
when  this  delightful  spot  shall  be  eagerly  sought  from 
every  side,  situated  as  it  is,  centrally  for  the  entire 
state. 

“And  just  as  life  and  beauty  here  abound  in  all 
possible  variety  so  here  also  waits  pleasure  in  every 
guise,  adaptable  to  humanity  in  all  its  moods  and 
phases.  Truly  nature  here  speaks  a various  language 
and  calls  to  her  human  children  in  numberless  ways. 
Here  the  Nimrod,  regardless  of  the  degree  of  his 
skill,  forgets  the  chill  of  the  late  autumn  days  in  the 
keen  fascination  of  the  great  duck  passes  or  the  leaf 
stripped  haunts  of  the  wild  deer.  The  follower  of 
that  more  quiet  sport  celebrated  by  ‘good  Ike 
Walton'  can  bask  in  the  mellow  philosophies  as  well 
as  the  active  excitement  of  the  fisherman's  life;  the 
dreamer  of  dreams  floats  on  a fairy  sea  as  his  boat 
drifts  over  mirrored  cloud  and  grove;  the  artist’s 
or  poet’s  eye  sees  miracles  of  beauty  in  the  sunset 
colors  that  turn  the  glassy  bay  into  an  immense 
opral ; the  student  of  the  life  of  the  wild  finds  new 
worlds  both  infinite  and  infinitesimal  in  the  ever 
changing  sky,  in  the  shifting  beauty  of  forest-reaches, 
in  the  busy  life  of  the  tiny  dwellers  of  tree,  meadow 
and  shore,  in  the  Sabbath-like  quiet  of  sun-flecked 
grove  or  the  uproar  of  stormy  waves  breaking  on  the 
rock-bound  beach. 

“The  happy  voices  of  children  playing  on  the  wide 
sand  beaches  or  answering  the  frolicsome  call  of  the 
little  waves,  the  lovers  strolling  through  shady  walks, 
the  merry  shouts  of  bathers,  the  launch  skimming 
like  a sea  bird  between  blue  water  and  blue  sky,  the 
graceful  canoe  with  its  dark  occupants — a picture  of 
the  strange  and  alien  past  still  lingering  in  the  midst 
of  the  bright  present — all  these  activities  fill  earth 
and  sky  and  the  soul  of  the  onlooker  with  the  sense 
of  universal,  joyous  life  in  the  midst  of  a quiet  so 
deep  and  peaceful  as  to  be  suggestive  of  our  notions 
of  eternity. 

“This  in  a general  way  is  the  impression  produced 
on  the  mind  given  to  meditative  enjoyment  of  the 
outdoor  world.  Not  every  visitor  to  Izatys  would 
feel  the  inclination  to  rhapsody  or  metaphor,  but  even 
to  the  mind  most  prosaic  and  least  inclined  to  en- 
thusiastic expression,  the  place  makes  its  appeal  along 
the  lines  of  freedom  and  out-of-door  pleasure. 

“Most  people  plan  or  at  least  dream  vacation  jour- 
neys to  some  place  that  shall  furnish  complete  con- 
trast to  the  routine  of  every  day  life.  To  me  it  came 
as  a surprise  and  relief  to  learn  that  I need  not  have 
sighed  for  Alpine  lakes  or  Italian  bays  so  long,  and 
to  find  in  this  great  native  lake  and  the  charming 
nook  with  the  quaint  Indian  name,  nestling  on  its 


shore,  possibilities  for  all  the  forms  of  outdoor  hap- 
piness that  our  town  life  makes  us  desire. 

“What  the  future  may  bring  to  Izatys  and  its 
environment  rests  alone  with  the  future  to  show,  but 
the  promise  is  as  certain  as  it  is  attractive ; meantime 
the  place  offers  pleasure  and  peace  to  all  who  have 
the  good  fortune  to  find  it.” 

Rev.  John  W.  Powell,  Sr.  One  of  the  earliest 
clergymen  and  circuit  riders  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  Minnesota  was  the  late  Rev.  John 
W.  Powell,  Sr.  A full  half  century  of  his  lifetime 
was  devoted  to  evangelical  and  missionary  labors. 
Forty  years  were  spent  in  Minnesota,  where  he  ar- 
rived during  the  territorial  period,  and  gave  him- 
self with  admirable  fortitude  and  consecrated  zeal 
to  the  task  of  extending  Christianity  and  upbuilding 
churches,  a work  which  called  for  an  even  greater 
degree  of  industry,  self-sacrifice  and  endurance  than 
the  enterprise  of  developing  individual  homesteads. 
To  his  work  he  brought  no  inferior  powers  of  intel- 
lect or  heart,  but  the  strength  of  a great  mind  and 
an  untiring  devotion.  Much  of  his  best  work  was 
accomplished  amid  adverse  conditions  and  in  obscure 
places,  but  through  it  all  he  fought  the  good  fight, 
kept  the  faith  and  brought  light  to  those  that  sat  in 
darkness.  Among  the  many  tributes  paid  to  him  at 
the  time  of  his  death  one  may  be  quoted : “In  the 

passing  away  of  Mr.  Powell  the  community  and  state 
in  which  he  lived  have  lost  one  of  their  most  devoted 
benefactors,  one  of  those  early  preacher-pioneers 
whose  zeal  for  the  cause  of  Christianity  and  civiliza- 
tion yielded  to  no  obstacles.” 

It  will  be  appropriate  to  mention  briefly  the  ances- 
tral stock  from  which  he  inherited  some  of  his  in- 
dividual powers  and  virtues.  For  many  generations 
the  Powell  family  was  identified  with  the  history  of 
Northern  Wales,  and  the  old  Powell  estate  is  still 
owned  by  members  of  the  family  in  Chester  County, 
England.  Thomas  Powell,  a member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends  and  one  of  the  sturdy  Welsh  followers 
of  William  Penn,  came  from  Chester,  England,  to 
America  in  1685,  as  one  of  the  colonists  under  the 
leadership  of  the  great  Penn.  He  was  accompanied 
by  two  sons,  and  from  one  of  these,  Joseph,  the 
descent  is  traced  in  direct  line  to  the  late  John  W. 
Powell.  The  family  settled  in  what  was  known  as 
the  Welsh  tract  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 
a county  named  in  honor  of  the  old  home  in 
Cheshire,  England.  Joseph  Powell  acquired  land  at 
East  Fallowfield,  Chester  County,  purchasing  from 
John,  Thomas  and  Richard  Penn,  kinsmen  of  Wil- 
liam Penn.  The  property  was  deeded  to  Joseph 
Powell,  February  22,  1734.  Joseph  Powell  had  two 
sons,  John  and  David,  the  only  descendant  of  John 
being  a daughter.  David,  to  whom  his  father  deeded 
the  land  in  East  Fallowfield,  was  married  in  1748, 
and  had  a family  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 
One  of  these  was  Nathan,  who  became  a pioneer 
settler  in  Southern  Indiana.  Next  in  line  from 
Nathan  was  his  son  Erasmus  Powell,  father  of  John 
W.  Powell. 

Rev.  John  Walker  Powell  was  born  in  Dearborn 
County  near  Shelby ville,  Indiana,  August  15,  1822. 
In  the  fullness  of  years  and  honors  his  death  oc- 
curred at  his  homestead  near  Mankato,  Blue  Earth 
County,  Minnesota,  July  29,  1904.  His  early  life  was 
spent  in  Southern  Indiana  at  a time  and  under  con- 
ditions which  have  been  frequently  told  in  fiction  and 
history.  He  attended  common  schools  when  they 
were  supported  by  subscription  for  only  a few 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1349 


months  each  year,  and  had  a brief  experience  as  a 
student  in  the  Shelby  County  Academy.  While  his 
knowledge  of  books  was  largely  the  result  of  ex- 
tensive study  and  .reading  in  later  life,  he  possessed 
from  early  youth  the  qualifications  of  a leader 
among  men,  and  came  to  know  the  heights  and 
depths  of  human  character  with  a rare  insight.  His 
deep  Christian  faith  finally  prompted  him  to  conse- 
crate his  life  to  the  work  of  the  ministry..  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1845,  he  was  made  a member  of  the  Indiana 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  thus  began 
the  half  century  of  his  service.  He  was  ordained  a 
deacon  in  1847  and  was  made  an  elder  in  1849.  As 
a young  minister  he  was  well  trained  for  the  duties 
which  he  afterwards  assumed  in  Minnesota  by  cir- 
cuit riding  in  Indiana.  There  were  few  railroads  in 
Indiana  at  that  time,  and  practically  all  travel  about 
his  circuit  was  performed  on  horseback.  He  minis- 
tered to  the  needs  of  widely  scattered  settlers,  mak- 
ing his  way  in  summer’s  heat  and  winter  s snow, 
often  fording  or  swimming  rivers,  plunging  through 
virgin  forest  and  crossing  pathless  prairies.  It  was 
a lonely  and  arduous  life,  and  for  months  at  a time 
his  only  possessions  and  conveniences  were  such  as 
could  be  carried  in  the  saddlebags. 

While  at  work  as  a circuit  rider  in  Indiana  Mr. 
Powell  was  married  September  27,  1847,  to  Miss 
Rhoda  B.  Gray.  Before  they  left  Indiana  two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them.  Mr.  Powell  felt  that  his 
true  work  as  a minister  was  on  the  frontier,  and  his 
church  recognizing  his  fitness  for  this  difficult  and 
responsible  task,  gave  its  encouragement  to  his  pur- 
pose to  become  a missionary  on  the  Northwest  fron- 
tier. He  and  his  little  family  arrived  at  Mankato, 
Minnesota,  October  10,  1855.  He  was  made  the  first 
regular  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Mankato, 
and  thereafter  for  forty  years  was  diligent  and  faith- 
ful in  the  performance  of  his  duties  both  as  a regu- 
lar pastor  and  as  a circuit  rider.  Not  long  after 
coming  to  Minnesota  he  obtained  a tract  of  land  in 
Fillmore  County,  erected  a primitive  log  cabin, 
worked  whenever  opportunity  afforded  in  cultivating 
his  fields,  and  thus  combined  two  of  the  most  ardu- 
ous occupations  of  pioneer  days.  That  early  farm 
was  not  far  distant  from  the  homestead  in  South 
Bend  Township,  where  he  spent  the  closing  years 
of  his  life. 

In  later  years  Reverend  Mr.  Powell  frequently  de- 
scribed his  circuit  as  having  been  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  British  possessions,  on  the  south  by 
the  Conference  of  Iowa,  on  the  east  by  the  Confer- 
ence of  Wisconsin,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  As  the  country  settled  up  and  developed  his 
circuit  became  more  circumscribed  and  his  labors  less 
onerous,  though  even  in  later  years  he  traversed  a 
large  area  of  country.  The  requirements  of  the 
church  caused  a frequent  change  of  place  of  resi- 
dence, and  at  different  times  the  family  lived  at 
Eagle  Lake,  Mantorville,  Pine  Island,  Blue  Earth 
City  and  other  points. 

In  1856  Mr.  Powell  assisted  in  laying  out  the 
townsite  of  Shelbyville.  That  became  a thriving 
village,  but  declined  after  railroads  were  built  and 
left  the  site  to  one  side.  The  Village  of  Amboy 
took  its  place,  being  a railroad  station,  and  pros- 
pered at  the  expense  of  its  early  rival.  For  a number 
of  years  Reverend  Mr.  Powell  lived  at  Shelbyville 
and  took  an  active  part  in  its  affairs.  He  was  busily 
engaged  in  preaching  and  in  organizing  of  churches 
in  the  vicinity  of  Shelbyville  and  Blue  Earth  City, 
and  at  the  latter  place  was  the  regular  pastor  in 


charge  for  a considerale  time.  In  1877  he  built  the 
first  chapel  in  Blue  Earth  City,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Church  there  in  1887  when  the  present 
fine  church  was  erected,  at  that  time  one  of  the  best 
in  that  part  of  the  state.  In  the  latter  half  of  his 
service  as  a minister,  Mr.  Powell  in  addition  to  per- 
forming the  duties  of  a regular  pastorate  also 
preached  in  adjacent  towns  and  villages  that  had  no 
regular  ministers.  During  this  time  one  of  his 
charges  was  at  Delano  in  Wright  County,  and  from 
that  location  he  also  served  the  church  needs  at 
Montrose  and  Watertown.  He  was  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Delano  when  his  wife  died  in  1894.  That 
was  the  greatest  bereavement  of  his  entire  career. 

Mr.  Powell  continued  in  the  active  work  of  the 
ministry  until  1895,  just  fifty  years  after  he  had 
joined  the  Indiana  Conference.  He  then  retired 
and  shifted  the  heavy  burdens  he  had  long  carried 
to  younger  shoulders.  Even  after  retirement  he  con- 
tinued to  travel  about  aiding  other  clergymen  in 
their  work,  and  his  services  were  in  demand  on  the 
lecture  platform  both  in  Minnesota  and  Indiana. 
The  subject  of  his  favorite  address  was  “The  Pioneer 
Preacher’s  Early  Experience.”  For  a number  of 
years  prior  to  his  death  he  spent  the  summer  seasons 
on  his  farm  at  Spring  Island,  where  he  gave  his 
time  to  cultivating  berries,  making  a specialty  of 
black  raspberries.  During  the  winters  he  was  a wel- 
come member  of  the  family  circle  of  one  or  another 
of  his  sons. 

Reverend  Mr.  Powell  is  survived  by  four  sons  and 
one  daughter : Erasmus  W.,  a ranchman  and  contrac- 
tor at  Hulett,  Crook  County,  Wyoming;  Mrs.  Alice 
Councilman,  a teacher  in  the  Minneapolis  public 
schools ; Ransom  J.,  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
bar;  Rev.  John  W.,  Jr.,  pastor  of  the  Lowry  Hill 
Congregational  Church,  Minneapolis ; and  Arthur  E., 
a resident  of  Medford,  Oregon. 

Rev.  John  W.  Powell.  A son  of  the  pioneer  cir- 
cuit rider  and  Methodist  minister  of  Minnesota 
whose  full  name  he  bears,  and  whose  services  and 
career  are  enumerated  in  other  paragraphs,  Rev. 
John  W.  Powell  has  for  practically  twenty  years 
been  identified  with  pastoral  and  other  religious 
work  in  Minnesota.  Until  recently  he  was  director 
of  religious  work  at  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
and  has  also  done  much  to  vitalize  the  activities  of 
the  Christian  associations.  At  this  writing  he  is  in 
active  charge  of  one  of  Minneapolis’  leading 
churches. 

John  Walker  Powell,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Blue  Earth 
City,  Minnesota,  March  22,  1872,  the  tenth  in  a fam- 
ily of  eleven  children,  of  whom  four  sons  and  one 
daughter  are  living.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the  chil- 
dren who  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the  father 
and  entered  the  ministry.  After  completing  the  high 
school  course  at  Mankato  he  was  for  two  years  a 
student  in  Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul,  then 
entered  the  University  of  Minnesota,  where  he 
was  graduated  A.  B.  in  1893.  During  the 
next  year  he  was  in  active  religious  work  princi- 
pally in  rural  districts,  and  then  completed  his  divin- 
ity course  in  Boston  University,  where  he  received 
the  degree  Bachelor  of  Sacred  Theology.  His  prac- 
tical services  and  intellectual  attainments  were  rec- 
ognized by  Syracuse  University  in  1911,  when  it  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
Since  leaving  Boston  University  Reverend  Mr. 
Powell  has  been  active  in  his  ministerial  duties.  For 
about  eighteen  months  after  his  ordination  he  was 


1350 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Nor- 
wood, Massachusetts,  and  subsequently  for  one  year 
was  associate  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Church  at 
Malden,  a Boston  suburb.  Returning  to  his  native 
state,  Doctor  Powell  was  pastor  of  the  Western 
Avenue  and  Park  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal 
churches  at  Minneapolis,  and  for  thirteen  years  was 
a resident  minister  in  Duluth.  In  1912  he  returned 
to  Minneapolis  from  Duluth  to  become  director  of 
religious  work  at  the  University  of  Minnesota  under 
the  direction  of  the  Young  Men’s  and  the  Young 
Women’s  Christian  associations.  He  resigned  from 
this  office  in  September,  1914.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Lowry  Hill  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  in  September,  1914,  became  the 
regular  pastor  of  that  organization. 

He  has  done  much  to  promote  the  service  of  the 
University  Extension  Bureau,  and  is  generally  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  high-minded  churchmen 
in  the  Northwest.  While  most  of  his  career  has 
been  devoted  to  the  so-called  practical  affairs  of  life, 
he  has  also  given  expression  to  his  literary  tastes  and 
talent,  and  is  the  author  of  two  small  volumes.  One 
is  “The  Poets’  Vision  of  Man,”  published  in  1901 
by  T.  Y.  Crowell  & Co.  of  New  York;  the  other 
is  “The  Silence  of  the  Master,”  published  by  Jen- 
nings & Graham,  the  Methodist  Book  Concern  at 
Cincinnati.  He  is  also  well  known  on  the  lecture 
platform,  particularly  in  the  states  of  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin,  most  of  his  addresses  being  on  literary 
subjects. 

While  a resident  of  Duluth,  Doctor  Powell  served 
three  years  as  a member  of  the  city  board  of  edu- 
cation. As  pastor  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  bring- 
ing about  the  erection  of  the  fine  edifice  of  the 
Endion  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  that  city. 
When  he  became  pastor  of  that  society  there  were 
only  eight  members.  At  the  end  of  ten  years  he  had 
gathered  under  his  supervision  a fine  and  flourishing 
church,  with  a membership  of  150,  church  property 
valued  at  $50,000,  and  with  the  pastor’s  salary  at 
more  than  four  thousand  dollars  a year.  If  the  wish 
of  the  members  had  been  granted  he  would  still  have 
been  pastor  of  the  church,  but  he  felt  that  a decade 
was  sufficient  and  that  the  best  interests  of  the 
society  would  be  advanced  by  his  retirement.  In 
Duluth  Doctor  Powell  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  is  a member  of  the  University  Club  of 
Minneapolis,  and  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  fraternity  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota.  He  is  also  active  in 
the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association 
and  in  the  national  organization  known  as  the  Re- 
ligious Educational  Association. 

At  Malden,  Massachusetts,  May  6,  1897,  Doctor 
Powell  married  Miss  Louise  Pettay,  daughter  of 
Francis  A.  Pettay  of  Sarahsville,  Noble  County, 
Ohio,  in  which  state  Mrs.  Powell  was  born  and 
reared.  She  graduated  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  Scio 
College  in  Ohio,  later  studied  music  and  dramatic 
reading  under  private  instruction  in  the  City  of 
Boston,  where  she  became  acquainted  with  her  fu- 
ture husband.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Powell  have  three 
children : Raeburn  Pettay,  who  was  born  at  Malden, 
Massachusetts ; Margaret,  who  was  born  at  Minneap- 
olis; and  John  Walker  III,  who  was  born  at  Duluth. 
Doctor  Powell  and  family  reside  at  819  University 
Avenue,  Southeast. 

Jesse  Van  Valkenburg.  The  sturdy  characteris- 
tics of  the  fine  old  Holland  Dutch  stock  that  played 
so  important  a part  in  the  early  history  of  New 


York  have  been  carried  into  the  Northwest  and  have 
been  exemplified  in  the  profession  of  law  by  Jesse 
Van  Valkenburg,  one  of  the  prominent  and  honored 
members  of  the  Minnesota  bar.  Mr.  Van  Valken- 
burg has  practiced  at  Minnesota  for  the  past  twenty 
years,  and  his  position  in  the  profession  has  been 
estimated  in  the  following  words : “He  has  a gen- 

eral practice,  but  his  success  in  realty  problems  has 
been  so  marked  that  he  has  gained  the  reputation  of 
being  a specialist  in  those  lines.” 

Though  a resident  of  Minnesota  since  childhood, 
Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  takes  some  pride  in  the  fact 
that  he  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  is  a 
representative  of  the  Holland  Dutch  stock  that  was 
founded  there  during  the  colonial  epoch  of  our 
nation.  The  old  homestead  farm  on  which  he  was 
born  lies  in  the  beautiful  Mohawk  Valley  of  New 
York,  and  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  Van 
Valkenburg  family  for  six  generations,  and  is  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  an  uncle  of  the  Minneapolis 
lawyer.  The  first  Van  Valkenburgs  in  America  were 
colonists  at  New  Amsterdam,  the  old  Dutch  town 
that  was  the  nucleus  of  the  present  City  of  New 
York. 

Jesse  Van  Valkenburg  was  born  at  the  ancestral 
home  in  Sharon  Township,  Scoharie  County,  New 
York,  December  31,  1868.  His  birthplace  was  not  far 
distant  from  the  City  of  Albany  and  in  that  section 
of  the  Mohawk  Valley  early  settled  by  the  Dutch. 
The  parents,  Joseph  and  Hattie  (Seeley)  Van  Valk- 
enburg, were  natives  of  the  same  township.  The 
mother’s  ancestry  was  of  New  England  stock,  and  its 
first  representatives  were  early  settlers  in  Connecti- 
cut. In  earlier  generations  the  Van  Valkenburg  fam- 
ily furnished  patriot  soldiers  during  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  and  loyalty  to  country  and  duty  has  been 
a characteristic  of  all  succeeding  generations.  Joseph 
Van  Valkenburg  was  a farmer,  devoted  practically 
all  his  active  career  to  that  vocation,  and  was  one 
of  the  family  that  broke  away  from  the  long  estab- 
lished associations  in  New  York  and  found  a pioneer 
home  in  the  Northwest.  He  came  out  to  Minnesota 
with  his  family  in  1869,  when  the  son  Jesse  was  three 
months  of  age.  Locating  as  a pioneer  in  Dakota 
County,  he  acquired  virgin  land,  and  employed  his 
energy  and  time  in  its  development.  With  the  Van 
Valkenburg  family  also  came  Nathan  Seeley  and 
wife,  parents  of  Mrs.  Van  Valkenburg.  Nathan 
Seeley  entered  a tract  of  Government  land  in  Dakota 
County,  developed  a valuable  farm,  and  lived  upon  it 
until  his  death  in  1910  at  an  advanced  age,  while  his 
widow,  who  celebrated  her  eighty-fifth  birthday  in 
1914,  still  resides  at  Farmington  in  that  county. 
Joseph  Van  Valkenburg  had  five  brothers  who  were 
soldiers  of  the  Union  during  the  Civil  war,  and  was 
himself  only  fourteen  years  of  age  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war  and  hence  ineligible  for  service.  Joseph 
and  wife  are  still  living,  with  their  residence  in  the 
attractive  Village  of  Canby,  Yellow  Medicine  County. 
The  father  has  now  retired  from  the  active  manage- 
ment of  his  farm,  and  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  many 
years  industriously  and  honestly  spent  in  Minnesota. 
There  were  five  children,  and  of  these  a daughter 
died  in  infancy,  and  a son,  Wynne,  died  at  Farming- 
ton,  Minnesota,  in  1912.  Jesse  Van  Valkenburg  is 
the  oldest  of  the  surviving  children,  while  Harry  J. 
is  the  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Brown 
Valley,  Traverse  County,  Minnesota,  and  Walter  is 
a student  of  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother. 

Jesse  Van  Valkenburg  spent  his  boyhood  on  a 
Minnesota  farm,  and  his  early  education  was 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1351 


afforded  by  the  public  schools.  His  activities  and 
experiences  prior  to  taking  up  the  law  gave  him  a 
liberal  education  and  a broad  knowledge  of  men  and 
affairs.  Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  completed  the  classical 
course  and  was  graduated  in  1887  from  the  Minne- 
sota State  Normal  School  at  Mankato,  then  entered 
the  literary  department  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota, was  graduated  in  1894  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  at 
the  same  time  had  taken  his  law  course  in  the  univer- 
sity and  was  given  the  degree  LL.  B.  in  1895.  In  the 
meantime  four  years  had  been  spent  as  a teacher, 
as  principal  of  the  public  schools  at  Granite  Falls, 
county  seat  of  Yellow  Medicine  County,  and  later 
he  was  a reporter  with  one  of  the  leading  newspapers 
of  Minneapolis. 

Since  graduating  from  the  law  department  of  the 
university  Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  has  been  in  active 
practice  at  Minneapolis,  and  has  won  a secure  repu- 
tation as  a resourceful  and  able  member  of  the  bar 
in  that  city.  He  has  become  especially  prominent 
in  the  field  of  real  estate  and  banking  law,  and 
among  his  associates  and  clients  his  thoroughness 
and  his  devotion  to  the  interests  intrusted  to  his 
management  are  now  accepted  as  a matter  of  course 
and  are  doubtless  among  the  chief  reasons  for  his 
success.  Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  has  been  intrusted 
with  a large  amount  of  legal  business,  including  work 
as  administrator  of  the  large  estate  of  the  late  John 
T.  Lund.  He  has  been  attorney  and  counsel  for  this 
estate  for  twelve  years,  and  practically  all  his  atten- 
tion was  required  in  its  management  for  three  years. 

While  he  has  never  sought  the  honors  of  politics 
to  any  extent,  Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  has  been  for 
many  years  closely  identified  with  those  movements 
which  indicate  the  real  progress  of  any  community. 
Politically  his  allegiance  has  been  with  the  repub- 
lican party.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  with  the  Minneapolis  Temple  of  the 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  is  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  the 
Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  belongs  to  the  Sigma  Chi 
college  fraternity,  and  by  reason  of  his  old  American 
ancestry  is  a member  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of 
the  American  Revolution.  He  and  his  wife  belong 
to  the  Lowery  Hill  Congregational  Church,  which  he 
has  served  as  trustee. 

Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  has  his  offices  in  the  North- 
western ' Bank  Building  at  Minneapolis.  While 
usually  found  there,  busied  with  the  numerous  en- 
gagements of  his  profession,  he  finds  both  pleasure 
and  profit  in  the  supervision  of  a splendid  stock 
farm  of  400  acres,  situated  partly  in  Scott  County 
and  partly  in  Dakota  County.  His  land  joins  the 
beautiful  Orchard  Lake,  is  reached  by  an  electric 
interurban  line,  and  besides  these  advantages  its 
value  is  enhanced  by  its  location  only  twenty  miles 
away  from  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  has 
recently  completed  a fine  modern  farm  home  costing 
$3,500,  with  equipment  including  a hot  water  heat- 
ing system  and  other  features  which  make  it  as 
comfortable  as  many  city  homes.  He  has  taken  pride 
in  improving  his  farm  until  it  is  a modern  stock 
farm,  and  is  known  far  and  wide  as  headquarters 
for  the  raising  of  high-grade  live  stock. 

At  St.  Paul,  on  January  14,  1900,  Mr.  Van  Valken- 
burg married  Miss  Grace  Jerrems,  who  was  born 
at  Joliet,  Illinois,  finished  her  education  at  Chicago, 
where  her  father,  Thomas  W.  Jerrems,  lived  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  later  the  family  came  to  St. 
Paul,  Her  father  is  still  living  in  that  city.  Mr. 

voi.  ni— 6 - 


and  Mrs.  Van  Valkenburg  have  three  children: 
Horace  Joseph,  Grace  Jerrems  and  Luella  May. 

E.  A.  Meyerding,  M.  D.  Success  in  public  and 
private  practice  has  been  the  good  fortune  of  Dr. 
E.  A.  Meyerding  of  St.  Paul  not  only  with  the 
routine  work  of  the  aurist  and  oculist,  but  also  as  a 
factor  in  the  modern  and  progressive  movement  for 
public  health.  Doctor  Meyerding  has  been  espe- 
cially useful  through  his  office  as  director  of  hygiene 
of  the  St.  Paul  public  schools  in  supervising  the 
medical  inspection  of  the  schools,  and  is  regarded 
as  an  authority  on  the  subject  of  public  sanitation 
and  health. 

Dr.  E.  A.  Meyerding  was  born  at  St.  Paul,  De- 
cember 25,  1879.  His  grandfather,  Henry  Meyer- 
ding, was  a German  by  birth,  and  was  a member 
of  the  early  German  community  at  New  Ulm,  where 
he  located  during  the  early  ’50s.  At  the  time  of 
the  Indian  outbreak  he  removed  to  St.  Paul  and 
lived  there  until  his  death.  He  was  a physician  by 
profession,  served  St.  Paul  for  a number  of  years 
as  health  commissioner,  and  was  also  honored  by 
election  to  the  Legislature.  Though  a busy  profes- 
sional man,  he  found  opportunity  to  take  an  active 
and  intelligent  interest  in  the  cause  of  public  edu- 
cation, and  served  several  terms  on  the  school 
board.  The  work  of  this  honored  ancestor  has 
proved  an  inspiration  to  his  grandson,  who  has 
filled  in  his  generation  a place  somewhat  similar 
to  that  of  this  pioneer  physician.  Henry  Meyer- 
ding, Jr.,  father  of  Dr.  £.  A.  Meydering,  was  for 
many  years  a member  of  the  St.  Paul  police  force. 
He  married  Miss  Rosenkranz.  Another  of  their 
sons,  Dr.  Henry  W.  Meyerding,  is  of  the  Mayo  staff 
at  Rochester. 

Dr.  E.  A.  Meyerding  graduated  from  the  Me- 
chanic Arts  High  School  in  1898,  and  at  once  entered 
the  University  of  Minnesota  and  in  1902  was  grad- 
uated M.  D.  Since  that  year  he  has  been  active  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  St.  Paul.  Doctor 
Meyerding  is  a studious  follower  of  his  profession, 
and  specializes  in  the  disease  of  eye,  ear,  nose  and 
throat.  He  has  pursued  post-graduate  studies  in 
Chicago,  Boston  and  New  York,  and  is  affiliated 
with  all  the  various  medical  organizations  repre- 
sented in  his  home,  city  and  state.  For  several  years 
he  has  had  charge  of  the  division  of  hygiene  of 
St.  Paul  public  schools,  and  in  that  capacity  has 
introduced  a number  of  changes  which  are  directly 
related  to  the  better  health  and  comfort  and  the 
efficiency  of  the  pupils.  Acting  on  his  advice  the 
seating  arrangement  in  the  school  buildings  have 
been  changed,  better  lighting  and  ventilation  systems 
have  been  introduced,  and  he  was  the  pioneer  in 
introducing  the  penny  or  recess  lunch  into  the  public 
schools.  He  was  author  of  the  North  bill,  providing 
for  state  aid  for  the  deaf,  blind,  defective  speech 
and  mentally  subnormal  children  in  day  classes  and 
was  active  in  its  passage  by  the  Minnesota  Legisla- 
ture of  1915*  This  is  perhaps  the  most  progressive 
legislation  of  a social  and  educational  character  in 
the  United  States  today.  Doctor  Meyerding  has 
made  a close  study  of  various  public  health  prob- 
lems, has  contributed  different  articles  to  profes- 
sional and  general  literature,  and  has  frequently  lec- 
tured on  specific  problems.  For  several  years  he  has 
been  a member  of  the  free  dispensary  staff  of  St. 
Paul. 

For  twelve  years  Doctor  Meyerding  served  as  cap- 


1352 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


tain  and  surgeon  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
Minnesota  National  Guard  and  also  as  captain  of 
Battery  A,  First  Field  Artillery.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  one  of  the  vigorous 
and  effective  factors  in  the  modern  life  of  his  home 
city,  popular  both  in  professional  and  social  circles. 

John  H.  Devenney.  It  would  be  difficult  to  name 
an  essential  element  in  the  progress  and  development 
of  Morris  and  West  Central  Minnesota,  that  does 
not  bear  the  impress  of  the  strong  individuality  of 
John  H.  Devenney,  president  of  the  Morris  National 
Bank. 

He  has  been  a very  important  factor  in  the  com- 
mercial, industrial  and  financial  activity  of  this  com- 
munity, has  advanced  its  moral  and  educational  in- 
terest, has  been  one  of  its  prominent  representatives 
in  the  field  of  politics  and  has  contributed  to  its  im- 
portance and  prestige  as  a financial  broker,  and  ex- 
tensive operations  in  improving  his  many  farms  with 
substantial  buildings,  fences,  etc.,  in  a way  that 
inspires  confidence  in  future  values. 

Mr.  Devenney  was  born  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  August  24,  i860,  and  is  the  son  of  H.  J. 
and  Catherine  Cahill  Devenney.  H.  J.  Devenney 
was  born  near  the  River  Rhine  in  Germany  of  French 
and  Irish  parentage,  while  Mr.  Devenney’s  mother 
was  born  of  Irish  parentage,  in  the  County  Longford 
in  the  Parish  of  Karre  Kedmund,  Ireland.  Early  in 
life,  Catherine  Cahill  Devenney,  with  her  two  sisters, 
Margaret  and  Mary,  emigrated  to  America  and  took 
up  their  residence  in  Brooklyn,  New  York.  At 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  she  first  met  and  married  H. 
J.  Devenney,  then  employed  on  the  staff  of  the  Jour- 
nal of  Commerce,  a leading  newspaper  then  and 
now.  H.  J.  and  Catherine  Cahill  Devenney  were 
the  parents  of  four  children,  viz. : Charles  J.,  Thomas 
H.,  Mary  S.,  and  John  H.  of  this  notice. 

John  H.  Devenney  began  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Brooklyn,  and  was  eight  years  of 
age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Jackson, 
Minnesota,  where  he  graduated  from  high  school  in 
1876.  In  the  following  year  he  took  up  a home- 
stead in  Grant  County,  Minnesota,  taking  a declara- 
tory statement  as  he  was  not  then  of  age,  this  being 
160  acres  of  land.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
he  filed  upon  a homestead,  occupied  and  culti- 
vated same  until  making  final  proof  several  years 
later.  Mr.  Devenney’s  home  farm  in  Grant  County 
is  considered  among  the  best  improved  and  is  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Tom  Haley  and  family,  who 
resides  thereon. 

In  1884  Mr.  Devenney  formed  a partnership  with 
E.  J.  Hodgson  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  entered 
in  the  land  business,  loan  business,  stock  raising  and 
operating  farms.  This  combination  continued  until 
the  time  of  Mr.  Hodgson’s  death  in  igoq.  In  the 
meantime,  Mr.  Devenney  resided  at  Kandiyohi,  Min- 
nesota, until  1889.  and  then  moved  to  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  where  he  resided  until  1897.  Following 
this,  for  one  year,  he  made  his  home  in  Denver, 
Colorado,  and  in  the  spring  of  1898,  took  up  his 
residence  at  Morris,  Minnesota,  where  he  has  since 
lived,  although  for  ten  years  prior  to  1898,  he  had 
maintained  an  office  at  Morris,  Minnesota,  while 
he  was  engaged  in  traveling  for  the  land  and  loan 
companies. 

In  1891  Mr.  Devenney  assisted  in  establishing  the 
Security  Trust  Company  now  known  as  the  Capital 
Trust  Company,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  was 


actively  associated  with  this  concern  until  1900, 
when  he  took  lands  in  exchange  for  the  company’s 
stock,  although  he  is  still  considered  one  of  the  con- 
fidential agents  and  looks  after  the  investments  for 
the  company  in  West  Central  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Devenney  is  doing  a large  and  successful  busi- 
ness in  the  handling  of  lands,  negotiating  first  mort- 
gages on  improved  farms  in  Stevens  and  neighbor- 
ing counties,  and  maintains  offices  in  the  Morris 
National  Bank  Building. 

He  became  associated  with  this  institution  at  the 
close  of  the  year  of  1913,  and  since  that  time,  has 
continued  as  its  president;  the  other  officers  being 
Julius  R.  Kreuger,  vice  president,  and  F.  R.  Putnam, 
cashier.  Under  the  new  management  and  Mr.  De- 
venney's  able  directions,  the  institution  has  enjoyed 
marked  prosperity,  daily  becoming  more  firmly  estab- 
lished in  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  is  now 
considered  the  People’s  Bank  of  Morris,  Minne- 
sota. As  evidence  of  its  popularity,  we  name  a 
few  of  the  prominent  shareholders  in  this  popular 
bank,  Dr.  Charles  E.  Caine,  leading  physician ; Hon. 
George  E.  Beise,  municipal  judge;  J.  W.  Wheeler, 
president  of  the  Capital  Trust  Company,  of  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota;  John  R.  Mitchell,  president  of  the 
Capital  National  Bank,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota;  Paul 
L.  Spooner,  a young  lawyer  of  prominence;  Dr. 
George  W.  Geenty,  Frank  A.  Hancock,  Sidney  J. 
Stebbins,  Herman  Kerl  and  Manly  B.  Lord,  with 
J.  R.  Krueger,  its  vice  president,  and  F.  R.  Putnam, 
cashier,  all  of  whom  are  leading  business  men  and 
investors  through  this  popular  institution. 

In  addition  to  Mr.  Devenney’s  other  land  interests, 
he  is  now  operating  farms  of  1,680  acres  and  is  a 
director  in  the  Delaware  Farmers  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company  of  Grant,  Traverse  and  Stevens 
counties ; an  enterprise  with  $6,000,000  of  insurance 
in  force,  and  doing  the  largest  business  of  its  kind 
in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  this  company  has  paid 
all  losses  promptly  during  the  thirty  years  of  its  exis- 
tence. He  is  likewise  a stockholder  and  director 
in  the  Alberta  State  Bank  of  Alberta,  Minnesota, 
in  the  Hogan  Decorating  Company  of  Morris,  Min- 
nesota, and  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of 
Alberta,  Minnesota. 

Politically  a republican,  Mr.  Devenney  served  as 
county  commissioner  of  Stevens  County  for  eight 
years  and  for  the  last  six  years  of  that  time  was 
chairman  of  the  county  board,  his  office  expiring 
January  1,  1915.  He  has  also  served  as  councilman 
of  the  City  of  Morris  and  in  his  official  capacities, 
has  displayed  marked  ability  as  an  executive  and  his 
faithfulness  to  duty  as  a conscientious  public  servant, 
is  recognized  and  referred  to  in  his  business  admin- 
istration, marked  a new  era  in  road  building  and  in 
the  construction  of  drainage  in  the  several  parts  of 
Stevens  County.  He  is  a member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  and  his  fraternal  connections  has 
included  membership  in  the  Knights  of  Columbus  at 
Morris  and  Lodge  No.  108,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Morris,  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Devenney  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Bridget  McCarthy  of  Hamilton,  Minnesota,  a daugh- 
ter of  the  late  John  McCarthy,  who,  for  years,  was 
an  old  settler  in  Credit  River  Township,  Scott 
County,  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Devenney  has  often  been  the  subject  of 
criticism  from  various  sources  on  account  of  his 
activity  in  what  he  believes  to  be  for  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  community  and  no  one  is  put  to  the 
trouble  of  guessing  where  he  stands  on  every  public 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1353 


question  as  his  position  is  well  defined  and  his  under- 
taking for  the  advancement  and  betterment  of  Morris 
and  Stevens  County  has  been  ratified  and  supported 
by  the  people. 

W.  A.  Clement.  In  sketching  the  lives  of  men 
of  strong  and  vigorous  character,  who  have  taken 
important  and  prominent  parts  in  the  affairs  of 
life,  the  biographist  is  not  expected  to  deal  alone 
with  martial  heroes  and  great  statesmen,  for  in  the 
world  of  arts  and  sciences,  in  the  professions  and 
in  politics,  in  the  marts  of  commerce  and  manufac- 
tures of  the  present  day,  are  found  men  of  action, 
capable  and  earnest,  whose  talents,  enterprise  and 
energy  command  the  respect  of  their  fellow  men. 
That  the  lives  of  such  men  should  have  their  public 
record  is  peculiarly  proper  for  a knowledge  of  men 
whose  substantial  reputation  rests  upon  their  personal 
attainments,  character  and  success  must  necessarily 
exert  a wholesome  influence,  and  in  this  connection 
it  is  appropriate  to  review  the  incidents  which 
have  marked  the  career  and  rise  of  W.  A.  Clement, 
proprietor  of  the  Journal-Radical,  and  one  of  Wa- 
seca’s most  progressive  and  energetic  citizens. 

Mr.  Clement  was  born  in  Waseca  County,  Minne- 
sota, February  13,  1870,  and  is  a son  of  H.  S. 
Clement,  a native  of  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  born 
March  19,  1835.  The  father  came  west  to  Iowa  in 
1853,  and  in  July,  1856,  moved  to  what  is  now 
Meriden,  Steele  County,  Minnesota,  where  he  was 
the  first  assessor  of  his  township.  Mr.  Clement  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  his  farm  there  until  1868,  at 
that  time  moving  to  and  purchasing  another  property, 
at  Woodville,  Waseca  County,  on  which  he  carried 
on  successful  agricultural  operations  until  his  re- 
moval, in  1883,  to  Waseca.  Here  he  established 
himself  in  business  as  the  proprietor  of  a farm 
implement  store,  and  continued  successfully  in  busi- 
ness until  his  retirement  in  1900.  Mr.  Clement  was 
married  December  22,  1868,  to  Miss  Nellie  M.  Wil- 
cox, who  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in 
1841,  and  died  June  12,  1883,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows: W.  A.,  of. this  review;  Mary,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased; Arthur  R. ; Dr.  Lucien  O.;  Benjamin;  and 
Mrs.  Frank  Hagerty. 

The  early  education  of  W.  A.  Clement  was  secured 
in  the  graded  schools  of  Waseca,  following  which 
he  attended  the  Waseca  High  School,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  laid  aside  his  school  books  to 
embark  upon  his  business  career.  Going  to  Water- 
ville,  Minnesota,  he  entered  a printing  establish- 
ment, in  which  he  learned  the  trade,  thoroughly 
applying  himself  thereto  for  a period  of  three  years. 
Succeeding  this,  Mr.  Clement  filled  various  positions 
at  Albert  Lea,  Austin,  and  other  cities  of  Minne- 
sota, and  in  1902  came  back  to  Waseca  and  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  Journal-Radical,  of  which 
he  became  sole  owner  two  years  later.  This  news- 
paper is  the  lineal  descendant  of  the  Home  Views, 
which  first  made  its  appearance  at  Wilton,  Minne- 
sota, as  far  back  as  March  13,  i860,  being  then 
edited  by  J.  W.  Crawford.  About  March  1,  1861, 
Alex  Johnston  and  S.  J.  Willis  took  the  paper  in 
hand  and  called  it  the  Waseca  Home  Views.  The 
Wilton  Weekly  News  made  its  first  appearance  De- 
cember 8,  1863,  and  Mr.  Child  bought  the  outfit  and 
assumed  control  of  its  destinies,  March  8,  1866,  in 
the  following  year  removing  the  plant  to  Waseca  and 
renaming  the  paper  the  Waseca  News.  On  January 
6,  .1875,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Minnesota 


Radical,  being  edited  by  Mr.  Child  until  July,  1880, 
when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Ward,  and  the  latter,  in 
1881,  transferred  it  to  C.  E.  Graham,  who  continued 
the  paper  until  the  last  of  December,  1901.  At  that 
time  Dr.  F.  A.  Swartwood,  P.  C.  Bailey,  E.  B. 
Collister,  L.  Bliss,  R.  P.  Ward,  C.  A.  Smith  and 
W.  A.  Clement  bought  the  paper,  at  the  same  time 
becoming  owners  of  the  Waseca  Journal,  and  in 
1904  the  last-named  gentleman  purchased  the  in- 
terests of  the  other  owners,  and  since  that  time  has 
conducted  the  publication  under  the  name  of  the 
Journal-Radical.  The  paper  now  has  an  excellent 
circulation,  and  exerts  a wide  influence  in  molding 
public  opinion  here,  being  a republican  organ.  Mr. 
Clement  supports  republican  candidates  and  policies, 
He  has  taken  an  interest  in  progress  and  advance- 
ment along  various  lines,  particularly  in  educa- 
tion, and  has  served  four  years  as  a member  of 
the  school  board.  He  belongs  to  the  Congregational 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a trustee,  and  is  fraternally 
connected  with  Tuscan  Lodge  No.  77,  F.  & A.  M., 
being  also  a member  of  the  Waseca  Commercial 
Club. 

Mr.  Clement  was  married  at  Waterville,  Minne- 
sota, in  1899,  to  Miss  Helda  C.  Ranke,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  F.  Ranke,  both  now  deceased,  who 
were  farming  people  of  South  Dakota.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union : Marvin  O.  and 
Esther  B.,  who  are  attending  the  Waseca  public 
schools;  and  Helen  May,  the  baby.  Mr.  Clement’s 
offices  and  plant  are  situated  on  Second  Street,  while 
his  comfortable  residence  is  located  at  No.  70 7 
Lake  Avenue. 

J.  W.  Aughenbaugh.  It  is  one  of  the  most  en- 
couraging facts  that  can  anywhere  exist  that,  in  this 
country,  a large  proportion  of  those  individuals, 
who  by  business  acquirements  and  talents  have  at- 
tained a greater  or  less  degree  of  prosperity,  have 
risen  by  their  own  unaided  exertions.  In  the  lives 
of  such  men  as  J.  W.  Aughenbaugh,  of  Waseca, 
there  is  always  to  be  found  something  to  encourage 
the  exertions  of  those  youths  who,  without  capital 
or  influential  friends,  are  struggling  to  overcome 
obstacles  and  difficulties  in  seeking  the  acquirement 
of  prosperity  and  position.  Mr.  Aughenbaugh,  who 
is  a member  of  the  firm  of  Everett,  Aughenbaugh  & 
Company,  millers,  is  a thoroughgoing  and  practical 
man  of  business,  is  shrewd,  yet  strictly  honorable 
in  his  methods,  and  the  confidence  and  esteem  with 
which  he  is  regarded  by  the  many  with  whom  he  has 
had  business  transactions  are  sufficient  proof  of  his 
worth  and  merit. 

Mr.  Aughenbaugh  was  born  in  Meigs  County, 
Ohio,  December  25,  1847,  anti  is  a son  of  Andrew 
and  Cynthia  (Jackson)  Aughenbaugh.  The  father, 
a native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  in 
1816,  came  west  to  Freeborn  County,  Minnesota, 
in  1856,  here  becoming  a pioneer  farmer,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away  in  1904, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  Mr. 
Aughenbaugh  married  Cynthia  Jackson,  who  was 
born  in  the  South,  members  of  her  family  participat- 
ing in  the  Civil  war  as  officers  in  the  Confederate 
army,  and  she  died  in  Freeborn  County,  when  but 
thirty-seven  years  of  age. 

J.  W.  Aughenbaugh  was  a lad  of  but  nine  years 
when  lie  accompanied  his  parents  to  Minnesota,  and 
the  schools  of  Freeborn  County  furnished  him  with 
his  educational  training.  He  did  not  receive  many 


1354 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


advantages  in  his  youth,  as  he  was  expected  to 
devote  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  the  work  of 
the  homestead,  and  was  only  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  began  his  service  as  a soldier.  In  later 
years,  however,  he  has  spent  much  time  in  reaching 
and  studying,  and  is  a much  better  educated  man 
than  many  who  had  far  greater  advantages.  He 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  navy  in  1863,  and  was 
with  his  commodore  on  the  Mississippi,  and  when 
his  service  in  the  navy  expired,  in  1865,  he  enlisted 
in  the  army.  In  January,  1865,  Mr.  Aughenbaugh 
entered  the  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry  for 
service  during  the  Civil  war,  and  participated  in 
the  engagements  at  Petersburg,  Green  Station,  Deep 
Bottom  and  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  being  honorably  discharged  August  25,  1865. 
Mr.  Aughenbaugh  saw  much  active  service,  and  at 
one  time  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  cheek,  but 
wfis  not  incapacitated  for  service. 

On  his  return  from  the  war  the  young  soldier 
applied  himself  to  the  milling  business  at  the  Polar 
Star  Mills,  Faribault,  Minnesota,  and  about  four 
years  later  went  to  Red  Wing  Mills,  where  he  con- 
tinued two  years,  then  returning  to  Faribault.  In 
1875  he  came  to  Waseca,  which  has  since  been  his 
home  and  the  scene  of  his  success,  and  here  he  has 
for  a number  of  years  been  connected  with  the 
flour  milling  firm  of  Everett,  Aughenbaugh  & Com- 
pany, in  which  he  owns  a one-third  interest,  and 
in  which  he  is  superintending  the  manufacture  of 
the  product.  In  addition  to  the  mills  at  Waseca, 
the  company  has  others  at  New  Richland  and  Lake- 
ville. As  will  be  seen,  Mr.  Aughenbaugh  is  a 
typical,  self-made  man,  one  who  by  his  own  ability, 
perseverance  and  acumen  has  risen  from  a com- 
paratively obscure  and  poor  , boyhood  to  his  present 
high  position  of  independence,  being  now,  apart  from 
his  business,  the  owner  of  a handsome  home  at  No. 
915  Lake  Avenue.  For  years  he  has  been  looked 
upon  as  one  of  his  city’s  most  reliable  men,  and 
enjoys  to  an  enviable  degree  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  the  community.  Formerly  a republican,  since 
the  campaign  of  1912  Mr.  Aughenbaugh  has  sup- 
ported democratic  principles  and  candidates.  He  is 
a consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  is  connected  with  the  official 
board.  His  fraternal  connections  are  with  Tuscan 
Lodge  No.  77,  F.  & A.  M. ; Waseca  Chapter,  R.  A. 
M. ; Cyrene  Commandery  No.  9,  K.  T.,  of  Owa- 
tonna;  and  Zurah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Minneapolis.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Commercial  Club  of  Waseca. 

Mr.  Aughenbaugh  was  married  in  1867,  at  Fari- 
bault. Minnesota,  to  Miss  Carrie  Kocher,  a native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been 
born  three  children,  as  follows:  Daisy,  who  is  un- 

married and  resides  with  her  parents;  Jennie,  who  is 
the  wife  of  William  Strong,  of  Waseca,  who  is 
superintendent  at  the  mills  of  the  firm  of  Everett, 
Aughenbaugh  & Company;  and  Dana  W.,  who  is  un- 
married and  residing  at  home,  a graduate  of  the 
Waseca  High  School  and  of  Culver  Military  Acad- 
emy, and  now  a student  in  the  University  of  Colo- 
rado. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aughenbaugh,  as  well  as  their 
children,  are  widely  and  favorably  known  in  Waseca, 
where  they  have  numerous  acnuaintances  and  a 
wide  circle  of  warm  and  appreciative  friends. 

Hon.  Eugene  B.  Collester.  Among  the  men  of 
Minnesota  there  is  none  who  furnishes  a better  ex- 


ample of  diversified  talents  applied  capably  to  the 
affairs  of  life  than  does  the  Hon.  Eugene  B.  Col- 
lester. He  began  at  the  bottom  at  Waseca  in  1880 
and  has  reached  the  top  as  one  of  his  community’s 
most  able  practitioners  and  a leading  financier,  with 
credit  and  honor  all  along  the  ascent.  At  various 
times  the  incumbent  of  high  office,  in  his  public  as 
in  his  private  life,  he  has  a record  free  of  taint 
or  scandal.  In  his  political  career  he  has  secured 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  men  of  all  parties, 
and  is  regarded  as  high  minded,  public  spirited  and 
patriotic,  and  as  never  stooping  to  the  tricks  of 
the  demagogue.  In  the  business  world,  varied  and 
important  as  his  interests  have  been,  he  has  escaped 
the  criticism  which  has  been  so  freely  passed  upon 
other  business  and  professional  men. 

Mr.  Collester  was  born  at  Gardner,  Massachu- 
setts, December  20,  1847,  and  is  a son  of  Thorley 
and  Abbie  M.  (Whitney)  Collester.  The  Collester 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  the  name  having  been 
formerly  spelled  McCollester,  and  probably  was 
originally  McAllister.  On.  his  mother’s  side  Mr. 
Collester  is  a great-grandson  of  a Revolutionary 
soldier.  Thorley  Collester  was  born  at  Marlboro, 
New  Hampshire,  in  1814,  and  died  at  Gardner,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1864.  He  was  a chair  manufacturer 
in  Gardner,  became  successful  in  his  operations,  and 
eventually  entered  public  life,  in  which  he  took  a 
most  prominent  part,  being  a member  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Legislature  for  one  term,  chairman  of 
the  Gardner  board  of  selectmen  for  a number  of 
years  and  a leading  figure  in  civic  affairs.  He  mar- 
ried Abbie  M.  Whitney,  who  was  born  at  Gardner, 
Massachusetts,  in  January,  1825,  of  Colonial  and 
Revolutionary  descent,  and  she  died  at  Winchendon, 
Massachusetts,  May  1,  1907. 

Eugene  B.  Collester  was  given  excellent  educa- 
tional advantages  in  his  youth,  first  attending  the 
public  schools  of  Gardner,  later  graduating  from 
YVesleyan  Academy,  Wilbraham,  Massachusetts,  class 
of  1869,  and  in  1873  receiving  the  degree  of  Bach- 
elor of  Arts  from  Amherst  College,  which  in  1876 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 
While  in  college  he  was  a prominent  fraternity  man, 
belonging  to  the  Psi  Upsilon  and  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
fraternities,  and  was  also  prominent  in  athletics, 
playing  on  the  ’varsity  baseball  team. 

On  leaving  Amherst,  Mr.  Collester  adopted  the 
vocation  of  educator,  and  for  seven  years  was 
principal  of  the  Bulkeley  School,  New  London,  Con- 
necticut. While  thus  engaged,  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  study  of  law,  which  he  read  under 
the  preceptorship  of  T.  M.  Waller,  who  afterward 
became  governor  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  Mr. 
Collester  came  as  an  early  resident  to  Waseca  in 
1880,  and  in  October  of  that  year  was  admitted  to 
practice.  He  soon  attracted  to  himself  a generous 
business  of  a general  character,  and  as  the  years 
steadily  advanced  in  public  favor  and  professional 
prominence,  receiving  the  rewards  that  go  with 
such  a position,  until  today  he  is  accounted  one 
of  the  leading  practitioners  of  this  part  of  the 
state.  He  belongs  to  the  county,  state  and  national 
organizations  of  his  calling,  and  is  held  in  the  high- 
est regard  by  lawyers  everywhere,  who  recognize 
in  him  one  who  has  the  highest  reverence  for  his 
calling  and  who  adheres  strictly  to  its  unwritten 
ethics.  Mr.  Collester  maintains  offices  in  the  First 
National  Bank  Building.  A conservative  republican 
in  his  political  views,  at  various  times  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  in  offices  of  public  trust,  hav- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1355 


ing  served  as  maj^br  of  Waseca  for  one  term,  judge 
of  probate  for  three  terms  and  state  senator  from 
Waseca  County  two  terms  (1894-1898  and  1902- 
1906),  and  at  the  present  time  is  the  senator  from 
Waseca  and  Steele  counties.  In  that  body  he  served 
on  the  Judiciary  Committee  during  four  sessions, 
the  Tax  Committee  two  sessions  and  other  prom- 
inent committees,  on  each  of  which  he  was  able  to 
serve  the  interests  of  his  constituents  and  the  people 
at  large  in  a most  efficient  and  conscientious  man- 
ner. Mr.  Collester  is  well  known  in  business  circles 
as  an  able  financier,  having  been  the  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  during  the  past  four  years. 
He  is  also  a director  of  the  Waseca  Telephone  Com- 
pany and  has  various  other  interests.  He  has  always 
taken  a deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity, and  particularly  in  its  educational  advance- 
ment, and  for  several  terms  has  been  a member  of 
the  board  of  education.  His  fraternal  connections 
are  with  Tuscan  Lodge  No.  77,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and 
Comee  Lodge  No.  25,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  both  of  Waseca. 

In  April,  1875,  Judge  Collester  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Hollande,  of  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  and  to  this  union  there  has  been 
born  one  daughter:  Alice  M.,  who  became  the  wife 
of  the  late  James  W.  Meacham,  formerly  a news- 
paper man  of  Freeport,  Illinois,  but  who  is  now 
deceased  Mrs.  Meacham  now  lives  at  the  home  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collester,  located  on  Lake  Avenue, 
Waseca. 

Hon.  Albert  David  Day.  Of  the  men  whose  labors 
and  talents  have  contributed  to  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  various  communities  in  Minnesota  and 
Michigan,  both  in  a business  and  civic  way,  few  are 
more  widely  known  than  Albert  David  Day,  mayor 
of  Long  Prairie  and  a man  whose  lumber  and  kindred 
interests  extend  over  a wide  area  of  the  state.  He 
was  born  at  St.  Anthony  Falls  (now  Minneapolis), 
Minnesota,  May  20,  1859,  and  is  a son  of  David  and 
Emily  (Russel)  Day.  The  family  originated  in  Eng- 
land and  came  to  America  during  Colonial  times, 
several  members  of  the  family  fighting  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  among  them  being  William  Day, 
the  grandfather  of  Albert  D.,  who  also  participated 
in  the  Mexican  war,  and  Ishmael  Day,  mention  of 
whom  occurs  on  the  pages  of  American  history. 

David  Day,  father  of  Albert  D.,  was  born  in 
Washington  County,  Maine,  in  1795.  and  came  out  to 
the  West  in  1848,  settling  on  the  site  of  what  is  now 
the  City  of  Minneapolis.  It  was  the  great  lumber 
industry  which  later  helped  to  make  Minneapolis  the 
metropolis  it  became,  and  David  Day  was  one  of  the 
city’s  pioneer  lumbermen.  He  early  became  promi- 
nent in  the  industry  as  senior  member  of  the  promi- 
nent firm  of  Leonard,  Day  & Co.  In  1858  he  moved 
to  Royalton,  Minnesota,  but  soon  returned  to  Min- 
neapolis, where  he  died  December  25,  i8(Ji.  Both 
parents  passed  away  in  that  city. 

Albert  David  Day  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Minneapolis  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  he  began  farming  in  Hennepin  and 
Dakota  counties,  continuing  until  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority. He  then  removed  to  Lac  qui  Parle  County, 
Minnesota,  where  he  took  up  land  near  what  is  now 
Bellingham.  In  those  early  days  that  was  the  Minne- 
sota frontier  and  in  growing  up  with  the  then  virgin 
country,  he  endured  the  hardships  and  privations 
which  first  settlers  in  every  community  must  endure 
if  those  who  come  after  are  to  have  and  enjoy  the 
comforts  and  conveniences  that  follow  development. 


For  a time  Mr.  Day’s  nearest  neighbor  was  twenty- 
two  miles  distant.  He  was  the  first  settler  of  the 
now  thickly  settled  and  prosperous  Township  of  Gar- 
field, assisted  in  organizing  it  and  became  its  first 
justice  of  the  peace. 

In  1880  he  moved  to  Hinckley,  Minnesota,  where 
he  established  himself  in  the  lumber  business.  He 
“cruised”  over  the  vast  pine  areas  in  Northern  Minne- 
sota, Wisconsin  and  Michigan  and  became  known  as 
one  of  the  most  reliable  and  skillful  timber  estimators 
in  the  country.  About  this  time  the  Soo  Railroad 
Company  was  building  its  main  line  through  from 
Minneapolis  to  the  Soo  and  had  contracted  with  the 
Coolidge  Fuel  & Supply  Co.  to  furnish  it  with  all  its 
ties,  bridge  timber  and  car  material.  It  was  an  im- 
mense contract  and  a herculean  undertaking.  The 
Coolidge  Company  picked  Mr.  Day  to  manage  the 
work.  Millions  of  feet  of  timber  in  the  upper  sec- 
tions of  the  three  states  had  to  be  bought  and  -sawed 
and  then  distributed  along  the  right  of  way.  On 
Mr.  Day’s  appraisal  and  estimates  the  vast  area  of 
required  stumpage  was  selected  and  bought;  mills 
were  built,  ties,  piling  and  timber  manufactured  and 
the  work  carried  through  without  a hitch  or  a delay. 
He  remained  in  charge  of  this  work  for  seven  years, 
supplying  the  entire  construction  material  for  the  Soo 
road  and  in  addition  fulfilling  immense  contracts 
for  the  same  kind  of  material  for  the  Great  Northern 
and  other  railroad  companies. 

In  1892  he  resigned  his  position  with  the  Coolidge 
Company  in  order  to  go  into  the  lumber  business  for 
himself.  He  had  acquired  a considerable  area  of 
timber  lands  in  Northern  Michigan  and  he  began 
active  logging  operations  for  himself  immediately 
upon  leaving  the  Coolidge  Company.  He  built  the 
town  of  Engadine,  Michigan,  established  a large 
general  store  and  conducted  it  in  connection  with  his 
lumbering  operations.  As  was  to  be  supposed,  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  upbuilding  of  Engadine, 
serving  as  its  first  treasurer  and  was  postmaster  for 
four  terms,  and  was  supervisor  of  his  township  for 
two  years.  He  was  also  active  in  school  affairs, 
serving  on  the  school  board  and  otherwise  assisting 
in  their  development.  In  1903  he  transferred  his 
operations  to  Naubinway,  Michigan,  where  he  also 
conducted  a general  store  in  connection  with  his 
lumber  business. 

In  1905  he  sold  his  store  and  lumber  business  in 
Michigan,  retaining  only  his  timber  lands,  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Deer  River  Lumber  Com- 
pany at  Deer  River,  Minnesota,  as  superintendent  of 
logging.  For  six  years  Mr.  Day  was  in  charge  of 
this  important  branch  of  the  company’s  business, 
personally  making  the  estimates  and  appraisals  upon 
which  the  company  made  its  important  investments  in 
standing  timber,  and  he  also  superintended  the  work 
of  the  company’s  logging  operations  for  their  big 
mills  at  Deer  River. 

In  1907  he  moved  his  family  to  Long  Prairie,  Min- 
nesota, and  upon  resigning  from  the  Deer  River 
Company  in  1911,  decided  to  make  that  village  his 
permanent  home.  His  aggressive  influence  for  good 
government  had  already  impressed  his  neighbors  in 
Long  Prairie  and  that  spring  when  he  returned  from 
Deer  River  he  was  induced  to  head  the  “law  and 
order”  ticket  in  a strenuous  municipal  campaign  then 
in  progress.  He  was  elected  and  has  retained  the 
position  at  succeeding  elections,  the  last  of  which 
occurred  March  9,  1915.  As  a result  of.  his  adminis- 
trative methods  and  executive  ability  Long  Prairie 
has  prospered  in  unusual  degree  and  enjoys  a repu- 


1356 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


tation  far  and  wide  as  a village  where  business  man- 
agement is  accomplishing  wonders  and  where  law 
enforcement  prevails.  A life  long  republican,  he  at 
all  times  has  made  his  influence  felt,  and  has  been 
prominent  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 

Mr.  Day  is  widely  known  in  fraternal  circles,  be- 
longing to  Long  Prairie  Lodge  No.  159,  A.  F.  & A. 

M. ,  of  which  he  has  been  master  two  terms;  Key- 
stone Chapter  No.  20,  R.  A.  M„  Duluth;  Duluth 
Commandery  No.  18,  K.  T. ; Aad  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 

N.  M.  S.,  and  Duluth  Consistory  No.  3,  S.  R.  M., 
being  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason. 
He  belongs  also  to  Camp  No.  632,  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of  Manistique,  Michigan ; 
Lodge  No.  94,  Long  Prairie,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  Encampment  No.  7;  and  Enga- 
dine  Commandery  No.  122,  Knights  of  the  Macca- 
bees, of  which  he  was  commander  for  nine  consecu- 
tive years.  He  became  an  Odd  Fellow  at  Hinckley 
in  1889  and  a Mason  at  Long  Prairie  in  1907.  Mr. 
Day  is  also  a stockholder  and  director  in  the  Todd 
County  Agricultural  Society,  and  with  his  family  is 
a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1891  at  Durand,  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Day  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Minnie  Hubbard,  daughter  of  the  late 
H.  W.  Hubbard,  who  was  a Wisconsin  farmer.  Six 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union : Orville  Roy, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Margaret  Elmira,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  one  year;  Albert  David,  who  died  when 
six  years  old ; Leonard  Hubbard,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  four ; Theodore  R.,  who  is  a student  in  the  fifth 
grade  of  the  Long  Prairie  public  schools  and  Lloyd 
Raymond,  a student  in  the  fourth  grade. 

John  A.  Anderegg.  Though  he  has  achieved  suc- 
cess and  prestige  as  one  of  the  able  members  of  the 
bar  of  his  native  state  and  is  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Sauk  City,  judicial  cen- 
ter of  Benton  County,  Mr.  Anderegg  has  had  a 
career  marked  by  varied  and  benignant  activities, 
not  the  least  of  which  were  those  of  his  effective 
identification  with  the  pedagogic  profession  and  his 
service  as  a member  of  the  Minnesota  Legislature. 
He  has  been  specially  earnest  and  zealous  in  the 
furtherance  of  the  educational  interests  of  the  state, 
is  known  as  a man  of  broad  and  well-fortified  con- 
victions and  distinctive  civic  loyalty,  and  is  a scion 
of  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of  Minne- 
sota. 

On  the  homestead  farm  of  his  father,  near  Man- 
kato, Blue  Earth  County,  Minnesota,  John  Albert 
Anderegg  was  born  on  the  9th  of  July,  1861.  He  is 
a son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Born)  Anderegg,  both 
of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Switzerland,  as 
members  of  sterling  old  families  of  that  fair  little 
European  republic,  where  their  marriage  was  sol- 
emnized. In  1856  the  parents  immigrated  to  Amer- 
ica and  in  the  following  year  they  numbered  them- 
selves among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Blue  Earth 
County,  Minnesota,  where  the  father  reclaimed  a 
productive  farm  from  the  virgin  wilds  and  where 
both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their 
lives,  secure  in  the  high  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
them. 

He  whose  name  initiates  this  article  was  reared 
to  the  sturdy  discipline  of  the  farm  and  after  mak- 
ing good  use  of  the  advantages  afforded  him  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county  he  there  entered 
the  Minnesota  State  Normal  School  at  Mankato,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1883.  Thereafter  he  devoted  eight  years  to  suc- 
cessful service  as  a teacher  in  the  public  schools. 


Within  this  period  he  was  for  one  year  instructor 
in  English  in  the  high  school  at  New  Ulm,  and  later 
he  served  as  superintendent  of  the  public  schools 
of  Jackson,  county  seat  of  the  Minnesota  county  of 
the  same  name.  While  thus  finding  insistent  de- 
mands upon  his  time  and  attention,  Mr.  Anderegg 
had  the  energy  and  ambition  to  carry  forward  also 
the  careful  study  of  law,  and  he  made  substantial 
progress  in  the  absorption  and  assimilation  of  the 
principles  of  jurisprudence,  though  circumstances 
have  at  times  deflected  him  from  the  work  of  the 
profession  for  which  he  carefully  prepared  himself. 
From  1890  to  1893  he  was  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  Kasota,  Lesueur  County, 
and  in  the  meanwhile  he  continued  the  study  of  law, 
with  the  result  that  in  1896  he  proved  himself  eligible 
for  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state. 
Llis  professional  novitiate  was  served  at  St.  Peter, 
Nicollet  County,  and  he  finally  removed  from  that 
place  to  Lesueur,  where  he  was  engaged  in  active 
and  successful  practice  for  a period  of  fifteen  years 
and  where  he  served  as  justice  of  the  Municipal 
Court.  From  Lesueur  County  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature, in  which  he  served  during  the  general  as- 
semblies of  1903  and  1905,  and  in  which  he  made  an 
admirable  record.  He  was  active  in  the  delibera- 
tions on  the  floor  of  the  House  and  in  those  of  the 
various  committees  to  which  he  was  assigned. 
Among  the  important  bills  introduced  by  him  and 
ably  championed  was  that  presented  in  the  session 
of  1905,  and  making  provision  for  the  permitting 
of  rural  school  districts  in  the  state  to  centralize 
or  consolidate  their  schools,  reducing  the  number 
and  thereby  making  possible  the  raising  of  the 
standard  of  the  work.  It  is  under  the  provisions 
of  this  law,  in  the  enactment  of  which  Mr.  Anderegg 
was  most  influential,  that  the  efficiency  of  the  rural 
schools  in  the  various  sections  of  the  state  has  been 
notably  advanced  and  that  the.  high  school  in  his 
present  home  district  was  established.  In  the  Leg- 
islature he  served  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Education  and  also  as  a member  of  other  impor- 
tant committees  that  profited  greatly  from  his  coun- 
sel and  loyal  service. 

After  his  retirement  as  a member  of  the  Legis- 
lature Mr.  Anderegg  held  for  two  years  the  posi- 
tion of  executive  manager  of  the  State  Bank  of 
Long  Lake,  Hennepin  County,  and  in  July,  1914,  he 
established  his  residence  at  Sauk  Rapids,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  successful  practice 
of  law  and  where  his  clientele  has  become  one  of 
important  and  representative  order.  Mr.  Anderegg 
is  a republican  in  his  political  proclivities  and  alle- 
giance and  has  been  active  in  the  furtherance  of 
the  party  cause.  In  a fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated 
with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1892,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Anderegg  to  Miss  Lillie  May 
Turrittin,  of  Kasota,  this  state,  and  they  have  six 
children : Rupert  A.,  a student  in  the  Co-operative 
University  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  the  course  of 
civil  engineering;  Wayne  L.,  clerk  in  a drug  store 
at  Sauk  Rapids ; Lillian  May  and  Albert  J.,  students 
in  the  high  schools  of  their  home  city;  and  the 
younger  children  are  George  F.  and  Frederick  H., 
the  former  of  whom  is  a grade  student  in  the  pub- 
lic schools. 

Godfrey  G.  Goodwin.  As  a lawyer  the  work  and 
attainments  of  Godfrey  G.  Goodwin  have  long  since 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1357 


given  him  rank  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Isanti 
County  bar,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  nearly 
twenty  years,  and  like  many  successful  lawyers  his 
interests  have  also  reached  out  into  business  affairs, 
and  he  has  been  and  is  connected  with  several  im- 
portant enterprises  at  Cambridge  and  has  made 
himself  a useful  factor  in  civic  matters. 

Godfrey  G.  Goodwin  was  born  at  Scandian  Grove, 
Minnesota,  January  u,  1873,  a son  of  Gustavus  and 
Cecilia  (Carlson)  Goodwin.  His  father  was  a sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Minnesota,  and  the  Goodwins 
came  to  this  state  about  i860,  direct  from  Sweden. 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
attended  a high  school  at  St.  Paul,  graduated  in 
the  regular  collegiate  course  from  the  University 
of  Minnesota  in  1895,  and  continuing  his  law  studies 
in  the  law  department  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in 
1896.  In  June  of  the  latter  year  he  located  for 
practice  at  Cambridge,  and  has  since  handled  a 
growing  general  business  as  a lawyer.  Mr.  Goodwin 
is  president  of  the  Cambridge  Milling  Company  and 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Gouldberg  & Ander- 
son Company,  general  merchants. 

As  to  his  relations  with  community  affairs,  it 
should  be  stated  that  Mr.  Goodwin  served  one  year 
as  president  of  the  city  council,  and  in  1898  was 
elected  county  attorney,  to  which  office  he  gave  eight 
years  of  consecutive  service,  and  in  1912  was  again 
elected,  and  by  re-election  in  1914  still  holds  that 
important  responsibility.  For  many  years  he  has 
also  been  connected  with  the  local  school  board,  and 
has  been  president  and  secretary  of  the  board. 

Mr.  Goodwin  is  a republican  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  was  married  at  Cam- 
bridge in  June,  1905,  to  Geneva  Gouldberg.  Their 
two  children  are  Alden  N.  and  Margery  Ann. 

William  Howard  Lamson.  A lawyer  whose 
maturing  ability  and  experience  have  brought  him  a 
successful  and  influential  position  in  the  Pine  County 
bar  is  William  Howard  Lamson,  who  is  a graduate 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota  and  was  in  practice 
for  several  years  at  Duluth  before  locating  at  Hinck- 
lev. 

Representing  some  of  the  substantial  pioneer  stock 
of  Minnesota,  William  Howard  Lamson  was  born 
in  Winona  County,  June  19,  1878.  His  parents  were 
Watson  I.  and  Lucy  O.  (Hammond)  Lamson,  both 
of  New  England  descent,  and  they  settled  in  the 
pioneer  country  at  Homer,  Winona  County,  Minne- 
sota, in  1856.  His  father  was  a fine  type_  of  the 
Minnesota  territorial  pioneers,  and  in  addition  to 
his  regular  vocation  served  as  chairman  of  his 
town  for  sixteen  years  and  town  treasurer  four 
years. 

William  H.  Lamson  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  home  village,  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Winona  High  School  in  1898,  and 
his  first  experience  was  in  the  newspaper  business, 
acting  as  reporter  for  one  year  with  the  Morning 
Independent  at  Winona.  He  then  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  was 
graduated  LL.  B.  in  1902.  The  following  six  years 
were  spent  in  practice  at  Duluth,  and  in  1908  Mr. 
Lamson  located  at  Hinckley  and  has  since  cared  for 
an  increasing  general  practice.  In  1910  the  people 
of  Pine  County  elected  him  county  attorney,  and 
he  was  chosen  as  his  own  successor  in  1912.  He 
has  also  served  four  years  as  Ullage  attorney,  and 
in  1914  was  president  of  the  Hinckley  School  Board 
and  has  been  a member  of  that  board  four  years. 


Mr.  Lamson  is  president  of  the  Pine  County 
Farm  Land  and  Investment  Company.  His  frater- 
nities are  the  Masonic  order,  Ionic  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  At  St.  Paul,  on 
April  7,  1909,  Mr.  Lamson  married  Charlotte  L. 
Moore.  Their  two  children  are  named  Elizabeth 
and  Harriet  Lucy.  Mr.  Lamson  is  a trustee  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  where  his  family  worship, 
and  he  is  a republican  in  politics. 

George  William  Empey.  It  is  as  a factor  in 
banking  affairs  in  several  Northern  Minnesota  coun- 
ties that  George  W.  Empey  has  been  chiefly  known 
during  his  active  career,  and  at  the  present  time 
in  addition  to  the  executive  connection  with  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants  State  Bank  at  Hinckley  is 
also  an  officer  and  has  financial  interests  in  a num- 
ber of  business  concerns  in  that  section  of  the  state. 

A native  of  Minnesota,  George  William  Empey 
was  born  at  Hastings,  July  30,  1867,  a son  of  Almond 
and  Augusta  (Lyon)  Empey.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  was  a native  of  Canada  and  was  a pioneer 
settler  in  Minnesota,  coming  about  1862. 

George  W.  Empey  grew  up  in  Hastings,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  there  and  in  1891  fin- 
ished a course  in  the  Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul. 
For  more  than  twenty  years  his  time  has  been 
chiefly  devoted  to  banking.  In  1892  he  became 
assistant  cashier  in  the  Bank  of  Park  Rapids,  Min- 
nesota, and  when  that  institution  was  reorganized 
as  the  First  National  Bank  he  was  made  cashier. 
He  also  served  one  year  as  deputy  county  auditor 
in  Hubbard  County.  In  1896  Mr.  Empey  went  to 
Verndale,  Minnesota,  as  cashier  of  the  Wadena 
County  Bank,  and  when  that  was  reorganized  as 
the  First  National  Bank  he  continued  as  cashier, 
his  total  service  with  the  institution  aggregating 
twelve  years. 

In  1908  Mr.  Empey  came  to  Hinckley  and  effected 
on  October  1 of  that  year  the  organization  of  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants  State  Bank.  It  was  started 
with  a capital  of  $10,000  and  the  first  officers  were: 
Isaac  Hazlett,  president;  James  C.  Hazlett,  vice 
president;  George  W.  Empey,  cashier;  and  J.  J. 
Folsom,  assistant  cashier.  The  bank  owns  a sub- 
stantial building,  constructed  of  brick  and  hollow 
tile,  24x40  feet.  In  1915,  besides  the  capital  stock 
of  $10,000,  the  bank  was  well  fortified  with  sur- 
plus and  undivided  profits  of  $13,000.  The  de- 
posits at  the  present  time  aggregate  about  ninety 
thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Empey  has  been  cashier  since 
the  organization  of  this  bank,  and  is  also  vice  pres- 
ident and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Brook  Park 
State  Bank. 

He  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Hinckley 
Lumber  Company,  and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Clover  Leaf  Land  and  Cattle  Company,  a close 
corporation  in  which  he  owns  half  the  stock.  Mr. 
Empey  is  a past  master  of  the  Blue  Lodge  of 
Masons,  also  being  affiliated  with  the  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  is  past  chancellor  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

He  has  had  much  to  do  with  public  affairs  and  is 
a former  president  of  the  village  council  at  Hinckley 
and  for  the  past  five  years  has  been  clerk  of  the 
school  board.  He  has  been  and  is  now  actively 
identified  with  the  Hinckley  Commercial  Club,  and 
is  at  present  chairman  of  its  executive  committee. 
He  is  president  of  the  Pine  County  Development 
Association,  which  is  affiliated  in  its  work  with  the 


1358 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Northern  Minnesota  Development  Association.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  is  treasurer  of 
the  local  church  and  is  on  the  bishop’s  committee. 
On  July  19,  1893,  Air.  Empey  married  Elizabeth  H. 
Pearce  of  St.  Peter,  Minnesota.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Edith. 

Jacob  John  Folsom.  Representing  one  of  the 
early  pioneer  families  at  Taylors  Falls,  Jacob  J. 
Folsom  has  a generally  acknowledged  position  of 
leadership  and  power  in  business  affairs  in  Pine 
County,  his  home  town  being  Hinckley.  In  the 
course  of  a career  of  over  thirty  years  Mr.  Folsom 
has  been  identified  at  different  times  with  public 
office,  with  banking,  with  the  lumber  trade,  with 
the  newspaper  business  and  has  accumulated  a num- 
ber of  interests  which  well  justify  his  position  in 
business  and  civic  affairs  at  Hinckley. 

Jacob  John  Folsom  was  born  at  Taylors  Falls, 
Minnesota,  February  5,  i860,  a son  of  Levi  Wood- 
bury and  Abbie  (Shaw)  Folsom.  His  father  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  at  Taylors  Falls,  having  located 
there  in  1852.  By  profession  he  was  an  attorney, 
and  continued  to  reside  at  Taylors  Falls  from  the 
time  of  his  settlement  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-two  years,  in  1911.  The  family  still  preserve 
the  old  homestead  in  that  town. 

Jacob  J.  Folsom  received  an  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  given  the 
practical  management  of  a store  in  Taylors  Falls 
and  conducted  it  from  1876  until  1888.  In  1890  he 
became  a stenographer  in  a real  estate  office  at  Long 
Prairie,  Minnesota,  acquiring  thereby  a valuable  ex- 
perience, and  in  1895  located  at  Hinckley.  There  he 
bought  the  Hinckley  Enterprise,  and  was  a news- 
paper publisher  until  he  sold  out  in  1903.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  organized  the  Bank  of  Hinckley, 
and  was  its  owner  until  1903.  He  was  also  for 
three  years  associated  with  his  brother,  Howard 
Folsom,  in  the  lumber  business  at  Sandstone.  In 
1903  Mr.  Folsom  bought  the  Pine  Poker  at  Pine 
City,  Minnesota,  but  soon  removed  to  the  North- 
west and  for  two  years,  together  with  his  brother 
Floward,  was  connected  with  the  Farmer  Publishing 
Company  at  Spokane,  Washington.  Returning  to 
Hinckley  in  1908,  Mr.  Folsom  has  since  that  time 
vigorously  pushed  his  business  affairs.  He  helped 
to  organize  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  State  Bank, 
with  which  he  was  connected  as  assistant  cashier  for 
three  years,  and  is  still  a director.  He  next  organ- 
ized the  Folsom  Bros.  & Fuchs  Company,  dealers 
in  hardware,  and  is  president  of  that  corporation. 

Mr.  Folsom  aside  from  his  business  interests  has 
had  much  to  do  with  community  affairs.  For  two 
years  he  served  as  president  of  the  village  board 
of  Hinckley,  and  in  November,  1914,  was  appointed 
by  President  Woodrow  Wilson  as  postmaster  at 
Hinckley,  an  office  to  which  he  now  devotes  much 
of  his  time.  At  several  different  times  he  was 
honored  with  election  as  village  recorder  and  clerk 
of  Hinckley.  He  was  for  three  years  secretary  of 
the  Hinckley  Commercial  Club.  His  first  public 
service  may  be  said  to  have  been  that  of  librarian 
in  the  public  library  at  Taylors  Falls,  to  which  re- 
sponsibility he  was  appointed  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  and  performed  its  duties  five  years.  Mr. 
Folsom  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  59  of  the  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  at  St.  Paul,  and 
is  a past  noble  grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 


Joseph  Bell  Cotton.  Born  on  a farm  near  Albion, 
Indiana,  January  6,  1865,  Mr.  Cotton  is  a son  of  Dr. 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Riddle)  Cotton,  his  father  pass- 
ing his  entire  career  as  a practicing  physician  in 
Indiana.  He  belongs  to  the  seventh  direct  genera- 
tion from  Rev.  John  Cotton,  who  was  born  in  Derby, 
England,  December  4,  1585,  and  who  upon  his  arrival 
in  America  became  "teacher”  of  the  first  church  of 
Boston,  to  which  city  he  gave  its  name  in  1633. 

Joseph  Bell  Cotton  was  educated  in  the  Albion, 
Indiana  High  School  and  in  the  Michigan  Agricul- 
tural College,  graduating  from  the  latter  in  1886  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science.  He  then  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1888,  be- 
ginning his  practice  in  September  of  that  year  at 
Duluth,  which  city  has  since  been  his  residence. 

From  1893  to  1909,  inclusive,  Mr.  Cotton  was  gen- 
eral solicitor  for  the  Lake  Superior  Consolidated 
Iron  Mines  and  the  Duluth,  Missabe  & Northern 
Railway  Company,  and  for  the  Duluth  & Iron  Range 
Railroad  Company,  the  Oliver  Iron  Mining  Com- 
pany and  the  Minnesota  Iron  Company,  subsidiary 
companies  of  the  United  States  Steel  Corporation, 
from  1901  to  1909.  Since  1909  he  has  been  and  is 
now  special  counsel  for  all  five  and  their  allied  com- 
panies. 

For  more  than  twenty  years,  Mr.  Cotton  has  made 
a specialty  of  corporation,  railroad  and  mining  law, 
and  he  also  represents  professionally  a number  of 
important  business  and  corporate  interests  in  various 
parts  of  the  United  States,  Mexico  and  Cuba.  He 
has  been  retained  almost  constantly  for  the  period 
named  as  special  or  general  counsel  of  some  of  the 
larger  corporations  and  has  been  connected  with  nu- 
merous mining,  railroad  and  other  cases  of  impor- 
tance throughout  the  country.  Mr.  Cotton’s  ex- 
perience, work  and  abilities  undoubtedly  place  him 
among  the  leading  corporation  lawyers  of  the  North- 
west. 

His  business  interests  are  also  important  and  ex- 
tensive, he  being  president  of  the  Glass  Block  De- 
partment Store,  of  Duluth,  formerly  Panton  & White 
Company ; director  and  counsel  of  F.  A.  Patrick 
& Co.,  wholesale  dry  goods,  of  Duluth ; president 
and  general  counsel  of  the  Sierra  Consolidated  Mines 
Company,  operating  in  Mexico;  general  counsel  of 
the  Greene  Cananea  Copper  Company,  operating  in 
Mexico;  general  counsel  of  the  Consolidated  Copper- 
mines  Company,  operating  in  Nevada ; vice  president 
and  general  counsel  of  the  Giroux  Consolidated 
Mines  Company,  operating  in  Nevada;  vice  president 
and  general  counsel  of  the  North  Butte  Mining  Com- 
pany, operating  in  Montana;  and  president  of  the 
Virginia  Mining  Company;  and  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Buena  Vista  Iron  Company,  operating  in 
Cuba.  Mr.  Cotton  is  also  now  engaged  in  general 
practice,  and  is  the  head  of  the  law  firm  of  Cotton,. 
Neukom  & Colton  with  offices  at  No.  1500  Alworth 
Building. 

Always  an  active  republican,  Air.  Cotton  has  been 
quite  prominent  in  the  ranks  of  his  party,  serving  as 
a member  of  the  Minnesota  House  of  Representa- 
tives in  1893,  and  being  a delegate  to  the  republican 
national  conventions  of  1904  and  1908. 

Fraternally,  he  is  a thirty-second  degree,  Scottish 
Rite  Alason ; a member  of  the  Knights  Templar; 
Past  Potentate  and  member  of  Aad  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
N.-M.  S.;  past  sovereign  and  member  of  the  Red 
Cross  of  Constantine;  past  exalted  ruler  and  member 
of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  No. 
133,  of  Duluth,  and  a member  of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta 


/ 


/ 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1359 


fraternity.  He  is  also  widely  known  in  club  circles, 
belonging  to  The  Kitchi  Gammi,  Northland  Country, 
Commercial,  Curling,  and  Duluth  Boat  clubs  of  Du- 
luth; the  Washington  Club  of  Isle  Royal  ; the  Minne- 
sota Club  of  St.  Paul;  the  Minneapolis  Club  of  Min- 
neapolis; the  Indiana  Society  and  Chicago  Athletic 
Association  of  Chicago;  and  the  Minnesota  Society 
and  Lawyers  Club  of  New  York  City. 

On  January  4,  1900,  Mr.  Cotton  was  married  to 
Miss  Louise  Hubbell,  daughter  of  Albert  C.  and 
Mary  (Lyon)  Hubbell,  of  Duluth,  and  three  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union:  Josephine  Bell,  Mary 
Louise  and  John  Mather.  The  family  home  is 
located  at  No.  2309  East  First  Street,  Duluth. 

Solomon  Flagg  Alderman.  Now  serving  as 
county  attorney  of  Crow  Wing  County,  Solomon  E. 
Alderman  has  been  a resident  of  Brainerd  more 
than  thirty  years,  has  filled  a number  of  positions 
of  trust  and  responsibility,  is  a former  state  senator, 
and  whether  as  a lawyer  or  public  official  has  always 
justified  the  trust  and  confidence  of  those  who  have 
sought  his  counsel  in  legal  affairs  or  who  have  im- 
posed upon  him  the  duties  of  public  office. 

Solomon  Flagg  Alderman  is  a native  of  Connec- 
ticut, born  at  East  Granby,  July  1,  1861,  a son  of 
James  FI.  and  Sarah  Jane  (Snow)  Alderman.  His 
parents  were  thrifty  and  substantial  New  England 
farmers.  His  early  education  was  acquired  in  local 
schools  and  the  Library  Institute  at  Suffield,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1881.  Mr.  Alderman  began  the 
study  of  law  in  Connecticut,  spending  one  year  at 
Windsor  Locks,  Connecticut,  but  in  1883  came  out 
to  Minnesota  and  identified  himself  with  the  little 
City  of  Brainerd.  Here  he  got  into  public  affairs 
soon  after  his  arrival,  and  his  active  career  as  a 
lawyer  was  deferred  for  a dozen  years.  He  first 
served  as  deputy  county  treasurer,  then  a year  as 
deputy  county  auditor,  and  also  as  deputy  clerk  of 
the  District  Court.  By  election  Mr.  Alderman  was 
clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  Brainerd  from  1885 
to  1894.  In  January,  1895,  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice law,  and  so  far  as  official  duties  have  per- 
mitted has  looked  after  the  interests  of  a large 
general  practice  for  nearly  twenty  years.  _ For  four 
years  he  held  the  office  of  municipal  judge,  and 
was  county  attorney  three  years  prior  to  his  recent 
election  to  that  office  in  1914.  From  1906  to  1910 
Mr.  Alderman  represented  his  district  in  the  State 
Senate,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
republican  politics  and  served  in  1912  as  delegate 
to  the  Chicago  national  convention.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Crow  Wing  County  Bar  Association  and 
the  State  Bar  Association,  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  order  and  Mystic  Shrine,  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  is  past  chancellor  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  a member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  the  Good  Samaritans 
and  the  Maccabees.  He  is  also  identified  with  the 
Brainerd  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

September  4,  1884,  Mr.  Alderman  married  Mat- 
tie  E.  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut.  Their 
daughter,  Nell  Fie,  is  now  the  wife  of  W.  F.  Wie- 
land,  a Brainerd  attorney;  while  the  son,  James  H., 
is  connected  with  the  hardware  firm  of  D.  M.  Clark 
& Co.  of  Brainerd,  Minnesota. 

James  Harvey  Warner.  For  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury Judge  Warner  has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  bar  at  Brainerd,  and  experience  of  long  years 
in  the  profession  has  brought  him  tjpe  recognition 


paid  to  ability  and  high  professional  attainments. 
Mr.  Warner  possesses  the  quality  of  a fine  mind, 
and  his  steady  and  persevering  industry  have  landed 
him  well  to  the  top  of  his  profession. 

His  birthplace  was  a farm  in  Warren  County, 
Iowa,  where  he  was  born  February  22,  i860.  His 
parents  were  Valentine  and  Mary  (Robertson) 
Warner,  the  father  a blacksmith  and  farmer.  Valen- 
tine Warner  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the 
State  of  Iowa,  having  left  Pennsylvania  and  floated 
down  the  Ohio  River,  and  thence  coming  up  the 
Mississippi  and  locating  a farm  in  what  was  still 
a wilderness.  During  the  Civil  war  in  September, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-fourth  Regiment  of 
Iowa  Infantry,  and  saw  active  service  in  the  Union 
cause  until  mustered  out  in  1865,  after  three  years. 

James  Harvey  Warner  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  country  schools  and  worked  for  his  higher 
training  by  teaching  and  in  other  occupations.  In 
1881  he  graduated  from  the  Ackworth  Academy. 
From  1879  to  1887  Mr.  Warner  was  actively  em- 
ployed during  the  greater  part  of  each  year  as  a 
teacher  in  South  Dakota,  and  in  the  meantime  car- 
ried on  his  law  studies  in  private  offices.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  South  Dakota  in  1887,  and 
in  1890  was  admitted  to  the  Minnesota  bar  and  at 
that  time  located  in  Brainerd.  His  practice  has  been 
of  a general  nature,  and  he  has  a large  and  repre- 
sentative clientage. 

Much  of  his  term  since  beginning  practice  at 
Brainerd  in  1890  has  been  taken  up  with  official 
duties.  For  two  terms  he  served  as  special  city 
judge,  and  in  1902  was  elected  municipal  judge  and 
filled  the  office  with  his  characteristic  ability  until 
1906.  After  one  term  as  county  attorney,  Judge 
Warner  was  again  chosen  judge  of  the  Municipal 
Court,  and  his  three  terms  in  that  office  cover  a 
period  from  1908  to  1915.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Crow  Wing  County  Bar  Association,  and  has  mem- 
bership in  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen 
and  with  other  social  organizations. 

In  Hutchinson  County,  South  Dakota,  October 
30,  1882,  Judge  Warner  married  Elizabeth  Baker. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  children.  Roland  B. 
is  an  engineer  with  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway; 
the  second  is  Fred  W. ; Irma  S.  is  the  wife  of  R.  W. 
Crust,  deputy  state  factory  inspector  with  home  at 
Crookston ; and  Edith  Mae  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family. 

Fred  Andrew  Farrar.  A resident  of  Brainerd 
since  1879,  Mr.  Farrar  has  worked  out  a career  of 
self-advancement,  and  his  present  relations  with  the 
community  are  as  a banker,  real  estate  man  and 
actively  and  officially  connected  with  a number  of 
local  concerns  and  public  organizations. 

Fred  Andrew  Farrar  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wis- 
consin, April  6,  1861.  His  parents  were  Andrew 
Pierce  and  Sarah  Jane  (Titus)  Farrar.  His  father, 
who  died  July  4,  1900,  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  machinery  and  motive  power  for  the  Northern 
Pacific  railway  shops  in  1877. 

The  son  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  at 
Michigan  City,  Indiana,  and  in  a business  college  at 
Jackson,  Michigan,  and  his  first  regular  work  was 
clerk  in  railway  shops  and  clerk  and  bookkeeper  in 
several  mercantile  houses.  For  eight  years  . he 
served  as  city  clerk  of  Brainerd,  and  subsequently 
was  a member  of  the  city  council  for  a period  of 
six  years.  In  1900  Mr.  Farrar  began  his  active 
career  as  a banker  in  the  capacity  of  teller  in  the 


1360 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


First  National  Bank,  and  was  promoted  to  assistant 
cashier,  then  cashier  and  is  now  vice  president  of 
that  bank.  His  financial  interests  extend  to  the 
mining  and  farm  development  of  Northern  Minne- 
sota, and  he  is  president  of  the  Brainerd-Cuyuna 
Mining  Company,  is  treasurer  of  the  Minnesota  Park 
Region  Land  Company,  treasurer  of  the  Rabbit  Lake 
Land  Company,  and  treasurer  of  the  Brainerd  Im- 
provement Company.  He  also  holds  the  office  of 
treasurer  in  the  chamber  of  commerce,  and  a similar 
office  with  the  Evergreen  Cemetery  Association.  He 
has  always  shown  a readiness  to  do  anything  in  his 
power  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  home  city. 
Mr.  Farrar  is  active  in  Masonic  circles,  is  a member 
of  the  lodge,  is  a past  eminent  commander  of  the 
Knight  Templar  Commandery,  has  taken  thirty-two 
degrees  in  the  Scottish  Rite  and  belongs  to  the 
Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  affiliated 
with  the  Benevolent  & Protective  Order  of  Elks  and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

At  Brainerd  on  February  20,  1895,  Mr.  Farrar 
married  Ethel  M.  Small.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  is  a ves- 
tryman. 

Asa  D.  Polk.  With  the  prestige  and  experience 
of  forty  years  of  practice  behind  him,  Asa  D.  Polk 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  active  career  in 
Minnesota,  and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  has  had  a 
large  practice  and  a prominent  position  as  a citizen 
at  Brainerd. 

Asa  D.  Polk  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Indiana, 
December  17,  1850,  the  son  of  a substantial  farmer, 
James  W.  Polk,  and  wife,  Sarah  H.  (Davis)  Polk. 
His  early  life  was  spent  partly  in  Indiana  and  partly 
in  Iowa,  with  an  education  acquired  by  attendance 
at  the  country  schools,  and  in  the  Iowa  State  Col- 
lege. Mr.  Polk  studied  law  in  private  offices,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Iowa  bar  in  1875,  and  at  once 
began  practice.  His  home  and  professional  in- 
terests were  centered  at  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  from 
1876  to  1881,  and  in  the  latter  year  he  removed  to 
Minneapolis,  was  in  practice  in  that  city  nearly 
twenty  years,  and  since  1900  has  lived  at  Brainerd. 

Mr.  Polk  in  addition  to  a large  general  practice 
is  now  examiner  of  titles  for  the  State  of  Minne- 
sota. Pie  served  two  years  as  city  attorney  and  as 
county  atttorney  for  a like  period. 

Mr.  Polk  is  a rqember  of  the  Crow  Wing,  the  State 
Bar  and  the  American  Bar  associations,  and  fra- 
ternally is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order  of 
Brainerd.  In  1876  he  married  Minnie  E.  Hayes. 
They  have  two  children,  Frank  H.  and  Grace  E., 
both  of  whom  have  taken  up  careers  in  journalism, 
and  are  successful  workers  in  that  field. 

Levi  M.  DePue.  A prominent  banker  and  busi- 
ness man  of  Brainerd,  president  of  the  Brainerd 
State  Bank,  L.  M.  DePue  is  a native  son  of  Min- 
nesota, and  has  had  an  active  business  career  extend- 
ing over  more  than  thirty  years.  In  early  life  he 
was  connected  with  railway  construction  and  lum- 
bering, and  has  possessed  in  a striking  degree  the 
faculty  and  enterprise  of  attracting  to  himself  large 
and  important  interests  in  the  management  of  which 
he  has  proved  himself  a past  master. 

The  Brainerd  State  Bank,  of  which  he  is  now  the 
chief  executive,  was  organized  in  July,  1908,  and 
has  always  retained  its  original  capital  stock  of 
$25,000.  A reorganization  occurred  in  November, 
1909,  and  some  important  changes  were  made  in 


the  personnel  and  disposition  of  capital  on  Febru- 
ary 27,  1914.  Few  Minnesota  banks  have  had  a 
better  record  of  growth  than  this.  In  September, 
1910,  the  deposits  of  the  bank  amounted  to  about 
$22,000.  In  a little  more  than  a year  this  feature 
of  the  bank  statement  showed  December,  1911,  an 
aggregate  of  about  $118,000.  With  this  splendid 
record  at  the  beginning,  the  bank  has  continued  to 
grow,  and  according  to  the  last  available  statement 
issued  October  26,  1914,  the  deposits  aggregated  ap- 
proximately $218,000.  At  that  time  the  total  re- 
sources were  $243,012.28.  While  the  law  required 
a reserve  of  about  $18,000,  the  actual  reserve  at  that 
statement  was  more  than  $40,000.  The  present 
officers  and  directors  of  the  Brainerd  State  Bank 
are : L.  M.  DePue,  president ; Carl  Zapffe  and  F.  M. 
Koop,  vice  presidents;  H.  E.  Kundert,  cashier;  and 
O.  H.  Scott,  a director,  besides  the  officials  named. 

Levi  Melville  DePue  was  born  at  Shakopee,  Min- 
nesota, June  23,  1863,  a son  of  James  M.  and  Phoebe 
(St.  Clare)  DePue.  The  father  was  a blacksmith 
and  wagonmaker  at  Shakopee.  The  son  had  only 
the  training  given  by  the  public  schools  of  Minne- 
sota during  his  boyhood,  and  in  1881,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  he  began  work  during  the  construction  of 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railway.  That  was  his  first 
regular  experience  in  making  his  own  way,  and  he 
continued  with  that  company  until  1883.  From  1884 
to  1888  Mr.  DePue  was  engaged  in  logging  and 
lumbering,  and  after  that  in  the  retail  lumber  busi- 
ness until  1895.  For  ten  years  he  was  one  of  the 
representatives  in  the  Northwest  for  the  Inter- 
national Harvester  Company,  but  in  1905  left  the 
company  to  open  an  agency  for  the  sale  of  Canadian 
lands. 

Mr.  DePue  began  his  banking  career  in  1907,  when 
he  became  cashier  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  of 
Brainerd.  After  three  years,  in  1910,  he  assisted  in 
reorganizing  the  Security  State  Bank  under  its 
present  title,  the  Brainerd  State  Bank,  and  was 
cashier  at  the  time  J.  P.  Ernster  was  president. 
From  cashier  he  was  promoted  to  vice  president, 
and  in  1914  elected  president.  The  bank  conducts 
a fire  insurance  department,  and  Mr.  DePue  also 
has  extensive  real  estate  interests. 

Fraternally  he  is  a past  noble  grand  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Brainerd  Chamber  of  Commerce.  In  1905 
Mr.  DePue  married  Delia  Foley  of  Vermont. 
Politically,  while  one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens 
of  Brainerd,  he  maintains  a generally  independent 
attitude. 

Charles  A.  Smith.  The  career  of  Charles  A. 
Smith  has  been  one  in  which  business  activity  has 
been  blended  with  unbending  honor  and  unflinching 
integrity.  Success  has  been  his  portion  not  alone 
because  of  business  talents  of  a high  order,  and  per- 
sistent and  well-directed  industry,  but  also  because 
of  straightforward  dealing,  while  at  the  same  time 
he  has  found  the  time  and  the  inclination  to  con- 
tribute to  his  community’s  welfare  arid  advancement. 
The  recipient  of  a handsome  property  from  his 
father’s  estate,  he  has  not  dissipated  his  means  in 
foolish  investments  or  speculations,  but^  has  put 
them  to  a use  which  has  not  only  placed  him  among 
the  substantial  men  of  Waseca,  but  has  also  allowed 
this  city  and  locality  to  benefit  by  their  accruements. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  at  Wilton,  Waseca  County, 
Minnesota,  June  12,  1866,  and  is  a son  of  Warren 
and  Susan  E.  (Johnson)  Smith.  His  father,  a native 


i 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1361 


of  Barnstable  County,  Massachusetts,  was  born  in 
1821,  and  was  a man  of  thirty-four  years  when  he 
came  West,  settling  at  Faribault,  Minnesota,  where 
he  remained  one  year.  In  1856  he  located  in  Waseca 
County  and  there  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  various  profitable  pursuits,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  1894.  Mr.  Smith  was  a pioneer  merchant 
of  Waseca  and  profited  largely  by  the  prosperity 
which  came  to  this  rapidly  developing  county.  He 
was  shrewd  and  cautious  in  his  dealings,  yet  pos- 
sessed the  courage  to  grasp  such  opportunities  as 
came  his  way,  and  had  the  ability  to  bring  them  to 
a successful  conclusion.  A man  of  energy,  force 
and  will  power,  he  readily  took  a foremost  place 
among  his  fellows,  and  was  known  as  a leader  in 
civic  and  state  affairs,  serving  in  the  legislature  in 
1869  and  in  various  other  offices.  Mr.  Smith  married 
Miss  Susan  E.  Johnson,  who  was  born  at  Province- 
town,  Massachusetts,  in  1824,  and  she  died  in  1896, 
at  Waseca,  having  been  the  mother  of  four  children, 
as  follows : Minnie  L.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 

twenty-eight  years;  Mary  L.,  who  resides  with  her 
brother  at  Waseca;  George  W.,  who  died  in  young 
manhood;  and  Charles  A.,  of  this  review. 

Charles  A.  Smith  was  given  ordinary,  although 
practical,  educational  advantages  in  his  youth,  first 
attending  the  graded  schools  of  Waseca,  to  which 
city  his  parents  had  removed  when  he  was  a lad 
^of  four  years.  Subsequently  he  attended  the  Waseca 
*High  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1884, 
and  following  this  took  a commercial  course  in  the 
Curtis  Business  College,  Minneapolis.  Thus  pre- 
pared for  a business  career,  Mr.  Smith  embarked  in 
the  printing  business  in  the  office  of  the  Waseca 
Radical,  which  at  that  time  was  being  published  by 
Mr.  Graham,  and  remained  with  that  newspaper  for 
four  years.  He  was  then  appointed  clerk  in  the 
county  treasurer’s  office,  where  he  remained  for  two 
and  one-half  years,  when  he  returned  to  the  printing 
business  in  1891  and  continued  to  be  engaged  therein 
during  that  and  the  following  year.  In  1892  Mr. 
Smith's  father’s  health  failed  and  the  young  man  was 
called  home  to  begin  to  look  after  the  other’s  varied 
interests.  He  courageously  threw  himself  into  the 
new  line  of  endeavor,  with  which  he  became  so 
familiar  in  the  next  few  years,  that  when  his  father 
died,  in  1894/  he  was  able  to  gather  up  the  threads 
where  they  had  been  broken  by  the  elder  man’s 
demise,  and  to  carry  on  transactions  without  a per- 
ceptible interruption.  He  has  continued  to  follow 
the  same  line  of  business  to  the  present  time,  and 
to  add  materially  to  the  large  estate  which  was 
left  to  him  and  his  sister. 

Mr.  Smith  maintains  a large  office  on  Second 
Street,  and  in  addition  to  the  varied  interests  of 
the  estate  carried  on  a successful  real  estate  business 
and  operates  extensively  in  loans,  principally  of  the 
farm  variety.  He  has  accumulated  a number  of 
valuable  properties  of  his  own,  including  two  farms 
in  Norman  County  and  one  in  Becker  County,  Min- 
nesota, and  all  are  under  a high  state  of  cultivation 
and  give  handsome  returns  under  Mr.  Smith’s  capa- 
ble and  energetic  management.  He  is  also  secretary 
of  the  Waseca  Telephone  Company,  and  has  other 
large  business  and  financial  interests,  and  in  what- 
ever field  he  has  entered  has  thoroughly  mastered 
every  detail  of  the  business  so  that  it  has  returned 
to  him  a full  measure  of  success.  Among  his  asso- 
ciates his  judgment  is  relied  upon  implicitly,  and  he 
is  known  as  a man  who  is  absolutely  reliable  in  his 
engagements. 


Mr.  Smith  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  has 
always  taken  a stirring  and  helpful  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  his  adopted  city,  of  which  he  served 
capably  and  in  a businesslike  manner  as  mayor  from 
1898  to  1904,  during  which  time  the  city  benefited  by 
numerous  much-needed  improvements.  Fraternally, 
he  is  connected  with  Tuscan  Lodge  No.  77,  F.  & 
A.  M. ; Waseca  Chapter  No.  26,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Comee 
Lodge  No.  25,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
in  all  of  which  he  has  numerous  friends.  Mr.  Smith 
is  unmarried  and  lives  with  his  sister,  at  their  pleas- 
ant home,  No.  901  Lake  Avenue,  Waseca. 

Henry  Paul  Dunn.  At  Brainerd  Henry  P.  Dunn 
has  for  a number  of  years  been  one  of  the  city’s 
successful  merchants,  and  his  recognized  competence 
in  business  affairs  and  thorough  integrity  were  his 
most  substantial  recommendations  for  the  various 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  with  which  the 
public  has  honored  him.  At  the  present  time  Mr. 
Dunn  is  serving  as  postmaster  of  Brainerd. 

Henry  Paul  Dunn  was  born  on  a farm  in  Rice 
County,  Minnesota,  June  2,  1870,  and  is  a son  of 
Minnesota  pioneers,  John  and  Mary  (McDonough) 
Dunn.  With  an  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
business  college,  he  started  life  as  an  employe  of 
Brobeck  & Coy,  a drug  house  at  Kenyon,  Minne- 
sota, remained  there  five  years,  and  with  a thorough 
knowledge  of  the  drug  business  came  to  Brainerd 
in  1894.  For  two  years  he  was  employed  by  others, 
and  in  1897  organized  the  H.  P.  Dunn  Drug  Com- 
pany, which  has  been  developed  into  one  of  the  best 
establishments  of  the  kind  at  Brainerd. 

Mr.  Dunn  has  long  been  affiliated  with  the  demo- 
cratic party,  and  on  October  1,  1914,  received  ap- 
pointment from  President  Wilson  as  postmaster  at 
Brainerd.  During  1911-13  he  served  as  mayor,  and 
for  twelve  years  was  a member  of  the  library  board. 
Mr.  Dunn  was  also  a member  of  the  old  charter  com- 
mission, is  a director  of  the  Park  Opera  House 
Association,  a member  of  the  chamber  of  commerce, 
and  fraternally  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus. 

At  Brainerd  on  June  2,  1904,  Mr.  Dunn  married 
Sadie  Reilly.  They  have  one  son,  Joseph  Henry, 
born  March  27,  1905. 

Andrew  Jacob  Halsted.  A former  president  of 
the  Minnesota  State  Editorial  Association,  Andrew  J. 
Halsted  has  for  thirty-one  years  been  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Brainerd  Tribune,  and  is  one  of 
the  best  known  newspaper  publishers  in  the  state. 
During  his  residence  at  Brainerd  no  citizen  has  been 
more  active  in  local  affairs,  and  he  has  used  both 
his  personal  influence  and  the  columns  of  his  news- 
paper to  support  all  movements  that  would  bring 
substantial  benefit  to  the  city  and  state. 

Andrew  Jacob  Halsted  was  born  at  Bridgeport, 
across  the  Ohio  River  from  Wheeling,  in  the  State  of 
Ohio,  August  23,  1830.  His  parents  were  Uriah 
Wilson  and  Mary  Jane  (Grubb)  Halsted.  His 
father  was  a teacher  by  profession  and  at  the  begin- 
ing  of  the  Civil  war  became  captain  of  a company 
in  the  Union  army,  later  joined  the  cavalry,  and 
while  serving  as  sergeant-major  of  the  First  West 
Virginia  Cavalry  was  killed  in  action  September  22, 
1863. 

Andrew  J.  Halsted  was  thirteen  years  old  when 
his  father  died,  and  after  a brief  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ohio  entered  the  practical  school 


1362 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  learning  in  a printing  office.  He  learned  his  trade 
in  Montrose,  Pennsylvania,  and  then  became  actively 
identified  with  the  mechanical  and  news  departments 
of  different  Wheeling  (West  Virginia)  papers.  He 
was  for  eleven  years  city  editor  with  the  old  Intel- 
ligencer at  Wheeling,  a morning  paper,  and  one  of 
the  oldest  papers  in  the  state.  Later  he  established 
the  Saturday  Evening  Journal  in  Wheeling,  and  fol- 
lowing that  was  business  manager  of  the  Evening 
Journal,  which  he  also  founded.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Wheeling  Mr.  Halsted  was  twice  elected  a 
member  of  the  upper  branch  of  the  city  council, 
and  resigned  that  office  when  he  left  Wheeling  in 
April,  1884,  to  come  to  Brainerd.  At  Brainerd,  Mr. 
Halsted  bought  the  Tribune  and  has  presided  over 
its  destinies  as  a publication  over  thirty  years. 

Mr.  Halsted  has  always  been  identified  with  the 
republican  party,  and  during  his  residence  in  West 
Virginia  was  urged  to  become  a candidate  for  the 
Legislature.  At  four  different  times  he  has  served 
as  mayor  of  Brainerd,  and  in  1890  was  a candidate 
for  the  Legislature  and  was  defeated  by  thirteen 
votes.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Crow  Wing  County 
Republican  Central  Committee  and  a member  of  the 
State  Central  Committee.  In  1911  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Brainerd  Commercial  Club, 
and  in  all  local  matters  has  been  foremost. 
Pie  has  served  on  three  charter  commissions 
in  Brainerd,  and  is  president  of  the  present 
commission.  For  a number  of  years  he  was 
one  of  the  three  on  examining  board  for  teachers. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order, 
has  taken  nearly  all  the  degrees,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Elks,  Eagles,  Red  Men,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
and  Maccabees.  He  was  the  first  exalted  ruler  of 
Lodge  No.  615,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks  at  Brainerd.  In  the  organization  of  Sons  of 
Veterans  he  served  on  the  staff  of  the  commanding 
general  of  the  United  States  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 

In  1875  Mr.  Halsted  married  Annie  May  Zane, 
of  Wheeling,  and  a member  of  the  prominent  Zane 
family  that  figured  as  pioneers  at  Wheeling  and 
afterwards  founded  the  City  of  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Halsted  died  in  May,  1876,  leaving  one  daugh- 
ter, Flora,  now  wife  of  James  R.  Smith,  a prominent 
real  estate  man  of  Brainerd.  In  1885  Mr.  Halsted 
married  Louise  Smith  of  Martin’s  Ferry,  Ohio. 
She  died  in  1902.  Her  only  son,  Leslie  Howard, 
who  was  born  in  March,  1892,  graduated  from  the 
Bliss  Electrical  School  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  at 
the  outset  of  a career  a promise  died  June  3,  1914. 

James  Monroe  Elder.  During  a residence  at 
Brainerd  covering  nearly  thirty  years,  Mr.  Elder  has 
had  the  activities  of  a real  estate  man,  but  in  that 
field  he  is  in  a class  by  himself,  and  has  done  a work 
of  bfoad  and  lasting  value  in  the  rural  development 
of  Northern  Minnesota.  While  he  has  sold  many 
thousands  of  acres,  his  primary  aim  and  interests 
have  been  in  the  colonization  of  these  lands  with 
substantial  and  thrifty  farming  people,  and  he  has 
himself  led  the  way  in  farm  development  with  a 
model  estate  which  is  at  once  one  of  the  attractive 
features  of  Brainerd  vicinity,  and  has  also  served 
to  demonstrate  the  possibilities  of  Minnesota  in  the 
production  of  high  grade  live  stock  and  the  food 
stuffs  needed  to  raise  them.  In  all  his  varied  ac- 
complishments, if  Mr.  Elder  might  be  privileged  to 
express  a significance  for  what  he  has  done  he  would 
undoubtedly  desire  that  his  life  work  might  stand 


for  something  actually  achieved  in  developing  coun- 
try life  in  Minnesota  to  a greater  efficiency  and 
prosperity. 

A Kentuckian  by  birth,  James  Monroe  Elder  was 
born  in  Daviess  County  September  25,  1859,  and  was 
the  son  of  substantial  farming  people  and  his  own 
early  training  and  work  was  along  the  usual  lines 
of  Kentucky  agriculture.  Flis  parents  were  John  B. 
and  Mary  J.  (Hutchings)  Elder.  Mr.  Elder  had  an 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  continued  as  a 
Kentucky  farmer  until  November,  1884,  at  which 
date  he  located  in  Brainerd.  Since  then  he  has  been 
continuously  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business. 
For  fifteen  years  he  gave  all  his  time  and  energy 
to  the  handling  of  farm  lands,  and  has  never  made 
a particular  feature  of  city  property.  He  organized 
the  Minnesota  Park  Region  Land  Company,  pur- 
chased 40,000  acres  from  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
way Company,  and  has  been  secretary  and  manager 
of  that  corporation  from  the  beginning.  Since  1904 
he  lias  been  interested  in  the  Cuyuna  Iron  Range, 
and  has  been  quite  active  in  its  development,  having 
sold  a large  amount  of  property  in  that  section.  He 
represented  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  in  the 
first  land  sales  by  that  company  on  the  range,  and  in 
a short  time  disposed  of  1,200  acres.  Altogether  his 
sales  on  the  range  aggregate  a hundred  thousand 
acres. 

In  recent  years  Mr.  Elder  has  followed  out  his 
hobby  in  attempting  to  introduce  the  production  of 
clover,  silos  and  Holstein  cattle  for  the  development 
of  Northern  Minnesota  farms.  In  that  connection 
he  now  owns  and  operates  a splendid  farm  of  700 
acres  adjoining  Brainerd,  and  has  it  well  stocked 
with  thoroughbred  Holstein  cattle,  Shropshire  sheep 
and  Duroc  Jersey  hogs. 

Mr.  Elder  served  as  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Crow  Wing  County  Fair  Association  from  1890 
to  1902.  He  is  an  active  democrat,  and  has  been 
a delegate  to  all  the  state  conventions  in  Minnesota 
for  the  past  twenty-two  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Brainerd  Commercial  Club,  and 
still  continues  with  the  reorganization  under  the 
name  Chamber  of  Commerce.  On  May  10,  1893,  Mr. 
Elder  married  Flora  V.  Merrell  of  Oneida  County, 
New  York.  They  have  a son,  Edward  Monroe,  born 
March  31,  1894,  and  now  a student  at  Prairie  du 
Chien,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Elder  re-established  what  was  known  as  the 
St.  Colombo  Mission,  on  Gull  Lake.  In  1902  he 
bought  200  acres  on  Gull  Lake,  and  has  reset  this 
land  with  Northern  Minnesota  native  timber  and 
white  pine,  and  it  now  constitutes  a fine  property 
and  goes  under  the  name  of  St.  Colombo. 

Donald  M.  Cameron.  An  active  lawyer  at  Little 
Falls  since  1901,  Donald  M.  Cameron  has  served 
several  terms  as  county  attorney  of  Morrison 
County,  and  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  local 
bar. 

Donald  M.  Cameron  was  born  in  Mason  City, 
Iowa,  August  6,  1875,  a son  of  Francis  B.  and  Jane 
Elizabeth  (Cameron)  Cameron.  His  parents  were 
Iowa  farmers,  and  subsequently  moved  to  Minnesota, 
where  Donald  M.  was  educated  in  the  country 
schools  and  in  the  high  school  at  Minneapolis. _ He 
attended  the  law  course  in  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota and  after  his  graduation  as  LL.  B.  in  1898  took 
post-graduate  studies  during  1899.  The  first  two 
years  after  leaving  university  Mr.  Cameron  spent  in 
the  states  of  North  Dakota  and  Washington,  but  in 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1363 


1901  took  up  regular  practice  as  a lawyer  at  Little 
Falls,  and  has  since  employed  his  time  in  looking 
after  a general  practice,  which  is  growing  in  im- 
portance and  volume  with  each  year.  In  1906  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  attorney,  and  has 
been  three  times  re-elected  to  that  office,  and  has 
made  a splendid  record  of  administration.  During 
his  first  year  at  Little  Falls  Mr.  Cameron  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  also  held  the  office  of 
United  States  commissioner.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  city  attorney  of  Little  Falls. 

In  politics  he  is  active  in  the  democratic  ranks, 
and  is  a member  of  the  Morrison  County  Central 
Committee.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  State  Bar 
Association  and  the  American  Bar  Association.  His 
fraternal  associations  are  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, the  United  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Order  of 
Yeomen,  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  On  Decem- 
ber 11,  1906,  Mr.  Cameron  married  Maude  M. 
Duncan  of  Little  Falls.  Their  three  children  are 
Elizabeth  Jane,  Frances  Allister  and  Robert  Bu- 
chanan. 

Michael  E.  Ryan.  Now  one  of  the  leading  law- 
yers of  Brainerd  and  for  a number  of  years  a mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  State  Central  Committee, 
Michael  E.  Ryan  from  an  early  age  had  to  hew  his 
own  destiny.  As  a means  of  self  support  he  became 
a telegraph  operator,  and  while  attending  to  his 
duties  at  the  key,  devoted  many  hours  to  the  study 
of  law  and  finally  was  fully  equipped  for  the  pro- 
fession which  had  long  been  his  ambition. 

Born  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  May  12,  1873, 
Michael  E.  Ryan  is  a son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Dwyer)  Ryan.  Both  his  parents  were  natives  of 
Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  1863,  living  for  a 
time  at  Newburgh,  New  York,  and  afterwards  estab- 
lishing their  home  in  Bloomington,  Illinois.  Michael 
Ryan  attended  the  public  schools,  but  is  mainly  self- 
educated.  He  left  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen,’ 
learned  telegraphy,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  had  the 
responsibilities  of  a regular  operator  and  kept 
steadily  at  work-  along  that  line  until  1903,  when 
he  was  thirty  years  of  age.  In  the  meantime  night 
study  of  law  had  given  him  the  necessary  qualifica- 
tions for  admission  to  the  bar,  and  in  September, 
1903,  he  located  at  Brainerd  and  took  up  the  prac- 
tice which  has  been  steadily  growing  in  volume  and 
profit  to  the  present  time. 

Until  his  resignation  in  September,  1913,  Mr. 
Ryan  served  for  several  years  as  city  attorney  at 
Brainerd.  He  is  a director  of  the  Citizens  State 
Bank,  and  for  eight  years  has  been  a member  of 
the  Democratic  State  Central  Committee. 

Several  years  before  beginning  practice  as  a 
lawyer,  on  September  1,  1897,  Mr.  Ryan  married  and 
established  a home  of  his  own.  Mrs.  Ryan  before 
her  marriage  was  Helen  Martha  Chase.  They  were 
married  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wisconsin.  Their  five 
children  are  as  follows : Clement  A.  and  Charlton 

J.,  both  of  whom  are  students  in  St.  John’s  Univer- 
sity; Donald  I.,  Evelyn,  and  Joseph. 

Fendall  G.  Winston.  For  more  than  forty 
years  Mr.  Winston  has  had  his  home  in  Minneapolis, 
and  few  citizens  have  contributed  in  a generous  and 
practical  measure  to  the  civic  and  material  progress 
and  upbuilding  of  the  city.  His  business  interests  in 
the  city  and  state,  of  scope  and  importance,  makes 
it  proper  to  refer  to  him  as  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  Minnesota.  His  success  has  been  pronounced 


and  has  been  achieved  by  those  policies  that  beget 
popular  confidence  and  esteem.  Mr.  Winston  has 
been  an  influential  figure  in  connection  with  the  de- 
velopment of  the  great  railway  systems  of  the  North- 
west, and  as  a railroad  contractor  has  long  held  a 
high  position  and  reputation.  He  has  manifold 
business  interests  in  Minneapolis.  He  served  as  vice 
president  of  the  Security  National  Bank,  which  was 
one  of  the  greatest  and  strongest  financial  institu- 
tions of  the  Northwest,  before  its  merger  in  1915 
with  the  First  National  Bank.  As  a public-spirited 
citizen  and  a man  of  affairs  he  is  entitled  to  specific 
recognition  in  this  history  of  Minnesota. 

Fendall  G.  Winston  was  born  at  Courtland,  Han- 
over County,  Virginia,  on  the  1st  of  May,  1849,  and 
is  a son  of  William  O.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Gregory) 
Winston,  who  were  representatives  of  old  and 
honored  families  of  that  historic  commonwealth, 
where  the  father  was  a successful  planter  and  in- 
fluential citizen  of  Hanover  County!  Fendall  G. 
Winston  was  reared  on  the  old  home  plantation, 
under  the  pleasant  conditions  of  the  old  southern 
regime,  and  his  early  educational  advantages  were 
those  afforded  in  the  local  schools.  In  February, 
1872,  as  a young  man  of  twenty-two  years,  Mr. 
Winston  came  to  Minnesota,  and  soon  afterward 
joined  one  of  the  engineering  corps  engaged  in  sur- 
veying and  other  preliminary  work  on  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  In  this  con- 
nection he  gained  varied  and  practical  experience  of 
valuable  order,  and  a few  years  later  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  brothers,  Philip  B.  and  William  O.,  in 
railroad  contracting  in  an  independent  way.  The 
late  Hon.  Philip  B.  Winston  was  one  of  the  dis- 
tinguished and  influential  citizens  of  Minneapolis  for 
many  years  and  served  as  mayor  of  the  city.  To  him 
a memorial  tribute  is  paid  on  other  pages  of  this 
work.  In  that  article  will  be  found  data  concerning 
the  family  history  and  the  operations  of  the  firm 
of  Winston  Brothers,  which  within  the  past  thirty- 
six  years  has  constructed  many  miles  of  the  existing 
railroad  systems  of  the  Northwest  and  which  has 
also  held  extensive  contracts  for  railroad  construc- 
tion in  the  central  states  and  in  Virginia,  where  all 
of  the  brothers  were  born  and  reared  and  to  which 
they  have  accorded  appreciative  loyalty. 

Fendall  G.  Winston  has  had  a career  marked  by 
ceaseless  activity  along  normal  and  important  lines 
of  enterprise,  and  his  achievement  has  marked  him 
as  one  of  the  progressive  men  of  affairs  in  his  state. 
Responsibilities  have  devolved  upon  him  in  connec- 
tion with  railway  contracting  and  large  business  in- 
terests, but  he  has  proved  equal  to  the  emergency 
and  has  pressed  steadily  forward  to  a worthy  suc- 
cess. Within  later  years  his  business  interests  have 
become  varied  and  important.  In  1893  he  became  an 
interested  principal  in  the  old-time  wholesale  grocery 
house  of  Harrison,  Farrington  & Company  of  Minne- 
apolis, and  he  has  been  president  of  this  representa- 
tive concern  since  its  reorganization  under  the  title 
of  the  Winston,  Harper,  Fisher  Company.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  a number  of  the  leading  financial  in- 
stitutions of  Minneapolis.  He  was  president  of  the 
Winston  Brothers  Company  until  the  spring  of  1914, 
when  he  retired,  to  be  succeeded  by  his  brother  Wil- 
liam O.,  in  order  that  he  himself  might  devote 
greater  attention  to  his  other  business  interests. 

Mr.  Winston  is  fully  in  accord  with  the  alert  and 
progressive  spirit  that  has  made  Minneapolis  what  it 
is  today,  and  none  has  a greater  appreciation  of 
and  loyalty  to  the  fair  metropolis  of  Minnesota.  He 


1364 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


has  ever  been  ready  to  lend  his  influence  and  co- 
operation in  support  of  measures  and  enterprises 
projected  for  the  general  good  of  the  city  and  its 
people,  and  his  genial  and  companionable  nature 
finds  its  best  solace  through  his  association  with  his 
host  of  old  and  tried  friends  in  his  home  city  and 
its  vicinity. 

In  politics  Mr.  Winston  has  stoutly  retained  the 
faith  in  which  he  was  reared  and  is  known  as  a stal- 
wart advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  democratic 
party.  He  has  shown  a lively  interest  in  public 
affairs  but  has  seldom  consented  to  become  a candi- 
date for  official  preferment.  The  most  noteworthy 
exception  to  this  rule  was  that  when,  in  1904,  he 
heeded  the  importunities  of  his  party  friends  and 
consented  to  become  the  democratic  candidate  for 
lieutenant  governor  of  Minnesota.  His  defeat  was 
a matter  of  normal  political  circumstances,  as  Min- 
nesota has  long  been  recognized  as  a republican 
stronghold.  In  1905  Mr.  Winston  was  appointed, 
by  Governor  Johnson,  to  the  office  of  state  surveyor 
general  of  logs  and  lumber,  a position  he  held  during 
1905-06.  In  municipal  affairs  he  maintains  an  inde- 
pendent attitude  and  is  not  dominated  by  political 
partisanship.  He  has  been  active  in  the  furtherance 
of  all  movements  for  the  betterment  of  municipal 
conditions,  without  regard  to  party  affiliations.  In 
his  home  city  he  is  a valued  and  appreciative  mem- 
ber of  such  representative  organizations  as  the  Min- 
neapolis Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  and  the 
Minnikahda,  Minneapolis  and  Lafayette  clubs.  He 
is  a member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  or- 
ganization first  named  in  the  foregoing  list  and  is 
a loyal  supporter  of  its  high  civic  ideals. 

In  the  year  1876  Mr.  Winston  married  Miss  Alice 
L.  Olmstead,  of  Minneapolis.  Death  parted  them 
in  1881.  She  is  survived  by  one  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters. In  1884  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Winston  to  Miss  Lillian  Jones,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  who  remained  a 
devoted  companion  and  helpmeet  of  her  husband 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  until  her  death,  in  1903. 
She  likewise  is  survived  by  one  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters. 

In  addition  to  general  business  interests  Mr. 
Winston  has  made  large  investments  in  Minneapolis 
and  Duluth  real  estate. 

Herman  Roe.  The  Northfield  News,  of  which 
Herman  Roe  has  been  managing  editor  since  1910, 
is  one  of  the  best  known  country  weeklies  of  Min- 
nesota and  is  referred  to  as  “Minnesota’s  Model 
Weekly.”  From  the  same  office  is  published  the 
Northwest  Dairyman.  The  Northfield  News  has 
been  in  existence  nearly  forty  years.  In  1884  the 
late  Lion.  Joel  P.  Heatwole  came  to  Northfield  and 
purchased  the  Dundas  News,  which  had  been  estab- 
lished at  Dundas  in  1876,  and  which  had  been  re- 
moved to  Northfield  by  its  proprietor,  Henry  E. 
Lawrence,  about  1879.  The  paper  was  consolidated 
with  the  Rice  County  Journal,  which  since  the  death 
of  C.  A.  Wheaton  had  been  published  by  C.  H. 
Pierce.  The  consolidated  paper  took  the  title  of 
Northfield  News  under  the  ownership  of  Heatwole 
and  Minder,  while  C.  H.  Pierce  continued  for  a time 
as  assistant  in  the  publication,  until  appointed  post- 
master. In  1888  Mr.  Heatwole  bought  the  inter- 
ests of  Mr.  Minder,  and  thus  became  sole  proprietor. 
The  News  has  been  progressively  identified  with 
Northfield  and  vicinity  for  many  years.  Mr.  Heat- 
wole died  April  8,  1910,  and  on  August  1 of  the 


same  year  the  News  passed  into  the  hands  of  an 
incorporated  company,  with  Herman  Roe  as  man- 
aging editor.  Mr.  Roe  is  also  secretary-treasurer 
and  business  manager  of  the  Dairyman  Publishing 
Company,  which  publishes  the  Northwest  Dairyman, 
a continuation  of  the  Minnesota  Dairyman,  which 
had  been  founded  by  Joel  P.  Heatwole  in  1906  as 
Heatwole’s  Dairy  Paper.  It  is  the  official  publica- 
tion of  the  Minnesota  Co-operative  Dairies  Asso- 
ciation. The  Dairyman  is  published  monthly,  with 
a circulation  of  14,000  copies. 

When  Herman  Roe  took  the  position  of  managing 
editor  of  the  Northfield  News,  in  July,  1910,  he 
brought  to  this  position  a prior  experience  as  prin- 
cipal of  the  high  school  at  Anoka  for  two  years, 
and  also  some  valuable  training  in  newspaper  work 
while  a student  at  St.  Olaf’s  College.  He  was 
born  at  Porters  Mills,  Wisconsin,  June  9,  1886,  son 
of  L.  I.  Roe,  now  a merchant  and  banker  at  Stanley, 
Wisconsin,  of  which  city  he  has  been  mayor  sev- 
eral times.  L.  I.  Roe  was  born  in  Norway  in  i860, 
came  to  America  in  1880,  and  first  located  in  Eau 
Claire.  He  married  Ellen  Ivragness,  also  a native 
of  Norway. 

Herman  Roe  grew  up  in  Stanley,  attended  the 
public  schools  there,  subsequently  came  to  North- 
field  and  entered  St.  Olaf’s  College,  and  was  grad- 
uated Bachelor  of  Science  from  that  institution  in 
1908.  During  his  collegiate  career  he  had  won  the 
Henry  Nelson  Talla  scholarship.  Mr.  Roe  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  is  a repub- 
lican in  politics.  On  August  8,  1909,  he  married 
Miss  Anna  Kirkeberg,  a graduate  of  the  musical 
course  in  St.  Olaf’s  College.  Mr.  Roe  and  wife 
have  two  children,  Eleanor  and  Kirk  Frederick. 

George  Phelps  Tawney  has  been  a citizen 
of  Winona  for  more  than  twenty-five  years  and 
is  well  known  both  in  public  affairs  and  busi- 
•ness.  He  is  president  of  the  Hotel  Winona  Com- 
pany and  manager  of  the  hotel,  and  also  has  in- 
terests in  land  enterprises. 

George  Phelps  Tawney  was  born  at  Lima,  Ohio, 
October  22,  1868,  a son  of  Daniel  A.  and  Adele 
(Paige)  Tawney.  His  father  was  a Presbyterian 
minister.  George  P.  Tawney  during  his  youth  at- 
tended the  public  schools  at  Newcastle,  Indiana,  and 
took  a course  in  a commercial  college  at  Indian- 
apolis. As  a boy  he  had  an  ambition  to  make  some- 
thing of  himself,  and  by  working  during  vacations 
learned  a trade  before  he  was  seventeen  years  old. 
When  about  twenty  years  of  age  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Winona,  Minnesota,  June  27,  1887,  and 
has  resided  in  that  city  ever  since. 

Until  recently  he  was  almost  continuously  iden- 
tified with  some  public  office.  On  July  1,  1887,  lie 
became  deputy  clerk  of  Municipal  Court  and  city 
recorder,  and  on  July  1,  1890,  entered  the  Winona 
postoffice  as  assistant  postmaster.  On  May  1,  1907, 
he  was  promoted  to  postmaster,  and  looked  after  the 
management  of  that  office  until  July  31,  1913.  Pres- 
ident Taft  reappointed  him  postmaster,  but  this  and 
many  other  similar  appointments  failed  to.  receive 
confirmation  because  of  democratic  opposition  in 
the  Senate  to  republican  appointments  immediately 
preceding  the  advent  of  the  Wilson  administration. 
Mr.  Tawney  was  connected  with  the  postoffice  up- 
wards of  a quarter  of  a century,  and  in  that  time 
had  an  official  part  in  reorganizing  the  service  at 
different  times  to  correspond  with  the  increased 
business  of  the  office  and  population  of  the  city 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1365 


and  the  various  changes  introduced  into  the  postal 
system. 

Mr.  Tawney  is  active  in  fraternal  affairs.  In 
October,  1912,  at  Washington,  he  was  made  an 
honorary  thirty-third  degree  Mason.  He  is  active 
in  Scottish  Rite  bodies,  and  in  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  served  two  terms  as  grand  chancellor  and 
two  terms  as  supreme  representative.  Mr.  Tawney 
has  interested  himself  in  the  various  movements  for 
public  improvements,  especially  better  roads  and 
streets,  and  is  a member  of  several  organizations  for 
the  promotion  of  such  betterment.  In  January,  1915, 
there  appeared  an  article  in  the  magazine,  Better 
Roads  and  Streets,  under  the  title,  “The  National 
Road  Issue,”  in  which  Mr.  Tawney  discussed  the 
application  of  good  roads  principles  to  American 
conditions.  The  article  as  it  appeared  in  the  publi- 
cation mentioned  was  an  address  which  Mr.  Tawney 
had  delivered  before  the  first  annual  convention 
of  the  Minnesota  Good  Roads  Federation  in  the 
Minnesota  division  of  the  National  Highways  Asso- 
ciation in  November,  1914. 

Carl  E.  Nystsom.  Prominent  among  the  archi- 
tects of  Duluth  is  found  Carl  E.  Nystrom,  who  for 
twenty-two  years,  with  the  exception  of  a short 
period  spent  at  Calumet,  Michigan,  has  been  known 
as  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  profession  in  this  city. 
He  is  a native  of  Southern  Sweden  (Sodra  Sol- 
berga,  J.  K.  P.  S.  Lan),  born  November  2,  1867,  and 
is  a son  of  N.  J.  and  Hannah  Nystrom,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  a blacksmith  and  carpenter  by  voca- 
tion, died  in  his  native  land  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years  when  Carl  E.  was  a lad  of  fifteen  years. 

Carl  E.  Nystrom  secured  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  through  his 
own  efforts  learned  the  building  trade  and  the  pro- 
fession of  architect.  He  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age  at  the  time  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
locating  first  at  Ashland,  Wisconsin,  where  he  re- 
mained only  a few  months,  then  going  to  Iron- 
wood,  Michigan,  where  he  resided  for  three  years, 
and  in  1892  coming  to  Duluth,  which  city  he  has 
since  made  the  field  of  his  activity,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  five  years  at  Calumet,  Michigan,  during 
the  panic.  Since  returning  from  Calumet,  Michigan, 
he  has  for  seven  years  been  a member  of  the  firm 
of  Bray  & Nystrom.  This  concern  has  to  its  credit 
many  of  the  leading  public,  business  and  private 
buildings  of  Duluth  and  other  towns,  including  the 
Holland  Hotel,  St.  Louis  County  courthouse  at  Vir- 
ginia, Minnesota,  and  many  public,  grade  and  high 
school  buildings  at  Eveleth.  Gilbert,  Biwabik,  Kee- 
watin.  Mount  Iron.  Spina,  Virginia,  this  state,  and 
in  various  parts  of  Minnesota. 

The  firm  of  Bray  & Nystrom  was  dissolved  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1915,  when  Carl  E.  Nystrom  reopened  offices 
in  Palladio  Building  for  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, in  which  he  has  gained  a most  enviable 
reputation. 

Mr.  Nystrom  is  well  known  in  fraternal  circles, 
being  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Ionic 
Lodge  No.  186,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Keystone  Chapter 
No.  20,  R.  A.  M..  and  Duluth  Commandery  No.  18, 
K.  T.,  and  a thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and  a 
member  of  the  Elks.  In  political  matters  he  is  in- 
dependent, seeking  to  support  only  those  men  and 
measures  which  he  believes  will  benefit  his  adopted 
city  and  its  people  in  the  greatest  degree.  Mr. 
Nystrom  has  a creditable  military  record  of  one 


year’s  service  in  the  Swedish  army  prior  to  com- 
ing to  the  United  States. 

His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  1898,  in  Duluth,  Mr.  Nystrom  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elna  S.  Oberg,  a native 
of  Southern  Sweden,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
three  children : Paul  Edward,  Mildred  Elenor  and 

Emma  Elizabeth,  all  of  whom  are  attending  school. 
The  family  home  is  located  at  No.  202  West  Oxford 
Street. 

Eli  L.  Griggs.  Perhaps  no  other  city  of  North- 
ern Minnesota  has  come  forward  so  rapidly  and  be- 
come so  well  established  as  an  industrial  and  bus- 
iness center  as  Virginia.  Two  names  in  particular 
are  to  be  remembered  in  the  city’s  development, 
those  of  Griggs  and  Kinney.  They  represent  the 
personal  factors  controlling  and  directing  the  town- 
site,  the  banking  and  other  large  interests  from  the 
beginning. 

Eli  L.  Griggs,  who  became  identified  with  Vir- 
ginia in  1893,  was  born  September  7,  1852.  His 
father,  Lucius  Griggs,  who  was  a farmer  and  of 
Puritan  New  England  stock,  married  Miss  Kinney. 
For  many  years  Eli  Griggs  was  connected  in  vari- 
ous capacities  with  the  Erie  Railroad  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  among  other  services,  in  1890,  began  the 
development  of  coal  mines  and  the  drilling  of  gas 
wells  for  the  railroad  corporation  at  Brock,  Shaw- 
mut  and  Elbon,  Pennsylvania.  With  this  broad  ex- 
perience he  came  to  Minnesota  and  in  March,  1893, 
with  his  brother-in-law,  O.  D.  Kinney,  opened  the 
first  bank  in  Virginia,  a private  institution.  The 
partners  conducted  the  bank  until  it  was  sold  in 
1907  to  the  institution  which  is  now  the  First  Na- 
tional of  Virginia.  Through  banking  and  their  ex- 
tensive relations  with  mining,  they  both  acquired 
substantial  fortunes.  It  was  due  to  these  financiers 
that  the  first  bank  was  opened  in  Eveleth  under  the 
name  O.  D.  Kinney  & Co.,  and  later  the  bank  at 
Ely.  They  also  explored  many  of  the  properties 
which  have  since  been  developed  as  the  best  known 
and  most  profitable  in  the  range  country.  Virginia 
is  likewise  indebted  to  their  enterprise  for  the 
construction  of  both  the  lighting  and  water  plants. 

Mr.  Griggs  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  in  1881 
to  Anna  S.  Kinney.  They  had  four  children : Orrin 
Harold;  Anna  C.,  now  Mrs.  P.  K.  Dayton,  of 
Mount  Clair,  New  Jersey;  Richard  Leslie,  of  Vir- 
ginia ; and  Mabel  K.,  now  Mrs.  Richard  D.  Clenson 
of  Middletown,  New  York. 

Orrin  Harold  Griggs  is  now  the  active  factor  in 
the  management  of  the  extensive  interests  acquired 
by  his  father,  and  one  of  Virginia’s  most  public- 
spirited  business  men.  The  Light  and  Water  Com- 
pany was  sold  to  the  city  on  October  1,  1913. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Virginia  Club,  exalted 
ruler  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  president  of  the  Elks’  Home  Club,  a member 
of  the  Kitchi  Gammi  Club  at  Duluth  and  of  the 
Calumet  Club  in  Chicago,  and  in  Masonry  has  at- 
tained the  thirty-second  degree  of  Scottish  Rite  and 
is  a member  of  the  Mj^stic  Shrine.  Mr.  Griggs  has 
always  been  generous  of  time  and  means  in  public 
affairs,  and  in  1914  was  unopposed  candidate  for  the 
State  Senate  from  the  Sixty-first  District.  He  has 
two  children : Betsy  Hart  and  Dorothy  Kinney. 

Orrin  D.  Kinney.  For  nearly  two  decades  asso- 
ciated with  all  the  substantial  progress  of  the  City 
of  Virginia,.  Orrin  D.  Kinney  was  a man  whose 


1366 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


work  in  that  locality  and  worth  as  a citizen  in  its 
broader  qualities  could  not  easily  be  overestimated. 

He  was  born  July  4,  1845,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Athens,  Pennsylvania,  October  12,  1911.  He  was 
sixteen  years  old  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and 
entered  the  famous  organization  known  as  the  Penn- 
sylvania Bucktails,  and  fought  with  his  regiment  in 
all  its  battles  until  the  close  of  hostilities.  In  Penn- 
sylvania he  took  up  law  and  practiced,  but  in  1880 
came  to  Minneapolis  and  thereafter  was  primarily 
interested  in  real  estate.  He  came  to  Duluth  in 
1889  and  not  long  afterward  became  identified  with 
the  founding  and  development  of  Virginia,  being 
owner  of  the  townsite  and  personally  directing  much 
of  its  development  as  a town.  His  association  with 
Mr.  E.  L.  Griggs  in  the  founding  of  banks  at  Vir- 
ginia, Eveleth  and  Ely  has  already  been  noted.  He 
was  elected  and  served  one  term  in  the  State  Leg- 
islature. 

Carl  Zapffe.  A practical  scientist,  geologist  and 
mining  engineer.  Few  men  have  gone  further  in 
their  profession  in  seven  years  out  of  university 
than  Carl  Zapffe,  whose  home,  professional  and 
business  interests  are  at  Brainerd.  Mr.  Zapffe  has 
the  distinction  of  having  been  one  of  the  first 
technical  men  to  engage  in  practical  operations  in 
the  Cuyuna  Iron  Ore  District,  and  he  has  performed 
a large  amount  of  investigation  and  mining  engi- 
neering for  corporations  and  in  connection  with  the 
United  States  Geological  Survey. 

Carl  Zapffe  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  April  23,  1880. 
Plis  parents,  August  and  Barbara  (Weiss)  Zapffe, 
emigrated  from  Germany  to  America  in  1872.  His 
father  was  a master  tinsmith  employed  in  Milwaukee 
for  many  years. 

Carl  Zapffe  began  life  neither  in  affluence  nor  in 
poverty,  was  not  sent  to  university  as  the  son  of  a 
prosperous  father,  but  after  leaving  public  school 
paid  his  own  way  until  he  graduated  as  an  honor 
student  from  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  After 
completing  the  high  school  course  in  languages  and 
sciences  at  Milwaukee,  he  spent  five  years  as  clerk 
in  a jobbing  house,  then  with  his  earnings  entered 
the  University  of  Wisconsin*,  and  in  1907  was  grad- 
uated from  an  engineering  course,  having  bestowed 
on  him  the  only  honor  awarded  in  the  university 
for  excellence  in  science.  He  returned  to  the  uni- 
versity for  the  following  year  for  post-graduate 
work  and  was  graduated  Master  of  Science  in  1908, 
having  specialized  in  applied  geology.  In  the  uni- 
versity he  had  combined  hard  study  with  occupations 
that  assisted  in  paying  private  expenses,  and  left 
the  university  with  the  highest  admiration  of  his 
fellow  students. 

For  a time  Mr.  Zapffe  was  engaged  in  engineer- 
ing work  for  the  Milwaukee  Light,  Heat  and  Trac- 
tion Company,  and  for  the  Oliver  Iron  Mining  Com- 
pany at  Hibbing,  Minnesota.  For  the  past  six  years 
Mr.  Zapffe  has  been  geologist  in  charge  of  the  Minne- 
sota iron  ore  lands  for  the  Northwestern  Improve- 
ment Company,  a subsidiary  company  of  the  North- 
ern Pacific  Railway  Company,  as  well  as  doing  sim- 
ilar work  at  times  for  the  railway  company  itself. 
His  field  services  in  his  profession  have  been  per- 
formed in  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Montana, 
Washington,  Missouri  and  Ontario,  Canada.  Mr. 
Zapffe  came  to  Brainerd,  Minnesota,  in  February, 
1906.  He  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  Cuyuna  Iron  Ore 
District  and  did  the  first  comprehensive  geological 
and  exploratory  work  in  that  district.  Since  then 


nearly  all  his  time  has  been  devoted  to  the  develop- 
ment of  this  important  mineral  district.  He  is  also 
active  in  local  business  affairs  in  Brainerd,  is  vice 
president  of  the  Brainerd  State  Bank  and  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Brainerd  Model  Laundry  Company.  He 
was  active  in  the  former  Brainerd  Commercial  Club, 
having  been  its  president  for  four  years,  and  is  now 
chairman  of  the  public  affairs  committee  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  advisory  board  of  the  subsequently  organ- 
ized chamber  of  commerce.  He  is  now  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  Brainerd  Charter  Commission. 

When  Mr.  Zapffe  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Wisconsin  he  was  awarded  the  Science  Club 
medal  for  having  prepared  the  best  thesis  in  science 
for  1907.  His  professional  connections  have  since 
brought  him  recognition  and  membership  in  a num- 
ber of  scientific  bodies.  Fie  is  a member  of  the 
Alpha  Chi  Sigma,  a fraternity  of  national  scope,  em- 
bracing only  advanced  students  of  the  chemical 
science.  He  is  a member  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Mining  Engineers,  the  Lake  Superior  Institute  of 
Mining  Engineers,  is  a fellow  in  the  American  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  a member 
of  the  National  Geographic  Society,  the  University 
Club  at  Madison  and  the  Wisconsin  University 
Alumni  Association.  He  has  contributed  numerous 
articles  descriptive  of  his  investigations  in  geological 
fields,  and  in  a recent  publication  by  the  LTnited 
States  Geological  Survey  appeared  as  joint  author 
on  the  Geology  of  the  Cuyuna  Iron  Ore  District. 

Mr.  Zapffe  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order, 
including  the  thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish 
Rite  and  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Politically  he  is  independent.  On  Decem- 
ber 1,  1909,  Mr.  Zapffe  married  Ethel  Clarice  Mo- 
berg  of  Brainerd.  Their  son,  Carl  Andrew,  was 
born  July  25,  1912,  and  their  daughter  Barbara  on 
March  23,  1915. 

Frank  O.  Sherwin,  M.  D.  Thirty-three  years  of 
continuous  professional  service  in  one  community 
is  a valuable  asset  to  any  locality,  and  it  is  a record 
of  which  the  individual  may  be  properly,  proud. 
Dr.  Frank  O.  Sherwin  has  practiced  medicine  at 
Duluth  since  1881  and  his  high  character  and  gen- 
eral usefulness  are  beyond  question.  He  has  also 
frequently  held  offices  which  have  demanded  ability 
and  fidelity. 

Frank  O.  Sherwin  was  born  at  Unionville,  White- 
side  County,  Illinois,  November  25,  18531  a son  of 
E.  O.  and  Mary  (Stevens)  Sherwin.  The  Sherwin 
family  originated  in  England  and  was  planted  in 
America  during  Colonial  times.  Its  founder  on  this 
side  of  the  Atlantic  was  the  doctor’s  great-great- 
grandfather, who  arrived  possibly  in  Winthrop’s 
fleet  between  the  years  1630  and  1635.  He  had  five 
sons,  and  among  them  the  great-grandfather  of  Doc- 
tor Sherwin,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Sherwin,  who  gradu- 
ated from  Yale  College  in  1759,  became  a minister  of 
the  Congregational  Church  and  had  charges  at  Ash: 
burn,  Massachusetts;  Sunderland,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  Bennington,  Vermont,  at  which  last-named 
place  his  death  occurred.  E.  O.  Sherwin,  father  of 
Doctor  Sherwin,  who  was  born  at  Bennington,  Ver- 
mont, in  1819,  and  as  a young  man  moved  to  Illi- 
nois, where  in  the  vicinity  of  Morrison  he  was  for 
many  years  engaged  as  a farmer.  He  finally  retired 
and  moved  to  Centralia,  Illinois,  where  he  died  in 
1904.  He  was  a stalwart  republican  and  took  some 


BTSTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1367 


active  part  in  public  affairs.  His  wife  also  died  in 
Centralia. 

After  leaving  the  common  schools  of  Morrison, 
Doctor  Sherwin  entered  the  high  school  at  Fulton, 
Illinois,  graduated  there,  and  having  made  up  his 
mind  as  to  his  future  career  he  subsequently  entered 
the  Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago,  where  he 
was  graduated  M.  D.  in  1878.  His  first  practice  was 
at  Lawlor,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  three  years. 
In  1881  he  came  to  Duluth,  and  has  followed  his 
calling  in  that  city  ever  since.  Doctor  Sherwin  has 
offices  in  the  New  Jersey  Building.  His  is  an  excel- 
lent general  practice,  demanding  his  time  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  other  matters  which  formerly  interested 
him.  He  is  a former  member  of  the  Minnesota 
State  Medical  Society  and  of  the  St.  Louis  County 
Medical  Society.  He  has  served  capably  as  health 
commissioner  of  Duluth,  and  for  a quarter  of  a 
century  was  assistant  marine  hospital  surgeon,  also 
at  one  time  pension  examiner.  For  some  years  he 
was  insurance  examiner  of  the  Northwest  Insurance 
Company  of  Milwaukee,  of  the  National  Insurance 
Company  of  Vermont,  and  of  the  Municipal  Benefit 
Insurance  Company  of  New  Jersey.  In  these  rela- 
tions, as  in  all  others,  he  displayed  devotion  to  duty 
and  a realization  of  the  high  responsibilities  resting 
upon  him. 

Doctor  Sherwin  is  a republican,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  At  Lawlor,  Iowa,  in  1880,  he  married 
Miss  Carrie  A.  Harvey,  daughter  of  C.  W.  and  Ruby 
Harvey  of  Lawlor,  where  C.  W.  Harvey  was  for 
a number  of  years  in  the  livery  business.  The  one 
child  born  to  their  union  is  Maude  A.,  who  was 
educated  in  private  schools  and  is  now  a ceramic 
artist,  living  at  the  family  home,  2114  Woodland 
Avenue,  Duluth. 

Earl  Mathewson  Chesebrough.  One  of  the  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising  newspapers  of  Western 
Minnesota  is  the  Grant  County  Review,  which,  under 
the  able  management  of  its  publisher  and  editor, 
Earl  Mathewson  Chesebrough,  of  Herman,  has 
steadily  developed  into  an  influential  independent 
publication.  Mr.  Chesebrough  came  to  Herman  in 
the  fall  of  1911,  and  since  that  time  has  identified 
himself  personally  with  the  varied  interests  of  the 
town,  materially  aiding  in  its  advancement  by  co- 
operation with  other  public-spirited  men  and 
through  the  columns  of  his  paper. 

Mr.  Chesebrough  belongs  to  a family  which  orig- 
inated in  England,  and  the  American  pioneer  of 
which  emigrated  during  Colonial  times  and  located 
in  Connecticut.  Earl  M.  Chesebrough  is  a native  of 
that  state,  born  at  Plainfield,  July  4,  1870,  a son  of 
William  H.  Chesebrough.  . His  father,  born  in  Con- 
necticut in  1831,  removed  his  family  to  Danville, 
Vermilion  County,  Illinois,  in  1872,  and  to  Minne- 
apolis, Minnesota,  in  1880,  and  in  the  latter  city 
continued  to  make  his  home  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  there  in  1913.  He 
was  a locomotive  engineer  all  of  his  life,  and  served 
with  various  companies  in  the  country,  his  long  and 
honorable  record  as  a railroader  being  singularly 
free  from  accidents.  During  the  Civil  war  he  en- 
listed in  Company  F,  Twenty-first  Regiment,  Con- 
necticut Volunteer  Infantry,  and  remained  with  that 
organization  for  three  years  and  five  months,  among 
other  battles  being  those  of  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg. Appomattox  and  the  struggles  in  the  Shen- 
Yol.  HI— 7 


andoah  Valley.  Mr.  Chesebrough  married  Miss 
Harriet  Farnham,  who  was  born  in  Putnam,  Con- 
necticut, and  who  still  survives  him  and  resides  at 
Minneapolis.  They  became  the  parents  of  three 
children,  as  follows:  William  T.,  who  is  following 
in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  as  a locomotive  engi- 
neer, and  resides  at  Minneapolis ; Earl  M. ; and 
Grace,  who  is  the  widow  of  Rev.  A.  Lidstone,  a min- 
ister of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  now  de- 
ceased, and  resides  with  her  mother  at  Minneapolis. 

Earl  Mathew  Chesebrough  received  a public  school 
education,  attending  the  schools  of  Minneapolis  only 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  did  not, 
however,  cease  his  studies  at  that  time,  for  there- 
after he  attended  night  classes  and  did  much  read- 
ing, thus  securing  a good  education.  He  was  a 
lad  of  only  fourteen  years  when  he  began  his  career 
as  a worker,  becoming  at  that  time  an  apprentice 
in  the  printing  establishment  of  L.  Kimball  & Co., 
of  Minneapolis,  a house  with  which  he  remained  six 
years,  thoroughly  familiarizing  himself  with  every 
branch  of  the  business.  He  next  obtained  a posi- 
tion with  Walter  S.  Booth,  a printer  of  law  blanks, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  1908,  and  then  began 
his  experience  as  a newspaper  man  when  he  at- 
tached himself  to  the  Farmington,  Dakota  County, 
Tribune,  a publication  with  which  he  remained  until 
1911.  In  that  fall  Mr.  Chesebrough  came  to  Her- 
man, Minnesota,  and  purchased  the  Grant  County 
Review,  of  which  he  has  since  been  publisher  and 
editor.  This  he  conducts  as  an  independent  publica- 
tion, circulating  in  Grant,  Stevens  and  Traverse 
counties,  and  with  a number  of  subscribers  in  out- 
side states.  The  Review  is  bright,  newsy  and  re- 
liable, a well  edited  and  well  printed  newspaper, 
whose  editor  is  doing  all  in  his  power  to  further 
the  interests  of  this  locality.  In  politics  Mr.  Chese- 
brough maintains  an  independent  stand.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Lodge  No.  230, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Prescott  Lodge 
No.  162,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  Lodge  No.  3311,  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America,  of  which  he  is  venerable 
consul.  He  is  a director  in  the  Branch  .Building 
and  Loan  Association  of  Herman. 

Mr.  Chesebrough  was  married  in  1911,  at  Will- 
mar,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Birdie  Somerville,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Somerville,  who  is  engaged  in  a gen- 
eral merchandise  business  at  Willmar.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chesebrough  have  no  children. 

I 

George  F.  Authier.  To  begin  work  in  a prac- 
tical sense  at  the  age  of  ten  years  is  to  get  an  early 
start  in  life.  Many  men  who  do  this  necessarily 
have  to  neglect  education  and  many  of  the  advan- 
tages of  training  which  fit  them  for  the  larger  re- 
sponsibilities and  service.  For  this  reason,  because 
he  has  supported  himself  since  childhood  and  has 
acquired  a liberal  education  and  filled  a number  of 
difficult  and  important  posts,  the  career  of  George 
F.  Authier  is  one  of  exceptional  achievement.  Mr. 
Authier  is  thirty-six  years  of  age,  and  for  some  time 
has  been  well  known  as  a newspaper  man  and  in 
political  affairs  in  Minnesota. 

Born  at  Leicester  Junction,  in  Vermont,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1878,  he  is  a son  of  Edward  and  Mary 
Authier,  both  of  French  ancestry.  The  father  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years.  George  F.  Authier 
had  some  preliminary  instruction  before  reaching 
the  age  of  ten  years,  and  has  since  been  hard  at 


1368 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


work  earning  a living  and  getting  an  education  at 
the  same  time.  His  higher  training  was  received  in 
Iowa  College,  at  Grinnell,  though  he  did  not  com- 
plete the  course.  For  a time  he  was  in  the  railway 
mail  service  as  clerk,  but  most  of  his  career  has 
been  taken  up  with  active  newspaper  experience. 
In  Iowa  he  was  a reporter  on  the  Fort  Dodge  Mes- 
senger, the  Sioux  City  Journal  and  the  Des  Moines 
Register  and  Leader.  For  a time  he  was  city  editor 
of  the  Independent  at  Helena,  Montana,  and  on 
coming  to  Minneapolis  took  the  post  of  city  editor 
for  the  Tribune,  but  later  was  made  political  editor 
of  the  same  journal. 

Mr.  Authier  was  selected  as  personal  manager  of 
the  campaign  of  former  Governor  Eberhart,  and 
during  his  term  of  office,  1913-14,  served  as  his  pri- 
vate secretary.  He  is  one  of  the  active  republicans 
and  served  as  a member  of  the  State  Efficiency  and 
Economy  Commission.  Three  years  ago  Mr.  Authier 
was  commissioned  by  the  Review  of  Reviews  to  visit 
the  Panama  Canal,  and  his  articles  on  that  great 
constructive  enterprise  published  many  new  and 
interesting  facts.  While  in  Iowa  Mr.  Authier  was 
a member  of  the  National  Guard  and  has  an  honor- 
able discharge  from  that  organization.  He  is  affil- 
iated with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  Masons  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
at  Minneapolis  belongs  to  the  Athletic  Club,  the 
Minneapolis  University  Club  and  the  Minneapolis 
Elks’  Club. 

At  present  he  is  the  Washington  correspondent  of 
the  Minneapolis  Tribune. 

Julius  Thorson.  Cashier  of  the  Security  State 
Bank  at  Benson,  Julius  Thorson  has  spent  most  of 
his  life  in  Swift  County,  and  has  been  well  known 
as  a newspaper  man,  county  official,  and  banker. 

He  was  born  in  Rolling  Forks  Township,  Pope 
County,  Minnesota,  October  28,  1868,  a son  of  Ole 
and  Mary  (Olson)  Thorson.  His  grandfather  was 
Thor  Thorson,  a native  of  Norway,  and  a Norwegian 
farmer  up  to  1858,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  located  in  Wisconsin.  He  subsequently 
came  with  his  son  to  Minnesota,  and  died  in  ad- 
vanced years.  Ole  Thorson,  who  was  born  in  Nor- 
way in  1831,  and  married  there  in  1857  Mary  Olson, 
who  was  born  in  1829,  set  out  for  the  United  States 
the  year  following  his  marriage,  and  located  on  a 
farm  in  the  vicinity  of  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin.  He 
was  a farmer  there  until  1866,  and  then  took  up  a 
homestead  in  Rolling  Forks  Township.  Pope  County, 
Minnesota,  making  that  his  home  until  his  removal 
to  Benson  in  1872.  He  then  took  a contract  to 
drive  a stage  and  carry  mail  between  Benson  and 
Alexandria,  filled  that  contract  five  or  six  years,  and 
several  years  later  resumed  it.  Ole  Thorson  is  still 
living  and  while  eighty-four  years  of  age,  he  still 
takes  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  Benson,  a town 
he  has  seen  grow  from  a little  hamlet  to  a city 
of  several  thousand  people.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church.  His  wife  died 
in  1913,  the  mother  of  six  children:  Tory,  who 

is  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Wheaton,  Minne- 
sota ; Mary,  widow  of  the  late  Thomas  Knutson, 
who  for  a number  of  years  was  county  treasurer 
of  Swift  County;  Ole,  a farmer  at  Swift  Cur- 
rent in  Western  Canada;  Tillie,  wife  of  J.  B. 
Bruns  of  Wheaton,  who  was  formerly  a mer- 
chant but  is  now  register  of-  deeds  of  Traverse 
County;  Julius;  and  Ed,  traveling  salesman  for  a 
large  concern,  with  headquarters  in  Minneapolis. 


Julius  Thorson  was  educated  in  the  Benson  public 
schools,  and  finished  a business  course  at  Willmar 
Seminary.  His  first  work  was  as  a cattle  herder, 
which  he  folllowed  several  years,  and  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  in  partnership  with  another  young  man, 
Mr.  Matthews,  he  bought  the  Swift  County  Monitor, 
a paper  that  had  been  established  since  1881.  The 
partners  published  this  journal  and  conducted  a job 
printing  business,  and  soon  had  the  enterprise  on  a 
paying  basis.  In  the  meantime,  in  1895,  Mr.  Thor- 
son was  appointed  postmaster  at  Benson,  held  that 
office  until  1900,  and  in  1902  was  elected  register  of 
deeds  of  Swift  County,  and  served  for  four  years. 

The  Security  State  Bank  had  been  founded  by  Mr. 
Matthews  in  1903.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  term  as 
register  of  deeds  Mr.  Thorson  became  identified 
with  the  institution,  and  has  been  its  cashier  since 
the  death  of  Mr.  Matthews  in  1914.  The  Security 
State  Bank  has  a capital  of  $25,000,  a surplus  of 
like  amount,  and  with  average  deposits  of  $325,000. 
Mr.  Thorson  gives  most  of  his  attention  to  the  man- 
agement of  the  bank  but  is  also  interested  in  farm- 
ing and  deals  in  real  estate. 

In  June,  1907,  Mr.  Thorson  married  Miss  Jennie 
Maxwell  of  Appleton,  Minnesota.  They  have  one 
child,  Maxwell,  born  April  13,  1908.  Fraternally  his 
affiliations  are  with  the  Masons  and  the  Sons  of 
Norway,  and  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  he  has 
passed  the  various  chairs.  Politically  a democrat, 
in  1913  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in 
the  State  Legislature.  For  a number  of  years  he 
has  been  active  in  democratic  politics,  and  in  1912 
was  a delegate  to  the  Baltimore  convention  which 
nominated  Woodrow  Wilson  for  the  presidency. 

Hon.  Peter  H.  Holm.  The  ability  which  is  de- 
veloped in  an  active  business  career  has  frequently 
proved  in  practice  as  valuable  to  the  incumbent  of 
judicial  position  as  that  which  comes  from  the  ex- 
clusive study  of  law.  The  accomplished  merchant 
is  more  likely  to  take  a plain,  common-sense  view  of 
the  cases  brought  into  his  court,  and  to  be  unem- 
barrassed by  the  superfine  distinctions  and  definitions 
of  the  law,  than  the  man  who  has  been  trained  in 
the  school  of  authorities  and  precedents.  However 
this  rule  may  apply  generally,  it  is  proved  individu- 
ally in  the  case  of  Hon.  Peter  H.  Holm,  probate 
judge  of  Marshall  County,  Minnesota,  since  1896, 
who,  although  his  previous  experience  had  all  been 
acquired  in  the  field  of  business,  at  one  time  received 
the  endorsement  of  the  attorney-general  of  Minne- 
sota as  "one  of  the  best  probate  judges  in  the 
state.” 

Judge  Holm  was  born  in  Jemtland,  Sweden, 
August  27,  1862,  and  is  a son  of  Hans  and  Karin 
(Persdotter)  Hanson,  natives  of  that  country. 
Farming  people  in  their  native  land,  in  1883  they 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  July  21st  settled 
in  Marshall  County,  where  their  subsequent  careers 
were  passed  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Peter  H.  Holm 
was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Sweden,  and 
after  receiving  a good  education  in  the  public 
schools,  began  to  learn  the  watchmaker’s  and 
jeweler’s  trade,  which  he  mastered  in  all  its  details. 
He  had  not  quite  attained  his  majority  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  this  country,  and  here  he 
soon  found  employment  at  his  trade  at  Warren,  and 
continued  to  be  thus  engaged  for  two  years.  He 
then  established  himself  in  a business  of  his  own 
at  Stephens,  Minnesota,  and  continued  to  conduct 
an  establishment  until  1888,  when  he  was  elected 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1369 


county  treasurer  for  a term  of  four  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  during  which  he  had 
served  the  people  most  faithfully  and  efficiently,  he 
in  1893  built  a store  building  and  again  engaged  in 
the  jewelry  business.  On  November  8,  1896,  Judge 
Holm  was  elected  probate  judge  of  Marshall  County, 
and  since  that  date  has  continued  in  his  seat  upon 
the  bench.  In  his  judicial  office  Judge  Holm  has 
been  a most  conscientious  public  servant,  weighing 
carefully  both  sides  of  the  questions  placed  before 
him,  and  forming  his  decisions  through  the  guidance 
of  high  purpose  and  sincerity.  He  has  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  both  the  bench  and  bar,  and 
there  is  probably  no  more  popular  jurist  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  Judge  Holm  has  been  interested 
m various  business  ventures  during  his  career  and 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Valley  Spring- 
Water  Company,  of  which  he  served  as  president  for 
several  years.  An  active  member  of  the  Warren 
Commercial  Club,  he  has  been  foremost  in  promoting 
and  supporting  enterprises  and  movements  which 
have  made  for  better  conditions  in  civic  and  busi- 
ness life. 

On  December  24,  1888,  Judge  Holm  was  married 
to  Miss  Maria  Ritzen,  a native  of  Junsele,  Sweden, 
who  had  been  a school  teacher  in  her  native  land 
prior  to  coming  to  the  United  States.  To  this  union 
there  have  been  born  two  sons  : Carl  H.,  born  Octo- 
ber 24,  1891,  who  in  October,  1914,  married  Alice 
Edmonson,  of  Montana,  and  is  now  assistant  cashier 
of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Rowan,  Montana;  and 
Ragner  H.,  born  January  10,  1901. 

Hon.  Thomas  Robert  Foley.  Many  of  the  most 
important  business  activities  at  Aitkin  have  been  cen- 
tered in  Thomas  R.  Foley,  who  has  lived  in  that 
section  of  Northern  Minnesota  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  who  has  been  in  various  lines  of  business,  has 
given  active  service  in  local  affairs  and  as  a member 
of  the  Legislature  and  who  has  done  a great  deal  to 
develop  and  originate  the  enterprise  which  has  pro- 
duced the  greatest  wealth  in  this  section  of  the 
state. 

Thomas  Robert  Foley  was  born  in  Winterport, 
Maine,  April  9,  1855,  a son  of  Mathew  and  Barbara 
(McDonough)  Foley.  After  an  education  in  the 
public  schools  he  did  work  in  the  granite  quarries 
and  in  other  lines  in  the  East,  and  in  1878,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three,  arrived  in  Minneapolis  and  for 
a time  clerked  in  a hotel.  With  considerable  expe- 
rience as  a hotel  man,  Mr.  Foley  came  to  Aitkin 
in  1882  and  for  the  following  twelve  years  was 
best  known  as  a hotel  man.  He  was  also  in  the 
lumber  business,  and  finally  sold  his  hotel  and  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising  until  1913. 

Perhaps  his  most  important  activities  have  been 
in  the  development  of  the  mineral  resources,  and 
he  owns  a large  amount  of  land  and  mining  inter- 
ests at  the  present  time.  He  opened  the  first  town 
on  the  Cuyuna  Range.  The  Town  of  Cuyuna  now 
has  a population  of  1,500,  and  another  town,  Hass- 
man,  owed  its  origin  largely  to  his  enterprise.  Mr. 
Folev  has  done  much  improvement  at  Aitkin,  includ- 
ing Foley's  Forest  View  and  other  subdivisions 
about  the  town.  Mr.  Foley  is  president  of  the  T. 
R.  Foley  Company,  real  estate,  is  president  of  the 
Aitkin-Cuyuna  Mining  Company  and  a director  of 
the  First  National  Bank.  Fraternally  he  is  identified 
with  Brainerd  Lodge  No.  615  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  in  the  early  days  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Independent  Order  of 


Odd  Fellows  in  Aitkin.  When  Mr.  Foley  was  elected 
a member  of  the  Legislature  in  1890  he  represented 
six  counties,  Aitkin,  Itasca,  Carleton,  Hubbard, 
Wadena  and  Cass.  It  was  Mr.  Foley  who  took  the 
leading  part  in  the  organization  of  a county  gov- 
ernment in  Itasca  County.  He  has  served  as  pres- 
ident of  the  village  council  at  Aitkin  two  terms,  and 
as  an  active  democrat  was  a delegate  to  the  dem- 
ocratic national  convention  in  Chicago  in  1896,  when 
William  J.  Bryan  was  first  nominated. 

Mr.  Foley  married  Amanda  C.  Peterson,  of  Min- 
nesota. Their  six  children  are : Barbara,  wife  of 

B.  R.  Hassman,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Aitkin;  Thomas  R.,  Jr.,  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  and  married  Mildred  Cluff  of  Aitkin ; Hazel 

C. ,  wife  of  R.  M.  Hughes,  a Duluth  attorney;  Esther, 
wife  of  Clarence  B.  McQuaigh,  in  the  newspaper 
business' at  Aitkin;  Ruth,  wife  of  Dr.  Walter  Court- 
ney, a dentist  and  surgeon  at  East  Grand  Forks, 
Minnesota;  and  Eleanor,  living  at  home.  Mr.  Foley 
lost  one  son,  Edward  Mathew,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen. He  was  attending  school  at  Notre  Dame 
when  taken  ill  and  was  brought  home.  He  died 
January  11,  1907. 

Harry  Lorenzo  Wood.  In  the  capacity  of  cashier 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Warren,  Harry  L. 
Wood  occupies  an  important  place  in  the  business 
life  of  the  community  where  practically  his  entire 
life  has  been  passed.  He  has  acted  in  his  present 
capacity  since  1904,  and  has  also  identified  himself 
with  various  commercial  interests,  in  all  of  which 
he  has  displayed  marked  ability  and  business  acumen. 
Also,  he  is  known  as  an  active  and  energetic  citizen, 
a friend  of  progress,  and  an  enthusiastic  promoter  of 
the  welfare  of  his  city. 

Mr.  Wood  was  born  at  Durand,  Pepin  County, 
Wisconsin,  January  24,  1868,  and  is  a son  of  Lorenzo 
G.  and  Harriet  A.  (Taylor)  Wood.  His  father,  in 
early  life  a farmer  and  surveyor  in  Wisconsin,  came 
to  Warren,  Minnesota,  in  1881,  and  February  24th  of 
that  year  took  charge  as  manager  of  a large  farm. 
Subsequently  he  arose  to  a high  position  in  Marshall 
County,  representing  his  district  in  the  Senate  of  the 
state  for  two  terms,  or  four  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  returned  to  Warren  and  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life  in  looking  after  his  large  interests.  His 
death  occurred  at  Warren,  September  1,  1895. 

Harry  L.  Wood  commenced  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Durand,  Wisconsin,  and  was  thir- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Warren,  here  finishing  his  primary  schooling.  He 
was  prepared  for  a commercial  career  in  a business 
college  at  Minneapolis,  and  in  1890  began  his  busi- 
ness life  as  agent  for  an  elevator  company,  a position 
in  which  he  remained  two  years.  In  1892  he  became 
bookkeeper  for  the  firm  of  W.  F.  Powell  & Com- 
pany, where  his  ability,  energy  and  faithfulness 
earned  his  promotion  to  the  capacity  of  salesman, 
and  he  continued  with  that  concern  for  a period  of 
twelve  years,  or  until  1904,  in  September  of  which 
year  he  became  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Warren.  The  training  he  had  enjoyed  and  the 
ability  he  possessed  enabled  him  to  attend  to  the 
duties  of  the  new  position  with  the  same  marked 
capacity  he  had  already  shown,  and  he  has  continued 
to  be  connected  with  this,  one  of  the  strongest  mone- 
tary institutions  of  this  part  of  the  state,  to  the 
present  time.  Aside  from  his  duties  in  the  bank,  Mr. 
Wood  has  large  realty  interests  to  look  after,  is  the 
owner  of  much  farming  property,  and  deals  ex- 


1370 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


tensively  in  land.  He  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  business  circles,  and  enjoys  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion for  integrity  and  straightforward,  reliable  deal- 
ing- 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Warren  was  founded 
in  July,  1901,  with  a capital  of  $25,000,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  W.  F.  Powell,  president;  C.  A. 
Tullar,  vice  president,  and  F.  W.  Flanders,  cashier. 
In  1915  it  was  reorganized  with  a capital  of  $50,000, 
a surplus  of  $10,000*  undivided  profits  of  $3,000,  and 
deposits  of  $330,000,  its  present  officials  being  W.  F. 
Powell,. president;  C.  F.  Tullar,  vice  president;  and 
H.  L.  Wood,  cashier.  The  bank  owns  its  own  build- 
ing, 45  by  55  feet,  two  stories,  of  pressed  brick,  one 
of  the  handsome  structures  of  Warren.  The  men 
interested  in  it  are  citizens  of  known  worth  and 
substantiality,  and  from  the  start  the  institution  has 
enjoyed  in  a marked  degree  the  confidence  and 
patronage  of  the  people  of  Marshall  County. 

On  December  6,  1S90,  Mr.  Wood  was  married  to 
Miss  Laura  Adelia  Flanders,  of  Crookston,  Minne- 
sota, and  to  this  union  there  has  been  born  one 
daughter:  Miss  Mildred  Lucy,  who  is  attending  the 
Warren  High  School.  Mr.  Wood  has  taken  some 
active  part  in  civic  affairs  of  Warren,  and  has  served 
for  some  time  as  city  treasurer.  Fraternally,  he  is 
connected  with  the  Masons,  belonging  to  the  blue 
lodge,  chapter  and  commandery,  and  also  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  local  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Lie  and  Mrs.  Wood  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  for  the  past  twenty  years 
Mr.  Wood  has  served  in  .the  capacities  of  trustee 
and  treasurer. 

Julius  Johann  Olson,  of  Warren,  adds  another 
member  to  the  legal  profession  of  Minnesota  in 
which  so  many  of  Norwegian  birth  have  attained  dis- 
tinction and  fortune.  A resident  of  this  city  since 
1900  he  has  attracted  to  himself  a large  and  repre- 
sentative professional  business,  and  at  the  same  time 
has  identified  himself  with  the  activities  which  have 
marked  the  growth  and  development  of  this  flour- 
ishing community. 

Mr.  Olson  was  born  in  Norway,  February  22,  1875, 
and  is  a son  of  Carl  and  Marie  Olson,  natives  of 
that  country,  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1883  and  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Park, 
Becker  County,  Minnesota,  where  they  settled  down 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  Julius  Johann  Olson  was 
eight  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  this  country,  and  here  acquired  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  While  still  residing  on 
his  father's  farm  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
three  years,  and  then  entered  the  high  school  at 
Detroit,  Minnesota,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1807.  Having  decided  upon  a career  in  the  law, 
he  entered  the  legal  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  and  was  duly  graduated  therefrom 
in  1900  with  his  degree.  He  began  practice  at 
Crookston,  Minnesota,  in  July,  1900,  but  in  Septem- 
ber of  the  same  year  came  to  Warren,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home  and  followed  his  profession. 
He  is  attorney  for  the  Great  Northern  and  Soo 
railways,  and  at  the  same  time  represents,  in  a legal 
way,  many  prominent  business  firms  and  corpora- 
tions, and  has,  in  addition,  a large  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing general  practice.  He  has  been  a close  and 
careful  student,  and  holds  membership  in  the 
Marshall  County  Bar  Association,  the  Minnesota 
State  Bar  Association  and  the  American  Bar  Asso- 
ciation. As  a business  man  he  has  been  interested 


in  various  projects  and  enterprises,  and  at  this  time 
is  vice  president  of  the  Marshall  Land  Company. 
His  public  services  include  three  years  of  member- 
ship on  the  school  board  of  Warren,  and  he  has 
always  been  ready  to  aid  other  public-spirited  citi- 
zens in  . movements  which  make  for  better  conditions 
in  civic  and  public  affairs.  Fraternally,  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  local  lodges  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

On  July  15,  1909,  Mr.  Olson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Caroline  Louise  Sletten,  of  Audu- 
bon, Minnesota,  • and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons,  Carl  Sletten  and  Julius  Johann,  Jr.,  and  a 
daughter,  Kathrine  Marie. 

George  Samuel  Wattam,  M.  D.  The  medical 
fraternity  of  Marshall  County  contains  no  more  dis- 
tinguished member  than  George  Samuel  Wattam, 
M.  D.,  whose  career  of  thirty  years  in  maintaining 
the  health  of  the  community  of  Warren  has  been 
drawn  within  the  fold  of  a large  and  emphatic  need, 
giving  him  an  increasing  outlet  for  a .wealth  of 
professional  and  general  usefulness.  An  earnest  and 
painstaking  exponent  of  the  best  tenets  of  medical 
and  surgical  science,  and  an  indefatigable  seeker 
after  those  things  which  produce  health,  Doctor 
Wattam  has  been  frequently  called  upon  to  accept 
positions  of  responsibility  in  looking  after  the  public 
welfare,  while  he  has  been  repeatedly  honored  by  the 
members  of  his  profession. 

Doctor  Wattam  was  born  July  10,  1856,  in  Prince 
Edward  County,  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  and 
is  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (Grooms)  Wattam. 
His  early  education  came  from  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place  *and  Belleville  (Canada)  College, 
following  which  he  entered  the  famous  Toronto 
Medical  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  May, 
1884,  with  his  degree.  In  the  succeeding  August, 
Doctor  Wattam  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
at  Warren,  Minnesota,  where  he  has  since  continued 
in  a general  practice  and  built  up  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  professional  business.  He  has  been  de- 
servedly successful,  and  has  a well  equipped  office, 
with  appliances  for  the  most  delicate  and  exacting 
demands  of  the  profession.  Personally,  he  is  a man 
of  rare  tact,  discretion  and  helpfulness.  In  1901 
he  was  made  secretary  of  the  commission  appointed 
for  the  location  and  establishment  of  the  State  San- 
itarium for  Consumptives.  He  is  a member  and  ex- 
president of  the  Red  River  Valley  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, a member  of  the  Minnesota  State  Medical 
Society,  of  which  he  was  formerly  vice  president, 
and  a member  of  the  American  Medical  Association. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Masons,  and  is 
a charter  member  of  the  Crookston  lodge  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  His  pub- 
lic services  to  Warren  have  included  membership 
on  the  school  board,  and  he  is  a director  in  the 
Minnesota  Public  Health  Association. 

Doctor  Wattam  was  married  in  December,  1887, 
to  Miss  Emma  L.  White,  of  Polk  County,  Minne- 
sota, who  died  May  1,  1902,  having  been  the  mother 
of  four  sons : Charles  C.,  a court  reporter  of  Bis- 

marck, North  Dakota;  William  E.,  manager  of  loans 
and  collections  for  a large  concern  at  Grand  Forks,, 
North  Dakota;  Harry  E.,  manager  of  the  branch 
house  of  a publishing  concern  at  Minneapolis,  Min- 
nesota ; and  Kenneth,  who  is  a student  in  the  Warren 
High  School. 


HISTORY'  OF  MINNESOTA 


1371 


Charles  Wittensten.  For  fully  forty  years 
Charles  Wittensten  has  been  a progressive  factor  in 
the  agricultural  development  and  commercial  affairs 
of  Northern  Minnesota.  His  ability  as  a practical 
farmer  is  indicated  by  his  long  management  of  one 
of  the  largest  single  country  estates  in  Northern 
Minnesota,  and  during  his  residence  of  many  years 
at  Warren  he  has  become  known  as  a merchant, 
banker  and  effective  worker  in  behalf  of  local  im- 
provements and  the  prudent  and  trustworthy  man- 
agement of  public  affairs. 

Charles  Wittensten  is  a native  of  Sweden,  in 
which  country  he  was  born  March  26,  1858,  a son 
of  Carl  and  Martha  (Nelson)  Olson,  who  were 
thrifty  farming  people  of  Sweden.  In  his  native 
country  Charles  Wittensten  secured  his  early  edu- 
cation, was  taught  lessons  of  industry  and  honesty, 
and  thus  equipped  he  crossed  the  ocean  and  arrived 
at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  in  1875.  His  work  for 
many  years  was  as  a farmer,  and  in  1882  he  came 
to  Warren  in  Marshall  County,  and  for  eighteen 
years  was  manager  of  a splendid  estate  of  4,160  acres 
in  that  vicinity.  Since  1900  his  home  has  been  in 
the  little  city  of  Warren,  though  for  three  years  he 
managed  another  farm,  and  since  1903  has  been  in 
the  implement  business  with  August  Lundgren,  being 
president  of  the  Lundgren-Wittensten  Company,  one 
of  the  chief  concerns  of  its  kind  in  Marshall  County. 
He  is  also  a director  of  the  People’s  Trading  Com- 
pany. His  interest  as  a banker  is  indicated  by  his 
office  as  president  of  the  Swedish-American  Bank 
at  Warren. 

He  has  always  used  his  influence  for  good  govern- 
ment in  each  locality  of  his  residence,  and  was 
formerly  chairman  of  the  town  board  of  Farley  in 
Polk  County.  He  is  a former  chairman  of  the  board 
of  county  commissioners  of  Marshall  County,  an 
office  he  held  eight  years,  and  in  1913  was  elected 
mayor  of  Warren.  He  is  a trustee  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  is  a past  noble  grand  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has  a large  acquaintance 
whether  as  a business  man  or  as  an  individual. 

September  27,  1884,  Mr.  Wittensten  married  An- 
tonetta  Mack,  who  was  born  in  Iowa.  They  have 
four  sons.  Frank  C.,  the  oldest,  is  assistant  cashier 
of  the  Swedish-American  Bank  at  Warren.  Charles 
is  a railroad  man  in  North  Dakota.  The  two 
younger  sons,  both  at  home,  are  Clinton  A.  and 
Arthur  R. 

A.  A.  Johnson.  The  Swedish-American  State 
Bank  of  Warren,  of  which  A.  A.  Johnson  is  cashier, 
was  organized  in  June.  1905,  with  a capital  stock 
of  $15,000.  Tts  first  officers  were:  C.  Wittensten, 

president ; E.  Dagoberg,  vice  president,  and  L.  M. 
Olson,  cashier.  Some  of  the  items  from  a most 
recent  statement  of  this  bank  show  capital  stock  of 
$15,000,  surplus  of  $5,000.  undivided  profits  of  $3,500, 
and  deposits  approximating  $225,000 — features  which 
indicate  the  stability  and  conservative  management 
of  the  institution  and  its  well  established  confidence 
in  the  community  which  it  serves-.  The  officers  at 
the  present  time  are:  C.  Wittensten,  president:  John 
Dagoberg,  vice  president,  and  A.  A.  Johnson,  cashier. 

August  Albin  Johnson  has  had  a rapid  rise  to 
an  executive  position  in  banking  circles  in  Northern 
Minnesota  and  a few  more  years  will  doubtless  see 
him  one  of  the  leading  bankers  of  that  section  of 
the  state.  He  was  born  in  Sweden  April  22.  1880, 
a son  of  John  and  Gustava  Larson.  The  family 


came  to  America  in  1892,  and  located  near  Warren 
in  Marshall  county  on  a farm.  Here  the  son  grew 
up  from  the  age  of  twelve,  attended  local  schools 
at  Warren,  and  high  school  at  Crookston,  and  his 
first  important  business  experience  was  as  book- 
keeper with  the  People's  Trading  Company  at  War- 
ren for  two  years.  In  1905,  with  the  organization 
of  the  Swedish-American  State  Bank,  he  became 
assistant  cashier,  and  in  July,  1913,  his  service 
prompted  the  directors  to  promote  him  to  the  posi- 
tion of  cashier.  Mr.  Johnson  has  also  served  as  city 
treasurer  of  Warren  two  years,  for  several  years 
was  secretary  of  the  school  board,  is  secretary  of 
the  Commercial  Club  and  is  trustee  and  treasurer  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  His  fraternal  affilia- 
tions are  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Order  of  Yeo- 
men, and  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America. 

On  February  2,  1910,  Mr.  Johnson  married  Anna 
Gustafson  of  Roseau  County,  Minnesota.  Their 
one  daughter  is  Lucile  Maxine. 

Ben  R.  Hassman.  The  First  National  Bank  of 
Aitkin  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  original  Bank  of 
Aitkin,  a private  institution,  which  was  organized 
August  3,  1900,  and  owned  by  A.  R.  Davidson  and 
A.  D.  McRae.'  Nearly  three  years  later  the  bank 
was  reorganized,  taking  out  a national  charter,  and 
has  since  been  known  as  the  First  National  Bank. 
The  reorganization  was  effected  May  29,  1903.  Few 
banking  houses  in  Northern  Minnesota  show  a bet- 
ter statement  of  business  and  strength  than  this 
institution.  It  has  a capital  stock  of  $25,000,  with 
surplus  of  $27,500,  and  with  undivided  profits  of 
nearly  $3,000.  It  is  the  only  bank  in  Aitkin  County 
which  has  taken  membership  in  Federal  Reserve 
Bank  at  Minneapolis.  Its  total  resources  in  Octo- 
ber, 1914,  were  $477,424.32.  An  interesting  feature 
of  this  statement  is  that  showing  deposits  of  more 
than  $400,000.  In  1913  a handsome  new  building  was 
erected  for  the  bank  headquarters,  50x75  feet,  with 
the  second  floor  occupied  by  offices  and  lodge  rooms. 

On  the  organization  of  the  First  National  Bank 
in  1903  A.  R.  Davidson  was  elected  president,  A.  D. 
McRae  vice  president,  and  the  first  cashier  was  Ben 
R.  Hassman.  The  present  officers  are : William 

Davidson,  president;  Freeman  E.  Krech  and  John 
A.  Healy,  vice  presidents;  Ben  R.  Hassman,  cashier; 
O.  A.  Olson,  assistant  cashier,  and  besides  those 
named  other  directors  are  G.  M.  Robinson,  T.  R. 
Foley,  Peter  Larson. 

Beniamin  Richards  Hassman,  who  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  First  National  Bank  throughout  its 
present  history,  was  born  in  McLeod  County,  Min 
nesota,  September  29,  1878.  His  parents,  Fritz  and 
Caroline  (Malchow)  Hassman,  were  early  Minne- 
sota farmers.  Mr.  Hassman  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  in  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
and  in  1900  began  his  banking  career  as  a clerk 
in  the  Bank  of  Hutchinson.  In  1901  he  took  the 
position  of  bookkeeper  with  the  old  Bank  of  Aitkin, 
was  made  cashier  in  1902,  and  actively  assisted  in 
the  organization  of  the  bank  under  its  present  char- 
ter. Mr.  Hassman  is  also  a director  in  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Tamarack. 

His  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  the  Masonic 
order  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
On  September  to.  1902,  Mr.  Hassman  married  Bar- 
bara Folev  of  Aitkin.  Their  four  children  are; 
Charlotte  Barbara.  Thomas  Richard,  Caroline  Cecilia 
and  Amanda  Corrine. 


3372 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Carl  A.  Nelson.  One  of  the  prominent  younger 
bankers  of  Northern  Minnesota  is  Carl  A.  Nelson, 
cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Warren  and  officially 
identified  with  the  management  of  several  other  re- 
lated banks  in  that  vicinity.  Since  coming  to  this 
country  twenty-four  years  ago  Mr.  Nelson  has 
made  the  best  possible  use  of  his  advantages  and 
opportunities,  and  is  now  one  of  the  stable  factors 
in  business  in  his  adopted  state. 

The  State  Bank  of  Warren,  of  which  he  is  cashier, 
was  organized  March  16,  1892,  with  a capital  stock 
of  $25,000,  and  its  first  president  was  H.  L.  Mel- 
gaard,  whose  name  is  so  prominent  in  banking  af- 
fairs in  Northwestern  Minnesota.  The  first  vice 
president  was  K.  T.  Taralseth  and  the  first  cashier 
John  E.  Ostrom.  With  its  capital  stock  remaining 
as  it  was,  the  statement  of  the  bank  in  1915  shows 
a surplus  of  $15,000,  with  undivided  profits  of  $6,000 
and  deposits  aggregating  $400,000.  The  president  is 
now  O.  H.  Taralseth,  the  vice  president  H.  L.  Mel- 
gaard  and  the  cashier  C.  A.  Nelson. 

Carl  August  Nelson  was  born  in  Christiania,  Nor- 
way, July  13,  1871,  a son  of  Eric  and  Marie  Nelson. 
His  father  was  a merchant  and  shoe  manufacturer 
in  the  old  country.  With  an  education  acquired  in 
the  old  country,  and  with  some  practice  in  mercan- 
tile affairs  and  methods,  Carl  A.  Nelson  came  to 
America  in  June,  1891,  and  spent  the  following  seven 
years  as  bookkeeper  in  a general  merchandise  store 
at  Hillsboro,  North  Dakota.  In  1897  he  came  to 
Warren  to  accept  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the 
State  Bank,  and  from  the  duties  of  that  position 
was  advanced  to  cashier,  and  at  the  same  time  his 
fidelity  and  recognized  proficiency  in  business  have 
brought  him  connections  with  other  institutions. 
The  State  Bank  of  Warren  owns  the  only  set  of 
abstract  books  in  Marshall  County,  and  Mr.  Nelson 
is  the  abstractor.  He  is  director  of  the  State  Bank 
of  Viking,  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Alvarado, 
and  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  of  Oslo,  all  of  these 
being  banks  in  Marshall  County.  He  has  served 
bis  home  village  of  Warren  as  city  treasurer  and 
at  the  present  time  is  treasurer  of  the  school  board 
and  treasurer  of  the  Commercial  Club.  He  is  past 
master  of  his  Masonic  lodge,  past  chancellor  of  the 
lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias  and  banker  in  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America. 

On  August  12,  1909,  Mr.  Nelson  married  Harriet 
A.  Lang  of  South  Dakota.  Their  two  children  are 
named  Marie  Helen  and  Carl  Mayo. 

August  Lundgren.  When  that  portion  of  North- 
ern Minnesota  included  in  Marshall  County  was 
still  regarded  as  the  extreme  frontier  of  settlement, 
only  recently  opened  up  by  railroad  communication, 
August  Lundgren  identified  himself  with  the  little 
community  of  Warren.  Everyone  who  knows  any- 
thing of  Warren  in  subsequent  years  knows  that 
August  Lundgren  has  been  one  of  the  foremost 
men  in  its  business  and  civic  life.  Nearly  every  im- 
portant enterprise  in  the  past  thirty  years  has  borne 
the  impress  of  his  personality  and  active  efforts, 
and  in  no  case  has  the  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens  in  his  integrity  ever  been  misplaced. 

August  Lundgren  was  born  in  Sweden,  March  31, 
1855.  His  parents  were  Swante  and  Christine 
(Johanson)  Johanson.  His  father  was  a tailor  and 
farmer.  August  Lundgren  acquired  his  schooling 
in  his  native  country,  and  was  well  trained  for  hard 
work  and  honest  effort  when  he  came  to  America 
in  March,  1880.  After  a residence  of  some  months 


in  Minneapolis,  in  September,  1881,  he  came  to  the 
little  settlement  at  Warren  as  a grain  buyer,  and 
was  in  that  business  until  1883.  At  that  date  he 
established  the  first  brick  yard  north  of  Crooks- 
ton,  known  as  the  Warren  Brick  Company,  a local 
factory  which  has  been  of  no  small  moment  in  the 
community,  and  which  is  still  operated  under  his 
ownership.  In  the  meantime  his  enterprise  has  ex- 
tended to  many  other  affairs.  He  is  president  of 
the  People’s  Trading  Company,  is  president  of  the 
Warren  Building  and  Loan  Association  and  has  held 
that  office  since  the  organization  of  the  association, 
is  a director  in  the  Swedish-American  Bank  and 
is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Lundgren-Witten- 
sten  Company,  dealers  in  hardware  and  implements 
at  Warren. 

With  these  evidences  of  his  success  as  a busi- 
ness man  there  may  be  mentioned  some  of  the 
honors  of  public  office  which  at  different  times  have 
been  bestowed  upon  him.  In  1886  he  was  elected 
county  treasurer  of  Marshall  County  and  held  that 
position  one  term.  For  eighteen  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  city  council,  and  was  for  four  years 
mayor  of  Warren,  the  office  having  been  given  him 
gladly  and  without  any  opposition.  He  has  also 
been  a member  of  the  school  board  and  is  pres- 
ident of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  North  Star 
College  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  that  be- 
neficent institution.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  Red  River 
Valley  Conference  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
and  a trustee  of  the  church  of  that  denomination 
at  Warren. 

On  April  2,  1888,  Mr.  Lundgren  married  Mary 
Lindquist,  who  was  born  in  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Lund- 
gren presided  over  their  home  in  Warren  twenty 
years,  and  in  that  time  endeared  herself  not  only 
to  her  immediate  family,  but  to  all  who  knew  her. 
Her  death  occurred  September  4,  1909.  She  was 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  named  as  follows : 
Ella  Marianna,  Edward  Augustus,  Ebba  Katharine, 
Mabel  Cecilia,  Robert  Soloman,  Esther  Wilbelmina, 
Florence  Olivia,  Clinton  Emanuel  and  Alice 
Eleanora. 

Charles  E.  Lundquist.  The  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  People’s  Trading  Company  at  Warren, 
Charles  E,  Lundquist,  is  one  of  the  alert  and  enter- 
prising business  men  who  have  been  most  effective 
in  developing  the  commercial  and  civic  affairs  of 
Northern  Minnesota  during  the  last  thirty  years.  He 
is  also  a man  whose  position  has  been  secured  as 
a result  of  his  independent  and  self-reliant  efforts, 
and  for  that  reason  his  career  has  considerable  in- 
spiration and  encouragement  for  young  men  who 
start  out  similarly  situated  and  circumstanced. 

Charles  E.  Lundquist  is  a native  of  Sweden,  was 
born  in  that  country  March  11,  1867,  a son  of  John 
and  Anna  Sophia  (Anderson)  Peterson.  His  par- 
ents were  farming  people,  and  the  family  came  to 
America  in  1881,  locating  in  Joliet,  Illinois.  Charles 
E.  Lundquist  had  received  some  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Sweden  and  also  attended  school 
in  Illinois.  For  four  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
a market  gardener  and  worked  hard  early  and  late 
for  the  meager  wages  paid  his  services.  His  home 
has  been  in  Argyle,  Minnesota,  or  that  vicinity  since 
1866.  The  first  year  was  spent  as  clerk  in  a gen- 
eral store,  and  in  1888  he  came  to  Warren  and  for 
three  years  was  assistant  postmaster  of  that  town. 
In  1894  Mr.  Lundquist  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise business  at  Hawley,  Minnesota,  remaining 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1373 


there  until  1901,  and  was  then  made  manager  of 
the  People’s  Trading  Company  at  Warren,  in  which 
capacity  he  has  been  related  to  the  business  com- 
munity ever  since. 

During  his  residence  at  Hawley  he  was  a member 
of  the  village  council  two  years,  has  served  four 
years  on  the  council  at  Warren,  and  for  five  years 
was  a member  of  the  local  school  board.  He  is 
president  of  the  Warren  Commercial  Club  and  is 
also  president  of  the  Warren  Water  and  Light  Com- 
mission. His  chief  fraternal  association  is  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  May  6,  1894,  Mr.  Lundquist  married  May 
Estelle  Barnhart,  a native  of  Minnesota.  Their 
three  children  are  named  E.  Lucile,  Byron  F.  and 
Bertrice  I. 

William  James  Rasmussen.  One  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  Polk  County  bar,  William  James 
Rasmussen  has  already  demonstrated  his  ability  as 
a lawyer,  has  a good  practice  and  is  giving  a capable 
administration  in  the  office  of  municipal  judge  at 
East  Grand  Forks,  and  on  the  basis  of  what  he  has 
done  and  in  the  judgment  of  his  friends  and  asso- 
ciates has  a career  of  large  usefulness  and  prom- 
inence before  him. 

William  James  Rasmussen  was  born  in  Duck 
Creek  Township,  of  Taylor  County,  Wisconsin,  June 
22,  1885,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Caroline  (Olsen)  Ras- 
mussen. His  parents  came  from  Norway  in  about 
1875,  locating  in  Wisconsin,  where  his  father  was 
a merchant  and  farmer. 

The  son  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  at 
Phillips,  Wisconsin,  and  with  some  assistance  from 
home  and  with  such  means  as  his  own  efforts  could 
secure  made  his  way  through  a university  course, 
taking  collegiate  work  in  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin, and  graduating  from  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota  in  June,  1909.  After 
his  admission  to  the  bar  he  located  at  East  Grand 
Forks,  and  has  since  been  busy  in  building  up  and 
looking  after  a general  practice.  In  November,  1911, 
he  was  elected  municipal  judge,  and  has  held  that 
office  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  community 
ever  since. 

Mr.  Rasmussen  is  active  in  Masonic  circles,  hav- 
ing taken  the  Knight  Templar  degrees,  and  also  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Polk  County  Bar  Association  and  is  a director 
of  the  East  Grand  Forks  Commercial  Club. 

Donald  Robertson.  In  the  various  enterprises 
that  have  marked  the  development  of  Marshall 
County  and  the  City  of  Argyle,  covering  a period 
of  thirty  years,  there  has  been  no  man  who  has  put 
himself  more  effectively  into  cooperation  with  his 
fellow  citizens  and  has  exerted  himself  more  un- 
selfishly than  Donald  Robertson,  whose  name  is  as- 
sociated with  practically  every  local  movement  of 
importance  in  the  past  quarter  of  a century,  and  who 
is  also  known  over  the  state  at  large  for  his  busi- 
ness and  civic  relations. 

Donald  Robertson  was  born  in  Hillsburg,  Ontario, 
Canada,  July  3,  1859,  a son  of  Colin  and  Anna 
(Young)  Robertson.  His  father  was  a Canadian 
merchant,  and  the  family  are  of  Scotch  origin. 
Donald  Robertson  was  educated  in  Canada,  but  has 
lived  in  Marshall  County,  Minnesota,  since  1883. 
In  early  life  he  worked  as  a common  laborer  and 
has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes.  When 
Marshall  County  was  largely  a pioneer  country  he 


bought  a claim  right,  and  in  his  efforts  to  gain  a 
foothold  taught  school  for  three  winters,  a four 
months’  term  each  winter,  near  Argyle.  In  the 
meantime  he  bought  property  in  Argyle,  and  put  up 
a building  on  the  site  of  his  present  drug  store, 
which  was  subsequently  replaced  by  a solid  brick 
block,  now  one  of  the  distinctive  landmarks  in  the 
business  district.  Mr.  Robertson  has  been  in  the 
drug  business  since  1887  at  Argyle,  and  from  this 
interest  his  efforts  have  extended  out  into  many 
other  enterprises. 

He  was  elected  and  served  four  years  as  county 
superintendent  of  schools  in  Marshall  County,  also 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  nine  years,  was  pres- 
ident of  the  Argyle  School  Board  six  years  and  its 
secretary  four  years.  Education  has  been  a matter 
of  great  concern  to  Mr.  Robertson,  and  at  one  time 
he  was  chairman  of  the  State  Educational  Commit- 
tee of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Argyle  Board  of  Health  during  the 
epidemic  of  diphtheria  and  did  some  effective  work 
in  combating  that  disease.  He  has  been  a member 
of  the  Argyle  Fire  Department  since  its  organ- 
ization. Another  direction  of  his  efforts  has  been 
in  securing  a proper  representation  of  Marshall 
County  products  in  the  various  state  and  county 
fairs.  He  is  president  of  the  Marshall  County 
Farmers’  Association  and  is  vice  president  of  the 
Northwestern  Minnesota  Development  Association, 
whose  field  of  work  is  particularly  in  the  Red  River 
Valley.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the  first  suc- 
cessful co-operative  creamery  in  this  part  of  the 
state,  and  also  organized  the  first  independent  farm- 
ers’ elevator  in  Marshall  County. 

In  association  with  his  brother,  W.  S.  Robertson, 
he  is  the  owner  of  the  Argyle  Telephone  Exchange, 
a local  telephone  company  which  now  has  350  phones 
installed,  with  100  miles  of  wire  distributed  about 
the  town  and  county.  In  establishing  this  tele- 
phone company  he  displayed  a progressiveness  which 
has  been  characteristic  in  all  his  public  efforts  since 
he  was  willing  to  invest  his  time  and  means  to 
develop  an  enterprise  which  could  not  possibly  show 
a profit  for  some  years  to  come,  and  yet  was  a con- 
venience greatly  needed  by  the  growing  country. 
Mr.  Robertson  is  third  vice  president  of  the  Phar- 
maceutical Association  of  Minnesota.  He  is  one  of 
the  commissioners  for  his  district  of  the  State  Tuber- 
culosis Sanitarium.  Mr.  Robertson  served  through 
three  sessions  and  one  extra  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature as  a representative  from  the  Sixty-seventh 
District.  He  is  a former  chairman  of  the  Com- 
merce and  Trade  Commission.  Religiously  he  has 
contributed  without  discrimination  to  all  denomina- 
tions, and  is  also  known  in  the  two  fraternal 
orders  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  being  a 
past  noble  grand  in  the  lodge  of  the  former  and 
a grand  warden  of  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state,  and 
a past  chief  ranger  in  the  Order  of  Foresters.  His 
own  church  is  the  Presbyterian.  On  September  24, 
1902,  Mr.  Robertson  married  Miss  Blanche  M.  Ed- 
son  of  Litchfield,  Minnesota.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Donalda  May. 

Nels  Nelson  Bergheim.  A lawyer  of  high  stand- 
ing and  successful  practice  at  Little  Falls,  where  he 
has  lived  since  1901,  Nels  Nelson  Bergheim  has 
combined  his  ability  in  the  law  with  the  qualifications 
of  the  influential  man  of  affairs,  has  been  prom- 
inent in  a number  of  civic  and  social  organizations 


1374 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


at  Little  Falls  and  has  done  much  political  work 
in  the  interests  of  good  government.  A special 
characteristic  of  Mr.  Bergheim  has  been  his  stead- 
fast ambition,  which,  combined  with  industry,  has 
carried  him  from  a boyhood  of  limited  advantages 
and  means  through  the  period  of  preparation  for 
the  bar  and  into  a position  of  leadership  in  his 
section  of  the  state. 

Nels  Nelson  Bergheim  was  born  in  Norway,  at 
Nordfjord,  Bergenstift,  October  15,  1869.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  the  United  States,  lived 
for  several  years  in  South  Dakota,  and  while  there 
attended  the  State  Normal  School  at  Madison  for 
one  year.  While  in  that  school  he  engaged  a private 
teacher  in  shorthand,  and  learned  that  art  so  well 
that  by  means  of  it  he  worked  his  way  through  col- 
lege. Following  his  course,  in  the  normal  school, 
Mr.  Bergheim  spent  four  years  in  the  University 
of  South  Dakota  at  Vermillion,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1895  entered  the  University  of  Minnesota  and  was 
graduated  from  the  College  of  Literature  and  Arts 
and  the  normal  department  in  1897.  Then  followed  a 
year  as  a teacher,  after  which  he  entered  the  Col- 
lege of  Law  of  the  University  of  Minnesota  and 
graduated  LL.  B.  in  1901. 

Admitted  to  practice  in  June,  1901,  Mr.  Bergheim 
located  at  Little  Falls,  and  for  nearly  fourteen 
years  has  been  in  active  practice.  For  twelve  years 
he  has  been  connected  with  the  Little  Falls  Com- 
mercial Club,  and  was  its  president  one  year.  He 
is  president  of  the  Civic  League,  and  for  eight 
years  has  been  president  of  the  board  of  public 
works.  Mr.  Bergheim  organized  the  Morrison 
County  Co-operative  Agricultural  Society,  of  which 
he  has  served  as  secretary  and  general  manager  four 
years,  is  secretary  of  the  Retail  Merchants’  Associa- 
tion of  Little  Falls,  and  is  also  secretary  of  the  local 
Chautauqua  Society.  He  has  membership  in  the 
Morrison  County  Bar  Association,  and  is  a member 
and  treasurer  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church. 
Fraternal  matters  have  always  interested  him,  and 
for  five  years  he  served  as  clerk  of  the  local  camp 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  for  two  years 
was  secretary  and  for  eight  years  has  been  treas- 
urer of  the  local  lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Since  1902  Mr.  Bergheim  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  politics.  That  year  he  was  a candidate 
for  county  attorney  for  Morrison  County,  and  in 
1906  was  candidate  for  the  Legislature  from  Mor- 
rison and  Crow  Wing  districts,  and  during  the 
same  year  stumped  the  northern  part  of  the  state 
for  the  re-election  of  Governor  Johnson.  For  eight 
years  he  has  been  a member  of  the  democratic  cen- 
tral committee  from  Morrison  County.  In  1914  Mr. 
Bergheim  was  democratic  candidate  for  the  office  of 
secretary  of  state. 

In  1901  he  married  Miss  Kathinka  Hanson  of 
Adams,  Minnesota.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Margaret  Lucile. 

Herbert  Irving  Yetter.  As  a banker  in  Marshall 
County  Mr.  Yetter's  career  covers  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a century,  and  in  that  time  he  has  made 
himself  and  his  bank  an  institution  of  helpful  serv- 
ice to  the  community,  and  combines  those  two  qual- 
ities so  desirable  to  any  banker,  prudence  with  pro- 
gressiveness. At  Stephen,  in  1888,  he  established  a 
private  bank  and  twenty  years  later,  in  February, 
1908,  reorganized  it  as  the  First  National  Bank 


of  Stephen,  with  a capital  stock  of  $25,000  and  sur- 
plus of  $5,000.  Mr.  Yetter  has  been  president  since 
its  organization,  and  the  vice  president  is  James  J. 
Sinclair  and  the  cashier  R.  A.  Whitney.  A bank 
statement  in  1915  shows  capital  stock  of  $25,000, 
surplus  $5,000,  undivided  profits  $2,500  and  deposits 
of  about  $180,000.  The  bank  owns  its  own  building, 
a one-story  pressed  brick  structure,  eligibly  located 
in  the  center  of  the  village  and  occupying  ground 
dimensions  of  25  by  40  feet. 

Herbert  Irving  Yetter  was  born  in  Plainview, 
Minnesota,  November  21,  1861,  a date  which  indi- 
cates the  pioneer  residence  of  his  family,  and  his 
own  life  lacks  only  three  years  of  covering  the 
entire  period  of  Minnesota  statehood.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Abby  (Sylvester)  Yetter,  his  father 
having  been  a pioneer  farmer  of  this  state.  Mr. 
Yetter  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Roch- 
ester, Minnesota,  and  early  in  life  took  up  banking 
as  his  regular  vocation.  He  worked  as  bookkeeper 
in  different  banks  until  his  removal  to  Stephen  in 
1888  and  the  establishment  of  the  bank  which  he 
has  conducted  either  as  a private  institution  or  as 
a national  bank  for  more  than  twenty-five  years. 

Mr.  Yetter  for  the  past  fifteen  years  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  independent  school  district  at  Ste- 
phen. He  is  also  a member  of  the  Commercial 
Club.  On  September  5,  1903,  occurred  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jane  Renny  of  Stephen.  Their 
three  children  are  Dorothy,  John  Forrest  and  Kath- 
erine Renny. 

John  Edward  Hunter.  One  of  the  independent 
business  men  of  Stephen,  John  Edward  Hunter  was 
born  in  the  same  year  that  Minnesota  became  a 
state,  and  like  the  commonwealth  of  which  he  is 
a native  son,  his  career  has  been  one  of  constant 
expansion  and  growth.  Early  in  life  he  made  him- 
self useful  and  efficient  while  in  the  employ  of 
others,  and  now  for  a number  of  years  has  been 
one  of  the  factors  in  business  affairs  in  Marshall 
County. 

John  Edward  Hunter  was  born  in  Steele  County, 
Minnesota,  May  22,  1858,  a son  of  David  and  Mary 
(Naylor)  Hunter.  His  father  was  a blacksmith 
and  wagon  manufacturer,  and  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers in  Steele  County.  John  E.  Hunter  grew 
up  on  a farm,  at  the  same  time  gaining  an  edu- 
cation in  public  schools,  and  early  became  acquainted 
with  the  principles  and  practice  of  hard  work  as 
a means  for  his  personal  advancement.  He  finally 
removed  to  Marshall  County  and  was  a farmer 
near  Warren  five  years.  He  was  then  employed  as 
a grain  buyer  for  elevator  companies  until  1901,  and 
was  then  made  manager  of  the  implement  business 
at  Argyle,  and  continued  to  be  associated  with  the 
business  there  until  1909.  In  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  Stephen  and  organized  the  Stephen  Imple- 
ment Company,  of  which  he  was  manager  until 
1915.  In  the  year  of  this  writing  he  organized  the 
J.  E.  Hunter  Company,  implements  and  farm  ma- 
chinery, and  now  has  a flourishing  business. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Hunter  served  as  a member  of  the 
council  and  on  the  school  board  at  both  Warren 
and  Argyle  during  his  residence  in  those  villages. 
He  was  mayor  of  Stephen  during  1912-13-14,  and  a 
member  of  the  school  board  three  years.  If  there 
is  one  principle  more  than  another  for  which  Mr. 
Hunter  has  consistently  worked  and  fought  it  is 
that  of  prohibition  of  the  liquor  traffic,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  most  ardent  anti-saloon  men  in  Northern 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1375 


Minnesota.  Since  1883  he  has  been  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity. 

In  1893  Mr.  Hunter  married  Mildred  B.  Walker 
of  Buffalo,  Minnesota.  His  one  son,  Henry  Ed- 
ward, born  May  12,  1895,  has  now  finished  his  edu- 
cation and  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the  imple- 
ment business  at  Stephen. 

Bernard  Bullard  Brett.  A lawyer  of  more  than 
twenty  years  active  and  successful  experience  in 
Marshall  County,  Bernard  Bullard  Brett’s  activities 
have  constituted  him  one  of  the  forceful  leaders  in 
public  affairs  at  the  Village  of  Stephen,  where  he 
not  only  commands  a successful  practice  as  a lawyer 
but  is  also  publisher  of  the  principal  newspaper, 
and  has  been  identified  with  many  movements  for 
local  betterment. 

Bernard  Bullard  Brett  was  born  in  Albany,  New 
York,  August  29,  1869,  a son  of  Bernard  B.  and 
Martha  Jane  (McClelland)  Brett.  His  father  was 
connected  with  manufacturing  interests  in  New 
York  State.  Mr.  Brett  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  at  Albany,  and  after  leaving 
high  school  came  to  the  Northwest  and  located  near 
Ashby,  Minnesota.  For  two  years  he  was  a teacher 
in  that  locality,  and  in  the  meantime  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  private  offices  and  also  attended  the 
law  school  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Mr. 
Brett  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1893  and  for  the 
following  five  years  did  a general  practice  in  the 
City  of  Minneapolis.  In  1898  he  came  to  Stephen 
and  has  since  looked  after  increasing  interests  as  a 
lawyer  and  business  man.  In  1907  Mr.  Brett  pur- 
chased the  Marshall  County  Leader,  of  which  he  is 
the  owner  and  editor.  This  paper,  which  has  a cir- 
culation list  of  about  one  thousand,  was  established 
in  1882,  and  is  one  of  the  effective  advocates  of  the 
republican  party  and  of  good  government  in  general 
in  Marshall  County. 

For  two  terms  Mr.  Brett  was  president  of  the 
village,  was  president  of  the  school  board  twelve 
years,  and  is  a former  president  of  the  Commercial 
Club.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Stephen  in  March, 
1915,  and  this  position  he  now  holds.  Outside  of  the 
law  his  interest  has  been  particularly  beneficial  in 
connection  with  educational  matters,  and  he  did  most 
of  the  preliminary  work  in  connection  with  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  independent  school  district  at  Stephen. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Brett  is  identified  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  is  a past  noble  grand  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  past  chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  past  venerable  consul  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  On  September  29, 
1897,  he  married  Edith  Hannah  Colvert  of  Fergus 
Falls,  Minnesota.  Their  two  children  are  Edith 
Colvert  and  Munro  Yuill. 

Herbert  Langworthy.  The  distinctive  loyalty  of 
Mr.  Langworthy  to  his  native  state  has  been  signi- 
fied not  only  in  words  but  also  in  deeds,  and  few  men 
have  shown  more  circumspection  and  zeal  in  ex- 
ploiting the  manifold  advantages  and  opulent  re- 
sources of  Minnesota  than  has  this  representative 
real  estate  dealer.  In  his  operations  in  the  handling 
of  real  estate  in  Minnesota  Mr.  Langworthy  has 
done  much  to  foster  the  civic  and  industrial  progress 
and  prosperity  of  the  state,  especially  in  the  buy- 
ing and  selling  cf  farm  lands,  and  though  his  in- 
vestigations and  activities  have  been  carried  into 
other  states  of  the  Northwest  his  accurate  and  com- 
prehensive knowledge  of  the  true  values  have  made 


him  the  insistent  exponent  of  the  superior  induce- 
ments offered  in  Minnesota.  He  maintained  the 
headquarters  of  his  real  estate  business  at  Dodge 
Center,  Dodge  County,  until  1912,  in  the  spring  of 
which  year  he  established  his  offices  in  Minneapolis, 
where  he  has  since  continued  his  progressive  enter- 
prise in  this  line  and  where  he  has  greatly  amplified 
the  scope  of  his  operations.  Upon  his  records  are 
represented  at  all  times  the  most  desirable  invest- 
ments and  application  to  his  offices,  316  Andrus 
Building,  will  bring  to  the  investigator  or  investor 
excellent  and  authentic  literature  descriptive  of  Min- 
nesota and  the  great  inducements  here  offered,  the 
nature  of  the  sketch  here  presented  being  such  that 
there  is  no  demand  for  specific  details  concerning 
the  extensive  and  representative  business  that  has 
been  developed  through  the  ability  and  effective 
policies  of  this  representative  real  estate  man  of 
Minnesota. 

Mr.  Langworthy  was  born  on  a farm  in  Ashland 
Township,  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  17th 
of  August,  1877,  and  is  a son  of  Joseph  C.  and 
Sarah  Jane  (Scott)  Langworthy,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  their  marriage  having  been 
solemnized  in  Rock  County,  Wisconsin.  The  parents 
of  Joseph  C.  Langworthy  were  numbered  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  that  Wisconsin  county  and  Mrs. 
Langworthy  had  accompanied  one  of  her  brothers 
on  his  removal  to  that  state,  having  been  young  at 
the  time  when  she  was  doubly  orphaned.  Joseph  C. 
Langworthy  continued  his  residence  in  the  Badger 
State  until  about  1864,  when  he  came  to  Minnesota 
and  numbered  himself  as  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers 
of  Dodge  County,  where  he  obtained  a homestead 
of  eighty  acres  and  from  the  same  developed  one 
of  the  valuable  farms  of  that  section  of  the  state, 
besides  being  an  upright  and  loyal  citizen  who  com- 
manded the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
remained  on  his  farm  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1894,  and  his  widow  survived  him  by  nearly 
a decade,  she  having  been  summoned  to  the  life 
eternal  in  1903.  They  became  the  parents  of  four 
son's,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Webster  is  a pros- 

perous farmer  of  Dodge  County,  as  is  also  William 
C.,  and  in  the  same  old  home  county  resides  also  the 
third  son,  Elmer,  Herbert,  of  this  review,  being  the 
youngest  of  the  number,  and  all  having  been  born 
on  the  home  farm  in  Dodge  County. 

The  mature  judgment  that  Herbert  Langworthy 
manifests  in  regard  to  land  values,  soil  integrity,  and 
general  agricultural  activities  has  its  basis  in  the 
experience  which  he  early  gained  in  connection  with 
the  work  of  his  father’s  farm,  where  he  gained  also 
enduring  appreciation  of  the  dignity  and  value  of 
honest  toil  and  endeavor  and  of  the  independence  of 
the  life  of  the  sturdy  husbandman.  He  profited  duly 
by  the  advantages  afforded  in  the  district  schools, 
and  he  continued  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  or  to  be  empliyed  on  other  farms  in  his  native 
county  until  somewhat  more  than  one  year  after 
his  marriage.  In  the  autumn  of  1901  he  rented  an 
appreciably  large  farm  in  Dodge  County,  and  to 
the  operation  of  the  same  he  devoted  his  attention 
in  an  independent  way  for  the  ensuing  two  years. 
He  then  became  the  owner  of  a general  merchandise 
store  in  a little  rural  village  of  his  native  county, 
and  this  hamlet,  known  as  Vlasaty,  continued  to  be 
his  place  of  residence  for  a period  of  three  years. 
He  then  disposed  of  his  store  and  business  and 
removed  to  Dodge  Center,  where  he  engaged  in  the 


1376 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


handling  of  Minnesota  farm  land  and  in  a modest 
way  gave  inception  to  the  now  extensive  and  sub- 
stantial real  estate  business  now  controlled  by  him. 
In  this  field  of  enterprise  he  had  previously  gained 
valuable  experience  in  selling  farms  for  the  Elwood 
Land  Company,  while  he  was  still  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  and  he  continued  a representa- 
tive of  this  company  until  he  established  his  inde- 
pendent enterprise  at  Dodge  Center.  From  the 
spring  of  1908  until  the  spring  of  1912  Mr.  Lang- 
worthy maintained  his  residence  and  business  head- 
quarters at  Dodge  Center,  and  he  then  removed  to 
Minneapolis,  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  and  ex- 
panding his  operations.  He  has  since  given  his  at- 
tention to  the  Inlying  and  selling  of  Minnesota 
farms,  principally  in  the  central  and  southern  coun- 
ties of  the  state,  and  his  business  is  known  for  its 
reliability  and  for  the  presentation  of  the  absolute 
facts  concerning  all  investments  offered.  Mr. 
Langworthy  is  the  owner  of  Minneapolis  realty,  and 
of  valuable  farm  lands  in  Minnesota  and  also  in  the 
Canadian  Northwest.  He  has  won  success  through 
his  own  ability  and  well  ordered  efforts  and  is  one 
of  the  progressive  and  loyal  native  sons  of  Minne- 
sota, with  a well  established  reputation  as  a reliable 
and  enterprising  business  man.  At  Dodge  Center  he 
is  still  affiliated  with  Leader  Lodge,  No.  41,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  has  identified 
himself  with  representative  civic  organizations  in 
the  City  of  Minneapolis. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1900,  Mr.  Langworthy  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  M.  Nass,  who 
was  born  in  Germany  and  who  there  received  her 
rudimentary  education,  which  was  supplemented  by 
her  attending  the  public  schools  of  Dodge  Center 
after  her  parents  had  established  their  home  in  Min- 
nesota, she  having  been  nine  years  of  age  when  the 
family  became  residents  of  Dodge  County,  where  her 
parents  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Langworthy  have  two  daughters — Sadie  J.,  who 
was  born  in  Dodge  County,  and  Ruth,  who  was  born 
in  Minneapolis. 

J.  Monroe  Gordon.  More  than  thirty  years  have 
passed  since  J.  Monroe  Gordon  became  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Janesville,  Minnesota, 
and  during  all  that  period  he  has  been  known  as  one 
of  the  city’s  most  reliable  and  enterprising  citizens. 
The  passing  years  have  but  brightened  his  reputa- 
tion in  commercial  circles  and  among  the  representa- 
tive men  of  the  city  have  given  him  a prestige  that 
is  enviable.  His  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
the  public  welfare  has  made  him  a most  valuable 
citizen,  and  his  energy  and  directing  power  have 
done  much  to  advance  the  material  interests  of  the 
city  and  its  people. 

T.  Monroe  Gordon  was  born  in  Richland  County, 
Wisconsin,  June  6,  i860,  a son  of  William  and  Mel- 
vina  (Francis)  Gordon,  and  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent  on  his  father’s  side.  His  mother’s  family 
were  early  settlers  in  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  Abraham  Gordon,  a native  of  Scot- 
land, who  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
at  Carleton,  Ohio,  at  an  early  day,  and  subsequently 
moved  to  Virginia,  where  he  aied.  His  life  in  the 
main  was  passed  in  agricultural  pursuits.  William 
Gordon  was  born  at  Carleton,  Ohio,  in  1829,  and  as 
a young  man  migrated  to  Wisconsin,  where,  in  Rich- 
land County,  he  was  married  and  for  some  years 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1865  he  came  to  Janesville, 
in  the  vicinity  of  which  city  he  became  a pioneer 


farmer,  and  here  passed  away  after  a long  and  useful 
career,  July  10,  1896.  Mr.  Gordon  was  married  in 
1857,  in  Richland  County,  Wisconsin,  to  Miss  Mel- 
vina  Francis,  who  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  there  educated,  and  she  still  survives 
her  husband  and  is  a resident  of  Janesville,  Minne- 
sota. The  father  was  a republican  in  his  political 
views,  and  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which 
he  served  for  some  years  as  deacon.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon,  namely : N.  S., 

who  is  editor  of  a newspaper  at  Barron,  Wisconsin; 
J.  Monroe,  of  this  review ; Cynthia  A.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Arthur  Heath,  a well-known  miller  of  Has- 
tings, Minnesota;  James  M.,  who  resides  at  Monte- 
video, Minnesota,  and  is  a miller;  Clarence,  who 
died  young;  Ransom,  who  is  a miller  of  Janesville: 
Walton,  who  is  a flour  mill  salesman  and  resides  in 
Texas;  Nettie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  and  one- 
half  years;  and  Frank,  who  died  when  seven  months 
old. 

J.  Monroe  Gordon  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  attended  the  public  schools  until  about  twenty 
years  of  age.  On  reaching  his  majority  he  entered 
the  mill  of  the  Stokes  Brothers,  a concern  with  which 
he  has  been  connected  through  all  these  years, 
although  the  mills  are  now  known  as  Jennison  Broth- 
ers & Company.  Entering  in  the  capacity  of  general 
utility  man,  through  energetic  and  faithful  endeavor, 
Mr.  Gordon  won  rapid  and  consecutive  promotion, 
until  today  he  is  manager  of  these  large  flour  mills, 
which  contribute  in  no  small  degree  to  the  business 
importance  of  Janesville.  He  is  a business  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  possessed  of  executive 
power,  foresight  and  acumen,  and  among  his  asso- 
ciates his  judgment  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem.  As 
a republican  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs,  and  his  well-known  ability  has  caused 
him  to  be  chosen  for  public  office  on  numerous  occa- 
sions, he  having  served  as  mayor  of  Janesville  two 
terms,  as  a member  of  the  city  council  six  years 
and  as  a member  of  the  school  board  for  twelve 
years,  and  his  entire  public  service  has  been  char- 
acterized by  fidelity  to  duty  and  a conscientious  ap- 
plication that  has  at  all  times  marked  his  efforts  in 
his  private  interests.  Fraternal’y,  Mr.  Gordon  is 
connected  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  he 
is  also  an  active  member  of  the  Commercial  Club 
of  Janesville.  With  his  family  he  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  the  movements  of 
which  he  is  a liberal  contributor. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  married  in  October.  1881,  at 
Mankato,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Eudora  Clark,  a native 
of  Iowa,  but  at  that  time  a resident  of  Mankato. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  union:  Guy, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  vears ; and 
Vern,  a graduate  of  Janesville  High  School  and 
Carleton  College,  Northfield,  who  is  in  the  milling 
business  in  a plant  at  Montevideo,  Minnesota. 

Archibald  Hf.rrick  Vernon.  Now  in  active 
practice  of  the  law  at  Little  Falls,  Archibald  H. 
Vernon  has  had  varied  associations  with  the  Min- 
nesota bar,  with  politics,  public  affairs  and  his  record 
gives  evidence  of  his  high  standing  as  a professional 
man  and  citizen. 

Archibald  Herrick  Vernon  was  born  at  Middle- 
ton,  Wisconsin,  April  8.  1880,  a son  of  George 
Henry  and  Clara  Isabella  (Herrick)  Vernon.  His 
father  was  also  an  attorney.  Mr.  Vernon  was  edu- 
cated in  St.  Paul  for  the  most  part,  having  attended 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1377 


the  high  school  there ; for  one  year  was  a student 
in  Harvard  University.  In  1907  he  graduated  LL.  B. 
from  the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law,  and  two  years 
later,  in  1909,  the  University  of  Minnesota  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  master  of  laws. 

From  1900  to  1907  Mr.  Vernon  was  in  active 
newspaper  work,  being  political  and  city  editor  on 
the  Pioneer  Press.  He  practiced  law  in  St.  Paul 
from  1907  to  1909,  and  since  then,  for  five  years, 
has  been  identified  with  the  bar  of  Little  Falls  and 
engages  in  a general  practice.  In  1907  he  filled  the 
position  of  assistant  chief  clerk  of  the  House  in  the 
Minnesota  Legislature,  and  in  1909  was  chief  clerk 
of  the  House.  At  the  present  time  he  holds  the 
position  of  city  attorney  at  Little  Falls,  having- 
been  elected  in  1913.  His  name  is  familiar  to  mem- 
bers of  the  Minnesota  bar,  having  in  1910  been  made 
a member  of  the  board  of  governors  of  the  State  Bar 
Association.  He  is  an  ex-treasurer  of  the  Ramsey 
County  Bar  Association  and  a member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bar  Association.  He  has  also  served  as  sec- 
retary of  the  Little  Falls  Commercial  Club.  In  pol- 
itics a republican,  he  was  secretary  of  the  Ramsey 
County  Republican  Committee  during  his  residence 
in  St.  Paul,  and  has  also  served  as  chairman  of  the 
Morrison  County  Committee.  Fraternally  he  is-  a 
past  exalted  ruler  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  and  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum 
and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  On  March  29, 
1900,  Mr.  Vernon  married  Clara  Simmons  of  St. 
Paul. 

David  L.  Morse.  One  of  the  prominent  younger 
attorneys  of  Faribault  County,  David  L.  Morse  began 
practice  at  Wells  in  1909,  and  since  January  1,  1915, 
has  been  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Frundt  & 
Morse  at  Blue  Earth.  He  has  influential  connec- 
tions in  the  law,  has  served  in  several  offices  which 
have  proved  valuable  training  for  his  career,  and  is 
noted  for  the  able  manner  in  which  he  handles  all 
cases  intrusted  to  his  charge. 

David  L.  Morse  was  born  at  Belmond,  Wright 
County,  Iowa,  February  26.  1883,  a son  of  W.  J.  and 
Ida  (Luick),  Morse.  His  father  was  born  in  Michi- 
gan in  1858.  and  is  now  living  a retired  farmer  at 
Belmond.  The  Morse  family  has  been  in  America 
since  the  seventeenth  century,  two  brothers  having 
emigrated  from  England  and  settled  in  Massachu- 
setts during  colonial  times.  Mr.  Morse  has  revolu- 
tionary ancestors.  W.  J.  Morse  and  wife  had  the 
following  children : David  L. ; Rhoda,  who  died  at 

the  age  of  three  years;  Albert,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two ; Perry,  who  died  at  nineteen ; Amelia, 
who  is  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  and  lives  with 
her  parents ; Muriel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen ; 
Susan,  who  lives  with  her  parents. 

David  L.  Morse  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
at  Belmond,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1900,  and  for  three  years  was  a student  in  the  Cor- 
nell College  at  Mount  Vernon.  Towa.  For  two  years 
he  was  deputy  clerk  in  the  Wright  Countv  courts, 
and  in  1906  came  to  Minnesota  and  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Minneapolis,  where 
he  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1009.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  Mr.  Morse  began  practice  at  Wells,  and  soon 
was  recognized  with  a paying  practice  in  both  civil 
and  criminal  law.  In  order  to  avail  himself  of  the 
larger  opportunities  opening  before  him,  Mr.  Morse 
removed  to  the  county  seat  at  Blue  Earth  on  Janu- 
ary 1.  1915.  For  the  past  three  years  he  has  served 
as  village  attorney  of  Wells. 


Mr.  Morse  is  a director  and  stockholder  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Wells,  and  is  affiliated  with 
Doric  Lodge  No.  87,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  with  Wells 
Chapter  No.  80,  R.  A.  M.  On  June  26,  1912,  at 
Clarion,  Iowa,  he  married  Miss  Anna  Porter,  daugh- 
ter of  F.  A.  Porter,  who  was  a contractor  and 
builder  at  Clarion. 

Charles  W.  Dillman.  For  the  past  quarter  of  a 
century  Mr.  Dillman  has  been  owner  of  one-half 
interest  in  the  Blue  Earth  Post,  of  which  he  has  had 
editorial  charge  during  this  entire  period  and  which 
he  has  made  one  of  the  model  newspapers  of  its  class 
in  the  state.  He  has  shown  the  deepest  and  most 
loyal  interest  in  all  that  has  touched  the  prosperity 
and  progress  of  Faribault  County  and  its  judicial 
center,  the  thriving  little  City  of  Blue  Earth,  has 
made  his  paper  a most  effective  exponent  of  local 
interests  and  of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party, 
and  further  than  this  he  is  a representative  of  one 
of  the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  Faribault  County, 
though  much  of  his  early  life  was  passed  in  the  State 
of  Iowa. 

Within  the  decade  between  1750  and  1760  two 
brothers  named  Dillman  immigrated  to  America 
from  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  their 
native  place,  and  established  their  residence  in  Penn- 
sylvania. He  whose  name  initiates  this  review  is  a 
lineal  descendant  of  one  of  these  sterling  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  old  Keystone  State,  whence  later  gen- 
erations made  their  way  westward,  so  that  the  fam- 
ily name  has  become  identified  with  civic  and  in- 
dustrial development  and  progress  in  divers  states 
of  the  Union.  Charles  W.  Dillman  was  born  in 
Bartholomew  County,  Indiana,  on  the  12th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1858,  and  is  a son  of  Frank  M.  and  Susan 
(Miller)  Dillman,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Ohio,  in  1838,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  a native 
of  Indiana  and  a representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  the  fine  old  Hoosier  commonwealth. 
Frank  M.  Dillman  was  a carpenter  by  trade  and  for 
a number  of  years  gave  his  attention  to  contracting 
and  building,  later  having  been  a successful  farmer 
and  having  also  been  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
for  several  years.  In  1868  he  numbered  himself 
among  the  pioneers  of  Faribault  County,  Minnesota, 
where  he  obtained  land  and  instituted  the  reclama- 
tion of  a farm,  but  in  1875  he  turned  to  Indiana, 
where  he  passed  the  residue  of  his  life,  his  death 
having  occurred  at  Columbus,  Bartholomew  County, 
in  1903.  His  first  wife  died  in  1862,  at  Newbern,  that 
county,  and  of  the  children  of  this  union  three  are 
living, — Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  R.  More,  who 
is  now  living  retired,  at  Blue  Earth,  more  specific 
mention  of  his  career  being  given  on  other  pages,  in 
the  sketch  dedicated  to  his  son  Frank  R. ; Charles  W. 
was  the  next  in  order  of  birth ; and  Albert  Prichard, 
a painter  by  vocation,  resides  in  the  City  of  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana.  As  his  second  wife,  Frank  M.  Dill- 
man wedded  Miss  Melissa  Fortner,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Bartholomew  County,  indiana,  and 
who  still  resides  at  Columbus,  that  county.  The  only 
child  of  this  union  was  Minnie,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-nine  years. 

Charles  W.  Dillman  was  a lad  of  seven  years  at 
the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Faribault  County, 
Minnesota,  and  he  retains  vivid  memories  of  the  con- 
ditions and  influences  that  here  existed  in  the  pioneer 
days,  including  a more  or  less  fond  recollection  of 
the  little  log  schoolhouse  in  which  he  gained  his 
rudimentary  education,  the  same  having  been  in 


1378 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Pilot  Grove  Township,  within  the  limits  of  which 
was  situated  his  father's  farm.  Later  he  attended  the 
public  schools  at  Estherville,  Iowa,  for  three  years, 
and  in  1874,  when  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  he 
started  to  iearn  the  printing  business  in  an  office 
conducted  at  Estherville  by  C.  W.  Jarois.  He  there 
remained  until  1879,  and  in  the  meanwhile  acquired 
an  excellent  knowledge  of  the  business,  of  which  he 
was  a representative  at  Columbus,  Indiana,  for  a 
period  of  two  years  thereafter.  In  1881  he  returned 
to  Estherville,  Iowa,  where  he  was  identified  with  the 
same  line  of  enterprises  until  1888,  when  he  came  to 
Blue  Earth,  Minnesota,  judicial  center  of  the  county 
in  which  his  boyhood  days  had  been  passed,  and  here 
he  purchased  one-half  interest  in  the  Blue  Earth 
Post,  of  which  he  has  continued  one  of  the  editors 
and  publishers  during  the  long  intervening  years. 
This  is  one  of  the  pioneer  newspapers  of  this  section 
of  the  state,  as  it  was  founded  in  1868,  by  the 
firm  of  Williams  & Stevens,  and  it  now  has  a larger 
circulation  than  any  other  paper  in  Faribault  County. 
In  the  ownership  of  the  newspaper  plant  and  business 
Mr.  Dillman  is  now  associated  with  his  nephew, 
Frank  R.  More,  concerning  whom  specific  mention 
is  made  on  other  pages  of  this  history.  The  offices  of 
the  Blue  Earth  Post  are  essentially  modern  in  equip- 
ment and  facilities,  with  a job  department  that  turns 
out  high-grade  work,  the  while  the  newspaper  itself 
is  a model  in  makeup  and  letterpress,  even  as  it  is 
in  its  editorial  policies  and  effective  exploiting  and 
conserving  of  local  interests,  and  in  advocating  the 
cause  of  the  republican  party.  The  Post  stands  at 
all  times  for  progressiveness,  for  honest  and  efficient 
county  administration  and  for  proper  handling  of 
municipal  affairs.  The  offices  of  the  paper  are  in 
a substantial  and  attractive  building  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Fifth  streets. 

In  a personal  way  as  well  as  through  the  columns 
of  his  paper  Mr.  Dillman  has  done  much  to  foster 
the  principles  and  policies  of  the  republican  party, 
and  in  a fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated  with  Sherburn 
Lodge,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and 
Mount  Zion  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  besides 
which  he  was  formerly  an  active  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 
He  is  still  affiliated  with  the  Brotherhood  of  Ameri- 
can Yeomen,  and  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
in  the  Christian  Church. 

In  1882,  at  Estherville,  Iowa,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Dillman  to  Miss  Lois  A.  Mattson, 
daughter  of  the  late  Isaac  Mattson,  who  was  for- 
merly a representative  farmer  and  influential  citizen 
of  Mattson  Prairie,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dill- 
man have  three  children : Vinnie  L.  is  a successful 

and  popular  teacher  of  music  in  her  home  city  of 
Blue  Earth ; Clera  W.  is  assistant  county  superin- 
tendent of  schools  for  Faribault  County;  and  Lois 
Lucille  is  a popular  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  City  of  Fairmont,  Martin  County.  Mr.  Dillman 
is  the  owner  of  his  attractive  residence  property  on 
Eighth  Street. 

Frank  R.  More.  Associated  with  Charles  W. 
Dillman  in  the  ownership  of  the  Blue  Earth  Post, 
the  leading  newspaper  published  in  Faribault  County, 
Mr.  More  has  proved  an  able  and  progressive  repre- 
sentative of  practical  journalism  in  his  native  county 
and  state,  and  his  entire  experience  in  this  field  of 
enterprise  has  been  in  connection  with  the  paper  of 
which  he  is  now  one  of  the  editors  and  publishers, 


a special  mention  of  his  partner  and  uncle,  Mr.  Dill- 
man, being  made  on  other  pages  of  this  work,  with 
adequate  incidental  data  concerning  the  genesis  and 
development  of  the  Blue  Earth  Post. 

Mr.  More  was  born  on  the  family  homestead  farm 
in  Pilot  Grove  Township,  Faribault  County,  Minne- 
sota, on  the  27th  of  July,  1872,  and  is  a son  of  An- 
drew R.  and  Matilda  (Dillman)  More,  the  latter 
being  a sister  of  Charles  W.  Dillman,  who  has  been 
identified  with  the  publication  of  the  Blue  Earth  Post 
since  1888.  Andrew  R.  More  was  born  in  Scotland, 
in  1846,  and  is  now  living  retired  in  the  fine  little  city 
of  Blue  Earth.  He  was  about  eleven  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  parents’  immigration  from  Scotland 
to  the  United  States,  and  his  father  became  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  in  Pilot  Grove  Township,  Fari- 
bault County,  where  he  established  his  residence  in 
the  year  prior  to  the  admission  of  Minnesota  to  state- 
hood, and  where  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the 
residue  of  their  lives, — sterling  citizens  who  contrib- 
uted their  quota  to  the  social  and  industrial  develop- 
ment of  this  now  favored  and  opulent  section  of  the 
state.  Andrew  R.  More  was  reared  to  manhood  on 
the  pioneer  farm  and  continued  to  be  actively  iden- 
tified with  its  work  and  management  until  he  had 
attained  to  his  legal  majority,  after  which  he  was 
engaged  for  several  years  in  farming  in  an  inde- 
pendent way.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the 
photographic  business,  and  he  was  the  leading  ex- 
ponent of  this  line  of  enterprise  at  Blue  Earth  for 
twenty  years, — 1875-1895, — at  the  expiration  of  which 
he  retired.  He  has  been  one  of  the  loyal  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  the  county  that  has  so  long  been 
his  home  and  in  which  both  he  and  his  wife  have  a 
circle  of  friends  that  is  coincident  with  that  of  their 
acquaintances.  Both  are  earnest  communicants  o.f  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
More  is  a stalwart  republican.  Of  the  three  children 
Frank  R.,  of  this  review,  is  the  first  born;  Jessie  died 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years;  and  Susan  is  the  wife 
of  George  S.  Smith,  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Bricelyn,  Faribault  County. 

Frank  R.  More  attended  the  public  schools  of  Blue 
Earth  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  and  prior  to  the  completion  of  his  high-school 
course  he  had  been  gaining  practical  experience  in 
the  office  of  the  Blue  Earth  Post,  his  knowledge 
covering  both  editorial  work  and  definite  familiarity 
with  the  manifold  intricacies  of  the  “art  preservative 
of  all  arts.”  On  the  1st  of  October,  1906,  he  pur- 
chased a half  interest  in  the  plant  and  business  of 
the  Post,  of  which  he  has  since  continued  one  of  the 
editors  and  publishers,  with  secure  vantage-place  as 
one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  the  judicial 
center  and  metropolis  of  his  native  county  and  with 
full  appreciation  of  the  many  advantages  and  attrac- 
tions here  offered.  He  accords  a staunch  support  to 
the  republican  party  and  is  a communicant  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  besides  which  he  is  affiliated  with 
the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  his  wife  likewise 
being  a zealous  communicant  of  the  Catholic  Church 
in  Blue  Earth. 

In  the  year  1896,  at  Blue  Earth,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  More  to  Miss  Mary  Sullivan, 
daughter  of  the  late  Cornelius  Sullivan,  who  was  a 
representative  farmer  of  Faribault  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  More  have  no  children. 

It  may  be  stated  in  conclusion  that  the  name  of 
More  has  been  closely  and  worthily  identified  with 
the  history  of  Faribault  County  for  more  than 
half  a century.  Andrew  R.  More,  Sr.,  grandfather 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1379 


of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born  in  1824,  and 
came  to  America  in  1857  and  forthwith  settled  in 
Faribault  County,  as  previously  intimated,  and  here 
he  died  in  1904,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty  years. 

C.  W.  Brown.  The  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
New  Richland  Star  is  one  of  the  capable  and  well 
known  newspaper  men  of  the  Southern  Minnesota. 
Mr.  Brown  began  learning  the  trade  of  printer  and 
the  profession  of  country  journalism  when  a boy, 
and  his  success  in  conducting  a bright,  newsy  paper, 
combining  a useful  service  to  the  community  with 
profitable  business  to  himself,  doubtless  lies  in  the 
fact  that  he  has  concentrated  his  attention  along  one 
line  for  so  many  years. 

C.  W.  Brown  was  a native  of  Minnesota,  born  in 
Kalmer  Township  of  Olmstead  County,  September 
28,  1874.  He  comes  of  old  American  stock  on  his 
father’s  side.  His  great-grandfather  Brown  emi- 
grated from  Ireland  and  settled  in  New  York  State, 
while  the  grandparents  were  Alva  and  Eunice 
(Eddy),  Brown.  The  former  was  a farmer  and  died 
in  Jamestown,  New  York,  while  Eunice  Eddy  was 
of  Scotch-English  descent,  and  three  Eddy  brothers 
came  over  about  the  time  of  the  Mayflower,  and  their 
descendants  were  among  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. C.  H.  Brown,  father  of  the  New  Richland 
editor,  was  born  in  Chautauqua  County,  New  York, 
in  1839,  came  west  in  1861,  and  lived  in  Dodge 
County,  Minnesota,  until  1885,  and  then  moved  to 
'Eagle  Lake,  Minnesota,  and  lived  there  a retired 
farmer.  In  1862  he  was  one  of  the  Minnesota  pio- 
neers who  responded  to  the  call  for  soldiers  to  sup- 
press the  rebellion,  and  served  for  three  years 
and  three  days  in  Company  B of  the  Tenth  Regiment 
of  Minnesota  Infantry.  He  was  in  all  the  engage- 
ments of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  including  the 
great  battle  of  Nashville.  C.  H.  Brown  married 
Mary  Hunn,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin. 

C.  W.  Brown  acquired  his  education  while  living 
on  a farm,  attending  the  district  schools  and  later  the 
town  schools  at  Pine  Island,  Minnesota.  When  he 
left  school  at  the  age  of  about  sixteen,  he  entered  the 
printing  office  of  the  Janesville  Argus,  and  was  iden- 
tified with  that  publication  for  about  nine  years,  ex- 
cepting a brief  time  when  he  managed  the  News  at 
Eagle  Lake,  Minnesota.  For  y/2  years  of  that  time 
he  was  a partner  of  J.  A.  Henry.  Mr.  Brown  has 
been  a resident  of  New  Richland  since  June  15,  1903, 
when  he  bought  the  New  Richland  Star  from  O.  H. 
Bronson.  The  Star  was  established  in  i886!  by  H.  G. 
Gregg,  and  at  that  time  was  called  the  North  Star. 
The  offices  and  plant  are  located  about  four  blocks 
from  the  railway  station  in  New  Richland.  The  Star, 
under  Mr.  Brown’s  management,  has  been  steadily 
progressing  both  as  a journal  and  as  a business  prop- 
osition and  now  has  a large  circulation  throughout 
Waseca  County,  but  particularly  in  the  southern  half 
of  that  county.  The  paper  maintains  an  independent 
position  in  politics,  and  the  editor  is  an  independent 
republican. 

Mr.  Brown  has  been  active  in  civic  affairs  of  New 
Richland,  served  two  years  in  the  city  council  and 
was  recorder  two  years.  Fraternally  his  affiiliations 
are  with  Janesville  Lodge  No.  124,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
and  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  a 
business  way  he  is  a stockholder  in  the  New  Richland 
Telephone  Company  and  in  the  New  Richland  Hotel 
Company.  Mr.  Brown  was  married  June  17,  1896,  in 
Mankato,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Gertrude  Presnall.  Her 
father  is  M.  C.  Presnall  of  Eagle  Lake.  Mr.  Brown 


and  wife  have  the  following  children : Donald  C., 

who  is  a student  in  the  Maplewood  Academy;  Leon- 
ard F„  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven;  Bonnie  B.  and 
Gertrude,  at  home. 

Anton  O.  Lea  is  one  if  the  modern  business  men 
of  New  Richland.  Mr.  Lee  is  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  that  city,  and  for  the  past  eight 
years  has  held  the  office  of  postmaster.  When  Mr. 
Lea  located  at  New  Richland  about  twenty-five  years 
ago  he  followed  the  trade  of  painter,  but  has  been 
steadily  progressing  towards  the  control  of  larger 
interests  and  to  a position  of  greater  usefulness  to 
his  community. 

Anton  O.  Lea  was  born  at  Sandsver,  near  Ivongs- 
berg,  Norway,  in  December,  1865.  His  father,  Olaus 
Lea,  was  born  at  Sandsver  in  1836  and  after  spend- 
ing his  active  life  as  a farmer  died  there  in  1912. 
He  married  Miss  Sommersted,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  locality  in  1836  and  died  in  1880.  Anton  O. 
Lea  was  educated  in  his  native  locality,  and  while 
living  in  Norway  as  a young  man  learned  the  trade 
of  painter.  With  this  mechanical  skill,  but  with 
practically  no  capital,  he  emigrated  to  America  in 
1888  and  settled  in  New  Richland  in  the  same  year. 
He  was  employed  as  a carpenter  and  painter  there 
for  five  years,  and  then  went  to  Lake  Mills  in  the 
State  of  Iowa,  and  spent  five  years  in  a planing  mill. 
Having  in  the  meantime  accommodated  himself  to 
American  methods  of  business,  and  with  a thorough 
experience  in  mechanical  lines,  Mr.  Lea  returned  to 
New  Richland  in  1898.  Since  then  he  has  been  one 
of  the  vigorous  men  of  action  in  the  city.  He  estab- 
lished a butter  tub  factory  and  a planing  mill  com- 
bined, and  in  1899  gave  New  Richland  its  electric 
light  plant.  Both  these  industries  were  sold  by  him 
in  1908,  and  the  freedom  from  their  management 
enabled  him  to  devote  all  his  time  to  the  office  of 
postmaster,  to  which  he  had  been  appointed  in  1907, 
toward  the  close  of  President  Roosevelt's  adminis- 
tration. Mr.  Lea  has  since  been  reappointed  and  his 
official  term  closes  on  January  1,  1915.  For  a num- 
ber of  years  he  has  been  active  in  Republican  circles 
in  Waseca  County.  Besides  other  service  he  has 
been  president  of  the  town  council.  Mr.  Lea  is  presi- 
dent of  the  New  Richland  Land  & Loan  Company, 
a director  in  the  New  Richland  Hotel  Company,  and 
his  chief  position  in  the  business  community  is  as 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank.  This  bank  has 
just  erected  a handsome  new  building,  and  the 
growth  of  its  business  is  such  that  he  now  gives  the 
institution  most  of  his  time. 

Mr.  Lea  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and 
served  as  trustee  of  his  church  while  living  in  Lake 
Mills,  Iowa.  He  was  married  in  New  Richland  in 
1893  to  Miss  Louise  Gunderson,  daughter  of  Gunder 
Gunderson,  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  where  he  is  now 
living  as  a retired  farmer. 

Daniel  Estey  Whitney.  One  of  the  most  active 
young  business  men  of  Brainerd  is  Daniel  E.  Whit- 
ney, who  has  been  established  in  business  in  that 
city  for  the  past  seven  years.  Mr.  Whitney  is  well 
known  in  Masonic  circles  and  is  a native  son  of 
Minnesota. 

Daniel  Estey  Whitney  was  born  on  a farm  in 
Stearns  County,  Minnesota,  October  20,  1888,  a son 
of  Calvin  Benjamin  and  Mary  F.  (Heaton)  Whit- 
ney. He  was  educated  in  the  local  public  schools 
and  attended  the  Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul. 
For  two  years  he  was  employed  by  a collection 


1380 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


agency  at  St.  Cloud,  and  then  took  up  the  study 
of  anatomy  and  undertaking  and  finished  a thor- 
ough course  in  that  profession  in  1903.  In  October, 
1907,  Mr.  Whitney  moved  to  Brainerd  and  has  since 
been  practicing  his  profession  as  an  undertaker. 

In  Masonry  Mr.  Whitney’s  relations  are  with 
Aurora  Lodge  No.  ioo,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Brainerd 
Chapter  No.  42,  R.  A.  M. ; Zabud  Council  No.  10, 
R.  & S.  M. ; Ascalon  Commandery  No.  16,  K.  T. ; 
and  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Brainerd 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  is  a republican  in  politics, 
and  is  deacon  and  treasurer  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church.  He  is  also  a member  of  Adzuman 
Club  of  Brainerd. 

Frank  A.  Miner.  A career  which  has  been  char- 
acterized by  well-earned  success,  accruing  from  the 
intelligent  following  of  a given  idea,  is  that  of 
Frank  A.  Miner,  grain  buyer  for  the  well-known 
milling  firm  of  Jennison  Brothers  & Company,  at 
Janesville.  Primarily  and  essentially  a business  man, 
.Mr.  Miner  has  no  long  record  of  public  service;  yet 
in  a practical,  substantial  and  progressive  way  has 
contributed  to  the  public  welfare  through  his  services 
as  an  energetic  citizen. 

Mr.  Miner  is  a native  son  of  Janesville,  Minnesota, 
and  was  born  May  29,  1871,  his  parents  being  F.  FI. 
and  Adelaide  (Wookey)  Miner.  The  family  is  of 
English  origin,  the  progenitor  of  the  name  in  Amer- 
ica emigrating  to  Canada,  where  the  grandfather  of 
Frank  A.  Miner  was  born.  Subsequently  he  removed 
to  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York,  later  to  Ran- 
dolph, Wisconsin,  and  finally  to  Medford,  Minnesota, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  the  time  of 
his  death.  F.  FI.  Miner  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  New  York,  in  1837,  and  was  a lad  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Wisconsin.  Growing  to  manhood, 
he  adopted  mercantile  pursuits  as  his  life  field  of 
endeavor,  and  in  1866  came  to  Janesville,  Minnesota, 
as  a pioneer  merchant.  Here  he  continued  in  busi- 
ness during  a long  period  of  years,  and  through 
industry,  energy  and  a progressive  spirit  was  able 
to  accumulate  a competency,  so  that  his  declining 
years  were  passed  in  comfortable  retirement,  and  he 
died  at  his  home  at  Janesville,  in  good  circum- 
stances, December  13,  1907.  He  was  long  a devout 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  for  some  time, 
a vestryman  therein,  while  fraternally  he  was  con- 
nected with  Janesville  Lodge,  No.  124,  A.  F.  & A.  M. 
Mr.  Miner  married  Miss  Adelaide  Wookey,  who  was 
born  in  England,  and  was  five  years  of  age  when 
she  accompanied  her  parents  to  the  United  States, 
the  family  settling  at  Kingston,  Wisconsin,  where 
the  father  was  engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miner  became  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Frank  A.,  of  this  review;  Harry  I.,  who 

resides  in  Minneapolis,  and  is  engaged  as  a dental 
practitioner ; A.  R.,  who  is  also  a dentist  and  is 
engaged  in  practice  at  Rochester;  and  K.  W.,  the 
third  of  the  brothers  to  follow  the  dental  profes- 
sion, his  field  of  practice  being  the  City  of  Janes- 
ville. 

Frank  A.  Miner  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Janesville,  completing  the  full  high  school  course 
in  1890.  At  that  time  he  became  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  mercantile  business,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  1898.  In  that  year  Mr.  Miner  entered 
the  grain  business  with  Jennison  Brothers  & Com- 
pany, in  a humble  capacity,  but  fidelity  to  duty, 
eager  energy  and  inherent  ability  won  him  promo- 


tion from  time  to  time,  and  he  now  very  acceptably 
fills  the  important  position  of  official  grain  buyer. 
Fie  is  known  as  a business  man  of  no  mean  caliber, 
honorable  in  his  dealings,  shrewd  in  his  judgment 
and  versatile  in  his  abilities.  Politically  a republican, 
his  public  activities  have  been  limited  to  a public- 
spirited  participation  in  progressive  movements.  He 
is  well  known  in  fraternal  circles,  belonging  to  Janes- 
ville Lodge  No.  124,  F.  & A.  M.;  Winona  Consis- 
tory No.  4,  of  the  thirty-second  degree;  Zurah  Tem- 
ple, A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America;  and  formerly  belonged  to  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  at  Owatonna;  and  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  at  Mankato. 

Mr.  Miner  was  married  May  16,  1898,  at  Janes- 
ville, Minnesota,  to  Miss  Eva  Nelsoiv  of  this  city, 
and  one  daughter  has  been  born  to  this  union: 
Adelaide,  who  is  attending  the  public  schools.  The 
family  home  is  pleasantly  located  at  the  corner  of 
Market  and  Second  streets. 

Samuel  Hodgkins.  Ihe  City  of  Janesville  has  its 
share  of  men  who  have  stepped  aside  from  the  path 
of  labor  to  make  way  for  the  younger  generation, 
with  its  clear-cut  hopes  and  unrealized  ambitions, 
and  to  whom  life  is  still  a vast  and  unexplored  coun- 
try. Of  the  men  who  are  now  living  retired  after 
many  years  passed  in  active  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  whose  labors  have  been  crowned  with  well- 
deserved  success,  Samuel  Hodgkins  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent.  A resident  of  Waseca  County  since 
1870,  he  has  contributed  materially  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  community,  and  although  more  than 
seventy-five  years  of  age,  still  takes  an  active  and 
intelligent  interest  in  its  progress  and  welfare. 

Mr.  Hodgkins  was  born  at  Oswegatchie,  St.  Law- 
rence County,  New  York,  June  15,  1839,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Almyra  (Smith)  Hodgkins.  The 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  the  progenitor  coming  to 
the  Linked  States  during  colonial  days.  The  great- 
grandfather of  Samuel  Hodgkins,  Capt.  Samuel 
Hodgkins,  was  a seafaring  man  whose  home  was  at 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  who  was  lost  with  his 
vessel  in  a storm  on  the  Pacific.  William  Hodgkins, 
the  grandfather  of  Samuel  Hodgkins,  was  born  at 
Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  from  which  state  he  went 
to  New  Hampshire  and  later  to  Vermont.  A ship 
carpenter  and  the  owner  of  a farm,  he  divided  Itis 
time  between  the  two  vocations,  and  assisted  in  the 
building  of  McDonough’s  fleet,  following  which  he 
served  for  seven  years  and  eight  months  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  three  years  in  the  army  and  the 
balance  of  the  time  in  the  navy,  a part  of  this  time 
being  under  John  Paul  Jones.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  the  pursuits  of  peace  and 
rounded  out  a useful  and  well-filled  career. 

William  Hodgkins,  the  father  of  Samuel  Hodgkins, 
was  born  at  Grand  Isle,  Vermont,  in  1800,  and  was 
a young  man  of  twenty-four  years  when  he  removed 
from  his  native  state  to  New  York,  locating  on  a 
farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Ogdensburg,  St.  Lawrence 
County,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life 
as  an  agriculturist  and  died  in  1876.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  New  York  to  Almyra  Smith,  who  was  born 
in  Washington  County,  that  state,  in  1808,  and  she 
passed  away  in  1842,  having  been  the  mother  one 
son : Samuel. 

Samuel  Hodgkins  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  town,  and  was: 
reared  on  his  father’s  farm,  on  which  he  worked 
until,  with  other  patriotic  youths  of  his  vicinity,  he 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1381 


enlisted,  May  i,  1861,  in  Company  K,  Eighteenth 
Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which 
he  served  faithfully  until  receiving  his  honorable 
discharge  at  Albany,  New  York,  May  28,  1863.  After 
a visit  to  his  home,  Mr.  Hodgkins  veteranized  by 
enlisting  in  the  Fourteenth  New  York  Heavy-Artil- 
lery, September  11,  1863,  and  continued  as  a member 
of  that  organization  until  securing  his  honorable 
discharge  September  11,  1865.  Mr.  Hodgkins  par- 
ticipated in  all  the  battles  and  movements  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  from  Bull  Run  to  Appomat- 
tox, with  the  single  exception  of  the  battle  of  Get- 

tysburg, and  at  all  times  was  known  as  a faithful 
and  courageous  soldier,  respected  by  his  comrades 
and  esteemed  by  his  officers.  A republican  in  poli- 
tics, as  a soldier  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 

Lincoln  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has  given 
his  ballot  to  every  presidential  candidate  of  that 
party.  Mr.  Hodgkins  came  to  Waseca  County  in 
1870  and  purchased  a farm  in  the  Township  of  Free- 
dom, to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time  until  he 
was  the  owner  of  320  acres  of  excellent  land,  all  of 
which  he  placed  under  cultivation.  He  carried  on 
diversified  farming  and  also  raised  blooded  Norman 
horses  and  Shorthorn  cattle,  and  in  each  of  his  ven- 
tures met  with  well-earned  success  because  of  his 
energy,  progressive  ideas  and  tireless  application. 
Mr.  Hodgkins  sold  his  farms  in  1911  and  retired  to 
his  residence  on  Allyn  Street,  Janesville,  where  for 
exercise  he  cultivates  an  acre  of  land.  Mr.  Hodgkins 
is  remarkably  well  preserved  for  his  years,  both  in 
body  and  mind  and  is  an  example  of  the  value  of 
clean  living.  He  is  alert  and  active,  has  never  worn 
glasses,  and  can  read  a newspaper  as  readily  as  a 
person  many  years  his  junior.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Hodgkins  is  connected  with  Janesville  Lodge  No. 
124,  F.  & A.  M.,  and  has  been  a Master  Mason  for 
more  than  fifty  years. 

In  1865  Mr.  Hodgkins  was  married  to  Miss  Lu- 
cretia  Ackerman,  of  Morristown,  New  York,  and  to 
this  union  there  have  been  born  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows : Smith,  who  is . a prosperous  farmer  and  re- 

sides in  Canada;  Charles,  who  is  connected  with  the 
Plymouth  shoe  firm  and  resides  in  Minneapolis ; 
Milo,  who  is  manager  of  a telephone  company  and 
resides  at  New  Richland,  Minnesota;  Samuel,  who  is 
a prosperous  farmer  and  resides  at  Janesville;  David, 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Freedom 
Township;  and  Nellie,  who  married  George  Preim,  a 
merchant,  and  resides  at  Waldorf,  Minnesota.  The 
children  were  all  well  educated  and  trained  to  take 
their  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  world’s  workers,  and 
all  have  proven  a credit  to  their  training  and  their 
communities. 

In  1914  Mr.  Hodgkins  had  an  old-fashioned  flag 
raising  at  his  home.  The  flagpole,  which  was  placed 
on  his  house,  is  fifty  feet  high  and  the  flag  is  9x14 
feet.  Governor  Eberhart  made  the  speech  and  there 
were  between  five  and  six  hundred  people  present. 
This  flag  will  be  left  to  Mr.  Hodgkins’  children. 

John  W.  Jennison.  When  John  W.  Jennison 
started  upon  his  wage-earning  career  his  available 
assets  were  not  to  be  figured  in  money,  in  educational 
advantages,  nor  in  the  assistance  of  influential 
friends.  He  had,  however,  many  far  more  dependa- 
ble resources,  and  among  them  were  grit  and  deter- 
mination, and  a capacity  for  untiring  industry.  These 
have  elevated  him  to  a place  among  the  men  of 
wealth  of  Janesville,  where  he  is  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  large  milling  firm  of  Jennison  Brothers 


& Company,  and  to  public-spirited  participation  in 
all  that  tends  to  the  permanent  upbuilding  of  the 
community. 

Mr.  Jennison  was  born  at  Kingston,  Greenlake 
County,  Wisconsin,  February  24,  1865,  and  is  a son 
of  A.  W.  and  Caroline  M.  (Sutton)  Jennison,  the 
former  a native  of  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York, 
and  the  latter  of  the  State  of  Vermont.  The  father 
was  born  in  1839  and  was  a young  man  when  he 
removed  to  Kingston,  Wisconsin,  in  i868xcoming  to 
Waseca  County,  Minnesota,  and  two  years  later  to 
the  City  of  Janesville,  where  for  some  years  he  was 
successfully  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1884 
he  became  a part  owner  in  the  mills  of  Jennison 
Brothers  & Company,  and  continued  to  be  identified 
with  this  concern  until  his  death  in  1889.  He  is  sur- 
vived by  his  widow,  who  makes  her  home  at  Janes- 
ville. 

John  W.  Jennison  was  five  years  of  age  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Janesville,  and  here  he 
attended  the  public  schools,  although  he  is  largely 
self-educated,  the  greater  part  of  his  training  having 
come  to  him  from  the  schools  of  hard  work  and 
experience.  He  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he 
laid  aside  his  books  and  became  a clerk  in  a grocery 
store,  but  after  six  months  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  and  also  worked  in  a lumber  yard  for  a 
time.  Realizing  the  need  of  further  schooling,  he 
took  a course  in  the  St.  Paul  Business  College,  and 
after  his  graduation  therefrom  secured  a position  as 
rdustabout  in  the  mills  of  Stokes  Bros.  & Jennison 
(the  latter  his  uncle),  at  Watertown,  South  Da- 
kota. Shortly  thereafter  his  energy,  fidelity  and 
recognized  ability  won  him  promotion  to  the  office, 
in  which  he  worked  until  1884,  and  at  that  time  came 
back  to  Janesville  and  bought  an  interest  in  what 
was  known  as  Stokes’  Banner  Mill,  which  then  be- 
came the  Jennison  Brothers  & Company  Mill,  owned 
by  A.  W.  and  W.  J.  Jennison.  In  increasing  this 
business  the  brothers  absorbed  the  mills  of  Tileston 
& Sutcliffe,  and  Mr.  Jennison  rapidly  increased  his 
holdings  from  the  one-quarter  interest  which  he 
owned  originally.  These  mills  have  grown  and  de- 
veloped under  able  management  into  one  of  the 
important  enterprises  of  this  part  of  the  state,  their 
capacity  being  800  barrels  a day  and  the  product 
being  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States.  It 
is  the  proud  assertion  of  the  proprietors  of  the  mills 
that  they  have  never  been  closed  down,  irrespective 
of  panics  or  slack  business  conditions.  Not  long 
after  coming  to  Janesville,  the  company  took  over 
the  Janesville  Bank,  which  they  conducted  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  he  has  varied  other  interests. 
Mr.  Jennison  stands  high  in  the  public  esteem,  and 
belief  in  his  integrity  and  good  judgment  has  been 
variously  manifested.  For  four  terms  he  served  most 
capably  as  mayor  of  Janesville,  and  during  his  ad- 
ministration the  city's  interests  were  most  carefully 
conserved,  Mr.  Jennison’s  business  talents  being  in- 
strumental in  putting  the  municipality  on  a strong 
financial  footing.  He  is  a republican  in  his  political 
views.  An  active  member  of  the  Commercial  Club, 
he  is  also  well  and  favorably  known  in  Masonry, 
being  a member  of  Janesville  Lodge  No.  124,  F.  & 
A.  M. ; Waseca  Chapter  No.  26,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Man- 
kato Commandery,  Iv.  T. 

Mr.  Jennison  was  married  at  Janesville,  Minnesota, 
in  1890.  to  Miss  Janette  N.  Nelson,  of  this  city,  and 
three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely : 
Faith  C.,  who  for  two  terms  taught  a class  at  Beth- 
any College,  Topeka,  Kansas,  and  is  now  attending 


1382 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Columbia  University,  New  York  City;  Beth  C.,  who 
is  attending  Smith  College,  Northampton,  Massachu- 
setts; and  Janette  Hope,  who  is  also  a student  at 
that  institution. 

John  Able  Henry.  One  of  the  well-known  fig- 
ures in  the  journalistic  field  of  Southern  Minnesota 
is  John  Able  Henry,  who  since  1878  has  been  pro- 
prietor and  publisher  of  the  Argus,  and  during  all 
this  long  period  has  taken  an  active  and  helpful  par- 
ticipation in  the  movements  which  have  made  the 
history  of  Waseca  County.  It  has  been  Mr.  Henry's 
privilege  to  serve  in  various  public  offices  of  trust 
and  responsibility,  in  each  of  which  he  has  displayed 
a commendable  eagerness  to  advance  the  interests  of 
his  home  City  of  Janesville  as  well  as  the  general 
welfare  of  Waseca  County.  A long  and  faithful 
service,  such  as  his  has  been,  is  one  which  entitles 
him  eminently  to  a place  among  those  who  may  be 
called  representative  Minnesota  men. 

Mr.  Henry  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  25,  1855,  near  the  Town  of  Bradford,  and 
is  a son  of  John  N.  and  Diana  (Merchant)  Henry. 
The  family  is  traced  directly  back  to  John  Henry, 
who  came  to  this  country  from  England  and  in  1690 
took  the  freeman's  oath  at  Topsfield,  Massachusetts. 
The  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Henry  was  Simon 
Henry,  a native  of  Connecticut,  who  removed  to 
Massachusetts  and  thence  to  the  Western  Reserve  of 
Ohio,  taking  a homestead  there  as  a pioneer  and 
continuing  to  be  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  John  Henry  was 
the  paternal  grandfather,  while  the  grandfather  on 
the  maternal  side  was  a Mr.  Woodworth,  who  fought 
as  a soldier  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  John  N. 
Henry  was  born  in  Geauga  County,  Ohio,  in  1822, 
and  as  a young  man  studied  medicine,  although  he 
never  followed  the  profession  as  a practitioner,  en- 
tering the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  instead.  He  was  first  connected  with  the 
Erie  (Pennsylvania)  Conference,  and  was  then 
transferred  to  the  Genesee  (New  York)  Confer- 
ence, being  connected  therewith  at  the  time  of  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  In  spite  of  his  calling, 
Mr.  Henry  at  once  volunteered  for  service,  becoming 
a private  of  Company  I,  Forty-ninth  Regiment,  New 
York  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  1861,  and  continuing 
as  a member  of  that  organization  throughout  the 
period  of  the  war,  taking  part  in  every  engagement 
in  which  the  Sixth  Army  Corps  participated,  this 
service  including  such  sanguine  engagements  as  An- 
tietam  and  Petersburg.  His  entire  military  career 
was  characterized  by  the  utmost  bravery  and  faith- 
ful performance  of  duty,  he  twice  volunteering  to 
handle  cannon  on  the  firing  line.  Later,  because  of 
his  medical  knowledge,  he  became  connected  with 
hospital  work,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the 
close  of  hostilities  with  the  rank  of  assistant  sur- 
geon. About  the  year  1870  Reverend  Mr.  Henry  was 
transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Conference,  and  here 
continued  his  ministerial  labors  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  Champlin,  Minnesota,  in 
1908.  Reverend  Henry  married  Diana  Merchant, 
who  was  born  at  Napoli,  Cattaraugus  County,  New 
York,  in  1825,  and  died  at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  in 
T910,  while  on  a trip  home  from  California.  They 
became  the  parents  of  the  following  children  : Maria, 
who  became  the  wife  of  H.  M.  Van  Dake,  deceased, 
who  was  a farmer,  and  resides  at  Duck  Lake,  Min- 
nesota, where  she  has  a handsome  property;  Harriet 
A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  P.  C.  Richardson,  who 


died  very  suddenly  in  1913,  and  she  now  has  resi- 
dences at  San  Diego,  Caliiornia,  at  Champlin,  Min- 
nesota, at  Minneapolis,  and  has  large  property  inter- 
ests elsewhere;  John  A.,  of  this  review;  Charles  A., 
a mail  carrier  for  the  United  States  Government, 
residing  at  Minneapolis;  Mary,  who  married  C.  M.’ 
Goss,  a traveling  salesman  of  Oakland,  California; 
Jennie  M„  who  married  Ulysses  G.  Herrick,  one  of 
the  leading  mail  carriers  of  the  country,  residing  at 
Minneapolis,  president  of  the  Mail  Carriers’  Asso- 
ciation and  a thirty-third  degree  Mason;  and  Edward 
E.,  residing  at  Ashland,  Wisconsin,  chief  engineer  of 
the  city  waterworks,  and  also  a dealer  in  automo- 
biles. 

The  boyhood  of  John  A.  Henry  was  passed  in  the 
different  towns  to  which  his  father  was  called,  and 
his  common  school  education  was  secured  in  Chau- 
tauqua County,  New  York,  and  other  places.  He 
was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Vernon  Center,  Blue  Earth  County,  Min- 
nesota, from  whence  he  removed  to  Mankato, 
Minnesota,  and  there  for  three  years  attended  the 
Mankato  Normal  School,  earning  his  own  way 
through  this  institution  by  teaching  in  the  country 
schools.  Mr.  Henry’s  educational  career  included 
nine  terms  of  country  school  in  Blue  Earth,  but  in 
1878  gave  up  his  labors  as  a teacher  and  came  to 
Janesville,  where  he  purchased  the  Argus  from  Mr. 
Graham,  the  former  owner,  and  this  he  has  con- 
tinued to  publish  and  edit  to  the  present  time,  the 
plant  being  located  on  Main  Street,  one  block  from 
the  depot.  In  connection  therewith  he  conducts  a 
job  printing  office,  in  which  first-class  work  of  all 
kinds  is  done.  Mr.  Henry  is  giving  his  large  audi- 
ence of  readers  a clean,  thoroughly  up-to-date  and 
reliable  newspaper,  which  champions  movements 
making  for  progress  and  is  fearless  in  its  denuncia- 
tion of  what  its  editor  considers  detrimental  to  the 
general  welfare.  It  is  known  also  as  a good  adver- 
tising medium,  reaching,  as  it  does,  a very  repre- 
sentative class  of  people.  Mr.  Henry’s  politics  are 
those  of  the  republican  party,  and  as  before  stated 
he  has  been  for  a long  period  in  public  office,  being 
postmaster  of  Janesville  for  thirty-two  years,  a mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  for  sixteen  years,  justice 
of  the  peace  for  a time,  recorder  for  three  years, 
and  the  incumbent  of  various  minor  offices.  His 
activities  in  public  life  have  been  of  a nature  calcu- 
lated to  establish  him  firmly  in  the  esteem  of  the 
people  of  this  intelligent  and  ambitious  community. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Henry  is  connected  with  Janesville 
Lodge  No.  124,  F.  & A.  M.,  and  Janesville  Lodge 
No.  128,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
he  was  formerly  a member  of  the  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
sons. He  also  holds  membership  in  the  Janesville 
Commercial  Club,  and  with  his  family  attends  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Henry  was  married  at  Janesville,  the  year  of 
his  arrival,  to  Miss  Frances  J.  Allyn,  daughter  of 
the  late  William  G.  Allyn,  who  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  a retired  farmer  of  Janesville.  The  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  born.,  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henry:  John  Harrold,  who  received  a high  school 

and  commercial  college  education,  and  is  now  book- 
keeper, stenographer  and  collector  for  the  Case 
Garage  Company ; Ethelyn,  who  married  Dr.  A.  R. 
Miner,  a practicing  dentist  of  Rochester,  Minnesota; 
and  Allyn  Harrison,  a graduate  of  Janesville  High 
School,  class  of  1912,  and  now  a student  of  Hamline 
University.  The  pleasant  Henry  family  home  is 
located  on  North  East  Main  Street,  Janesville. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1383 


Howard  M.  Berry.  The  Berry  family  have  had  a 
prominent  place  in  the  affairs  of  Southeastern  Min- 
nesota since  pioneer  days.  Members  of  two  genera- 
tions have  been  identified  with  the  bar  of  Blue  Earth 
County,  and  Howard  M.  Berry,  though  engaged  in 
practice  only  a few  years,  has  a well-defined  position 
as  a successful  member  of  the  bar  at  Mapleton. 

Howard  M.  Berry  was  born  at  Mapleton,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1887.  His  father,  Morgan  Berry,  who  was 
born  in  Wisconsin  in  1846  and  died  in  1889,  was  one 
of  the  early  members  of  the  bar  at  Mapleton.  In 
politics  he  was  a democrat.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, John  Berry,  came  out  to  Minnesota  in  the 
early  days,  and  was  one  of  the  men  who  wrested  a 
farm  from  the  wilderness  of  Martin  County.  Mor- 
gan Berry  married  Miss  Clara  Green,  whose  father, 
George  Green,  was  also  a pioneer  settler  in  Blue 
Earth  County,  and  in  1877  was  elected  a member  of 
the  State  Legislature,  serving  two  terms  as  a repub- 
lican. One  fact  which  indicates  the  prominence  of 
this  family  in  Blue  Earth  County  is  that  a new  drain- 
age ditch  recently  completed  at  a cost  of  $60,000  is 
named  the  H.  M.  Berry  Ditch. 

Howard  M.  Berry  graduated  from  the  Mapleton 
High  School  in  1907  and  continued  his  studies  in  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
taking,  the  degree  LL.  B.  in  1910.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  engaged  in  general  practice  at  Mapleton, 
and  has  enjoyed  a lberal  share  of  legal  business  in 
this  part  of  the  state.  He  is  a member  of  the  County 
and  State  Bar  associations. 

Mr.  Berry  married  Estella  McLaughlin,  who  was 
born  at  Harvey,  Iowa,  July  30,  1887.  Her  father, 
Wilson  McLaughlin,  was  for  several  years  a super- 
intendent on  the  Northwestern  Railroad,  and  is  now 
a prosperous  farmer  and  banker.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Berry  are  the  parents  of  three  children : Morgan, 
born  in  1911;  Virginia,  born  in  1912;  Muriel,  born 
in  1914.  Mr.  Berry  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  He  is  affiliated  with  Josephus 
Lodge  of  Masons,  in  which  he  has  filled  some  of  the 
chairs,  also  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  with  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  Amer- 
ica. He  is  a member  of  the  College  Masonic  frater- 
nity, the  Acacia  Fraternity. 

Hon.  Frank  G.  Kiesler,  elected  to  the  municipal 
bench  of  Waseca,  April  7,  1914,  and  elected  county 
attorney  November  3,  1914,  is  an  able  and  virile- 
product  of  the  state  which  he  has  honored  as  law- 
yer. jurist  and  progressive  citizen.  Although  still  a 
young  man,  he  has  gained  a position  and  reputation 
which  might  well  be  envied  by  men  many  years 
his  senior,  and  this  has  come  to  him  entirely  through 
his  own  efforts.  Judge  Kiesler  has  trusted  naught 
to  chance  and  owes  nothing  to  adventitious  circum- 
stance, but  tireless  endeavor  and  toil,  based  upon  a 
splendid  endowment  of  mental  strength,  have 
brought  to  him  an  honorable  leadership  in  the  ranks 
of  his  calling,  upon  the  bench,  and  in  those  move- 
ments' which  are  making  for  civic  improvement. 

Judge  Kiesler  was  born  at  Hutchinson,  McLeod 
County,  Minnesota,  May  n,  1883,  and  is  a son  of 
Frederick  and  Dorothy  (Kammann)  Kiesler,  natives 
of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  members  of  old  and 
honored  families  of  that  country.  Frederick  Kiesler 
was  born  in  1812,  and  as  a young  man  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  settling  in  Wisconsin,  from 
whence  he  moved  to  Hutchinson,  Minnesota,  in  the 
vicinity  of  which  place  he  owned  a farm.  After 
several  years  passed  in  agricultural  pursuits,  he  came 
Vol.  in— 8 


to  Hutchinson,  and  there  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life  was  the  proprietor  of  a hotel,  dying  in  1896. 
Mr.  Kiesler's  second  wife  was  Dorothy  Kammann, 
who  survives  him  and  resides  with  her  son,  Judge 
Kiesler,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: George,  who  resides  at  Hutchinson,  Minne- 
sota, and  is  station  agent  for  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
& St.  Paul  Railroad ; Catherine,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Dr.  H.  G.  Blanchard,  a practicing  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  of  Waseca;  and  Judge  Frank  G., 
of  this  review. 

The  public  schools  of  McLeod  County  furnished 
Judge  Kiesler  with  his  early  education,  this  being 
supplemented  by  courses  in  the  Hutchinson  High 
School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1902,  and 
the  Minnesota  School  of  Business,  at  Minneapolis, 
from  which  he  received  his  diploma  April  3,  1903. 
He  then  secured  a position  as  law  clerk  and  stenog- 
rapher in  the  office  of  Sen.  John  Moonan,  where 
he  remained  from  April,  1903,  until  October,  1907, 
at  Waseca,  and  was  then  stenographer  and  clerk  for 
James  F.  Babb,  at  Lewiston,  Idaho,  until  February, 
1908.  Immediately  thereafter  Mr.  Kiesler  became 
official  court  stenographer  for  the  Hon.  Thomas  S. 
Buckham,  of  the  Fifth  Minnesota  District,  an  office 
which  he  retained  until  September,  1910. 

Mr.  Kiesler  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  study 
of  law,  feeling  ready  to  actively  enter  the  profession 
in  which  he  had  determined  to  make  his  life  suc- 
cess. Accordingly  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  wher*  he  studied 
during  1911,  and  then  successfully  passed  the  state 
bar  examination  at  St.  Paul,  being  admitted  to  prac- 
tice October  12,  1912.  At  that  time  Mr.  Kiesler  at- 
tached himself  with  the  Rogers  Lumber  Company,  of 
Minneapolis,  as  assistant  credit  manager,  but  in  May, 
1913,  came  to  Waseca  and  embarked  upon  a general 
civil  and  criminal  practice,  opening  offices  in  the 
First  National  Bank  Building.  The  substantial, 
strong  and  balanced  traits  which  he  exhibited  in  his 
practice  soon  won  him  the  attention  of  his  fellow 
practitioners,  who  believed  him  admirably  adapted 
to  assume  judicial  functions.  A vacancy  occurring 
December  25,  1913,  he  was  appointed  to  the  office 
of  municipal  judge,  to  which  he  was  elected  April 
7,  1914,  and,  as  before  stated,  was  elected  county 
attorney  on  November  3,  1914.  He  has  demon- 
strated the  possession  of  that  self-control  so  requisite 
to  the  judicial  temperament  of  putting  aside  all 
personal  feelings  and  prejudices  in  order  that  jus- 
tice may  be  impartially  dispensed. 

Judge  Kiesler  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  adopted  community  and  has  been 
found  at  the  head  of  progressive  enterprises  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  general  welfare,  being  secre- 
tary of  the  Waseca  Commercial  Club  and  the  Waseca 
County  Fair.  He  is  fraternally  connected  with 
Tuscan  Lodge  No.  77,  F.  & A.  M.,  and  with  the 
Delta  Theta  Phi  Greek  letter  law  fraternity.  His 
residence  is  at  Waseca. 

Benjamin  F.  McGregor.  Though  a lawyer  by 
profession,  Benjamin  F.  McGregor  has  been  best 
known  and  most  actively  identified  with  banking  in 
Blue  Earth  County,  and  is  now  cashier  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Mapleton.  He  represents  a family  which 
was  established  in  Minnesota  the  year  the  territory 
was  admitted  to  the  Union,  and  their  associations 
have  always  been  with  useful  activities  and  with  in- 
fluential citizenship. 

Benjamin  F.  McGregor  was  born  at  Mapleton, 


1384 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Minnesota,  May  9,  1867.  His  father,  Fraser  Mc- 
Gregor, was  born  in  Scotland  in  June,  1839,  and  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  left  his  native  land  and  estab- 
lished a home  in  Minnesota  in  1858.  He  took  a 
homestead  five  miles  south  of  Mapleton  in  Blue 
Earth  County,  and  was  one  of  the  men  who  exer- 
cised their  labors  in  developing  the  wilderness  coun- 
try. During  the  Civil  war,  and  after  the  Indian 
outbreaks  in  Minnesota,  he  joined  as  a private  Com- 
pany FI  in  the  First  Mounted  Rangers  and  partici- 
pated in  the  Sibley  expedition  against  the  Indians 
in  1863.  He  was  a republican  in  politics  and  was 
affdiated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. Mrs.  Fraser  McGregor,  the  mother,  was  born 
in  Canada  in  1846,  and  is  now  living  at  Portland, 
Oregon.  There  were  four  children  in  the  family: 
Benjamin;  Archibald,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-three; Byron,  a farmer  occupying  the  old  home- 
stead in  Blue  Earth  County;  Bruce  E.,  who  is  prom- 
inent as  a lawyer  and  in  politics  in  the  State  of 
Washington. 

Benjamin  F.  McGregor  grew  up  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Blue  Earth  County,  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  country  schools,  later  attended  the  Man- 
kato Normal  School,  and  also  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1895,  but  has  never  engaged  in  active 
practice.  Early  in  his  career  he  became  identified 
with  banking  and  for  a number  of  years  has  been 
associated  with  the  State  Bank  of  Mapleton  as 
cashier  and  the  principal  manager  of  that  solid  insti- 
tution. 

Mr.  McGregor  was  married  in  1899  t0  Catherine 
Brisbane.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children : 
Fraser,  aged  fourteen;  and  Janet,  aged  eight.  Mr. 
McGregor  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order  and 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Herbert  C.  Hotaling.  One  of  the  men  who  have 
long  been  identified  with  the  newspaper  business  in 
Southern  Minnesota,  Herbert  C.  Hotaling  is  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Mapleton  Enterprise  and  is  a 
former  president  of  the  Minnesota  State  Editorial 
Association. 

The  Hotalings  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers 
at  Mankato,  where  Herbert  C.  was  born  August  5, 
1865.  His  parents  were  Benjamin  F.  and  Mary 
(Cleveland)  Hotaling.  His  father  was  born  in  Cay- 
uga County,  New  York,  June  12,  1826.  and  his  mother 
was  born  at  Hector,  Tompkins  County,  New  York, 
June  22,  1828.  His  father  on  coming  out  to  Min- 
nesota established  the  first  hardware  store  at  Has- 
tings and  also  at  Mankato,  and  was  a successful 
business  man.  During  the  war  and  the  time  of  the 
Indian  troubles  in  Minnesota  he  served  as  first  lieu- 
tenant with  the  Mankato  Home  Guard,  and  helped 
defend  that  town  during  the  Indian  outbreak  of 
1862.  His  death  occurred  in  1890.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church  and  was  affiliated  with 
Mankato  Lodge  No.  12,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  in  the  early 
days.  There  were  seven  children  in  the  Hotaling 
family.  The  living  children  are:  Albert  C.,  Frank 

C.,  Fred,  Herbert  and  John,  while  the  two  deceased 
are  Charles  and  Emma. 

Herbert  C.  Hotaling  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  Mankato  Normal  School.  He 
learned  the  printing  business  by  six  years  in  the 
Review  office  at  Mankato  under  the  veteran  editor 
and  publisher,  J.  C.  Wise,  and  in  1888  came  to  Ma- 
pleton and  established  the  Enterprise,  the  destinies 
of  which  he  has  since  controlled.  He  has  built  up  a 


successful  business,  and  besides  his  publishing  plant 
is  also  vice  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Mapleton  and  has  connected  himself  in  a public 
spirited  manner  with  all  other  movements  of  local 
importance.  Besides  serving  as  president  of  the 
State  Editorial  Association  he  is  also  one  of  the  six 
members  on  the  executive  committee  of  that  associa- 
tion, as  well  as  of  the  National  Editorial  Association. 

Mr.  Hotaling  married  Janie  Mann,  who  is  a past 
president  of  the  State  Assembly  of  the  Order  of 
Rebekahs.  The  Hotalings  built  the  second  brick 
house  in  Mankato,  and  were  among  the  few  who 
remained  in  Mankato  during  the  period  of  Indian 
hostilities.  They  opened  their  home  to  the  many 
refugees  from  the  country  around.  Mr.  Hotaling  is 
affiliated  with  Josephus  Lodge  No.  128,  A.  F.  & A. 
M.,  with  the  Minneapolis  Consistory  No.  2 of  the 
Scottish  Rite,  with  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic- 
Shrine  at  Minneapolis,  and  with  Mankato  Lodge 
No.  225,  B.  P.  O.  E.  He  has  filled  the  chairs  in  the 
Elks  lodge,  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Marius  J.  Pihl.  Now  serving  as  vice  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Wells,  of  which  he  was 
president  for  about  nineteen  years,  until  January  1, 
1914,  Marius  J.  Pihl  has  been  identified  with  this 
section  of  Southern  Minnesota  for  the  past  twenty 
years,  and  has  many  important  interests  both  finan- 
cial and  with  the  civic  and  social  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Pihl  has  had  an  interesting  career  of 
rugged  experience,  and  came  to  America  in  young 
manhood  with  less  than  nothing,  and  all  he  has 
acquired  is  due  to  the  resources  of  his  own  character 
and  his  steady  industry. 

Marius  J.  Pihl  was  born  at  Bornholm,  an  island 
possession  of  the  Kingdom  of  Denmark,  in  the 
Baltic  Sea,  December  8,  1847.  His  father,  Andreas 
Pihl,  was  born  in  the  same  place  in  1814  and  died 
there  in  1873,  being  a saddle  maker  by  trade.  His 
wife,  Julia  Anna  Rohman,  was  a native  of  Denmark, 
and  after  the  death  of  her  husband  came  to  America 
and  died  and  is  buried  in  Minneapolis. 

Marius  J.  Pihl  was  educated  in  his  native  locality, 
and  on  leaving  school  went  to>  sea  and  became  a 
sailor.  In  1866  he  left  his  native  land  and  came  to 
the  United  States.  On  account  of  sickness  on  board 
the  ship,  more  than  one-tenth  of  the  passengers  died 
of  cholera.  Mr.  Pihl  Contracted  the  disease,  which 
left  him  so  weak  that  he  had  to  crawl  on  his  hands 
and  knees  to  get  on  deck.  He  finally  arrived  in 
Chicago  on  July  10,  1866,  where  he  found  work  as  a 
sailor  on  the  Great  Lakes,  and  continued  that  work 
until  1868.  On  arriving  at  Chicago  his  financial  re- 
sources were  represented  by  a debt  of  $50,  which 
was  soon  paid,  and  it  was  by  two  years  of  heavy 
work  as  a sailor  that  he  got  the  nucleus  of  his  subse- 
quent competence.  In  1868  Mr.  Pihl  began  learning 
the  stone  and  marble  trade,  and  he  supported  himself 
by  that  form  of  mechanical  labor  until  1876.  His 
ambitions  were  for  larger  things,  and  an  education 
was  necessary.  In  1876  he  entered  the  Northwestern 
University  and  was  a student  there  for  two  years, 
until  the  failure  of  a bank  in  which  he  had  his  sav- 
ings obliged  him  to  become  a wage  earner  again. 
Soon  afterward  Mr.  Pihl  became  active  in  the  min- 
istry of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  in  1886 
throat  trouble  obliged  him  to  give  up  his  profession. 
During  the  following  year  he  was  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business,  and  then  for  eight  years  was  in 
the  lumber  business  at  Forest  City,  Iowa. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1385 


Mr.  Pihl  came  to  Wells,  Minnesota,  in  1895,  buying 
an  interest  in  the  First  National  Bank,  which  was 
organized  in  1887  and  acquired  a national  charter 
in  1892.  He  was  elected  president  of  this  institu- 
tion, and  for  nearly  twenty  years  directed  its  affairs 
with  such  success  that  it  is  now  one  of  the  most 
stable  and  popular  financial  institutions  in  Faribault 
County.  In  January,  1914,  in  line  with  his  intention 
to  curtail  his  business  activities  and  gradually  retire, 
Mr.  Pihl  sold  most  of  his  interest  in  the  bank  and 
accepted  the  position  of  vice  president,  while  C.  H. 
Draper,  former  cashier,  was  elected  president.  Mr. 
Pihl  is  a stockholder  and  director  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Wells  and  in  the  State  Bank  of  Mata- 
wan,  and  is  interested  in  a number  of  banks,  includ- 
ing the  Citizens  National  Bank  of  Nampa,  Idaho. 

Both  in  Iowa  and  in  Minnesota  Mr.  Pihl  has  been  a 
public  spirited  and  useful  citizen.  He  is  a republican 
in  politics.  At  Forest  City,  Iowa,  he  served  on  the 
council  and  is  a member  of  the  school  board,  and  has 
also  been  a member  of  the  school  board  at  Wells. 
He  is  a trustee  and  steward  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  was  a member  of  the  general  con- 
ference of  his  church  in  1896  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Since  1870  he  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  joined  in  Chicago  and  being  now 
a member  of  Wells  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.  In  1871 
at  Chicago  he  joined  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
now  belongs  to  that  order  in  Wells. 

In  1885  at  Forest  City,  Iowa,  Mr.  Pihl  married 
Miss  Patra  Joyce  of  Forest  City.  They  have  one 
child,  Alice  H.,  who  is  a graduate  of  Oberlin  College 
Conservatory  of  Music  in  Ohio,  spent  one  year  as 
teacher  of  vocal  in  Yankton,  for  three  years  taught 
both  vocal  and  instrumental  in  Pillsbury  Academy  at 
Owatonna,  and  now  lives  at  home. 

Leonard  N.  Olds.  The  oldest  established  bank  in 
Faribault  County  is  the  Wells  National  Bank,  which 
began  as  a private  institution  in  1873,  was  incorpo- 
rated under  a state  charter  in  1896,  and  has  been 
a national  bank  since  1903.  Its  forty  years  of  prac- 
tically uninterrupted  prosperity  gives  it  special  dis- 
tinction among  the  banks  of  Southern  Minnesota. 
To  a large  degree  the  prosperity  and  solid  position 
of  the  bank  during  the  last  ten  years  has  been  cred- 
ited to  its  able  cashier,  Leonard  N.  Olds,  whose  title 
as  cashier  does  not  convey  his  complete  relationship 
with  the  institution,  since  he  is  practically  its  execu- 
tive and  manager.  It  has  been  during  his  adminis- 
tration that  the  bank  has  made  its  greatest  progress. 

Leonard  N.  Olds  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
New  York,  July  25,  1874,  and  comes  of  a family 
that  emigrated  from  England  and  settled  in  New 
York  State  during  the  colonial  period,  one  or  more 
members  of  the  family  having  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  His  father,  L.  M.  Olds,  was  born  in 
New  York  State  in  1824  and  died  in  California  in 
1874.  He  had  sold  out  his  business  and  financial 
interests  in  New  York  State,  and  moved  to  Califor- 
nia to  acquire  a new  home  and  form  new  business 
associations,  but  died  there  in  the  same  year  that  his 
son  Leonard  was  born.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Jane  Nelson  Olds,  was  born  in  New  York 
City  in  1842,  and  died  at  De  Smet,  South  Dakota,  in 
1909.  After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  she  mar- 
ried D.  McQuarie,  and  they  had  three  children,  two 
living,  Raymond  and  John,  both  of  Elmore,  Minne- 
sota. John  is  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Elmore.  In  1882  she  had  moved  to  Forest  City, 


Iowa,  where  Leonard  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1891  came  to  Wells,  Minnesota. 

At  Wells  Leonard  N.  Olds  continued  in  the  high 
school  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  then  began 
a career  of  self-support.  His  first  effort  was  as  a 
school  teacher,  after  which  he  clerked  in  a drug 
store,  and  then  had  a drug  business  of  his  own  until 
1903.  In  that  year  Mr.  Olds  entered  the  Wells  Na- 
tional Bank  as  cashier,  and  has  since  assumed  the  en- 
tire responsibility  of  its  management.  The  president 
of  the  Wells  National  Bank  is  C.  L.  Olson  of  Man- 
kato. The  Wells  National  Bank  has  a capital  stock 
of  $30,000,  with  surplus  of  $10,000.  When  Mr.  Olds 
began  his  career  as  cashier  of  the  institution  its 
deposits  were  a little  over  $50,000.  Its  subsequent 
growth  and  prosperity  are  reflected  in  the  fact  that 
the  deposits  now  total  more  than  $473,000. 

Mr.  Olds  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  for  several 
years  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Wells  School  Board. 
Fraternally  his  associations  are:  Doric  Lodge  No. 

87,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past  master  by 
service;  Wells  Chapter  No.  80,  R.  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  a past  high  priest;  Apollo  Commandery  No.  14, 
K.  T.,  at  Albert  Lea;  Osman  Shrine;  Wells  Lodge 
No.  211,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; and  Wells  Lodge  No.  190, 
Knights  of  Pythias ; also  Walnut  Lake  Camp,  M.  W. 
A.,  at  Wells.  Mr.  Olds  is  senior  warden  in  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Wells.  In  1900  he  was  married 
at  Wells  to  Miss  Grace  Barnes,  daughter  of  George 
A.  Barnes,  now  a retired  merchant  at  Wells. 

Charles  E.  Young.  An  educator  of  more  than 
twenty  years’  active  experience  in  Minnesota,  Charles 
E.  Young  as  superintendent  of  the  schools  at  Wells 
is  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  most  interesting  public 
school  centers  in  the  state,  and  through  his  work  is 
exercising  a larger  influence  on  the  life  of  the  com- 
munity than  some  men  of  wider  newspaper  reputa- 
tion. Mr.  Young  is  a thoroughly  modern  educator. 
Not  so  many  years  ago  the  chief  aim  of  the  teacher 
was  to  instruct  and  to  maintain  discipline,  but  in  this 
as  in  many  other  professions  the  scope  and  object 
have  been  almost  revolutionized.  Mr.  Young  is  a 
man  of  thorough  and  liberal  education,  and  his  suc- 
cess has  been  due  to  the  fact  that  he  has  been  able  to 
stimulate  young  men  and  young  women  to  work  for 
themselves  and  to  train  themselves  for  lives  of  use- 
fulness. Mr.  Young  is  a thorough  exponent  of  the 
principle  that  education  is  as  much  for  the  mechanic 
and  farmer  as  for  the  doctor,  and  that  its  essential 
purpose  is  not  only  to  make  a living  but  to  make  life 
worth  living. 

Charles  E.  Young  was  born  in  Chicago  January  5, 
1871.  He  represents  good  old  American  stock,  and 
his  original  American  ancestry  was  Edward  Young, 
who  came  from  Scotland  and  settled  in  Connecticut 
about  1730.  His  father,  Charles  E.  Young,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  New  York  State  in  1833  and  died  in  Minne- 
apolis in  1893.  He  came  west  and  settled  in  Chicago 
with  his  parents  in  1846,  and  in  1871  came  out  to 
Minneapolis.  He  was  a oublisher,  printer  and  binder. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  B of 
the  Twelfth  Wisconsin  Regiment  of  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  served  nearly  two  years  until  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.  His  widow,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Harriet  Stearns,  was  born  in  Rochester, 
New  York,  and  now  lives  in  Minneapolis.  Charles 
E?  Young,  Jr.,  was  the  older  of  their  two  children, 
and  Emily  is  the  widow  of  E.  M.  Pillow  and  lives 
with  her  mother. 

Professor  Young  was  educated  in  the  public 


1386 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


schools  of  Minneapolis,  was  graduated  from  the 
Central  High  School  in  1889,  and  in  1893  finished  the 
classical  course  in  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Mr. 
Young  is  a Phi  Beta  Kappa,  the  scholarship  frater- 
nity, and  also  belongs  to  the  Psi  Upsilon  College  fra- 
ternity. Since  graduating  from  the  university  Mr. 
Young  has  taken  post-graduate  work  there,  and 
also  spent  terms  in  eastern  colleges. 

His  first  position  as  a teacher  was  as  principal  of 
the  high  school  at  Brainerd  for  three  years,  from 
1893  to  1896.  From  1896  to  1901  he  was  superin- 
tendent of  schools  at  Henderson  in  Sibley  County, 
from  1901  to  1905  was  superintendent  at  Luverne 
in  Rock  County,  and  from  1905  to  1909  was  super- 
intendent at  Hibbing.  Mr.  Young  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  public  schools  of  Wells  as  superintend- 
ent since  1909.  Wells  has  two  large  schoolhouses, 
and  the  faculty  of  teachers  aggregate  twenty-three. 
The  modern  high  school  building,  where  Superintend- 
ent Young  has  his  offices,  is  located  on  A Street,  and 
can  accommodate  700  pupils  in  the  various  grades. 
This  building  was  erected  in  1900. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  and  valuable  feature 
of  the  Wells  Public  School  system  is  the  experi- 
mental farm,  conducted  as  an  adjunct  of  the  high 
school.  The  city  has  invested  more  than  seven  thou- 
sand dollars  in  this  farm,  and  the  scholars  cultivate 
over  forty-five  acres.  This  farm  not  only  furnishes 
means  of  instruction  to  the  future  farmers,  stock 
growers  and  mechanics  of  the  state,  but,  surprising 
though  it  may  seem,  is  a self-supporting  institution. 
The  high  school  students  raise  a large  variety  of 
staple  Minnesota  crops,  including  considerable  quan- 
tities of  seed  corn,  and  carry  out  extensive  experi- 
ments in  the  testing  of  the  soil.  Under  the  superin- 
tendent they  also  have  a dairy  farm,  with  blooded 
cattle  and  hogs  and  thoroughbred  horses.  Eighty- 
five  boys  in  the  high  school  are  registered  in  the  agri- 
cultural course,  and  during  1914  the  products  from 
the  experimental  farm  represented  a value  of  about 
fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  Wells  experimental 
farm  was  the  second  to  be  established  as  a direct  ad- 
junct of  the  high  school  course  in  Minnesota.  The 
high  school  district  comprises  a large  amount  of 
territory  outside  the  city  proper  of  Wells,  taking  in 
much  of  the  eastern  portion  of  the  County  of  Fari- 
bault. 

Superintendent  Young  is  a member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  is  affiliated  with  Wells 
Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  Hibbing  Consistory, 
Scottish  Rite  Masons,  and  also  with  the  Royal 
League.  In  1897  in  Minneapolis  he  married  Miss 
Caroline  Morgan,  of  Minneapolis.  Her  father  was 
at  one  time  comptroller  of  New  York  State,  and  his 
ancestry  and  that  of  J.  Pierpont  Morgan  came  to- 
gether back  in  colonial  times.  Mrs.  Young  and  her 
two  daughters  are  members  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  the  Colonial  Dames.  These 
daughters  are:  Carol,  a student  in  the  Wells  High 

School,  as  is  also  her  sister  Muriel. 

Hon.  Patrick  R.  Vail.  One  of  the  men  of 
prominence  in  the  iron  regions  of  Northern  Minne- 
sota and  Michigan  was  the  late  Patrick  R.  Vail, 
whose  active  career  brought  him  the  substantial 
proofs  of  material  prosperity  and  the  honors  of 
public  life,  and  whose  name  deserves  the  permanent 
tribute  of  a memorial  record  in  the  history  of  this 
state.  Mr.  Vail  was  a resident  of  Minnesota  more 
than  a quarter  of  a century. 

Patrick  Roger  Vail  was  born  in  Shulesberg,  La- 


fayette County,  Wisconsin,  March  20,  1859,  and  died 
at  his  home  in  Virginia,  Minnesota,  January  30, 
1913,  in  his  fifty-fourth  year.  His  life  was  one  of 
strenuous  self-accomplishment  and  advancement. 
His  parents  died  when  he  was  six  years  old  and 
he  then  went  to  the  home  of  an  uncle  at  Ontonagon, 
Michigan.  He  was  started  on  his  career  of  self- 
supporting  industry  after  only  a common  school 
education.  From  Ontonagon,  when  a young  man. 
he  went  to  the  Menominee  Iron  Range,  where  he 
engaged  for  a short  time  in  mining,  proved  his  fit- 
ness for  more  important  responsibilities,  and  also 
at  an  early  age  became  identified  with  local  politics. 

From  the  time  he  located  at  Ely,  Minnesota,  in 
1887,  Mr.  Vail  had  a record  of  continually  increasing 
influence  and  prosperity.  . He  acquired  extensive 
business  interests  in  Northern  Minnesota,  had  a 
genius  for  making  friendships,  was  well  known 
throughout  three  states,  and  possessed  a considerable 
fortune  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  1894  Mr.  Vail  was  elected  mayor  of  Ely,  and 
in  1896  was  sent  to  the  State  Legislature  from  the 
Fifty-fourth  District.  After  that  for  several  years 
he  was  out  of  politics,  giving  all  his  time  to  mining 
operations  and  other  affairs.  He  erected  and  organ- 
ized the  business  of  the  Virginia  Brewing  Company 
and  was  president  of  that  business  at  Virginia  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  His  home  was  in  Virginia  for 
a number  of  years.  In  1906  he  reentered  politics 
and  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  the  Forty-ninth 
District,  retiring  at  the  end  of  a four-year  term. 
Senator  Vail  was  a republican  and  long  a familiar 
figure  in  party  councils. 

On  March  21,  1888,  at  Ironwood,  Michigan,  Sena- 
tor Vail  married  Mary  Gleason,  of  Ironwood.  Mrs. 
Vail  and  four  children,  Lenore,  Leo,  Nicholas  and 
Byron,  survive.  The  late  Patrick  R.  Vail  was 
affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  of  which  he  was  a life  member,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  was  a member 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  is  well  remembered  by 
all  his  associates  not  only  for  his  success  in  business 
but  also  for  his  philanthropy  and  charity,  though 
much  that  he  did  was  done  with  the  quiet  lack  of 
ostentation  that  leaves  no  record  except  in  the 
hearts  of  the  recipient.  He  possessed  a thorough 
knowledge  and  experience  of  men,  and  as  he  had 
strength  and  resources  above  the  average  man  he 
always  played  the  game  fair,  whether  in  business 
or  in  politics.  Probably  no  man  in  the  Iron  Range 
had  more  stanch  friends  than  the  late  Patrick  R. 
Vail.  In  the  cemetery  at  Virginia  has  been  erected 
one  of  the  finest  monuments  in  the  state  to  his 
memory,  a symbol  of  what  he  represented  to  his 
devoted  family  and  what  he  stood  for  in  his  indi- 
vidual life. 

John  H.  Moore.  Manager  and  treasurer  of  the 
Wells  Flour  Milling  Company.  John  H.  Moore  is  a 
native  son  of  Minnesota,  and  for  nearly  thirty  years 
has  been  identified  with  the  grain  business,  with 
banking  and  with  public  affairs,  at  his  native  town 
of  Jordan,  at  Shakopee  and  in  Wells. 

John  H.  Moore  was  born  at  Jordan.  Minnesota, 
May  23.  1867.  His  father,  Henry  Moore,  was  born 
in  Schleswig-Holstein,  provinces  of  Denmark  at 
that  time,  but  which  subsequently  were  wrested  away 
bv  Prussia  and  are  now  a part  of  the  German  Empire. 
His  birth  occurred  in  183a  and  he  died  at  Jordan, 
Minnesota,  in  1888.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  emi- 
grating from  his  native  land  to  the  United  States,  he 


5* 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1387 


located  first  in  Illinois,  and  later  lived  in  Minnesota, 
from  which  state  he  enlisted  almost  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Civil  war  in  the  Fifth  Iowa  Cavalry. 
Among  other  battles  he  participated  in  the  strug- 
gle at  Shiloh  in  1862,  where  he  was  severely 
wounded,  and  on  account  of  that  wound  and  a wound 
received  in  another  engagement  was  mustered  out 
after  nine  months’  service.  Following  his  army 
career  he  became  a pioneer  in  Southern  Minnesota, 
locating  at  Jordan  in  1862.  His  enterprise  there  was 
as  a sawmill  man,  and  he  continued  a lumber  manu- 
facturer and  dealer  until  his  death.  Henry  Moore 
married  Mary  Feitler,  who  was  born  in  1843  m the 
Duchv  of  Luxemburg,  came  to  Minnesota  and  was 
married  at  Jordan,  where  her  death  occurred  in  1888. 
The  children  were:  John  H. ; Henry,  who  is  a car- 

penter and  builder  living  in  California;  Joseph  F.,  a 
cigar  manufacturer  at  North  Yakima,  Washington, 
Anna,  who  lives  in  Portland,  Oregon,  and  is  the  wife 
of  Hamilton  D.  Wagnon,  an  insurance  man. 

John  H.  Moore  grew  up  in  Jordan,  attended  the 
public  schools  there,  and  also  took  a business  course 
in  a college  at  St.  Paul.  When  nineteen,  the  same 
ao-e  at  which  his  father  had  left  Denmark  and  come 
to  the  New  World,  he  embarked  in  his  business 
career  as  clerk  in  a grocery  store  at  St.  Paul,  re- 
maining there  two  years.  After  that  experience  Mr. 
Moore  became  a shipping  clerk  and  wheat  buyer 
for  the  Jordan  Mills,  and  ten  years  there  gave  him 
his  permanent  commercial  vocation.  His  election  to 
the  office  of  county  auditor  of  Scott  County  turned 
his  attention  to'  public  affairs,  and  he  filled  that 
office  and  had  his  home  at  Shakopee,  the  county 
seat,  for  twelve  years.  After  leaving  that  office  Mr. 
Moore  had  charge  of  the  wheat  department  at  the 
New  Prague  Mills,  2^  years,  and  in  1912  came 
to  Wells  as  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Wells 
Flour  Milling  Company,  which  is  a branch  of  the 
New  Prague  Mills.  The  mills  at  Wells  have  a 
capacity  of  1,000  barrels  a day. 

Mr.  Moore  is  a director  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Shakopee  and  in  the  People  s State  Bank  at  Jor- 
dan. Besides  his  official  service  as  county  auditor 
in  Scott  County,  he  served  as  alderman  at  Jordan, 
was  a member  of  the  park  board  at  Shakopee,  and  is 
a public  spirited  citizen  who  has  successfully  com- 
bined substantial  business  achievement  and  disinter- 
ested service  to  the  public.  Mr.  Moore  is  a member 
of  the  Catholic  Church  and  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  In  1905  at  Shakopee  he  married  Miss 
Barbara  Lies,  daughter  of  Matt  Lies,  now  deceased, 
who  was  an  early  settler  of  Shakopee.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moore  have  one  daughter,  Evelyn  Margaret,  a stu- 
dent in  the  public  schools  at  Wells. 

Leander  R.  Johnson.  Representing  a family  that 
was  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Minnesota,  Lean- 
der R.  Johnson  is  himself  a native  Minnesotan,  was 
successfully  identified  with  educational  work  in  this 
state  for  about  seven  years,  and  since  1907  has  been 
cashier  of  the  Easton  State  Bank.  Mr.  Johnson  is 
one  of  the  keen,  resourceful  young  business  men  of 
Faribault  County  and  has  a position  of  distinct 
leadership  in  commercial  affairs  at  Easton. 

Leander  R.  Johnson  was  born  at  Havana  in  Steele 
County,  Minnesota,  November  29,  1876.  His  grand- 
father, Louis  K.  Johnson,  was  a native  of  Norway, 
came  to  the  United  States  after  his  marriage,  located 
in  Madison.  Wisconsin,  and  in  1855  brought  his 
family  to  Minnesota  and  located  as  a pioneer  at 


Havana.  J.  L.  Johnson,  father  of  the  Easton  banker, 
was  born  in  Madison,  Wisconsin,  in  1853,  lived  in 
Minnesota  a number  of  years,  but  finally  returned  to 
Wisconsin,  and  died  at  Amery  in  that  state  in  1908. 
He  married  Bertha  Nelson,  who  was  also  a native 
of  Madison,  Wisconsin,  and  now  lives  at  Amery. 
The  children  are  : Leander  R. ; Gertrude,  widow  of 

L.  Q.  Olcott,  a banker,  and  her  home  is  now  at 
Amery,  Wisconsin ; Theodore,  whose  home  is  in 
Boise  City,  Idaho;  and  Maybelle,  wife  of  Dr.  H.  E. 
Mooney,  a physician  at  Amery,  Wisconsin. 

Leander  R.  Johnson  grew  up  at  Havana  in  Steele 
County,  but  attended  the  public  schools  of  Owatonna, 
near  his  home,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1896.  Mr.  Johnson  prepared  for  his  career  by  a 
liberal  education,  and  in  1899  was  graduated  from  the 
Mankato  Normal  School  and  was  a student  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota  during  1900.  His  work  as  a 
teacher  began  at  Wabasha  as  principal  of  the  schools, 
and  he  was  in  active  work  along  that  line  in  Fari- 
bault County  for  seven  years. 

In  1907  Mr.  Johnson  accepted  the  position  of 
cashier  of  the  Easton  State  Bank,  being  the  manager 
chiefly  responsible  to  the  directors.  The  Easton 
State  Bank  was  established  in  1903,  and  has  a capi- 
tal stock  of  $10,000,  while  its  surplus  is  approxi- 
mately the  same  as  its  capital. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
collector  of  funds  for  his  church.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  are  with  Doric  Lodge  No.  87,  A.  F.  & A. 

M. ,  and  with  Easton  Camp  No.  2370  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  Besides  his  relations  with 
Easton  as  a banker  he  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  Company  and  treasurer  of  the  Barber 
Creamery  Company  at  that  place. 

In  July,  1909,  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Johnson 
married  Miss  Rosa  B.  Glagow,  daughter  of  Herman 
Glagow,  now  deceased,  formerly  a hardware  mer- 
chant at  Marshall,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John- 
son have  two  children : Helen  E.  and  Homer  Ulysses. 

Frank  L.  Durgin,  M.  D.  One  of  the  oldest  prac- 
ticing physicians  and  surgeons  in  Faribault  County 
in  point  of  continuous  residence  is  Frank  L.  Durgin, 
whose  home  has  been  in  Winnebago  for  a quarter 
of  a century.  Doctor  Durgin  graduated  in  medicine 
more  than  thirty  years  ago,  practiced  for  several 
years  back  in  Maine,  his  native  state,  and  since  com- 
ing to  Minnesota  has  enjoyed  the  relations  of  the 
successful  practitioner  and  of  a public  spirited  citi- 
zen, having  served  his  locality  in  public  office  and 
having  a well-secured  interest  in  business. 

Frank  L.  Durgin  was  born  in  Saco,  Maine,  De- 
cember 23,  1851,  and  belongs  to  families  that  have 
been  represented  in  New  England  since  colonial 
times.  His  parents  were  O.  I.  and  Lydia  (Gowen) 
Durgin.  The  Durgins  came  from  the  north  of  Eng- 
land and  located  in  the  Colonies  many  years  before 
the  Revolution.  It  is  said  that  the  first  white  child 
born  in  the  Town  of  Gorham,  Maine,  was  a direct 
ancestor  of  Doctor  Durgin.  Doctor  Durgin  through 
his  mother  is  of  Scotch  descent  and  the  family  be- 
fore leaving  Scotland  was  known  as  MacGowen. 
They  also  came  before  the  Revolution.  O.  I.  Dur- 
gin, the  doctor’s  father,  was  born  in  Saco,  Maine, 
in  1822  and  died  in  1904.  He  was  a man  of  more 
than  ordinary  prominence,  served  in  the  LTnited 
States  Secret  Service,  and  was  sheriff  of  his  county 
in  Maine  for  forty  years.  In  republican  politics  he 
was  prominent  and  left  an  honored  name  in  the 


1388 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


community.  His  wife  was  born  in  Saco  in  1822  and 
died  there  in  1891.  Doctor  Durgin  is  the  first  of 
their  three  children;  James  A.  is  a brick  manufac- 
turer at  Saco;  and  Ida  L.  is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Still- 
man, who  is  associated  with  James  A.  Durgin  in  the 
brick  business. 

Dr.  Frank  L.  Durgin  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  at  Saco  in  1870,  and  somewhat  later  moved  to 
Michigan  and  attended  Hillsdale  College  until  grad- 
uating A.  B.  in  1876.  His  medical  studies  were  pur- 
sued in  the  Western  Reserve  University  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  which  graduated  him  with  the  class  of 
1882  and  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Doctor 
Durgin  several  years  later  took  post-graduate  studies 
in  the  New  York  Polyclinic.  From  1882  to  1889  he 
was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  his  native 
state,  and  in  the  latter  year  moved  west  and  located 
in  Winnebago,  Minnesota.  With  natural  ability, 
thorough  training,  and  long  experience,  Doctor  Dur- 
gin is  now  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  Faribault  County.  His  offices  are  in  the 
Sharp  Block.  Doctor  Durgin  is  a member  of  the 
County,  State  and  Southern  Minnesota  Medical  so- 
cieties, and  of  the  American  Medical  Association. 

Doctor  Durgin  served  one  term  as  mayor  of  Win- 
nebago and  for  several  years  was  a member  of  the 
village  council  and  is  now  chairman  of  the  health 
board  and  also  a member  of  the  school  board  and 
a trustee  of  Parker  College.  Doctor  Durgin  has 
banking  interests  and  is  a director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Winnebago  and  a director  of  the  Min- 
nesota State  Bank  of  Amboy.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican  and  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  is  past  master  by  service  of  Blue  Earth  Valley 
Lodge  No.  27,  A.  F.  & A.  M. 

Doctor  Durgin  was  married  in  Michigan  in  1877, 
the  year  following  his  graduation  from  Hillsdale 
College,  to  Miss  Lucy  M.  Phillips,  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Phillips,  now  deceased,  and  at  one 
time  a missionary  to  India.  Doctor  Durgin  had  one 
child,  Donald,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

Fred  E.  PIadley.  The  publisher  of  the  Winnebago 
Enterprise  has  been  identified  with  that  journal  since 
boyhood,  first  as  a reporter,  and  for  the  past  ten 
years  as  proprietor  and  editor.  Mr.  Hadley  has 
spent  most  of  his  life  in  Winnebago,  and  has  varied 
relations  with  the  business,  civic  and  social  affairs  of 
Faribault  County. 

Fred  E.  Hadley  was  born  in  Humboldt  County, 
California,  December  22,  1880.  The  Hadley  family 
came  from  England  and  settled  in  Massachusetts 
many  years  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  There 
were  five  brothers  who  emigrated  from  the  old  coun- 
try to  the  new,  and  their  descendants  are  now  scat- 
tered all  over  the  United  States.  It  was  an  old 
and  substantial  family  back  in  New  England,  and 
several  of  its  members  served  as  soldiers  on  the 
American  side  during  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Hadley’s 
father  was  W.  E.  Hadley,  who  was  born  at  Fort 
Fairfield  in  Aroostook  County,  Maine,  in  1854,  aud 
died  in  San  Diego,  California,  in  1909.  Prior  to  his 
marriage  he  had  moved  out  to  Humboldt  County, 
California,  and  a little  later  located  in  San  Diego  and 
for  twenty-three  years  was  proprietor  of  the  Horton 
House.  He  was  an  active  republican.  W.  E.  Hadley 
married  Emma  Williams,  a native  of  Humboldt 
County,  California.  Of  their  two  children,  the 
daughter  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Roy  Anthony  of  San 
Diego,  California,  her  husband  being  city  salesman 
for  the  Hazard  Gould  Hardware  Company. 


Fred  E.  Hadley  began  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  San  Diego,  but  when  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age  his  mother  came  to  Winnebago,  Minne- 
sota, and  here  his  instruction  was  continued  through 
the  high  school  and  also  in  Parker  College  of  Winne- 
bago. Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  Mr. 
Hadley  entered  the  office  of  the  Winnebago  Enter- 
prise as  a reporter,  and  in  1903  bought  the  paper  from 
Blackwell  & McColley,  and  has  since  been  its  pub- 
lisher and  proprietor.  The  Enterprise  has  long  been 
one  of  the  influential  journals  of  Faribault  County, 
having  been  established  in  1892.  It  has  been  con- 
sistently identified  with  republican  politics,  and  has 
a large  circulation  throughout  the  county.  The  plant 
and  offices  are  located  on  Main  Street. 

Mr.  Hadley  himself  has  been  interested  in  politics 
as  a republican,  and  is  a member  of  the  State  Cen- 
tral Committee.  Besides  his  newspaper  business  he 
is  a stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Win- 
nebago and  in  the  National  Bank  of  Commerce  at 
St.  Paul.  He  enjoys  relations  with  various  frater- 
nities and  is  particularly  well  known  in  Masonic 
circles.  Mr.  Hadley  affiliates  with  Blue  Earth  Valley 
Lodge  No.  27,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; with  Consistory  No.  1 
of  the  thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite;  and  with 
Zuhrah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  which  he 
has  been  assistant  director.  He  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Winne- 
bago. 

Mr.  Hadley  was  married  in  Delavan,  Minnesota, 
in  1905,  to  Miss  Emma  Holt.  Her  father,  O.  A. 
Holt,  is  postmaster  at  Delavan. 

Andrew  Nelson  Eckstrom.  The  profession  of 
law  has  probably  been  the  main  highway  over  which 
more  men  of  merit  and  ability  have  advanced  to 
prominence  in  this  country  than  any  other  road,  and 
it  is  not,  therefore,  unusual  to  find  among  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  a community  a member  of  the  bar. 
Andrew  Nelson  Eckstrom,  one  of  the  leading  law- 
yers of  Warren,  and  since  1910  county  attorney  of 
Marshall  County,  is  one  who  has  won  success  and 
prominence  in  his  chosen  calling  through  the  force 
of  his  own  ability  and  effort,  for  he  received  no 
unusual  advantages  in  his  youth,  of  either  an  edu- 
cation or  financial  nature.  He  is  a native  of  Sweden, 
and  was  born  August  31,  1878,  a son  of  Nels  and 
Catherine  (Pearson)  Eckstrom. 

Mr.  Eckstrom  was  seven  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  the  United  States  by  his  parents,  the 
family  settling  at  St.  Peter,  Minnesota.  In 
that  city  the  youth  grew  up,  attending  the  public 
schools  and  eventually  entering  Gustavus  Adolphus 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1899.  For 
the  three  years  that  followed  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  and  during  this  time  began  to  apply 
himself  to  the  study  of  law,  in  1902  entering  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
from  which  he  was  duly  graduated  in  1905  with 
the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws.  Having  definitely 
decided  upon  Warren  as  his  field  of  practice,  he  at 
once  came  to  this  city,  opened  an  office,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  practice,  and  since  that  time  has 
been  successful  in  building  up  a very  desirable  and 
representative  professional  business.  His  practice 
is  broad  and  general  in  its  character,  Mr.  Eckstrom 
being  equally  at  home  in  all  branches  of  his  profes- 
sion, and  at  various  times  he  has  been  connected 
with  some  important  cases  which  have  come  before 
the  county  and  state  courts.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Commercial  Law  League  and  the  American  Law 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1389 


League,  and  has  a high  reputation  among  his  fellow 
practitioners.  In  1910  Mr.  Eckstrom  announced  his 
candidacy  for  the  office  of  county  attorney  of  Mar- 
shall County,  to  which  he  was  elected  by  a handsome 
majority.  His  services  in  that  capacity  were  of  such 
a capable  and  satisfactory  nature  that  in  1914  he 
was  elected  to  succeed  himself.  Mr.  Eckstrom,  as 
a business  man,  has  been  identified  with  several 
enterprises  of  a commercial  character,  and  is  a 
director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Warren. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Masons,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. He  also  holds  membership  in  the  Commercial 
Club,  and  his  name  is  always  included  among  those 
supporting  movements  for  the  advancement  of  the 
general  welfare  of  Warren  and  its  people. 

On  August  20,  1908,  Mr.  Eckstrom  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Bertha  Trost,  of  Moorhead, 
Minnesota. 

Alexander  Ecicel.  One  of  the  successful  real  es- 
tate men  of  Faribault  County  is  Alexander  Eckel, 
who  has  an  office  in  the  Sharp  Building  in  the  Town 
of  Winnebago,  of  which  he  is  now  the  honored 
mayor.  Mr.  Eckel  left  school  when  fourteen,  worked 
at  day  and  monthly  wages  for  a number  of  years, 
finally  got  a farm  of  his  own  in  Illinois,  and  about 
ten  years  ago  with  his  accumulated  experience  as  a 
practical  land  man  and  capital  engaged  in  real  estate 
business.  Though  his  residence  in  Minnesota  covers 
only  a few  years,  he  is  one  of  the  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Faribault  County. 

Alexander  Eckel  was  born  in  Jennings  County, 
Indiana,  February  27,  1872,  a son  of  Joseph  and 
Genevieve  (Bechtel)  Eckel.  Both  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Germany.  The  father  was  born  in  1839  and 
died  in  Jennings  County,  Indiana,  in  1878.  When  he 
was  ten  years  of  age  his  family  came  to  America, 
located  in  Ripley  County,  Indiana,  and  became  early 
settlers  there.  The  grandparents  subsequently  moved 
to  Jennings  County,  where  grandfather  died  in  the 
home  of  his  son  Joseph.  After  Joseph  Eckel  married 
he  located  in  Jennings  County,  and  spent  all  his 
active  career  as  a farmer.  The  mother  died  in  Cham- 
paign County,  Illinois,  in  1910.  Their  children  were  : 
Frank,  who  is  a Champaign  County  farmer  in  Illi- 
nois; Barbara,  wife  of  Winfield  Saunders,  now  post- 
master at  Westport,  Indiana;  Lena,  who  is  unmar- 
ried and  lives  in  Canon  City,  Colorado ; Alexander ; 
and  Mary,  who  is  still  single  and  lives  in  Champaign 
County. 

Alexander  Eckel  spent  his  boyhood  in  Jennings 
County,  Indiana,  left  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen, 
and  is  largely  a self-educated  and  practical  man, 
having  learned  to  do  things  by  doing  them  rather 
than  from  instruction  and  precept.  He  worked  on 
the  farm  with  his  father  for  two  years,  and  at  six- 
teen began  working  out  for  wages.  In  1891  Mr. 
Eckel  moved  to  Champaign  County,  Illinois,  followed 
the  same  course  in  providing  for  his  livelihood  and 
by  1894  he  rented  a farm  of  eighty  acres  and  thus 
became  an  independent  farmer.  He  cultivated  the 
land  two  years  and  then  rented  a 200-acre  farm  for 
the  following  seven  years.  In  1903  Mr.  Eckel  moved 
to  Decatur,  Illinois,  and  six  months  later  became  ac- 
tively identified  with  the  real  estate  business.  His  home 
was  in  Illinois  at  Decatur  until  the  spring  of  1911,  at 
which  date  he  moved  to  Winnebago,  Minnesota,  and 
since  that  time  has  conducted  a real  estate  business, 
using  partly  his  own  capital,  representing  some  of 


his  old  friends  back  in  Illinois,  and  also  doing  a gen- 
eral brokerage  business.  He  has  a large  clientage 
and  handles  a great  aggregate  of  farm  land  in  Fari- 
bault, Martin  and  Blue  Earth  counties,  and  also  con- 
siderable land  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state. 

As  a democrat  Mr.  Eckel  has  been  particularly 
interested  in  local  affairs,  has  served  some  time  as  a 
member  of  the  council  of  Winnebago  and  is  now  its 
president,  that  office  being  equivalent  to  mayor  of  the 
village.  Mr.  Eckel  is  a member  of  the  Catholic 
Church  and  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 
Besides  his  real  estate  business  he  is  a stockholder 
and  director  of  the  Blue  Earth  Valley  National 
Bank. 

In  February,  1896',  in  Champaign  County,  Illinois, 
Mr.  Eckel  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Kerker,  daughter 
of  Henry  Kerker,  now  deceased,  and  formerly  a 
Champaign  County  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eckel  are 
the  parents  of  four  children : Charles  L.  and  Alex- 
ander F.,  both  students  in  the  Winnebago  High 
School,  Genevieve  M.  and  Bernard  J.,  attending  the 
grade  school. 

Parker  College  and  John  Dale  McCormick.  A 
number  of  successful  and  influential  citizens  in  Min- 
nesota and  other  states  give  credit  for  part  of  their 
early  training  and  preparation  for  life  to  Parker 
College  at  Winnebago.  Its  possibilities  for  useful 
service  are  now  greater  than  ever,  and  it  ranks 
among  the  best  small  colleges  in  Minnesota.  The 
original  Parker  College  was  founded  in  1887,  and 
was  under  the  control  of  the  Free  Baptist  Church 
until  June,  1911.  As  a result  of  a donation  of  prop- 
erty valued  at  $40,000  towards  the  permanent  endow- 
ment in  1891  the  title  of  the  college  has  since  honored 
the  name  of  Mr.  L.  D.  Parker.  Under  the  old  regime 
the  college  did  much  valuable  work,  and  has  a loyal 
body  of  alumni.  In  October,  1911,  the  college,  with 
its  endowment,  was  transferred  to  the  control  of  the 
Minnesota  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Since  that  time  the  institution 
has  been  entirely  reorganized,  and  is  now  being 
conducted  both  as  a college  and  college  preparatory 
school.  The  college  has  a beautiful  site,  with  a 
campus  of  more  than  thirty  acres,  with  good  build- 
ings, and  the  instruction  and  discipline  of  the  college 
and  the  environment  of  the  school  are  such  as  to 
constitute  Parker  an  ideal  place  for  the  training  of 
both  boys  and  girls.  The  faculty  for  the  year  1914- 
15  comprises  the  following  members:  John  D.  Mc- 

Cormick, B.  A.,  D.  D.,  president;  H.  B.  Randolph, 
M.  A.,  principal  of  the  school  of  commerce;  Henry 
J.  Ostlund,  B.  A.,  history,  mathematics  and  science; 
Elva  Mylenbusch,  B.  A.,  Latin  and  German ; S.  R. 
Cook,  manual  training,  English  and  history;  Isabelle 
Huggins,  B.  A.,  English,  Latin  and  mathematics; 
Maude  Muir,  domestic  science  and  music;  Raymond 
H.  Officer,  director  of  the  school  of  music;  and  Mae 
Howe,  vocal. 

John  Dale  McCormick,  now  president  of  Parker 
College,  is  a thoroughly  educated  Minnesota  man, 
has  been  identified  with  the  Methodist  ministry  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  his  broad  experience  and  thor- 
ough qualifications  led  to  his  selection  for  his  present 
office. 

John  Dale  McCormick  was  born  at  Ellington, 
Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  July  16,  1877,  a .son  of 
A.  J.  and  Alice  (Woodard)  McCormick.  His  father 
was  born  in  Dodge  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1851,  has 
followed  farming  and  also  business  as  a contractor 
and  builder,  and  is  now  a resident  of  Parma,  Idaho. 


1390 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


He  married  Miss  Woodard  in  Dodge  County,  Minne- 
sota, in  1870,  and  she  died  at  Watertown,  Wisconsin, 
in  1881.  The  father  then  married  Julia  M.  Rock- 
wood  of  Garden  City,  Blue  Earth  County,  Minne- 
sota. She  is  a native  of  Bennington,  Vermont,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph  Rockwood,  who  came  from 
Vermont  and  located  as  a pioneer  Baptist  minister 
at  Garden  City,  Minnesota,  in  1859.  R.ev.  Joseph 
Rockwood  was  prominent  and  honored  in  his  pro- 
fession in  Southern  Minnesota  for  half  a century, 
and  among  other  services  was  member  of  the  com- 
mittee that  decided  upon  the  location  of  the  Pills- 
bury  Academy  at  Owatonna.  By  his  present  wife 
A.  J.  McCormick  has  four  children : Robert  Rock- 

wood, born  February  13,  1891,  and  now  a senior  in 
the  College  of  Idaho  at  Caldwell,  Idaho;  Florence 
Rockwood,  born  February  25,  1893,  also  a senior  in 
the  College  of  Idaho;  Harold  Rockwood,  born  Janu- 
ary 31,  1896,  and  a member  of  the  senior  class  in  the 
high  school  at  Parma,  Idaho ; Louise  Rockwood,  born 
January  8,  1899,  attending  the  Parma  public  schools. 

In  1877  the  family  moved  to  Owatonna,  and  John 
Dale  McCormick  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city  and  was  graduated  from 
Pillsbury  Academy  in  1898.  In  1902  he  took  the 
degree  A.  B.  from  Hamline  University  of  St.  Paul, 
which  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  M.  A.  in  1909. 
Mr.  McCormick  is  a graduate  of  Drew  Theological 
Seminary  at  Madison,  New  Jersey,  with  the  class  of 
1907  and  the  degree  Bachelor  of  Divinity. 

Mr.  McCormick  was  ordained  in  the  fall  of  1906 
at  Central  Park  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  St. 
Paul.  Prior  to  his  ordination  he  had  preached  as 
pastor  in  Blooming  Prairie,  North  Mankato,  Med- 
ford, Brownsdale,  in  Minnesota,  and  also  in  the 
Nepperhan  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Yonkers, 
New  York,  and  in  the  South  Market  Street  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  at  Newark,  New  Jersey. 
After  being  ordained  his  first  pastorate  was  at  what 
is  now  the  McKinley  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Winona,  then  called  the  Olive  Branch  Church.  He 
remained  there  two  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1908 
became  pastor  of  the  North  Mankato  Church,  which 
he  had  previously  served,  and  had  organized.  Dur- 
ing his  regular  pastorate,  which  continued  until  the 
fall  of  1910,  Mr.  McCormick  was  instrumental  in 
enabling  the  congregation  to  erect  a new  edifice. 
From  the  fall  of  1910  to  the  fall  of  1913  he  was 
pastor  of  the  Waseca  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  then  for  one  year  at  the  King  Street  Church  in 
St.  Paul.  On  August  14,  1914,  Mr.  McCormick  was 
elected  president  of  Parker  College  at  Winnebago, 
and  besides  his  regular  administrative  work  is  in- 
structor in  the  Bible  and  in  Christian  literature.  He 
is  registrar  of  the  Minnesota  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  McCormick  was  married  October  15,  1902,  at 
St.  Paul  to  Miss  Ida  Pearl  Wenger.  Her  father, 
C.  H.  Wenger,  was  a farmer  at  Acadia,  Wisconsin, 
and  died  in  1901.  Mrs.  McCormick  is  a graduate  of 
Hamline  University  with  the  class  of  1898.  They 
have  one  child:  Kenneth  Dale,  born  in  New  Jersey, 
February  25,  1906,  and  now  attending  the  Winne- 
bago Public  Schools. 

Harry  Blaine  Randolph,  who  is  principal  of  the 
school  of  commerce  at  Parker  College,  has  unusual 
equipment  and  experience  for  his  present  office,  hav- 
ing taught  in  public  schools  for  several  years,  and 
also  having  a practical  business  experience  as  a 
banker  and  in  other  lines. 

Harry  Blaine  Randolph  was  born  at  Fergus  Falls, 


Minnesota,  July  6,  1879.  His  father,  H.  H.  Ran- 
dolph, was  born  in  Indiana  in  1839,  and  was  a pioneer 
of  Minnesota,  locating  as  a pioneer  farmer  in  Le 
Sueur  in  1855,  and  subsequently  moving  to  Fergus 
Falls  and  thence  to  North  Dakota.  His  home  is 
now  in  St.  Paul.  He  was  one  of  Minnesota’s  early 
settlers  who  responded  to  the  call  for  military  serv- 
ice at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  enlisted  in  1861 
in  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Infantry,  later  reenlisted, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war,  having 
served  in  such  great  battles  as  Antietam,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge  and  in  many  other  en- 
gagements with  Logan's  Corps.  His  first  wife  was 
Narcissa  Silver.  After  her  death  he  married  Mary 
L.  Wilkins,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Vermont 
in  1840  and  died  at  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  in  1906. 
Their  children  were : Harry  Blaine  and  Marion 

Garfield,  the  latter  a bookkeeper  for  the  firm  of 
Ogden,  Merrill,  Greer  Company  at  St.  Paul.  The 
father  now  lives  with  his  third  wife,  Clara  F.  Mills, 
who  came  from  Stratford,  Ontario. 

Harry  B.  Randolph  was  graduated  from  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Valley  City,  North  Dakota,  in 
1899,  and  has  the  degree  A.  B.  from  Hamline  Uni- 
versity at  St.  Paul  with  the  class  of  1904.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father’s 
farm  at  Valley  City,  North  Dakota,  where  his  father 
located  in  1880.  His  first  experience  as  a teacher 
was  at  Dodge  Center  for  one  year,  and  for  three 
years  he  was  principal  of  schools  at  LaMoure,  North 
Dakota.  This  was  followed  by  three  years  as  cashier 
of  the  First  State  Bank  at  Jud,  North  Dakota,  and 
after  that  he  again  taught  school  in  Billings,  Mon- 
tana, two  years.  Mr.  Randolph  in  1913  came  to 
Winnebago,  and  is  now  giving  valuable  service  as 
principal  of  the  school  of  commerce  in  Parker  Col- 
lege. 

In  politics  he  is  an  independent  republican,  and  is 
a local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  has  fraternal  affiliations  with  the  Masonic  Lodge 
at  Edgely,  North  Dakota.  On  August  1,  1906,  at 
Glencoe,  Minnesota,  Mr.  Randolph  married  Miss 
Nellie  Davis,  daughter  of  J.  S.  Davis,  ,who  is  now  a 
fruit  grower  in  Oregon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randolph 
have  one  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  October  11, 
1907,  and  a student  in  the  public  schools. 

George  Morton  Bleecker  was  born  at  Whip- 
pany,  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  November 
19,  1861.  His  family  descended  from  Johan 

Jacob  von  Bleecker,  one  of  the  early  Dutch 
settlers  of  the  original  New  Amsterdam,  and  the 
prominence  of  that  family  is  indicated  by  the  name 
attaching  to  one  of  the  important  thoroughfares  of 
the  City  of  New  York.  His  grandfather,  Judge 
John  Anthony  Bleecker,  removed  from  New  York 
City  and  settled  at  Whippany,  New  Jersey,  about  the 
year  1825,  where,  during  a long  life  he  was  very 
prominent  in  all  public  affairs  of  Northern  New 
Jersey,  and  for  many  years  prior  to  his  death  repre- 
sented his  county  in  the  State  Senate  of  that  state. 
Mr.  Bleecker  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town,  and  also  attended  Whippany  Acad- 
emy. In  1883  he  came  to  Minneapolis,  and  for  some 
time  attended  the  University  of  Minnesota.  In  1885 
he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  graduated  LL.  B.  in  the  class  of  1887. 
Returning  to  Minneapolis,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Minnesota  in  December,  1887,  and  since  that 
date  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  the  work  of 
his  profession.  For  three  years,  1894-97,  he  was 


OTTO  C.  NEUMAN 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1391 


associated  with  Edward  E.  Witchie,  but  otherwise 
has  practiced  individually.  He  early  acquired  a good 
clientage,  and  with  mature  experience  his  services 
have  been  retained  by  a number  of  large  corpora- 
tions. 

Mr.  Bleecker  has  been  a lawyer  first  and  foremost, 
and  with  no  desire  to  serve  in  political  office  except 
for  a completely  disinterested  purpose.  In  1891-92 
he  was  clerk  of  the  Probate  Court  of  Hennepin 
County,  and  represented  that  county  in  the  State 
Legislature  during  the  session  of  1893.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  a republican  district  and  normal  con- 
ditions did  not  favor  the  candidates  of  that  party. 
In  May,  1913,  he  was  appointed  by  the  mayor  of 
the  City  of  Minneapolis  a member  of  the  Civil 
Service  Commission,  under  and  through  which  all 
the  employes  of  that  city  are  employed.  Mr. 
Bleecker  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  and  State 
Bar  associations  and  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and 
Commerce  Association ; is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  is 
a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the 
Interlachen  Country  Club  and  the  Minneapolis  Rod 
and  Gun  Club.  His  wife  before  her  marriage  was 
Mary  Frances  Martin.  Both  are  members  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

Otto  C.  Neuman.  Wheaton  is  rapidly  becoming 
one  of  the  most  thriving  centers  of  commercial  and 
industrial  activity  in  Western  Minnesota,  and  its 
prestige  may  be  accredited  in  large  part  to  such  men 
as  Otto  C.  Neuman,  whose  operations  in  real  estate 
have  benefited  the  community  while  contributing  to 
his  own  advancement.  He  has  been  a resident  of 
the  city  for  twenty-seven  years,  and  during  nine- 
teen years  of  this  period  has  been  engaged  in  his 
present  business,  which  through  his  good  manage- 
ment and  knowledge  of  realty  values,  has  enjoyed  a 
steady  and  consistent  increase. 

Mr.  Neuman  was  born  in  Dakota  County,  Minne- 
sota, June  29,  1869,  and  is  a son  of  Frederick  C. 
Neuman,  who  was  born  in  Pomerania,  Germany,  in 
1824,  and  died  in,  Traverse  County,  Minnesota,  in 
1896.  Frederick  C.  Neuman  was  forty  years  of  age 
when  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  settling  first 
at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  in  the  vicinity  of  which 
city  he  owned  a small  farm  for  about  five  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1869  he  removed  to  Dakota  County, 
Minnesota,  there  carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1886,  when  he  came  to  Traverse  County.  One 
year  later  he  came  to  Wheaton,  and  here  established 
a grain  elevator,  but  this  business  was  sold  in  1889, 
and  from  that  time  until  his  death  the  father  lived 
in  quiet  retirement.  Mr.  Neuman  married  Miss 
Johannah  Vudtke,  also  a native  of  Germany,  who 
was  born  in  1830  and  died  in  Traverse  County,  Min- 
nesota, in  1906.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  as  follows:  Amelia,  who  died  in  Traverse 

County;  Henry  L.,  who  is  a retired  farmer  and  re- 
sides at  Wheaton;  F.  W.,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  lives  on  his  property  in  Traverse  County; 
August  F.,  who  is  now  living  retired  in  that  county 
after  many  years  spent  in  agricultural  pursuits ; 
Albert  F.,  who  was  a farmer  and  died  at  Litchville, 
Barnes  County,  Horth  Dakota;  Herman,  who  passed 
his  career  in  mercantile  pursuits  and  died  at  Glencoe, 
Minnesota;  Louisa,  who  married  Frank  Wolk,  an 
agriculturist  of  Traverse  County;  Anna,  who  died 
unmarried  in  Dakota  County;  Otto  C.,  of  this  re- 
view ; David  J.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in 


Traverse  County;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Fred  H. 
Lindig,  the  proprietor  of  a meat  market  at  Wheaton. 

The  public  schools  of  Dakota  County  furnished 
Otto  C.  Neuman  with  his  educational  training,  and 
until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  he  remained  at 
home,  assisting  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  farm. 
In  1888  he  became  the  manager  of  the  elevator  busi- 
ness belonging  to  his  father  at  Wheaton,  but  one 
year  later  the  enterprise  was  sold  and  Mr.  Neuman 
established  himself  in  the  mercantile  business,  a ven- 
ture in  which  he  was  engaged  with  a fair  measure  of 
prosperity  until  1896.  In  that  year  Mr.  Neuman 
entered  upon  his  career  in  real  estate,  in  which  he  has 
attained  such  success.  He  handles  farm  land,  prin- 
cipally in  Traverse  County,  although  he  also  has 
dealt  successfully  in  city  property,  and  maintains 
offices  in  the  Barrett  Building,  on  Broadway.  Mr. 
Neuman  has  responded  to  his  business  opportunities, 
and  carries  on  his  operations  in  a modern,  systematic 
and  efficient  manner.  His  business  discernment  early 
told  him  that  community  success  spelled  individual 
success,  and  from  the  start  he  has  made  the  interests 
of  Wheaton  and  Traverse  County  his  own.  In  this 
connection  it  may  be  noted  that  for  the  past  eight 
years  he  has  been  actively  and  officially  identified 
with  the  Traverse  County  Agricultural  Fair  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  he  was  secretary  for  two  years, 
and  during  the  past  six  years  has  been  president,  a 
position  which  he  capably  fills  at  this  time.  A demo- 
crat, he  was  village  recorder  for  a number  of  years, 
and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  political  matters, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1914  interested  himself  in  behalf 
of  Hammond’s  candidacy  for  governor.  That  he 
wields  some  influence  in  public  affairs  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  although  Traverse  County  is  normally 
republican  by  several  hundred  majority,  Mr.  Neu- 
man succeeded  in  carrying  the  county  for  the  can- 
didate of  his  party.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Neuman  is  con- 
nected with  Lodge  No,  952,  Behevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  of  Willmar ; and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Wheaton.  With  his  family,  he 
is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Neuman  was  married  at  Austin,  Minnesota, 
to  Miss  Mary  Thompson,  of  that  city,  and  she  died 
at  Austin  in  1900,  the  mother  of  one  child : Fannie 
L.,  who  is  attending  St.  Mary’s  Hall,  Faribault, 
Minnesota.  Mr.  Neuman  was  again  married,  in  1903, 
at  Minneapolis,  when  he  took  as  his  bride  Miss  Fan- 
nie Mapes,  of  that  city,  daughter  of  the  founder  of 
Ripon  College,  Minnesota.  They  have  no  children. 

George  A.  Brackett  has  been  a resident  of  Min- 
neapolis for  more  than  fifty-five  years,  and  during 
that  time  his  life  has  touched  for  benefits  at  many 
points  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  the 
city.  George  A.  Brackett  was  born  at  Calais,  Wash- 
ington County,  Maine,  September  16,  1836.  His 
father,  Henry  H.  Brackett,  was  a mechanic,  and  rep- 
resented the  staunch  English  stock  that  founded 
homes  in  New  England  before  the  Revolution.  The 
second  in  a large  family  of  children.  George  A. 
Brackett  spent  his  boyhood  under  conditions  and 
circumstances  that  called  forth  the  qualities  of  self- 
reliance  and  industry  at  an  early  age.  He  gained 
his  education  in  the  intervals  of  hard  work,  and 
was  well  disciplined  for  independent  effort  before 
reaching  his  majority.  At  an  early  age  persever- 
ance, self-reliance,  industry,  courage  and  integrity 
became  his  dominating  characteristics. 

Mr.  Brackett  came  to  the  Northwest  April  30, 
1857,  arriving  in  Minneapolis  about  the  same  time  as 


1392 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


his  boyhood  acquaintance,  the  late  William  D.  Wash- 
burn, whose  name  is  written  large  on  the  industrial 
and  civic  history  of  Minnesota.  He  soon  found 
work  in  a meat  market,  and  also  helped  to  build  the 
new  dam  at  St.  Anthony  Falls.  In  the  following 
spring  he  opened  a meat  market  of  his  own,  and 
several  years  later  secured  a profitable  contract  for 
supplying  meat  to  the  Union  troops  after  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war.  While  the  First  Minnesota 
Regiment  was  being  mobilized  at  Fort  Snelling,  Mr. 
Brackett  was  employed  to  furnish  the  beef  to  the 
troops  which  were  the  first  ones  to  answer  Presi- 
dent Lincoln’s  call  for  volunteers.  Fie  inaugurated 
such  an  economical  system  of  buying  and  made  such 
a good  record  with  it  that  later  the  commissary  of 
the  First  Regiment,  having  been  promoted  to  com- 
missary of  General  Stone’s  division  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  sent  for  Mr.  Brackett  to  go  to  Wash- 
ington and  install  the  same  system  there.  Then  later 
General  Sibley,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  war 
in  1862,  employed  Mr.  Brackett  in  the  same  capacity 
for  his  command.  Fie  accompanied  the  expedition 
of  General  Sibley  during  the  Indian  outbreak  of 
1862,  and  while  in  the  present  State  of  North  Da- 
kota became  separated  from  the  main  body  of  troops, 
and  spent  seven  days  alone  on  the  plains,  walking 
225  miles,  in  constant  danger  of  his  life,  before 
rejoining  the  army. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Brackett  turned  his 
attention  to  the  manufacture  of  flour,  an  industry 
which  more  than  any  other  has  given  Minneapolis 
a distinguished  place  among  American  cities.  For 
a time  he  was  a partner  in  the  milling  firm  of  East- 
man & Gibson  and  later  was  associated  with  William 
S.  Judd  under  the  name  Judd  & Brackett.  This 
firm  bought  the  Cataract  Mill  and  in  1867  leased  the 
new  Washburn  Mill,  at  that  time  the  largest  in  the 
West.  Judd  & Brackett  conducted  operations  on  an 
extensive  scale,  as  gauged  by  the  standards  of  the 
time,  and  for  several  years  ranked  as  the  most 
prominent  firm  in  the  flour  milling  industry  of  Min- 
neapolis. 

The  Minneapolis  Millers  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  1867  with  the  following  members : Judd  & 

Brackett,  Eastman  & Cahill,  Taylor  Bros.,  Frazee 
& Murphy,  Darrow  Bros.,  and  Tomlinson,  Perkins  & 
Co.  Officers:  President,  George  A.  Brackett ; vice 

president,  W.  F.  Cahill ; secretary  and  agent,  Dwight 
Putnam ; purchasing  agent,  O.  Mays.  In  1869  this 
association,  to  which  the  present  organization  owes 
its  existence,  was  dissolved.  In  1875  the  association 
was  revived,  though  again  as  an  experimental  insti- 
tution. The  temporary  organization  took  a perma- 
nent form  in  1876  as  a corporate  body  in  accordance 
with  the  laws  of  that  state. 

The  chief  exemplification  of  the  genius  of  Mr. 
Brackett,  however,  has  been  in  the  broader  field  of 
constructive  enterprise.  In  1869,  he  welcomed  the 
opportunity  of  assuming  charge  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad  reconnaissance  work  under  the 
direction  of  Gov.  J.  Gregory  Smith,  president  of  the 
company.  This  expedition  was  fitted  out  in  Min- 
neapolis, and  traveled  over  the  plains  as  far  west  as 
the  Big  Bend  of  the  Missouri  River.  As  a result  of 
these  explorations,  the  construction  of  the  line  of 
railroad  was  determined  upon,  and  Mr.  Brackett’s 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  country  and  his  own  suc- 
cessful business  experience  and  influential  associa- 
tions enabled  him  to  secure  a contract  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  first  240  miles  of  the  road,  from 
Duluth  to  the  Red  River.  His  associates  were  Wil- 


liam D.  Washburn,  Col.  William  S.  King,  William 
W.  Eastman,  Dorilus  Morrison,  all  now  deceased. 
During  the  next  ten  years  Mr.  Brackett  gave  most 
of  his  time  to  railroad  building,  and  as  a contractor 
built  some  of  the  most  important  lines  in  the  North- 
west. At  the  same  time  he  was  closely  associated 
with  local  business  interests  in  Minneapolis,  and  his 
name  will  be  found  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
history  of  the  progress  and  achievement  of  a num- 
ber of  causes  both  of  business  and  benevolent  char- 
acter. 

Concerning  his  services  of  a public  nature  and 
also  the  crucial  point  of  his  business  career  the  fol- 
lowing account  is  quoted  from  another  publication: 
“From  the  time  of  welcoming  the  returning  soldiers 
after  the  Civil  war  to  the  great  Harvest  Festival  of 
1891,  Mr.  Brackett  was  the  acknowledged  and  un- 
questioned leader  of  all  such  festivities.  Into  such 
undertakings  as  official  work  he  threw  himself  with 
the  utmost  enthusiasm  and  was  not  satisfied  unless 
everyone  else  was  working  at  the  same  high  pres- 
sure as  he  was.  When  the  Minneapolis  Exposition 
was  undertaken  in  1885  Hr.  Brackett  was  made  a 
member  of  its  first  board  of  directors,  and  was  par- 
ticularly active  and  efficient  in  the  work  of  construct- 
ing the  immense  building,  which  was  completed  by 
three  crews  in  ninety  days.  In  the  early  ’60s  he  was 
called  to  serve  on  the  village  council,  and  for  years 
thereafter  was  almost  continuously  in  municipal  of- 
fice— as  alderman  in  the  first  city  council,  promoter 
of  the  waterworks,  sewer  system  and  fire  depart- 
ment, of  which  last  mentioned  department  he  was 
chief  for  many  years;  also  as  member  of  the  park 
board.  Fie  was  always  in  the  forefront  of  what  was 
of  the  most  importance  and  interest  at  the  moment. 
To  Mr.  Brackett  Minneapolis  owes  the  organization 
of  its  fire  department  and  in  great  measure  its  park 
system.  When  chosen  mayor  of  Minneapolis  in 
1873,  Mr.  Brackett  made  such  a vigorous  campaign 
against  vice  that  the  city  was  unable  to  realize  its 
opportunities  thus  offered,  and  at  the  next  election 
relapsed  into  a less  strenuous  policy.  Of  all  his 
efforts  for  a park  system  nothing  was  more  im- 
portant than  his  work  in  raising  $100,000  at  a critical 
time  in  the  struggle  to  acquire  Minnehaha  Park,  se- 
curing the  tract  for  the  city  at  the  moment  when  it 
appeared  to  be  lost  forever.  He  served  on  the  park 
board  for  six  years,  from  the  original  formation  of 
the  board  in  1883. 

“Early  in  the  ’80s  Mr.  Brackett  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  organizing  the  Associated  Charities  of 
Minneapolis,  and  served  many  years  as  its  president, 
now  being  honorary  president.  This  was  only  one 
direction  in  which  the  wise  charitableness  of  the  man 
found  practical  exemplification.  Of  the  many  acts 
of  helpfulness  within  a long  lifetime  of  generous  and 
noble  service  there  is  no  record.  Mr.  Brackett  has 
always  forgotten  quickly  his  acts  of  charity  ^and 
kindness.  His  particular  fitness  for  such  work  led 
Governor  Merriam  to  appoint  him  a member  of  the 
state  board  of  charities  and  corrections,  on  which 
he  served  for  a number  of  years. 

“After  the  panic  of  1893  Mr.  Brackett  found  his 
resources  crippled  and  the  accumulations  of  a life 
of  hard  work  largely  dissipated.  He  went  to  Alaska, 
determined  to  make  a new  start  in  the  new  country. 
At  Skagway  he  became  interested  in  the  project  of 
transportation  over  the  mountains,  and  was  the  one 
who  demonstrated,  through  the  construction  of  a 
wagon  road,  the  possibility  of  a railroad.  Overcom- 
ing tremendous  engineering  difficulties,  and  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1393 


face  of  bitter  opposition  and  financial  and  political 
trickery,  he  completed  the  wagon  road  and,  though 
losing  heavily  in  the  end,  had  the  satisfaction  of 
receiving  acknowledgment  on  the  part  of  the  great 
Canadian  and  American  constructionists,  Henry  Vil- 
lard,  James  J.  Hill,  Sir  William  Van  Horne  and 
others,  that  he  had  accomplished  more  in  building 
the  wagon  road  than  the  railroad  exploiters  did  in 
building  a steam  road  after  the  wagon  road  had 
demonstrated  the  possibilities.  Mr.  Brackett  also 
took  a prominent  part  in  the  Alaskan  boundary  fight 
and  is  credited  with  having  done  more  for  the  reten- 
tion of  the  contested  territory  than  any  other  man.” 

After  returning  to  Minneapolis  in  1905  Mr. 
Brackett  established  himself  at  his  beautiful  home 
Orono  on  Lake  Minnetonka,  a property  purchased 
by  him  many  years  ago.  He  spends  the  summer 
months  there,  and  makes  his  winter  home  in  Minne- 
apolis. Though  advanced  in  years,  Mr.  Brackett  is 
still  active  among  the  world’s  workers.  He  gives  his 
attention  to  the  supervision  of  his  private  affairs  and 
to  the  business  of  the  Lakewood  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion, of  which  he  is  president  and  has  been  trustee 
from  the  time  of  its  organization.  For  many  years 
he  has  been  a member  of  the  Plymouth  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Minneapolis. 

In  1858  Mr.  Brackett  married  Miss  Anna  M.  Hoit, 
who  died  in  1890.  Of  their  eleven  children,  five  sons 
and  one  daughter  are  living. 

Mr.  Brackett  is  one  of  the  men  who  has  been  most 
closely  identified  with  the  development  of  the  North- 
west. He  was  a manufacturer  when  the  name  Min- 
neapolis had  little  significance  as  a grain  and  flour 
center.  He  helped  construct  some  of  the  great  rail- 
ways that  have  developed  the  Northwest  country  and 
have  concentrated  business  at  Minneapolis.  The 
following  tribute  from  a former  mayor  of  Minne- 
apolis to  Mr.  Brackett  is  only  a conservative  state- 
ment of  the  general  esteem  in  which  he  is  held:  “He 
is  dear  to  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  Minneapolis, 
for  what  he  has  been  and  for  what  he  is.” 

Lakewood  Cemetery,  Minneapolis.  The  benedic- 
tion of  lives  translated  to  “that  undiscovered  country 
from  whose  bourne  no  traveler  returns”  finds  fitting 
and  enduring  exemplification  in  the  care  and  loving 
tribute  shown  in  preparing  for  their  mortal  bodies 
a consistent  resting  place,  and  Minneapolis  is  fortu- 
nate in  the  possession  of  the  beautiful  Lakewood 
Cemetery,  a brief  history  of  which  may  appropri- 
ately find  place  in  this  publication.  The  data  here 
incorporated  are  gleaned  from  an  exquisite  brochure 
issued  at  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  the  cemetery 
chapel,  in  1910.  Without  formal  indications  of  quo- 
tation are  given  the  following  extracts  from  the 
dedication  address  delivered  by  Rev.  Marion  D. 
Shutter,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  at 
the  time  the  chapel  at  Lakewood  was  dedicated. 

One  of  the  first  questions  a new  community  has  to 
ask  is,  “Where  shall  we  bestow  our  dead?”  Houses 
must  be  built  for  the  living;  stores,  business  blocks, 
mills  and  factories  where  they  may  work;  churches 
where  they  may  worship ; but  room  must  be  made 
somewhere  for  the  “narrow  house  and  the  long 
home.”  And  so,  in  July,  1871,  a few  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Minneapolis  held  an  informal  meeting  and 
decided  to  act.  A committee  was  appointed  to  in- 
vestigate and  report  upon  localities  for  a new  ceme- 
tery. I shall  give  the  names  of  those  who  took  the 
initiative  in  this  movement ; for  they  are  names 
which  Minneapolis  ought  always  to  honor. 


The  committee  was  composed  of  Dr.  C.  G.  Good- 
rich, of  whom  one  who  knew  him  has  written : “For 
twelve  years  he  was  a living  benediction  in  Minne- 
apolis; modest,  truthful,  faithful,  intelligently  charit- 
able and  generous,  he  was  at  once  a good  citizen  and 
model  physician,  taking  hold  of  public  enterprises  as 
of  all  other  duties,  a positive  and  helpful  agency  in 
the  early  evolution  of  the  city.”  With  him  were 
associated  H.  G.  Harrison,  Thomas  Lowry,  R.  B. 
Langdon,  W.  D.  Washburn,  and  Dr.  Levi  Butler. 
They  looked  the  ground  over,  and  when  they  were 
ready  to  report  another  meeting  of  citizens  was 
called,  to  hear  and  act  upon  their  recommendation. 
Fifteen  men  came  together,  whose  names  are  all  in 
the  record.  This  is  the  roster : Dorilus  Morrison, 
Dr.  C.  G.  Goodrich,  William  S.  King,  A.  B.  Barton, 
Thomas  Lowry,  George  A.  Brackett,  W.  D.  Wash- 
burn, W.  P.  Westfall,  R.  B.  Langdon,  R.  S.  Menden- 
hall, H.  G.  Harrison,  Paris  Gibson,  Dr.  Levi  Butler, 
A.  Tyler  and  Samuel  C.  Gale.  These  names  have 
become  interwoven  in  the  web  of  our  history.  Take 
them  away,  and  what  a different  pattern  would  have 
come  forth  from  the  looms  of  time.  * * * That 
meeting  of  citizens  was  called  to  order  by  Dorilus 
Morrison,  who  was  subsequently  made  permanent 
chairman,  with  Thomas  Lowry  as  secretary.  Then 
and  there  an  association  was  organized,  called  the 
Lyndale  Cemetery  Association,  and  this  name  was 
later  changed  to  Lakewood,  the  change  being  ap- 
proved by  act  of  Legislature,  February  26,  1872.  The 
first  board  of  trustees  was  elected,  consisting  of  Dr. 
C.  G.  Goodrich,  William  S.  King,  George  A.  Brackett, 
W.  D.  Washburn,  R.  B.  Langdon,  Dr.  Levi  Butler, 
W.  P.  Westfall,  R.  J.  Mendenhall  and  H.  G.  Har- 
rison. The  organization  being  completed,  the  com- 
mittee on  location  reported  that  after  careful  exam- 
ination of  various  tracts  of  land  they  had  decided 
upon  one,  owned  by  William  S.  King,  lying  between 
lakes  Calhoun  and  Harriet ; and  recommended  that 
a tract  of  130  acres — which  the  generosity  of  Mr. 
King  had  made  possible — be  purchased.  This  was 
resolved  upon,  and  stock  to  cover  the  expenses  was 
soon  subscribed.  It  ought  to  be  emphasized  that  the 
Lakewood  Cemetery  Association  is  not  a money- 
making corporation.  Every  purchaser  of  a lot  is  a 
stockholder  and  voter ; but  no  dividends  have  been 
declared  or  ever  will  be.  Those  who  originally  ad- 
vanced the  money  to  buy  the  tract  received  back 
that  which  they  advanced,  but  nothing  more.  The 
trustees  of  the  association  have  given  their  time  and 
their  brains  and  their  business  ability  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  cemetery’s  affairs  without  one  cent  of 
recompense ; and  those  trustees,  from  the  beginning 
until  now,  have  been  among  the  able  and  most  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  the  city.  The  revenues  have 
all  gone  into  the  care  and  beautifying  of  the  grounds 
and  into  permanent  funds  that  will  provide  for 
needed  improvements  in  the  future.  These  men  have 
put  their  time  and  strength  under  these  burdens,  and 
carried  them  gladly  because  they  loved  Minneapolis 
and  were  anxious  to  do  something  to  beautify  its  sur- 
roundings and  reverently  care  for  its  dead.  They 
have  earned  the  gratitude  of  the  present,  and  coming 
generations  will  rise  up  and  call  them  blessed. 

In  the  manner  described  was  the  most  important 
association  organized  and  officered.  Soon  after  Mr. 
A.  B.  Barton  was  made  permanent  secretary  and 
superintendent,  and  under  his  efficient  management 
and  untiring  care  Lakewood  became  a thing  of 
beauty.  He  at  first  secured  the  services  of  W.  H. 
Folsom,  the  landscape  artist  who  laid  out  Mount 


1394 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Auburn  near  Boston;  but  later  his  plan  was  ex- 
changed for  what  was  called  the  “park  plan,’’  in- 
augurated by  Adolph  Strauch,  at  Spring  Grove,  Cin- 
cinnati, and  this  plan  prevails  today.  And  no  one 
will  ever  know  but  those  who  have  worked  with  him 
how  many  suggestions  of  Charles  M.  Loring  have, 
here  and  there,  blossomed  into  beautiful  realities 
throughout  these  grounds. 

Lakewood  Cemetery  was  formally  dedicated  Sep- 
tember 16,  1872.  There  is  not  time  to  record  in 
detail  the  subsequent  development  of  Lakewood; 
how  adjoining  tracts  were  purchased,  how  improve- 
ments were  made,  new  plans  for  beautifying  adopted, 
the  massive  gateway  constructed,  and  everything  to 
date  culminating  in  this  marvel  wrought  by  archi- 
tect and  artist,  the  Lakewood  Chapel.  There  are 
several  points  of  interest  in  the  cemetery,  how- 
ever, some  of  which  may  possibly  have  been  for- 
gotten, even  by  those  who  are  most  familiar  with 
its  history.  On  a high  knoll  overlooking  Lake  Cal- 
houn stands  a prominent  tomb,  in  which  rest  the 
bodies  of  Sir  Joseph  Francis  and  his  wife.  The 
willow  that  grows  beside  it  sprang  from  a shoot 
brought  by  Sir  Joseph  from  the  willow  that  stands 
near  the  place  where  Napoleon  was  buried,^  at  St. 
Helena.  Long  before  the  cemetery  was  laid  out, 
Mrs.  Francis,  looking  from  this  elevation  over  the 
waters  of  the  lake,  said  that  she  had  never  seen 
so  beautiful  a spot  for  a burial  place  as  that  upon 
which  she  stood,  and  expressed  a wish  that  it  might 
be  her  own.  When  the  grounds  were  finally  laid 
out  Sir  Joseph  secured  that  portion,  and  it  is  set 
down  in  the  books  of  the  association  as  lot  1,  sec- 
tion 1.  His  own  epitaph  was  chiseled,  long  before 
his  death,  upon  a granite  slab  that  for  many  years 
covered  the  place  where  he  now  lies.  That  inscrip- 
tion runs:  “Joseph  Francis,  Father  and  Founder 

of  the  United  States  Life  Saving  Service.  Founder 
of  American  Shipwreck  Society,  1842.  Inventor  of 
Corrugated  Metallic  Life  Car  and  Life  Boat.  Re- 
ceived the  thanks  of  the  Forty-ninth  Congress, 
honored  by  the  Fiftieth  Congress  for  his  service  to 
humanity.  Honored,  decorated,  rewarded  and 
knighted  by  the  Crowned  heads  of  Europe.”  * * * 

There  are  monuments  in  Lakewood  which  are  his- 
toric. There  is  the  Millers’  Monument,  whose  gran- 
ite front  records  the  awful  explosion  which  shook 
the  mills  of  the  city  from  their  foundations ; the 
Masons’  Monument;  the  Odd  Fellows’;  the  mon- 
ument to  the  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war;  and  scores 
of  others  that  leading  citizens  have  erected,  lifting 
their  carven  images  of  Faith  or  Hope  or  Charity 
aloft  toward  the  infinite  sky.  In  one  spot  the 
thick-sown  graves  recall  the  tragedy  on  Minne- 
tonka when  one  of  the  noblest  families  in  the  city 
perished  in  the  waves.  One  of  the  latest  and  most 
beautiful  of  all  these  monuments  is  the  Greek 
Temple,  which  enshrines  the  ashes  of  Thomas 
Lowry,  whose  name  is  attached  to  the  first  minutes 
of  this  association,  whose  last  vote  as  a trustee  was 
given  for  the  erection  of  this  chapel.  No  citizen 
was  ever  more  beloved  than  he ; while  the  name  of 
Minneapolis  lives  the  name  of  Thomas  Lowry  will 
not  be  forgotten.  They  are  one  and  inseparable. 

One  more  spot  I want  to  mention.  There  is  a 
very  humble  grave  on  the  lot  of  George  A.  Brackett, 
in  which  a colored  woman,  Aunt  Millie  Bronson, 
lies.  She  was  a servant  of  General  Beauregard  dur- 
ing the  war,  was  captured  by  Major  Brackett  of  St. 
Paul,  brought  north  and  turned  over  to  George 
A.  Brackett  for  protection.  She  lived  in  his  family, 


took  care  of  the  children  and  was  especially  de- 
voted to  little  Annie.  When  the  child  passed  away, 
in  June,  1864,  the  sorrow  of  Aunt  Millie  knew  no 
bounds.  And  when,  years  after,  her  own  time  drew 
near,  at  the  end  of  almost  a century’s  existence,  Mr. 
Brackett  asked  her  if  she  would  like  to  be  laid 
by  little  Annie,  and  her  swift  and  eager  answer, 
"Yes,  Massa  George,  oh  yes,  if  a’  may,”  showed  the 
one  overmastering  desire  of  her  heart.  And  there, 
side  by  side,  Aunt  Millie  and  little  Annie  repose 
today,  in  the  inexorable  democracy  of  death. 

In  his  address  of  dedication  of  the  beautiful  chapel 
of  Lakewood  the  speaker  paid  the  following  tribute 
to  Mr.  George  A.  Brackett,  who  is  now,  1915,  pres- 
ident of  the  cemetery  association : “And  you,  Mr. 

Brackett,  have  always  put  the  city  first  and  your- 
self last;  your  life  has  been  a standing  rebuke  to 
the  selfish  who  have  taken  all  the  community  had 
to  give  and  have  done  nothing  in  return;  you  have 
planted  unselfishness  and  helpfulness,  and  you  gather 
the  rich  roses  of  a people’s  affection.  You  have 
‘kept  your  fealty  good,  to  the  common  brotherhood/ 
And  if,  in  the  vast  possibilities  of  that  world  be- 
yond the  veil,  there  are  souls  in  trouble,  souls  who 
need  strength  and  love  on  which  to  lean,  souls  who 
need  some  friendly  spirit  to  guide  them  higher, 
there  will  you  find  George  Brackett  in  the  midst  of 
them,  with  this  prayer  upon  his  lips : 

‘If  there  be  some  weaker  one, 

Give  me  strength  to  help  him  on ; 

If  a blinder  soul  there  be, 

Let  me  guide  him  nearer  Thee.’  ” 

M.  Sigbert  Awes.  It  has  been  to  the  distinctive 
credit  of  Mr.  Awes  that  his  progressive  and  well- 
directed  operations  in  the  handling  of  real  estate, 
principally  farm  lands,  have  contributed  much  to  the 
march  of  civic  and  industrial  advancement  in  the 
Northwest.  An  idea  of  the  broad  scope  of  the 
enterprise  which  he  has  represented  in  this  field  of 
endeavor  at  the  early  age  of  20  to  25  is  conveyed 
by  the  statement  that  within  the  past  four  years  he 
has  been  actively  concerned  and  the  directing  spirit 
in  the  sale  of  more  than  one  million  dollars’  worth 
of  land,  the  greater  part  of  this  being  in  North 
Dakota.  He  is  now  extending  his  operations  into 
Minnesota  merely  to  be  more  centrally  located,  and 
has  established  his  residence  in  the  City  of  Minne- 
apolis, with  offices  in  the  First-National-Soo  Line 
Building.  Mr.  Awes  is  a young  man  of  vigorous 
initiative  and  most  progressive  business  policies,  and 
his  interests  in  the  domain  of  real  estate  transac- 
tions are  of  very  extensive  and  important  order. 
Further  interest  attached  to  his  successful  career 
by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  is  a native  son  of 
Minnesota  and  a scion  of  a family  whose  name  has 
been  most  worthily  linked  with  the  history  of  Min- 
nesota and  North  Dakota. 

Mr.  Awes  was  born  in  Dakota  County,  Minne- 
sota, on  the  16th  day  of  September,  1889,  and  is  a 
son  of  Rev.  Elias  Aas  and  Christine  (Hegge)  Aas, 
his  change  of  the  orthography  of  the  patronymic 
having  been  made  to  insure  its  correct  pronuncia- 
tion in  English.  His  father  is  an  honored  and 
valued  clergyman  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  is  a man 
of  high  attainments,  and  has  during  the  last  thirty 
years  held  various  pastoral  charges  in  Minnesota 
and  North  Dakota.  He  and  his  wife  now  reside 
at  Northwood,  Grand  Forks  County,  North  Dakota, 
where  he  is  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  which 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1395 


has  been  signally  prospered  in  temporal  and  spiritual 
advancement  under  his  earnest  guidance. 

He  whose  name  initiates  this  review  was  a boy 
at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  from  Minnesota 
to  North  Dakota,  and  in  the  latter  state  he  gained 
his  early  educational  discipline  in  the  public  schools, 
after  which  he  continued  his  higher  academic  studies 
in  Augsburg  Seminary,  an  excellent  institution 
maintained  in  Minneapolis  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  After  leaving  this  seminary  Mr. 
Awes  manifested  his  independence  and  ambition  by 
engaging  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Northwood, 
North  Dakota,  in  1909.  His  aggressive  policies  and 
energetic  efforts  brought  to  him  definite  success,  and 
in  1911  he  initiated  extensive  operations  in  the  han- 
dling of  North  Dakota  farming  land,  with  an  office 
at  Crosby  of  that  state,  but  with  general  head- 
quarters still  maintained  at  Northwood.  At  this 
juncture  he  effected  the  organization  of  the  North- 
western Realty  Company,  and  in  1912  he  brought 
about  the  organization  and  incorporation  of  the 
Scandia-American  Land  Company,  at  Fargo,  North 
Dakota.  He  severed  his  association  with  this  com- 
pany in  1913,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year 
organized  the  Awes-Anderson  Realty  Company,  at 
Crosby,  North  Dakota,  the  same  being  incorporated 
under  the  laws  of  that  state.  In  connection  with 
these  various  associations  in  which  he  has  been  the 
chief  executive,  Mr.  Awes  had  had  the  supervision 
of  the  sale  of  lands  to  the  value  of  fully  one  mil- 
lion dollars  since  initiating  operations  in  1911,  the 
lands  thus  sold  having  been  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  North  Dakota. 

In  the  spring  of  1914  Mr.  Awes  established  his 
residence  in  Minneapolis,  where  he  has  given  unre- 
mitting attention  to  the  promotion  and  organizing 
of  a real  estate  corporation  known  as  the  M.  Sig- 
bert  Awes  Company,  the  article  of  incorporation 
providing  for  a capital  stock  of  $500,000,  in  which 
he  retains  the  controlling  interest.  With  the  big 
and  far-reaching  plan  of  this  large  corporation 
directed  by  such  influential  business  men  and 
pioneers  of  the  Northwest  as  C.  F.  Hjermstad  of 
Redwing,  Ernest  Lundeen  of  Minneapolis,  Hans  E. 
Hagen  of  Glenwood,  and  Andrew  H.  Stavens  of 
Hatton,  North  Dakota,  for  forty  years  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  in  that  state  and  now 
owner  of  about  ten  thousand  acres  of  well-improved 
North  Dakota  farms,  this  Company  is  destined  to 
wield  great  influence  in  the  legitimate  exploiting 
and  further  development  -of  the  resources  of  both 
Minnesota  and  North  Dakota. 

In  view  of  the  statements  already  made  in  this 
contest,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  Mr.  Awes  is 
essentially  loyal  and  progressive  as  a citizen,  and 
although  he  has  had  no  time  for  political  activities 
of  a practical  order,  he  is  deeply  concerned  and 
interested  in  the  progressive  advancement  of  the 
government  of  this  country.  He  and  his  wife  are 
communicants  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  the  faith 
of  which  they  were  reared. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride’s  parents,  near  Hat- 
ton. North  Dakota,  was  solemnized,  on  the  26th  of 
June,  1913,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Awes  to  Miss  Kath- 
eryn  Louise  Stavens,  daughter  of  Andrew  H. 
Stavens.  The  wedding  tour  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Awes 
was  one  of  specially  interesting  order,  as  they 
passed  three  months  in  Europe,  their  tour  including 
the  visitation  of  England,  France,  Switzerland,  Italy. 
Germany,  Norway  and  Sweden.  Mrs.  Awes  was 
born  on  the  old  homestead  of  her  father,  near 


Hatton,  Steele  County,  North  Dakota,  and  has  re- 
ceived excellent  educational  advantages.  She  is, 
among  other  things,  a talented  elocutionist,  having 
received  special  honors  as  a Norwegian  dialect 
reader. 

Berton  Daniel  Keck.  On  the  basis  of  work 
accomplished  it  may  properly  be  claimed  for  Ber- 
ton D.  Keck  that  he  represents  the  best  ideals  of 
the  architect’s  profession,  and  that  Crookston  and 
in  the  surrounding  country  has  a patronage  second 
to  none  among  the  firms  of  architects  in  Northern 
Minnesota.  His  substantial  reputation  as  an  archi- 
tect has  been  acquired  as  a result  of  talent,  dis- 
tinctive ideas  in  the  creative  side  of  his  work,  and 
energy  and  devotion  to  the  practical  business  of  his 
calling. 

Berton  Daniel  Keck  was  born  in  Louisa  County, 
Iowa,  October  16,  1876,  a son  of  Frederick  C.  Keck, 
who  was  a millwright  by  trade,  and  also  a manu- 
facturing chemist.  Mr.  Keck  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools,  had  private  instruc- 
tion, and  graduated  through  the  grades  of  practical 
work  in  building  construction  into  the  profession 
of  architecture,  in  which  chosen  field  he  has  a record 
that  can  be  traced  in  many  of  the  costliest  public  and 
private  buildings  of  Northern  Minnesota. 

Since  removing  to  Crookston  in  1902  Mr.  Keck 
has  given  all  his  time  to  his  professional  work.  To 
exemplify  his  professional  achievements,  the  more 
notable  buildings  for  which  he  has  served  as  archi- 
tect are  as  follows : The  Central  High  School,  the 
Public  Library,  the  Immaculate  Conception  Cathe- 
dral, the  Cathedral  High  School,  the  Armory  of 
Company  I,  Third  Infantry,  Minnesota  National 
Guard,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Elks’ 
Club,  the  Crookston  State  Bank,  the  Morris  Block, 
all  in  Crookston;  the  buildings  of  the  General  Bro- 
kerage Company,  in  Canada  and  the  United  States, 
costing  $250,000;  at  Warren,  Minnesota,  he  built  the 
Opera  House  and  the  Tarselet  Building;  the  con- 
solidated school  buildings  at  Eldred,  Gully,  Middle 
River  and  Trail,  and  the  Carlquist  Building  at 
Warroad,  Minnesota,  and  also  a large  number  of 
banks  and  the  majority  of  the  best  class  of  res- 
idences in  Crookston  and  vicinity. 

Mr.  Keck  is  a member  of  the  Minnesota  State  Art 
Society,  president  of  the  Crookston  Automobile 
Club,  is  identified  with  the  Commercial  Club,  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order,  being  a past 
commander  of  the  Knights  Templar,  a member  of 
the  Shrine,  and  also  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  On  December  19,  1901,  he 
married  Elsa  Marie  Hanson  of  Jamestown,  New 
York.  Their  two  children  are:  Madeline  Hazel 

and  Konrad  Marshall.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keck  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  trustee. 

Carleton  College.  Since  its  first  college  class 
was  graduated  in  1874,  Carleton  College  has  sent 
forth  into  the  world  hundreds  of  men  and  women 
whose  career  has  been  characterized  by  Christian 
spirit,  practical  usefulness,  and  a service  of  high 
ideals  in  every  community  where  they  have  been 
placed.  As  an  institution  Carleton  has  had  nearly 
fifty  years  of  history  and  its  possibilities  for  useful 
service  in  the  future  are  now  greater  than  ever. 
Under  the  administration  of  President  Cowling 
during  the  last  six  years  it  has  received  recogni- 
tion as  one  of  the  schools  of  foremost  rank  in  the 


1396 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


collegiate  grade.  Carleton  also  has  many  traditions 
and  associations  that  are  cherished  in  the  hearts  of 
hundreds  of  pupils  long  since  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tical affairs  of  the  world,  and  all  these  will  appre- 
ciate a brief  sketch  of  the  founding  and  growth  of 
the  school  where  they  received  their  early  training. 

The  conception  of  Carleton  College  originated 
with  C.  M.  Goodsell,  a former  citizen  of  North- 
field,  who  had  come  to  the  state  with  the  cherished 
purpose  of  founding  a Christian  college.  Others 
associated  with  him  in  the  pioneer  plans  and  efforts 
were  Charles  Shedd,  Edward  Brown,  David  Burk, 
Richard  Hall  and  Charles  Seccombe.  In  the  gen- 
eral conference  of  Congregational  churches  of  Min- 
nesota in  October,  1864,  a resolution  was  passed  pro- 
viding for  an  inquiry  as  to  what  could  be  done  to- 
ward founding  a college  in  the  state.  Minnesota  was 
then  a new  state  and  the  Congregational  churches 
numbered  only  sixty-one  with  a total  membership 
of  less  than  twenty-one  hundred.  In  the  conference 
of  the  following  year  the  members  of  that  body 
committed  themselves  to  the  purpose  of  establish- 
ing a Christian  college,  and  in  18661  the  honor  of 
location  was  awarded  to  Northfield.  The  first  trus- 
tees were  nominated  by  the  state  conference  in  the 
same  year,  and  these  trustees  adopted  articles  of 
incorporation  and  became  a self-perpetuating  body, 
entirely  free  from  ecclesiastical  control. 

In  September,  1867,  the  preparatory  department 
of  the  college  was  opened,  and  a large  building 
formerly  used  as  a hotel  was  fitted  up  for  school 
purposes.  This  preparatory  school  was  discontinued 
in  1906. 

In  September,  1870,  Rev.  James  W.  Strong  was 
elected  as  the  first  president  of  the  college,  and 
that  year  saw  the  organization  of  the  first  class  in 
the  collegiate  course.  Up  to  that  time  Northfield 
College,  as  it  was  called,  had  depended  almost  en- 
tirely upon  the  support  of  residents  of  Minnesota, 
and  President  Strong  had  many  financial  problems 
to  solve  in  order  to  assure  the  future  of  the  insti- 
tution. In  order  to  provide  for  the  existing  and 
future  needs  of  the  college  the  president  undertook 
to  raise  a fund  of  $50,000,  and  one  of  the  largest 
contributors  was  Mr.  William  Carleton,  a wealthy 
Boston  business  man.  His  first  contribution  was 
for  current  expenses,  but  in  a few  weeks  he  made 
an  unconditional  gift  of  $50,000.  In  recognition  of 
this  timely  benefaction  the  trustees  unanimously 
voted  to  change  the  name  to  Carleton  College. 

From  the  foundation  thus  laid  more  than  forty 
years  ago,  Carleton  College  has  had  a growth  now 
represented  by  a splendid  material  equipment.  Its 
campus  comprises  twelve  city  blocks  and  immedi- 
ately adjoining  the  college  owns  a tract  of  about  two 
hundred  acres,  thirteen  of  which  are  used  as  an  ath- 
letic field.  The  remaining  land  is  operated  as  a col- 
lege farm.  The  first  permanent  building  was  Willis 
Hall,  named  in  honor  of  Miss  Susan  Willis,  one  of 
the  early  contributors  to  Carleton  College.  It  was 
completed  in  1872,  was  burned  in  1879,  was  rebuilt 
on  an  improved  plan,  and  is  now  the  seat  of  the 
college  chapel  and  recitation  rooms.  Williams  Hall, 
a two-story  brick  building,  was  erected  in  1881  for 
the  department  of  natural  science,  but  in  1910  the 
building  was  remodeled  and  is  now  used  for  class 
rooms,  literary  societies  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Grid- 
ley  Hall  was  built  in  1883  for  the  women  students, 
is  a three-story  building  of  white  brick,  was  re- 
modeled in  1912,  and  contains  the  college  dining 
hall.  The  Goodsell  Astronomical  Observatory, 


which  has  equipment  and  facilities  for  astronomical 
work  excelled  by  no  other  observatory  in  the 
Northwest,  occupies  a building  of  red  brick  erected 
in  1887.  The  first  observatory  was  built  in  1878. 
An  additional  dormitory  for  women  is  known  as 
Nourse  Cottage,  which  was  given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
A.  N.  Nourse  together  with  twenty  acres  of  land. 
The  Scoville  Memorial  Library  was  built  in  1896 
as  a memorial  to  the  late  James  VV.  Scoville  of 
Chicago.  It  is  one  of  the  chief  architectural  fea- 
tures of  the  campus.  The  Laird  Science  Hall  was 
built  in  1905,'  and  was  the  gift  of  the  late  William 
H.  Laird,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  who 
also  supplied  funds  for  the  Laird  Athletic  Field. 
The  Science  Hall  accommodates  the  departments  of 
chemistry,  of  biology  and  physics.  The  Sayles- 
Hill  Gymnasium,  erected  in  1910,  was  the  gift  of 
Prof,  and  Mrs.  Fred  B.  Hill,  and  is  a memorial 
for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Clark  Sayles,  the  par- 
ents of  Mrs.  Hill,  and  for  Mrs.  Grace  J.  Hill,  the 
mother  of  Professor  Hill.  In  1910  was  also  com- 
pleted the  central  heating  plant.  The  most  recent 
addition  to  the  college  campus  is  Music  Hall,  built 
in  I9J4  at  a cost  of  about  $50,000.  Two  additional 
buildings  are  at  present  under  construction : a men’s 
dormitory  which  will  cost  about  $120,000,  and  the 
Skinner  Memorial  Chapel  which  will  cost  about 
$100,000.  The  chapel  is  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Myron  W. 
Skinner  of  Northfield  and  is  a memorial  for  her  late 
husband,  who  was  one  of  the  original  trustees  of 
the  college. 

The  above  has  indicated  the  principal  features  of 
material  growth.  These  buildings  and  their  equip- 
ment, together  with  the  campus,  represent  an  invest- 
ment of  about  $865,000.  As  to  the  spirit  which  has 
animated  Carleton  College  and  gives  character  to 
its  work,  that  is  best  described  in  a quota- 
tion from  a recent  bulletin  of  the  college, 
which  says : “Carleton  college  is  a Christian 

college  of  the  Congregational  type.  It  repre- 
sents the  ideals  for  which  the  New  England 
colleges  were  founded,  and  is  adapted  to  the  needs 
and  spirit  of  the  west.  It  seeks  to  emphasize  the 
importance  of  a liberal  education,  and  offers  a 
course  of  study  designed  to  develop  men  and 
women  and  put  them  into  possession  of  all  their 
powers,  physical,  mental,  moral  and  spiritual,  rather 
than  to  equip  them  for  technical  training  for  a 
specific  calling.  It  is  primarily  interested  in  those 
who  desire  a full  four  years  college  course  as  a 
foundation  for  later  professional  study  and  their 
life  work.  The  college  is  especially  concerned  with 
the  moral  welfare  of  its  students.  It  strives  to 
preserve  a genuine  Christian  atmosphere  and  to 
have  all  of  its  influences  count  for  the  development 
of  strong  and  well  grounded  character.  Being  in- 
dependent of  all  ecclesiastical  or  state  control,  it  is 
free  to  adopt  such  educational  policies  as  in  the 
judgment  of  its  own  officers  are  best  adapted  to 
serve  the  ends  for  which  this  type  of  college  stands.” 

Carleton  College  has  for  some  years  been  steadily 
growing  and  raising  its  previous  high  standards  of 
collegiate  work.  At  the  present  time  the  faculty  of 
instruction  numbers  forty,  exclusive  of  adminis- 
trative officers  and  retired  instructors.  It  is  doubt- 
ful whether  any  institution  of  distinctly  college 
grade  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  is  paving  as 
high  a scale  of  salaries  for  instruction  as  Carleton. 
Carleton  has  been  able  to  measure  up  to  the  high 
standards  now  set  by  various  boards  as  a measure 
of  classification  of  the  colleges  and  universities  of 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1397 


the  country.  Carleton  is  now  one  of  the  few  col- 
leges west  of  the  Mississippi  River  recognized  by 
the  United  States  Department  of  Education  as  a 
college  of  the  first  rank  without  any  qualification 
whatever.  Under  the  conditions  laid  down  by  the 
Carnegie  Foundation  for  the  advancement  of  teach- 
ing, Carleton  was  admitted  to  the  first  list  of  col- 
leges accepted  by  that  board,  and  that  admission 
not  only  gives  the  direct  benefits  of  the  pension 
system,  but  also  indicates  the  high  order  of  work 
accomplished  by  the  college. 

Carleton  is  one  of  the  few  western  colleges  that 
admit  no  conditional  or  special  students,  and  it  is 
noteworthy  that  the  graduates  have  established  a 
high  record  in  the  graduate  schools  where  they 
have  continued  their  studies.  Another  definite 
judgment  on  the  scholastic  standing  of  Carleton  was 
expressed  in  1913  when  the  National  Council  of  the 
United  Chapters  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society 
granted  a chapter  to  Carleton.  This  is  the  oldest 
college  fraternity  in  the  country,  and  one  whose 
membership  has  always  represented  the  highest 
scholarly  attainments.  Another  honor  fraternity 
with  a chapter  at  Carleton  is  the  Delta  Sigma  Rho, 
the  national  honorary  forensic  society,  which  on 
the  record  of  Carleton  students  in  debate  and  ora- 
tory granted  a chapter  in  1910. 

Carleton  is  associated  with  Beloit,  Grinnell,  Knox 
and  Colorado  colleges  in  the  “Harvard  Exchange,” 
— an  arrangement  providing  for  annual  exchanges 
of  professors  between  Harvard  University  and  this 
group  of  western  colleges.  Carleton  College  in 
1915  has  an  enrollment  of  471  students,  representing 
an  increase  of  about  fifty  per  cent  during  the  past 
six  years.  During  the  same  period  the  college  has 
received  gifts  amounting  to  about  $850,000,  and  be- 
sides the  five  new  buildings  added  to  the  campus  as 
already  noted,  more  than  $50,000  has  been  spent  on 
improvements  to  other  buildings. 

Rev.  Donald  John  Cowling,  Ph.D..  D.  D.  It  has 
been  under  the  able  administration  of  Doctor  Cow- 
ling, who  has  been  president  since  1909,  that  Carleton 
has  enjoyed  its  greatest  era  of  both  material  and 
scholastic  progress.  Though  a comparatively  young 
man  in  the  executive  field  of  education,  Doctor 
Cowling  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  ablest  college 
administrators  in  the  country. 

Donald  John  Cowling  was  born  at  Travalga, 
Cornwall,  'England,  August  21,  1880.  His  parents 
were  John  P.  and  Mary  K.  (Stephens)  Cowling, 
his  father  a minister  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
The  family  came  to  the  United  States  in  1882,  set- 
tling in  Pennsylvania  where,  together  with  a resi- 
dence of  three  years  in  Ontario,  Canada,  tne  father 
was  identified  with  the  ministry  until  his  death  in 
1907.  The  mother  is  still  living. 

Doctor  Cowling  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Ontario,  Canada,  in  1899  entered 
Lebanon  Valley  College,  Annville,  Pennsvlvania, 
graduating  A.  B.  in  1902,  then  spent  four  years  in 
Yale  University  until  1906,  and  during  his  post- 
graduate career  received  from  that  institution  the 
A.  B.  dearree,  and  the  degrees  Master  of  Arts,  Bache- 
lor of  Divinity  and  Doctor  of  Philosophy.  During 
his  senior  year  in  the  divinity  school  he  was  presi- 
dent of  his  class. 

His  work  as  an  instructor  was  in  Baker  Univer- 
sity at  Baldwin,  Kansas,  where”  he  occupied  the 
chair  of  philosophy  from  1906  until  1909.  In  1909 
Baker  University  conferred  upon  him  the  degree 


D.  D.  Since  July  1,  1909,  Doctor  Cowling  has  been 
president  of  Carleton  College,  and  the  record  of  his 
work  has  already  been  indicated  in  the  sketch  of 
that  institution. 

Doctor  Cowling  has.  contributed  a number  of 
articles  to  various  magazines,  and  several  addresses 
on  educational  subjects,  as  a prominent  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  he  is  president  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  Congregational  Home 
Mission  Society  of  Minnesota;  chairman  of  Com- 
mittee on  Organization  of  Congregational  National 
Council’s  "Commission  on  Missions;”  trustee  of 
Chicago  Theological  Seminary ; member  of  the 
State  Executive  Committee  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. ; and 
is  a trustee  of  Carleton  College.  He  has  numerous 
relations  with  social,  fraternal  and  scientific  organ- 
izations, including:  “Book  and  Bond”  Fraternity  of 
Yale;  Sigma  Xi  Fraternity;  Phi  Beta  Kappa; 
American  Sociological  Association;  Western  Phil- 
osophical Association;  National  Education  Asso- 
ciation; Religious  Education  Association  ; American 
Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science;  Chi- 
cago University  Club;  Northfield  Commercial  Club; 
is  a Lodge  and  Chapter  Mason  and  also  a member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  June  27,  1907,  Doctor  Cowling  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  L.  Stehman,  daughter  of  Jonas  G.  and 
Annie  (Dohner)  Stehman  of  Mountville,  Penn- 
sylvania. Their  family  of  three  daughters  are 
named:  Mary  Ellen,  born  July  25,  1908;  Elizabeth, 
born  July  7,  1910;  and  Margaret,  born  November 
16,  1911. 

Hon.  Charles  E.  Flandrau.  With  the  death  of 
Hon.  Charles  E.  Flandrau,  which  occurred  at  St. 
Paul,  September  9,  1903,  there  passed  away  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  characters  in  Minnesota's 
history.  An  eminent  jurist,  he  was  one  of  the  first 
justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state,  and  his 
opinions  and  interpretations  of  the  constitution  and 
statutes  are  today  permanent  forms  and  precedents 
in  the  state  jurisprudence.  As  a soldier  he  per- 
formed one  of  the  most  brilliant  exploits  in  the 
military  annals  of  the  state.  It  has  been  the  lot  of 
few  men  to  live  a life  of  such  varied  and  distin- 
guished service.  He  was  a sailor  boy,  a cabinet- 
maker, a lawyer,  judge,  public  official,  soldier  and 
eminent  citizen,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  he 
was  faithful  and  true,  so  that  his  career  remains  as 
one  of  the  most  honorable  personal  records  in  the 
history  of  Minnesota. 

Born  in  New  York  City,  July  15,  1828,  Charles 
Eugene  Flandrau  inherited  the  gifts  of  good  an- 
cestry, a home  of  culture  and  character,  and  liberal 
advantages.  On  the  paternal  side  his  Huguenot 
ancestors,  fleeing  under  persecution  from  La 
Rochelle,  France,  had  joined  the  colony  that 
founded  New  Rochelle  in  Westchester  County,  New 
York.  In  this  old  settlement  was  born  his  father, 
Thomas  Hunt  Flandrau,  who  in  his  time  was  a 
fine  lawyer  and  a man  of  high  position.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Hamilton  College,  studied  law  with 
Judge  Nathan  Williams  at  Utica,  and  after  his  ad- 
mission to  the  bar  formed  a partnership  with  Aaron 
Burr,  whose  erratic  and  unfortunate  career  is  a 
familiar  page  of  American  history.  In  this  practice 
they  located  at  New  York  City.  About  1825 
Thomas  H.  Flandrau  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Ma- 
comb, a half-sister  of  Gen.  Alexander  Macomb, 
commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States  army 
from  1828  to  1841.  Several  years  after  their  mar- 


1398 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


riage  Mr.  Flandrau  removed  to  Oneida  County, 
New  York,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
January  2,  1855. 

Charles  E.  Flandrau  began  his  education  at 
Georgetown,  D.  C.,  but  at  the  age  of  thirteen  he 
left  school,  determined  to  enter  the  navy.  With 
influential  friends  to  support  him  he  applied  to  the 
secretary  of  the  navy  for  a warrant  as  midshipman. 
He  was  too  young  by  a year,  so  when  the  appoint- 
ment was  refused  he  shipped  before  the  mast  in  the 
revenue  cutter  Forward.  He  served  one  year  on 
that  vessel  and  one  year  on  the  cutter  Van  Buren, 
and  then  made  several  coasting  voyages  on  mer- 
chantmen. Three  years  of  his  youth  were  spent  as 
a sailor,  and  he  then  returned  to  the  land  and  again 
entered  school  at  Georgetown.  Judge  Flandrau 
through  all  his  life  was  a man  of  self-reliant,  de- 
cisive character,  and  in  this  light  the  changes  of 
occupation  he  made  when  a boy  had  none  of  the 
haphazardness  that  is  associated  with  inconstancy 
and  lack  of  application. 

After  a few  months  in  school  he  again  left  and 
went  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  city  of  his  birth. 
He  found  employment  in  the  large  mahogany  mills 
of  Mahlon  Bunnell,  corner  of  Pike  and  Cherry 
streets,  and  during  the  three  years  he  remained 
there  he  became  proficient  in  every  branch  of  the 
business.  Cabinet-making  was  resigned  in  order  to 
enter  his  father's  office  at  Whitesboro,  where  he 
began  the  study  of  law.  Two  years  of  close  appli- 
cation brought  him  to  the  entrance  of  his  larger 
career,  and-  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Oneida 
County,  January  7,  1851. 

After  spending  two  or  three  years  in  partnership 
with  his  father,  in  the  fall  of  1853  he  determined  to 
locate  on  the  western  frontier  in  the  Territory  of 
Minnesota.  He  and  Horace  R.  Bigelow  arrived  in 
St.  Paul  together  in  the  latter  part  of  November. 
After  being  admitted  to  the  bar  they  opened  an 
office  on  Third  Street  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bigelow  & Flandrau.  At  that  period  of  Minnesota 
history  law  business  was  scarce,  and  the  young  at- 
torneys had  many  tedious  intervals  between  “cases.” 
This  period  of  his  career  is  described  by  Hon.  Isaac 
Atwater,  a former  partner  of  Judge  Flandrau,  and 
the  following  paragraph  is  excerpted  from  the  At- 
water sketch : 

The  practice  of  law  in  Minnesota  in  early  days 
was  neither  arduous  nor  specially  remunerative. 
Some  business  was  furnished  by  the  United  States 
land  offices,  but  commerce  was  in  its  infancy  and 
the  immense  and  profitable  business  furnished  the 
profession  by  the  railroads  was  then  wholly  un- 
known. It  so  happened  that  during  the  winter  of 
1853-4  certain  capitalists  of  St.  Paul  engaged  the 
services  of  Mr.  Flandrau  to  make  explorations  in 
the  Minnesota  Valley  and  to  negotiate  for  the 
purchase  of  property  there,  especially  the  “Cap- 
tain Dodd  claim”  at  what  was  then  called  Rock 
Bend,  now  St.  Peter.  His  report  was  favorable  to 
the  purchase,  and  he  was  so  impressed  with  the 
prospective  advantages  of  the  country  that  he  de- 
cided to  locate  in  the  valley  himself.  St.  Peter  was 
then  unknown.  Traverse  des  Sioux  was  the  only 
settlement  in  the  vicinity,  and  consisted  of  a few 
Indian  traders  and  their  attaches  and  a number  of 
missionaries.  Here  he  met  Stuart  B.  Garvie,  a 
Scotchman,  who  had  just  been  appointed  clerk  of 
the  District  Court  of  Nicollet  County,  and  occupied 
an  office  with  him.  Their  law  business  was  very 


limited.  The  young  men  were  frequently  at  their 
wits'  end  for  devices  to  “keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door.”  Indeed  they  did  not  wish  to  keep  him  from 
the  door  in  a literal  sense.  Instead  of  an  enemy 
the  wolf  became  their  friend.  They  placed  the  car- 
cass of  a dead  pony  within  easy  rifle  shot  of  the 
back  window  of  their  office,  and  this  proved  a fatal 
attraction  to  the  prairie  rovers.  Every  night  many 
of  them  fell  victims  to  the  rifles  of  the  young- 
lawyers,  who  skinned  the  bodies  and  sold  the  hides 
for  75  cents  apiece. 

With  the  opening  of  the  season  in  1854  immi- 
gration began  to  pour  into  the  Minnesota  Valley, 
and  in  June  of  that  year  the  first  house  was  built  in 
St.  Peter.  Judge  Flandrau  continued  to  reside  at 
Traverse  des  Sioux  until  1864,  and  during  this 
time  he  had  risen  to  be  one  of  the  most  eminent 
men  of  the  territory  and  state.  He  became  in  1854 
notary  public  and  deputy  clerk  and  later  district 
attorney  for  - Nicollet  County.  He  was  elected  in 
1856  a member  of  the  territorial  council,  but  re- 
signed after  his  first  year  and  in  1857  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  constitutional  convention,  as  a demo- 
crat. In  August,  1856,  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Pierce  agent  to  the  Sioux  Indians  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Following  the  Spirit  Lake  and  Springfield 
massacres,  he  took  an  active  part  in  pursuit  of  the 
Indians  and  the  subsequent  restoration  of  the  two 
captives,  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Marble  and  Miss  Abbie 
Gardner. 

In  1857,  having  resigned  as  Indian  agent,  he  was 
appointed  on  July  17th,  by  President  Buchanan,  an 
associate  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Min- 
nesota Territory.  He  occupied  the  bench  as  a mem- 
ber of  this  court  during  only  one  general  term, 
January,  1858,  as  Minnesota  soon  afterward  became 
a state.  In  the  democratic  convention  of  the  pre- 
ceding year,  for  nomination  to  state  offices,  Judge 
Flandrau  was  nominated  for  associate  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  for  the  term  of  seven  years. 
The  entire  democratic  ticket  was  elected,  and  on 
the  ratification  of  the  constitution  by  Congress  and 
the  admission  of  the  state  early  in  1858,  he  qualified 
and  entered  on  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  His 
record  as  a jurist  is  permanently  written  in  the 
first  nine  volumes  of  the  Minnesota  reports.  At 
almost  every  term  he  wrote  more  than  his  share  of 
the  opinions.  He  was  one  of  the  most  industrious 
judges  that  ever  sat  on  a state  bench,  and  the  judg- 
ment of  his  associates  and  of  history  gives  him  the 
honor  of  being  one  of  the  founders  of  the  system 
of  jurisprudence  of  the  state,  both  through  his  work 
in  the  constitutional  convention  and  on  the  supreme 
bench. 

The  first  Supreme  Court  of  Minnesota  had  much 
important  work  to  do.  The  code  had  been  recently 
adopted  and  pleadings  and  practice  were  in  a 
transitional  condition,  and  Minnesota  had  not  uni- 
formly followed  the  precedents  and  lines  of  de- 
cisions established  in  any  of  the  older  states,  in 
addition  to  which  there  was  no  system  in  the 
decisions  of  the  territorial  court.  The  construc- 
tion of  a large  number  of  statutes  had  also  to  be 
determined  for  the  first  time.  These  facts,  besides 
increasing  the  labors  of  the  court  much  beyond  the 
comparative  length  of  the  calendars,  invested  these 
early  results  of  the  court’s  decisions  with  an  au- 
thority and  importance  that  through  all  subsequent 
years  have  had  their  effect.  The  language  of  Judge 
Flandrau’s  decisions  was  always  plain,  simple  and 
clear,  but  uniformly  terse,  vigorous  and  decided. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1399 


The  decisions  themselves  are  models  of  perspicuity 
and  judicial  soundness.  As  a fact  of  interest  to 
his  biography  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  these 
decisions  were  all  rendered  before  he  attained  the 
age  of  thirty-six  and  many  of  them  before  he 
was  thirty. 

On  October  25,  1858,  Judge  Flandrau  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Sibley  judge-advocate  general 
of  the  state,  a position  he  held  during  that  gover- 
nor’s term.  While  he  was  still  occupying  his  office 
of  associate  justice,  a great  series  of  events  oc- 
curred that  drew  his  services  to  the  field  of  war  and 
gave  his  name  an  imperishable  lustre  as  a military 
character  of  the  state. 

The  rising  of  the  Sioux  Indians  occurred  in  Au- 
gust, 1862,  the  news  reached  judge  Flandrau  at  his 
residence -in  Traverse  des  Sioux  early  the  morning 
of  the  19th,  brought  by  couriers  from  New  Ulm, 
thirty-two  miles  away.  With  his  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  Indian  character  and  of  these  Indians 
in  particular,  Judge  Flandrau  appreciated  the  situa- 
tion instantly,  and  at  once  sent  all  his  own  family 
to  Minneapolis.  At  St.  Peter  he  assisted  in  raising 
and  equipping  a company  of  115  volunteers,  who 
chose  him  as  their  captain.  By  noon  he  was  in  the 
saddle,  at  the  head  of  the  company,  and  on  the 
way  to  the  rescue  of  the  Town  of  New  Ulm.  He 
arrived  just  in  time.  The  place  was  already  at- 
tacked by  200  savages  and  a considerable  portion 
of  the  settlement  was  on  fire.  Flandrau  and  his 
men  galloped  in,  charged  and  drove  off  the  Indians, 
extinguished  the  fires,  and  calmed  the  terror- 
stricken  people.  Hailed  as  the  savior  of  the  town, 
Judge  Flandrau  was  unanimously  chosen  as  com- 
mander of  all  the  forces,  and  he  immediately  began 
to  prepare  for  the  attack  which  he  knew  would  be 
resumed.  The  men  were  put  under  hasty  discipline, 
and  a circular  barricade  constructed  in  the  center 
of  town  for  shelter  to  the  women  and  children. 
Then  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  about  seven  hun- 
dred Indians,  well  armed,  a majority  of  whom  had 
been  engaged  in  besieging  Fort  Ridgely,  stormed 
against  the  defenders  of  New  Ulm,  who  were  about 
three  hundred  strong  and  most  of  them  armed 
with  hunting  rifles  and  fowling  pieces.  For  two 
days  the  fight  raged,  during  which  the  greater  part 
of  the  town  was  burned,  ten  white  men  were  killed 
and  fifty  wounded.  The  Indians,  whose  loss  was 
probably  much  greater,  then  retired  but  continued 
to  menace  the  little  garrison.  In  this  situation, 
with  ammunition  and  provisions  nearly  exhausted, 
Judge  F'landrau  evacuated  the  town  and  escorted 
over  a hundred  and  fifty  wagons,  containing  the 
helpless  and  wounded,  in  the  direction  of  Mankato, 
which  was  reached  in  safety. 

Such  is  an  outline  of  the  defense  of  New  Ulm, 
which  in  detail  is  one  of  the  most  thrilling  chapters 
in  the  annals  of  the  Northwest.  As  the  leader  of 
the  rescue  party  and  the  commander  of  the  town 
during  the  siege,  Judge  Flandrau  gained  a fame 
throughout  the  nation.  As  a former  biographer 
has  said:  “Never  before  in  the  history  of  our 
country  has  a judge  of  a supreme  court  figured  as 
a dashing  military  leader,  leaving  the  woolsack  for 
a dragoon’s  saddle,  exchanging  his  pens  and  books 
for  swords  and  pistols,  and  riding  forth  to  deliver 
a beleaguered  town  with  such  expedition  that  only 
a regular  cavalryman,  armed,  mounted  and  on  the 
qui  vive  might  equal  the  time.” 

Throughout  the  remainder  of  the  hositilities  on 
Ae  northwest  frontier  Judge  Flandrau  rendered 
voi.  in— 9 


important  service.  He  was  authorized  by  Governor 
Ramsey  to  raise  troops,  appoint  officers  over  them, 
and  generally  to  perform  whatever  service  he 
deemed  best  for  the  defense  of  the  southwest 
frontier  of  the  state.  Later  he  was  commissioned 
by  the  governor  a colonel  of  state  militia.  He 
raised  and  organized  several  companies  of  men,  and 
as  commander  of  the  southern  frontier  posted  them 
in  picket  garrisons  from  New  Ulm  to  the  Iowa  line. 
In  October,  when  the  Indians  had  been  driven  from 
the  state,  and  the  state  and  federal  forces  were  in 
complete  control  of  the  situation,  he  turned  over  his 
command  at  South  Bend  to  Colonel  Montgomery 
of  the  Twenty-fifth  Wisconsin,  and  then  resumed 
the  discharge  of  his  official  duties. 

Judge  Flandrau  resigned  his  seat  on  the  supreme 
bench  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  took  up  the  prac- 
tice of  law  with  his  former  associate,  Judge  At- 
water, at  Carson  and  Virginia  City  in  the  Territory 
of  Nevada.  He  spent  a year  there  and  late  in  1865 
engaged  in  a partnership  practice  in  the  City  of  St. 
Louis.  In  less  than  a year,  however,  he  had  re- 
turned to  Minnesota  and  in  1867  joined  Judge 
Atwater  in  practice  at  Minneapolis.  He  was  elected 
city  attorney  and  in  1868  was  chosen  the  first 
president  of  the  board  of  trade  of  that  city. 

In  1870  Judge  Flandrau  located  in  St.  Paul, 
which  city  remained  his  residence  during  the  rest 
of  his  career.  He  was  associated  at  different  times 
with  various  well  known  lawyers,  and  his  firm  was 
always  rated  as  one  of  the  strongest  in  the  North- 
west. His  name  is  on  the  list  of  former  presidents 
of  the  Ramsey  County  Bar  Association,  and  many 
other  honors  that  cannot  be  mentioned  in  this  sketch 
came  to  him  in  the  course  of  his  long  and  distim 
guished  career. 

In  politics  Judge  Flandrau  was  a Jeffersonian 
democrat  of  the  old  type,  and  was  always  more  of  a 
statesman  than  a politician.  His  political  convic- 
tions were  seldom  influenced  by  opportunism  or 
party  selfishness,  and  he  often  opposed  the  plans 
of  his  party,  however  without  impairing  his  dignity 
and  power  as  a leader.  After  the  war,  when  Min- 
nesota became  a stronghold  of  republicanism,  he 
was  the  democratic  nominee  for  governor  in  1867, 
and  in  1869  for  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
Neither  of  these  honors  was  of  his  own  seeking, 
for  he  was  never  a place-hunter. 

Judge  Flandrau  possessed  an  interesting  per- 
sonality and  had  friends  and  admirers  in  every 
portion  of  the  state.  Of  kindly  temper,  a gentle- 
man in  all  his  relations,  he  was  an  ornament  in  all 
social  circles.  He  possessed  fine  talents,  was  a 
forcible  speaker,  a good  writer,  and  whether  as 
judge  or  man  of  affairs  possessed  the  scholarship 
and  wide  information  which  gave  his  opinions  the 
character  of  authority. 

On  August  10,  1859,  Judge  Flandrau  was  married 
to  Miss  Isabella  Ramsay  Dinsmore,  daughter  of 
Col.  James  Dinsmore,  of  Boone  County,  Kentucky. 
At  her  death  on  June  30,  1867,  she  left  two  daugh- 
ters, now  Mrs.  Tilden  R.  Selmes  and  Mrs.  Franklin 
Cutcheon.  Judge  Flandrau  married,  February  28, 
1871,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Blair  Riddle,  who  died  on 
December  5,  1911.  Mrs.  Flandrau  was  a daughter 
of  Judge  William  McClure,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Two  sons  were  born  of  her  marriage  to 
Judge  Flandrau:  Charles  Macomb  Flandrau  and 
William  Blair  McClure  Flandrau.  Few  families  of 
St.  Paul  have  more  intimate  associations  with  the 
life  and  history  of  the  state,  and  no  personality 


1400 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


throws  a more  interesting  and  honorable  distinction 
on  the  annals  of  the  city  than  the  late  Judge  Flan- 
drau. 

Alexander  Ramsey.  The  primacy  of  Alexander 
Ramsey,  who  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  September  8,  1815,  and  died 
in  St.  Paul,  April  22,  1903,  in  the  public  life  and 
private  citizenship  of  the  community  in  which  most 
of  his  fruitful  years  were  spent  has  been  universally 
recognized.  He  filled  many  exalted  official  posi- 
tions, in  his  home  and  in  his  adopted  states  and  in 
the  Government  of  the  United  States.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress for  two  terms  while  a resident  of  his  native 
county  and  state,  and  before  he  was  thirty  years  of 
age.  He  was  governor  of  the  Territory  of  Minne- 
sota for  the  first  four  years  of  its  existence,  and 
ex-officio  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs ; he  was 
mayor  of  St.  Paul  from  1855  to  1857;  he  was  gov- 
ernor of  the  State  of  Minnesota  from  i860  to  the 
time  when  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  from  Minnesota,  in  which  he  served  two 
terms  of  six  years  each.  He  was  secretary  of  war 
under  the  administration  of  President  Hayes,  and 
once,  during  that  service,  also  acted  as  secretary 
of  the  navy.  He  filled  several  minor  offices,  such 
as  commissioner  to  treat  with  the  Indians  of  both 
the  Sioux  and  Chippewa  tribes,  and  commissioner 
to  carry  into  effect  the  act  of  Congress  for  abolish- 
ing polygamy  in  the  territory  and  among  the  peo- 
ple of  Utah. 

On  his  father’s  side  he  was  of  Scotch  descent. 
His  grandfather,  Alexander  Ramsey,  was  born  in 
eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  his  father,  Thomas  Ram- 
sey, near  the  Town  of  York,  June  15,  1784.  The 
latter  was  an  officer  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  died 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  ten  years 
old.  His  mother,  Elizabeth  Kelker,  was  a descend- 
ant of  some  of  the  early  German  settlers  of  Penn- 
sylvania. It  will  be  thus  seen  that  he  descended 
from  two  sturdy  and  energetic  races,  and  in  his 
temperament  and  habits  he  combined  some  of  the 
best  characteristics  of  both. 

Left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father,  young 
Ramsey  became  a protege  of  a grand-uncle,  Fred- 
erick Kelker,  a merchant  of  high  standing  in 
Harrisburg,  in  whose  store  he  was  for  a time  em- 
ployed. When  still  a youth  he  was  employed  as  a 
clerk  in  the  office  of  register  of  deeds  of  Dauphin 
County.  Of  his  own  volition  he  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter  as  a possible  resource  for  emergencies. 
He  was  constantly  pursuing  his  studies,  however, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  was  enabled  to  enter 
Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  took  a partial  collegiate  course  with  intervals  of 
teaching.  In  1837  he  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Hon.  Hamilton  Alricks,  of  Harrisburg.  He  com- 
pleted his  legal  education  at  the  law  school  at 
Carlisle,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1839.  He 
pursued  his  profession  successfully  in  Harrisburg 
for  several  years.  He  also  manifested  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs,  as  an  adherent  of  the 
whig  party.  In  the  Harrison  campaign  of  1840 
he  was  secretary  of  the  state  electoral  college  and 
in  January,  1841,  he  was  elected  chief  clerk  of  the 
Pennsylvania  House  of  Representatives. 

In  1843  Mr.  Ramsey  was  elected  to  Congress. 
In  1844  he  was  again  nominated  and  elected,  and 
would  undoubtedly  have  received  a third  term  but 
that  he  declined  a renomination  which  was  tendered 
him  in  1846. 


On  September  10,  1845,  Mr.  Ramsey  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Earl  Jenks,  a daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Michael  H.  Jenks,  a judge  for  many 
years  of  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  a repre- 
sentative in  Congress  from  1843  to  1845.  From  this 
union  were  born  two  sons,  both  of  whom  died  in 
infancy,  and  one  daughter,  Marion,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  E.  Furness,  of  St.  Paul.  The  children  of 
Mrs.  Furness  are:  Alex.  Ramsey  Furness,  living  in 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri ; Anna  E.  Ramsey  Furness, 
and  Laura  Furness,  of  St.  Paul. 

In  1848  Mr.  Ramsey  was  chairman  of  the  state 
committee  of  the  whig  party  and  conducted  the 
successful  campaign  for  Zachary  Taylor  as  Presi- 
dent. In  March,  1849,  President  Taylor  appointed 
him  governor  of  the  newly  created  Territory  of 
Minnesota.  Fie  accepted  the  honor,  arriving  in 
St.  Paul  May  27,  1849,  and  proceeded  to  organize 
the  territory,  as  fully  narrated  in  another  volume. 

As  the  governor  of  the  Territory  of  Minnesota, 
which  at  that  time  extended  from  the  St.  Croix 
River  to  the  Missouri  River,  and  from  the  northern 
boundary  of  Iowa  to  the  British  possessions,  he 
had  the  most  difficult  duties  to  perform.  He  was. 
to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  state.  He  at  once 
recognized  that  the  wonderful  natural  resources  of 
this  new  country  required  but  the  energy  of  man  to 
develop  a rich  and  powerful  commonwealth,  and 
among  his  first  steps  after  convening  the  Legisla- 
ture were  those  that  led  to  the  abandonment  by  the 
Indians  of  all  title  to  their  land  lying  between  the 
St.  Croix  River  on  the  east  and  a line  on  the  west 
that  afterwards  proved  to  be  the  western  boundary 
of  the  state,  in  such  a manner  as  to  be  satisfactory 
to  the  Indians  and  creditable  and  honorable  to  the 
United  States.  By  this  treaty  with  the  Sioux  in 
1851  about  forty  million  acres  of  fertile  land  were 
opened  to  settlement.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year  he  visited  the  Red  River  Colony,  and  made  at 
Pembina  a treaty  with  the  northern  Chippewas  for 
the  cession  by  them  of  thirty  miles  on  each  side  of 
Red  River.  This  treaty  was  not  ratified  by  the 
Senate,  but  in  1863  Governor  Ramsey,  then  sena- 
tor, made  another  treaty,  accomplishing  the  results 
aimed  at  in  the  previous  one,  and  thus  threw  the 
great  and  fertile  Red  River  Valley  open  to  settle- 
ment. 

In  1857,  at  the  first  state  election,  he  was  nom- 
inated by  the  republican  party  for  governor,  but, 
after  a gallant  contest  the  party  did  not  succeed  in 
carrying  its  ticket  for  causes  which  need  not  now 
be  enumerated.  Two  years  later  he  was  again 
nominated  for  the  same  office,  and  this  time  re- 
ceived a handsome  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
January  2,  i860.  At  that  time  the  state  was  in 
debt,  taxes  were  difficult  to  collect,  and  many  other 
troubles  were  to  be  contended  with,  but  his  admin- 
istration was  a very  successful  one,  and  the 
finances  of  the  state  soon  showed  a great  improve- 
ment. Fie  even  asked  the  Legislature  to  reduce 
his  own  salary  from  $2,500  a year  to  $1,500  a year, 
an  evidence  of  public  spirit  and  patriotism  which 
we  see  rarely  displayed  in  these  days.  His  meas- 
ures of  economy  resulted  in  greatlv  reducing  public 
expenditure  in  relieving  the  burdens  of  the  tax- 
payers. 

He  must  be  credited  mainly  with  saving  the  lib- 
eral grants  of  school  lands  and  the  funds  derived 
therefrom  from  the  despoilers,  and  bringing  the 
lands  and  the  funds  to  a position  where  they  rest 
securely  under  the  guaranty  and  protection  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1401 


constitution.  The  grant  to  the  university  by  the 
United  States  was  saved  by  the  course-  adopted  by 
him  as  governor  of  the  state  during  his  first  term 
and  the  great  growth  and  prosperity  of  that  insti- 
tution is  due  as  much  to  him,  and  probably  more, 
than  to  any  other  one  man. 

The  dark  clouds  of  civil  war  began  to  gather 
towards  the  close  of  i860,  and  in  April,  1861,  the 
armed  struggle  commenced  by  the  attack  on  Fort 
Sumter.  Governor  Ramsey  was  in  Washington 
at  this  time,  and  hearing  of  the  fall  of  that  fort 
at  once  called  on  President  Lincoln  and  tendered 
to  him  1,000  men  from  Minnesota  to  aid  in  sup- 
pressing the  insurrection.  President  Lincoln  had 
not  then  issued  his  proclamation  calling  for  troops, 
and  this  tender  of  troops  by  Governor  Ramsey  was 
the  first  offer  of  armed  support  to  the  Government 
made  during  the  memorable  crisis.  The  treasury 
of  the  state  at  this  time  was  empty,  no  appropria- 
tion had  been  made  for  this  purpose  and  the  Leg- 
islature would  not  convene  until  the  winter  fol- 
lowing, but  his  standing  was  such  in  the  business 
world  that  he  was  able  to  clothe,  arm  and  equip 
in  all  respects  for  active  service  at  least  five  regi- 
ments of  infantry  of  1,000  men  each,  several  bat- 
teries and  some  squadrons  of  cavalry. 

When  more  than  five  thousand  troops  had  left 
the  state  and  were  serving  in  the  armies  at  the 
South  and  a call,  accompanied  with  a draft,  had 
been  made  upon  all  the  states  for  300,000  more 
troops,  and  the  State  of  Minnesota  was  well  ad- 
vanced in  meeting  this  call,  there  occurred  one  of 
those  Indian  uprisings  upon  our  frontier,  without 
any  previous  warning,  that  caused  all  men  to 
tremble  and  laid  many  prostrate  with  fear.  Fol- 
lowing an  evening  that  was  peaceful  and  serene, 
a morning  came  filled  with  destruction  and  dismay, 
threatening  the  desolation  of  the  western  frontier 
of  Minnesota  for  300  miles.  The  Sioux  nation  of 
Indians  had  suddenly  declared  war,  and,  like  all 
the  wars  of  those  savages,  it  was  waged  against 
women  and  children.  None  were  spared  or  allowed 
to  escape  except  the  armed  soldier,  and  many  of 
these  were  shot  from  ambuscade.  This  was  enough 
to  arouse  all  the  fire  of  the  governor  and  bring  into 
strongest  action  those  faculties  that  he  had  in- 
herited from  Revolutionary  sires.  He  saw  the 
desolation  of  the  frontiers  going  on,  and  the  pop- 
ulation fleeing  from  the  state.  He  immediately 
summoned  all  the  resources  of  the  state,  turned  all 
the  able-bodied  men  back  to  the  frontiers,  fought 
battles,  defensive  and  offensive,  without  organized 
troops,  using  the  farmers  with  their  shot-guns  and 
men  of  every  class  with  their  most  available 
weapons,  to  fight  in  lines  of  battle,  and  judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  who  had  received  no  military 
education  to  command  them. 

_ Governor  Ramsey  called  his  long-time  political 
rival,  Gen.  H.  H.  Sibley,  to  the  chief  command,  and 
in  a remarkably  short  campaign  the  savages  were 
defeated  in  battle  and  driven  beyond  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  state,  all  their  white  prisoners  were  re- 
leased and  confidence  was  restored  to  the  people  of 
the  frontier,  never  afterward  to  be  seriously 
menaced. 

In  January,  1863,  Governor  Ramsey  was  elected 
United  States  senator  from  Minnesota,  and  in 
1869,  at  the  close  of  his  term,  was  re-elected  for  six 
years  more.  During  this  period  he  served  as 
chairman  on  several  important  standing  committees, 
among  them  those  on  postoffices  and  postroads,  on 


territories,  etc.  Postal  reform  occupied  much  of 
his  attention  during  this  time.  He  first  introduced 
the  bill  for  the  repeal  of  the  franking  abuse,  and 
visited  France  in  1869  to  urge  cheaper  interna- 
tional postage,  which  was  not  long  afterwards 
adopted.  The  improvement  of  the  Mississippi 
River  and  its  navigable  tributaries ; the  aiding  of 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad;  assisting  the  terri- 
tories of  Dakota  and  Montana  to  obtain  necessary 
legislation ; the  encouragement  of  trade  with  Mani- 
toba, and  other  measures  to  benefit  the  Northwest, 
found  in  Senator  Ramsey  an  active  supporter.  No 
member  of  Congress  during  his  term  worked 
harder  or  more  successfully  for  the  interests  of 
his  constituency,  or  for  the  general  prosperity  of 
the  Union  than  he. 

Governor  Ramsey  was  appointed  secretary  of 
war  by  President  Hayes,  and  served  until  the 
close  of  that  term,  in  1881.  He  administered  the 
department  with  great  wisdom  and  discretion. 
During  his  administration  as  much  preparation  was 
made  for  the  defense  of  our  great  cities  on  the 
sea  coast  by  procuring  the  heaviest  ordnance  and 
adopting  the  most  skillful  methods  of  operating 
the  same  with  efficiency  as  has  been  made  in  any 
like  period.  He  often  administered  the  department 
of  the  navy  as  acting  secretary  while  he  was  secre- 
tary of  war. 

He  served  from  1882  to  1886  under  an  appoint- 
ment by  President  Arthur  as  a member  of  the 
Utah  Commission,  provided  for  by  the  “Edmunds 
Act.” 

Mrs.  Anna  E.  Ramsey  departed  this  life  Novem- 
ber 29,  1884,  aged  fifty-eight  years.  No  biography 
of  Senator  Ramsey  would  be  complete  without 
doing  full  justice  to  the  memory  of  this  superior 
woman.  From  the  day  of  her  advent  into  Minne- 
sota in  1849  to  her  death,  a period  of  thirty-five 
years,  Mrs.  Ramsey  was  one  of  the  foremost  figures 
in  society,  if  not  the  most  prominent  in  social  cir- 
cles of  both  St.  Paul  and  Washington.  Endowed 
by  nature  with  a striking  personal  beauty,  with  a 
commanding  and  queenly  presence,  with  amiable 
and  winning  manners,  Mrs.  Ramsey  remained  un- 
changingly the  center  of  an  admiring  circle  of 
friends.  During  this  time  she  was  foremost  not 
only  as  a generous  supporter,  but  as  an  active 
worker  in  every  charitable  and  benevolent  move- 
ment in  St.  Paul,  and  was  a sincere  member  of  her 
church.  And  while  no  domestic  and  maternal 
duties  were  omitted,  her  spacious  residence  was 
continually  the  scene  of  those  charming  receptions 
and  entertainments  which  gave  enjoyment  to  her 
large  circle  of  friends,  and  where  she  dispensed 
a generous  hospitality  with  a grace  and  attractive- 
ness which  were  one  of  the  noted  features  in  social 
life  here  for  a generation. 

Governor  Ramsey  lived  to  the  venerable  age  of 
nearly  eighty-eight  years,  blessed  with  intellectual 
and  physical  vigor  to  the  last.  After  his  retirement 
from  public  life  he  enjoyed  seventeen  years  of  a 
serene  and  beautiful  “old  age,”  ever  alert  and  in- 
terested in  current  events;  ever  solicitous  for  the 
welfare  of  the  city,  state  and  nation  he  had  served 
so  faithfully;  ever  showered  with  abundant  testi- 
monials of  the  affectionate  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens. 

He  was  the  wise  counsellor  in  many  enterprises 
for  the  public  good.  He  was  the  honored  guest  at 
innumerable  civic  and  patriotic  functions.  He 
served  as  president  of  the  State  Historical  Society, 


1402 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  which  he  was  a life-long  member,  and  to  which 
he  had  been  a great  benefactor.  He  was  a leading 
spirit  at  the  reunions  of  the  Old  Settlers’  Asso- 
ciation. He  was  an  honored  member  of  the  Loyal 
Legion  and  keenly  relished  its  convocations.  He 
was  a trustee  of  the  House  of  Hope  Presbyterian 
Church  and  a regular  attendant  at  its  services. 

In  physical  appearance,  he  was  a large,  well- 
formed,  fine  loking  gentleman,  with  a countenance 
expressive  of  dignity,  force,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
of  amiability,  and  always  beaming  with  good 
humor.  As  a conversationalist,  Governor  Ramsey 
was  very  entertaining,  having  seen  so  much  of 
“men  and  things”  in  his  long  and  active  life,  and 
having  a tenacious  memory  full  of  valuable  remi- 
niscences. His  venerable  and  dignified  form  was 
well  known  on  our  streets  and  in  public  places,  and 
he  enjoyed  meeting  with  his  old  associates  in  a 
social  way. 

He  died  April  22,  1903,  full  of  years  and  of  hon- 
ors. Numerous  tributes  were  paid  to  his  memory. 
The  Committee  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  composed  of 
Gen.  John  B.  Sanborn,  Gen.  J.  W.  Bishop,  Gen. 
L.  F.  Hubbard  and  Mr.  Joseph  A.  Wheelock,  con- 
cluded its  memorial  with  these  significant  words : 

“What  remains  in  store  for  the  rising  generation 
it  is  not  for  us  of  the  generation  now  passing  away 
to  say,  but  we  know  that  none  of  us  shall  ever  see 
in  the  high  official  positions  of  the  state  and  nation 
his  like  again.” 

Horace  Austin.  Among  the  governors  of  Min- 
nesota who  became  residents  of  St.  Paul  after  the 
expiration  of  their  official  term  and  continued,  as 
citizens,  the  social  relations  formed  while  in  execu- 
tive position,  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His 
son  and  two  of  his  daughters  still  abide  here,  illus- 
trating in  their  several  spheres  of  useful  activity  a 
recognition  of  the  obligations  imposed  by  their 
heritage  of  honor. 

Horace  Austin  was  born  October  15,  1831,  at  Can- 
terbury, Connecticut.  He  was  the  son  of  a substan- 
tial farmer,  and  the  family  was  of  good  New  Eng- 
land stock.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm.  His 
education,  after  the  public  school,  was  finished  at 
an  academy  in  Litchfield,  Maine.  Subsequently  he 
taught  in  Belgrade  Academy,  of  which  institution 
he  was  for  a short  time  the  principal.  From  there 
he  went  to  Augusta,  Maine,  and  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  the  Hon.  Lot  Morrill,  for  many  years 
United  States  senator. 

Smitten  with  the  western  fever,  in  1856  he  turned 
his  ambitious  footsteps  to  Minnesota  in  search  of 
home  and  fortune,  and  finally  located  at  St.  Peter. 
He  was  then  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  at  once 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  as  a lawyer. 

In  1862,  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Indian  war, 
he  promptly  enlisted  as  a private  in  the  St.  Peter 
Frontier  Guards.  He  was  afterward  made  first 
lieutenant  of  the  company.  He  participated  in  the 
second  battle  of  New  Ulm.  Immediately  afterward 
the  First  Regiment  of  Mounted  Rangers  was  or- 
ganized. For  this  regiment  Horace  Austin  raised 
Company  B,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  as  captain,  October  29,  1862.  He 
served  until  the  close  of  hostilities,  making  an 
excellent  military  record. 

His  next  step  was  in  the  judicial  line.  He  was 
elected  judge  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Sixth 
District,  embracing  his  home  county  of  Nicollet 
with  others,  in  1864.  He  soon  took  high  rank  as  a 
just,  independent  and  fearless  judge. 


In  1869  Judge  Austin  was  nominated  by  the  state 
convention,  on  the  first  ballot,  as  republican  can- 
didate for  governor  of  Minnesota.  He  was  duly 
elected  and  served  two  terms  in  the  executive  chair, 
declining  a third  term,  which  was  very  generally 
urged  upon  him.  His  administration  was  signalized 
by  many  measures  of  state-wide  importance  pressed 
by  him  on  the  Legislature,  and  enforced  by  his  exec- 
utive action.  One  of  his  administrative  acts  was 
the  appointment  of  William  Windom  as  United 
States  senator  to  fill  a vacancy. 

After  leaving  the  governorship,  Austin  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Grant  third  auditor  of  the 
treasury  at  Washington,  a position  of  great  respon- 
sibility, the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  with 
credit  for  four  years. 

Returning  to  Minnesota  and  resuming  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  Governor  Austin  was,  in  1887,  ap- 
pointed by  Gov.  A.  R.  McGill  as  state  railroad  com- 
missioner, which  position  he  occupied  four  years. 
McGill  had  served  Austin  as  his  private  secretary 
during  all  the  incumbency  by  the  latter  of  the  exec- 
utive office. 

The  later  years  of  Governor  Austin’s  life  were 
spent  in  travel  or  in  tranquil  ease  at  his  summer 
home  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Minnetonka.  He  vis- 
ited Alaska,  and  spent  many  months  in  California, 
indulging  to  the  utmost  his  love  of  nature,  as  well 
as  his  taste  for  research  and  exploration. 

He  died  November  7,  1905,  as  the  result  of  a sur- 
gical operation,  from  which  he  had  apparently  rallied 
and  from  which  full  recovery  was  confidently  ex- 
pected. Thus  passed  from  life  a man  of  mark  in 
the  history  of  the  commonwealth,  leaving  behind  a 
legacy  of  brightness  and  encouragement  to  coming 
generations  of  Minnesotans. 

Governor  Austin  was  married  in  March,  1859,  to 
Miss  Mary  Lena  Morrill,  of  Augusta,  Maine,  who 
survived  him  for  five  years,  and  continued  to  reside 
in  St.  Paul.  Of  this  union  were  born  five  daughters 
and  one  son,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Lenora  Hamlin,  of 
St.  Paul;  Alice  Austin,  an  artist  of  Boston;  Ida  W. 
Austin,  who  died  March  22,  1888 ; Herbert  W. 
Austin,  of  St.  Paul ; Mabel  married  to  Dr.  Ernest 
Southard,  professor  in  Plarvard  Medical  College, 
Boston;  and  Helen  Horace  Austin,  teacher  in  the 
Central  Pligh  School,  St.  Paul. 

Richard  Chute.  Graven  deeply  and  with  clear 
distinction  on  the  history  of  the  State  of  Minnesota 
are  the  name  and  works  of  Richard  Chute,  who  was 
a pioneer  of  pioneers  and  who  died  in  Chicago, 
August  1,  1893.  He  stood  as  an  honored  member 
of  a striking  group  of  men  whose  influence  in  the 
civic  and  material  development  of  Minnesota  was 
most  potent  and  benignant.  His  fair  fame  rests  on 
the  firm  basis  of  work  accomplished  and  honors 
worthily  won,  and  in  studying  his  clear-cut,  sane, 
distinct  character,  interpretation  follows  fact  in  a 
straight  line  of  derivation.  His  character  was  the 
positive  expression  of  a strong  and  loyal  nature; 
and  the  laurels  of  large  achievement  were  his,  as 
well  as  the  honors  of  a worthy  ancestry. 

Mr.  Chute  first  came  to  what  is  now  the  State 
of  Minnesota  over  sixty  years  ago,  several  years 
prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Territory  of  Min- 
nesota, and  his  initial  activities  in  the  Northwest 
were  in  connection  with  the  fur  trade.  With  the 
passing  years  his  activities  touched  virtually  all 
phases  of  enterprise  and  industry  through  which 
was  evolved  this,  great  commonwealth,  and  Minne- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1403 


sota  shall  ever  owe  to  him  a debt  of  gratitude  for 
the  practical  and  important  work  which  he  accom- 
plished in  its  behalf,  the  while  his  strong  and  noble 
personality  should  cause  his  name  and  memory  to  be 
revered  in  the  city  and  state  that  represented  his 
home  during  the  greater  part  of  his  active^  and 
useful  career.  He  maintained  his  home  in  Minne- 
apolis from  1854  until  his  death. 

Richard  Chute  claimed  the  old  Buckeye  state  as 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  he  was  a representative 
of  one  of  its  sterling  pioneer  families.  The  gene- 
alogy in  the  agnatic  line  is  traced  back  to  Alexander 
Chute,  who  was  a resident  of  Taunton,  England, 
in  1268,  and  who  was  a scion  of  one  of  the  fine 
old  families  of  Norman  blood  who  accompanied 
William  the  Conquerer  to  England.  The  original 
representatives  of  the  name  in  America  came  to 
New  England  long  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. A number  of  maternal  ancestors  of  Mr.  Chute 
were  patriot  soldiers  of  the  continental  line  in  that 
struggle,  among  the  number  having  been  Capt. 
Roger  Clapp,  known  in  history  as  the  commander 
of  the  “Castle,”  now  known  as  Fort  Independence, 
in  Boston  Harbor. 

Mr.  Chute  was  born  in  the  City  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  September  23,  1820,  the  “Queen  City”  having 
been  at  that  time  little  more  than  a village.  He 
was  a son  of  Rev.  James  and  Martha  (Hewesj 
Chute,  who  were  folk  of  superior  intellectual  attain- 
ments, and  who  removed  from  the  East  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  in  the  early  pioneer  days,  the  father 
becoming  a teacher  in  a private  school  in  that  city 
and  later  a clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
as  a pioneer  representative  of  which  in  Ohio  he 
labored  many  years  with  consecrated  zeal  and  de- 
votion. From  Cincinnati  he  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Columbus,  the  capital  of  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1831,  when  he  established  his  home  in 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  His  death  occurred  there  in 
1835,  and  his  devoted  wife  passed  away  two  years 
previously. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Chute  was  received 
under  the  able  and  effective  direction  and  precep- 
torship  of  his  parents,  and  as  a lad  of  twelve  years 
he  found  employment  in  the  store  conducted  by 
S.  and  H.  Hanna  & Co.  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  was 
but  fifteen  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  father’s  death, 
and  as  he  was  the  eldest  of  the  children,  he  as- 
sumed heavy  responsibilities,  with  unselfish  devo- 
tion caring  for  the  younger  children.  He  was  in 
the  employ  of  various  firms  in  Fort  Wayne,  and  in 
1841,  about  the  time  of  attaining  his  majority,  he 
there  accepted  a position  as  clerk  for  W.  G.  and  G. 
W.  Ewing,  who  were  extensive  fur  dealers.  In  1844 
this  firm  decided  to  establish  a trading  post  af 
Good  Roads  Village,  eight  miles  above  Fort  Snell- 
ing,  Minnesota,  and  Mr.  Chute  was  sent  out  to  as- 
sume charge  of  this  preliminary  work.  Incidentally 
he  visited  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  and  came  to 
a full  appreciation  of  the  splendid  advantages  which 
were  here  offered  for  the  development  of  a large 
city  of  much  industrial  and  commercial  importance. 
He  continued  to  be  actively  identified  with  the  fur 
trade  for  a number  of  years,  having  become  a part- 
ner of  the  Ewings  in  1845  and  later  becoming  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  P.  Choteau,  Jr.,  & Co.  In 
1854  he  established  his  home  at  St.  Anthony,  the 
virtual  nucleus  of  the  City  of  Minneapolis.  Here  he 
became  largely  interested  in  real  estate,  and  soon 
acquired  part  ownership  in  the  land  controlling  the 
water  power  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  a prop- 


erty then  owned  by  Franklin  Steele  and  other  rep- 
resentative pioneers.  Two  years  later  the  St.  An- 
thony Falls  Water  Power  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated, and  .Mr.  Chute  became  its  agent,  a position 
which  he  retained  until  1868,  when  he  became  pres- 
ident of  the  company.  He  continued  as  executive 
head  of  the  corporation  until  its  property  was  sold 
to  James  J.  Hill,  the  great  railroad  builder  of  the 
Northwest.  This  company  developed  the  power  at 
the  falls  and  thus  gave  impetus  to  the  upbuilding 
of  the  great  flour-milling  industry  that  has  given  the 
Minnesota  metropolis  world-wide  fame. 

In  1865  Mr.  Chute  established  the  real  estate  firm 
known  as  Chute  Brothers,  in  which  was  included  his 
brother  Samuel  H.  Chute.  This  firm  long  conducted 
most  extensive  operations  and  was  influential  in 
the  development  and  upbuilding  of  Minneapolis. 
Richard  Chute  likewise  became  actively  identified, 
at  various  times,  with  important  industrial  and  com- 
mercial enterprises  that  proved  specially  successful. 
His  public  service  in  the  interest  of  the  city  and 
state  were  extensive  and  varied.  In  association  with 
R.  P.  Upton  and  Edward  Murphy  he  supervised  the 
expenditure  of  the  public  funds  raised  for  the  pur- 
pose of  clearing  the  channel  of  the  Mississippi  River 
between  Minneapolis  and  Fort  Snelling  and  making 
the  stream  available  for  steamboat  traffic  between 
these  points.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he 
was  appointed  by  Gov.  Henry  M.  Rice,  a delegate 
from  Minnesota  Territory  to  aid  in  securing  at  the 
national  capital  the  congressional  enactment  of  the 
railroad  land-grant  bill,  and  with  his  coadjutor,  H. 
T.  Welles,  succeeded  in  bringing  about  this  impor- 
tant desideratum,  the  eventual  result  of  which  was 
the  construction  of  1,400  miles  of  railroad  in  Min- 
nesota. He  was  made  a charter  director  of  several 
of  the  railroad  companies,  and  was  especially  prom- 
inent and  influential  in  the  affairs  of  the  Great 
Northern  Railway  Company.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Minneapolis  Board  of  Trade,  of 
which  he  served  as  a director  for  many  years  and 
of  which  he  was  president  two  years. 

In  1862  Governor  Ramsey  appointed  Mr.  Chute 
special  quartermaster  for  a detachment  of  troops  at 
Fort  Ripley,  and  later  he  was  made  assistant  quar- 
termaster of  the  state,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant 
colonel.  From  1863  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war 
he  was  United  States  provost  marshal  for  Hennepin 
County,  Minnesota,  and  aside  from,  his  local  activities 
he  did  all  in  his  power  to  support  the  Union  arms  in 
the  great  conflict  that  perpetuated  the  integrity  of 
the  nation. 

Few  have  exercised  greater  or  more  loyal  influ- 
ence than  did  Richard  Chute  in  connection  with 
the  work  that  has  been  done  to  preserve  St.  An- 
thony Falls — first  through  his  association  with  the 
St.  Anthony  Falls  Water  Power  Company  and  later, 
after  three  failures  to  obtain  for  the  purpose  the 
passage  of  a land-grant  bill,  he  finally  succeeded  in 
securing  from  Congress  an  appropriation  of  $30,000 
for  the  making  of  permanent  improvements  that 
should  conserve  the  local  water  power  at  the  falls. 
This  sum.  together  with  subsequent  congressional 
appropriations  and  municipal  subscriptions,  made 
possible  the  construction  of  the  present  concrete 
dyke  and  permanent  apron. 

While  he  was  identified  with  the  fur-trading 
business  with  the  Indians  Mr.  Chute  became  well 
acquainted  with  and  won  the  confidence  of  various 
Indian  tribes  of  the  Northwest,  and  thus  he  was 
enabled  to  wield  much  influence  in  effecting  treaties 


1404 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


with  the  Indians.  He  was  present  at  the  signing  of 
the  treaties  at  Agency  City,  in  1842,  with  the  Sac 
and  Fox  Indians;  in  1846  he  was  in  Washington 
when  the  Winnebagoes  sold  the  “neutral  ground;’’ 
and  he  was  present  at  Mendota  and  Traverse  des 
Sioux  when  were  concluded  the  Sioux  treaties  that 
opened  Minnesota  to  settlement. 

A man  of  broad  intellectual  ken,  well  fortified 
convictions,  mature  judgment  and  impregnable  in- 
tegrity, Mr.  Chute  gave  himself  with  characteristic 
vigor  and  ability  to  fostering  those  undertakings  that 
tended  to  conserve  the  progress  and  prosperity  of 
the  city  and  state  of  his  adoption.  He  served  sev- 
eral years  as  a member  of  the  board  of  regents  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  republican  party  in  Minnesota, 
having  had  about  twenty  associates  in  this  work 
and  having  ever  afterward  continued  a stalwart 
advocate  of  the  party’s  principles  and  policies. 

Mr.  Chute  continued  in  active  business  until  1882, 
when  impaired  health  caused  his  retirement.  There- 
after he  passed  much  of  his  time  in  the  southern 
states  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  1st 
of  August,  1893,  the  mortal  remains  of  this  honored 
pioneer  finding  a resting  place  in  beautiful  Lakewood 
Cemetery,  a history  of  which  is  given  on  other 
pages  of  this  publication. 

In  1850  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Chute  to  Miss  Mary  Eliza  Young,  who,  at  the  ven- 
erable age  of  eighty-three  years,  still  resides  in  Min- 
neapolis, a city  that  is  endeared  to  her  by  the 
gracious  memories  and  associations  of  many  years. 
She  is  one  of  the  revered  pioneer  women  of  the 
Minnesota  metropolis,  and  it  is  pleasing  to  note 
that  she  retains  her  mental  and  physical  powers  to 
a wonderful  degree,  and  is  alert  and  active  for  one 
upon  whose  head  rests  the  crown  of  the  octogen- 
arian. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chute  became  the  parents  of 
five  children,  of  whom  three  are  living:  Charles  R., 
engaged  in  business  in  New  York  City;  William  Y., 
in  the  real  estate  business  in  Minneapolis ; and 
Grace  F.,  the  widow  of  Gen.  Joshua  W.  Jacobs, 
U.  S.  A.,  who  died  in  California  in  1905. 

Thomas  Cochran,  whose  name  was  for  many 
years  a household  word  in  St.  Paul,  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  on  July  31,  1843,  one  of  a 
family  of  five  children.  His  father  was  James  B. 
Cochran,  a Scotchman  by  birth,  and  his  mother 
was  Catherine  (Bayliss)  Cochran,  of  Brooklyn.  In 
his  home  he  enjoyed  the  very  best  intellectual  and 
moral  training.  Here  and  in  the  church  to  which 
his  parents  were  deeply  attached  was  laid  the  solid 
foundation  of  the  Christian  faith  and  character 
which  so  richly  adorned  his  later  life. 

After  completing  his  preparatory  education  in 
the  Polytechnic  School  of  Brooklyn  he  entered  the 
University  of  New  York,  whence  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1863,  one  of  the  honor  men  of  his 
class.  Thereafter  he  went  to  the  Columbia  College 
law  school,  and  upon  graduation  therefrom  he  was 
admitted  to  the  New  York  bar.  It  is  easv  thus 
to  trace  the  elements  that  entered  into  the  makeup 
of  Mr.  Cochran.  Take  his  generous  and  noble  na- 
ture; his  active  and  vigorous  mind  inherited  from 
his  parents ; to  them  add  rare  home  and  church 
influence ; the  education  and  discipline  of  two  of  the 
best  institutions  in  the  land ; years  of  membership 
in  the  famous  Seventh  Regiment  of  New  York  City; 
the  culture  and  atmosphere  of  the  metropolis  of 
America  and  all  its  wonderful  displays  of  interest 


in  the  Civil  war,  and  you  have  Thomas  Cochran, — 
the  Christian  gentleman ; the  man  of  culture  and  of 
noble  mien;  of  rich  and  varied  information;  of 
scholarly  habits ; of  brave  sympathies ; of  ardent 
public  spirit;  of  burning  patriotism;  and  of  deep 
religious  conviction. 

When  he  was  attending  the  law  school  in  New 
York  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the  work  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  that  city.  After  practicing  law 
for  a short  time  in  New  York  he  came  to  St.  Paul, 
in  the  fall  of  1868,  in  the  interest  of  his  health. 
In  the  following  spring  he  returned  to  New  York, 
but,  taking  ill  again,  he  once  more  came  to  St.  Paul, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death, — his  residence  here 
being  in  all  thirty-seven  years. 

In  St.  Paul  he  did  not  at  once  take  up  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  but  first  joined  (in  1869)  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Minnesota  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Company,  and  later  entered  the  real  estate  business. 
With  his  native  gifts,  training  and  culture,  Mr. 
Cochran  would  have  achieved  high  distinction  in 
public  life,  but  he  was  a man  of  very  strong  home 
attachments  and  of  public  spirit,  and  he  was  drawn 
into  the  real  estate  business  partly  by  his  great  de- 
sire to  see  the  city  grow  and  develop.  He  had 
caught  the  metropolitan  spirit  in  New  York  and 
he  conceived  of  St.  Paul  as  a great  city  in  embryo, 
— as  having  a great  future  which  he  ardently 
worked  to  realize. 

He  was  at  different  times  the  head  of  several 
real  estate  firms,  as  Cochran  & Walsh  (James  R.), 
1871-8;  Cochran,  Rice  & Walsh  (S.  B.)  ; and  Coch- 
ran & Walsh.  In  1898  the  Northwestern  Invest- 
ment Company  was  organized,  with  Mr.  Cochran 
as  its  president.  It  was  when  president  of  this  com- 
pany that  he  secured  the  building  of  the  first  elec- 
tric street  car  line  from  Victoria  Street  along  Grand 
to  Cretin  Avenue,  and  it  was,  among  other  things, 
the  success  of  this  line  that  led  to  the  rapid  change 
of  the  cable  and  horse  car  lines  of  both  cities  into 
electric  lines,  giving  a service  not  excelled  in  the 
country. 

It  would  require  many  pages  to  recite  in  detail 
the  services  of  Thomas  Cochran  to  the  city  of  St. 
Paul.  He  was  a born  leader.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  agitation  and  effort  that  secured  the 
building  of  the  first  iron  bridge  across  the  Missis- 
sippi at  Fort  Snelling — a splendid  service.  That 
Summit  Avenue  was  given  a width  of  200  feet  and 
made  a beautiful  drive  from  Lexington  Avenue  to 
the  river  was  due  in  no  small  degree  to  his  inde- 
fatigable labors.  When  a valuable  tract  of  land 
near  the  transfer  was  offered  as  a site  for  Mac- 
alester  College,  finding  that  the  location  was  deemed 
unsuitable  owing  to  its  proximity  to  so  many  rail- 
road tracks  and  other  adjuncts  of  such  a place,  he 
was  largely  instrumental  in  making  the  arrange- 
ments by  which  the  present  splendid  site  of  that 
great  institution  was  secured.  The  first  printed  list 
of  trustees  of  this  college,  selected  by  Rev.  E.  D. 
Neil,  D.  D.,  includes  the  name  of  Thomas  Cochran. 
He  served  in  this  capacity  with  characteristic  energy 
until  1898. 

This  is  but  an  instance  of  the  zeal  with  which 
Mr.  Cochran  devoted  himself  to  innumerable  proj- 
ects of  the  education,  moral,  religious  and  material 
advancement  of  the  city.  During  a long  series  of 
years  if  at  any  time  it  was  desired  to  send  a man 
to  the  front  to  hold  the  firing  line  in  an  emergency, 
the  public  mind  turned  instinctively  to  him. 
He  represented  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1405 


Commercial  Club,  the  Christian  Associations,  the 
public  charities,  the  churches,  the  school  interests 
and  the  citizens  at  large  on  many  trying  occasions 
as  the  organizer,  leader  and  spokesman  of  strong 
communities  working  for  uplift  and  advancement, 
or  resisting  some  serious  menace. 

He  had  unusual  gifts  as  an  orator — a fine  voice, 
excellent  diction,  dignified  and  attractive  presence, 
with  great  skill  in  marshalling  facts  and  arguments. 
He  was  admirable  in  impromptu  and  after  dinner 
speeches,  and  his  addresses,  prepared  with  much 
care,  were  of  a high  order.  Examples  were  his 
address  reviewing  the  work  of  the  House  of  Hope 
during  the  first  fifty  years  of  its  history,  delivered 
before  the  men  of  the  church  in  the  Commercial 
Club  rooms;  his  eloquent  denunciation  of  the  pro- 
posed prize  fight  in  the  old  City  Hall,  and  his  ad- 
dress on  “The  City,”  given  in  several  of  the  churches 
of  this  city. 

Into  his  church  he  carried  the  same  alert  and 
intrepid  interest  that  characterized  his  other  activi- 
ties. He  was  for  long  years  an  active,  efficient 
elder  in  the  House  of  Hope  Church,  and  for  many 
years  the  teacher  of  a large  adult  Bible  class ; few 
teachers  of  adults  could  question  and  draw  out  and 
interest  his  members  as  well  as  he, 

Mr.  Cochran  died  on  Christmas  morning  of  1906. 
In  announcing  the  news  the  Dispatch  well  said : 
“A  cloud  comes  over  this  community  today  to  mar 
the  local  festivities  when  it  is  announced  ' that 
Thomas  Cochran  died  this  morning.”  In  the  city 
papers,  all  paid  the  warmest  tributes  to  his  memory. 
He  lived  the  life  of  a consistent  Christian  gentle- 
man, and  it  can  be  said  of  him,  which  is  the  highest 
praise,  that  the  world  is  much  the  better  off  for  his 
having  been  permitted  to  live.  He  lived  for  his 
fellow  men  more  than  for  himself.  The  funeral 
obsequies  in  the  House  of  Hope  Church  were  at- 
tended by  a large  concourse  of  citizens. 

On  the  26th  of  November.  1867,  in  New  York 
City,  Mr.  Cochran  married  Miss  Emilie  B.  Walsh, 
daughter  of  Alexander  R.  and  Emilie  M.  (Brown) 
Walsh,  of  New  York  City.  Six  children  were  born 
of  this  union : Alexander  R.,  who  died  in  1893 ; 

Thomas  Cochran,  Jr.,  vice  president  of  the  Astor 
Trust  Company  of  New  York;  Emily,  William, 
Moncrieff  and  Louise. 

Cushman  Kellogg  Davis.  No  citizen  of  Minne- 
sota has  conferred  greater  distinction  on  the  state 
than  her  illustrious  son,  Cushman  K.  Davis.  In 
the  higher  walks  of  jurisprudence,  of  oratory,  of 
statemanship,  and  of  diplomacy — as  advocate,  gov- 
ernor, senator,  and  wise  counsellor  in  vital  emer- 
gencies, he  was  the  peer  of  the  greatest  men  in  the 
nation.  His  fame  is  a precious  heritage  of  this 
fortunate  commonwealth. 

He  was  born  at  Henderson,  Jefferson  County, 
New  York,  June  16,  1838,  and  died  at  St.  Paul,  No- 
vember 27,  1900.  On  the  maternal  side  he  was  a 
direct  descendant  of  Mary  Allerton,  the  last  sur- 
vivor of  the  Mayflower  passengers,  who  married 
the  son  of  Robert  Cushman,  the  pilgrim  “Minister 
of  Plymouth.”  _ His  paternal  ancestry  was  also  of 
substantial  Puritan  stock.  When  he  was  two  years 
old  the  future  senator’s  parents  moved  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Waukesha,  Wisconsin,  where  the  father 
engaged  in  farming  for  the  next  fifteen  vears,  the 
son  doing  his  share  of  the  work  as  his'  strength 
developed. 

He  was  an  intellectual  youth,  and  his  vigorous 


mental  faculties  were  trained  in  the  district  school, 
in  Carroll  College  and  in  Michigan  University, 
whence  he  graduated  in  1857.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  study  of  law,  became  a member  of  the  Waukesha 
bar  in  1859,  and  remained  in  active  practice  until 
1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-eighth  Wis- 
consin Regiment  for  the  Civil  war.  He  served  with 
distinction  until  1864,  when,  on  account  of  poor 
health,  he  was  compelled  to  resign.  He  had  at- 
tained the  rank  of  first  lieutenant,  and  was  attached 
to  the  staff  of  General  W.  A.  Gorman. 

In  1865  he  moved  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  took 
up  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  soon  became  noted 
as  one  of  the  ablest,  most  prominent  and  most 
eloquent  members  of  the  bar,  with  a large  and 
lucrative  practice.  His  successive  partners  here 
were  W.  A.  Gorman,  C.  D.  O'Brien,  Augustus  Wil- 
son, Frank  B.  Kellogg  and  C.  A.  Severance.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Legislature  in  186^ ; United 
States  attorney  for  Minnesota  from  1868  until  1873, 
and  governor  of  the  state  in  1874  and  1875.  He 
was  one  of  the  regents  of  the  State  University  from 
1882  till  1898.  'In  1887  he  was  elected  United  States 
senator,  and  re-elected  in  1893  and  1899.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Relations  in 
the  United  States  Senate  from  March,  1897,  till  his 
death,  and  was  one  of  the  commissioners  who  nego- 
tiated the  treaty  of  Paris  which  terminated  the  war 
with  Spain. 

This  is  the  mere  outer  shell  of  his  extensive  pub- 
lic career,  and  gives  but  a scant  clew  to  his  great- 
ness and  worth.  To  trace  his  life,  the  development 
of  his  vigorous  mind,  and  its  wonderful  resources 
from  youth  to  manhood  is  to  scan  a human  epic, 
inspiring  in  its  progress,  grand  and  enduring  in  its 
results  and  outcome. 

His  early  years  in  St.  Paul  were  zealously  de- 
voted to  his  profession,  of  which  he  became  the 
acknowledged  leader  in  the  state.  But  he  always 
kept  in  touch  with  public  affairs.  In  1871  he  pre- 
pared a lecture  on  “Modern  Feudalism,”  which 
voiced  the  popular  grievance  against  railroad  ex- 
actions, and  delivered  it  in  many  towns.  That  ad- 
dress, and  his  avowed  attitude  on  the  great  ques- 
tions of  public  concern,  led  him  into  the  governor’s 
chair,  came  near  sending  him  to  the  United  States 
Senate  at  that  time,  and  forever  endeared  him  to 
the  people,  who  never  ceased  to  have  confidence  in 
his  integrity,  his  wisdom  and  his  honesty  of  pur- 
pose. After  one  term  in  the  executive  chair  he 
declined  re-election,  and  again  resumed  his  calling 
as  a lawyer,  with  more  success  and  greater  vigor 
than  ever  before.  And  in  the  meanwhile,  though 
not  in  office,  he  remained  one  of  the  acknowledged 
leaders  of  the  republican  party  in  the  state,  and 
was  always  ready  and  active  to  battle  for  the  cause 
and  for  the  best  interests  of  the  people. 

In  1887,  in  obedience  to  a pressing  demand,  the 
Legislature  elected  him  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
He  went  there  in  the  maturity  of  his  great  powers, 
better  equipped  for  the  work  before  him  than  most 
men  who  enter  the  Senate.  He  went  in  middle  life, 
an  accomplished  lawyer,  a profound  student  and  a 
learned  scholar,  well  versed  in  public  affairs.  He 
at  once  became  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Senate, 
but  it  was  not  until  he  became  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Relations  and  the  controversy 
with  Spain  became  acute  that  his  true  forum  was 
found.  His  speeches  and  his  reports  on  our  rela- 
tions with  England,  with  Spain,  on  the  war  with 
Spain,  and  on  the  treaty  of  Paris  were  epics  of 


1406 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


wisdom  and  eloquence  seldom  excelled.  He  ren- 
dered clear  and  lucid  the  most  profound  and  most 
intricate  problems  of  diplomacy  and  statecraft. 
When  he  had  spoken  there  was  little  more  to  be 
said  on  the  subject.  While  he  seemed  listless  and 
indifferent  to  the  mere  routine  work  of  the  Senate, 
yet  when  great  questions  were  at  stake  and  great 
problems  were  to  be  solved  he  was  always  on  the 
alert.  He  studied  and  passed  upon  public  affairs, 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  with  the  instinct  and  pur- 
pose of  a statesman,  never  in  the  spirit  of  a mere 
time-server  or  politician.  He  made  some  great 
speeches  in  the  Senate,  worthy  of  any  period  in  its 
history,  which  will  stand  for  accuracy,  wealth  of 
learning,  beauty  of  diction  and  strength  of  argu- 
mentation as  models.  Some  of  the  best  were  upon 
topics  involving  foreign  relations,  which  though  of 
remarkable  beauty  of  expression,  evidencing  com- 
plete mastery  of  the  subject,  listened  to  by  a full 
Senate  with  rapt  attention,  are  lost  to  the  world 
because  they  were  spoken  in  the  secrecy  of  execu- 
tive session. 

Two  novel  alternatives  were  presented  to  the 
commissioners  in  the  negotiations  at  Paris  as  to 
Porto  Rico  and  the  Philippines  alike.  They  were 
whether  we  should  annex  those  islands  or  whether 
we  should  abandon  them  to  Spain.  The  choice  of 
annexation  was  inevitable,  yet  it  was  a great  trial. 
Spain  claimed  the  Philippines  with  the  anxiety  of 
a lion  deprived  of  its  prey,  and  we  resisted  that 
claim  with  the  firmness  that  had  already  inscribed 
on  our  banners,  “Deliverance  to  the  oppressed.” 
On  that  commission  and  afterwards  in  the  Senate 
Mr.  Davis  stood  by  this  great  purpose,  and  it  be- 
came the  supreme  law  of  the  land.  The  fame  that 
is  thus  interwoven  with  these  events  will  grow 
brighter  as  time  grows  longer,  and  nations  grow 
greater,  and  truth  spreads  its  dominion  over  the 
nations  now  in  darkness. 

He  was  never  extreme  and  never  erratic;  he  was 
always  courteous  and  always  independent  and 
manly.  He  had  a high  and  honorable  sense  of  con- 
viction and  of  responsibility,  with  a certain  reserve 
that  modestly  emphasized  rather  than  diminished 
the  dignity  and  weight  of  his  opinions.  The  play 
of  a fine  fancy  sometimes  fringed  his  serious  dis- 
courses with  phosphorescent  fire,  but  never  an  un- 
seemly word  or  misplaced  levity  marred  or  belittled 
his  utterances. 

His  was  a daring  mind.  He  had  no  time  for  in- 
consequential thought.  Mentally  “he  walked  the 
mountain  ranges.”  No  problem  in  the  domain  of 
international  law  or  diplomacy  was  too  complicated 
or  monumental  for  his  mental  grasp.  There  was 
about  him  nothing  of  mental  or  moral  timidity.  He 
shrank  from  no  responsibility;  no  specter  or  phan- 
tom danger  had  terror  for  him.  Once  convinced 
of  the  true  course,  he  would  guide  the  craft  whose 
rudder  was  in  his  hands  through  any  sea  with  un- 
shaken nerves  and  will  as  firm  as  adamant 

A striking  illustration  of  his  courage  was  given 
in  his  famous  telegram  to  the  Duluth,  workingmen 
in  July,  1894.  A labor  conflict  of  giant  proportions 
was  in  progress.  A resolution  was  introduced  in 
the  United  States  Senate,  the  object  of  which  was 
to  allow  strikers  to  stop  all  railway  traffic,  provid- 
ing they  did  not  interfere  with  the  carriage  of  the 
United  States  mails.  A committee,  assuming  to 
speak  in  the  name  of  the  workingmen  of  Duluth, 
wired  Senator  Davis  requesting  him  to  support  the 
resolution.  The  message  arrived  after  he  had  gone 


to  bed.  Without  waiting  to  dress,  he  wrote  in  pen- 
cil and  sent  back  by  the  messenger  an  answer  in 
which  he  unequivocally  refused  to  support  the  reso- 
lution, saying : 

"I  have  received  your  telegram.  I will  not  sup- 
port the  resolution.  It  is  against  your  own  real 
welfare.  It  is  also  a blow  at  the  security,  peace, 
and  rights  of  millions  of  people  who  never  harmed 
you  or  your  associates.  My  duty  to  the  Constitu- 
tion and  the  laws  forbids  me  to  sustain  a resolu- 
tion to  legalize  lawlessness.  The  same  duty  rests 
upon  you  and  your  associates.  The  power  to  reg- 
ulate commerce  among  the  several  states  is  vested 
by  the  Constitution  in  Congress.  Your  associates 
have  ursurped  that  power  at  Hammond  and  other 
places,  and  have  destroyed  commerce  between  the 
states  in  these  particular  instances.  You  are  rap- 
idly approaching  the  overt  act  of  levying  war 
against  the  United  States,  and  you  will  find  the 
definition  of  that  in  the  Constitution.  I trust  that 
wiser  thoughts  will  again  control.  You  might  as 
well  ask  me  to  vote  to  dissolve  the  Government.” 

This  message,  instinct  with  the  courage  of  a pa- 
triot and  the  kindness  of  a father,  was  published 
at  once  in  all  the  newspapers  of  the  country,  and 
was  everywhere  regarded  as  “the  word  fitly 
spoken.”  Dread  vanished.  All  felt  safe  on  learn- 
ing that  so  strong,  so  just,  so  gentle  a soul  was  in 
the  halls  of  power. 

Senator  Davis  was  a conspicuous  example  of  the 
scholar  in  politics.  His  reading,  both  in  history 
and  in  general  literature,  was  comprehensive  and 
minute ; but  in  this  respect,  as  in  others,  he  followed 
the  instinct  of  his  own  taste  and  preference  rather 
than  any  hard  and  fast  programme  of  study.  His 
library  was  his  most  congenial  habitat.  Thither 
with  unerring  certainty  he  might  be  traced  in  the 
intervals  of  professional  engagements  or  public 
business.  His  books  had  gathered  about  him  in 
answer  to  the  call  of  his  mind  for  companionship 
and  counsel.  He  was  not  a writer  of  many  books. 
A life  given  to  war,  to  the  law,  and  to  politics  left 
him  no  opportunity  to  enter  upon  a field  where  he 
might  have  won  a distinction  which  he  would  have 
valued  above  all  others.  A lecture  upon  Hamlet; 
an  address  upon  Madam  Roland ; a little  volume 
upon  the  Law  of  Shakespeare,  was  all  that  he 
found  time  for  in  this  direction.  After  leaving 
college  he  had  taught  himself  French  and  Italian 
so  that  he  read  both  with  absolute  ease  and  fluency 
— no  small  feat  to  be  performed  by  a boy  who 
went  from  the  college  to  the  camp  and  then  fought 
his  way  up  at  the  bar  and  in  politics  amid  the 
sharp  competition  of  a young  and  growing  state. 

One  of  the  favorite  subjects  of  his  youthful  in- 
vestigation was  destined  to  afford  Mr.  Davis  his 
chief  avenue  of  distinction  in  public  life.  No  con- 
temporary statesman  excelled  him  in  acquaintance 
with  international  law.  All  the  elementary  works 
on  the  subject  in  English,  French  and  Italian  were 
familiar  to  him,  and  he  was  profoundly  versed  in 
diplomatic  precedents  and  history.  His  conceded 
pre-eminence  as  an  international  lawyer  is  the 
strongest  certificate  to  his  abilities  and  attainments. 
These  qualifications  were  recognized  early  in  his 
senatorial  service,  and  it  is  well  known  that  many 
successive  secretaries  of  state  availed  themselves 
of  his  great  store  of  knowledge,  always  courteously 
at  their  command.  If  the  files  of  the  state  depart- 
ment were  available,  the  special  subjects  of  investi- 
gation with  which  he  was  charged  and  the  labor 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1407 


involved  in  their  investigation  would  disclose  a 
record  of  signal  public  service.  They  belong  to  an 
unwritten  history  traceable  only  in  the  policy  of 
the  nation. 

He  was  ever  a strong  «and  decided  republican, 
and  never  faltered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  party  of 
his  faith.  Yet,  in  his  thought  and  action  upon 
momentous  themes  of  national  and  . international 
importance,  he  endeavored  to  bear  himself  as  a 
patriot  rather  than  a partisan;  to  examine  them 
from  the  highest  plane  for  the  greatest  public  wel- 
fare, and  to  lift  their  consideration  above  the  depths 
of  petty  and  passionate  discussion  into  the  loftier 
and  serener  atmosphere  of  true  statesmanship. 

Senator  Davis  was  an  exceptionally  methodical 
man.  That  was  one  reason  why  he  accomplished 
so  much  and  with  such  apparent  ease.  It  was  his 
practice,  for  example,  to  reach  his  committee  room 
in  the  Senate  every  morning  promptly  at  8:30. 
There  he  would  meet  his  stenographer,  and  read 
his  letters,  and  indicate  the  answer  to  each.  He 
answered  every  letter  that  he  received. 

As  the  crystal  waters  of  the  state  he  loved,  as 
its  name  implies,  catch  and  reflect  every  hue  and 
tint  of  the  skies  above  them,  so  his  delicate  and 
refined  nature  seemed  to  catch  all  that  was  beauti- 
ful in  his  wide  horizon  of  history,  literature  and 
poetry  and  reflect  it  back  in  the  glowing  imagery 
of  his  language.  The  exordium  of  an  address  de- 
livered on  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg  on  July  2, 
1897,  on  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  the  statue 
erected  by  the  State  of  Minnesota  to  commemorate 
the  never-to-be-forgotten  charge  made  there  by  the 
First  Regiment,  Minnesota  Infantry  Volunteers,  on 
the  2d  day  of  July,  1863,  will  serve  as  an  illustra- 
tion of  his  style : 

“How  lovingly  Peace,  enrobed  in  her  imperial 
mantle  of  golden  harvests,  reigns  over  this  delicious 
landscape!  The  refulgent  armor  of  war  now  rusts 
beneath  our  feet.  The  cannon  that  we  see  here  in 
position  among  the  ranks  which  sleep  in  the  invin- 
cible array  of  death  are  silent  forever.  Peace  now 
holds  an  unbroken  sway  over  our  dear  land.  And 
yet  thirty-four  years  ago  today  she  fled  affrighted 
from  this  scene.  The  fiery  chariots  of  war  were 
reaoing  here  her  fields  and  were  gathering  a har- 
vest of  men  into  that  tabernacle  of  never  ending 
rest,  wherein  all  grains  and  fruits  and  flowers  and 
men  and  all  living  things  must  be  garnered  at  last.” 

Senator  Davis,  who,  after  a long  series  of  ex- 
panding successes,  became  the  master  mind  in 
American  diplomacy,  dominating,  almost  uncon- 
sciously, it  is  true,  but  none  the  less  dominating,  the 
mighty  minds  that  composed!  the  peace  commission 
and  virtually  created  the  treaty  of  Paris,  which  in 
the  years  that  lie  before  us  will  come  to  be  regarded 
as  one  of  the  world’s  greatest  triumphs  in  diplo- 
macy, met  death  with  that  same  calm,  indomitable 
courage  with  which  he  had  overcome  every  obstacle 
that  confronted  him  in  life.  His  robust  constitu- 
tion had  been  undermined  by  over-work  in  the 
public  service.  In  the  midst  of  a triumphal  tour 
of  the  country,  as  an  orator  in  the  presidential 
campaign  of  1900,  his  strength  failed  and  he  re- 
turned to  St.  Paul,  where  he  died  on  the  18th  of 
November.  He  was  buried  in  the  national  ceme- 
tery at  Arlington.  Virginia. 

Frederick  Driscoll  filled  worthily  for  a long 
period,  crowded  with  important  events,  a conspic- 
uous place  in  the  annals  of  this  city  and  state, 


besides  attaining  positions  of  nation-wide*  influence 
in  the  realms  where  his  professional  activities  were 
exercised.  He  was.  a man  of  forceful  and  generous 
nature,  with  a fertile  mind  well  stocked  with  ideas 
and  lavish  in  their  outlay.  Warm-hearted,  open- 
handed,  large-minded,  with  a certain  profusion  in 
his  intellectual  expenditures,  as  if  conscious  of  an 
overflowing  reserve,  his  powers  were  wonderfully 
at  his  command  on  those  occasions  when  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  moment  required  him  in  some  public 
assembly  to  present  his  views  .on  an  important 
subject  under  discussion. 

He  was  equally  at  home  in  a political  convention, 
at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  or  at  a great  meet- 
ing called  to  decide  on  measures  to  meet  an  impend- 
ing crisis.  He  made  no  oratorical  efforts,  but  the 
clearness  of  statement,  the  persuasiveness  of  his 
manner  of  reasoning,  all  combined  to  win  assent 
and  disarm  opposition. 

Frederick  Driscoll  was  born  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, July  31,  1834.  His  boyhood  was  spent  in  that 
city  where  he  received  a liberal  school  and  academic 
education.  He  formed  plans  for  a mercantile  career 
and  was  trained  in  that  direction,  with  no  premoni- 
tions of  the  wide  divergence  therefrom  the  future 
years  would  bring. 

In  the  summer  of  1856  he  came  west  and  found 
employment  for  a few  months  at  Clinton,  Iowa. 
He  arrived  in  Minnesota  in  October,  1857,  and,  after 
a short  stay  in  St.  Paul,  located  at  Belle  Plaine  in 
Scott  Countv  as  bookkeeper  for  the  land  company 
which  exploited  the  townsite.  This  company  suf- 
fered some  financial  reverses ; Mr.  D.  W.  Ingersoll, 
of  St.  Paul,  a leading  merchant,  was  made  assignee 
and  Mr.  Driscoll  became  his  agent.  Among  the 
assets  of  the  land  company  was  a weekly  newspaper, 
the  Inquirer,  which,  after  many  vicissitudes,  sus- 
pended publication  in  1861.  At  the  suggestion  of 
Mr.  Ingersoll,  Mr.  Driscoll  accepted  the  newspaper 
plant  in  payment  of  arrearages  due  for  his  services 
He  was  not  a practical  printer,  but  he  embarkei 
on  this  untried  venture,  which  was  to  shape  and 
control  the  work  of  a lifetime,  with  a youthful  self- 
reliance  fully  justified  by  the  result. 

Meantime  other  important  events  occurred  in  Mr. 
Driscoll’s  history.  In  1859  he  was  married  at  Belle 
Plaine  to  Miss  Anne  Brown,  of  New  York.  In  No- 
vember, i860,  hq  was  elected  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture from  Scott  County.  He  served  during  the  ses- 
sion of  1861  efficiently.  In  the  session  of  1862  he 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  Senate.  In  November, 
1862,  he  removed  his  printing  office  from  Le  Sueur 
to  St.  Paul  and  established  the  Daily  Union.  In 
February,  1863,  he  was  elected  state  printer.  Soon 
afterwards  the  Union  was  merged  into  the  Press ; 
J.  A.  Wheelock  was  editor  and  Mr.  Frederick  Dris- 
coll. publisher — and  thus  began  the  association  that 
was  destined  to  endure  so  long  and  so  creditably 
to  both. 

There  were  giants  in  those  days,  and  Frederick 
Driscoll  was  with  them  and  of  them.  He  stood 
shoulder  high  with  the  pioneers  like  Alexander 
Ramsey,  Henry  M.  Rice,  H.  H.  Sibley  and  William 
R.  Marshall.  He  kept  step  with  the  developments 
worked  out  by  E.  F.  Drake,  W.  L.  Banning,  W.  F. 
Davidson,  George  L.  Becker,  Oliver  Dalrymple, 
Thomas  Lowry  and  James  J.  Hill,  the  empire- 
builders — the  men  who  did  things.  He  sat  in  coun- 
cil with  such  financiers  as  Erastus  Edgerton,  Horace 
Thompson  and  H.  P.  Upham.  He  measured  up  to 
the  intellectual  standard  of  jurists  like  Gilfillan, 


1408 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Cornell,  Cole,  Flandrau,  R.  R.  Nelson  and  George 
B.  Young.  In  politics  he  was  the  trusted  adviser 
of  Windom,  Pillsbury,  Dunnell,  Washburn,  Wilkin- 
son, John  B.  Sanborn  and  Cushman  K.  Davis ; the 
dreaded  antagonist  of  Donnelly,  Eugene  Wilson, 
Norton  and  Coggswell.  He  was  the  co-worker  in 
business  enterprises  with  John  Nicols,  C.  D.  Strong, 
P.  H.  Kelley,  C.  W.  Hackett,  Channing  Seabury  and 
J.  C.  Burbank.  He  worked  in  the  ranks  of  journal- 
ism for  the  upbuilding  of  the  state,  heart  to  heart, 
with  J.  A.  Wheelock,  W.  S.  King,  J.  A.  Leonard 
and  Daniel  Sinclair.  He  walked  hand  in  hand  in 
gracious  deeds  of  philanthropy  and  benevolence 
with  D.  W.  Ingersoll,  Wilford  L.  Wilson,  D.  R. 
Noyes  and  Thomas  Cochran.  With  bowed  head,  * 
reverently,  he  marched  abreast  of  churchmen  like 
S.  Y.  McMasters,  D.  R.  Breed,  E.  D.  Neill,  H.  B. 
Whipple  and  John  Ireland,  in  paths  that  lead  to 
righteousness  through  Christian  faith  and  hope. 

It  were  an  honor  to  any  man  who  sustained  him- 
self for  a long  series  of  years  on  terms  of  acknowl- 
edged equality  in  a companionship  like  this,  emulat- 
ing the  brotherhood  at  King  Arthur’s  table  round, 
the  goodliest  fellowship  of  famous  knights  whereof 
the  world  holds  record.  Frederick  Driscoll  thus 
sustained  himself  and  more.  In  numerous  vital 
emergencies  he  was  pushed  forward,  in  one  or  an- 
other of  these  several  fields  of  usefulness  and  honor, 
to  a position  of  applauded  leadership,  and  in  no 
such  case  did  he  fail  to  amply  vindicate  the  prefer- 
ment. 

In  May,  1870,  Mr.  Wheelock  was  appointed  post- 
master of  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Driscoll  became  assistant 
postmaster  and  for  five  years  performed  the  duties 
of  that  position  in  addition  to  those  of  business 
manager  of  the  Daily  Press. 

Shortly  after  relinquishing  this  office,  the  Press 
was  consolidated  with  the  Pioneer  under  the  title 
Pioneer-Press,  which  it  retains  until  this  day.  Later 
the  management  acquired  the  Morning  Tribune  and 
Evening  Mail,  at  Minneapolis,  suspended  their  pub- 
lication, and  for  a time  held  a monopoly  of  the 
daily  newspaper  field  of  the  Twin  Cities,  except  for 
the  St.  Paul  Evening  Dispatch. 

Mr.  Driscoll  was  necessarily  the  prime  factor  in 
negotiating  and  effecting  these  several  fusions  or 
amalgamations,  in  each  case  adding  to  the  prestige 
and  profits  of  his  great  journal.  Whether  the  ablest 
survive,  or  only  those  ablest  to  survive,  the  survivals 
concededly  get  the  credit  and  reap  the  reward.  In 
his  admirable  history  of  Minnesota  Journalism,  Mr. 
D.  S.  B.  Johnston  traces  out  the  pedigree  of  the 
Pioneer  Press  and  shows  that  nineteen  daily  and 
weekly  newspapers  were,  first  and  last,  absorbed 
into  its  ravenous  organism. 

The  history  of  the  Press  and  the  Pioneer  Press, 
in  its  business  relations  and  in  many  of  their  polit- 
ical and  journalistic  aspects,  for  thirty-six  years  was 
the  history  of  Frederick  Driscoll.  Nor  were  his 
political  activities  restricted  to  the  newspaper  col- 
umns. In  1867  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  the 
republican  state  central  committee,  and  held  the  po- 
sition until  1870,  conducting  with  skill  the  cam- 
paigns which  resulted  in  the  second  election  of 
Governor  Marshall  and  the  first  election  of  Gov- 
ernor Austin.  He  was  during  this  period  and  sub- 
sequently the  moving  spirit  in  what  we  called  “the 
Ramsey  dynasty  ' — the  inner  circle  of  leading  repub- 
licans who  had  in  charge  the  political  fortunes  of 
Senator  Ramsey.  Governor  Marshall,  General  R. 
N.  McLaren,  Mr.  Driscoll  and  Mr.  Wheelock  com- 


posed this  inner  circle  and  so  managed  affairs  as  to 
dictate,  with  a view  tp  the  senator’s  continued  tenure, 
most  of  the  nominations  for  state  officers,  congress- 
men, etc.,  as  well  as  most  of  the  appointments  to 
federal  positions,  during  at  least  a full  decade  of 
Minnesota  history.  It  was  a puissant  combination, 
devoted  to  what  its  members  then  believed  and 
some  of  their  surviving  opponents  now  concede  was 
a laudable  purpose. 

After  1875  his  personal  connection  with  practical 
politics  measurably  ceased,  but  the  paper  remained 
a power  in  the  state.  As  always,  Frederick  Driscoll 
guided  its  financial  destinies.  His  eye  was  on  every 
detail  of  its  complicated  business  and  that  of  the 
manufacturing  and  mercantile  branches  he  had  built 
up  around  it — the  printing,  binding  and  lithographic 
establishments,  the  wholesale  paper  and  stationery 
trade,  and  the  ready-print  auxiliary,  each  an  indus- 
try of  itself. 

Yet  amid  all  the  exacting  demands  of  this,  the 
busiest  time  of  his  busy  life,  he  always  found  leisure 
for  cheerful  participations  in  matters  relating  to  the 
public  welfare.  In  this  capacity  he  was  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  useful  men  our  city  and  state 
have  ever  known.  The  real  value  of  his  unselfish 
service  cannot  be  overestimated.  He  was  the  cul- 
tured man,  the  gentleman,  in  the  highest  meaning 
of  those  expressions.  Yet  his  was  a militant  soul. 
He  was  not  merely  a good  man  negatively ; he  went 
out  and  fought  for  the  faith  that  was  in  him. 

His  interest  in  all  matters  relating  to  business  ex- 
tensions, municipal  policies  and  official  responsibil- 
ity, made  him  a leader  among  the  men  who  were 
shaping  the  evolution  of  our  ambitious  and  strug- 
gling young  city.  He  was  for  many  years  a director 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  one  year  its 
president.  Every  step  in  St.  Paul’s  advance  had  to 
be  worked  and  fought  for  against  vigorous  rivalry. 
No  more  zealous  worker  or  more  chivalrous  fighter 
than  Frederick  Driscoll  contributed  to  the  ultimate 
victory.  The  chapter  on  street  railways  in  Volume 
One  of  this  work  gives  an  example  of  his  forceful 
and  effective  leadership. 

On  December  1,  1889,  the  ownership  of  the  Pio- 
neer Press  Company  passed  into  other  hands,  and 
Mr.  Driscoll  resigned  the  management.  At  the  age 
of  sixty-six,  two  years  beyond  the  supposed  limit  of 
efficiency  in  officers  of  the  army,  he  laid  down  the 
special  burden  he  had  carried  for  a generation,  but 
he  did  not  retire.  On  the  contrary,  he  entered  on 
a new  career,  that  led  him  into  even  higher,  wider 
ranges  of  endeavor  than  those  in  which  he  had 
previously  toiled  and  triumphed.  He  had  already 
become  a national  figure  in  lines  connected  with 
practical  journalism.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Associated  Press  and  long  a director.  Also 
a leader  in  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers’ 
Association. 

Thus  prominently  identified  with  the  leading  pub- 
lishing interests  by  long  association,  his  colleagues 
at  once  availed  themselves  of  the  ooportunity,  when 
he  left  the  Pioneer  Press,  to  enlist  his  services  in 
a very  important  capacity,  for  which  he  was  be- 
lieved to  possess  rare  qualifications.  A national 
board  of  arbitration  was  created.  It  was  composed 
of  the  special  standing  committee  of  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers’  Association,  and  the  execu- 
tive council  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union.  Of  this  national  board  Frederick  Driscoll 
was  early  in  1900  made  commissioner  of  arbitration, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1409 


with  wide  discretionary  authority  and  a liberal  pro- 
vision as  to  salary  and  expenses. 

He  was  a pioneer  in  the  movement  for  better 
relations  between  employer  and  employed.  He  had 
no  precedents  to  guide  him.  He  was  obliged  to 
blaze  his  way  through  a forest  of  tangled  prejudices 
and  animosities,  arrogant  defiance  on  one  side  and 
sullen  contumacy  on  the  other.  These  had  brought 
strikes  and  lockouts,  sometimes  riots,  always  costly 
to  both  parties,  demoralizing  the  community  and 
paralyzing  its  productive  industries. 

He  gave  himself  to  this  fruitful  mission  with 
ever  increasing  capacity  for  good  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  How  fully  he  succeeded  in 
accomplishing  the  duty  assigned  him  is  most  con- 
clusively shown  by  the  voluntary  tributes  trans- 
mitted to  his  family  after  his  decease  by  the  national 
jurisdictions  best  qualified  to  appreciate  his  work. 

A memorial  brochure,  beautifully  engraved  and 
bound,  contains  resolutions  adopted  and  signed  by 
the  National  Board  of  Arbitration,  including  James 
M.  Lynch,  Hugo  Miller  and  J.  W.  Bramwood,  rep- 
resenting the  International  Typographical  Union, 
which  pay  a high  tribute  to  Mr.  Driscoll’s  fair- 
mindedness  and  his  unceasing  efforts  to  promote  the 
mutual  interests  of  employers  and  employees.  An 
equally  sumptuous  volume  contains  a tribute  of  like 
tenor  from  representatives  of  the  publishers,  dem- 
onstrating how  successfully  he  had  performed  the 
functions  of  peacemaker. 

His  new  work  required  his  removal  from  St.  Paul 
to  Chicago  in  1900.  It  involved  much  fatiguing 
travel  and  severe  nervous  strain.  But  he  performed 
it  energetically  for  seven  years,  and  literally  “died 
in  the  harness,”  on  March  24,  1907.  He  was  buried 
in  Oakland  Cemetery,  St.  Paul,  two  days  later. 

He  rests  in  peace.  He  had  kept  the  faith.  He 
had  lanced  a festering  abscess  in  the  body  politic 
and  applied  healing  lotions.  He  had  stretched  fresh 
wires  into  the  domain  of  industrial  economics  and 
electrified  them  with  his  soul. 

Mrs.  Anne  Brown  Driscoll  died  March  31,  1880, 
leaving  three  sons!  On  November  8,  1882,  Mr.  Dris- 
coll was  married  in  New  York  City  to  Mrs.  Lucy 
Norris  Stiles,  of  St.  Paul,  who  shared  his  successes 
and  labors  for  twenty-five  years.  Mrs.  Driscoll  now 
resides  in  this  city.  There  also  survived  him  his 
sons,  Frederick  Driscoll,  Jr.,  Arthur  B.  Driscoll  and 
Walter  J.  Driscoll,  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Robert  H. 
Kirk,  and  his  stepson,  John  N.  Jackson. 

In  his  private  life  Mr.  Driscoll  was  firm  and  in 
all  relations  an  exemplar  of  correct  morals  and 
earnest  religious  convictions.  He  stood  for  what  is 
best  in  framing  the  elements  of  our  Christian  civil- 
ization, the  hope  of  the  country,  the  light  of  the 
world.  He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the 
House  of  Hope  Presbyterian  Church  of  St.  Paul 
and  a leader  of  the  choir  in  its  early  days.  He 
served  for  many  years  on  its  board  of  trustees,  and 
was  always  a generous  contributor  to  its  denomina- 
tional and  benevolent  agencies.  By  precept  and  ex- 
ample he  lent  encouragement  to  every  judicious  ef- 
fort for  the  regeneration  of  society  and  the  uplift  of 
the  race. 

Mr.  Driscoll  was  easily  one  of  the  foremost  in 
the  front  rank  of  his  contemporaries.  He  left  the 
indelible  impress  of  his  exceptional  talents,  his  tire- 
less industry  and  his  inflexible  integrity  on  many 
features  of  the  advancement  of  this  city,  of  this 
state  and  of  the  embryo  communities  beyond  our 
western  border,  which  for  three  decades  iooked  to 


this  center  as  a source  of  information,  of  political 
guidance,  of  commercial  and  financial  tutelage. 

And  perhaps  his  last  days  were  his  best  days. 
Having  served  faithfully  in  diverse  fields  of  local 
effort,  with  wide  radiations  of  beneficent  influence, 
he  was  at  an  age  which  entitled  him  to  retirement 
and  rest,  transferred  to  spheres  of  national  achieve- 
ment, yielding  distinction  it  is  the  privilege  of  few 
to  win.  He  did  not  retire  and  he  did  not  rest. 
Well  past  three  score  and  ten,  his  untiring  energies 
still  consecrated  to  good  works,  he  fell,  at  last,  a 
mailed  warrior  of  the  Empire  of  Peace  and  Civil- 
ization “rich  in  honon  and  glorious  with  praise." 

Dr.  Chester  Goss  Higbee.  In  a memoir  to  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  issued  after  his  lamented 
death  by  Cobb  Hospital,  of  which  he  was  president, 
an  associate  presented  this  merited  eulogy  : 

"Between  August  5,  1835,  and  April  3,  1908,  lived 
one  often  called  the  ‘Good  Physician.’  Beyond, 
ever  lives,  in  hearts  made  better  by  his  presence, 
the  teacher,  soldier,  great-hearted  philanthropist, 
whose  acted  motto  was — ‘Where  need  is,  there  is 
my  brother.’  To  Dr.  Higbee  medicine  was  more 
than  a profession — it  was  a sacred  calling.  Plis 
eminence  through  over  forty  years  in  St.  Paul,  the 
Northwest  and  nationally,  among  his  fellow-prac- 
titioners, was  no  accident.  A great  purpose  steadily 
held  draws  its  wealth  from  many  sources.  His  was 
such  a purpose. 

“It  is  partly  written  in  the  record  of  his  twenty- 
three  battles  and  how  he  rose  from  the  private  of 
’61  to  the  captain  of  ’64,  bearing  a wound  from  be- 
fore Atlanta,  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea,  we 
may  know  what  kind  of  a soldier  he  was.  How 
men  trusted  and  loved  him  is  hinted  in  the  long  list 
of  honorable  positions  which  he  held : Headship  of 
the  Loyal  Legion  in  Minnesota;  thirty-second  degree 
Mason,  trusted  and  efficient  officer  of  the  United 
States  and  Minnesota  in  connection  with  old  sol- 
diers; president  of  the  State  Association  of  Homeo- 
pathic Physicians  and  Surgeons ; foremost  in  philan- 
thropic and  charitable  work — these  are  only  some 
of  the  ways  in  which  his  worth  is  hinted.  We  knew 
him  for  the  man  who  took  but  simple  fare  and 
shelter,  so  well  he  loved  his  fellowmen,  so  much 
he  cared  for  his  calling.  We  may  not  know  the 
mighty  good  he  did  in  secret;  it  is  written  only  in 
the  hearts  he  blessed  and  in  the  remembrance  of 
Him  who  knoweth  all.  Above  the  wisdom  and  the 
brilliance  of  his  mind  and  the  skill  of  his  hand,  we 
love  the  loving,  gentle  man  this  strong  man  was.” 

Doctor  Higbee  was  a native  of  Pike,  Wyoming 
County,  New  York,  but  when  he  was  very  young 
his  parents  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Atkin- 
son, Wisconsin,  where  his  boyhood  was  spent.  The 
outbreak  of  the  war  for  the  Union  found  him  a 
resident  of  Hudson,  Wisconsin,  where  he  and  his 
brother  enlisted.  A condensed  epitome  of  his  army 
experiences  is  thus  set  forth  in  the  records : 

“Entered  the  service  as  private  Company  A, 
Twelfth  Wisconsin  Infantry,  October  30,  1861 ; First 
Sergeant,  December  4,  1861 ; Second  Lieutenant,  May 
1,  1862;  Captain,  November  21,  1864;  honorably 
mustered  out,  December  20,  1864.  Served  in  Mis- 
souri and  Kansas  1861  and  1862,  and  in  Tennessee 
and  Mississippi  campaigns ; siege  of  Vicksburg  and 
Meridian  expedition,  and  with  the  Nineteenth  Army 
Corps  during  Atlanta  Campaign,  and  March  to  the 
Sea;  wounded  at  Atlanta,  August  20,  1864.” 

This  gives  but  a bald  outline  of  three  years’  ardu- 


1410 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


ous,  dangerous  service  and  sacrifice,  in  which  his 
valor  and  his  patriotism  were  demonstrated  in  one 
of  the  mightiest  conflicts  recorded  in  the  pages  of 
history.  In  all  the  great  campaigns  of  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee  he  thus  bore  a creditable  part, 
winning  promotion  by  bravery  and  exemplary  con- 
duct, and  returning  at  last,  when  the  war  had  virtu- 
ally ended,  to  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of 
citizenship. 

After  a thorough  preparation  in  the  best  profes- 
sional schools  of  medicine  and  surgery,  Doctor  Hig- 
bee  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Red  Wing, 
Minnesota,  but  located  in  St.  Paul  about  1870,  and 
with  the  exception  of  a three  years’  sojourn  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  of  some  months’  travel  in  Europe, 
with  professional  advancement  in  view,  practiced 
actively  and  successfully  in  this  city  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

Although  among  his  patients  were  many  of  wealth 
and  high  social  position  in  the  community  yet  there 
was  none  so  poor,  friendless  and  unfortunate  as  to 
appeal  to  him  in  vain — ever  to  the  sick,  the  wounded 
and  sorrowing  he  enacted  the  part  of  the  Good 
Samaritan.  To  such  as  these  he  ministered  in  num- 
berless instances  with  no  hope  or  expectation  of 
pecuniary  reward,  actuated  solely  in  his  large- 
heartedness by  the  desire  to  do  good,  as  he  found 
opportunity,  to  suffering  and  afflicted  humanity. 
Such  deeds  create  a memorial  more  significant,  last- 
ing and  worthy  than  bronze  or  marble.  Doctor  Hig- 
bee’s  life  had  no  acme  of  success,  no  termination 
of  usefulness  on  the  attainment  of  sixty  years,  as 
maintained  by  some  modern  theorists,  but  rather 
shows  a sure  and  progressive  mental  evolution  to 
the  final  summons  of  the  supreme  architect.  Though 
the  physical  powers  waned  in  later  years,  thereby 
lessening  the  quantity  of  his  labors,  yet  the  high 
quality  remained  to  the  last  unimpaired. 

He  was  long  a member  of  the  United  States  Board 
of  Pension  Examiners ; a consulting  surgeon  of  the 
Minnesota  Soldiers’  Home;  president  of  the  direc- 
tors of  Cobb  Hospital;  was  vice  president  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Homeopathy;  and  was  a 
trusted  counsellor  in  medical  affairs  for  many  char- 
itable associations. 

He  was  for  many  years  an  active  member  of 
Acker  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  its  commander.  He  was 
a charter  member  of  the  Minnesota  Commandery, 
Loyal  Legion,  organized  in  1885,  and  served  as  its 
commander,  May  8,  1906,  to  May  14,  1907.  His  was 
a rare  personality,  uniting  in  a most  felicitous  man- 
ner the  skilled  physician  with  the  fatherly  mien 
that  begets  confidence,  affection  and  trust,  leading 
factors  in  the  healing  of  all  diseases,  whether  of  the 
mind  or  body.  In  1897  the  Doctor  met  with  a severe 
accident,  which  partially  disabled  him,  but  with  sub- 
lime courage  he  arose  superior  to  physical  ills,  re- 
newed his  life  work  and  heroically  persisted  until 
the  end,  which  came  suddenly,  as  to  one  who  “wraps 
the  drapery  of  his  couch  about  him  and  lies  down 
to  pleasant  dreams.” 

He  was  survived  by  a brother,  Dr.  Albert  E.  Hig- 
bee,  of  Minneapolis,  and  a sister,  Mrs.  J.  B.  John- 
son, of  Milwaukee. 

Doctor  Higbee  was  twice  married — the  last  time 
in  1876,  to  Miss  Isabel  A.  Davis,  who  also  survives 
him  and  who!  by  her  energetic,  intelligent  and  abun- 
dantly fruitful  efforts  along  practical  lines  of  human 
uplift  and  advancement  splendidly  supplements  the 
life-long  work  of  her  honored  husband.  Mrs.  Hig- 
bee is  a state  leader  and  a national  figure  in  various 


organizations  of  women  for  mental  and  social  im- 
provement, for  effective  influence  on  legislation, 
administration  and  all  features  of  good  government. 

John  Albert  Johnson.  With  the  untimely  pass- 
ing of  John  Albert  Johnson  on  the  morning  of  Sep- 
tember 21,  1909,  Minnesota  suffered  a loss  so  acute, 
so  far  reaching  and  so  lasting  that  the  great  north- 
western commonwealth  will  not  wholly  react  from  it 
in  many  years  to  come,  and  his  name  will  go  down 
in  modern  history  as  the  best  loved  governor  and 
one  of  the  most  truly  admirable  citizens  the  state 
has  ever  been  privileged  to  know.  His  death  called 
forth  sorrowful  expressions  on  all  sides,  and  was 
regarded  not  only  as  a state,  but  as  a national  loss. 
“The  Lincoln  of  the  Northwest”  he  has  been  called, 
and  fittingly  so.  For  he  possessed  many  Lincoln- 
esque  qualities  of  gentleness,  simplicity,  integrity 
and  tenderness,  with  the  ability  to  inspire  great 
and  unselfish  love  in  the  hearts  of  men.  These 
words  of  eulogy  extracted  from  one  of  the  leading 
journals  of  Minnesota  are  a frank  and  simple  state- 
ment of  an  undeniable  truth:  “No  death  in  Minne- 
sota ever  was  felt  so  deeply  and  widely  as  that  of 
Governor  Johnson.  We  speak  advisedly.  Greater 
men  have  died  in  the  maturity  of  life  and  fame,  with 
their  work  done  and  their  span  rounded  out.  He 
died  in  the  vigorous  prime  of  life  with  the  best 
promise  of  performance  before  him.  What  he  might 
have  done  can  never  be  known.  Grief  and  affection 
measure  it  generously.  He  departs  at  what  might 
have  been  the  climax  of  popularity  that  has  had  few 
parallels  in  the  United  States.  He  will  remain  a 
romantic  legend  of  political  success  without  com- 
promise of  taste,  dignity  or  honor;  of  high  public 
purpose  fulfilled  without  loss  of  personal  popularity. 
That  might  not  have  endured.  But  he  loved  service 
above  reward;  achievement  more  than  applause.  To 
such  a man  death  comes  as  untimely  as  to  his 
lovers.” 

Governor  Johnson  bore  the  distinction  of  being 
the  only  chief  executive  of  the  state  who  was  a 
native  of  it,  and  his  election  to  that  high  office  for 
three  consecutive  terms  is  unanswerable  evidence 
of  his  sterling  worth,  and  of  the  secure  place  he 
had  found  in  the  hearts  and  homes  of  the  people 
of  his  state.  Despite  the  hardships  of  his  early  life, 
he  had  been  able  all  his  days  to  retain  the  sweetness 
of  temper  and  cheery  optimism  which  is  the  natural 
right  of  childhood,  and  was  a man  of  splendid  men- 
tal balance  and  unerring  wisdom.  The  unhappy 
conditions  attending  his  youth  he  never  denied. 
Neither  did  he  make  capital  of  them,  posing  as  a 
“self-made  man”  and  flaunting  his  high  attainments 
in  the  face  of  the  people ; he  rather  was  con- 
strained to  admit,  regretfully  enough,  the  short- 
comings of  his  father,  and  to  lay  stress  upon  the 
noble  mother  who  endowed  him  with  the  men- 
tality and  character  which  made  him  what  he  was. 
The  life  which  was  begun  with  a struggle  for 
existence  at  an  all  too  early  age,  was  finished  in  the 
midst  of  a similar  struggle,  although  in  later  years 
his  efforts  were  not  so  much  for  himself  as  for  the 
benefit  of  others. 

This  Swedish-American  man  of  deeds  was  born 
in  a cabin  near  the  little  village  of  St.  Peter,  on  the 
28th  of  July,  1861,  son  of  Gustave  and  Caroline 
(Haden)  Johnson.  His  father  was  of  a worthy 
Swedish  family,  and  he  inherited  considerable 
wealth,  but  it  appears  that  he  squandered  his  patri- 
mony in  his  young  manhood,  and  when  he  was 


6? 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1411 


thirty-three  years  of  age  his  relatives  sent  him  to 
the  northwest  of  the  United  States  in  the  hope  that 
in  a new  land  he  would  start  life  anew  and  make 
something  of  his  mis-directed  life.  He  settled  at 
St.  Peter,  became  a blacksmith,  and  after  a time 
married.  For  a time  he  continued  in  the  straight 
path,  but  his  old  habits  were  permitted  to  master 
his  better  instincts,  and  the  growing  family  was 
plunged  into  abject  poverty  as  a result  of  his  indis- 
cretions. At  his  death  he  left  three  sons  and  a 
daughter,  the  elder  sons  having  helped  their  mother 
to  support  the  home  for  some  time  before  his  death. 
John  A.  was  the  second  born,  and  he  early  felt  the 
neglect  and  privation  which  made  it  necessary  for 
the  children  of  the  home  to  become  breadwinners. 
It  is  entirely  consistent  with  the  character  of  the 
late  governor  that  when  these  painful  circumstances 
of  his  boyhood  were  unearthed  and  brought  into  his 
first  gubernatorial  campaign,  he  refused  to  deny  the 
parentage  of  a drunken  father  and  a mother  who 
“took  in  washing.”  The  first  he  admitted  sadly 
enough  and  without  comment ; the  second  with  a 
proud  lift  of  the  head  and  the  words  which  brought 
such  ringing  applause:  “Took  in  washing?  Yes,  she 
did;  until  I was  old  enough  to  go  out  and  earn 
something.  But  she  never  took  in  any  washing 
after  that.”  That  Governor  Johnson  was  largely  in- 
debted to  that  mother  for  the  splendid  heritage  of 
mental  and  moral  qualities  which  was  his  is  attested 
by  many  of  the  older  inhabitants  of  St.  Peter  who 
knew  the  family  intimately.  The  worthy  attain- 
ments of  her  son  in  later  years  were  ample  recom- 
pense to  this  brave  woman  for  her  sufferings  in 
early  life,  for  she  lived  until  1906,  thus  privileged  to 
have  a part  in  the  honors  heaped  upon  him  by  his 
state. 

John  A.  Johnson  was  twelve  years  of  age  when 
the  family  circumstances,  compelled  him  to  become 
a breadwinner,  and  his  first  work  was  performed 
in  a grocery  store  in  his  home  town,  from  which  he 
finally  graduated  into  the  village  drug  store.  He 
passed  ten  years  in  that  drug  store  and  his  work 
in  the  capacity  o’f  clerk  enabled  him  not  only  to 
become  a thorough  pharmacist,  but  gave  him  the 
opportunity  to  acquire  something  in  the  way  of  an 
education,  which  had  been  denied  him  in  his  boy- 
hood. He  was  an  omnivorous  reader  and  he  ex- 
hausted every  library  within  his  reach,  both  public 
and  private,  and  proved  his  knowledge  thus  gained 
by  his  connection  with,  debating  and  literary  clubs. 
Mr.  Johnson  remained  in  the  drug  business  until  he 
was  twenty-five,  and  his  withdrawal  from  that  field 
of  activity  was  the  result  of  an  offer  made  him  by 
four  leading  democrats  of  the  place  to  advance  him 
the  purchase  price  of  a partnership  in  the  St.  Peter 
Herald.  Mr.  Johnson  was  entirely  inexperienced 
as  a journalist  or  a newspaper  man,  but  his  friends 
recognized  in  him  qualities  which  they  believed 
could  be  utilized  to  advantage  in  such  a venture. 
Thus  in  1886  he  became  the  editorial  partner  in  the 
Herald,  and  in  a short  time  was  a recognized  force 
in  the  journalism  of  the  state.  In  1891  he  was 
elected  secretary  of  the  Minnesota  'Editorial  Asso- 
ciation, and  became  its  president  in  1893,  when  he 
was  thirty-two  years  old.  He  entered  into  politics, 
and  although  he  was  beaten  for  a seat  in  the  State 
Legislature  in  1888,  ten  years  later  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate  over  C.  J.  Carlson  of  the.Gustavus 
Adolphus  College.  After  his  four  years’  term  in  the 
upper  house  of  the  Legislature  he  was  re-nominated, 


but  beaten  by  another  Swedish-American,  C.  A. 
Johnson. 

It  was  in  1904  that  John  Albert  Johnson  was  first 
nominated  for  governor,  his  republican  opponent 
being  Robert  C.  Dunn,  who  had  just  completed  a 
fine  record  as  state  auditor.  Mr.  Johnson  made  one 
of  the  most  sensational  runs  known  in  the  history 
of  Minnesota,  going  into  office  with  a majority  of 
7,862  votes,  and  taking  his  seat  as  the  third  demo- 
cratic governor  in  forty  years.  His  first  administra- 
tion was  marked  by  his  ever  increasing  popularity 
with  the  people,  and  he  will  be  remembered  as  one 
of  the  supporters  of  the  two-cent  fare  bill.  His 
appointments  also  met  with  invariable  approval,  and 
in  1906  the  people  acknowledged  his  own  trite  ex- 
pression “one  good  term  deserves  another”  by  com- 
mencing his  second  term  with  a plurality  of  more 
than  seventy-two  thousand  votes,  said  to  be  the  most 
flattering  vote  ever  accorded  to  a candidate  for 
governor  of  Minnesota.  This  striking  success  of 
a plain,  unvarnished  and  practical  man  soon  brought 
him  into  national  prominence,  accompanied  by  the 
usual  attentions  from  magazines,  lyceum  bureaus, 
etc.  The  University  of  Pennsylvania  also  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  June  17,  1907.  In  the 
fall  of  the  succeeding  year  he  was  again  elected 
governor,  by  a plurality  of  more  than  twenty-eight 
thousand,  and  he  was  still  deep  in  his  campaign  for 
the  initiative  and  referendum,  a license  tax  on 
corporations  outside  the  state  which  did  business 
within,  for  the  increased  taxation  of  home  cor- 
porations and  for  the  proper  regulation  of  all  busi- 
ness and  financial  organizations  which  enjoyed  the 
protection  of  the  state  laws — in  short,  he  was  still 
laboring  valiantly  and  honestly  for  what  he  claimed 
to  be  truest  democratic  doctrine,  when  he  was 
stricken  down  by  his  last  illness. 

On  June  1,  1894,  Mr.  Johnson  wedded  Miss  Eli- 
nore  M.  Preston,  a young  woman  who  had  been 
educated  in  the  Catholic  sisters’  school  at  Rochester, 
and  came  to  St.  Peter  as  a teacher  of  music  and 
drawing  in  the  parochial  schools  of  that  place.  A 
woman  of  education  and  rare  refinement,  she  was  a 
devoted  wife  to  the  last.  She  was  a daughter  of 
John  and  Josephine  (Matteson)  Preston,  and  was 
reared  by  her  grandparents  in  Wonewoc,  Wisconsin. 

The  foremost  men  of  the  day,  of  state  and  na- 
tional prominence,  have  made  public  utterances  in- 
dicative of  the  great  heart  and  mind  of  Governor 
Johnson,  and  the  people  of  his  state  need  no  re- 
minders of  the  worth  of  the  man  they  loved  and 
honored,  and  whom  they  still  mourn. 

In  his  private  life  Governor  Johnson  was  a mem- 
ber *of  various  fraternal  societies,  prominent  among 
them  being  the  Elks,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern 
Woodmen  and  the  St.  Peter  Lodge  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  He  was  a member  of  the  Minnesota, 
Commercial  and  Nordin  Odin  Clubs,  and  was  prom- 
inent in  all.  In  earlier  years  he  served  for  seven 
years  in  the  Minnesota  National  Guards,  retiring 
from  the  service  with  the  rank  of  captain. 

Edwin  G.  Evensta.  The  work  of  a building  con- 
tractor does  not  require  assertion  or  unsupported 
statements  to  give  it  prestige.  The  record  of  con- 
structive enterprise  undertaken  and  executed  stands 
as  the  real  test  of  the  quality  possessed  by  the  in- 
dividual contractor.  Few  men  in  this  business  in 
the  entire  State  of  Minnesota  can  exhibit  a better 
record  in  buildings  actually  completed  and  now  con- 
spicuous in  various  localities  than  E.  G.  Evensta, 


1412 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


head  of  the  E.  G.  Evensta  Company,  general  con- 
tractors and  builders,  with  main  offices  in  the  North- 
western Building  at  Minneapolis.  For  a man  who 
came  to  America  something  over  twenty-five  years 
ago  without  knowledge  of  a word  of  English,  Mr. 
Evensta  may  be  conceded  to  have  made  a remark- 
able progress  in  successful  achievement. 

Edwin  G.  Evensta  was  born  at  Damdalen,  Central 
Norway,  February  25,  1862,  a son  of  John  E.  and 
Anna  (Gndbjornson)  Evensta.  Both  his  venerable 
parents  are  still  living  in  Norway,  and  at  this  writ- 
ing both  in  good  health  and  possessed  of  all  their 
faculties.  The  father  was  born  in  1835  and  the 
mother  in  1833,  and  their  lives  have  been  spent  in 
quiet  scenes,  but  in  vigorous  activity  in  the  old 
country.  The  father  has  combined  the  vocation  of 
farmer  with  blacksmith  and  carriage  maker,  and  for 
many  years  manufactured  buggies  and  wagons  by 
hand.  He  sold  his  farm  some  time  ago,  and  now 
in  the  leisure  of  retirement  maintains  his  shop 
only  that  he  may  have  something  to  employ  his  time 
and  energy.  Though  he  never  went  to  school,  he 
is  a man  of  education  and  writes  a splendid  hand. 
There  were  four  sons  and  eight  daughters  in  the 
family,  and  two  of  the  sons  and  six  of  the  daugh- 
ters are  still  living.  While  the  parents  never  came 
to  America,  three  of  the  daughters  are  living  in 
the  United  States,  and  a son,  C.  J.  Evensta,  conducts 
the  City  Hotel  at  Brainerd,  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Hen- 
rietta Olson,  a widow,  resides  at  Mankato ; Mrs. 
Simon  Carren  lives  in  South  Dakota,  while  Mrs. 
John  Paulson  is  a resident  of  Wisconsin. 

Edwin  G.  Evensta  grew  up  in  his  native  village 
in  Norway,  attended  the  public  schools,  including 
high  school,  took  a course  in  a business  college, 
and  as  a young  man  learned  the  blacksmith’s  trade 
under  the  supervision  of  his  father.  This  work 
proved  too  strenuous  for  his  strength,  and  he  then 
took  up  the  trade  of  carpenter.  With  this  education 
and  with  his  training  in  mechanical  trades  he  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1889,  landing  in  New  York 
on  the  15th  of  June  and  going  direct  to  Chippewa 
Falls,  Wisconsin,  where  one  of  his  sisters  was  then 
living.  After  two  weeks  there  he  came  on  to 
Minneapolis,  arriving  in  that  city  July  5,  1889,  and 
has  never  quitted  the  city  for  any  length  of  time 
since  then,  except  as  his  business  duties  have  re- 
quired his  absence.  The  first  necessity  which  con- 
fronted him  on  coming  to  America  was  to  acquire 
some  facility  in  the  use  of  the  English  language. 
He  took  perhaps  the  best  method  of  learning  a 
new  language  by  finding  work  as  clerk  in  a grocery 
store  at  Minneapolis,  spending  about  eight  months 
with  the  firm  of  Norbeck  & Johnson,  and  rapidly 
picking  up  a practical  knowledge  of  the  new  tongue. 
After  that  he  was  conductor  on  a street  railway 
for  three  months,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  had 
acquired  some  proficiency  in  conducting  his  trans- 
actions and  general  social  intercourse  through  the 
medium  of  English. 

Mr.  Evensta  then  applied  himself  to  the  work 
of  his  trade  as  a carpenter,  was  employed  by  local 
contractors  three  years,  and  then  spent  two  seasons 
working  with  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  in  the 
Yellowstone  Park.  In  the  main  he  followed  his 
trade  as  a journeyman  until  the  spring  of  1904, 
in  which  year  he  established  a business  as  car- 
penter and  general  contractor.  The  scope  of  his 
business  and  his  successful  standing  may  perhaps 
best  be  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  employs  between 
400  and  500  men,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Euro- 


pean war  had  contracts  under  way  to  an  aggregate 
value  of  a million  dollars. 

Only  the  briefest  catalog  and  description  of  his 
work  as  a builder  can  be  attempted.  For  about  ten 
years  prior  to  setting  up  his  business  as  a general 
contractor  his  services  were  largely  employed  in  the 
erection  of  residences  at  Minneapolis.  He  con- 
structed the  Swedish  Mission  Church,  on  Twentieth 
Avenue  North  and  Aldrich;  the  Zion  Church,  at 
Twenty-sixth  and  Lyndale  North;  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  on  Columbus  and  Twenty-sixth; 
the  Slovonian  Lutheran  Church,  on  Essex  and  On- 
tario streets,  and  has  constructed  more  than  a hun- 
dred of  the  better  class  of  private  residences  in 
Minneapolis.  Mr.  Evensta  put  up  all  the  handsome 
buildings  at  the  Glacier  Park  station,  including  the 
Glacier  Park  Hotel.  The  Great  Northern  Hotel 
building  at  Belton,  Montana,  and  the  Great  Northern 
machine  shops  at  Hillyard,  Washington,  are  ex- 
amples of  his  business  record.  His  services  were 
employed  in  the  construction  of  all  the  buildings  on 
the  Great  Northern  Railway  from  Fargo  to  Minot, 
including  the  terminal  at  New  Rockford.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  Great  Northern 
Many  Glacier  Hotel  in  the  Glacier  National  Park, 
which  is  to  be  completed  by  July,  1915.  He  con- 
structed the  freight  and  office  building  for  the  North- 
ern Pacific  at  Mandan,  North  Dakota,  and  the 
flour  mill  for  the  Missouri  Valley  Milling  Company 
at  Dickinson,  North  Dakota.  Other  structures  are: 
The  public  school  building  at  Taylor  Falls,  Minne- 
sota; the  school  building  at  Glencoe,  Minnesota; 
the  German  school  in  Minneapolis,  at  Thirteenth 
Avenue  South  and  Nineteenth  Street;  the  Kellogg 
Manufacturing  Company’s  building  at  Minneapolis. 
His  company  at  the  present  time  is  engaged  in  the 
erection  of  the  engine  facilities  or  terminal  at  St. 
Paul.  Another  building  in  that  city  is  one  for  the 
Pintsch  Compressing  Company,  for  the  New  York 
concern  which  manufactures  the  familiar  gas  light 
for  railway  cars.  Mr.  Evensta  now  has  in  Montana 
a sawmill  and  general  finishing  plant,  engaged  in 
working  up  the  logs  from  the  immediate  timber  and 
manufacturing  all  the  doors,  frames,  casings,  from 
the  log  on  the  stump  to  the  finished  product  needed 
for  the  buildings  of  the  Glacier  Park  Hotel  Com- 
pany at  Many  Glacier,  Montana,  which  is  located 
fifty-four  miles  from  any  railway.  Over  a hundred 
and  fifty  men  are  employed  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  manufacturing  and  construction  in  that 
locality,  and  the  Evensta  Company  furnishes  all  the 
supplies,  from  shoes  and  clothing  to  board  and 
lodging.  Mr.  Evensta  during  the  last  year  paid  out 
$35,000  for  camp  expenses  in  Montana. 

As  one  of  the  leading  building  contractors  of  Min- 
neapolis, it  is  only  natural  that  Mr.  Evensta  takes 
part  in  the  social  and  civic  life  of  the  city  through 
membership  in  the  various  representative  organiza- 
tions. He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and 
Commerce  Association,  attends  the  Swedish  Mission 
Church,  and  since  1893  has  been  a member  of  Pros- 
pect Camp  No.  1035  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  at  Minneapolis.  On  November  26,  1892, 
Mr.  Evensta  married  Miss  Carrie  Anderson  of 
Minneapolis.  She  was  born  in  Sweden  and  came 
to  this  country  when  a young  woman  of  twenty- 
two.  Her  parents  came  from  Sweden  later  and 
both  died  in  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Evensta  was  born  and 
educated  at  Vermland,  Sweden.  Tn  1901  Mr.  Evensta 
returned  to  Norway  to  visit  his  parents  and  the 
scenes  of  his  boyhood,  spending  three  months  there, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1413 


and  had  planned  another  visit  in  1915,  but  has  de- 
ferred that  pleasure  until  the  European  war  is 
ended. 

Freeman  P.  Lane.  In  continuous  practice  the 
oldest  member  of  the  Minneapolis  bar  is  Freeman 
Parker  Lane,  whose  offices  are  in  the  Security  Bank 
Building.  Mr.  Lane  has  lived  in  Minnesota  since 
nine  years  of  age,  and  by  his  own  ability  and  am- 
bition has  risen  to  prominence  in  his  profession. 
His  attainments  and  success  as  a lawyer  have  been 
in  proportion  to  the  many  years  of  his  connection 
with  the  profession  in  Minneapolis. 

Of  sturdy  colonial  stock  in  New  England,  Mr. 
Lane  was  born  at  Eastport,  Washington  County, 
Maine,  April  20,  1853.  Eastport  is  a port  of  entry 
on  Moose  Island,  in  Passamaquoddy  Bay,  separated 
from  the  mainland  by  a narrow  channel.  He  is  a 
son  of  Charles  W.  and  Almira  B.  (Coulter)  Lane, 
both  representatives  of  old  families  early  founded 
in  New  England.  Charles  W.  Lane,  like  many  other 
sons  of  New  England,  early  entered  upon  a seafar- 
ing) life  and  became  first  mate  on  a sailing  vessel, 
an  office  now  known  as  first  officer.  This  vessel 
sailed  between  Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore 
and  the  West  Indies.  The  captain  of  this  vessel 
was  Freeman  Parker,  and  in  his  honor  the  subject 
of  this  review  was  named.  The  Lane  family  early 
became  closely  identified  with  maritime  activities  on 
the  Atlantic,  and  for  a number  of  generations  nearly 
all  of  its  male  representatives  were  sailors  by  voca- 
tion. 

Charles  W.  Lane,  at  nine  years  of  age,  left  home 
without  his  widowed  mother’s  consent,  and  became 
cabin  boy  on  a schooner  plying  between  Eastport, 
Maine,  and  the  City  of  Boston.  He  continued  to 
follow  the  sea  until  after  the  birth  of  his  son  Free- 
man P.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  natives  of 
Maine.  The  former’s  father  was  born  in  Scotland 
and  always  wrote  his  name  McLane,  according  to 
the  original  spelling  in  Scotland. . Charles  W.,  how- 
ever, dropped  the  prefix  of  the  name  when  he  be- 
came a sailor,  and  all  of  the  immediate  family  have 
retained  the  simplified  form  of  Lane.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  Freeman  P.  Lane  wasi  born  in  the 
north  of  Ireland  and  was  a representative  of  the 
Scotch  Protestant  element  that  became  prominent 
in  that  part  of  the  Emerald  Isle  when  religious  dif- 
ficulties led  to  immigration  of  numerous  families 
from  Scotland. 

In  the  spring  of  1862  Charles  W.  Lane  came  with 
his  family  to  Minnesota  and  numbered  himself 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Minneapolis,  where 
he  found  employment  in  a cooper  shop  situated  at 
the  corner  of  what  are  now  First  Street  and  Mar- 
quette Avenue.  The  family  home  was  in  South 
Minneapolis,  in  what  is  now  the  Eleventh  ward  of 
the  city.  At  that  time  there  were  but  two  houses  in 
that  section  of  the  city.  In  1864  Mr.  Lane,  leaving 
the  cooperage  business,  purchased  a carriage  repair 
shop  at  the  corner  of  the  present  First  Street  and 
First  Avenue  North.  He  became  a comparatively 
prosperous  business  man  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
continued  as  honored  citizens  of  Minneapolis  until 
their  death. 

During  the  years  from  1862  to  1865,  inclusive. 
Freeman  P.  Lane  held,  with  doubtless  the  usual 
amount  of  independent  dignity,  the  position  of  news- 
boy in  Minneapolis,  where  he  sold  the  editions  of 
the  Press  and  the  Pioneer,  later  combined  to  form 
the  present  Pioneer-Press.  His  subsequent  ad- 


vancement is  the  more  interesting  for  the  fact  that 
in  those  early  days  he  was  also  a bootblack.  In 
the  meanwhile  he  attended  school  in  the  old  Lincoln 
school  building,  on  Washington  Avenue,  near  Sixth 
Avenue  North,  but  the  youth  and  his  teacher  ma- 
tured differences  of  opinions  that  resulted  in  Mr. 
Lane’s  involuntary  "graduation”  when  he  had 
reached  the  eighth  grade.  From  that  time  forward 
he  never  attended  any  educational  institution  except 
the  law  school.  Fie  gained  a broad  and  liberal  edu- 
cation principally  through  self-discipline  and  through 
the  lessons  acquired  under  the  preceptorship  of  that 
wisest  of  all  headmasters,  Experience.  He  contin- 
ued school  until  1867,  and  then  found  employment 
in  L.  L.  Stanchfield's  mill,  at  the  mouth  of  Bas- 
sett’s Creek.  In  1868  he  was  clerk  in  his  father's 
grocery  store,  and  in  the  following  year  entered  the 
service  of  the  Northwestern  Telegraph  Company, 
which  was  later  absorbed  by  the  Western  Union. 
He  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the  company’s 
lines  in  Minnesota  and  the  Territory  of  Dakota 
and  continued  to  be  thus  engaged  until  the  spring 
of  1872,  when  he  entered  into  the  joint  employ  of 
the  United  States  Government,  the  Northern  Pa- 
cific Railroad  Company  and  the  Northwestern  Tele- 
graph Company  and  became  identified  with  the  con- 
struction of  a telegraph  line  from  Fort  Cross  (now 
Jamestown)  to  Lincoln,  in  Dakota  Territory,  this 
line  having  been  completed  before  the  grading  of 
the  railroad  had  been  started.  In  the  meanwhile 
his  ambition  caused  him  to  formulate  plans  for  a 
broader  and  more  effective  field  of  endeavor,  and 
within  ten  days  after  his  return  to  Minneapolis,  in 
November,  1872,  he  entered  the  office  of  Albee 
Smith  and  began  the  study  of  law  under  this  able 
and  kindly  preceptor.  In  the  following  year  he  was 
matriculated  in  the  Albany  Law  School,  in  the  cap- 
ital City  of  New  York,  where  he  further  fortified 
himself  for  his  chosen  profession  and  where  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  law  on  the  6th  of  May,  1874, 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Empire  State. 

Mr.  Lane  returned  immediately  to  Minneapolis 
and  was  duly  admitted  to  the  Minnesota  bar.  Dur- 
ing the  long  intervening  period  of  forty  years  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Minneapolis,  and  in  the  matter  of 
continuous  practice  he  now  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  oldest  lawyer  in  the  city,  though  there  are 
numerous  members  of  the  local  bar  who  are  older 
in  years.  Mr.  Lane  has  long  controlled  a large  and 
representative  law  business,  has  been  identified  with 
much  important  litigation  in  the  various  courts,  and 
has  become  recognized  as  a skillful  trial  lawyer  and 
counselor.  His  character  and  achievement  have  re- 
flected dignity  and  distinction  on  the  profession  of 
his  choice. 

Mr.  Lane  has  long  taken  an  active  interest  in 
political  and  general  civic  affairs,  and  was  formerly 
an  influential  figure  in  the  republican  party  in  Hen- 
nepin County,  where  for  a number  of  years  he 
served  as  a member  of  the  Republican  County  Com- 
mittee as  well  as  of  its  City  Committee  in  Minne- 
apolis, and  was  chairman  of  each  of  these  commit- 
tees. In  1889  he  represented  his  district  in  the  State 
Legislature,  in  which  he  made  an  admirable  record. 
In  1893  Mr.  Lane  left  the  republican  party,  because 
of  the  attitude  of  its  leaders  toward  the  tariff,  the 
trusts  and  financial  matters,  and  he  then  became 
known  as  a radical  populist.  He  presided  at  many 
populist  conventions  and  assisted  in  the  formulating 
of  platforms  that  were  afterward  borrowed  in  part 


1414 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


by  William  Jennings  Bryan  and  to  a greater  extent 
bv  Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  both  of  whom  became 
more  strenuous  in  the  advocacy  of  reforms  than 
were  the  most  ardent  populists.  Mr.  Lane  now 
designates  himself  as  a progressive  democrat.  He 
has  never  lacked  the  courage  for  his  political  con- 
victions, and  has  never  sacrificed  principles  for  per- 
sonal expediency.  In  religious  matters  he  has  a 
deep  reverence  for  spiritual  verities,  but  is  tolerant 
and  liberal,  holds  to  no  special  creed  and  believes 
that  a man's  religious  faith  should  be  a matter  to  be 
regulated  by  himself  and  in  accord  with,  his  con- 
victions as  to  his  personal  responsibility  to  himself 
and  to  his  Maker.  For  nearly  forty  years  Mr.  Lane 
has  been  actively  identified  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
He  is  at  the  present  time  affiliated  with  Hennepin 
Lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; St.  John’s  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M. ; and  Zion  Commandery,  Knights  Templar. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1875,  Mr.  Lane  married  Miss 
Mollie  Lauderdale,  daughter  of  the  late  William  H. 
Lauderdale,  a well  known  citizen  of  Minneapolis. 
Of  this  union  were  born  four  children — Bessie, 
Ina,  Mabel  and  Stuart.  Bessie  became,  in  1894,  the 
wife  of  Thomas  F.  Maguire,  and  she  died  in  1898, 
when  her  only  child,  Inalane,  was  three  years  of 
age.  Inalane  was  reared  to  the  age  of  eighteen  in 
the  home  of  her  maternal  grandparents,  and  she  is 
now  with  her  father  in  Minneapolis.  Ina  Lane,  the 
second  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane,  is  the 
wife  of  John  'E.  Christian,  proprietor  of  the  Edge- 
wood  Hotel,  on  Lake  Minnetonka,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Ruth,  Helen  and  Margaret.  Mabel 
Lane  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Hugh  C.  Arey,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Ex- 
celsior, Hennepin  County,  and  their  three  children 
are  Stuart  Lane,  Jane  and  James  Blanding.  Stuart 
Lane,  the  only  son,  remains  at  the  parental  home 
and  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Heywood  Manufacturing 
Company,  manufacturers  of  envelopes. 

Hon.  Andrew  Ryan  McGill.  For  more  than 
forty  years  Andrew  Ryan  McGill  had  been  a strong 
and  positive  force  in  the  life  of  the  State  of  Minne- 
sota, and  his  career  throughout  was  marked  by  hon- 
orable, useful  and  distinguished  service,  both  to 
the  state  and  to  the  communities  wherein  he  resided, 
and  in  his  death  at  St.  Paul,  on  the  31st  of  October, 
1905,  this  city  and  state  lost  one  of  its  most  eminent 
citizens  and  public  men. 

Fifty  years  ago  Mr.  McGill  was  a school  teacher 
at  St.  Peter,  a town  that  has  the  notoriety  of  fur- 
nishing many  eminent  men  to  Minnesota.  Soon 
afterward  he  was  a volunteer  soldier  in  the  Civil 
war.  Ambitious  and  perserving  in  his  aspirations, 
he  was  successively  ' county  superintendent  of 
schools,  publisher  of  a paper  in  St.  Peter,  insurance 
commissioner  of  the  state  for  thirteen  years,  was 
elected  tenth  governor  of  Minnesota,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  serving  as  state  senator  from 
the  Thirty-seventh  District,  and  also  was  postmaster 
of  St.  Paul. 

Andrew  Ryan  McGill  was  born  in  Saegerstown, 
Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania,  February  19,  1840. 
Of  Irish  ancestry,  his  paternal  grandfather,  Patrick 
McGill,  came  from  Belfast  to  America  in  1770,  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years.  He  and  an  older  brother 
served  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  after  the 
war  settled  in  Northumberland  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania. A few  years  later  the  family  joined  the 
western  movement  of  thousands  of  Scotch-Irish  set- 


tlers to  the  western  border  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Patrick  McGill  secured  a large  tract  of  land  in  what 
is  now  Crawford  County  in  1792,  and  on  the  “Old 
Homestead”  founded  by  him  his  children  and  grand- 
children were  born.  His  youngest  son  was  Charles 
Dillon  McGill,  father  of  Andrew.  Charles  Dillon 
married  Angeline  Martin,  a woman  of  strong  char- 
acter, whose  influence  had  a great  deal  to  do  with 
the  success  of  her  son  Andrew.  Her  grandfather, 
Charles  Martin,  was  of  English  birth,  but  fought 
with  the  colonies  during  the  Revolution,  and  was 
afterward  appointed  by  President  Washington  as 
a lieutenant  in  the  Second  U.  S.  Infantry.  This 
position  he  resigned  and  was  then  appointed  a 
major  general  of  the  Pennsylvania  state  troops  and 
stationed  as  commandant  at  Fort  Le  Boeuf  in 
northwestern  Pennsylvania.  In  time  of  peace,  the 
office  having  lost  its  importance,  he  resigned  and 
became  a citizen  of  Waterford  (a  town  that  had 
grown  up  around  Fort  Le  Boeuf)  and  was  ap- 
pointed its  first  postmaster,  which  office  he  was 
filling  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1820.  His  son, 
Armand  Martin,  the  father  of  Angeline  Martin 
McGill,  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  also 
resided  in  Waterford. 

Governor  McGill  was  reared  in  the  beautiful 
region  of  the  Venango  Valley  of  Pennsylvania. 
As  a boy  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town  he 
made  an  exceptional  record  of  scholarship.  When 
he  assumed  control  of  his  own  course  in  life  at 
the  age  of  nineteen,  he  resisted  the  inducements 
of  his  father  to  remain  on  the  farm,  and  began 
teaching  at  Rimersberg,  about  fifty  miles  from  his 
home.  From  Pennsylvania  he  followed  the  Ohio 
Valley  to  Kentucky,  where  he  continued  as  a 
teacher  at  Newport  until  all  social  and  civic  ac- 
tivities were  disturbed  by  the  Civil  war  and  his 
own  position,  on  account  of  his  views  touching 
slavery,  became  unpleasant.  By  the  direction  of  an 
old  friend  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  located  in  St. 
Peter,  June  10,  1861.  He  arrived  here  with  scant 
means,  but  with  characteristic  energy  in  less  than 
a month  had  organized  and  opened  a select  high 
school.  As  an  educator  he  was  one  of  the  best  of 
that  time  in  the  state,  and  many  citizens  came 
under  the  influence  of  his  instruction  and  were 
the  better  and  stronger  for  it. 

Mr.  McGill  had  already  determined  upon  a 
career  of  large  usefulness,  and  the  first  step  in  his 
advance  was  through  the  study  of  law.  This  course 
was  interrupted  by  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  On 
the  19th  of  August,  1862,  he  became  a private  in 
Company  D of  the  Ninth  Minnesota,  and  was  later 
elected  first  sergeant.  His  service  was  on  the 
frontier  during  the  Sioux  outbreak.  He  served 
with  fidelity  for  one  year  and  was  discharged  for 
serious  disability  August  18,  1863.  He  was  re- 
stored to  comparative  health  and  strength  after 
months  of  careful  nursing,  but  he  was  not  consid- 
ered fit  for  re-enlistment.  He  was  one  of  the 
eleven  Minnesota  governors  who  saw  service  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  or  during  the  Sioux  war  of 
that  period. 

After  his  military  service  he  returned  to  St. 
Peter  and  was  elected  and  served  two  terms  as 
superintendent  of  schools  of  Nicollet  County.  In 
1864  he  purchased  the  St.  Peter  Tribune  and  be- 
came its  editor.  Later  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
District  Court,  and  the  duties  of  this  office  per- 
mitted him  to  resume  the  study  of  law  in  the  office 
of  Charles  S.  Bryant.  On  May  8,  1869,  he  was 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1415 


admitted  to  the  bar  by  Judge  Horace  Austin,  and 
when,  a year  later,  Judge  Austin  became  governor, 
young  McGill  was  appointed  his  private  secretary. 

In  December,  1873,  Mr.  McGill  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Austin  to  the  office  of  insurance  commis- 
sioner, a post  which  he  filled  for  thirteen  years  by 
appointment  of  the  successive  governors,  Davis, 
Pillsbury  and  Hubbard.  His  work  in  this  office  was 
valuable  to  the  state,  and  through  his  wide  informa- 
tion he  became  a recognized  authority  on  all  in- 
surance matters.  As  a public  man  he  now  possessed 
an  extensive  acquaintance  throughout  the  state,  and 
his  services  and  his  personal  character  had  won  for 
him  a large  and  intelligent  following.  In  1886  his 
friends  announced  him  as  a candidate  for  the  re- 
publican nomination  for  governor,  and  against  three 
well  known  citizens  as  his  competitors  he  was 
chosen  in  the  convention  on  the  fifth  ballot. 

As  Governor  McGill's  biographer,  Gen.  James  H. 
Baker  in  his  "Lives  of  the  Governors  of  Minnesota" 
states,  the  following  campaign  was  made  on  the 
issue  of  high  license,  then  practically  a new  ques- 
tion in  this  state,  and  indeed  in  many  other  parts  of 
the  country.  The  organized  liquor  interests  had  been 
able  to  defeat  a high  license  bill  passed  by  the 
previous  Legislature,  so  that  the  question  was  still  a 
live  one.  The  republican  convention  at  which  Mr. 
McGill  was  nominated  took  a stand  for  high  license 
and  local  option,  thus  concentrating  all  the  opposi- 
tion in  support  of  the  democratic  candidate.  The 
prohibtion  party,  refusing  to  "compromise  with  evil,” 
in  effect  gave  its  support  to  the  democrats.  It  was 
an  intense  campaign,  and  when  the  ballots  were 
counted  McGill  had  a plurality  of  2,600  over  the 
democratic  nominee.  He  was  inaugurated  governor 
on  January  3,  1887,  and  at  once  gave  his  unflinching 
support  to  the  carrying  out  of  the  work  planned 
in  the  previous  campaign.  It  was  his  steady  and  un- 
faltering resolution,  combined  with  strenuous  per- 
sonal work,  that  held  his  party  to  its  campaign 
pledges,  and  by  which  he  was  able  to  sign  the  high 
license  bill  in  February,  1887.  This  law  subsequently 
became  a model-  for  other  states,  and  still  remains 
on  the  statute  books  of  Minnesota.  Its  operation 
was  such,  and  the  general  point  of  vitw  changed 
so  much  in  the  course  of  a few  years,  that  the  for- 
mer enemies  of  the  law  became  thoroughly  recon- 
ciled to  and  even  advocated  its  provisions. 

Governor  McGill  during  his  term  of  office  gave  his 
attention  to  many  other  problems.  He  urged  the 
simplification  of  the  tax  laws,  the  abolishment  of 
contract  prison  labor,  and  the  establishment  of  the 
Soldiers’  Home.  He  also  advocated  the  greater 
supervision  of  railroad  rates,  and  was  the  first  gov- 
ernor to  recommend  the  abolition  of  free  passes. 
He  was  an  industrious,  conscientious  worker,  and 
the  amount  of  positive  beneficial  legislation  accom- 
plished by  him  gives  his  two-year  term  a distinction 
such  as  few  similar  periods  possess  in  the  history 
of  the  state. 

Because  of  his  valuable  services  and  by  the  cus- 
tom of  politics,  Governor  McGill  deserved  a re- 
nomination. General  Baker  says : “The  convention 
(of  September,  1888)  having  thus  cordially  in- 
dorsed Governor  McGill,  proceeded  to  stultify  itself 
by  rejecting  his  unqualified  right,  under  all"  party 
usages,  to  a renomination.  It  is  not  too  much  to 
characterize  the  action  of  the  convention  as  the 
most  flagrant  piece  of  wrong  ever  perpetrated  by  a 
political  party  in  the  state  of  Minnesota.  It  was 
simplv  a transcendant  injustice.”  In  1007,  at  the 
Vol.  hi— 10 


memorial  service  held  in  the  state  Senate,  one  of 
the  senators  spoke  as  follows : "Parties,  like  men, 
have  their  sins  of  omission  and  commission  to  ac- 
count for,  and  one  of  the  dark  spots  on  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  this  state  was  the  treatment’  of 
Governor  McGill.  * * * Although  for  the  time 

being,  apparently  discredited  by  his  party,  he  became 
more  popular  and  has  ever  since  been  held  in 
higher  esteem  than  ever  before.” 

On  retiring  from  the  office  of  governor  he  was 
for  a short  time  engaged  in  the  banking  and  trust 
business  at  Minneapolis,  retaining,  however,  his 
residence  in  St.  Paul.  In  1898  and  again  in  1902 
he  was  elected  to  the  state  Senate  from  the  Thirty- 
seventh  District,  and  was  a member  of  this  body 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  work  as  a legislator 
was  as  business-like  and  public  spirited  as  his  career 
in  the  governor’s  office.  He  was  the  pronounced 
enemy  of  vicious  legislation  and  applied  himself 
zealously  to  the  promotion  of  needful  reforms. 
Largely  through  his  influence  a monument  was 
erected  to  the  Minnesota  soldiers  who  fell  at  Vicks- 
burg. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  Acker 
Post,  No.  21,  G.  A.  R.  In  1900,  by  suspension  of 
the  presidential  rule,  he  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  St.  Paul,  thus  holding  a state  and  federal  office 
at  the  same  time.  Among  other  public  affairs  to 
which  he  gave  the  support  of  his  personal  service 
were  the  public  schools,  and  he  was  at  one  time 
president  of  the  St.  Paul  board  of  education. 

Governor  McGill  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  tvas  Miss  Eliza  Evelyn  Bryant,  daughter  of 
Charles  S.  Bryant,  the  well  known  lawyer  and  au- 
thor, under  whom  Mr.  McGill  studied  law.  Her 
death  occurred  in  1877,  and  she  was  survived  by 
two  sons  and  one  daughter : Charles  H.,  born  in 
1866;  Robert  C.,  in  1869,  and  Lida  B.,  in  1874.  In 
1879  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Wilson,  an  accom- 
plished and  highly  educated  woman,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Wilson,  a physician  of  Edin- 
borough,  Pennsylvania.  Two  sons  were  born  of 
this  union : Wilson,  born  in  1884,  and  Thomas,  in 
1889.  The  four  sons  of  Governor  McGill  are  now 
prosperous  business  men  in  the  "Twin  City.”  Mrs. 
McGill  still  resides  in  the  old  homestead  at  2203 
Scudder  Avenue,  and  through  her  own  personality 
and  the  influence  of  this  home  maintains  many  of 
the  old  associations  and  quiet  benevolences  which 
were  so  highly  appreciated  during  her  husband’s 
life. 

In  closing  this  memorial  sketch  we  heartily  en- 
dorse the  tribute  of  General  Baker  as  follows : 
“Governor  McGill  was  justly  esteemed  as  a citizen 
and  a man.  His  affections  bound  him  to  his  coun- 
try and  to  his  friends  and  family.  Always  kind 
and  considerate  of  friend  and  foe,  with  a personal 
deportment  beyond  the  reach  of  criticism,  his  con- 
stant civilities  won  upon  all.  Anger  and  resent- 
ment were  unknown  to  him  in  his  conduct  of  life. 
He  was  always  and  at  all  times,  and  above  all,  a 
gentleman.  He  was  truly  the  gentleman  in  politics. 
Modest  by  nature,  he  was  indifferent  to  publicity 
and  notoriety.  Above  all,  he  possessed  a spotless 
character ; and  character,  like  gold,  passes  current 
among  all  men  and  in  all  countries.  His  private 
life  was  pure  and  sweet  and  his  friendship  a 
benediction.” 

William  Rainey  Marshall,  a pioneer  of  Min- 
nesota, surveyor,  merchant,  banker,  editor,  soldier, 
governor,  railroad  commissioner — always  an  enter- 


1416 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


prising  citizen  and  a man  of  unblemished  integrity, 
was  for  nearly  fifty  years  a conspicuous  figure  in 
the  annals  of  St.  Paul  and  the  state. 

He  was  born  near  Columbia,  Missouri,  October 
17,  1825.  In  1830  his  parents  removed  to  Quincy, 
Illinois,  where  his  father  died  in  the  cholera  epi- 
demic that  prevailed  a year  or  two  later.  William 
grew  up  in  Quincy  and  established  a reputation  as 
a studious,  industrious,  reliable  youth  which  pre- 
pared his  associates  there  to  understand  the  distinc- 
tion that  came  to  him  in  later  years.  That  good 
old  town  has  always  cherished  him  with  pride 
among  the  numerous  illustrious  sons  she  has  sent 
forth  to  achieve  honor  in  many  western  common- 
wealths. 

In  1841,  with  his  brother  Joseph,  he  went  to  the 
lead  mines  of  Galena,  where  he  worked  several 
years.  During  this  period  he  learned  practical 
surveying,  which  he  afterward  engaged  in  at  inter- 
vals. In  1847  he  came  to  Minnesota  and,  after 
alternating  for  two  years  in  residence  between  St. 
Anthony  and  St.  Croix  Falls,  Wisconsin,  and  in 
occupations  between  merchandising,  lumber,  sur- 
veying and  land-office  clerkships,  he  settled  at  St. 
Anthony  in  1849.  He  perfected  a claim  to  land  at 
the  falls ; engaged  in  the  hardware  trade  with  his 
brother  Joseph,  and  was  elected  to  the  first  ter- 
ritorial Legislature. 

In  1851  he  removed  to  St.  Paul  and  established 
the  business  in  heavy  hardware,  iron  and  steel 
which  was  the  foundation  of  the  present  great 
jobbing  house  of  Nicols,  Dean  and  Gregg.  In 
1855  he  engaged  in  banking,  but  succumbed  to  the 
disastrous  panic  of  1857.  After  a season  of  dairy 
farming  and  stock  raising,  he  engaged,  in  1861, 
in  journalism,  merging  three  daily  papers  of  St. 
Paul  into  the  Press,  as  related  in  a chapter  of  this 
work  devoted  to  newspaper  history. 

In  August  1862  Marshall  responded  to  President 
Lincoln’s  second  call  for  soldiers  to  suppress  the 
Rebellion,  and  was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel 
of  the  Seventh  Minnesota  Infantry  Regiment.  His 
first  service  was  in  connection  with  the  Indian  out- 
break. At  the  battle  of  Wood  Lake  he  displayed 
exceptional  gallantry,  and  in  the  Sibley  expedition 
across  Dakota  in  1863  he  added  to  his  reputation 
for  military  efficiency  and  bravery  in  action. 

On  October  7,  1863,  his  regiment  was  ordered 
South,  with  Lieutenant  Colonel  Marshall  in  com- 
mand. On  November  6,  1863,  he  was  made  colonel 
of  the  regiment.  Thenceforward  until  its  .muster- 
out  the  regiment,  under  Marshall’s  command,  saw 
very  active  and  creditable  service  at  different 
points.  In  the  sixteenth  army  corps,  under  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith,  it  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Tu- 
pelo; the  Oxford  raid;  the  pursuit  of  Price  in 
Missouri ; the  battle  of  Nashville  and  the  siege  of 
Spanish  Fort  at  Mobile.  On  March  13,  1865,  Col- 
onel Marshall  was  commissioned  as  brevet  brigadier 
general,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during 
the  war.  On  August  16,  1865,  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out  at  Fort  Snelling,  and  Marshall’s  war 
experience  was  ended. 

General  Marshall’s  military  career  had  been  so 
praiseworthy  that  he  was  soon  clothed  with  civil 
honor  and  authority.  On  September  6,  1865,  he 
was  nominated  by  the  state  convention  as  republi- 
can candidate  for  governor  of  Minnesota.  He 
was  elected  in  November,  and  served  two  full 
terms,  or  until  January  7,  1870,  when  he  was  suc- 


ceeded by  Horace  Austin.  Two  leading  events  of 
Governor  Marshall’s  administration  were  the 
adoption  of  a constitutional  amendment  conferring 
negro  suffrage,  warmly  advocated  by  him,  and  his 
veto  of  a legislative  enactment  removing  the  state 
capital  to  Kandiyohi  County. 

After  his  retirement  from  office  Governor  Mar- 
shall became  vice  president  of  the  Marine  National 
Bank  and  president  of  the  Minnesota  Savings  Bank, 
both  located  in  St.  Paul.  Fie  was  also  successfully 
engaged  in  large  real  estate  transactions.  In  1874 
he  was  appointed  railroad  commissioner  by  Gov. 
C.  K.  Davis,  and  held  the  office  by  successive  elec- 
tions until  1882. 

In  1880,  associated  with  Gen.  C.  C.  Andrews,  he 
purchased  the  St.  Paul  Dispatch  from  Capt.  Henry 
A.  Castle,  and  in  September,  1881,  sold  it  back 
to  him.  Governor  Marshall  promoted  the  con- 
struction of  railroads  and  engaged  in  other  business 
enterprises.  He  built  several  fine  residences  in  the 
city,  making  and  losing  three  or  four  fortunes  in 
real  estate  fluctuations. 

Governor  Marshall’s  health  declined  in  his  later 
years  and  he  finally  sought  relief  in  the  climate 
of  Southern  California.  He  died  at  Pasadena,  Jan- 
uary 8,  1896.  His  remains  were  brought  to  St. 
Paul  and  buried  at  Oakland  Cemetery.  He  was 
a member  of  Acker  Post,  G.  A.  R. ; past  com- 
mander of  the  Minnesota  Loyal  Legion,  and  a 
member  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution— 
his  grandfathers,  Lieut.  David  Marshall  and  Pri- 
vate Daniel  Shaw,  having  been  soldiers  of  the 
Pennsylvania  line  in  the  war  for  independence. 

Governor  Marshall  was  imbued  with  devout  re- 
ligious feelings  and  was  a life-long  communicant 
of  the  Swedenborgian  Church.  His  pastor  for 
twenty-three  years,  Rev.  Edward  C.  Mitchell,  in  a 
memorial  address,  paid  him  this  tribute :. 

‘T  can  testify  to  his  loving  faith  in  the  Word  of 
God;  his  steadfast  trust  in  Divine  Providence;  the 
purity  and  beauty  of  his  social  life;  his  unswerving 
loyalty  to  every  good  cause;  his  tender  sympathy 
with  all  who  suffered ; his  uncompromising  opposi- 
tion to  all  forms  of  meanness;  his  chivalrous  cham- 
pioning of  all  who  were  oppressed ; his  dominant 
cheerfulness ; his  freedom  from  vindictiveness ; his 
generous  confidence  in  the  good  intentions  of 
others ; his  patient  bearing  under  severe  trials  and 
sufferings.  He  lacked  the  cautious  calculation,  the 
habitual  attention  to  petty  details,  and  the  cool  fore- 
sight which  always  allows  for  unforeseen  contin- 
gencies. Commercially  speaking,  he  left  behind  him 
little  of  this  world’s  goods;  but,  speaking  from  a 
spiritual  standpoint,  there  are  few  men  who  carry 
more  with  them  to  the  world  beyond.” 

Public  Library,  Thief  River  Falls.  The  original 
Public  Library  Association  of  Thief  River  Falls  was 
organized  in  1900  by  a number  of  energetic  and  public 
spirited  women  of  the  city.  Except  for  the  sum  of 
$500,  which  was  raised  by  public  subscription  for 
the  first  purchase  of  books,  the  library  was  supported 
entirely  by  the  efforts  of  the  ladies  until  in  May, 
1906,  when  it  was  taken  over  by  the  city  government. 

Its  first  home  was  in  a small  building  near  the 
present  location  of  the  postoffice.  In  1902  the  city 
council  built  a small  addition  to  the  city  hall  at 
a cost  of  $200,  which  was  used  by  the  library  until 
1909  when  a place  was  provided  in  the  basement  of 
the  new  Auditorium.  The  library  remained  here 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1417 


until  May  12,  1915,  when  the  new  Carnegie  Library 
was  opened  to  the  public. 

This  building  was  erected  at  a total  cost  of  about 
$18, coo,  including  the  site,  $12,500  of  which  was 
donated  by  Andrew  Carnegie. 

It  is  built  of  brown  tapestry  brick,  with  Bedford 
stone  trimmings  and  is  finished  inside  in  dark  oak 
with  golden  brown  walls,  and  presents  a very  at- 
tractive appearance.  The  book  capacity  is  about 
ten  thousand,  but  provision  has  been  made  for  one- 
third  as  many  more  when  needed. 

A large  auditorium  in  the  basement  provides  a 
meeting  place  for  the  Women’s  Civic  Club  and  other 
public  organizations,  and  a smaller  room  is  used  as 
a men’s  reading  room. 

Edmund  Eichhorn.  For  more  than  forty  years 
the  late  Edmund  Eichhorn  was  an  honored  and  in- 
fluential citizen  of  Minneapolis,  and  here1  his  death 
occurred  on  the  14th  of  May,  1907,  at  the  home  of 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  Arthur  Stremel.  He  was  a man 
of  distinct  individuality  and  noble  character, — a 
splendid  type  of  that  fine  German  element  of  citi- 
zenship that  became  prominently  identified  with  the 
history  of  the  northwestern  states  of  the  Union  in 
the  late  ’40s,  when  many  representatives  left  Ger- 
many, after  the  overthrow  of  the  revolutionary 
movement  in  which  they  had  taken  part,  moved  by 
lofty  patriotism,  and  sought  homes  in  America, 
where  they  were  assured  of  independence  in  thought 
and  action  and  of  better  opportunities  than  were  of- 
fered under  conditions  then  existing  in  their  Father- 
land.  Mr.  Eichhorn  was  thus  a contemporary  of 
those  distinguished  German- Americans,  Carl  Schurz 
and  Franz  Sigel,  in  immigrating  to  the  United 
States,  and  though  he  did  not  with  them  attain  to 
distinction  in  national  affairs  he  was  animated  by 
the  same  noble  spirit  that  made  his  two  country- 
men worthy  of  lasting  honor  in  the  land  of  their 
adoption.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  true  and 
loyal  in  every  relation  of  life,  a man  of  action  and 
achievement,  a sterling  citizen,  and  one  whose  name 
and  deeds  merit  special  recognition  in  this  history 
of  the  state  that  long  represented  his  home. 

Edmund  Eichhorn  was  born  at  Boehlen,  in  the 
Principality  of  Rudolstadt,  of  the  famed  Thur- 
ingerwald,  or  Thuringian  Forest  district  of  the 
Saxon  grand  duchies  of  Germany,  and  the  date  of 
his  nativity  was  August  15,  1825,  so  that  he  was 
nearly  eighty-two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  became  a resident  of  Minneapolis  in 
1873  and  was  here  long  and  prominently  identified 
with  the  real  estate  and  fire  insurance  business,  the 
while  he  contributed  all  in  his  power  to  the  further- 
ance of  the  civic  and  material  progress  and  pros- 
perity of  the  Minnesota  metropolis.  The  genealogy 
of  the  Eichhorn  family  is  traced  back  to  patrician 
origin  in  Austria,  where  its  representatives  ranked 
with  the  landed  and  governing  class.  F.  F.  Eich- 
horn, father  of  him  to  whom  this  review  is  dedi- 
cated, was  a scion  of  the  branch  of  the  family  that 
removed  from  Austria  to  the  Saxon  duchies  of 
Germany,  and  he  himself  settled  in  the  Thuringian 
Forest,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  for  some  time  conducted  a successful  manu- 
facturing business,  besides  which  he  became  a prom- 
inent and  influential  factor  in  public  affairs  of  a 
local  order. 

Edmund  Eichhorn  passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  the  vicinity  of  the  place  of  his  birth, 
and  he  attended  the  local  schools  until  he  had  at- 


tained to  the  age  of  eleven  years,  when  he  went  to 
the  City  of  Arnstadt,  where  he  continued  his 
studies  in  a commercial  college  and  prepared  him- 
self for  the  practical  activities  of  business.  In  1838 
he  left  school  and  entered  upon  a four  years'  ap- 
prenticeship in  a wholesale  and  retail  drug  and 
grocery  establishment  in  the  City  of  Arnstadt. 
Later  he  was  employed  as  a volunteer  in  the  count- 
ing rooms  of  various  commission  houses  in  the 
cities  of  Hamburg  and  Magdeburg,  and  thus  he 
acquired  valuable  experience  in  connection  with  busi- 
ness affairs  of  magnitude.  Finally  he  was  tendered 
and  accepted  a position  with  the  extensive  jobbing 
house  of  Boeheve  & Company,  in  Leipsic,  and  for 
four  years  he  represented  the  tobacco  department  of 
this  firm,  in  the  capacity  of  traveling  salesman. 

At  the  time  of  the  revolutionary  troubles  and 
political  unrest  that  swept  over  Germany  in  the 
late  ’40s  Mr.  Eichhorn  was  one  of  the  patriotic 
young  men  who  was  in  deep  sympathy*  with  the 
spirit  that  prompted  these  protests  against  existing 
governmental  policies,  and  he  finally  found  it  ex- 
pedient to  sever  the  ties  that  bound  him  to  home 
and  native  land  and  to  seek  the  freedom  of  the 
United  States, — a freedom  which  his  compatriots, 
Carl  Schurz  and  Franz  Sigel,  as  well  as  many 
others,  had  vainly  sought  in  their  Fatherland.  Mr. 
Eichhorn  landed  in  America  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, 1848,  and  he  soon  found  opportunity  to 
make  practical  application  of  his  powers  and  excel- 
lent) business  experience.  Like  many  others  of  the 
sturdy  young  German  immigrants  of  that  period,  he 
made  Wisconsin  his  destination,  and  there  he  es- 
tablished his  home  at  Mayville,  Dodge  County, 
where'he  opened  a general  country  store  and  became 
a pioneer  merchant  of  the  village.  He  engaged  also 
in  the  manufacturing  of  potash,  an  industry  that 
was  for  a number  of  years  one  of  much  importance 
in  that  section  of  the  Badger  State.  He  continued 
his  business  operations  with  varying  success  until 
1857,  when  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  numbered 
himself  among  the  pioneer  settlers  at  Hastings,  Da- 
kota County.  There  he  was  engaged  in  the  retail 
grocery  trade  for  the  long  period  of  sixteen  years, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  county 
and  village,  to  the  development  and  upbuilding  of 
which  he  contributed  in  generous  measure,  as  a 
substantial  citizen  who  commanded  the  unqualified 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  In  1873,  at  the 
expiration  of  the  period  above  noted,  Mr.  Eichhorn 
disposed  of  his  property  and  business  at  Hastings 
and  removed  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  continued 
to  reside  until  the  close  of  his  long  and  useful  life. 
Here  he  became  a representative  and  influential 
figure  in  the  real  estate,  loan,  and  fire  insurance 
business,  and  the  business  of  which  he  was  the 
founder  is  still  continued,  as  one  of  the  leading  en- 
terprises of  its  kind  in  the  Minnesota  metropolis. 
It  must  be  a matter  of  gratification  to  state  that 
the  name  of  the  founder  is  perpetuated  in  this  enter- 
prise, which  is  still  conducted  under  the  title  of  E. 
Eichhorn  & Sons,  the  offices  of  the  firm  being  at 
125  Temple  Court.  Mr.  Eichhorn  continued  to  be 
actively  identified  with  this  business  until  advanced 
age  led  to  his  retirement  from  the  various  business 
and  civic  associations  that  had  long  engrossed  his 
time  and  attention.  His  influence  and  tangible  co- 
operation transcended  the  limitations  of  his  private 
business  affairs,  as  is  evident  when  it  is  stated  that 
he  was  influential  in  the  promotion  and  founding  of 
the  German-American  Bank  of  Minneapolis,  which 


1418 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


was  organized  and  incorporated  in  August,  1886. 
He  was  president  of  the  bank  for  three  years  and 
his  retirement  from  this  office  was  the  result  of  im- 
paired health,  though  he  continued  as  a valued  mem- 
ber of  the  directorate  of  the  institution  for  a num- 
ber of  years  thereafter.  Mr.  Eichhorn  retired  from 
active  association  with  the  substantial  real  estate 
and  insurance  business  about  ten  years  prior  to  his 
death,  and  thereafter  he  passed  much  of  his  time 
in  California  and  in  travel,  having  made  several 
visits  to  his  native  land,  where  he  found  pleasure 
in  renewing  the  memories  and  associations  of  his 
youth.  In  1868,  1887  and  1889  he  made  extensive 
tours  of  Europe,  and  his  fine  perceptive  and  descrip- 
tive powers  made  his  reminiscences  of  these  jour- 
neys most  graphic  and  interesting. 

That  a man  of  such  marked  ability  and  such 
inviolable  integrity  of  purpose  should  be  called  to 
public  offices  in  his  home  community  was  but  a 
natural  result,  and  while  a resident  of  Hastings, 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Eichhorn  served  as  register  of  deeds 
of  Dakota  County,  besides  having  been  a member 
of  the  board  of  aldermen  and  also  serving  as  school 
inspector.  From  1882  to  1887  he  represented  the 
Third  Ward  of  Minneapolis  as  a member  of  the 
board  of  aldermen,  and  in  the  last  named  year  he 
retired  by  voluntary  resignation.  Mr.  Eichhorn  was 
a man  of  genial  and  generous  disposition,  kindly 
and  optimistic,  and  he  enjoyed  greatly  the  gracious 
social  relations  which  were  his.  He  was  an  ap- 
preciative and  popular  member  of  a number  of 
social  and  musical  organizations  and  was  specially 
fond  of  athletic  sports  in  his  earlier  days.  In 
Minneapolis  he  was  affiliated  with  Khurum  Lodge, 
No.  1 12,  Ancient  Free  & Accepted  Masons.  His 
political  allegiance  was  given  to  the  democratic 
party  and  his  religious  faith  was  that  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

At  Watertown,  Jefferson  County,  Wisconsin,  on 
the  15th  of  August,  1852,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Eichhorn  to  Miss  Veronica 
Goeldner,  whose  parents  came  to  America  from 
Breslau,  Silesia.  Mrs.  Eichhorn  was  summoned  to 
the  life  eternal  in  October,  1877,  about  four  years 
after  the  family  removal  to  Minneapolis,  and  con- 
cerning the  four  children  of  this  union  the  follow- 
ing brief  data  are  given:  Alvin  A.,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  E.  Eichhorn  & Sons,  died 
July  4,  1910,  and  to  him  a brief  memoir  is  dedi- 
cated on  other  pages  of  this  work;  Arthur  E.,  who 
is  now  the  executive  head  of  the  real  estate,  loan 
and  insurance  business  founded  by  his  honored 
father,  is  individually  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
publication;  Ottelie,  who  died  in  June,  1905,  was 
the  wife  of  J.  William  Dreger,  who  formerly  served 
as  sheriff  of  Hennepin  County  and  who  is  now  con- 
nected with  the  firm  of  E.  Eichhorn  & Sons ; and 
Helma  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  Stremel,  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Stremel  Brothers  Roofing  & Cornice 
Company,  of  Minneapolis. 

The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Eichhorn  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Matilda  Miethe,  and  she  survives 
him,  her  home  being  at  Coronado  Beach,  Califor- 
nia, in  which  state  her  husband  had  resided  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  during  the  last  decade  of 
his  life,  owing  to  his  impaired  health.  Mr.  Eich- 
horn had  come  from  his  California  home  to  pass 
the  summer  with  his  children  in  Minneapolis,  and 
his  death  occurred  about  two  weeks  after  his  ar- 
rival in  this  city,  in  the  spring  of  1907.  His  fun- 
eral services  were  held  at  the  home  of  his  only 


surviving  daughter,  Mrs.  Stremel,  and  were  'given 
in  the  German  language,  the  officiating  clergyman 
having  been  Rev.  William  C.  Hartig,  pastor  of  St. 
Peter's  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Eichhorn  was  one  of  the  first  native ' Ger- 
man citizens  of  Hennepin  County,  Minnesota,  and 
here  his  name  is  held  in  lasting  honor.  In  his  will 
he  provided  for  three  legacies  in  his  native  land. 
He  devised  the  sum  of  $500  to  the  invalid  daughter 
of  his  stepbrother,  Constant  Soehle,  her  home  hav- 
ing been  at  Flirshberg,  Germany,  and  Mr.  Eich- 
horn having  always  taken  deep  interest  in  her  wel- 
fare ; to  each  the  church  and  school  of  his  native 
town  of  Roehlen,  where  he  received  his  early 
religious  and  educational  training,  Mr.  Eichhorn 
made  a bequest  of  500  German  marks. 

Alvin  A.  Eichhorn.  The  elder  of  the  two  sons 
of  the  late  Edmund  Eichhorn,  to  whom  a specific 
memoir  is  dedicated  in  this  history  of  Minnesota, 
Alvin  A.  Eichhorn  was  prominently  and  worthily 
identified  with  the  upbuilding  of  the  substantial 
and  representative  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness founded  in  Minneapolis  by  his  father  more 
than  forty  years  ago,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  still  actively  concerned  with  the  business, 
as  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  E.  Eichhorn  & 
Sons.  As  a sterling  citizen  and  prominent  business 
man  of  Minneapolis  Mr.  Eichhorn  made  his  life 
count  for  good  in  all  its  relations,  and  it  is  but  a 
matter  of  consistency  that  he  be  accorded  in  this 
publication  a definite  memorial  tribute. 

Alvin  A.  Eichhorn  was  born  at  Mayville,  Dodge 
County,  Wisconsin,  on  the  17th  of  February,  1855, 
and  thus  was  about  four  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  parents’  removal  from  the  Badger  State 
to  Hastings,  Dakota  County,  Minnesota,  where  his 
father  became  a pioneer  merchant  and  a citizen  of 
distinctive  prominence  and  influence.  At  Hastings 
Alvin  A.  Eichhorn  was  afforded  the  advantages 
of  the  public  schools  and  also  of  German  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  entered  upon 
an  apprenticeship  in  a local  printing  office.  He 
familiarized  himself  with  the  intricacies  of  the 
business  and  proved  through  his  several  years  of 
service  the  truth  of  the  statement  that  the  disci- 
pline of  a country  newspaper  office  is  equivalent 
to  a liberal  education.  Mr.  Eichhorn  was  a vigor- 
ous and  aspiring  youth  of  eighteen  years  at  the 
time  of  the  family  removal  to  Minneapolis,  in 
1873,  and  here  he  became  an  employe  in  the  office 
of  the  Minneapolis  Daily  Tribune,  with  which  he 
continued  to  be  associated  until  1884,  when  both  he 
and  his  younger  brother,  Arthur  E.,  were  admitted 
to  partnership  in  the  thriving  real  estate  and  insur- 
ance business  which  had  been  founded  by  their 
father  soon  after  his  settlement  in  Minneapolis. 
With  the  adjustment  made  at  this  time  the  present 
title  of  E.  Eichhorn  & Sons  was  adopted  and  after 
the  death  of  the  honored  father  Alvin  A.  Eichhorn 
continued  as  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  until 
his  death,  the  while  he  had  gained  impregnable 
vantage-place  as  one  of  the  substantial  and  progres- 
sive business  men  of  the  city  that  long  represented 
his  home  and  in  which  his  interests  were  centered 
from  his  youth  until  the  close  of  his  life. 

In  1909  the  health  of  Mr.  Eichhorn  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  went  to  California,  in 
the  hope  of  recuperating  his  energies,  and  at  his 
home  in  Ocean  Park,  that  state,  his  death  occurred 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1910,  after  a lingering  illness 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1419 


which  he  had  borne  with  characteristic  fortitude 
and  patience.  While  actively  engaged  in  business 
he  was  most  vigorous  and  energetic,  and  he  merited 
fully  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was"  held  by  all 
who  knew  him,  his  many  friends  manifesting  a 
deep  sense  of  bereavement  when  he  was  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal,  at  the  comparatively  early  age 
of  fifty-five  years.  Since  his  death  his  only  brother 
has  been  at  the  head  of  the  business  that  was 
founded  by  their  father  so  many  years  ago. 

Arthur  E.  Eichhorn.  The  only  surviving  son 
of  the  late  Edmund  Eichhorn,  to  whom  a memorial 
tribute  is  paid  on  other  pages  of  this  publication, 
Arthur  E.  Eichhorn  is  well  upholding  the  prestige 
of  the  honored  name  which  he  bears  and  is  at  the 
head  of  the  firm  of  E.  Eichhorn  & Sons,  engaged 
in  the  real  estate,  loan  and  fire  insurance  business 
in  the  City  of  Minneapolis,  the  enterprise  having 
been  founded  by  his  father  in  1873  and  its  consecu- 
tive history  being  greater  than  that  of  any  other 
similar  business  in  the  fair  metropolis  of  Minne- 
sota. In  the  conducting  of  the  substantial  business 
the  subject  of  this  review  is  associated  with  his 
brother-in-law,  J.  William  Dreger,  and  the  elder 
brother,  the  late  Alvin  A.  Eichhorn,  was  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  until  his  death,  he  likewise 
being  specifically  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  his- 
tory. 

Arthur  E.  Eichhorn  was  born  at  Hastings,  Da- 
kota County,  Minnesota,  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1856,  and  his  father  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  that  now  thriving  city,  where  he  was  an  honored 
and  influential  citizen  until  his  removal  to  Min- 
neapolis, in  1873,  as  designated  in  the  sketch  of  his 
life  on  other  pages  of  this  volume.  Arthur  E. 
Eichhorn  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town  for  his  early  educational  discipline, 
which  was  supplemented  by  a course  in  the  Curtiss 
Business  College,  in  Minneapolis,  an  institution  in 
which  he  was  a student  for  one  year.  He  was  about 
seventeen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  to  Minneapolis  and  after  leaving  the  com- 
mercial college  he  here  became  associated  with  his 
father’s  real  estate  and  insurance  business.  He 
gained  thorough  knowledge  of  all  details  of  this 
line  of  enterprise,  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
tinuously identified  to  the  present  time,  and  finally 
both  he  and  his  elder  brother,  Alvin  A.,  were  ad- 
mitted to  partnership,  under  the  firm  name  of  E. 
Eichhorn  & Sons,  which  is  still  retained,  as  a mark 
of  filial  appreciation  and  honor.  Of  the  original 
firm  Mr.  Eichhorn  is  now  the  only  surviving  repre- 
sentative, and  he  has  gained  and  retained  high 
reputation  in  his  chosen  field  of  endeavor,  being 
known  as  one  of  the  progressive  business  men  and 
loyal  and  progressive  citizens  of  Minneapolis.  The 
firm  of  E.  Eichhorn  & Sons  represents  the  fol- 
lowing named  fire  insurance  companies : Connecticut 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Hartford ; Germania 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  New  York;  Ham- 
burg-Bremen  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Ham- 
burg, Germany ; Milwaukee  Mechanics’  Insurance 
Company,  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin ; Rochester 
German  Insurance  Company,  Fire  Association,  of 
Pennsylvania;  and  the  German  Underwriters  De- 
partment. A general  real  estate,  loan  and  collection 
business  also  is  conducted  by  the  firm,  and  it  has 
the  local  agency  for  the  North  German  Lloyd,  the 
Hamburg-American,  the  Holland-American  and  the 
Red  Star  Line  Steamship  companies. 


Mr.  Eichhorn  is  one  of  the  original  stockholders 
of  the  German-American  Bank  of  Minneapolis,  his 
father  having  been  one  of  the  founders  and  the  first 
president  of  this  substantial  institution,  of  which 
he  himself  is  a director.  Mr.  Eichhorn  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  & Commerce  As- 
sociation, the  Minneapolis  Real  Estate  Board,  and 
the  North  Side  Commercial  Club.  In  a fraternal 
way  he  is  affiliated  with  Minneapolis  Lodge,  No. 
44,  Benevolent  & Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  he 
is  identified  also  with  the  Interlachen  Club  and  the 
Teutonia  Kegel  Club,  representative  social  organi- 
zations of  his  home  city. 

On  the  15th  of'  September,  1886,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Eichhorn  to  Miss  Susie  Rauen, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Minneapolis,  where 
her  father,  Peter  Rauen,  settled  in  the  pioneer  days. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eichhorn  have  two  children, — Edmund 
P.  and  Myrtle  H.  The  son  was  graduated  in  the 
North  Side  High  School  and  also  in  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  He  now 
has  supervision  of  the  legal  affairs  connected  with 
the  business  of  which  his  father  is  the  executive 
head  and  is  otherwise  actively  associated  with  the 
substantial  enterprise  that  was  founded  by  his 
grandfather  more  than  forty  years  ago.  Myrtle  H. 
likewise  was  graduated  in  the  high  .school  and 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  both  she  and  her 
brother  are  now  married  and  live  in  Minneapolis. 

Albee  Smith.  Well  entitled  to  distinctive  con- 
sideration as  one  of  the  pioneer  members  of  the 
bar  of  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Smith  has  here  been  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  during  the 
major  part  of  the  long  period  between  the  present 
day  and  the  year  1867,  when  he  came  here  as  a 
young  lawyer  and  began  his  professional  novitiate. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  close  application  to  the 
vocation  of  his  choice  and  his  success  has  been 
worthily  won.  He  recently  attempted  once  more  to 
maintain  his  home  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  but  the 
manifold  attractions  of  Minneapolis,  where  he  had 
long  lived  and  labored  and  where  his  circle  of 
friends  is  coincident  with  that  of  his  acquaintances, 
soon  called  him  back  to  the  Minnesota  metropolis, 
which  is  endeared  to  him  by  the  gracious  associa- 
tions of  the  past  and  in  which  he  hopes  to  round 
out  his  life  without  again  seeking  other  fields  of 
endeavor  and  involving  separation  from  friends  who 
are  tried  and  true. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a native  of  the  old  Bay  state  and  is 
a scion  of  families  that  were  there  founded  in  the 
Colonial  era  of  our  national  history,  as  is  evidenced 
by  the  fact  that  his  paternal  and  maternal  great- 
grandfathers, Abner  Smith  and  Asa  Albee,  were 
the  first  to  sign  their  names  to  the  list  of  volunteers 
from  Orange,  Massachusetts,  for  service  in  the  war 
of  the  revolution.  Mr.  Smith  was  afforded  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  graded  schools  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts and  in  1863  he  came  to  the  West  and 
entered  the  old  Chicago  University.  The  next  year, 
however,  he  returned  to  New  England,  where  he 
became  a student  in  Middlebury  College,  at  Middle- 
bury,  Vermont.  There  he  pursued  his  studies  for 
two  years  and  then  returned  to  his  home  in  Chicago, 
where  he  entered  a law  school,  besides  which  he  car- 
ried forward  his  professional  study  under  the  pre- 
ceptorship  of  Sanford  B.  Perry,  and  the  firm  of 
Walker,  Dexter  & Smith.  He  remained  in  Chicago 
from  1865  until  1867,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  removed  forthwith  to  Minneapolis,  Minne- 


1420 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


sota,  where  he  formed  a partnership  with  an  old 
college  friend,  M.  D.  L.  Collester,  and  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  This  effective  alliance 
continued  two  years  and  thereafter  Mr.  Smith  con- 
ducted an  individual  practice  until  1872,  when  he 
formed  a partnership  with  C.  J.  Bartleson,  the  firm 
of  Smith  & Bartleson  existing,  however,  for  only  one 
year.  Thereafter  Mr.  Smith  again  controlled  a sub- 
stantial independent  law  business  until  1888,  when  he 
became  associated  with  C.  E.  Leslie,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Smith  & Leslie,  an  alliance  that  obtained 
about  one  year.  In  1871  Mr.  Smith  returned  to 
Chicago,  but  he  remained  there  only  eight  months, 
his  office  and  its  appurtenances  having  been  destroyed 
in  the  historic  fire  that  swept  that  city  in  the  year 
mentioned.  After  his  return  to  Minneapolis  Mr. 
Smith  here  continued  in  the  successful  practice  of 
his  profession  until  1900,  and  in  the  meanwhile  he 
gave  special  attention  to  real-estate  law.  In  the  year 
noted  he  again  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  established 
an  office  at  128  North  La  Salle  Street,  opposite  the 
city  hall.  The  great  western  metropolis  could  not, 
however,  long  retain  his  allegiance,  and  in  January, 
1912,  he  resumed  his  residence  in  Minneapolis,  where 
he  has  since  continued  his  professional  labors,  with 
offices  in  the  Security  Bank  Building.  His  practice 
is  of  general  order  and  he  is  specially  valued  as  a 
counselor,  owing  to  his  long  and  varied  experience 
and  thorough  knowledge  of  the  science  of  jurispru- 
dence. Mr.  Smith  has  witnessed  the  development  of 
Minneapolis  from  the  status  of  a virtual  village  to 
that  of  a fair  and  opulent  metropolitan  center,  and 
at  the  present  time  he  wonders  that  his  loyalty  should 
have  faltered  even  for  the  brief  period  that  he  re- 
mained in  Chicago.  Here  his  affections  and  interests 
are  centered,  and  he  is  gratified  to  know  that  he  may 
again  refer  to  the  Minnesota  metropolis  as  his  per- 
manent home.  He  is  interested  not  only  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  state  but  also  in  that  of  his  nativity,  and 
he  is  at  the  present  time  collecting  data  for  a history 
of  Orange,  Massachusetts,  the  place  of  his  birth,  with 
the  intention  of  publishing  the  work  after  he  shall 
have  properly  compiled  the  material  available. 

In  the  City  of  Chicago,  on  the  25th  of  November, 
1870,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  to 
Miss  Mollie  McClelland,  and  of  their  six  children 
three  are  living.  The  elder  son,  Robert,  who  was 
born  in  Chicago,  died  in  Minneapolis,  in  1873,  when 
about  two  years  of  age.  The  eldest  of  the  daughters 
was  Orrill  E.,  who  died  in  Chicago  in  1903,  her  re- 
mains being  conveyed  to  the  old  home  in  Minneapolis 
for  interment.  Sophronia  H.  W.  died  at  Minneapolis, 
November  5,  1914.  Of  the  three  surviving  children 
Albee,  Jr.,  is  a resident  of  Evanston,  Illinois,  and 
Olive  A.  and  Gertrude  A.  remain  at  the  parental 
home.  All  of  the  children  were  born  in  Minneapolis 
with  the  exception  of  Robert. 

Mr.  Smith  has  never  been  a seeker  of  public  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  the 
work  of  his  profession,  but  he  has  been  unswerving 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  republican  party  and  in  for- 
mer years  he  was  an  active  worker  in  behalf  of  its 
cause.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Chi  Psi  college  fra- 
ternity and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  its  chapter 
at  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  charter  members  of  the  Parish  of  St. 
Mark’s  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal,  in  Minneapolis, 
which  was  organized  in  1868,  and  they  are  now  zeal- 
ous communicants  of  this  parish.  Mr.  Smith  was 
likewise  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Minnesota 
Children’s  Aid  Society,  and  was  a member  of  its 


board  of  directors  until  his  removal  to  Chicago  in 
1900.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  board  of  mana- 
gers of  the  Minnesota  organization  of  the  Society  of 
the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  with  which  he 
is  still  actively  identified.  Generous  and  tolerant, 
considerate  and  conscientious  in  all  of  the  relations 
of  life,  Mr.  Smith  has  exemplified  most  effectively 
the  precept  expressed  in  the  Golden  Rule,  and  has 
aimed  to  “comfort  and  relieve  all  those  who  are  in 
any  ways  afflicted,  or  distressed,  in  mind,  body  or 
estate.”  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession  for  nearly  half  a century,  and  has 
dignified  it  by  his  character  and  services,  even  as  he 
has  merited  and  retained  the  unqualified  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 

Henry  Hastings  Sibley.  Few  indeed  are  the 
names  that  appear  more  frequently  and  there  are 
none  that  appear  more  honorably  in  the  early  history 
of  Minnesota,  than  that  of  H.  H.  Sibley,  as  the  pages 
of  the  first  volume  of  this  work  abundantly  testify. 
His  fame  is  a part  of  that  of  the  commonwealth 
and  his  name  is  a household  word  throughout  the 
state. 

General  Sibley  was  born  at  Detroit,  Michigan, 
February  20,  1811.  His  father,  Hon.  Solomon  Sibley, 
was  a prominent  pioneer  of  the  Northwest  and  he 
was  by  profession  a lawyer.  In  1799  he  was  elected 
to  the  first  Territorial  Legislature  of  the  North- 
west Territory,  which  assembled  at  Cincinnati.  He 
was  elected  a delegate  to  Congress  from  Michigan 
in  1820.  He  was  also  for  some  years  United  States 
district  attorney  for  Michigan.  The  mother  of  Gen- 
eral Sibley  was  Sarah  W.  Sproat,  a daughter  of  Col. 
Ebenezer  Sproat,  an  officer  in  the  Continental  army 
during  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

General  Sibley  received  an  academical  education 
and  was  subsequently  given  two  years  private  tuition 
in  the  classics  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cadle,  a gentleman  of 
superior  scholastic  attainments.  His  father  designed 
him  for  the  law,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began 
the  study  of  that  profession  in  Judge  Sibley’s  office. 
A year’s  experience  convinced  him,  however,  that  the 
pursuit  in  life  selected  for  him  was  against  his  nat- 
ural tastes  and  inclinations.  A frontier  boy  he 
wished  to  become  a frontiersman.  His  father  wisely 
acquiesced  in  his  decision  and  in  1828,  before  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  went  to  Sault  Ste. 
Marie  and  engaged  in  a mercantile  house  for  about 
a year.  In  1829  he  went  to  Mackinac  and  entered 
the  service  of  the  American  Fur  Company  as  a clerk. 
He  remained  at  Mackinac  for  about  five  years. 

In  1834  he  formed,  with  H.  L.  Dousman  and 
Joseph  Rolette,  Sr.,  a copartnership  with  the  Amer- 
ican Fur  Company,  of  New  York,  which  passed  in 
that  year  under  the  direction  of  Ramsey  Crooks 
as  president.  By  the  terms  of  the  agreement, 
Messrs.  Dousman  and  Rolette  were  to  continue  in 
charge  of  the  station  of  the  company  at  Prairie  du 
Chien,  while  Sibley  was  placed  in  control  of  the 
country  above  Lake  Pepin,  to  the  headwaters  of 
the  streams  emptying  into  the  Missouri  and  north 
to  the  British  line,  with  his  headquarters  at  St. 
Peter,  now  the  town  of  Mendota.  He  arrived  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Minnesota  River  November  7,  1834. 
The  trip  from  Prairie  du  Chien  was  performed  on 
horseback.  General  Sibley  resided  at  Mendota  from 
1834  to  1862,  a period  of  twenty-eight  years,  and 
owing  to  territorial  changes  was  successively  a citi- 
zen of  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Iowa  territories, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1421 


and  of  the  Territory  and  State  of  Minnesota,  without 
changing  the  location  of  his  residence. 

For  many  years  his  only  companions  and  associates 
were  the  military  officers  at  Fort  Snelling,  with  their 
families,  the  clerks  of  the  Fur  Company  and  the 
Indians.  With  the  latter  he  became  intimately  ac- 
quainted. He  frequently  exchanged  visits  with  them 
for  months  at  a time.  He  was  given  a name  by 
them — Wah-ze-o-man-nee  (“Walker  in  the  Pines”). 

General  Sibley’s  public  services  may  be  only  sum- 
marized. He  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace,  being 
appointed  by  Governor  Chambers  of  Iowa  Terri- 
tory, in  1838,  his  jurisdiction  extending  over  what 
now  forms  all  of  Minnesota  west  of  the  river,  a 
portion  of  Iowa,  and  a large  part  of  North  and 
South  Dakota.  In  1848  he  was  elected  by  the  peo- 
ple as  their  delegate  to  Congress  and  after  some 
trouble  was  admitted  to  a seat.  During  that  ses- 
sion he  secured  the  passage  of  the  act  organizing 
the  Territory  of  Minnesota,  which  became  a law 
March  3,  1849.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  was  again 
elected  to  represent  the  territory,  and  1831  was 
re-elected.  In  1853  he  declined  re-election. 

In  1857  he  was  president  of  the  “democratic 
branch”  of  the  constitutional  convention,  which  by 
compromise  and  in  conjunction  with  the  “republican 
branch”  adopted  the  first  constitution  of  Minnesota. 
Soon  after  he  was  elected  governor,  but  owing  to 
the  delay  in  the  admission  of  the  state  he  was  not 
inauguarated  until  May  24,  1858.  As  the  first  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  he  is  entitled  to  eminent  distinc- 
tion. His  recommendations  were  sound,  and  states- 
manlike. Had  his  counsel  been  heeded  the  reckless 
railroad  legislation  of  that  period  would  never  have 
appeared.  In  1871  General  Sibley  served  one  term 
in  the  lower  house  of  the  Legislature.  He  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  original  regents  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  and  was  elected  president  of  the 
board.  He  was  also  president  of  the  State  Normal 
School  Board  which  office  he  filled  for  nearly  two 
years. 

Of  General  Sibley’s  military  services  much  may 
be  written,  and  their  value  to  the  people  of  Minne- 
sota can  hardly  be  overestimated.  The  Sioux  out- 
break occurred  August  18,  1862,  and  the  following 
day  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Ramsey  to  the 
command  of  the  military  expedition  sent  against 
them  with  the  nominal  rank  of  colonel  commanding 
in  the  field,  but  really  with  the  powers  and  duties 
of  a general. 

The  history  of  General  Sibley’s  successful  cam- 
paign against  the  Indians  appears  in  Volume  I.  He 
planned  it  in  one  evening,  that  of  his  appointment, 
and  conducted  it  to  the  close  without  deviating 
from  the  original  plan.  The  expedition  required  for 
its  successful  issue  cool  courage,  rare  ability,  con- 
■summate  address,  and  finesse.  General  Sibley  rose 
superior  to  every  occasion  and  met  every  require- 
ment. It  was  incumbent  upon  him  to  not  only  pun- 
ish but  to  preserve.  The  lightnings  of  vengeance 
were  to  be  loosened  upon  the  savages,  but  the  lives 
of  the  250  women  and  children  in  their  hands  were 
to  be  saved. 

After  his  victory  at  Wood  Lake,  with  2,000 
Indians  in  his  hands,  on  whom  he  might  have 
wreaked  a summary  and  terrible  vengeance  which 
the  public  would  have  applauded,  and  which  pos- 
terity would  have  justified,  General  Sibley  consti- 
tuted a military  commission  for  the  trial  of  the 
principal  offenders.  He,  might  have  constituted  a 
drum-head  courtmartial  for  this  work,  whose  con- 


clusions would  not  have  been  the  subject  of  review, 
and  from  whose  judgment  there  would  have  been 
no  appeal.  But  he  preferred  to  complete  his  work 
as  he  had  begun  it  and  as  he  had  carried  it  on  in 
order  and  regularity.  About  four  hundred  Indian 
warriors  were  put  on  trial  before  a commission 
and  303  of  them  were  convicted  of  murder  and 
outrage  and  condemned  to  death,  while  others  were 
sentenced  to  various  terms  of  imprisonment  for 
robbery  and  pillage.  But  President  Lincoln  was  in- 
duced to  save  from  the  gallows  all  but  thirty-eight 
of  the  bloody-handed  villains.  The  remainder  had 
their  sentences  commuted  to  brief  terms  of  impris- 
onment. This  act  of  clemency  was  characteristic 
of  the  tender-hearted  martyr  President,  but  was 
deplored  by  all  lovers  of  justice. 

September  29,  1862,  President  Lincoln  commis- 
sioned the  then  Colonel  Sibley  a brigadier-general 
of  volunteers,  “for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
in  the  field.”  General  Pope,  the  commander  of  the 
department,  had  given  the  military  affairs  of  this 
district  into  his  hands,  confident  of  his  ability  to 
direct  them  successfully.  The  winter  of  1862-63 
was  spent  in  forming  a cordon  of  military  post  and 
garrison,  with  a line  of  scouts  and  patrols,  across 
the  western  frontier.  The  people  returned  to  their 
homes  and  farms,  and  the  country  was  in  a measure 
tranquillized. 

In  May,  1863,  General  Sibley  concentrated  4,000 
troops  at  “Camp  Pope”  on  the  Upper  Minnesota 
River,  for  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  who 
were  then  in  Dakota.  The  expedition  was  to  be 
assisted  by  another  commanded  by  General  Alfred 
Sully,  which  was  to  move  up  the  Missouri  River 
and  prevent  the  Indians  from  retreating  to  the  west- 
ward, while  General  Sibley  should  come  upon  them 
from  the  east  and  include  them  between  two  fires. 
General  Sibley  carried  out  his  part  of  the  program 
completely.  He  moved  on  the  6th  of  June  and 
after  a long  and  difficult  march  reached  the  couteau 
of  the  Missouri,  July  24.  On  that  day  he  engaged 
the  savages,  killed  twenty-one  of  them,  losing  but 
two  of  his  own  men.  July  25,  at  Dead  Buffalo 
Lake  and  July  28  at  Stoney  Lake  he  again  fought 
them,  and  on  both  occasions  drove  them  from  the 
field.  He  then  pursued  the  Indians  to  the  Missouri, 
across  which  they  escaped,  owing  to  the  inability 
of  General  Sully  to  fulfill  his  part  of  the  campaign, 
his  march  being  retarded  by  the  extreme  heat  of 
the  summer  and  the  want  of  forage  for  his  horses. 
He  afterwards  came  up  and  engaged  the  Indians, 
punishing  them  severely.  General  Sibley  returned 
to  the  state  about  the  first  of  September,  having 
freed  the  Minnesota  frontier  from  all  apprehension 
of  Indian  raids  and  given  security  to  hundreds  of 
settlers  elsewhere. 

During  the  year  1864-5  General  Sibley  was  chiefly 
employed  in  conducting  and  inaugurating!  measures 
for  the  defense  of  the  frontier.  These  measures 
gave  in  the  end  entire  safety  to  the  western  coun- 
ties by  depriving  the  savages  of  an  opportunity  to 
molest  them,  and  that  oart  of  the  state  began  to  be 
occupied  not  only  by  the  former  settlers  but  by  hun- 
dreds of  newcomers.  November  29,  1865,  he  was 
promoted  to  brevet  major-general,  “for  efficient  and 
meritorious  services.”  He  was  relieved  from  the 
command  of  the  District  of  Minnesota  in  August, 
1865,  by  order  of  President  Johnson,  and  detailed 
with  General  Curtis  and  others  as  a member  of  a 
mixed  civil  and  military  commission  to  negotiate 
treaties  with  the  hostile  Sioux  and  other  disaffected 


1422 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


bands  on  the  Upper  Missouri.  The  treaties  with 
the  Sioux  were  made  at  Fort  Sully  and  were  sub- 
sequently ratified  by  the  Senate.  General  Sibley 
was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the  military  service 
with  many  other  general  officers  in  April,  1866,  and 
returned  to  his  home  in  St.  Paul. 

In  1871  General  Sibley  was  appointed  on  the  Na- 
tional Board  of  Indian  Commissioners,  but  was 
compelled  by  the  press  of  his  private  business  inter- 
ests to  resign  after  a year’s  service.  His  connec- 
tion with  the  business  interests  of  St.  Paul  was 
very  intimate  and  conspicuous.  He  was  president 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  director  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  director  of  the  St.  Paul  and  Sioux 
City  Railroad,  and  for  several  years  president  of 
the  St.  Paul  Gas  Company,  president  of  the  State 
Historical  Society  and  president  of  the  Oakland 
Cemetery  Association. 

May  2,  1843,  General  Sibley  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  J.  S.  Steele,  a sister  of  Hon.  Franklin  Steele, 
and  a lady  of  superior  accomplishment  and  worth. 
She  died  in  May,  1869.  leaving  four  children,  viz: 
Augusta,  now  Mrs.  Augusta  A.  Pope ; Sarah,  now 
the  wife  of  E.  A.  Young,  Esq.,  of  St.  Paul;  Charles 
Frederick,  and  Alfred  B.  General  Sibley  removed 
from  Mendota  to  St.  Paul  in  1862  and  thenceforth 
lived  on  Woodward  Avenue. 

Though  reared  on  the  frontier,  far  away  from 
the  polished  circles  and  refinements  of  fashionable 
society,  General  Sibley  was  always  noted  for  his 
accomplishments  and  attainments.  A true  born 
gentleman  always  asserts  himself.  General  Sibley 
in  his  bearing  and  conduct  was  courtly  and  hospi- 
table and  was  never  charged  with  an  unchivalrous 
or  an  ignoble  action.  This  old  Indian  fighter  was 
likewise  a scholar,  a thinker,  and  a writer  of  su- 
perior abilities.  Sixty  years  ago  his  contributions 
to  certain  periodicals  under  the  nom_  de  plume  of 
“Hal.  A.  Dakota,’’  and  over  his  own  signature  made 
him  justly  celebrated.  He  made  some  most  in- 
valuable contributions  to  the  publications  of  the 
historical  society.  As  a writer  he  was  very  clear, 
finished  and  interesting.  As  a controversialist  he 
was  quite  able  to  hold  his  own  with  the  ablest. 
As  long  ago  as  in  1850,  when  he  was  a delegate  to 
Congress,  his  letter  to  United  States  Senator  Foote 
of  Mississippi  gave  to  the  outside  world  the  first 
definite  information  concerning  the  Territory  of 
Minnesota  and  made  for  the  writer  a national  rep- 
utation. The  pioneers  of  Minnesoia  were  justly 
proud  of  the  manly  bearing,  mental  qualities  and 
exemplary  character  of  their  delegate,  who,  back- 
woodsman though  he  was,  did  not  suffer  by  com- 
parison with  any  of  the  members  of  the  dignified 
body  of  which  he  was  so  long  a member. 

The  County  of  Sibley,  and  the  City  of  Hastings 
are  named  for  General  Sibley,  but  historians  will 
record  and  preserve  the  history  of  his  services  and 
the  people  of  Minnesota  will  ever  hold  them  in 
grateful  remembrance.  In  June,  1888,  General  Sib- 
ley was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Ancient 
Cliosophic  Society  of  Princeton  College,  N.  J.,  and 
on  the  23d  of  the  same  month  received  from  that 
renowned  college  the  degree  of  LL.  D1.  At  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  Minnesota  Commandery  of  the 
Loyal  Legion,  held  in  St.  Paul,  June  6,  1888,  he 
was  unanimously  elected  the  commander  of  that 
organization  for  the  ensuing  year.  He  was  for 
many  years  a vestryman  of  St.  Paul’s  Episcopal 
Church. 

General  Sibley  died  in  St.  Paul,  February  18, 


1891,  lacking  only  two  days  of  being  eighty  years 
old.  Full  of  years  and  honors,  he  passed  to  the 
reward  due  to  the  hero,  the  patriot  and  the  Chris- 
tian. 

Joseph  Albert  Wheelock  was  born  in  Bridge- 
town, Nova  Scotia,  February  8,  1831,  and  died  in 
St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  May  9,  1906. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  came  to  Minnesota  in 
quest  of  health  and  settled  in  St.  Paul.  Minnesota 
was  then  a sparsely  settled  territory  and  St.  Paul 
a straggling  frontier  village.  In  all  the  subsequent 
development  of  both  he  bore  a conspicuous  part. 

About  1855  he  embarked  in  journalism,  achieving 
marked  success  from  the  beginning.  On  January 
1,  1861,  he  established  the  St.  Paul  Press,  which 
became  some  years  later  the  Pioneer  Press,  and 
he  remained  its  editor-in-chief  to  the  end  of  his 
life. 

On  May  2,  1888,  Mr.  Wheelock  was  unanimously 
elected  by  the  Loyal  Legion  a companion  of  the 
third  class,  in  recognition  of  his  valuable  service 
to  the  Union  cause  during  the  war  for  the  sup- 
pression of  the  rebellion. 

Mr.  Wheelock  was  for  nearly  fifty  years  con- 
tinuously at  the  head  of  the  editorial  profession  in 
Minnesota,  winning  a national  reputation  for  ability 
and  independence  in  the  higher  walks  of  journal- 
ism. He  was  one  of  the  clearest  thinkers  and  most 
forcible  writers  this  county  has  produced,  capable 
of  sustained  efforts  of  uniform  excellence,  with  an 
occasional  flight  into  the  realms  of  genius. 

His  scholarship  was  both  profound  and  practical. 
He  walked  the  higher  ranges'  in  his  thought ; he 
wrote  with  a fullness  of  information  and  a rich- 
ness of  diction  that  commanded  applause  while  it 
persuaded  and  convinced:  he  mingled  on  terms  of 
intimate  equality  with  the  highest  in  the  land,  states- 
men, diplomats  and  presidents,  to  whom  his  coun- 
sels were  welcome  and  valuable. 

His  literary  taste  was  exquisite,  but  he  could  hurl 
the  thunderbolts  of  denunciation  when,  in  his  opin- 
ion, the  case  required  it.  He  loved  the  learning 
that  exercises  beneficent  influence  on  the  lives  of 
men  and  the  policies  of  the  nation ; he  cherished 
lofty  political  ideals.  Not  infallible  in  judgment, 
or  exempt  from  the  infirmities  of  temper  and  tem- 
perament which  at  times  cloud  the  intellectual  vision, 
lie  was  through  decades  of  stormy  political  conflict 
always  credited  with  purity  of  motive  and  manli- 
ness of  action.  He  was  postmaster  of  St.  Paul 
from  1870  to  1875.  He  was  state  commissioner  of 
statistics  in  i860,  and  president  of  the  St.  Paul  park 
board  from  1893  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Wheelock  wrought  a tremendous  influence 
on  the  political  destiny  of  many  individuals.  He 
incurred  the  enmity  of  some  good  men  and  of 
many  bad  men,  through  his  hostility  to  their  aspira- 
tions; he  earned  the  gratitude  of  many  successful 
men  in  public  life,  but  did  not  always  receive  it, 
through  his  lack  of  the  ingratiating  arts  which  en- 
able smaller  natures  to  reap  where  they  have,  and 
often  where  they  have  not,  sown. 

He  contributed  his  full  share  to  the  material  de- 
velopment of  the  State  of  Minnesota;  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  her1  educational  interests;  to  the  up- 
building of  all  the  elements  which  constitute  a. 
prosperous  commonwealth.  He  was  to  St.  Paul 
always  a loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen,  and  de- 
voted many  years  of  zealous,  intelligent,  unrequited 
effort  to  the  establishment  of  her  splendid  system 
of  boulevards  and  parks. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1423 


In  his  family  and  social  relations  Mr.  Wheelock 
was  a model  of  considerate  kindness  and  devoted 
affection.  His  circle  of  intimacies  was  not  exten- 
sive, but  he  was,  to  those  he  trusted,  a wise  coun- 
sellor and  faithful  friend. 

As  a loyal  editor  during  the  terrible  years  of  the 
conflict  for  national  life,  Mr.  Wheelock  eminently 
deserved  the  high  compliments  paid  him.  by  the 
Loyal  Legion  in  selecting  him  as  one  of  its  com- 
panions from  civil  life,  distinguished  for  patriotic 
services  at  that  period.  His  pen  was  always  vigor- 
ous and  versatile  in  sustaining  the  administration, 
encouraging  the  people  and  stimulating  a spirit  of 
patriotism  in  the  darkest  days,  when  many  yielded 
to  disappointment  and  despair.  That  he  fully  ap- 
preciated the  great  honor  conferred  upon  him  by 
that  selection  was  attested  in  many  ways.  He 
worthily  stood  with  Ramsey,  Rice,  Pillsbury  and 
Tiffany,  recipients  of  this  tribute  of  regard;  he  was 
the  last  survivor  of  that  illustrious  roll,  and  since 
elections  to  this  class  of  membership  have  been 
discontinued  throughout  the  order  there  can  be  no 
more  names  upon  it. 

Mr.  Wheelock  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  French, 
of  St.  Paul,  who,  with  their  son,  Webster  Wheelock, 
survived  him. 

O.  M.  Hall.  On  November  26,  1914,  death  re- 
moved one  of  the  prominent  and  useful  citizens  of 
Minnesota  in  the  person  of  Osee  Mattson  Hall,  of 
Red  Wing. 

Mr.  Hall  was  born  at  Conneaut,  Ohio,  in  1848, 
came  of  one  of  the  substantial  old  families  of  the 
Western  Reserve  in  Ohio,  and  was  a man  of 
sturdy  ancestry  and  of  liberal  education.  He  com- 
pleted his  early  training  in  Hiram  College,  the  in- 
stitution of  which  James  A.  Garfield  was  at  one  time 
president,  and  also  at  Williams  College.  In  1868 
he  came  to  Minnesota  as  a pioneer,  and  from  that 
time  until  his  death  his  citizenship  was  prominently 
associated  with  the  City  of  Red  Wing.  He  was  a 
lawyer  by  profession,  but  was  especially  distin- 
guished for  his  political  service.  In  1885  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  for  one  term.  In  1890 
he  was  elected  as  a democrat  to  Congress,  and  re- 
elected in  1892.  His  political  honors  came  from 
localities  and  districts  which  were  nominally  repub- 
lican. When  the  Minnesota  Tax  Commission  was 
authorized  by  the  Legislature  in  1907  Governor 
Johnson  named  Mr.  Hall  as  one  of  the  three  com- 
missioners, and  he  served  on  that  important  body 
until  his  death  in  St.  Paui.  He  declined  an  appoint- 
ment to  the  district  bench  in  1909,  preferring  to 
remain  on  the  tax  commission.  His  first  term  was 
for  six  years  and  in  that  time  he  established  a 
reputation  as  an  authority  oni  taxation  and  on  the 
basis  of  his  service  was  reappointed  for  another 
six  years  by  Governor  Eberhart. 

Mr.  Hall  was  survived  by  his  wife  and  two  sons, 
Charles  P.  and  Edward  S.  Hall,  both  residents  of 
Red  Wing. 

Louis  Nash.  One  of  the  most  important  munici- 
pal offices  is  that  of  commissioner  of  parks,  play- 
grounds and  public  buildings,  the  incumbent  of 
which  in  St.  Paul  is  Louis  Nash,  a man  who>  has 
had  a large  experience  in  business  and  public  af- 
fairs and  who  is  using  his  official  prerogative  in 
many  ways  to  improve  local  conditions,  give  the 
city  better  parks  and  playgrounds  and  extend  their 
use  to  the  people. 


Louis  Nash  was  born  in  England  May  26,  1867, 
a son  of  Absolom  and  Hannah  Emma  (Broughton) 
Nash.  He  attended  the  National  schools,  finished  a 
course  in  the  Tuxford,  Notts,  Grammar  School  and 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Minnesota  with 
the  night  law  class  of  1902  with  the  degrees  of 
LL.  B and  LL.  M. 

Arriving  in  St.  Paul  in  1887  he  took  a position 
with  the  Boston  Clothing  Company,  leaving  there 
to  go  with  the  firm  of  Browning  King  and  Co., 
when  it  opened  in  St.  Paul  that  fall.  He  imme- 
diately fathered  a movement  for  the  closing  of  the 
retail  stores  at  6 o’clock,  and  to  his  efforts,  more 
than  those  of  any  other  man  are  the  retail  clerks 
indebted  for  the  short  hours  they  now  enjoy 
throughout  the  United  States.  He  was  the  founder 
of  the  Retail  Clerks  National  Advocate  and  the 
St.  Paul  Trades  and  Labor  Bulletin,  and  the  first 
editor  of  each  of  those  publications.  In  1890  he 
organized  the  clerks  from  Denver  to  San  Francisco 
as  a labor  of  love,  and  thus  started  the  early  clos- 
ing movement  in  the  far  West.  In  1897  he  as- 
sumed the  management  for  Nicoll  the  Tailor,  which 
position  he  has  held  ever  since. 

His  introduction  to  the  public  life  of  St.  Paul 
came  with  his  election  in  1906  as  county  commis- 
sioner, to  which  office  he  was  successively  elected 
four  times  and  was  still  serving  when  in  February, 
1915,  he  was  unanimously  elected  to  fill  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  John  J.  O’Leary  (deceased)  as 
city  councilman.  It  was  mainly  through  his  efforts 
that  the  Boys’  Detention  Farm  of  sixty-eight  acres 
and  the  Girls’  Detention  Home  were  acquired  by 
the  County  of  Ramsey.  In  politics  Mr.  Nash  is  a 
fundamental  democrat. 

He  married  Miss  Lottie  J.  Weller  of  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  in  1890  and  has  two  children,  Norma 
Marie  and  Louis,  Jr.  He  is  a Past  Exalted  Ruler 
of  the  Elks,  Past  Worthy  President  of  the  Eagles 
and  Past  Consul  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  Minnehaha  Camp.  A member  of  the  Com- 
mercial Club,  Automobile,  Town  Criers  and  Current 
Topics  clubs,  and  Association  of  Commerce.  A 
thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a 
member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

His  summer  home  on  the  north  shore  of  White 
Bear  Lake  is  a rendezvous  for  his  many  friends 
during  the  heated  months,  where  everyone  is  warmly 
welcomed. 

James  Carlson.  Now  manager  of  the  Lampert 
Lumber  Company  at  New  Richland,  where  he  has 
supervision  of  large  and  important  interests,  James 
Carlson  came  to  Minnesota  from  Sweden  about 
twenty-seven  years  ago,  and  has  been  identified  with 
the  lumber  business  under  some  form  or  other  ever 
since,  his  long  connection  and  experience  having 
brought  him  his  present  substantial  position  and 
regard  as  a successful  man. 

James  Carlson  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Shone, 
Sweden,  October  24,  1868.  His  parents  were  James 
and  Hannah  Carlson.  James  Carlson  was  born  in 
the  Province  of  Skone  in  1831,  was  a mason  by 
trade,  gave  the  regular  term  of  service  to  the  na- 
tional army  of  Sweden,  and  died  at  his  home  lo- 
cality in  1879.  His  wife  was  born,  reared  and  spent 
her  life  in  the  same  vicinity. 

James  Carlson  was  reared  in  Sweden,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  and  served  an  appren- 
ticeship which  qualified  him  for  the  trade  of  dairy- 
man, in  the  thorough  fashion  in  which  such  things 


1424 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


are  done  in  Sweden.  Making  his  voyage  across  the 
Atlantic  to  the  new  world  in  1887,  when  nineteen 
years  of  age,  Mr.  Carlson  located  in  Worthington, 
Minnesota,  and  there  his  attention  was  directed  to 
an  entirely  different  line  of  work.  He  found  em- 
ployment in  a lumber  business,  and  worked  through 
all  the  grades  of  service,  until  in  1903  he  came  to 
New  Richland  and  has  since  been  manager  of  the 
Lampert  Lumber  Company’s  large  interests  in  that 
town. 

Mr.  Carlson  is  a republican  in  politics.  In  1889  at 
Worthington,  Minnesota,  he  married  Miss  Ingrid 
Mortinsan  who  was  from  Worthington.  Her  father, 
a native  of  Sweden,  was  an  engineer  at  Sweden,  but 
is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Carlson  and  wife’s  children 
are : Harry  M.,  who  is  manager  of  a lumber  yard 
at  Waubay,  North  Dakota;  George  W.,  who  is  a 
manual  training  teacher  at  New  Richland,  Minne- 
sota, and  Ellen  Josephine  is  engaged  in  teaching 
school  near  Janesville,  Minnesota. 

John  D.  Ekstrum.  A business  in  Minneapolis  that 
has  shown  remarkable  power  of  development,  with 
its  success  to  a great  degree  exemplifying  and  illus- 
trating the  progressive  career  of  its  president,  is  the 
Flour  City  Fuel  & Transfer  Company,  of  which 
John  D.  Ekstrum  is  president.  A little  more  than 
fifteen  years  ago  Mr.  Ekstrum  made  his  advent  into 
Minneapolis  business  circles  with  a capital  of  $100, 
as  a fuel  merchant.  The  business  over  which  he  now 
exercises  _ executive  control  has  a capitalization  of 
$150,000,  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  coal, 
coke  and  wood  trade,  general  transfer,  handling  of 
baggage,  freight,  machinery  and  merchandise,  oper- 
ates a wagon  factory,  a large  warehouse  for  the 
packing  and  storage  of  goods,  and  has  an  equipment 
representing  many  thousands  of  dollars  in  buildings, 
horses,  and  other  facilities,  among  which  is  a wagon 
factory  where  the  wagons  in  use  by  the  company 
are  built,  and  they  also  sell  wagons  to  their  cus- 
tomers. The  main  office  of  the  company  is  at  40 
West  Lake  Street,  and  there  are  nine  business  offices 
and  eight  distributing  yards. 

John  D.  Ekstrum  was  born  in  Sweden  in  1873.  A 
few  years  after  his  birth  the  father,  Solomon 
Ekstrum,  came  to  Minneapolis,  and  after  getting 
started  in  his  trade  as  a mason  he  sent  for  his  wife 
and  family,  who  came  on  to  Minneapolis  in  1882.  He 
was  for  many  years  a mason  contractor. 

John  D.  Ekstrum  had  received  some  advantages  in 
the  way  of  schools  in  the  old  country,  and  after- 
wards attended  the  Minneapolis  public  schools.  Out- 
side of  school  his  time  was  taken  up  with  some  use- 
ful occupation  or  other,  and  among  other  things  he 
did  considerable  teaming  for  his  father.  For  sev- 
eral years  Mr.  Ekstrum  was  connected  with  the 
Minneapolis  police  force  and  rose  to  the  rank  of 
sergeant  in  the  Fifth  Precinct.  After  three  years, 
in  1899,  he  retired  from  the  force  to  give  his  entire 
attention  to  the  fuel  business,  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged while  still  a policeman  and  which  was  started 
with  the  modest  capital  of  $100.  He  soon  afterwards 
took  into  partnership  N.’  L.  Johnson,  and  in  a few 
years  they  had  laid  the  foundation  for  the  present 
handsome  business.  After  four  years  John  Olson 
joined  his  capital  and  energy  to  the  partnership.  The 
present  company  was  incorporated  in  1911  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $100,000,  and  with  Mr.  Ekstrum  as 
president,  N.  L.  Johnson  secretary  and  treasurer,  and 
John  Olson  vice  president.  In  its  present  propor- 
tions, as  above  described,  the  business  employs  about 
ninety  men. 


In  the  meantime  Mr.  Ekstrum  has  acquired  other 
business  relations  which  place  him  among  the  lead- 
ing and  aggressive  business  factors  in  his  home  city. 
Fie  is  manager  and  partner  in  the  Interstate  Fuel  & 
Transfer  Company,  a business  that  operates  three 
fuel  yards.  He  is  a director  of  the  Minneapolis  State 
Bank  and  director  of  the  Bankers  Security  Company. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  West  Side  Com- 
mercial Club  in  1908,  and  has  served  as  director,  and 
in  1913  and  1914  was  president  of  the  club.  He  has 
also  served  as  president  of  the  Swedish- American 
Club  of  Minneapolis,  a most  important  organization 
among  the  Swedish- Americans  of  the  Northwest.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Odin  Club  and  the  Zion  Lutheran 
Church,  and  in  politics  is  a republican.  Mr.  Ekstrum 
was  married  in  Minneapolis  in  1901  to  Miss  Ida  K. 
Nelson.  To  this  union  have  been  born  four  children: 
John  D.,  Jr.,  Martha,  Robert  and  Bertill. 

Tobias  Hogenson.  The  efficient  and  popular 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Stewartville, 
Olmsted  County,  is  a representative  of  one  of  the 
honored  pioneer  families  of  this  county,  which  has 
been  his  home  from  the  time  of  his  birth,  and  is  a 
scion  of  that  fine  Scandinavian  element  of  citizen- 
ship that  has  played  a most  worthy  and  important 
part  in  the  civic  and  industrial  development  and 
advancement  of  Minnesota. 

Tobias  Hogenson,  now  prominent  and  influential 
in  connection  with  financial  affairs  in  his  native 
county,  was  born  in  Rock  Dell  Township,  Olmsted 
County,  on  the  4th  of  May,  1869,  and  is  a son  of 
Peter  and  Sonova  (Bryneldson)  Hogenson,  both 
natives  of  the  Hardanger-fjord  District  of  Norway, 
where  the  former  was  born  in  1834  and  the  latter 
in  1830,  the  death  of  the  father  occurring  in  1904 
and  that  of  the  mother  in  May,  1914.  The  parents 
were  reared  and  educated  in  their  native  land, 
where  their  marriage  was  solemnized,  and  in  1854 
they  came  to  the  United  States  and  became  pioneer 
settlers  in  Wisconsin,  which  state  continued  to  be 
their  place  of  residence  until  1862,  when  they  came 
to  Minnesota  and  established  their  home  in  Olmsted 
County.  Here  Peter  Hogenson  bought  land,  in 
Rock  Township,  and  instituted  the  reclamation  of  a 
farm.  He  eventually  became  one  of  the  substan- 
tial agriculturists  of  the  county  and  continued  to 
follow  farming  during  his  entire  active  career  in 
the  United  States,  the  while  he  stood  exponent  of 
the  most  loyal  and  upright  citizenship  and  com- 
manded the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  a republican  in  politics,  was  zealous  in  the  sup- 
port of  measures  and  enterprises  contributing  to 
the  general  good  of  the  community,  served  twenty- 
four  years  as  assessor  for  Rock  Dell  Township,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  continued  to  reside  on  their 
old  homestead  farm  until  their  death,  both  having 
been  devout  communicants  of  the  Norwegian  Luth- 
eran Church.  Of  their  twelve  children  Tobias,  of 
this  sketch,  was  the  eleventh  in  order  of  birth,  and 
the  four  others  now  living  are : Christopher,  who  is 
a successful  farmer  of  Olmsted  County;  Hogan  M., 
who  resides  at  Fertile,  Polk  County,  and  is  a carrier 
on  a rural  mail  route ; Maria  Hogenson  residing  at 
Fertile,  Polk  County,  Minnesota;  and.  Mrs.  Sophia 
Mohn,  who  remains  on  the  old  home  farm  of  her 
parents. 

Reared  under  the  invigorating  influences  of  the 
home  farm.  Tobias  Hogenson  acquired  his  pre- 
liminary education  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  township  and  thereafter  completed  a thor- 
ough course  in  Darling’s  Business  College,  at  Ro- 


. ; 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1425 


Chester,  in  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1888.  That  he  had  made  good  use  of  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  him.  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that 
he  became  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the 
district  schools,  devoting  seven  years  to  the  peda- 
gogic profession  and  simultaneously  giving  his  at- 
tention to  farming. 

In  1900  Mr.  Hogenson  became  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  organization  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Stewartville,  of  which  he  has  been  cashier 
from  the  time  of  its  incorporation  and  in  the 
building  up  of  the  substantial  business  of  which  he 
has  been  a potent  force.  The  bank  bases  its  opera- 
tions on  a capital  stock  of  $250,000;  its  surplus  and 
undivided  profits  amount  to  $8,000;  and  its  average 
deposits  are  in  excess  of  $385,000.  This  is  one  of 
the  staunch  and  ably  managed  banking  institutions 
of  Olmsted  County  and  has  marked  influence  in 
fostering  the  general  prosperity  of  the  community 
which  it  effectively  serves. 

Mr.  Hogenson  has  the  unqualified  esteem  of  the 
people  of  his  native  county,  and  this  is  distinctively 
shown  by  the  fact  that  in  1912  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  county  in  the  State  Legislature,  in 
which  he  made  an  admirable  record,  so  that  he  was 
renominated  in  1914  and  at  the  election  in  the 
autumn  of  that  year  was  re-elected  by  a gratifying 
majority.  His  present  term  will  expire  in  Decem- 
ber, 1916.  He  has  been  a zealous  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  the  republican  party  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  communicants  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Church.  In  the  time-honored  Masonic  fraternity 
Mr.  Hogenson  has  received  the  thirty-second  degree 
of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  and  in  the 
York  Rite  he  is  past  master  of  his  lodge  of  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  besides  which  he  is  af- 
filiated with  Rochester  Lodge,  No.  1091,  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

In  the  year  1890  was  solemnized  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Hogenson  to  Miss  Thora  Tandberg,  daugh- 
ter of  Torger  Taitdberg,  of  Spring  Grove,  Houston 
County,  her  father  having  been  a successful  school 
teacher,  having  followed  the  trade  of  stone-mason. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hogenson  have  five  children:  Selma 
is  a student  in  St.  Olaf’s  College,  at  Northfield; 
Alma  was  graduated  in  the  Stewartville  High  School 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  1914;  and  Tobias  Pal- 
mer, and  Helen  are  attending  the  public  schools, 
the  youngest  of  the  children  being  Esther,  who  is 
five  years  of  age. 

Winfield  W.  Bardwell.  Judge  Bardwell  is  one 
of  the  able  and  honored  members  of  the  bench  and 
bar  of  the  City  of  Minneapolis,  where  he  is  presid- 
ing on  the  bench  of  the  municipal  court,  and  for 
a score  of  years  he  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  as  one  of  the  representa- 
tive members  of  the  bar  of  the  Minnesota  metrop- 
olis, his  retirement  from  active  practice  having 
come  only  when  he  was  elected  to  his  present  judicial 
office.  He  has  a host  of  friends  in  Minnesota  and 
further  interest  attaches  to  a consideration  of  his 
career  by  reason  of  his  being,  a native  of  this  state 
and  a scion  of  one  of  its  sterling  pioneer  families. 

Judge  Bardwell  was  born  at  Excelsior,  Hennepin 
Countv,  Minnesota,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1867,  and  is 
a son  of  William  E.  and  Araminta  (Hamblet)  Bard- 
well, who  were  early  and  honored  settlers  in  the 
county  in  which  is  situated  the  fine  metropolis  of 
Minnesota.  They  represented  the  best  element  of 
the  pioneer  type,  at  a time  when  social  relations 


in  this  section  of  the  LTnion  were  far  less  complex 
than  at  the  present  time,  and  they  gained  and  re- 
tained the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  they  came  in  contact  during  the  formative 
period  of  Minnesota  history.  William  E.  Bardwell 
was  a stationary  engineer  by  vocation  and  was  a 
man  of  strong  character  as  well  as  of  vigorous 
mentality.  He  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  parents 
in  1855  and  the  family  home  was  established  at 
Excelsior,  Hennepin  County,  where  the  parents 
passed  the  residue  of  their  lives.  William  E.  con- 
tinued his  residence  in  Hennepin  County  until  the 
close  of  his  life,  and  his  widow  still  resides  at 
Excelsior,  her  parents  having  been  early  settlers  at 
Eden  Prairie,  Hennepin  County,  where  they  took 
up  their  abode  in  1853. 

To  the  public  schools  of  his  native  village  Judge 
Bardwell  is  indebted  for  his  preliminary  educational 
discipline,  which  was  supplemented  by  a course  in 
an  academy  that  for  a few  y?ars  held  high  rank 
among  the  educational  institutions  of  the  North- 
west. His  tastes  and  ambition  led  him  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  legal  profession,  and  in  pursuance 
of  this  ambition  he  followed  the  plan  more  cus- 
tomary at  that  time,  as  he  initiated  his  technical 
studies  under  private  preceptorship.  He  entered 
the  office  of  Harlan  P.  Roberts,  of  Minneapolis,  in 
whose  law  office  he  assumed  the  dual  position  of 
stenographer  and  clerk,  and  in  the  meanwhile  he 
gave  assiduous  attention  to  the  study  of  law  under 
the  effective  direction  of  Mr.  Roberts,  concerning 
whom  individual  mention  is  made  on  other  pages 
of  this  work.  Judge  Bardwell  finally  entered  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota  and 
after  being  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Laws  he  completed  a post-graduate  course  and 
received  from  his  alma  mater  the  further  degree  of 
Master  of  Laws, — a fact  indicating  that  he  consid- 
ered as  adequate  none  but  the  most  thorough  prepa- 
ration possible  to  be  made  for  the  work  of  his 
exacting  profession. 

In  1891  Judge  Bardwell  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  in  Minneapolis,  where  he  was  first  associated 
in  partnership  alliance  with  James  M.  Burlingame 
and  later  with  C.  Louis  Weeks.  He  soon  gained 
prestige  that  placed  him  among  the  representative 
members.  of  the  bar  of  Hennepin  County,  and  his 
practice  involved  his  appearance  in  connection  with 
much  important  litigation.  He  achieved  special 
precedence  as  a criminal  lawyer,  and  in  this  domain 
he  was  retained  as  counsel  in  several  of  the  most 
celebrated  cases  ever  tried  in  the  local  courts.  For 
five  years  prior  to  assuming  his  present  judicial  post 
he  was  associated  in  practice  with  Samuel  Levy, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Bardwell  & Levy  and  with 
offices  in  the  Loan  & Trust  Building. 

It  is  a recognized  fact  that  members  of  the  legal 
profession  in  America  have  normally  been  those 
best  qualified  for  domination  and  leadership  in  the 
political  arena,  for  their  very  training  has  matured 
their  judgment  and  made  them  specially  well  forti- 
fied for  the  formulating  and  directing  of  govern- 
mental policies,  both  state  and  national.  Thus 
Judge  Bardwell  was  consistently  drawn  into  the  field 
of  political  activity,  and  he  has  been  one  of  the 
valued  and  influential  figures  in  the  councils  and 
work  of  the  republican  party  in  Minnesota.  In  1902 
he  was  elected  a member  of  the  lower  house  of  the 
State  Legislature,  and  he  proved  one  of  the  strong 
and  resourceful  workers  in  the  legislative  session 
of  1903.  The  estimate  placed  upon  his  services  was 


1426 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


best  shown  in  the  fact  that  he  was  re-elected  for 
the  sessions  of  1905-07.  In  the  session  of  1905  he 
was  chairman  of  the  Hennepin  County  delegation 
and  was  assigned  to  membership  on  a number  of 
the  most  important  committees  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  including  the  committee  on  in- 
surance, of  which  he  was  chairman.  Judge  Bardwell 
refused  to  become  a candidate  for  a third  term  in 
the  Legislature,  as  he  felt  it  incumbent  upon  him  to 
subordinate  all  other  interests  to  the  demands  of  his 
profession,  which  placed  exigent  claims  upon  his 
time  and  attention,  as  his  practice  had  become  one 
of  important  and  representative  character.  In  the 
national  campaign  of  1912,  however,  he  was  a zeal- 
ous worker  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  his  party,  as 
one  of  the  leaders  of  the  republican  forces  in 
Minnesota.  He  had,  however,  come  to  look  more 
closely  to  the  legal  rather  than  to  the  administrative 
and  legislative  phases  of  government,  and  he  has 
consistently  maintained  the  highest  of  civic  ideals 
without  reference  to  mere  partisanship  in  political 
affairs.  His  strong  stand  in  this  respect  may  be  said 
to  have  led  to  his  being  called  to  the  important  judi- 
cial office  in  which  he  is  now  giving  admirable  serv- 
ice. In  1913  he  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Eber- 
hart,  one  of  the  three  judges  of  the  Municipal  Court, 
this  appointment  having  been  made  to  fill  a vacancy 
caused  by  the  elevation  of  the  regular  incumbent 
to  the  district  bench. 

The  admirable  professional  ability  and  marked 
civic  loyalty  of  Judge  Bardwell  have  likewise  given 
him  special  prominence  and  influence  in  various  fra- 
ternal, business  and  social  organizations  with  which 
lie  is  identified.  He  has  held  membership  on  im- 
portant committees  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  & Com- 
merce Association ; he  served  as  secretary  and  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Hennepin 
County  Bar  Association;  on  the  1st  of  April,  1914, 
he  retired  from  the  office  of  exalted  ruler  of  Min- 
neapolis Lodge,  No.  44,  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks ; and  prominent  among  other  organi- 
zations with  which  he  is  identified  may  be  men- 
tioned the  American  Bar  Association,  the  Minne- 
sota State  Bar  Association-,  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club, 
the  Minneapolis  Automobile  Club  and  the  University 
Club.  He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  Mrs.  Bardwell  is  a 
prominent  and  popular  figure  in  the  social  life  of 
her  home  city,  where  she  was  elected  president  of 
the  Elks  Women’s  Bowling  Club  in  March,  1914,  a 
preferment  that  indicates  her  prowess  in  the  line  of 
sport  designated,  as  well  as  her  personal  popularity. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  1892,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Judge  Bardwell  to  Miss  Edith  May 
Champlin,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Minneapolis 
and  who  is  a daughter  of  Charles  N.  and  Marian 
(Sherman)  Champlin,  her  father  being  now  de- 
ceased and  her  mother  being  a resident  of  the  State 
of  Massachusetts.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Bardwell  have 
three  children,  all  of  whom  remain  at  the  parental 
home, — Mildred  I.,  Charles  Champlin,  and  Marian 
A.  The  elder  daughter  was  graduated  in  the  West 
High  School  of  Minneapolis  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1912  and  the  two  younger  children  are  still 
attending  the  public  schools. 

Chelsea  J.  Rockwood.  As  a representative  mem- 
ber of  the  Minneapolis  bar  and  as  a citizen  of  high 
civic  ideals  and  utmost  loyalty  Mr.  Rockwood  is 
consistently  accorded  recognition  in  this  history.  He 


has  been  a resident  of  Minnesota  since  boyhood 
and  is  a member  of  a family  whose  name  has  been 
one  of  no  little  prominence  in  the  annals  of  this 
commonwealth,  besides  which’ he  is  a scion,  in  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  lines,  of  staunch  New 
England  stock,  the  respective  families  having  been 
founded  in  America  in  the  colonial  era  of  our  na- 
tional history.  Mr.  Rockwood  controls  a substantial 
and  representative  law  business  in  the  Minnesota 
metropolis,  where  he  has  served  for  many  years  as 
attorney  for  the  Minneapolis  Board  of  Park  Com- 
missioners. 

Chelsea  Joseph  Rockwood  was  born  on  a farm 
near  Bennington,  Vermont,  on  the  13th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1855,  and  the  ancestral  homestead  which  was 
the  place  of  his  nativity  became  the  property  and 
home  of  his  maternal  great-grandfather,  Moses 
Hurd,  in  the  year  1769.  Mr.  Rockwood  is  a son  of 
Rev.  Joseph  R.  and  Rhoda  (Hurd)  Rockwood,  both 
of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  the  old  Green 
Mountain  State,  where  their  marriage  was  solem- 
nized and  where  in  his  earlier  years  of  independ- 
ent activity  the  father  was  a farmer  by  vocation. 
He  was  a man  of  strong  individuality  and  fine  at- 
tainments, and  finally  became  a member  of  the  clergy 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  denomination  he 
became  an  early  and  honored  representative  in  Min- 
nesota. In  1869  he  came  with  his  family  to  this 
state  and  established  his  home  at  Garden  City,  Blue 
Earth  County,  where  he  held  a pastoral  incum- 
bency, as  did  he  later  also  at  Norwood,  Le  Sueur  and 
other  villages,  his  consecrated  zeal  and  devotion 
being  on  a parity  yvith  his  recognized  ability  and 
nobility  of  character.  He  labored  in  his  high  calling 
for  many  years  and  was  a resident  of  Garden  City 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March, 
1904.  His  widow  continued  to  maintain  her  home 
in  that  place  until  she  too  was  summoned  to  the  life 
eternal,  in  June,  1911,  her  memory  being  revered  by 
all  who  came  within  the  sphere  of  her  gentle  and 
gracious  influence.  Of  the  children  five  attained 
to  years  of  maturity  and  are  now  living,  and  of  the 
number  Chelsea  J.,  of  this  review,  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth. 

Chelsea  J.  Rockwood  acquired  his  rudimentary 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  state  and  was 
a lad  of  fourteen,  years  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  to  Minnesota.  Here  he  continued  his  studies 
in  the  public  schools  of  Garden  City  and  in  the  pre- 
paratory department  of  Carlton  College,  at  North- 
field,  besides  which  he  had  the  beneficent  influences 
of  a home  of  distinctive  culture  and  refinement. 
After  the  completion  of  his  collegiate  preparatory 
course  Mr.  Rockwood  was  matriculated  in  the  aca- 
demic or  literary  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  in  which  he  completed  the  prescribed 
four  years’  course  and  was  graduated  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1879,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts.  Like  many  other  students  in  the  university 
Mr.  Rockwood  depended  largely  upon  his  own  re- 
sources in  defraying  his  incidental  expenses.  His 
cash  capital  was  but  $50  at  the  time  when  he  entered 
the  university,  and  he  carried  newspapers  and  did 
other  work  that  gave  him  sufficient  emolument  to 
enable  him  to  complete  his  course,  such  discipline 
proving  of  value  and  begetting  the  greater  apprecia- 
tion of  the  value  of  the  education  which  he  received. 
He  has  retained  a deep  affection  for  his  alma  mater, 
and  this  was  significantly  shown  in  the  year  1905, 
when  he  initiated  the  movement  which  has  resulted 
in  the  procuring  of  the  larger  and  present  fine 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1427 


campus  of  the  university.  Under  his  leadership  the 
alumni  of  the  institution  attempted  to  have  the  board 
of  regents  put  themselves  on  record  as  requesting 
from  the  State  Legislature  an  appropriation  for 
the  purchase  of  more  land  for  the  campus.  This 
effort  failed,  but  it  directed  attention  to  a much 
needed  improvement  and  the  matter  was  not  per- 
mitted to  be  dropped  until  the  desired  end  was  at- 
tained and  an  appropriation  made.  When  it  became 
necessary  to  select  an  attorney  to  represent  the  at- 
torney general  of  the  state  in  the  incidental  legal 
proceedings  Mr.  Rockwood  was  enlisted  for  the 
work,  as  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  board  of 
regents  of  the  university,  and  with  all  of  zeal  he 
applied  himself  to  the  formulating  and  carrying  for- 
ward of  the  plans  that  have  resulted  in  giving  to 
the  university  a campus  in  consonance  with  the  dig- 
nity and  requirements  ofi  the  institution,  this  work 
having  received  his  attention  during  the  course  of 
several  years,  his  service  as  attorney  for  the  board 
of  regents  having  continued  from  1907  until  1910. 

After  his  graduation  in  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota Mr.  Rockwood  held  for  two  years  the  position 
of  principal  of  the  public  schools  of  LeSueuer,  but 
he  utilized  the  pedagogic  profession  only  as  a 
means  to  an  end,  as  he  had  determined  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  legal  profession.  He  read  law  under 
the  effective  preceptorship  of  the  firm  of  Shaw, 
Levi  & Cray,  of  Minneapolis,  and  continued  his  tech- 
nical studies  thereafter  in  the  office  of  Judge  P.  M. 
Babcock,  another  of  the  representative  members  of 
the  Minneapolis  bar.  In  November,  1882,  upon  ex- 
amination before  the  District  Court  of  Hennepin 
County,  Mr.  Rockwood  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  active  and  suc- 
cessful practice  of  his  profession  in  the  City  of 
Minneapolis,  where  in  later  years  he  has  given 
special  attention  to  corporation  law.  For  more  than 
thirty  years  he  had  thus  applied  himself  assiduously 
and  effectively  to  the  work  of  his  chosen  profession, 
in  which  he  has  achieved  marked  prestige  and  suc- 
cess, with  recognized  resourcefulness  as  a trial 
lawyer  and  marked  versatility  as  a counselor.  From 
1889  t°  18 92  he  held  the  post  of  attorney  for  the 
Minneapolis  Board  of  Park  Commissioners  and 
after  an  interim  of  about  two  years,  in  1895,  he  was 
again  appointed  to  this  office,  of  which  he  has  con- 
tinued the  incumbent  to  the  present  time  and  in 
which  he  has  done  much  to  facilitate  and  further 
the  progressive  policies  of  the  board  that  has  ef- 
fectively maintained  and  extended  the  fine  park 
system  of  the  Minnesota  metropolis.  His  inter- 
regnum as  attorney  for  the  commissioners  was 
caused  by  the  fact  that  from  1893  to  1895  he  him- 
self was  a member  of  the  board. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  state  that  as  a citizen 
Mr.  Rockwood  has  been  animated  by  distinctive 
loyalty  and  public  spirit,  and  while  he  has  subordi- 
nated all  other  interests  to  the  demands  of  his  pro- 
fession and  has  manifested  no  desire  for  political 
preferment,  he  is  known  as  a stalwart  and  effective 
advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  re- 
publican party.  He  is  a member  of  the  American 
Bar  Association,  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Associa- 
tion and  the  Minneapolis  Bar  Association.  He  is 
an  appreciative  and  valued  member  of  the  Minne- 
apolis Civic  & Commerce  Association,  of  which  he 
is  serving  as  attorney  in  1914,  and  he  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Minneapolis  Club  and  University 
Club  in  his  home  city,  both  he  and  his  family  being 


zealous  members  of  Trinity  Baptist  Church.  He 
maintains  his  law  offices  in  the  Andrus  Building. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  1883,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Rockwood  to  Miss  Carrie  D. 
Fletcher,  of  Mankato,  this  state,  she  likewise  having 
been  graduated  in  the  University  of  Minnesota  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1882.  She  died  February  7, 
1915.  Concerning  the  children  of  this  union  brief 
record  is  given  in  conclusion  of  this  sketch : Paul 
died  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Ethel  was 
graduated  in  the  North  High  School  and  then  en- 
tered the  University  of  Minnesota,  in  which  she 
was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1907,  and 
is  now  a teacher  in  the  Duluth  High  School ; Edith 
likewise  completed  the  curriculum  of  the  North 
High  School  and  in  1909  was  graduated  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  after  which  she  completed  a 
post-graduate  course  in  Columbia  University,  in  New 
York  City,  from  which  historic  institution  she  re- 
ceived in  1913  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts ; 
Fletcher  was  graduated  in  the  North  High  School 
and  was  graduated  in  the  engineering  department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1914. 

The  following  extracts  from  an  article  that  ap- 
peared in  the  Minneapolis  Journal  of  February  11, 
19x4,  are  worthy  of  preservation  in  this  connection: 
“Edith  Rockwood,  daughter  of  C.  J.  Rockwood, 
attorney  for  the  Minneapolis  park  board,  after  tak- 
ing a master’s  degree  in  sociology  at  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, being  employed  by  the  New  York  bureau 
of  municipal  research,  and  more  recently  engaged  in 
school  survey  work  in  Ohio,  to-day  became  identi- 
fied with  the  municipal  research  bureau  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Civic  & Commerce  Association.  Miss  Rock- 
wood was  a student  at  North  High  School,  and  she 
studied  economics,  history  and  sociology  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  from  which  she  was  graduated 
in  1909.  The  first  work  that  Miss  Rockwood  ex- 
pects to  do  in  Minneapolis  will  be  in  the  nature  of 
a survey  of  the  health  department.  ‘I  expect  to 
utilize  in  the  Minneapolis  work  the  experience  I 
have  gained  elsewhere  and  to  be  of  general  service 
to  the  municipal  research  bureau,’  said  Miss  Rock- 
wood.” 

Michael  W.  Nash.  On  February  26,  1915,  death 
removed  Michael  W.  Nash,  said  to  be  the  second 
oldest  resident  of  Minneapolis.  His  home  has  been 
in  that  city  for  more  than  sixty  years,  a period  of 
time  measured  by  accomplishments  and  influence 
far  beyond  those  of  the  average  citizen.  The  late 
Mr.  Nash  was  identified  with  banking  and  real  estate 
affairs  in  Minneapolis,  was  at  one  time  prominent 
in  politics,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  Cath- 
olic Church  circles. 

Michael  Walter  Nash  was  born  in  County  Tipper- 
ary, Ireland,  September  24,  1843.  He  was  seven 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  America,  and  in 
1851  the  family  settled  in  St.  Paul.  From  that 
city  they  removed  to  Minneapolis  in  1854  and  Mrs. 
Nash  opened  a boarding  house  near  the  site  of  the 
Great  Northern  Station.  Michael  W.  Nash  received 
most  of  his  early  training  in  the  schools  of  the 
Twin  Cities,  and  at  an  early  age  began  working  for 
himself.  He  was  in  the  flour  business,  and  his  fore- 
sight and  judgment  prompted  him  to  invest  all  his 
surplus  capital  in  local  real  estate.  His  investments 
were  centered  in  the  downtown  district  near  the  old 
Union  Station.  At  one  time  he  owned  the  site  of 
the  station,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned 


1428 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


property  in  that  locality.  He  contributed  materially 
to  the  growth  and  development  of  the  city,  especially 
in  promoting  and  assisting  in  the  construction  of 
the  Minneapolis  Exposition  Building.  That  old 
Minneapolis  landmark  is  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  M.  W.  Savage,  the  stock  food  merchant.  Mr. 
Nash  was  also  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  the 
Labor  Temple. 

Throughout  his  residence  in  Minneapolis  he  took 
an  active  part  in  civic  affairs.  He  served  twelve 
years  as  a county  commissioner,  first  from  1888  to 
1896  and  again  from  1900  to  1904.  He  was  a char- 
ter* member  of  the  old  Commercial  Club.  He  was 
always  liberal  in  using  his  means  for  the  public  bene- 
fit, and  particularly  in  assisting  the  various  institu- 
tions of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  was  one  of  the 
builders  of  the  Catholic  Orphanage,  and  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  arranged  for  the  purchase  of  land 
so  the  property  cost  the  board  nothing.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  an  officer  in  the  Minnesota  Ter- 
ritorial Pioneers  Association.  While  a member  of 
the  board  of  county  commissions  he  helped  to  plan 
and  build  the  city  and  county  building  in  Min- 
neapolis. 

For  a quarter  of  century  the  late  Mr.  Nash  lived 
at  his  home  at  513  Sixth  Street,  South,  and  later 
removed  to  the  residence  in  which  he  died  at  2018 
Hennepin  Avenue. 

In  1876  Michael  W.  Nash  married  Mary  Brennen 
who  survives  him.  There  were  four  children  in 
the  family : Anna  M.,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching 
in  the  Harrison  School;  Julia  A.,  who  teaches  a 
class  in  the  Emerson  School ; Edward  M.,  and  Mar- 
garet A.,  at  home.  All  the  children  were  born  in 
Minneapolis  and  are  graduates  of  the  high  school, 
while  Anna  and  Julia  graduated  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota. 

Edward  M.  Nash.  One  of  the  most  forceful  of 
the  younger  citizens  of  Minneapolis,  Edward  M. 
Nash  has  always  utilized  his  excellent  legal  talents 
in  the  furtherance  of  what  he  has  conceived  to  be 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  merging 
the  two  characters  of  lawyer  and  citizen  into  a 
high  individual  combination  which  has  been  gen- 
erally recognized  as  an  example  well  worthy  of 
emulation.  In  the  prolific  field  of  personal  injury 
and  damage  law  he  has  attained  a deservedly  high 
place,  and  his  position  at  the  bar  is  that  of  a 
thorough  and  learned  practitioner. 

Edward  M.  Nash  is  a native  son  of  Minneapolis 
born  February  13,  1881,  a son  of  the  late  Michael 
W.  Nash  mentioned  above.  He  was  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1899  from  the  old  Central  High  School, 
which  his  sisters  also  attended,  following  which 
he  took  an  academic  course  of  two  years  at  the 
University  of  Minnesota.  He  then  became  deputy 
clerk  of  the  District  Court,  and  while  discharging 
the  duties  of  that  office  began  attending  the  night 
classes  in  law  at  the  University  of  Minnesota.  In 
1906  he  was  admitted  to  practice,  his  university  giv- 
ing him  his  degree.  After  serving  about  four  years 
as  deputy  under  Clerk  C.  N.  Dickey,  Mr.  Nash 
began  the  active  practice  of  his  chosen  calling,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  splendid  success,  particularly 
in  his  special  field  of  damages  and  personal  injury 
law,  his  connection  with  which  has  made  him  a 
more  or  less  familiar  figure  in  the  courts.  For  a 
time  Mr.  Nash  was  connected  with  the  Canadian 
Land  Company,  for  which  he  served  as  attorney, 
and  also  made  considerable  investments  in  its  behalf. 


Mr.  Nash  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  in  the  last  named  of  which  he  has  at- 
tained to  the  fourth,  or  highest,  degree.  He  belongs 
also  to  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Asso- 
ciation, and  the  Minneapolis  Automobile  Club,  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Native  Sons  of  Minnesota 
and  until  recently  held  membership  in  the  University 
Club.  He  is  popular  with  his  associates  both  in 
and  outside  of  his  profession.  Mr.  Nash’s  offices 
are  maintained  at  No.  1203  Plymouth  Building. 

William  Spencer  Kingsley.  Having  left  school 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  to  learn  the  carpenter’s  trade, 
William  S.  Kingsley  has  for  thirty  years  been  stead- 
ily progressing  towards  independence,  and  in  the 
meantime  has  controlled  a large  business  as  a general 
contractor,  has  worked  all  over  the  Northwest,  and 
his  activities  in  their  results  can  be  pointed  out  in  a 
score  of  places  not  only  in  Faribault  but  elsewhere. 

William  Spencer  Kingsley  was  born  in  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  January  25,  1869.  His  grandfather  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  came  from  the  vicinity  of 
Edinburgh  to  America,  locating  in  New  York  State. 
S.  J.  Kingsley,  father  of  the  Faribault  contractor, 
was  born  at  Utica,  New  York,  in  1836  and  died  in 
Faribault  in  1895.  He  followed  the  great  exodus  of 
people  to  California  during  the  gold  excitement  of 
1849,  and  during  his  residence  on  the  Pacific  coast 
enlisted  with  a California  regiment  and  for  more 
than  three  years  served  as  a soldier  in  the  American 
Civil  war.  On  returning  East  he  located  at  Fort 
Atkinson,  Wisconsin,  finally  moved  to  St.  Paul,  Min- 
nesota, and  in  1870  to  Faribault.  During  the  greater 
part  of  his  active  career  he  was  a general  contractor. 
S.  J.  Kingsley  married  Mary  Greenville,  a native  of 
New  York  State,  who  now  lives  in  Faribault. 

William  Spencer  Kingsley  was  brought  to  Fari- 
bault in  infancy,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  having  gone  so  far  as  was  deemed  necessary  in 
book  learning  left  to  prepare  Himself  for  the  prac- 
tical vocation  of  carpenter  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and 
by  the  time  he  was  eighteen  was  employed  in  railroad 
work  at  Devils  Lake  in  North  Dakota.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  returned  to  Faribault,  but  a year  later 
went  out  to  Great  Falls,  Montana,  on  railway  con- 
struction work  for  a year,  and  for  the  following 
three  years  was  with  the  Boston-Montana  Smelting 
Company.  Again  returning  to  Faribault  in  1892,  Mr. 
Kingsley  was  in  business  as  a contractor  until  1905, 
and  then  did  railway  construction  contracting  in 
Montana  until  1908.  In  the  latter  year  began  his 
partnership  relations  with  Albert  G.  Payant  at  Fari- 
bault. which  continued  until  1915,  and  since  that  time 
he  has  been  alone  in  business.  His  operations  have 
been  rapidly  growing  and  have  given  him  a hand  in 
much  of  the  building  construction  and  general  con- 
tracting in  this  state.  His  offices  are  maintained  at 
5H  Central  Avenue,  North.  The  field  of  activities 
covers  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin.  He  was  identified 
at  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin,  with  the  building  of 
the  Anna  M.  Rutlege  Memorial  Home.  Other 
structures  erected  were  the  Faribault  High  School,  a 
number  of  buildings  for  the  Institute  for  the  Feeble 
Minded  at  Faribault,  the  Institute  for  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb,  and  the  Institute  for  the  Blind  in  that  city, 
besides  a large  number  of  residences  and  private 
business  houses. 

Mr.  Kingsley  is  now  serving  on  the  local  board  for 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb  and  for  the  Blind.  Institute  at 
Faribault.  He  is  a republican  in  politics.  Frater- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1429 


nally  his  affiliations  are  with  Faribault  Lodge  No.  9, 
A.  F.  & A.  M„  Faribault  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; Fari- 
bault Commandery  No.  8,  K.  T. ; and  Zurah  Temple 
of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  Mr.  Kingsley 
is  treasurer  of  the  Faribault  Agricultural  and  Fair 
Association. 

On  June  5,  1896,  at  Wells,  Minnesota,  Mr.  Kings- 
ley married  Miss  Julia  Kenney,  daughter  of  John  D. 
Kenney,  now  deceased,  formerly  a farmer  at  Rich- 
land, Minnesota.  Mr.  Kingsley  and  wife  have  two 
children:  Raymond  W.  and  Mary  E.,  both  pupils 

in  the  Faribault  High  School.  The  family  home  is  at 
719  West  Division  Street. 

Clive  T.  Jaffray.  The  financiers  who  have  left 
the  impress  of  their  abilities  on  the  banking  history 
of  the  Northwest  have  been,  almost  without  excep- 
tion, men  of  affairs,  with  little  instruction  in  science. 
Stepping  from  the  counter  or  office  to  the  counting- 
room,  they  have  demonstrated  their  fitness  to  be 
leaders  by  soundness  of  judgment  and  skill  in  man- 
agement, force  in  organization  and  general  ability 
in  handling  the  moneys  of  corporation  or  individual. 
It  was  with  such  training  and  qualifications  that 
Clive  T.  Jaffray,  now  vice  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Minneapolis,  has  for  more  than 
a quarter  of  a century  been  identified  with  the  bank- 
ing interests  of  that  city.  He  is  also  an  influential 
and  public-spirited  citizen,  and  one  well  known  in 
club  and  social  circles  of  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Jaffray  was  born  in  Canada,  a son  of  W. 
Jaffray,  a resident  of  Berlin,  Ontario,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  postmaster  at  that  place.  After  an 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Berlin,  Mr.  Jaffray 
at  once  began  training  for  a business  career.  His 
first  banking  experience  was  in  the  Merchants  Bank 
of  Canada.  Entering  the  service  of  that  institution 
in  1882,  he  continued  to  be  associated  with  it  for 
five  years.  A Canadian  bank  is  an  unexcelled  school 
of  training  in  the  details  and  routine  of  commercial 
banking,  and  with-  this  valuable  experience,  in  1887 
he  resigned  his  position  and  came  to  Minneapolis. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival,  he  became  a clerk  with  the 
Northwestern  National  Bank,  was  made  bookkeeper 
in  1889,  and  two  years  later  was  appointed  to  the 
post  of  assistant  cashier,  an  office  which  he  retained 
until  1895.  In  that  year  he  was  offered  and  accepted 
the  position  of  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Minneapolis,  which  was  then,  as  now,  one  of  the 
leading  financial  institutions  of  the  state.  After 
nine  years  in  the  cashiership,  in  1965  Mr.  Jaffray 
became  the  vice  president  of  the  institution,  and 
has  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  to  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Jaffray  is  well  known  in  local  club  and  social 
life,  and  is  a member  of  the  more  prominent  or- 
ganizations, including  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the 
Minikahda  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club  and 
the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association. 
Taking  an  active  interest  in  athletic  sports,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  and1  Long  Meadow  Gun 
clubs  and  an  enthusiastic  golfer.  Mr.  Jaffray  is 
married  and  has  a beautiful  home  on  Mount  Curne 
Avenue. 

John  Cochrane  Sweet.  During  the  twenty  years 
since  his  admission  to  the  Minnesota  bar,  John 
Cochrane  Sweet  has  enjoyed  not  only  the  success 
and  distinctions  of  the  able  lawyer,  but  has  also 
proved  the  value  of  his  service  in  various  field  out- 
side of  his  immediate  profession. 


Born  April  24,  1870,  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana, 
John  Cochrane  Sweet  is  descended  from  ancestors 
who  came  from  England  and  settled  in  Rhode  Is- 
land in  1630.  His  parents  were  Kay  Chittenden  and 
Elizabeth  (Cochranej  Sweet.  His  father  was  for 
many  years  a locomotive  engineer,  but  later  became 
a merchant  in  North  Dakota. 

In  Fort  Wayne,  where  his  boyhood  was  spent, 
Mr.  Sweet  attended  the  public  schools,  moved  to 
Waseca,  Minnesota,  in  1882,  continuing  his  public 
school  education  there,  and  in  1890  went  to  Mankato 
and  the  following  year  came  to  Minneapolis  to 
enter  the  university.  His  university  career  was  one 
of  unusual  accomplishment.  At  the  college  Field 
Day  in  1892  he  won  a gold  medal  for  first  place 
in  the  220-yard  dash,  and  in  1893  was  awarded  the 
Paige  prize  for  the  best  graduation  thesis.  His 
studies  were  then  continued  in  the  law  department 
of  the  university,  and  in  1893  he  was  awarded  the 
LL.  B.  degree  and  in  1896  the  university  made  him 
LL.  M. 

When  the  Spanish- American  war  broke  out  Mr. 
Sweet  entered  the  United  States  service  as  second 
lieutenant  in  Company  A of  the  Fifteenth  Minne- 
sota Volunteer  Infantry.  His  legislative  record 
comprised  his  membership  in  the  lower  house  during 
the  sessions  of  1901  and  1902,  representing  the 
Thirty-ninth  District.  From  1896  to  1908  he  was 
lecturer  on  the  law  of  mortgages  in  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  State  University.  Since  1902  his 
office  has  been  with  Sen.  W.  S.  Dwinnell.  In  1908 
Mr.  Sweet  was  assistant  United  States  attorney,  and 
since  July,  1909,  has  given  his  attention  chiefly  to 
the  practice  of  law. 

The  social  and  civic  bodies  of  which  he  is  a 
member  include  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Com- 
merce Association ; the  Minneapolis  Club ; the 
Minikahda  Country  Club ; the  Minneapolis  Auto- 
mobile Club;  Cataract  Lodge,  No.  2,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; 
Psi  Upsilon  Association  of  Minnesota ; the  Phi  Delta 
Phi  Fraternity;  and  he  takes  much  interest  in  ath- 
letics and  automobiling.  His  church  home  is  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Minneapolis. 

On  May  19,  1897,  Mr.  Sweet  married  Miss  Mary 
Lougee,  daughter  of  the  Minnesota  pioneer,  Charles 
D.  Lougee,  whose  interesting  career  is  sketched  else- 
where in  this  work.  Mrs.  Sweet  is  also  a graduate 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Their  three  daugh- 
ters are:  Catherine  Elizabeth,  born  1901;  Margaret 
Cochrane,  born  1903  ;■  and  Mary  Lougee,  born  1909. 

Charles  D.  Lougee.  Very  few  of  the  real  pio- 
neers, the  men  who  met  and  conquered  the  condi- 
tions of  the  decade  before  the  Civil  war  in  Minne- 
sota, are  still  surviving  into  these  years  of  the  twen- 
tieth century,  and  for  that  reason  the  more  interest 
attaches  to  such  a character  and  figure  as  Charles 
D.  Lougee,  now  living  retired  at  Minneapolis.  Mr. 
Lougee  in  his  day  of  active  work  was  an  associate 
with  the  Pillsburys  and  other  leaders  in  industry 
and  commerce  and  in  public  affairs  in  Minnesota. 
He  has  won  his  wealth  and  position  by  clean  and 
legitimate  business  dealings  and  by  participation  in 
several  departments  of  activity,  including  lumbering, 
land  and  real  estate,  farming  and  live  stock,  and 
although  practically  retired  from  business,  his  name 
is  still  an  influence  in  the  financial  district  of 
Minneapolis. 

Of  New  England  birth  and  lineage,  Charles  D. 
Lougee  was  born  at  Barnstead,  New  Hampshire. 
His  parents  were  Samuel  and  Betsy  (Nutter) 


1430 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Lougee,  both  of  English  stock.  The  father,  a 
farmer,  moved  west  to  Minnesota  in  1857,  settling 
in  Rice  County,  where  he  bought  land  from  a man 
who  had  entered  it  direct  from  the  Government, 
and  eventually  came  to  own  two  large  farms. 

Mr.  Lougee  was  already  grown  to  manhood  when 
the  family  came  West  to  Minnesota  Territory  and 
established  a home  in  Rice  County.  While  living 
on  a farm  in  New  England  his  advantages  for  at- 
tending school  were  necessarily  limited,  but  during 
a residence  of  a year  or  so  at  Manchester,  New 
Hampshire,  he  managed  to  secure  a fair  academic 
preparation,  and  possessing  shrewd  native  ability, 
and  the  typical  New  England  industry,  was  able  to 
embrace  his  opportunities  when  they  came.  His 
business  career  has  been  one  of  unusual  success  and 
accomplishment.  About  i860  Mr.  Lougee  drove  six- 
teen hundred  sheep  from  Ypsilanti,  Michigan,  around 
by  way  of  Chicago  to  Rice  County,  Minnesota.  For 
more  than  half  a century  he  has  kept  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  operations  on  an  extensive  scale. 

One  of  his  early  purchases  in  Minnesota  was  the 
buying  of  1,000  acres  of  land  for  which  he  paid 
$3,000.  That  same  land  is  today  worth  approximately 
$70  an  acre.  For  many  years  he  numbered  among 
his  possessions  a prize  farm  of  640  acres  in  Kan- 
diyohi County,  all  of  it  under  cultivation,  and  he 
has  sold  as  high  as  150  head  of  cattle  at  a time. 

When  Mr.  Lougee  removed  from  Rice  County  to 
Minneapolis  in  1867,  he  engaged  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness, and  in  partnership  with  Thomas  Croswell 
owned  and  operated  a mill  on  the  east  side  under 
the  firm  name  of  Croswell  & Lougee.  At  the  end 
of  six  years  Mr.  Lougee  sold  out  his  interest  and 
next  engaged  in  lumbering,  investing  heavily  in  the 
pine  land  of  Minnesota  in  association  with  the  late 
Governor  Pillsbury  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Pillsbury  & Lougee  Lumber  Company.  Mr.  Lougee 
was  in  active  practice  in  Minnesota  lumber  circles 
for  about  twelve  years.  His  operations  were  en- 
tirely confined  to  the  wholesale  department  of  the 
business.  The  logs  were  brought  in  to  the  mill 
here,  and  after  being  worked  up  into  lumber,  the 
product  was  sold  to  the  wholesale  trade  in  yard 
lots,  usually  running  from  five  to  six  million  feet 
or  whatever  happened  to  be  in  the  yard  after  the 
consignment  of  logs  had  been  worked  up. 

For  the  past  twenty  years  Mr.  Lougee  has  lived 
practically  retired  and  makes  no  pretensions  as  an 
active  business  man.  He  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
but  gave  up  his  seat  some  years  ago. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  enumerate  and  describe 
the  breadth  and  accomplishment  of  such  a career 
as  Mr.  Lougee's.  When  he  was  a young  man  in 
Rice  County  he  lived  in  the  midst  of  Indians,  but 
all  of  them  were  of  a peaceful  nature  and  he  never 
experienced  any  trouble  directly  from  them.  Soon 
after  the  beginning  of  the  war  and  the  uprising  of 
the  Sioux  tribes  in  Minnesota,  Mr.  Lougee  enlisted 
in  a cavalry  company  organized  in  Rice  County  on 
August  20,  1862,  this  company  comprising  about  one 
hundred  men  who  enlisted  at  Faribault  under  Capt. 
David  D.  Lloyd,  and  was  known  as  the  Capt.  David 
D.  Lloyd  Company  in  Colonel  Sibley’s  expedition. 
Mr.  Lougee  served  as  a private  and  was  with  the 
company  when  it  reached  Fort  Ridgley,  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Lougee  has  relations  with  many  banks  as  a 
stockholder,  including  the  First  National  Bank,  the 
Northwestern  National  Bank,  the  Commercial  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  also  the  First  National  Bank  of 


Great  Falls,  Montana.  At  different  times  executive 
offices  have  been  urged  upon  him,  but  he  always 
declined  any  greater  responsibility  than  that  of  di- 
rector. Though  not  a member  of  any  church,  Mr. 
Lougee  supports  and  attends  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Minneapolis. 

On  November  28,  1872,  Mr.  Lougee  married  Miss 
Cathrine  Sperry  of  Waterbury,  Connecticut.  She 
was.  a sister  of  Admiral  Sperry,  who  commanded  the 
great  fleet  which  left  Hampton  Roads  and  cruised 
around  the  world.  Another  brother  was  Mark  L. 
Sperry  of  Waterbury,  Connecticut.  Mrs.  Lougee’s 
death  occurred  at  Minneapolis,  October  27,  1889. 
To  their  marriage  were  born  four  daughters  and  two 
sons,  three  of  whom  are  now  living  as  follows : 
Mrs.  John  C.  Sweet,  whose  husband  is  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  Minneapolis ; Mrs.  Arthur  A. 
Law,  wife  of  a prominent  Minneapolis  surgeon;  and 
Clara  Louise,  an  artist  by  profession  and  a graduate 
of  the  Chicago  Art  Institute.  The  daughters  are  all 
graduates  of  the  East  Side  High  School  and  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota.  On  July  12,  1894,  in  Min- 
neapolis, Mr.  Lougee  married  Miss  Harriet  Brown, 
daughter  of  Judge  Fred  Brown.  Her  father  was  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  having  served  with  an 
Illinois  company,  and  for  many  years  held  the  office 
of  postmaster  at  Aurora,  Illinois,  where  he  died  in 
1912.  Mrs.  Lougee  was  born  and  reared  in  Aurora, 
Illinois.  In  1909  Mr.  Lougee,  his  wife  and  daughter, 
Clara  Louise,  went  abroad  for  an  extended  tour  of 
Asia  and  the  Holy  Land.  The  family  home  is  one 
of  social  culture  and  refinement,  and  is  located  at 
No.  1103  Southeast  Fifth  Street,  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota. 

William  Hood  Dunwoody.  Estimated  in  terms  of 
good  citizenship,  wisely  and  generously  directed  to 
the  use  and  benefit  of  the  citizens  of  Minneapolis, 
it  can  be  claimed  that  the  late  William  FI.  Dun- 
woody  has  done  more  for  his  home  city  and  state 
than  any  other  individual.  William  H.  Dunwoody 
was  a resident  of  Minneapolis  from  1869  until  his 
death  on  February  8,  1914.  It  was  as  a miller,  an 
expert  in  both  the  technical  and  commercial  phases 
of  the  industry,  that  he  laid  the  foundation  for  his 
great  wealth.  As  a matter  of  course  his  activities 
had  a wide  scope,  and  while  the  chief  interests  and 
work  of  his  life  were  in  the  milling  industry,  he 
was  also  a banker,  a liberal  patron  of  art,  and  an 
influential  factor  in  all  the  broader  phases  of  civic 
life. 

William  Hood  Dunwoody  was  born  March  14, 
1841,  on  a farm  at  Newtown  Center,  Pennsylvania, 
eleven  miles  from  Philadelphia.  His  father,  grand- 
father and  great-grandfather  had  been  farmers  in 
Chester  County,  and  the  Dunwoodys  have  been 
Scotch  Presbyterians  through  many  generations,  both 
in  this  country  and  in  the  old.  James  Dunwoody, 
the  father,  was  a man  of  high  standing  in  his  com- 
munity in  Chester  County.  The  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Hannah  Hood,  was  the  daughter 
of  William  Hood  of  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  a descendant  from  John  Hood  who  came  to 
Pennsylvania  with  other  followers  of  William  Penn 
from  Leicestershire,  England,  in  1684.  The  Hood 
family  were  Quakers,  and  from  his  mother  the  late 
Mr.  Dunwoody  probably  acquired  the  qualities  of 
quiet  demeanor,  reserve  of  manner,  gentle  courtesy 
and  slow,  deliberate  speech,  which  his  associates 
recall  as  among  his  best  known  characteristics. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1431 


William  H.  Dunwoody  spent  his  boyhood  on  his 
father’s  farm,  and  when  about  fourteen  years  of  age 
began  attending  school  in  Philadelphia.  His  practical 
career  began  at  eighteen,  when,  instead  of  returning 
to  his  father’s  farm,  he  entered  the  office  of  an 
uncle  engaged  in  the  grain  and  flour  trade  in  Phila- 
delphia. That  gave  the  permanent  direction  to  his 
career.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  so  rapid  had 
been  his  advance,  he  was  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Dunwoody  & Robertson,  flour  merchants  at 
Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Dunwoody  arrived  in  Minneapolis  in  Septem- 
ber, 1869,  being  then  twenty-eight  years  of  age. 
He  was  led  to  make  his  home  in  the  Northwest 
through  a desire  to  center  his  activities  in  what  he 
realized  was  the  largest  field  of  production  and 
what  ultimately  would  become  the  chief  milling 
center  of  America.  In  1871  he  was  member  of 
the  firm  of  Tiffany,  Dunwoody  & Company,  operating 
the  old  Arctic  Mill.  He  was  also  manager  of  the 
firm  of  H.  Darrow  & Company,  operating  the  Union 
Mill.  At  a time  when  the  Millers’  Association  was 
performing  its  service  in  behalf  of  centralized  mar- 
keting and  cooperation  in  buying  and  selling,  Mr. 
Dunwoody  was  manager  and  general  agent  of  the 
association,  which  later  was  succeeded  by  the  Min- 
neapolis Chamber  of  Commerce. 

While  his  work  was  so  important  in  perfecting  the 
methods  of  buying  and  in  opening  up  new  fields  for 
distribution,  Mr.  Dunwoody  was  first  and  last  a 
technical  miller,  and  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the 
men  largely  responsible  for  the  introduction  of  the 
roller  process  of  flour  milling,  which  did  more  than 
any  other  one  thing  to  revolutionize  flour  manu- 
facture. He  was  also  identified  with  several  of  the 
large  companies  that  established  elevators  and  branch 
houses  throughout  the  Northwest,  thus  concentrat- 
ing the  grain  trade  at  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Dunwoody 
was  selected  by  the  late  C.  C.  Washburn  to  go  to 
Europe  and  undertake  to  break  down  the  barriers 
which  up  to  that  time  had  prevented  Minneapolis 
from  its  proper  recognition  as  the  market  and  manu- 
facturing source  of  the  American  cereal  industry. 
Up  to  that  time  Minneapolis  manufacturers  had 
been  compelled  to  confine  their  dealings  largely 
with  eastern  grain  and  flour  commission  dealers,  and 
had  no  direct  connection  with  the  great  markets  and 
consumption  centers  abroad.  Mr.  Dunwoody  is 
credited  with  an  important  share  in  the  work  which 
brought  Minneapolis  into  direct  connection  with 
England  and  the  continental  markets  of  Europe. 

From  the  reorganization  of  the  Minneapolis  milling 
interests  in  1878,  making  the  firm  of  Washburn, 
Crosby  & Company,  Mr.  Dunwoody  was  intimately 
identified  with  this  world’s  greatest  flour  business 
almost  to  the  end  of  his  life.  He  was  likewise  an 
influential  factor  in  the  Northwestern  National  Bank 
and  the  Minnesota  Loan  & Trust  Company,  and 
had  other  business  connections  too  numerous  to 
mention. 

A short  time  before  leaving  Pennsylvania  Mr. 
Dunwoody  married  Kate  L.  Patten,  whose  father, 
John  W.  Patten,  was  a prominent  leather  merchant 
in  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Dunwoody  survives  her  hus- 
band. There  were  no  children  of  their  own,  but 
Mr.  Dunwoody  took  much  interest  in  his  three 
nieces,  the  daughters  of  his  deceased  brother,  John 
Dunwoody,  of  Minneapolis. 

What  the  late  Mr.  Dunwoody  stood  for  during 
his  life  in  Minneapolis  is  best  told  in  the  words  of 
an  article  in  a Minneapolis  journal  at  the  time  of 
voi.  m— 11 


his  death : “William  H.  Dunwoody  was  a man  of 

such  wide  and  diversified  interests  in  Minneapolis 
that  his  influence  touched  nearjy  every  department  of 
activity  from  finance  and  industry  in  which  he  was 
a leader  to  civic  betterment  and  the  promotion  of 
art,  the  endowment  of  hospitals  and  extension  con- 
nection with  charitable  work.  He  was  financier, 
philanthropist  and  art  patron,  and  an  intensely  loyal 
Minneapolitan,  interested  in  everything  that  would 
make  the  city  a better  place  to  live.  His  benefactions 
were  so  quietly  administered  and  he  was  personally 
so  averse  to  talking  of  them,  that  it  will  be  im- 
possible, his  intimate  friends  say,  ever  to  measure 
in  full  the  work  he  did  for  the  general  good. 

“No  man  in  Minneapolis  had  wider  interests.  He 
was  chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Northwestern  National  Bank,  of  which  formerly  he 
was  president,  a director  of  the  Minnesota  Loan  & 
Trust  Company,  president  of  the  St.  Anthony  & 
Dakota  and  St.  Anthony  Elevator  companies,  and 
of  the  Barnum  Grain  Company,,  vice  president  of 
the  Washburn-Crosby  Company,  and  a director  of 
the  Great  Northern  Railway  Company.  For  more 
than  twenty-five  years  he  was  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Commerce.  His  promi- 
nence in  the  financial  life  of  Minneapolis  began 
January  11,  1876,  when  he  was  elected  a director 
of  the  Northwestern  National  Bank  to  succeed 
William  Windom,  who  became  secretary  of  the 
treasury. 

“Mr.  Dunwoody  was  also  president  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Society  of  Fine  Arts  and  of  the  Civic  Com- 
mission. As  head  of  the  first  organization  he  was 
actively  identified  from  its  inception  with  the  plan 
for  the  great  Minneapolis  Art  Museum  now  under 
construction.  As  head  of  the  Civic  Commission, 
which  planned  the  greater  Minneapolis  of  the  future, 
with  its  radiating  streets  and  plazas,  he  gave  much 
time  to  the  study  of  that  problem.  He  donated  to 
Minneapolis  the  tract  of  land  where  Hopewell  Hos- 
pital stands,  and  was  the  patron  of  and  builder  of 
the  Abbott  Hospital.  He  was  a trustee  of  West- 
minster Church,  member  of  the  Minneapolis,  Mini- 
kahda  and  Lafayette  clubs,  the  Minnesota  Club  of 
St.  Paul,  and  the  Metropolitan  Club  of  New  York. 

“He  was  distinctively  identified  with  the'  North- 
west and  its  growth  and  the  growth  of  Minneapolis 
for  the  reason  that  he  was  the  first  to  find  a direct 
market  for  Minneapolis  flour  in  Europe.  In  the 
late  ’90s,  in  a period  when  the  formation  of  trusts 
and  consolidations  of  great  corporations  was  rapidly 
changing  the  economic  conditions  in  the  industrial 
United  States,  Mr.  Dunwoody,  taking  action  which 
meant  defeat  for  the  plan,  put  himself  actively  in 
opposition  to  a scheme  that  originated  in  the  East 
for  the  organization  of  a flour  trust,  that  was  to 
include  the  Minneapolis  mills.  This  plan  he  fought 
to  its  death.  In  a life  of  activity  so  diversified  that 
his  identification  with  any  one  of  several  great  moves 
made  his  name  widely  known,  his  stand  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  move  for  the  combining  of  the  Min- 
neapolis mills  probably  gave  him  greater  prominence 
in  the  world  of  great  corporations  than  anything 
else  he  did.” 

Of  the  many  tributes  that  were  paid  to  Mr.  Dun- 
woody at  the  time  of  his  death,  it  will  be  sufficient 
to  quote  two  to  indicate  what  were  probably  his 
dominant  characteristics  of  personality  and  busi- 
ness integrity.  Said  T.  B.  Janney:  “My  acquaint- 

ance with  Mr.  Dunwoody  began  forty  years  ago  and 
our  friendship  began  at  the  same  time  and  has  been 


1432 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


continuous.  He  was  the  type  of  man  whom  it  was 
an  honor  to  claim  as  friend.  He  was  modest  and 
unassuming,  but  a man  of  great  force  of  character, 
quiet  and  sincere,  loyal  to  friends  and  associates, 
and  intensely  loyal  to  Minneapolis.  He  believed 
in  Minneapolis  and  in  its  future,  not  only  in  a 
materialistic  way,  but  also  he  believed  in  the  eventual 
development  here  of  great  movements  for  beautifi- 
cation and  good,  clean  citizenship,  and  everything 
that  should  make  it  a great  and  a good  city.”  The 
respect  and  esteem  paid  him  by  all  his  associates, 
and  by  younger  men  in  particular  are  illustrated  in 
the  words  of  Louis  W.  Hill,  who  said : “He  was 

the  kind  of  mature  man  that  a younger  man  looks 
up  to  and  whose  friendship  he  values.  I had  the 
greatest  admiration  for  that  characteristic  quiet  and 
unassuming  manner  that  had  back  of  it  the  firmest 
resolution.  To  meet  Mr.  Dunwoody  only  casually 
was  not  to  know  him  at  all.  He  was  so  courteous, 
so  mild,  so  gentle,  that  he  gave  no  indication  of 
the  immensity  of  the  will  and  determination  that 
was  in  him.  His  philosophy  of  life  was  admirable. 
Few  knew  that  he  did  much  to  help  people,  and  he 
is  one  of  the  kind  that  never  will  get  full  credit  for 
all  the  good  he  did.  But  I do  not  think  he  cared 
anything  about  that.  He  was  satisfied  if  he  could 
do  some  good  in  the  world,  and  after  that  he  did 
not  want  to  talk  about  it.” 

While  Mr.  Dunwoody  left  probably  the  largest 
individual  estate  ever  probated  in  Minneapolis,  the 
greater  part  of  it,  by  the  terms  of  the  will,  have 
gone  to  benefactions  and  institutions  which  already 
mean  much  and  in  the  future  will  mean  more  to 
his  home  city  and  state.  The  provisions  of  his 
will  directed  that  more  than  three  million  dollars 
should  be  distributed  as  benefactions  for  Minneapolis, 
over  a million  dollars  for  his  native  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, about  three  hundred  thousand  dollars  to 
Presbyterian  boards,  with  approximately  two  million 
dollars  to  family,  friends  and  associates.  Among  the 
chief  bequests  were  the  following:  Dunwoody  In- 

dustrial Institution  at  Minneapolis,  approximately 
three  millions;  Minneapolis  Society  of  Fine.  Arts, 
one  million;  Dunwoody  Home  for  Convalescents  on 
the  Newtown  Farm  in  Pennsylvania,  about  one  mil- 
lion; to  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church, 
one  hundred  seventy-five  thousand,  and  to  three 
different  Presbyterian  boards  one  hundred  thousand 
each. 

For  several  years  before  his  death  Mr.  Dun- 
woody had  been  deeply  interested  in  the  Minneapolis 
Society  of  Fine  Arts,  in  which  his  wife  was  an 
effective  worker,  and  had  announced  a gift  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  as  a part  of  the  fund  nec- 
essary to  give  permanence  to  the  society  at  its  begin- 
ning. The  bequest  made  in  his  will  is  to  be  expended 
for  the  purchase  of  pictures  and  works  of  art,  in 
such  a way  that  the  society  will  have  a fund  within 
fifty  thousand  and  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for 
expenditures  each  year  over  a period  of  thirty 
years.  The  purpose  of  Mr.  Dunwoody  in  sup- 
plying a liberal  fund  for  technical  educa- 
tion is  stated  in  three  sentences  from  the 
will : “In  the  multiplied  facilities  for  obtaining 

liberal  education  by  the  youth  of  this  state,  enough 
attention  has  not  been  given  to  instruction  in  the 
industrial  and  mechanical  arts.  My  purpose  and 
aim  being  to  provide  a place  where  the  youth  of 
the  city  may  learn  the  different  handicrafts  and 
useful  arts  and  thereby  fit  themselves  for  the  better 
performance  of  life’s  duties.”  While  Mr.  Dunwoody 


primarily  considered  in  this  bequest  the  need  of 
thoroughly  trained  technical  men  in  the  milling 
industry,  the  objects  of  the  institute  are  not  limited 
to  this  one  department  of  industry,  and  it  will  afford 
means  of  technical  training  in  practically  all  of  the 
industrial  arts.  The  significance  of  this  bequest  is 
best  stated  in  the  words  of  an  editorial  from  a 
Minneapolis  paper:  “It  is  not  invidious  to  say 

that,  of  the  rich  men  who  have  made  Minneapolis 
and  whom  Minneapolis  has  made,  Mr.  Dunwoody 
has  shown  the  liveliest  and  most  grateful  appre- 
ciation. That  appreciation  has  taken  the  form  of 
a great  educational  institution  which  will  discharge 
an  invaluable  function  in  this  community  and  in 
the  state.  It  will  bridge  a gap  in  our  school  system 
whose  existence  has  long  been  recognized,  but  means 
for  whose  bridging  the  authorities  have  been  at  a 
loss  to  find.  For  Minneapolis  is  a great  industrial 
city,  and  yet  has  been  able  to  offer  its  youth  almost 
no  opportunities  for  a proper  start  in  industrial 
vocations.  It  is  this  gap  which  the  Dunwoody  In- 
stitute is  to  bridge,  and  the  provision  that  has  been 
made  lays  the  foundation  broad  and  deep.  Genera- 
tions yet  unborn  will  have  reason  to  honor  the  name 
of  Dunwoody.  The  Minneapolis  that  is  to  be  will 
owe  much  of  its  industrial  supremacy  to  what  that 
name  represents.” 

John  Crosby.  The  development  of  American 
business  and  industry  during  the  last  century  pro- 
duced a number  of  institutions  and  names  that  have 
the  familiar  association  of  household  words  in  the 
minds  of  millions  of-  people.  One  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous is  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company  of  flour 
manufacturers  at  Minneapolis.  It  was  the  distinction 
of  the  late  John  Crosby  to  be  identified  with  the 
business  during  its  most  important  period  of  develop- 
ment, while  the  mills  were  being  revolutionized  by 
new  processes  and  the  industry  outgrowing  local 
limitations  and  becoming  a factor  in  world  trade. 
When  he  died  over  twenty-five  years  ago,  the 
foundations  were  firmly  established.  The  spirit  of 
his  enterprise  is  a part  of  the  great  company  as  it 
exists  today— the  largest  flour  mills  in  the  world, 
with  a daily  capacity  of  40,000  barrels,  and  with 
mechanical  and  business  organization  that  are  the 
last  word  in  a perfect  industrial  system. 

John  Crosby  was  born  at  Hampden,  Penobscot 
County,  Maine,  November  1,  1829,  and  died  at  Min- 
neapolis, December  29,  1887.  The  name  John  has 
long  been  persistent  in  the  family,  having  belonged 
to  his  father  and  grandfather,  both  of  whom  resided 
at  Hampden,  while  his  son,  John,  is  now  a director 
and  treasurer  of  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company, 
and  he  in  turn  has  a son  of  the  same  name.  Mr. 
Crosby’s  grandfather,  who  moved  from  the  New 
Hampshire  coast  to  Maine,  represented  a family  of 
Scotch  origin  that  had  been  identified  with  New 
England  from  the  early  Colonial  times.  The  late 
John  Crosby’s  father  was  a manufacturer,  inter- 
ested in  paper  mills. 

John  Crosby  was  the  second  in  a family  of  ten 
children.  After  obtaining  an  academic  education  in 
his  native  town,  he  abandoned  his  plan  of  a college 
training  to  go  into  business.  His  first  experience 
was  in  the  management  of  the  paper  mills  in  which 
his  father  was  interested,  and  subsequently  he  be- 
came identified  with  an  iron  foundry  and  machine 
shop  at  Bangor,  to  which  city  he  removed,  making 
Hampden  and  Bangor  places  of  alternate  residence 
for  a number  of  years.  At  Bangor  occurred  his 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1433 


marriage  to  Miss  Olive  Muzzy,  daughter  of  Hon. 
Franklin  Muzzy,  a prominent  manufacturer  of  the 
city.  Of  this  marriage  there  are  three  children : 
John,  whose  relations  with  the  Washburn-Crosby 
Company  have  been  mentioned ; Caroline  M.,  of  Min- 
neapolis; and  Franklin  M.,  a director  in  the  Wash- 
burn-Crosby Company,  and  in  19*4  president  of  the 
Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Commerce.  Mrs.  Crosby 
died  in  Maine,  and  in  1879  Mr.  Crosby  married  Miss 
Emma  Gilson,  of  Minneapolis,  daughter  of  the  late 
F.  A.  Gilson. 

After  more  than  thirty  years  as  a manufacturer 
in  New  England,  John  Crosby  brought  his  ripe 
experience  and  capital  to  Minneapolis  in  1877.  Here 
he  bought  an  interest  in  the  business  of  the  Wash- 
burn “B”  flouring  mill  and  assumed  its  manage- 
ment. Later  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  operation 
of  all  the  mills  built  by  Governor  Washburn,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Washburn,  Crosby  & Company. 
The  business  was  subsequently  incorporated  as  the 
Washburn-Crosby  Milling  Company. 

Mr.  Crosby  until  his  death  was  the  chief  director 
of  the  business.  That  was  a time  when  the  im- 
provements which  have  revolutionized  the  process 
of  flour  milling  were  evolved,  and  it  was  due  to 
Mr.  Crosby’s  foresight  and  keen  judgment  that  so 
many  of  these  were  adopted  in  the  Minneapolis  mills. 
Under  his  energetic,  but  prudent  management,  the 
business  prospered. 

Though  possessed  of  sterling  qualities  which 
would  have  made  him  useful  in  public  life,  Mr. 
Crosby  preferred  to  serve  the  public  best  by  con- 
fining his  attention  to  his  business,  and  never  sought 
political  honors.  On  public  questions  he  had  a 
breadth  and  thoroughness  of  understanding  beyond 
most  men,  and  was  always  positive  in  his  opinions. 
In  his  personal  relations  he  had  the  true  courtesy 
of  the  heart,  and  was  one  of  the  kindly  and  genial 
men  of  the  older  Minneapolis. 

John  Crosby,  Jr.  A son  of  the  late  John  Crosby, 
former  president  of  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company, 
John  Crosby,  Jr.,  is  a lawyer  by  profession,  has  been 
identified  with  the  Minneapolis  bar  for  twenty  years 
and  made  a successful  record  in  his  profession,  but 
for  several  years  past  his  practice  has  been  confined 
to  his  duties  as  general  counsel  for  the  Washburn- 
Crosby  Company.  Mr.  Crosby  was  elected  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  this  great  milling  corporation  on 
the  death  of  C.  J.  Martin,  who  had  formerly  been 
secretary  and  treasurer. 

John  Crosby  was  born  at  Hampden,  Maine,  August 
23,  1867,  and  was  brought  to  Minneapolis  by  his 
parents  in  1876.  After  graduating  from  the  Minne- 
apolis High  School  in  the  class  of  1884,  he  passed 
two  years  in  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  in  1886  entered  Yale  University,  where 
he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1890.  Among 
the  Yale  men  of  his  class  he  was  a popular  compan- 
ion, stood  high  socially,  and  was  recognized  as  pos- 
sessing one  of  the  most  evenly  balanced  minds  among 
his  college  associates.  He  was  awarded  a number  of 
prizes  in  the  general  fields  of  scholarship.  From 
Yale  Mr.  Crosby  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School, 
and  took  the  degree  A.  M.  in  1893. 

Mr.  Crosby  began  practice  at  Minneapolis  in  the 
fall  of  1893,  in  the  office  of  Judge  Koon  of  Minne- 
apolis, and  subsequently  was  a partner  with  Messrs. 
Kingman  & Wallace,  being  associated  with  them 
until  1910.  While  in  the  active  work  of  his  profes- 


sion he  also  served  in  the  city  council  four  years, 
and  in  that  time  was  president  of  the  council. 

Mr.  Crosby  is  a trustee  of  the  Farmers  & Me- 
chanics Savings  Bank,  and  director  of  the  North- 
western National  Bank  and  Minneapolis  Trust  Com- 
pany. In  the  will  of  the  late  William  H.  Dunwoody, 
a sketch  of  whom  is  found  on  other  pages  of  this 
work,  Mr.  Crosby  was  selected  as  one  of  the  execu- 
tors of  the  estate  and  has  had  an  important  part  in 
exercising  supervision  over  the  varied  bequests  for 
public  and  private  uses  designated  in  Mr.  Dun- 
woody’s  instructions. 

George  W.  Armstrong.  During  an  active  career 
of  fifteen  years  at  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Armstrong  has 
enjoyed  the  relations  and  distinctions  of  the  suc- 
cessful lawyer,  has  been  honored  with  election  to 
the  State  Legislature,  and  was  one  of  the  Minnesota 
soldiers  who  saw  actual  service  during  the  war  in 
the  Philippines.  He  has  been  a resident  of  Min- 
neapolis since  boyhood,  and  his  family  has  been 
worthily  identified  with  Minnesota  history  for  more 
than  two  score  years.  Mr.  Armstrong,  prior  to 
January  1,  1915,  was  senior  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Armstrong  & Nash,  with  offices  in  the  New  York 
Life  Building. 

George  W.  Armstrong  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Wasioja,  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  August  9,  1873. 
His  parents  were  Frederick  N.  and  Lucy  M.  (Mills) 
Armstrong,  the  former  of  whom  died  at  Minneapolis 
July  14,  1904,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three,  and  the  latter 
still  a resident  of  that  city.  Frederick  N.  Armstrong, 
a native  of  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York,  was 
about  twelve  years  old  when  his  family  came  west 
and  settled  in  Minnesota  as  pioneers,  and  the  rest 
of  his  youth  was  spent  in  this  state,  with  an  educa- 
tion acquired  in  the  early  public  schools.  A resident 
of  Minnesota  for  forty-one  years,  he  was  for  thirty 
years  a citizen  of  Minneapolis,  and  during  twenty 
years  of  this  time  held  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  the  Diamond  saw  mills,  one  of  the  large  industrial 
enterprises  of  the  state,  and  ill  health  finally  com- 
pelled him  to  resign  his  post  about  one  year  before 
his  death.  In  this  long  service  he  had  displayed 
ability,  integrity  and  the  best  qualifications  of  the 
industrial  leader,  while  as  a citizen  he  enjoyed  a 
position  of  influence  and  esteem  in  his  home  city. 
He  was  prominent  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
had  received  the  thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish 
Rite.  His  funeral  services  were  held  according  to 
the  impressive  Masonic  ritual.  He  was  survived  by 
four  sons,  all  of  Minneapolis : George  W.,  Charles 

P.,  Leslie,  and  Arthur  G. 

During  his  lifetime  of  about  forty  years  George 
W.  Armstrong  has  acquired  many  familiar  asso- 
ciations with  the  City  of  Minneapolis.  It  was  there 
that  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  North  Side  High  School  with 
the  class  of  1893.  Continuing  his  studies  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  he  graduated  Bachelor  of 
Arts  in  1898,  and  in  the  meantime  had  carried  on 
his  studies  in  the  law  department,  so  that  he  received 
the  degree  in  law  at  the  same  time  he  was  graduated 
from  the  literary  department.  In  1901  the  university 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  Master  of  Laws.  At 
the  close  of  his  university  career,  Mr.  Armstrong 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Spanish-American  war, 
and  after  his  return  to  the  city  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  October,  1899.  He  at  once  took  up  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  his  home  city,  and  for  the  first 
three  years  maintained  an  office  in  Temple  Court 


1434 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


as  an  individual  practitioner.  For  about  one  year 
he  was  a member  of  the  firm  of  Bond  & Armstrong, 
and  was  again  alone  until  the  fall  of  1909.  At  that 
date  Mr.  Armstrong  became  an  assistant  in  the  office 
of  the  county  attorney  of  Hennepin  County,  and  on 
the  death  of  the  county  attorney,  the  late  A1  J.  Smith, 
was  made  first  assistant  county  attorney  during  the 
administration  of  John  M.  Rees.  In  January,  1911, 
Mr.  Armstrong  formed  a partnership  with  John  P. 
Nash,  and  the  firm  of  Armstrong  & Nash  now  has  a 
large  and  important  share  of  general  practice  in 
the  Minneapolis  courts.  In  January,  1915,  Mr.  Arm- 
strong’s services  were  again  enlisted  in  connection 
with  the  office  of  county  attorney,  the  newly  elected 
head  of  that  office,  John  M.  Rees,  having  appointed 
him  first  special  assistant,  and  in  that  capacity  it  is 
expected  he  will  conduct  most  of  the  criminal  trials. 
Mr.  Armstrong’s  principal  forte  as  a lawyer  has 
been  in  the  trial  of  cases,  and  he  has  appeared  as 
advocate  in  many  of  the  important  causes  litigated, 
both  in  the  state  and  federal  courts  at  Minneapolis. 

On  May  2,  1898,  a few  days  after  the  United 
States  had  declared  war  on  Spain,  and  a few  weeks 
before  his  class  graduated  from  the  university,  Mr. 
Armstrong  enlisted  in  Company  A of  the  Thirteenth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  The  command  was 
ordered  west  and  sent  to  the  Philippines,  and  was 
kept  in  service  in  those  islands  for  about  a year. 
The  regiment  returned  to  San  Francisco  and  was 
mustered  out  there  October  12,  1899.  Mr.  Arm- 
strong served  as  a private.  All  who  were  residents 
of  Minneapolis  at  the  time  will  recall  the  unusual 
honors  paid  to  the  returning  volunteers,  when 
President  McKinley  was  a central  figure  in  the  rous- 
ing reception  and  ovation  paid  to  the  regiment.  The 
citizens  had  raised  a fund  by  means  of  which  Com- 
pany A was  returned  to  its  home  city.  Mr.  Arm- 
strong keeps  up  the  associations  and  memories  of 
his  military  service  by  his  affiliations  with  the  Span- 
ish-American  War  Veterans’  Association. 

Elected  on  the  republican  ticket,  Mr.  Armstrong 
served  as  a representative  of  the  Minneapolis  dis- 
trict in  the  State  Legislature  during  the  regular 
sessions  of  1901,  1903,  and  1905,  and  in  the  special 
session  of  1902.  In  1903  a pleasing  honor  was  given 
him  in  his  election  as  speaker  pro  tern,  during  the 
illness  of  the  regular  speaker.  He  did  some  influ- 
ential and  valuable  work  in  committees  and  on  the 
floor  of  the  house,  particularly  during  the  session 
of  1903.  Fraternally  Mr.  Armstrong  is  affiliated  with 
Plymouth  Lodge,  No.  160,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  is  a past 
master,  has  taken  the  chivalric  degrees  in  the  Min- 
neapolis Mounted  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar, 
and  also  belongs  to  Zuhrah  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  is  also  a member  of  Minneapolis  Lodge, 
No.  44,  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  Mr.  Armstrong  is  a member  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Bar  Association. 

His  attractive  residence,  recently  completed,  is  at 
Clear  Spring,  a Minneapolis  suburb  connected  with 
the  city  by  the  interurban  electric  line  from  Min- 
neapolis to  Lake  Minnetonka.  On  March  10,  1913, 
Mr.  Armstrong  married  Helen  Teel  Clement.  She 
was  born  in  one  of  the  attractive  New  Jersey  suburbs 
of  New  York  City,  a daughter  of  Andrew  P.  Teel. 
Mr.  Teel  until  his  death  was  for  many  years  a promi 
nent  business  man  and  citizen  of  Minneapolis,  and 
was  connected  with  the  state  grain  department.  His 
widow  still  lives  in  this  city,  where  Mrs.  Armstrong 
was  reared  and  educated. 


Charles  J.  Tryon.  In  nearly  thirty  years  of  mem- 
bership with  the  Minneapolis  bar  Mr.  Tryon  has 
been  both  a successful  and  distinguished  lawyer; 
one  whose  talents  and  hard  working  ability  have 
enabled  him  to  serve  the  interests  of  many  and  im- 
portant clients,  and  who  both  as  a citizen  and  busi- 
ness man  has  become  well  known  in  his  home 
community.  He  is  regarded  as  perhaps  the  most 
expert  authority  in  real  estate  and  general  commer- 
cial law  in  Minneapolis,  and  through  his  practice  has 
become  familiar  with  the  legal  and  technical  phases 
of  a greater  part  of  Minneapolis  realty. 

Charles  J.  Tryon  was  born  in  Batavia,  New  York, 
September  8,  1859.  His  parents  were  Anderson  D. 
and  Amanda  Hatch  (Shepard)  Tryon.  His  father, 
who  for  many  years  was  a druggist  and  bookseller  in 
Batavia,  also  served  as  county  treasurer  of  Genesee 
County,  and  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Florida,  Herk- 
imer County,  New  York,  and  died  in  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York,  in  1906.  His  wife  who  was  born  in  the 
Town  of  Alabama,  Genesee  County,  also  died  at 
Poughkeepsie,  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  in  1910. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  daughters  and  two 
sons,  and  all  are  still  living  except  one  daughter. 
This  daughter,  Josephine  Phelps  Tryon,  followed  her 
brother  to  Minneapolis  in  1894,  graduated  in  1898 
from  the  University  of  Minnesota,  subsequently 
taught  school  in  South  Dakota  and  at  Winona,  Min- 
nesota, received  an  appointment  in  the  West  Side 
High  School  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  and  was 
the  senior  Latin  teacher  in  that  school.  Her  death 
occurred  in  Minneapolis  May  30,  1911,  and  she  is 
buried  in  Lakewood  Cemetery. 

Charles  J.  Tryon  was  educated  in  the  Batavia 
schools,  graduating  in  1874,  and  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een he  left  home  and  soon  afterwards  found  employ- 
ment in  the  treasury  department  at  Washington,  and 
while  working  there  to  earn  his  living  also  attended 
the  law  school  of  Columbian  University,  now 
known  as  the  George  Washington  University,  until 
graduating  in  the  class  of  1882.  During  his  early 
youth  he  had  had  experience  m his  father’s  store  at 
Batavia  for  four  years,  and  alter  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  at  Washington  in  1882  remained  in  that  city 
in  the  employ  of  the  treasury  department  for  several 
years. 

Coming  to  Minneapolis  in  1886,  Mr.  Tryon  soon 
gained  the  confidence  of  all  clients  who  entrusted 
their  business  to  his  charge,  and  for  many  years  has 
had  all  the  business  that  his  time  and  energies  can 
perform.  For  about  ten  years  he  was  a member  of 
the  law  firm  of  Tryon  & Booth.  While  his  experi- 
ence has  led  him  into  practically  all  the  courts,  his 
chief  work,  on  which  his  reputation  is  based,  is  his 
success  as  a real  estate  lawyer. 

Mr.  Tryon  has  membership  in  the  Minneapolis,  the 
Hennepin  County,  the  State  and  the  American  Bar 
associations.  Also  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Com- 
merce Association,  the  Minneapolis  Club,  and  his 
church  is  the  Plymouth  Congregational.  Fraternally 
his  affiliations  are  with  Khurum  Lodge  No.  112, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  the  thirty-second  degree  of 
Scottish  Rite,  and  with  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine. 

Mr.  Tryon  married  Miss  Isabel  Gale,  daughter  of 
the  late  Harlow  A.  Gale  and  Elizabeth  (Griggs) 
Gale,  who  now  lives  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Tryon. 
Mrs.  Tryon  was  born  in  Minneapolis,  was  educated 
in  the  Washington  School  and  the  Central  High 
School,  and  was  a special  student  in  the  University 
of  Minnesota.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1435 


seven  children,  all  of  them  natives  of  Minneapolis, 
namely : Fred  G.,  Elizabeth  G.,  Philip  D.,  Richard 
M.,  Katherine  P.,  Isabel  S.  and  Margaret  S.  The 
three  oldest  are  now  students  in  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  Richard  is  in  the  West  Side  High  School, 
and  the  others  are  attending  the  Douglas  Grammar 
School.  Mr.  Tryon  has  a beautiful  home  at  2115 
Girard  Avenue,  South,  and  he  and  his  family  enjoy 
fine  social  standing.  Although  always  interested  in 
politics,  Mr.  Tryon  has  never  entered  actively  into 
campaigns. 

Harlow  A.  Gale.  A noble  mind  and  gentle  soul 
had  indwelling  in  the  personality  of  the  late  Harlow 
A.  Gale,  who  was  a sterling  pioneer  citizen  and  active 
business  man  of  Minneapolis  and  whose  influence 
was  ever  potent  and  benignant  in  the  furtherance  of 
high  civic  ideals,  the  while  his  consideration,  kindli- 
ness and  tolerance  of  judgment,  his  ready  sympathy 
and  optimistic  temperament,  gained  and  retained  to 
him  a remarkably  wide  circle  of  loyal  and  apprecia- 
tive friends  in  the  community  that  represented  his 
home  for  nearly  half  a century  and  in  which  he 
established  his  residence  before  the  admission  of 
Minnesota  as  one  of  the  sovereign  states  of  the 
Union.  The  popular  appreciation  of  the  man  is  indi- 
cated by  a statement  that  was  made  by  one  who 
knew  him  well  and  who  himself  is  now  deceased, 
this  assertion  having  been  to  the  effect  that  Mr.  Gale 
was  the  only  man  the  speaker  had  ever  known  with 
whom  it  was  worth  while  to  cross  the  street  to  shake 
hands.  Mr.  Gale  was  a prominent  insurance  man  of 
Minneapolis  for  many  years  and  was  concerned  with 
other  business  enterprises,  the  while  he  stood  expon- 
ent at  all  times  of  the  most  loyal  and  public-spirited 
citizenship.  His  life  was  one  of  signal  usefulness 
and  honor  and  with  all  of  consistency  there  is  en- 
tered in  this  history  of  Minnesota  a brief  tribute  to 
his  memory. 

A scion  of  one  of  the  sterling  colonial  families  of 
New  England,  Mr.  Gale  was  born  at  Royalston, 
Worcester  County,  Massachusetts,  on  the  29th  of 
July,  1832,  and  thus  he  was  sixty-nine  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Minne- 
apolis, at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Charles  J. 
Tryon,  on  the  15th  of  December,  1901.  One  in  a 
large  family  of  children,  Mr.  Gale  passed  his  child- 
hood and  youth  on  the  homestead  farm  of  his  father, 
and  in  the  meanwhile  he  availed  himself  of  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
locality  and  period.  After  the  death  of  his  father 
he  went  to  Vermont,  where  he  was  reared  to  matur- 
ity in  the  home  of  a clergyman  who  was  an  uncle. 
His  financial  resources  were  very  limited  but  his 
ambition  and  self-reliance  were  not  to  be  held  in 
narrow  confines  on  this  account.  He  determined  to 
obtain  a college  education,  and  to  accomplish  this 
laudable  purpose  he  depended  almost  entirely  upon 
his  own  exertions  in  defraying  the  expenses  of  his 
college  course.  Unflagging  application  to  study  and 
incidental  work  that  gave  him  needed  financial  re- 
sources finally  enabled  him  to  complete  a course  in 
Union  College,  in  which  he  was  graduated. 

In  1856,  as  a young  man  of  twenty-four  years,  Mr. 
Gale  anticipated  the  advice  of  Horace  Greeley  and 
decided  to  “go  west  and  grow  up  with  the  country,” 
this  action  having  been  prompted  by  his  appreciation 
of  the  fact  that  in  the  new  and  progressive  North- 
west could  be  found  better  opportunities  for  the 
achieving  of  success  and  independence  through  per- 
sonal endeavor.  In  the  year  mentioned,  he  settled 
in  Minneapolis,  where  he  became  one  of  the  pioneer 


insurance  men  of  the  Territory  of  Minnesota.  For 
many  years  he  controlled  a large  and  prosperous  gen- 
eral insurance  business,  which  was  conducted  under 
the  title  of  Gale  & Company.  He  likewise  became 
identified  with  some  of  the  most  important  business 
ventures  of  the  thriving  young  city  and  was  long 
numbered  among  the  representative  figures  in  local 
business  circles.  Early  in  his  career  in  Minneapolis 
he  showed  marked  discrimination  and  judgment  in 
his  real-estate  operations,  and  in  1876  he  established 
the  first  meat  market  on  Bridge  Square,  and  finally 
he  withdrew  from  the  insurance  business  to  give  his 
entire  attention  to  his  large  and  flourishing  market. 
Within  about  two  years  after  Mr.  Gale  had  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Minneapolis  he  was  joined  by  two 
of  his  brothers,- — Samuel  C.  Gale,  to  whom  a memoir 
is  dedicated  on  other  pages  of  this  work,  and  Rev. 
Amory  Gale,  who  was  for  many  years  a prominent 
Baptist  clergyman  and  missionary  in  Minnesota  and 
who  died  while  making  a tour  of  the  Holy  Land,  in 
1875. 

In  1892  Mr.  Gale  became  associated  with  Thomas 
B.  Walker  in  the  construction  of  the  present  city 
market,  and  the  two  continued  their  business  rela- 
tions until  impaired  health  compelled  Mr.  Gale  to 
retire  from  active  business.  In  the  early  period  of 
his  residence  in  Minnesota  Mr.  Gale  filed  a pre- 
emption claim  to  an  island  in  Lake  Minnetonka,  op- 
posite Excelsior,  and  this  property,  which  he  obtained 
from  the  Government,  was  by  him  developed  into 
one  of  the  idyllic  summer  homes  on  that  beautiful 
lake,  the  island  having  been  his  place  of  resort  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  for  many  years,  and  is  now 
occupied  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Charles  J.  Tryon. 

In  the  early  ’60s  Mr.  Gale  served  as  county  auditor 
of  Hennepin  County,  but  aside  from  this  position  he 
never  consented  to  become  the  incumbent  of  any 
public  office  of  importance.  Mr.  Gale  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Griggs,  who  survives  him,  as  do  also  two 
sons  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Gale  still  maintaining 
her  home  in  Minneapolis,  a city  that  is  endeared  to 
her  by  the  hallowed  memories  and  associations  of  the 
past.  The  elder  son,  Harlow  S.  Gale,  is  in  the  office 
of  the  city  engineer;  Robert  G.  is  a well  known 
musician  of  Minneapolis ; and  Isabel  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  J.  Tryon,  of  whom  individual  mention  is 
made  elsewhere  in  this  publication.  Another  son, 
William  G.,  was  a resident  of  Colorado  at  the  time 
of  his  death. 

Charles  C.  Webber.  One  of  the  largest  industries 
of  America  is  a business  that  was  started  at  Moline, 
Illinois,  nearly  seventy  years  ago  by  John  Deere, 
who  came  to  that  city  as  a mechanic  and  plowmaker. 
For  nearly  three  generations  the  plows  and  other 
agricultural  implements  bearing  the  stamp  of  Deere 
as  maker  has  had  a use  over  an  ever-increasing  ter- 
ritory. and  the  sale  and  distribution  of  these  imple- 
ments are  now  a part  of  the  world’s  commerce. 
More  than  thirty  years  ago  a branch  of  the  great 
John  Deere  industry  was  established  in  the  North- 
west, and  its  subsequent  development  has  made  this 
affiliated  concern  a business  of  large  and  notable  pro- 
portions and  ranking  with  the  leading  business 
houses  of  Minneapolis.  From  the  time  the  first 
branch  house  was  opened  in  Minneapolis  to  the  pres- 
ent time  Charles  C.  Webber  has  been  in  charge,  and 
for  over  twenty  years  the  concern  has  had  a sepa- 
rate incorporation,  under  the  name  Deere  & Webber 
Company.  Through  his  mother  Mr.  Webber  is  a 


1436 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


grandson  of  John  Deere,  the  pioneer  plowmaker  of 
Rock  Island. 

Charles  C.  Webber  was  born  in  Rock  Island,  Illi- 
nois, January  25,  1859,  a son  of  Christopher  C.  and 
Ellen  S.  (Deere)  Webber.  The  Webbers  were  an 
old  New  Hampshire  family,  while  the  Deeres  were 
originally  from  Vermont.  Christopher  C.  Webber 
was  a merchant  and  manufacturer  at  Rock  Island, 
successful  as  a business  man  and  stood  high  in  his 
community.  There  were  five  children  in  the  family : 
Charles  C. ; Mrs.  W.  G.  Mixter,  of  New  Haven, 
Connecticut;  Mrs.  Ben  C.  Klator,  of  Moline,  Illinois; 
Miss  Alice  F.  Webber  and  Mrs.  T.  A.  Murphy,  of 
Rock  Island. 

Charles  C.  Webber  obtained  his  early  education  in 
the  Rock  Island  public  schools,  and  in  1877  gradu- 
ated from  the  Lake  Forest  Academy  near  Chicago. 
Through  the  prominence  of  his  father  as  a local 
business  man  and  his  relations  with  the  Deere  fam- 
ily, a promising  field  of  business  effort  was  ready 
open  to  him  when  he  began  his  practical  career.  He 
spent  three  years  with  Deere  & Company,  as  an  office 
clerk,  on  the  road  as  a salesman,  and  learned  the 
business  in  all  its  practical  details.  In  January,  1881, 
he  was  chosen  to  take  charge  of  the  business  at  Min- 
neapolis. For  twelve  years  this  house  was  operated 
as  a branch  of  the  Illinois  establishment,  but  in  1893 
was  incorporated  under  the  name  Deere  & Webber 
Company.  Mr.  Webber  is  also  one  of  the  vice  presi- 
dents of  the  central  firm  of  Deere  & Company  at 
Moline.  With  a residence  and  active  business  career 
of  more  than  thirty  years  at  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Web- 
ber has  as  a matter  of  course  become  closely  identi- 
fied with  other  affairs  than  his  immediate  house.  He 
is  a director  of  the  Security  National  Bank  and  the 
Minnesota  Loan  and  Trust  Company,  and  a trustee 
of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Savings  Bank. 

His  name  has  been  little  identified  with  polities, 
though  he  has  in  many  ways  used  his  position  as  a 
business  man  and  his  influence  as  a citizen  in  behalf 
of  various  public  movements.  Mr.  Webber  is  an 
independent  democrat,  is  a Presbyterian,  and  in  club 
and  social  circles  is  particularly  well  known  in  the 
Minneapolis  Club  and  the  Commercial  Club.  Mr. 
Webber  was  married  at  Rochester,  New  York,  to 
Miss  Mary  M.  Harris,  of  that  city. 

/ 

Richard  Tattersfield.  From  the  earliest  years 
Minneapolis,  like  every  other  city,  has  had  its  poor 
and  helpless.  In  the  modern  city  a haphazard  phil- 
anthropy of  individuals  would  prove  most  inadequate 
as  a means  of  appropriate  relief,  and  hence  for 
twenty  years  or  more  a separate  department  of  the 
city  government  has  developed  a large  and  extensive 
organization  to  look  after  the  interests  and  welfare 
of  the  poor  and  unfortunate.  This  is  the  Department 
of  Charities  and  Corrections,  a practical  agency  that 
has  been  highly  developed  and  systematized  for  the 
care  of  the  needy.  Its  aid  is  given  directly  and 
immediately  where  it  is  required,  and  while  it  pro- 
vides for  the  physical  wants  of  its  beneficiaries  it 
also  opens  a way  to  betterments  of  a more  enduring 
kind  to  many  of  them,  rekindling  hope  in  despondent 
hearts  and  revivifying  failing  spirits  with  renewed 
energy  and  courage  for  the  great  battle  of  life. 

A large  part  of  the  credit  for  the  vast  amount  of 
good  the  department  has  done  during  the  last  eight 
years  is  due  to  Richard  Tattersfield,  who  has  been 
secretary  and  active  manager  of  the  Board  of  Chari- 
ties and  Corrections,  and  the  personal  dispenser  of 
its  bounty.  By  virtue  of  his  office  he  is  also  superin- 


tendent of  the  poor  and  director  of  the  department’s 
system  of  providing  lodging  for  the  homeless.  The 
department's  board  of  commissioners  is  composed 
of  five  members,  with  the  mayor  of  the  city  among 
their  number  and  president  ex-officio.  The  executive 
work  of  the  board  devolves  almost  wholly  on  Mr. 
Tattersfield  and  his  two  assistants  in  the  office, 
through  their  two  hundred  and  fifty  or  more  em- 
ployes. This  department  has  been  in  existence  as  a 
city  institution  for  twenty-three  years.  It  controls 
the  branch  of  city  work  that  has  to  do  with  the  poor, 
the  city  workhouse  and  poor  farm  and  all  the  city 
hospitals.  Its  disbursements  aggregate  about  half 
a million  dollars  a year,  on  an  average,  furnishing 
assistance  to  four  hundred  to  six  hundred  families, 
relieving  the  wants  of  two  thousand  to  three  thou- 
sand persons  regularly,  and  providing  lodging  for 
some  thirty  thousand  shelterless  wanderers  from 
year  to  year.  The  office  of  superintendent  of  the 
board  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  positions  in  the 
municipal  service.  It  demands  not  only  executive 
ability  of  a high  order,  but  also  an  experience  and 
sympathy  with  human  nature,  and  a discriminating 
judgment  which  enables  such  an  official  not  only  to 
give  aid  where  it  is  needed,  but  also  to  restrain  the 
importunities  of  hundreds  who  would  defraud  the 
city  if  they  could  on  the  plea  of  charity. 

Richard  Tattersfield  came  into  the  office  of  super- 
intendent of  the  board  after  a successful  experience 
as  a lawyer.  He  was  born  in  the  City  of  Philadel- 
phia September  9,  1868,  a son  of  Aked  and  Catherine 
(Tattersfield)  Tattersfield.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  Yorkshire,  England,  but  of  Scotch  extraction. 
Aked  Tattersfield  was  associated  with  his  father  in 
the  manufacture  of  blankets  in  Bradford  in  York- 
shire, and  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  American 
Civil  war  came  to  the  United  States  to  sell  the 
product  of  his  mills  to  the  Government  for  use  in 
the  army.  It  is  said  that  80  per  cent  of  the  blankets 
used  by  the  Union  soldiers  were  furnished  by  this 
firm. 

When  Richard  Tattersfield  was  two  years  of  age 
he  was  taken  back  to  England  and  lived  with  his 
grandparents  in  Yorkshire,  where  he  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  also  attended  a military 
college,  Askern  College,  near  Doncaster.  There  he 
finished  four  standards  and  would  have  become  an 
army  officer  had  he  not  returned  to  America.  About 
1879  he  returned  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  the 
family  locating  on  a ranch  of  considerable  size  in 
Moody  County,  South  Dakota,  where  his  father  died 
in  1909.  The  mother  still  has  her  home  in  that 
locality.  On  this  ranch  Mr.  Tattersfield  spent  five 
or  six  years,  and  then  entered  the  academic  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  where  he 
graduated  in  1892.  He  then  completed  the  law 
course  in  the  university,  and  was  granted  his  degree 
LL.  B.  in  1894.  For  fourteen  years  Mr.  Tattersfield 
practiced  law  in  Minneapolis,  which  city  has  been  his 
home  since  1891.  While  a law  student  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  office  of  Charles  G.  Laybourn,  one  of 
the  leading  attorneys  of  the  city,  as  stenographer, 
and  after  graduation  remained  with  Mr.  Laybourn 
several  years.  On  January  1,  1907,  he  became  secre- 
tary to  Colonel  Corriston,  superintendent  of  police, 
an  office  he  held  until  July,  1907,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  position  he  now  fills  with  such  ability 
and  general  approval  from  all  classes  of  people. 

Mr.  Tattersfield  began  taking  an  active  part  in 
local  politics  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Minneapolis. 
He  is  a democrat  in  party  faith  and  was  secretary 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1437 


of  the  Hennepin  County  Campaign  Committee  for 
twelve  years.  He  is  a member  of  the  thirty-second 
degree  Scottish  Rite,  and  also  a York  Rite  Mason, 
including  the  Knight  Templar  Commandery  and  a 
member  of  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He 
has  passed  all  the  chairs  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  and  belongs  to  several  other  frater- 
nities. All  athletic  pursuits  enlist  his  interest  and 
give  him  pleasure.  He  was  an  ardent  bicyclist  when 
that  sport  was  at  the  front,  and  now  finds  great 
pleasure  in  the  automobile. 

In  November,  1890,  Mr.  Tattersfield  married  Miss 
Adda  C.  De  Leeuw,  who  was  born  at  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  but  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was  living 
at  Glencoe,  Minnesota.  They  became  the  parents 
of  six  children : Gertrude  E.,  Charles  R.,  Hen- 

rietta, Ernest,  William  and  George,  but  the  last 
named  is  deceased. 

Elmer  E.  Atkinson.  Head  of  one  of  the  largest 
retail  mercantile  enterprises  of  the  Twin  Cities, 
Elmer  E.  Atkinson  has  been  identified  with  Minne- 
apolis for  the  past  eighteen  years,  and  has  made  a 
truly  creditable  ascent  in  the  business  career  he 
chose  for  himself,  and  has  long  occupied  a place  of 
no  little  prominence  in  the  city’s  affairs.  He  began 
his  career  many  years  ago  as  a clerk  and  by  close 
attention  to  work  and  with  exceptional  ability  in  the 
handling  of  the  complications  of  business  has  pro- 
moted himself  to  a place  of  leadership  among  the 
merchants  of  the  Northwest. 

Elmer  E.  Atkinson  was  born  at  Waterloo,  Iowa, 
March  28,  1867,  a son  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Anna  M. 
(Holloway)  Atkinson.  His  parents  were  both  born 
in  Belmont  County,  Ohio.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, Isaac  Holloway,  was  an  extensive  land- 
holder and  influential  citizen  of  Belmont  County  and 
represented  his  district  in  the  Ohio  Legislature  in 
the  early  days.  Thomas  Atkinson  was  a physician 
of  high  standing  and  successful  practice  in  the  same 
locality,  but  later  moved  to  DeWitt,  Iowa.  Of  their 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  still  living. 

Elmer  E.  Atkinson  had  his  first  schooling  in 
DeWitt  in  Clinton  County,  Iowa.  While  still  a 
schoolboy  he  found  employment  in  local  stores, 
which  gave  him  a start  toward  a mercantile  career. 
For  several  years  he  had  a valuable  metropolitan 
experience  in  different  department  .stores  in  Chicago, 
and  with  that  training  went  out  to  Anthony  in  Har- 
per County,  Kansas,  in  1887,  and  though  only  twenty 
years  of  age  proved  his  ability  and  enterprise  by 
conducting  a successful  retail  dry  goods  business. 
He  built  up  a prosperous  trade,  but  at  the  end  of 
two  years  sold  out  and  assumed  the  management  of 
the  woman’s  apparel  department  of  one  of  the 
largest  mercantile  houses  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  This 
was  a further  training  and  a means  of  preparation 
for  his  independent  and  successful  work  as  a mer- 
chant in  the  Northwest.  Mr.  Atkinson  came  to  Min- 
neapolis in  1897,  subsequently  leaving  this  city  for 
San  Francisco,  California,  but  was  quickly  per- 
suaded that  Minneapolis  offered  him  the  greatest 
advantages  both  present  and  future.  In  the  retail 
dry  goods  trade  he  has  for  a number  of  years  stood 
as  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the  city.  He  has 
a large  store,  splendidly  stocked  with  smart  up-to- 
date  merchandise,  in  a modern  building  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Seventh  Street  and  Nicollet  Avenue.  A year 
or  so  ago  he  effected  a 99-year  lease  on  adjoining 
property  on  Nicollet  Avenue,  and  built  thereon  an 
annex  building  which  provides  additional  space  for 


his  growing  mercantile  operations.  The  store  now 
uses  90,000  square  feet  of  floor  space.  In  September, 
1909,  he  opened  a branch  house  or  rather  an  inde- 
pendent store  under  his  management  in  the  City  of 
St.  Paul  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Cedar  Streets, 
known  to  the  shopping  public  as  the  Sixth  Street 
Store.  Mr.  Atkinson  now  has  two  valuable  assistants 
in  the  management  of  his  business  affairs  in  his  sons, 
Harold  E.  and  Alfred  M. 

The  E.  E.  Atkinson  & Company  stores  represent 
something  more  to  the  public  than  a place  for  reli- 
able merchandise  and  convenience  oi  shopping.  They 
also  stand  for  the  welfare  of  the  several  hundred 
employes  who  expend  their  best  energies  in  serving 
the  interests  of  the  company  and  the  public.  Mr. 
Atkinson  and  his  co-workers  in  the'  management  of 
this  business  believe  that  a successful  business  should 
show  not  only  satisfying  returns  on  the  credit  side 
of  the  account  but  also  an  increasing  interest  and 
sense  of  personal  well  being  in  the  minds  of  their 
employes.  This  principle  had  a notable  application 
in  December,  1914,  when  the  company  inaugurated 
a new  plan  among  Minneapolis  stores  in  taking  out  a 
general  or  group  insurance  policy,  with  the  Equitable 
Life  Assurance  Society,  covering  each  individual 
employe  to  the  amount  of  a year’s  salary.  The 
Atkinson  Company  pays  the  premium  as  long  as  the 
employe  remains  in  their  service. 

As  a merchant  Mr.  Atkinson  has  never  followed 
an  exclusive  policy  with  respect  to  his  associates, 
but  is  an  open-handed  and  liberal  worker  for  any- 
thing that  would  benefit  the  Twin  Cities  as  a whole. 
On  identifying  himself  with  Minneapolis  he  became 
an  active  member  of  the  Commercial  Club  and  later 
of  the  Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  which  ab- 
sorbed the  original  commercial  club,  and  which  has 
done  much  to  further  the  civic  and  material  advance- 
ment of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Atkinson  was  the  last  to 
hold  the  office  of  chairman  of  the  Public  Affairs 
Committee  of  the  old  Commercial  Club.  He  is  now 
president  of  the  Minneapolis  Retailers’  Association. 
With  the  success  of  his,  business  and  the  release  of 
some  surplus  capital  he  has  invested  judiciously  in 
Minneapolis  real  estate.  In  1914  he  erected  a hand- 
some modern  residence  at  the  corner  of  Lincoln  and 
Logan  avenues,  regarded  by  competent  critics  as  one 
of  the  best  examples  of  residential  architecture  con- 
tributed to  the  ctiy  in  recent  years.  Its  site  com- 
mands a fine  view  of  Lake  of  the  Isles.  This  is 
now  the  home  of  the  Atkinson  family,  which  is  one 
of  social  distinction  in  Minneapolis.  September  26, 
1888.  Mr.  Atkinson  married  Miss  Minnie  F.  Morey 
of  Clinton,  Iowa.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children : Harold  E.,  associated  with  his  father  in 

business,  married  Miss  Margaret  Moyer,  daughter 
of  David  E.  Moyer,  formerly  a resident  of  Monte- 
video, Chippewa  County,  but  now  of  Minneapolis ; 
by  this  union  a son  was  born  January  6,  1914,  named 
Harold  M.  Alfred  M.,  the  second  son,  is  also  asso- 
ciated with  his  father.  Anita,  who  completed  her 
junior  year  at  Stanley  Hall  in  Minneapolis,  is  now  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1915  in  the  Elizabeth  Somers 
Finishing  School  for  Young  Women  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  Donald,  the  youngest  child,  now  twelve 
years  of  age,  is  attending  the  Blake  School  for  Boys 
at  Minneapolis. 

While  not  a politician  in  any  sense,  Mr.  Atkinson 
takes  much  interest  in  local  affairs,  and  is  usually 
found  a regular  voter  in  the  ranks  of  the  republican 
party.  He  is  colonel  on  the  governor’s  staff,  a 
thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason,  and  a 


1438 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  His  chief  sport  is 
golfing,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  Minikahda  Club, 
the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Lafayette  Club,  the  Inter- 
lachen  Country  Club  and  the  Minneapolis  Auto- 
mobile Club.  He  belongs  to  the  Sixth  Church  of 
Christ  Scientist. 

Foreman  V.  Inskeep.  True  success  in  the  exact- 
ing profession  of  law  is  gained  only  through  sta- 
bility of  character,  broad  and  exact  technical  knowl- 
edge and  untiring  application.  These  requirements 
have  been  well  met  in  the  successful  career  of  Fore- 
man Vause  Inskeep,  one  of  the  best  known  mem- 
bers of  the  Minneapolis  bar. 

Mr.  Inskeep  was  born  in  Champaign  County,  Illi- 
nois, September  io,  1868,  a son  of  David  S.  and 
Charity  Virginia  (Trotter)  Inskeep,  both  natives  of 
Virginia  and  representatives  of  old  families  of  that 
historic  commonwealth.  The  first  of  the  Inskeep 
family  in  America  came  from  England  in  1648  and 
established  a home  in  Virginia,  and  two  of  the  pa- 
ternal uncles  of  the  father  of  David  S.  Inskeep  were 
valiant  soldiers  of  the  Continental  forces  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution.  The  family  has  been  patriotic  in 
public  relations  as  well  as  successful  in  private  af- 
fairs. The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Charity 
(Trotter)  Inskeep  likewise  came  from  England  and 
settled  in  the  Old  Dominion  State.  David  S.  Inskeep 
was  a farmer  or  planter  and  a resident  of  West 
Virginia  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  his  father’s 
homestead  being  about  fifty  miles  south  of  the  City 
of  Wheeling.  He  later,  soon  after  the  war  in  1865, 
removed  to  Illinois,  and  in  Champaign  County  met 
and  married  Miss  Trotter.  The  family  removed 
from  Illinois  to  Iowa,  in  1871,  and  Mr.  Inskeep  be- 
came one  of  the  substantial  agriculturists  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Wayne  County,  that  state,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  his  widow 
being  now  a resident  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  David 
Inskeep  contributed  his  quota  to  the  social  and 
industrial  development  and  upbuilding  of  Iowa,  of 
which  he  was  an  honored  citizen.  Of  the  five  chil- 
dren one  son  and  one  daughter  died  in  infancy,  and 
of  the  three  surviving  the  eldest  is  Foreman  V.; 
Lena  J.  is  a popular  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa ; and  George  W.  is  a prosperous 
farmer  of  that  state. 

Foreman  V.  Inskeep  was  about  three  years  of  age 
when  the  family  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  was 
reared  to  adult  age  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools,  later  for  two  terms 
in  the  high  school  at  Seymour,  that  state,  and  for 
two  years  in  the  normal  school  at  Shenandoah,  and 
continued  along  higher  academic  lines  in  the  High- 
land Park  Normal  School,  at  Des  Moines.  Practical 
test  and  use  of  this,  training  were  made  during  six 
years  as  a teacher  at  different  places  in  Iowa.  In 
that  state  he  was  in  the  newspaper  business  for  two 
years,  as  editor  and  general  manager  of  the  Dan- 
bury Review,  a weekly  paper  published  at  Danbury, 
Woodbury  County.  In  the  meantime  he  was  bending 
his  energies  to  prepare  himself  for  the  legal  profes- 
sion, in  the  domain  of  which  it  has  since  been  given 
him  to  gain  marked  success.  Besides  running  a 
newspaper  he  began  reading  law  in  the  office  and 
under  the  preceptorship  of  the  firm  of  Jepson  & Jep- 
son,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  he  has  recalled  to  the 
writer  that  one  of  his  preceptors  is  now  presiding 
on  the  bench  in  Sioux  City  and  the  other  is  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Woodbury  County.  In  January, 
1897,  Mr.  Inskeep  successfully  passed  the  required 


examination  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Iowa. 
Beginning  practice  at  Danbury,  his  proved  ability 
and  personal  popularity  soon  enabled  him  to  build 
up  an  excellent  law  business.  After  continuing  in 
practice  at  Danbury  for  a period  of  six  years,  Mr. 
Inskeep  came  to  Minnesota  and  established  his  resi- 
dence at  Cloquet,  Carlton  County,  and  continued  in 
successful  practice  from  September,  1903,  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1910.  In  the  meanwhile  he  had  become  an 
influential  factor  in  the  political  activities  of  Carlton 
County,  and  candidate  on  the  democratic  ticket  for 
the  office  of  county  attorney,  his  defeat  being  due 
to  the  great  strength  of  the  dominant  party  in  that 
county.  In  1908  he  was  an  alternate  delegate  to  the 
Democratic  National  Convention,  held  i.n  the  City 
of  Denver,  and  actively  supported  the  candidacy  of 
the  late  Governor  Johnson  of  Minnesota  for  the 
presidency. 

In  the  spring  of  1910,  fortified  by  well  earned 
success  and  desirous  of  a broader  field  of  profes- 
sional endeavor,  Mr.  Inskeep  removed  to  the  City 
of  Minneapolis,  and  here  the  demands  of  his  pro- 
fession have  permitted  neither  time  nor  inclination 
for  activity  in  practical  politics,  though  still  loyal  to 
the  cause  of  the  democratic  party. 

Mr.  Inskeep  is  affiliated  with  Minnesota  Lodge 
No.  224,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  with  the  Royal  League, 
and  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Com- 
merce Association,  and  in  all  respects  progressive 
as  a citizen.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  are  active 
members  of  the  Parish  of  Christ  Church. 

In  the  professional  career  of  Mr.  Inskeep  have 
been  shown  many  of  the  distinctive  qualities  that  go 
to  make  the  successful  lawyer.  He  has  in  a high 
degree  the  ability  to  say  the  right  thing  in  the  right 
place,  and  in  a convincing  way.  He  has  a mind  that 
is  logical,  analytical  and  inductive.  With  a thorough 
and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  law,  he  com- 
bines a familiarity  with  statutory  law  and  a maturity 
of  judgment  which  makes  him  a formidable  adver- 
sary before  court  or  jury,  as  well  as  a safe  and 
conservative  counselor.  His  high  ethical  standards 
have  given  him  secure  place  in  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  associates  at  the  bar. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  1896,  at  Danbury,  Iowa, 
Mr.  Inskeep  married  Miss  Nettie  L.  Thompson,  who 
was  born  in  Wisconsin  but  reared  in  Iowa,  where 
she  was  graduated  in  the  Danbury  High  School. 
Her  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  (Rhodes)  Thomp- 
son, both  natives  of  England,  are  now  residents  of 
Merrill,  Plymouth  County,  Iowa.  Her  father  was 
for  many  years  an  active  and  prosperous  farmer  and 
still  owns  a valuable  landed  estate.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Inskeep  have  three  children,  all  of  whom  were  born 
at  Danbury,  Iowa, — Harry  V.,  Lena  Dorothy  and 
Carl  T. 

Guy  A.  Thomas.  Now  one  of  the  directors  and 
sales  manager  of  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company, 
Guy  A.  Thomas  began  his  business  career  in  Min- 
neapolis more  than  a quarter  of  a century  ago  as 
a newsboy.  Few  who  started  out  with  bim  have 
done  better  in  utilizing  opportunity  and  making  their 
abilities  useful  in  the  world's  work. 

Guy  A.  Thomas  was  born  at  Keeseville,  Essex 
County,  New  York,  October  28,  1874.  a son  of  G.  T. 
and  Frances  (Nimocks)  Thomas.  His  father  was 
born  in  New  York  and  his  mother  in  Michigan,  and 
for  a number  of  years  his  father  was  engaged  in 
the  flour  commission  business  in  New  Orleans. 


^77^0  /3i^y^y  ? 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1439 


Guy  A.  Thomas  received  most  of  his  early  training 
in  the  public  schools  at  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  and 
came  to  Minneapolis  in  1887,  when  a boy  of  thir- 
teen. After  selling  newspapers  for  some  time,  he 
found  a place  of  employment  with  the  Washburn- 
Crosby  Company,  and  has  been  continuously  iden- 
tified with  that,  the  largest  flour  milling  corporation 
in  the  world,  and  from  one  grade  of  service  has 
been  promoted  on  merit  and  efficiency  to  another 
until  his  experience  covers  many  of  the  departments, 
and  he  is  now  one  of  the  executive  factors  in  that 
great  concern.  Mr.  Thomas  made  a special  record 
as  a salesman,  and  it  was  through  the  commercial 
rather  than  the  technical  manufacturing  departments 
of  the  business  that  he  advanced  to  his  present  place 
as  a director  and  manager.  Mr.  Thomas  has  an 
interest  in  all  the  subsidiary  companies  of  the  Wash- 
burn-Crosby  Company  and  is  a director  in  its  larg- 
est elevator  company — The  St.  Anthony  and  Dakota 
Company.  He  recently  organized  a bank,  known 
as  the  Millers  and  Traders  State  Bank,  of  which 
he  is  the  president. 

His  activity  as  a business  man  has  extended  to 
his  relations  with  the  community.  During  1914  he 
was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic 
and  Commerce  Association,  and  is  a member  of 
practically  all  the  representative  clubs  in  the  city. 
He  is^  the  owner  of  much  Minneapolis  real  estate, 
including  his  own  residence  at  1600  Mount  Curve 
Avenue.  A democrat,  Mr.  Thomas  has  long  been  a 
member  of  the  State  Central  Committee  and  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Hennepin  County  Demo- 
cratic Committee.  In  1901  Mr.  Thomas  married 
Miss  Lulu  Frisk  of  St.  Paul.  They  have  one  son, 
Guy  Thomas,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  1909.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Thomas  unite  their  interests  in  promoting 
philanthropic  agencies  and  have  done  a great  deal 
of  practical  charity  in  their  home  city. 

Oliver  P.  BowEi  Forty  years  have  fallen  into  the 
abyss  of  time  since  Mr.  Bowe  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  most  venerable  and 
honored  members  of  his  profession  in  the  City  of 
Minneapolis,  and  is  the  oldest  member  of  the  Henne- 
pin County  Bar  Association,  his  mental  and  physical 
vigor  being  such  as  to  belie  the  many  years  that  have 
passed  and  to  give  a general  impression  that  he  is 
a much  younger  man.  The  average  lawyer  retires 
from  practice  long  before  attaining  to  the  status  of 
an  octogenarian,  but  Mr.  Bowe  is  still  active  in  the 
work  of  his  profession,  vigorous,  vital  and  indus- 
trious, and  fully  in  touch  with  modern  thought  and 
progress.  He  has  been  engaged  in  practice  in  Min- 
neapolis for  more  than  thirty  years  and  here  holds 
high  vantage  place  as  a representative  lawyer  and 
loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  is  a veteran  of 
the  Civil  war  and  in  the  “piping  times  of  peace”  has 
continued  to  manifest  the  same  lofty  patriotism  that 
thus  prompted  him  to  tender  his  aid  in  defense  of 
the  Union. 

Oliver  P.  Bowe  was  born  near  Watertown,  the 
judicial  center  of  Jefferson  County,  New  York,  on 
the  17th  of  April,  1834,  and  is  a son  of  Dr.  Prosper 
Bowe  and  Lois  (Batchelor)  Bowe,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Connecticut  and  the  latter  in 
Vermont  and  both  having  been  representatives  of 
staunch  colonial  stock  in  New  England,  that  cradle 
of  much  of  our  national  history.  The  father  was  an 
able  physician  and  surgeon  of  his  day  and  after  his 
marriage,  which  was  solemnized  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  he  resided  on  his  well  improved  farm,  near 


Watertown,  until  his  removal  to  Wisconsin,  where 
he  became  one  of  the  pioneer  citizens  and  influential 
men  of  Sheboygan  County,  the  death  of  his  wife 
having  there  occurred  in  1859.  In  the  early  '80s  he 
came  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  passed  the  residue  of 
his  long  and  useful  life  in  the  home  of  his  son 
Oliver  P.,  of  this  review.  The  doctor  attained  to 
patriarchal  age,  as  he  was  nearly  ninety-eight  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1891.  He  became  the 
father  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  attained  to 
maturity  and  four  of  whom  are  now  living, — Mrs. 
Frances  E.  Frye,  who  is  a widow  and  resides  at 
Oshkosh,  Wisconsin;  Mrs.  Lois  Fox,  who  likewise  is 
a widow  and  who  maintains  her  home  in  the  State  of 
New  York;  Oliver  P.,  whose  name  introduces  this 
article ; and  William  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  the  City  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Oliver  P.  Bowe  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  state  and  in  the  Union 
Academy  at  Belleville,  Jefferson  County,  New  York. 
In  the  ’50s  he  began  the  study  of  law  under  effective 
private  preceptorship,  and  in  1855  he  was  admitted 
to  the  New  York  bar,  upon  examination  before  a 
judge  and  a committee  of  lawyers.  In  the  same  year 
he  came  to  the  West  and  established  his  residence  at 
Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  which  was  then  a small 
village.  He  did  not  engage  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  until  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  up 
to  the  inception  of  which  he  followed  various  occupa- 
tions at  Fond  du  Lac.  In  1863  he  tendered  his  aid  in 
defense  of  the  Union,  by  enlisting  in  Company  E, 
Thirty-sixth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  with 
which  gallant  command  he  participated  in  numerous 
engagements  and  continued  to  serve  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  received  his  honorable  dis- 
charge. At  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  he  was 
wounded,  and  among  other  important  engagements  in 
which  he  took  part  were  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness 
and  those  of  Spottsylvania  and  White  House  Land- 
ing. He  was  with  the  command  of  Gen.  Winfield  S. 
Hancock,  of  the  Second  Army  Corps,  during  the 
latter  part  of  his  military  career  and  was  thus  as- 
signed with  his  regiment  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor,  where  he  was  wounded  and  tempo- 
rarily incapacitated.  He  has  retained  a deep  interest 
in  his  old  comrades  and  signifies  the  same  by  his 
active  affiliation  with  G.  N.  Morgan  Post,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  in  his  home  city. 

After  his  removal  to  the  West  Mr.  Bowe  took  a 
special  course  in  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wisconsin,  and  after  the  close  of  the  war  he 
continued  to  be  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  that  state  until  1883,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  has  con- 
tinued in  active  and  successful  practice  during  the 
long  intervening  period  of  more  than  thirty  years 
and  where  he  has  long  retained  a representative 
clientage.  He  has  appeared  in  connection  with  much 
important  litigation  in  the  various  courts  and  his  long 
years  of  devotion  to  study  and  practical  work  in  his 
profession  have  made  him  a specially  well  fortified 
counselor.  He  is  now  serving  as  attorney  for  the 
W.  R.  Fowler  Investment  Company,  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  influential  corporations  of  its  kind  in  the 
Minnesota  metropolis.  In  the  activities  of  his  pro- 
fession Mr.  Bowe  has  never  formed  a partnership 
alliance,  and  at  the  present  time  he  maintains  his  well 
appointed  offices  at  817  Palace  Building.  Though  he 
has  considered  his  profession  worthy  of  his  undi- 
vided time  and  attention  and  has  thus  had  no  ambi- 
tion for  public  office,  Mr.  Bowe  is  a staunch  repub- 


1440 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


lican  in  politics  and  has  well  taken  convictions 
concerning  matters  of  economic  and  governmental 
policy.  He  is  a member  of  the  Lyndale  Congrega- 
tional Church,  of  which  his  wife  likewise  was  a 
devoted  and  loved  adherent,  and  their  children  all 
hold  membership  in  the  same  denomination. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  i860,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Bowe  to  Miss  Frances  A.  Chase, 
who  was  at  the  time  residing  at  the  parental  home, 
near  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin.  This  noble  and 
gracious  woman,  whose  memory  is  revered  by  all 
who  came  within  the  compass  of  her  gentle  and 
kindly  influence,  was  a devoted  wife  and  mother  and 
the  supreme  loss  and  bereavement  in  the  life  of  Mr. 
Bowe  came  when  the  silver  cord  of  companionship 
was  severed  by  her  death,  on  the  8th  of  April,  1914, 
an  ideal  home  life  that  had  continued  for  more  than 
half  a century  having  been  disrupted  when  she  was 
thus  summoned  to  eternal  rest.  Mrs.  Bowe  was 
active  in  church,  charitable  and  benevolent  work,  as 
well  as  in  literary  and  social  circles,  and  her  friends 
were  in  number  as  her  acquaintances.  She  was  born 
in  Racine  County,  Wisconsin,  a daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  (Calkins)  Chase,  sterling  pioneers  of  that 
state.  At  the  time  of  her  death  the  Entre  Nous 
Study  Club  passed  resolutions  of  regret  and  sym- 
pathy, and  the  same  are  worthy  of  reproduction  in 
this  connection : 

Whereas,  the  All  Powerful  Ruler  of  the  Universe 
has  in  his  great  and  unfathomable  wisdom  deemed  it 
proper  to  take  from  our  midst  and  unto  himself  our 
beloved  friend  and  guide,  the  late  Mrs.  O.  P.  Bowe, 
the  founder  and  late  president  emeritus  of  the  Entre 
Nous  Study  Club ; and 

Whereas,  the  Entre  Nous  Study  Club  and  each  of 
its  members  deeply  grieves  at  the  irreparable  loss  pf 
so  kind,  conscientious,  faithful,  valuable  and  admir- 
able a friend  as  was  the  late  Mrs.  O.  P.  Bowe,  and 
sincerely  mourns  and  sympathizes  with  the  Hon. 
O.  P.  Bowe,  her  husband,  and  the  other  surviving 
members  of  her  family ; now,  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  by  the  Entre  Nous  Study  Club  as  a 
whole,  and  each  of  its  members  individually,  does 
hereby  extend  to  the  Hon.  O.  P.  Bowe  and  his  fam- 
ily our  deep  feelings  of  warm  appreciation  of  the 
earnest  and  incalculable  service  of  the  late  Mrs.  O.  P. 
Bowe  to  our  club  and  each  of  ourselves,  and  the  club 
and  each  of  its  members  hereby  convey  to  them  our 
heartfelt  sympathy  and  genuine  grief  for  the  loss  of 
so  true,  honorable  and  gentle  a wife  and  mother. 

Mrs.  Bowe  was  possessed  of  much  literary  talent, 
both  appreciative  and  creative,  and  on  the  occasion 
of  the  third  anniversary  celebration  of  the  Entre 
Nous  Club  she  presented  before  the  same  the  follow- 
ing original  verses : 

’Tis  a secret  you  must  keep, 

My  good  wishes,  true  and  deep ; 

For  they  have  cost  me  loss  of  sleep, 

Entre  Nous. 

It  is  very  wise  in  you 
That  whate’er  you  say  or  do 
Should  be  Entre  Nous. 

Should  there  be  mistake  or  blunder, 

’Tis  not  told  in  voice  of  thunder, 

Good  or  bad,  ’tis  all  kept  under, 

Entre  Nous. 

We  have  met  for  these  three  years, 

Shared  each  other’s  joys  and  tears, 

Entre  Nous. 

What  we  gained  cannot  be  bought, 


It  is  only  had  when  sought, 

Entre  Nous. 

As  we  scatter  here  tonight, 

May  we  all  be  gay  and  bright, 

Entre  Nous. 

Let  these  tintinnabulations  never  cease 
Till  we  reach  the  shores  of  peace, 

Entre  Nous. 

When  the  pearly  gates  swing  open, 

As  a club  to  meet  unbroken, 

Entre  Nous. 

And  may  the  joys  be  mine 
In  that  better  land  to  meet 
All  the  Entre  Nous  to  greet, 

In  companionship  most  sweet, 

Entre  Nous. 

Mrs.  Bowe  is  survived  by  four  children : Mabel 

S.,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  R.  Harper,  remains  with 
her  husband  at  the  paternal  home,  of  which  she  has 
the  supervision  and  as  chatelaine  of  which  she  is  well 
upholding  the  gracious  ideals  of  her  loved  mother; 
Willis  G.  resides  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  where  he 
is  manager  and  a director  of  the  Marshalltown  Tele- 
phone Company  ; Arthur  C.  resides  at  Merriam  Park, 
a suburb  of  Minneapolis ; and  Ernest  C.,  who  re- 
mains at  the  paternal  home,  3215  Colfax  Avenue 
South,  is  state  agent  for  Minnesota  of  the  Spring- 
field  Fire  & Marine  Insurance  Company,  his  office 
being  at  201  New  York  Life  Building. 

Torger  L.  Melgaard.  The  large  and  influential 
relations  of  T.  L.  Melgaard  with  the  community 
of  Thief  River  Falls  is  measured  by  the  fact  that 
he  is  one  of  the  leading  bankers  of  that  city,  has 
banking  interests  in  several  other  towns,  and  was 
one  of  the  joint  builders  of  the  largest  and  most 
conspicuous  bank  building  in  that  section  of  the 
state.  These  concrete  results  indicate  somewhat  the 
accomplishments  of  a man  who  twenty-five  years 
ago  came  direct  from  Norway,  a poor  and  almost 
friendless  boy,  and  began  to  carve  his  fortune  in  the 
new  country  of  the  Northwest. 

Torger  L.  Melgaard  was  born  in  Norway  Sep- 
tember 23,  1873,  a son  of  Lars  and  Anne  Melgaard. 
His  father  was  a farmer.  It  was  in  1890  that  T.  L. 
Melgaard  came  to  this  country,  locating  for  one 
year  at  Argyle,  Minnesota,  and  in  1891  going  out 
to  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota.  There  his  first 
experience  was  as  clerk  in  a real  estate  office  one 
year.  In  1892  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the  Grand 
Forks  National  Bank,  and  that  introduced  him  to 
the  work  which  has  been  his  most  successful  field. 
He  was  bookkeeper  at  Grand  Forks  until  1897,  and 
then  two  years  was  assistant  to  the  national  bank 
examiner  at  Fargo,  North  Dakota.  After  that  ex- 
perience, which  brought  him  a broad  knowledge  of 
banking  conditions  and  an  extended  acquaintance 
among  banking  men,  he  became  bookkeeper  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  and 
remained  there  until  1902,  after  which  he  was  in 
the  real  estate  business  at  Larimore  in  the  same 
state  and  also  dealt  in  farm  loans.  In  1903  Mr. 
Melgaard  came  to  Thief  River  Falls,  and  organ- 
ized the  Citizens  State  Bank.  He  was  made  cashier 
of  the  institution,  and  has  held  that  position  and 
has  in  fact  been  the  chief  responsible  head  of  the 
bank  down  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Melgaard  is  also  a director  of  the  Holt 
State  Bank  at  Holt,  Minnesota,  a director  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  at  Newfolden,  and  has  varied 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1441 


other  interests.  In  1915  he  and  Mr.  Olaf  Ramstad, 
president  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank,  erected  the 
handsome  building  which  provides  quarters  for  the 
bank.  It  is  a two-story  modern  concrete  structure, 
on  a foundation  75x116  feet,  the  second  floor  being- 
used  for  offices  and  auditorium.  The  bank  quar- 
ters are  34x75  feet,  fitted  up  in  the  most  expensive 
and  ornate  style,  with  marble  and  mahogany  freely 
used  in  the  interior  finish. 

Mr.  Melgaard  is  a lodge  and  chapter  Mason,  be- 
ing treasurer  of  the  local  lodge,  and  is  also  affil- 
iated with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  is 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Antlers  Club 
and  works  enthusiastically  with  the  Commercial 
Club.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Sons  of  Nor- 
way and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  June,  26,  1901,  Mr.  Melgaard  married  Rena 
Eckern  of  Black  River  Falls,  Wisconsin.  Their 
three  children  are  named  John  L.,  Margaret  and 
Thomas  Lee. 

John  Morgan.  The  present  postmaster  of  Thief 
River  Falls,  John  Morgan  has  been  identified  with 
Northern  Minnesota  for  forty  years  and  is  one  of 
the  veterans  of  the  lumber  industry,  and  has.  long 
been  regarded  as  an  authority  on  subjects  con- 
nected with  forestry  and  practical  lumbering.  Mr. 
Morgan’s  home  has  been  in  Thief  River  Falls  for 
more  than  twenty  years,  and  he  is  one  of  the  older 
settlers  of  that  community. 

John  Morgan  was  born  in  London,  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, November  5,  1854,  a son  of  David  and  Ann 
Morgan.  His  father  was  a contractor  and  builder. 
Mr.  Morgan  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  first  came  to  Minnesota  in  Sep- 
tember, 1875.  He  was  a timber  cruiser  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  having  been  familiar  with  the  forest 
and  its  industry  from  early  youth.  He  was  con- 
nected with  lumbering  and  with  saw  mills  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  Minnesota,  and  in  1833  located  at 
Aitkin,  where  he  continued  his  work  as  a lumber- 
man.. In  1893  he  was  appointed  timber  inspector 
by  the  United  States  Government  and  spent  four 
years  performing  the  duties  of  that  position  on 
Government  land.  His  home  has  been  in  Thief 
River  Falls  since  1893,  and  while  his  various  busi- 
ness interests  have  been  growing  he  has  also  been 
active  in  public  affairs  in  different  ways. 

In  1891  Mr.  Morgan  was  assistant  sergeant  at 
arms  in  the  Minnesota  House  of  Representatives. 
He  is  one  of  the  democrats  of  his  section  of  the 
state,  and  on  November  1,  1914,  President  Wilson 
appointed  him  postmaster  of  Thief  River  Falls. 
During  1914  he  was  president  of  the  Pennington 
County  Agricultural  Society.  At  three  different 
times  Mr.  Morgan  was  elected  to  attend  the  na- 
tional conventions  of  the  democratic  party  as  an 
alternate  delegate.  His  fraternal  associations  are 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and 
is  also  a member  of  the  Commercial  Club. 

On  January  20,  1905,  at  Thief  River  Falls  he 
married  Helena  Johnson.  They  are  the  parents  of 
three  children : Harriet,  David  Hughes  and  J. 
Pierpont. 

Christian  L.  Hansen.  One  of  the  ablest  bankers 
in  Northern  Minnesota,  Christian  L.  Hansen  came 
from  Denmark  to  Minnesota  about  twenty  years  ago. 
He  was  a young  man,  with  an  education  in  his  na- 


tive tongue,  quite  unacquainted  with  American  life 
and  customs,  and  with  only  his  industry  and  ambition 
to  commend  himself  to  the  strange  world  in  which 
he  found  himself.  He  began  his  career  in  this  state 
as  a farm  hand  at  wages  of  $5  a month.  While  not 
one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  the  state,  he  has  since 
acquired  position  and  influence,  and  through  his 
ability  as  a banker  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Thief 
River  Falls. 

Christian  L.  Hansen  was  born  in  Denmark  May 
23,  1877,  a son  of  Lars  and  Pauline  Hansen.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Denmark,  and 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  1895,  came  to  this  country, 
and  found  employment  on  a Minnesota  farm.  Later 
he  was  for  five  years  a traveling  salesman,  then  be- 
came bookkeeper  in  the  City  National  Bank  at  Fer- 
tile, Minnesota,  and  for  one  year  was  assistant 
cashier  in  the  First  State  Bank  at  Red  Lake  Falls. 
In  1906  Mr.  Hansen  bought  the  two  banks  at  St. 
Hilaire,  Minnesota,  of  which  he  has  since  been  presi- 
dent. In  1907  he  consolidated  his  banking  interests 
at  St.  Hilaire  under  the  name  Merchants  State  Bank 
of  St.  Hilaire,  of  which  he  is  now  president  and 
owner. 

In  1909-  Mr.  Hansen  purchased  a controlling  inter- 
est in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Thief  River  Falls. 
This  institution  was  organized  in  1901  with  a capital 
stock  of  $25,000.  It  occupies  a conspicuous  site  in 
the  business  district,  the  banking  house  being  on  the 
first  floor  of  a large  two-story  brick  building,  cover- 
ing- a foundation  50x80  feet,  and  with  offices  on  the 
second  floor.  At  the  present  time  the  captial  stock 
is  $50,000,  with  surplus  and  undivided  profits  of 
$25,000,  and  the  average  deposits  reach  the  imposing 
sum  of  $450,000.  The  officers  of  the  First  National 
in  1915  are:  C.  L.  Hansen,  president;  Dr.  F.  H. 

Gambell,  vice  president;  Rasmus  Oen,  vice  presi- 
dent; W.  W.  Prichard,  Jr.,  cashier;  W.  H.  Akre  and 
H.  L.  Anderson,  assistant  cashiers. 

Mr.  Hansen  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Thief  River 
Falls  Co-operative  Building  Company.  He  is  active 
in  various  fraternal  orders,  being  affiliated  with 
York  Rite  Masonry  and  also  with  the  thirty-second 
degree  of  Scottish  Rite,  is  treasurer  of  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter,  a member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  is 
treasurer  of  the  Thief  River  Falls  Lodge  No.  1891 
of  the  Order  of  Owls,  is  treasurer  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  also  a trustee  of 
the  local  lodge  of  Masons.  Mr.  Hansen  is  a trustee 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Thief  River 
Falls. 

Francis  Harvey  Gambell,  M.  D.  Probably  no  one 
citizen  of  Thief  River  Falls  has  had  a wider  and 
more  useful  experience  in  affairs  than  Dr.  Francis 
H.  Gambell.  As  a physicain  and  surgeon  he  has  been 
doing  effectual  work  in  that  community  for  the  past 
thirteen  years,  and  has  also  exercised  his  business 
judgment  in  local  enterprises.  Doctor  Gambell  be- 
fore taking  up  active  practice  of  medicine  was  a 
prominent  educator  and  did  important  service  for 
the  Government  in  Alaska.  Since  locating,  at  Thief 
River  Falls  he  has  continued  his  interest  in  educa- 
tional affairs  and  has  served  on  the  local  school 
board. 

Francis  Harvey  Gambell  was  born  at  Winfield, 
Iowa,  April  3,  1870,  a son  of  John  C.  and  Margaret 
Jane  (Fulton)  Gambell.  His  father  was  a substan- 
tial Iowa  farmer.  Doctor  Gambell  completed  his 


1442 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


literary  education  in  Parsons  College  at  Winfield, 
and  after  that  was  for  four  years  engaged  in  school 
work  in  Minnesota.  He  spent  one  year  abroad  in 
Europe  in  study,  and  then  entered  the  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  Medical  College,  where  he  graduated  M.  D. 
in  1898.  Instead  of  taking  up  active  practice  of 
medicine  at  that  time  he  accepted  an  appointment 
from  the  United  States  Government  in  the  bureau 
of  education  in  the  interior  department  as  superin- 
tendent of  government  reindeer  stations.  He  had 
active  supervision  of  the  work  undertaken  by  the 
Government  for  the  establishment  of  reindeer  sta- 
tions in  Alaska  from  Point  Barrow  to  the  Aleutian 
Islands.  He  spent  three  years  in  Alaska  at  that 
time,  and  nearly  all  these  reindeer  stations  were 
established  under  his  direction,  and  he  developed 
their  usefulness.  When  Doctor  Gambell  went  to 
Alaska  there  were  about  a thousand  reindeer,  while 
there  are  now  50,000  collected  at  the  various  stations 
under  government  supervision  and  trained  for  effect- 
iveness in  the  work  of  transportation.  Some  years 
later,  in  1908,  Doctor  Gambell  was  again  sent  by  the 
Government  to  Alaska  to  investigate  certain  condi- 
tions in  that  territory. 

After  the  conclusion  of  his  regular  service  in 
Alaska  he  resumed  the  study  of  medicine  at  the 
University  of  Illinois,  and  took  his  M.  D.  from  the 
medical  department  in  Chicago  in  1904.  He  then 
located  at  Thief  River  Falls  and  took  up  a general 
practice  which  he  has  since  prosecuted  with  growing 
success.  He  is  a member  of  the  Red  River  Valley 
and  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  societies,  and  the 
American  Medical  Association. 

Doctor  Gambell  is  a former  member  of  the  Thief 
River  Falls  School  Board  and  is  a trustee  and  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  vice  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Thief  River  Falls  and  a 
director  in  the  Thief  River  Falls  Cooperative  Build- 
ing Company. 

At  Lone  Tree,  Minnesota,  October  15,  1902,  he 
married  Helen  Mabelle  Fernstrom.  Their  five  chil- 
dren are  Francis  Charles,  John  Cooper,  George 
Fernstrom,  William  Bryant  and  Robert  Fulton. 
Doctor  Gambell,  among  other  interests,  owns  several 
farms  in  Minnesota. 

Rasmus  Oen.  When  Rasmus  Oen  came  to 
America  from  Norway  thirty-five  years  ago,  a boy 
of  about  fifteen,  he  possessed  none  of  those  super- 
ficial accessories  of  appearance,  equipment,  money  or 
influential  friends  which  would  have  justified  a pre- 
diction that  he  would  reach  a position  of  business 
and  civic  leadership  in  one  of  the  flourishing  towns 
of  the  Northwest.  Rasmus  Oen  is  now  head  of  the 
largest  mercantile  enterprise  in  Thief  River  Falls,  is 
president  of  the  chief  bank  and  has  a position  in  the 
community  which  has  been  acquired  by  merit,  indus- 
try and  thorough  ability. 

Rasmus  Oen  was  born  in  Norway  August  6,  1864, 
a son  of  Hans  and  Bertha  Oen.  His  people  were 
farmers  in  Norway  for  many  generations  back.  In 
1879,  after  his  school  days  had  been  passed  in  Nor- 
way, he  came  to  America,  and  for  one  year  worked 
on  farms  in  Freeborn  County  in  Southern  Minne- 
sota. With  his  hard  earned  savings  he  bought  a 
small  place,  and  continued  farming  independently 
three  years.  After  that  he  learned  the  tinner’s  trade 
and  worked  as  a journeyman  two  years.  Mr.  Oen 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Thief  River  Falls, 
having  located  there  in  the  fall  of  1889,  and  opening 
a tinshop  and  hardware  stock.  He  embarked  his 


modest  capital  in  this  enterprise,  and  began  building 
up  a business  on  the  basis  of  fair  treatment  and  reli- 
able service.  He  has  now  been  one  of  the  merchants 
of  the  town  for  a quarter  of  a century,  and  his 
business  is  now  a department  store,  known  as  the 
Oen  Mercantile  Company,  which  was  organized  in 
1908  and  of  which  he  is  president.  His  store  occu- 
pies an  entire  building,  75x140  feet,  and  two  stories. 
What  is  known  as  the  Oen  Building,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  in  the  business  district,  was  erected  by 
Mr.  Oen.  He  is  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Thief  River  Falls,  and  a director  of  the 
Citizens  State  Bank.  He  is  also  a director  of  the 
Goodrich  Mercantile  Company  at  Goodrich,  Minne- 
sota, and  has  a number  of  other  local  interests. 

Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Sons  of  Nor- 
way and  is  a trustee  of  the  Lutheran  Synod  Church. 
In  local  affairs  he  interests  himself  particularly  in 
school  matters  and  is  a member  of  the  school  board. 

In  September,  1893,  Mr.  Oen  married  Evelyn  Julia 
Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Minnesota.  Their  five 
children  are:  Henry,  a student;  Edwin,  a farmer; 

Clara,  Myrtle,  both  in  school,  and  Roy. 

Ludwig  O.  Solem.  An  appreciable  percentage  of 
the  representative  members  of  the  Minnesota  bar, 
especially  those  of  the  younger  generation,  can  claim 
the  distinction  of  being  native  sons  of  this  fine  com- 
monwealth, and  this  is  true  of  Mr.  Solem,  who  is 
junior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Solem  & Solem, 
of  Minneapolis,  with  offices  in  the  Plymouth  Build- 
ing. His  professional  coadjutor  is  his  elder  brother, 
Louis,  and  they  have  so  well  utilized  their  technical 
ability  and  so  directed  their  energies  as  to  have  built 
up  a substantial  and  representative  practice,  the  while 
they  have  not  been  denied  a full  measure  of  generic 
popularity  in  the  state  of  their  nativity  and  the  city 
in  which  they  have  won  definite  success  in  their 
exacting  vocation. 

Mr.  Solem  was  born  in  the  City  of  Faribault,  judi- 
cial center  of  Rice  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  1st  of 
February,  1881,  and  is  a son  of  Lars  L.  and  Anna  P. 
(Rothi)  Solem,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Norway, 
where  they  were  reared  and  educated  and  where 
their  marriage  was  solemnized.  In  1876  they  severed 
the  ties  that  bound  them  to  their  native  land  and  set 
forth  for  America,  where  they  were  assured  of  better 
opportunities  for  the  winning  of  independence  and 
definite  prosperity.  The  young  couple,  sustained  by 
mutual  devotion  and  by  worthy  ambition,  embarked 
on  a sailing  vessel,  and  more  than  three  months 
elapsed  before  the  voyage  to  the  new  world  was 
completed.  They  disembarked  in  the  City  of  Quebec, 
Canada,  and  thence  came  direct  to  Minnesota.  At 
Faribault  they  joined  kinsfolk  who  had  preceded 
them  to  America  and  became  numbered  among  the 
sturdy  and  valued  Scandinavian  pioneers  of  Minne- 
sota. For  a time  Lars  L.  Solem  devoted  his  attention 
to  farming,  but  in  his  native  land  he  had  learned  the 
painter’s  trade  and  had  become  a specially  skillful 
workman,  particularly  in  the  line  of  inside  finishing, 
and  he  soon  found  requisition  for  his  services  at  his 
trade.  In  1883  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Minne- 
apolis, where  he  and  his  devoted  wife  have  since 
maintained  their  home  and  where  he  still  follows  his 
trade,  as  one  of  its  most  expert  representatives  in  the 
city.  He  has  been  indefatigable  in  his  labors  and 
through  his  industry  and  good  management  has 
achieved  a worthy  success,  the  while  his  sterling 
character  has  gained  to  him  the  high  regard  of  all 
who  know  him.  He  has  given  unqualified  support  to 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1443 


the  cause  of  the  republican  party  from  the  time  of 
becoming  a naturalized  citizen,  and  though  he  takes  a 
loyal  interest  in  all  that  touches  the  welfare  of  the 
community  he  has  had  no  desire  for  the  honors  or 
emoluments  of  public  office.  Of  the  children  four 
sons  attained  to  years  of  maturity : Louis  is  senior 

member  of  the  firm  of  Solem  & Solem,  as  noted  in 
the  opening  paragraph  of  this  review,  and  he  was 
graduated  in  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1902; 
Ludwig  O.,  of  this  review,  was  the  next  in  order  of 
birth ; Dr.  Paul  O.  completed  the  prescribed  course 
in  the  department  of  dentistry  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  successful 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Minneapolis ; and  Oscar 
M.  is  a member  of  the  class  of  1915  in  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  same  university.  All  of  the  sons 
were  graduated  in  the  South  Side  High  School  of 
Minneapolis  and  the  foregoing  statements  indicate 
that  each  has  been  animated  by  definite  ambition  and 
has  availed  himself  fully  of  higher  educational  op- 
portunities. 

Ludwig  O.  Solem  was  about  two  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  the  family  removal  from  Faribault  to 
Minneapolis,  and  he  was  reared  to  maturity  in  the 
latter  city,  where  he  continued  his  studies  in  the 
public  schools  until  he  had  completed  the  curriculum 
of  the  South  Side  High  School,  in  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1900.  In  preparation  for  his  chosen 
profession  he  followed  the  example  of  his  older 
brother  and  present  associate,  by  matriculating  in  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1904,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  He 
was  forthwith  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state 
and  though  his  brother  Louis  had  been  admitted  to 
the  bar  two  years  previously,  Ludwig  was  the  first 
to  engage  in  active  practice,  his  brother  having  been 
an  employe  in  the  office  of  the  city  engineer  of  Min- 
neapolis during  the,  intervening  two  years,  and  having 
later,  in  1909-10,  served  as  assistant  city  attorney. 
The  firm  of  Solem  & Solem  control  a general  prac- 
tice and  its  members  are  numbered  among  the  earn- 
est, ambitious  and  representative  younger  members 
of  the  Minneapolis  bar.  Their  success  has  been  of 
unequivocal  order,  as  they  have  applied  themselves 
with  all  their  circumspection  and  diligence  and  have 
shown  in  a practical  way  their  excellent  professional 
ability,  with  the  result  that  their  law  business  is  con- 
stantly expanding  in  scope  and  importance.  Ludwig 
O.  Solem  early  learned  personal  responsibility  and  it 
is  in  large  measure  due  to  his  own  efforts  that  he 
has  made  advancement  in  his  present  well  estab- 
lished position.  For  thirteen  years  he  was  a news- 
paper carrier  in  Minneapolis,  and  his  earnings  from 
this  source  were  carefully  conserved  as  a means  of 
aiding  him  in  obtaining  his  higher  education. 

Mr.  Solem  is  aligned  as  a loyal  and  uncompromis- 
ing supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  republican 
party,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Thurlanian 
Club  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  His  brother 
Louis  is  a member  of  the  Odin  Club,  the  Sons  of 
Norway,  and  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1907,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Solem  to  Miss  Frances  Margaret 
Edwards,  who  was  born  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  but 
educated  in  Minneapolis,  where  she  was  graduated 
in  the  South  Side  High  School.  She  is  a daughter 
of  Martin  J.  Edwards,  now  a farmer  at  Sedan,  Ohio. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solem  have  two  children, — Margaret 
Lucile  and  Charles  Ludwig. 

Louis  Solem,  law  partner  of  Ludwig  O.,  married 
Miss  Caroline  Lois  Ballentine,  of  Alexandria,  Doug- 
las County,  Minnesota,  on  the  25th  of  May,  1905,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Annabell  Lois. 

H.  O.  Kjomme.  One  of  the  rising  young  attorneys 
of  Thief  River  Falls  is  H.  O.  Kjomme,  who  in  four 
years  since  taking  his  degree  in  law  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota  has  acquired  a valuable  prac- 
tice, and  the  confidence  of  the  people  in  his  ability  is 
well  illustrated  by  the  fact  that  he  was  recently 
elected  and  is  now  serving  in  the  office  of  county 
attorney. 

H.  O.  Kjomme  was  born  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1886,  a son  of  Nels  N.  and  Anne  Kjomme, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Norway.  His  father 
was  a veterinary  surgeon  and  farmer.  Mr.  Kjomme 
grew  up  on  a farm,  received  a public  school  educa- 
tion, and  in  1906  graduated  from  Luther  College  at 
Decorah.  He  later  entered  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  pursued  his  studies 
with  regularity  and  fidelity  and  received  the  degree 
LL.  B.  in  1910.  In  April,  1911,  he  located  in  Thief 
River  Falls  and  his  personality  and  recognized  tal- 
ents soon  made  a favorable  impression  on  the  com- 
mity.  Mr.  Kjomme  was  elected  county  attorney  in 
1914,  taking  office  at  the  beginning  of  1915. 

Outside  of  the  law  he  is  director  and  attorney  for 
the  Red  Lake  Building  Association.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  are  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  the  Sons  of  Norway,  the  I.  O.  O.  M., 
and  with  the  Antlers  Club. 

August  12,  1913,  he  married  Florence  Winifred 
Campbell  of  Fargo,  North  Dakota.  They  have  one 
son,  John  Campbell,  born  September  5,  1914. 

George  G.  Johnson.  The  first  banking  institution 
organized  in  Minnesota  north  of  Crookston  was  the 
Polk  County  Bank  at  Thief  River  Falls.  It  was 
established  in  1892  under  that  name  and  afterwards 
took  out  a charter  from  the  state  and  adopted  its 
present  title  as  the  First  State  Bank  of  Thief  River 
Falls.  This  bank  has  for  more  than  twenty  years 
made  a record  of  substantial  service  to  the  com- 
munity, has  maintained  its  resources  and  credit  un- 
impaired, and  is  today  one  of  the  most  flourishing 
institutions  in  proportion  to  its  capital  in  Minnesota. 
The  capital  stock  is  $10,000,  while  the  surplus  and 
undivided  profits  in  1915  amount  to  $32,000,  while 
the  deposits,  the  best  index  to  a bank’s  popularity, 
aggregate  a quarter  of  a million.  The  president  is 
J.  P.  Foote,  the  vice  president  William  J.  Brown, 
while  the  cashier  and  the  real  executive  manager  is 
George  G.  Johnson,  who  more  than  any  other  one 
man  deserves  the  credit  for  the  successful  growth 
of  the  bank. 

George  Garrard  Johnson  was  born  in  Frontenac, 
Minnesota,  July  1,  1876,  a son  of  Hans  and  Gurina 
Johnson.  His  father  was  a farmer,  and  the  son 
grew  up  on  a farm,  was  educated  both  in  the  public 
and  private  schools,  and  took  a business  course  in  a 
commercial  college  at  Red  Wing.  His  first  active 
experience  in  business  affairs  was  as  deputy  county 
auditor  of  Marshall  County,  Minnesota,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  three  years.  He  then  went  into  the 
First  National  Bank  at  Warren,  in  the  capacity  of 
bookkeeper,  and  from  that  time  he  has  kept  close  to 
the  banking  business.  He  remained  at  Warren  eight 


1444 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


years,  in  the  banking  business,  being  promoted  to 
assistant  cashier,  and  then  served  as  assistant  cashier 
of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Thief  River  Falls. 
He  and  other  associates  bought  the  First  State  Bank 
of  Thief  River  Falls,  December  18,  1912,  and  he  has 
since  been  its  cashier  and  practical  manager. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Thief  River 
Falls  Iron  Works  and  is  secretary  of  the  Thief  River 
Valley  Land  Company.  He  is  president  of  the  local 
Commercial  Club  and  affiliates  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  being  exalted 
ruler  of  Lodge  1038,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

At  Warren,  Minnesota,  January  24,  1906,  Mr. 
Johnson  married  Lucile  Shaw.  Their  two  children 
are  Maxine  Elizabeth  and  George  Wayne.  Mr. 
Johnson  from  youth  up  has  taken  much  interest  in 
music,  is  a musician  himself,  and  in  earlier  years 
was  a leader  in  various  bands  and  traveled  exten- 
sively with  musical  organizations. 

Edwin  M.  Stanton.  One  of  the  ablest  and  best 
known  lawyers  of  Thief  River  Falls  is  Edwin  M. 
Stanton,  who  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  in  this  state  nearly  twenty-five  years.  As 
a lawyer  he  has  shown  resourcefulness  and  ability  in 
the  everyday  work  of  his  profession,  and  out  of  the 
richness  of  his  experience  and  his  thorough  knowl- 
edge has  become  one  of  the  successful  men  of  the 
state. 

Edwin  M.  Stanton  was  born  at  Omro,  Wisconsin, 
March  10,  1863.  His  parents  were  Hiram  E.  and 
Clara  ( Pettingill ) Stanton.  His  father  was  a farmer 
in  Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin,  where  the  son 
grew  up  and  received  his  early  training  in  the  local 
schools.  After  graduating  from  the  high  school  he 
entered  Lawrence  University  at  Appleton,  and  first 
came  to  Minnesota  in  1889,  spending  some  time  in 
Minneapolis.  He  took  his  law  course  in  the  Val- 
paraiso University  of  Indiana,  graduating  there  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Minnesota  in  1891.  His 
first  five  years  as  a practicing  lawyer  were  spent  in 
Crookston,  and  later  he  was  at  Argyle.  He  served 
as  county  attorney  of  Marshall  County,  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  at  Argyle,  and  enjoyed  dis- 
tinctive prestige  as  a lawyer  and  citizen  in  that  lo- 
cality. Since  1903  he  has  been  building  up  a large 
general  practice  as  a lawyer  at  Thief  River  Falls. 
Mr.  Stanton  was  appointed  the  first  county  attorney 
at  the  organization  of  Pennington  County,  and 
served  in  that  office  two  terms,  organizing  the  office 
and  setting  a high  standard  of  official  performance 
for  his  successors. 

Mr.  Stanton  is  affiliated'  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity and  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Thief  River  Falls  Commercial  Club. 
His  wife  was  Hattie  Davis,  who  died  leaving  four 
sons,  Edwin  M.,  Jr.,  Hal,  Duncan  and  Leon. 

Herbert  Cornelius  Rowberg.  A firm  of  lawyers 
that  stands  high  in  legal  circles  and  command  a large 
and  profitable  patronage  at  Thief  River  Falls  is  that 
of  Stanton  & Rowberg,  which  was  organized  in  May, 
1911,  and  of  which  Herbert  C.  Rowberg  is  junior 
member.  Mr.  Rowberg  is  a graduate  from  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  practice  in  1911.  His 
work  has  commended  him  to  his  associates  in  the 
bar,  and  he  is  one  of  the  rising  young  attorneys  of 
Northern  Minnesota. 


Herbert  Cornelius  Rowberg  was  born  at  Hanley 
Falls  in  Yellow  Medicine  County,  Minnesota,  April 
28,  1885,  a son  of  Lief  K.  and  Caroline  (Akre) 
Rowberg.  His  father  was  a Minnesota  farmer  and 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Yellow  Medicine  County. 
Mr.  Rowberg  finished  his  literary  education  at  the 
Minnesota  University  in  1908,  and  then  attended  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1911,  he  located  at  Thief  River 
Falls  in  May  of  the  same  year,  and  has  since  en- 
joyed a good  general  practice.  He  has  served  as  city 
attorney  since  1914,  and  is  also  secretary  of  the 
library  board.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  Order  and  with  the  Sons  of  Norway  and 
in  politics  is  a republican. 

Oscar  Albert  Naplin.  A successful  lawyer  at 
Thief  River  Falls,  O.  A.  Naplin  has  spent  nearly  all 
his  life  of  less  than  forty  years  in  Minnesota,  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  a col- 
lege in  St.  Peter,  and  was  a successful  educator  for 
several  years  before  taking  up  the  law. 

Oscar  Albert  Naplin  was  born  in  Sweden  May  2, 
1876,  a son  of  Swan  Naplin.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  brought  the  family  to  America  in  1880, 
locating  first  in  Dudley,  Iowa,  and  from  there  mov- 
ing to  Crookston,  Minnesota.  O.  A.  Naplin  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  in  1905 
finished  a course  in  Gustavus  Adolphus  College  at 
St.  Peter.  Mr.  Naplin  was  principal  of  the  public 
schools  of  Harris,  Minnesota,  for  one  year  was  an 
instructor  in  the  Lutheran  Ladies’  Seminary  at  Red 
Wing,  and  was  principal  at  Scanlon  one  year.  It 
was  by  teaching  that  he  largely  paid  his  way  through 
university  and  prepared  for  the  law.  In  1910  Mr. 
Naplin  graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the 
University  of  North  Dakota,  and  in  July  of  that 
year  located  and  opened  his  office  for  practice  at 
Thief  River  Falls.  He  has  enjoyed  a growing  gen- 
eral practice,  served  as  city  attorney  two  years,  and 
is  one  of  the  popular  younger  citizens  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  is  a member  of  the  Antlers  Club,  and  in 
politics  is  a socialist. 

C.  M.  Tapager.  Few  men  of  the  City  of  Albert 
Lea  have  contributed  in  greater  measure  to  the  mak- 
ing of  their  surroundings  than  has  C.  M.  Tapager. 
On  every  side  large  buildings  and  small,  modest  resi- 
dences and  beautiful  homes,  churches  and  schools, 
industrial  concerns  and  banking  edifices  testify  to  his 
activities  in  the  line  of  contracting  and  building  and 
give  him  a justly  high  place  among  the  men  who  have 
developed  the  city’s  growth.  Mr.  Tapager  was  born 
at  Jytland,  Denmark,  February  15,  1870,  and  is  a son 
of  M.  K.  and  Marien  (Dalgeaard)  Tapager,  natives 
of  Denmark,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1888 
and  settled  at  Albert  Lea,  Minnesota,  where  for 
many  years  the  father  has  been  engaged  in  farming. 

C.  M.  Tapager  received  a public  school  education 
in  his  native  land,  and  there  thoroughly  learned  the 
trade  of  builder.  He  was  eighteen  years  of  age  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United  States,  and 
entered  upon  his  career  at  Albert  Lea  as  a builder. 
Here  he  subsequently  formed  a partnership  with 
John  F.  Hansen,  which  continued  successfully  until 
1913,  during  which  time  the  partners  built  among 
other  structures  the  Science  Hall  building,  at  the 
Presbyterian  College ; the  dormitory  at  the  Lutheran 
Academy;  the  American  Gas  Machine  Company’s 
building;  the  Catholic  Parochial  School;  the  Skin- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1445 


ner-Chamberlain  Building,  and  the  palatial  residence 
of  Henry  Soth,  known  as  the  finest  in  the  city.  The 
partnership  was  mutually  dissolved  in  1913,  and  since 
that  time  Mr.  Tapager  has  engaged  in  some  large 
building  operations,  among  the  monuments  to  his 
skill  and  good  workmanship  being  the  bank  at  Ellen- 
dale,  Minnesota;  the  Masonic  Hall  at  Pemberton, 
Minnesota,  and  others.  At  the  present  time  he  is 
engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  Freeborn  County 
Poor  House,  the  Albert  Lea  Bottling  Works  and  a 
modern  dairy  farmhouse  and  barn  for  the  Albert 
Lea  Milk  Company.  A man  of  progressive  spirit 
and  modern  ideas,  the  value  of  his  contributions  to 
the  city’s  development  can  hardly  be  measured,  and 
in  all  things  that  have  made  for  civic  growth  and 
betterment  he  has  taken  a leading  part. 

Mr.  Tapager  is  a republican  in  politics,  but  has 
found  but  little  time  to  engage  in  public  affairs  as  an 
official,  his  only  public  service  being  in  the  capacity 
of  town  treasurer  of  Albert  Lea  Township,  Freeborn 
County,  a position  in  which  he  served  for  two  years. 
Mr.  Tapager  is  a member  of  the  Danish  Lutheran 
Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Danish  Brotherhood,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows  and  Lodge  No.  813,  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of  Albert  Lea.  He  is 
a broad-minded  and  well-informed  man,  has  a wide 
acquaintance  and  through  his  likable  personality  has 
drawn  about  him  a circle  of  sincere  friends. 

Mr.  Tapager  was  married  at  Albert  Lea  in  1893  to 
Miss  Annie  K.  Mortenson,  of  Geneva,  Minnesota, 
and  three  children  have  been  born  to  them : Ella, 

who  received  a high  school  education,  is  a graduate 
of  Albert  Lea  Business  College  and  a young  woman 
of  exceptional  business  ability,  and  is  engaged  in 
assisting  her  father;  Eleanor,  who  is  a student  of  the 
Lutheran  Academy ; and  Martha,  who  attends  the 
public  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tapager  and  their 
children  reside  at  their  comfortable  home,  No.  401 
East  Clark  Street,  and  Mr.  Tapager  maintains  an 
office  at  No.  206  West  Clark  Street. 

( 

Charles  Alfred  Pitkin.  An  active  member  of 
the  Minnesota  bar,  Charles  A.  Pitkin  has  turned 
his  professional  talents  to  good  results  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  factors  in  local  affairs  at  Thief  River 
Falls. 

Charles  Alfred  Pitkin  was  born  in  Sabula,  Iowa, 
June  27,  1878,  a son  of  Alfred  Hudson  and  Jemima 
Catherine  (McCreary)  Pitkin.  His  father  has  for 
a number  of  years  been  a general  merchant  at  St. 
Hilaire,  Minnesota.  Mr.  C.  A.  Pitkin  was  educated 
in  the  public  high  schools  and  finished  his  law  course 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota  in  the  year  1903.  He 
practiced  his  profession  in  Bemidji  and  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  and  since  April,  1912,  has  been  identified 
with  Thief  River  Falls  and  that  growing  and  thriving 
community,  and  enjoys  a good  practice  as  a lawyer. 

He  has  been  an  influence  in  local  affairs  in  differ- 
ent ways.  He  served  as  secretary  of  the  Commercial 
Club  during  1914,  and  is  a director  of  the  Red  River 
Valley  Development  Association.  Fraternally  he  is 
identified  with  the  Masonic  Order  and  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  is  a member  of  the 
Antlers  Club,  and  belongs  to  the  Minnesota  State 
and  the  American  Bar  Association  and  the  National 
Geographic  Society.  On  August  1,  1907,  Mr.  Pitkin 
married  Ethel  Corbitt  of  Spring  Valley,  Minnesota. 

Robert  McGinn.  Among  the  citizens  who  have 
been  identified  with  the  development  of  Thief  River 


Falls  throughout  the  past  twenty  years  one  of  those 
most  deserving  of  particular  mention  is  Robert 
McGinn,  who  has  for  several  years  been  the  leading 
factor  in  the  manufacturing  and  industrial  interests 
of  that  city.  Mr.  McGinn  is  a successful  man,  but 
has  won  his  success  through  hard  work  and  a varied 
experience,  including  work  as  a logger  and  riverman 
during  the  years  when  the  lumber  industry  was  at  its 
height  in  Wisconsin. 

Robert  McGinn  was  born  at  Oconto,  Wisconsin, 
March  22,  1862,  a son  of  Robert  and  Anna  (Brown) 
McGinn.  His  father  was  a farmer.  Growing  up 
on  a farm,  he  had  only  a common  schooling,  and  his 
vigorous  physique  and'  love  of  hard  work  early  took 
him  into  the  lumber  woods,  where  he  worked  at 
various  occupations  and  became  an  expert  river 
driver.  After  this  varied  experience  Mr.  McGinn 
came  to  Thief  River  Falls  in  1894.  For  about  four- 
teen years  he  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business, 
and  out  of  that  has  developed  his  present  interests 
in  manufacturing  lines.  Mr.  McGinn  is  now  presi- 
dent of  the  Thief  River  Falls  Iron  Works,  is  vice 
president  of  the  P.  W.  Sharp  Printing  and  Manufac- 
turing Company,  and  a director  of  the  Thief  River 
Falls  Manufacturing  Company.  He  is  also  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Thief  River  Valley  Land  Com- 
pany. 

In  public  affairs  he  manifests  a commendable  inter- 
est and  at  the  present  time  is  serving  as  a member 
of  the  city  council.  He  is  chief  ranger  in  the  Cath- 
olic Order  of  Foresters,  and  also  affiliates  with  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  On  Janu- 
ary 17,  1900,  Mr.  McGinn  married  Mary  Conley, 
daughter  of  Dennis  Conley,  who  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  along  Thief  River,  having  located  there  in 
1879.  To  this  union  have  been  born  four  children: 
Dennis  M.,  Sybil  Anna,  Robert  C.  and  Macella. 

Leonard  Peterson.  The  active  carer  of  Leonard 
Peterson  has  been  spent  largely  at  Crookston  and  at 
Thief  River  Falls,  in  both  of  which  cities  he  was 
identified  with  the  management  of  one  of  the  chief 
public  utilities,  and  since  coming  to  Thief  River 
Falls  as  a citizen  has  constructed  and  has  been 
superintendent  of  the  waterworks  and  power  plant 
and  is  one  of  the  men  of  that  community  who  per- 
form a large  and  valuable  service  and  interest  them- 
selves in  all  local  enterprises. 

Leonard  Peterson  was  born  in  Sweden  September 
11,  1866,  a son  of  Peter  and  Anna  Peterson.  The 
family  came  to  America  when  Leonard  was  a boy 
and  his  father  took  up  and  developed  a homestead 
near  Thief  River  Falls.  They  were  among  the  pio- 
neers in  that  section  of  Minnesota.  Leonard  Peter- 
son acquired  his  education  by  attending  local  schools 
and  afterwards  was  a student  in  a business  college. 
With  this  preparation  and  with  the  experience  gained 
on  a farm,  where  he  spent  the  first  twenty-two  years 
of  his  life,  he  was  well  equipped  for  the  productive 
years  of  his  career.  For  a number  of  years  Mr. 
Peterson  was  connected  with  the  Waterworks, 
Power  and  Light  Company  at  Crookston,  serving  the 
company  as  engineer  and  in  other  departments  and 
was  office  manager  for  six  years.  In  1900  he  came 
to  Thief  River  Falls  and  supervised  construction  of 
the  water  and  light  plant  owned  by  the  city,  and 
since  its  completion  has  been  superintendent  of  the 
plant. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  an  active  member  of  the  local 
Commercial  Club,  and  is  vice  president  of  the  Thief 


1446 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


River  Automobile  Club.  He  is  an  ardent  sportsman, 
delights  to  take  vacations  for  fishing  and  hunting 
trips,  and  is  one  of  the  most  expert  drivers  of  an 
automobile  in  the  city.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  trustee  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 

•Mr.  Peterson  was  married  in  March,  1896,  at  War- 
ren, Minnesota,  to  Nancy  Olson,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden.  Their  two  children  are  Alice  Maria  and 
Lloyd  Leonard. 

Frank  L.  Morrison.  One  of  the  Minneapolis 
lawyers  with  greatest  achievement  to  his  credit  is 
Frank  L.  Morrison,  who  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
his  native  State  of  Wisconsin  more  than  twenty-five 
years  ago,  and  has  been  identified  with  Minnesota 
for  the  greater  part  of  his  professional  career.  He 
controls  a substantial  and  successful  law  business, 
with  offices  in  the  Northwestern  Building,  and  is  a 
well  known  member  of  the  Hennepin  County  and  the 
Minnesota  State  Bar  associations.  As  a result  of 
successful  experience  a special  reputation  has  come 
to  him  as  a criminal  lawyer,  though  he  does  not 
confine  himself  to  that  department  of  practice.  In 
Wisconsin  he  was  a political  leader  and  a friend  of 
many  men  high  in  national  political  life,  and  his 
political  enthusiasm  in  behalf  of  the  republican  party 
has  not  been  diminished  since  coming  to  Minneapolis. 

Frank  L.  Morrison  was  born  at  Columbus,  Colum- 
bia County,  Wisconsin,  January  20,  1865,  a son  of 
Rev.  Peter  B.  and  Mary  Lardner  (Breck)  Mor- 
rison. His  father  gained  distinction  as  a clergyman 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  as  an  early 
missionary  in  Minnesota,  Wisconsin  and  the  Da- 
kotas. He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  of  Scotch-Irish 
parentage,  and  labored  long  and  faithfully  in  his 
chosen  calling.  There  is  an  excellent  record  of  the 
Morrison  family  in  its  various  branches  in  a book 
of  genealogy  published  by  Hon.  William  Morrison 
of  Illinois.  Mrs.  Mary  L.  (Breck)  Morrison  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Breck,  and  a niece  of  Adjt. 
Gen.  Samuel  Breck  of  the  United  States  Army  and 
of  Rev.  James  Lloyd  Breck,  an  Episcopal  clergy- 
man who  became  known  in  the  Northwest  as  the 
“Apostle  of  the  Wilderness.”  There  has  been  pub- 
lished an  interesting  history  of  the  life  of  James 
Lloyd  Breck,  while  Gen.  Samuel  Breck  compiled  and 
published  “Genealogy  of  the  Breck  Family.” 

While  Frank  L.  Morrison  attended  the  public 
schools  as  a boy,  he  has  frequently  given  credit  for 
his  broader  training  to  the  wisest  of  all  head-masters, 
Experience,  and  still  claims  to  be  an  active  student 
under  the  same  great  instructor.  His  first  experi- 
ence after  leaving  school  was  in  a printing  office, 
where  he  gained  considerable  practical  knowledge  of 
printing.  Subsequently  he  was  a clerk  in  a grocery 
store.  His  first  visit  to  a law  office  attracted  him 
to  the  field  in  which  he  has  made  his  most  important 
record.  The  determination  to  become  a lawyer  was 
converted  into  a lasting  and  steadfast  purpose  after 
he  had  listened  to  important  trials  in  which  the  lead- 
ing counsel  were  such  eminent  Wisconsin  lawyers  as 
Hon.  L.  M.  Vilas,  William  Vilas,  a former  post- 
master-general of  the  United  States,  the  late  General 
Bragg,  Judge  Quarles  and  Hon.  H.  H.  Hayden. 
With  such  influences  he  took  up  the  study  of  law 
and  mastered  its  fundamental  principles  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Wisconsin  bar  December  27,  1887. 

After  several  years  of  practice  at  Eau  Claire,  he 
abandoned  his  law  office  and  spent  some  time  in 
travel,  visiting  practically  all  the  western  states.  He 


resumed  practice  at  St.  Paul,  and  remained  in  the 
capital  city  until  about  1905.  For  the  past  ten  years 
he  has  had  his  offices  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis.  Mr. 
Morrison  has  participated  in  many  of  the  notable 
criminal  trials  in  Minnesota  and  other  states,  and 
easily  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  criminal  lawyers. 

It  was  during  the  early  ’80s  that  Air.  Morrison 
first  became  identified  with  politics  in  his  native 
state.  He  embraced  the  cause  of  the  republican 
party  with  characteristic  ardor  and  was  long  and 
prominently  identified  with  the  party  in  that  state. 
During  that  time  he  became  the  political  and  per- 
sonal friend  of  some  of  the  leading  men,  including 
Hon.  John  C.  Spooner,  former  United  States  sena- 
tor ; Hon.  Henry  C.  Payne ; and  Hon.  Robert  La- 
Follette,  present  United  States  senator  from  Wis- 
consin. He  also  came  to  know  both  in  a political 
and  personal  way  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Reed, 
who  as  speaker  of  the  national  House  of  Representa- 
tives was,  for  many  years  probably  the  most  influ- 
ential republican  in  the  country.  Mr.  Morrison  has 
participated  in  many  campaigns,  and  such  are  his 
convictions  as  to  the  soundness  and  beneficence  of 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  republican  party 
and  the  wisdom  of  its  partisans  that  he  is  com- 
mitted to  the  principle  that  he  “would  rather  be  a 
republican  than  be  right,”  if  “the  right”  is  the  ex- 
pression of  opinion  from  others  than  republicans. 
For  some  time  Mr.  Morrison  was  secretary  of  the 
Young  Men’s  Republican  League  of  Wisconsin,  and 
in  all  his  career  there  has  never  been  any  doubt  that 
he  has  been  and  is  a “simon-pure”  republican. 

During  his  residence  at  Eau  Claire  he  became  a 
charter  member  of  Company  E of  the  Wisconsin 
National  Guard.  With  that  command  he  attended 
the  inauguration  of  Governor  Hoard,  and  was  on 
active  duty  with  his  regiment  at  the  scene  of  the 
labor  troubles  at  West  Superior  in  1889.  In  Min- 
neapolis he  is  affiliated  with  Unity  Lodge  No.  4, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  with  its  adjunct  organiza- 
tion, Mah-Bah  Temple  No.  77,  Knights  of  Khoras- 
san,  Oasis  of  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Morrison  was  married  at  Eau  Claire  May  15, 
1889,  to  Miss  Emma  Mae  Mosher.  She  died  leaving 
one_  child,  Helen  M.,  who  is  now  married  and  liv- 
ing at  Columbus,  Ohio.  June  21,  1905,  Air.  Mor- 
rison married  Miss  Carrie  B.  Simms. 

From  one  who  knows  Mr.  Alorrison  well  has 
come  the  following  interesting  pen  portrait : “Posi- 
tive in  manner  and  speech,  considered  a ‘good 
mixer’  with  men  in  general,  Mr.  Morrison  makes 
fast  and  loyal  friends  and  bitter  enemies.  He  is 
ever  willing  to  forgive  and  forget,  but  he  has  a 
good  memory  with  all  that  this  implies.  Hunting 
and  fishing  afford  him  his  principal  recreation.  He 
is  a great  lover  of  dogs  and  horses,  and  many  times 
in  his  youth  he  came  to  the  relief  of  suffering,  in- 
jured or  neglected  animals.  He  never  whips  a dog 
or  horse,  but  when  he  directs  upon  them  the  full 
power  of  his  vocabulary  they  seem  to  appreciate 
the  fact  that  his  statements  are  not  lacking  in  ob- 
jective significance.  He  is  essentially  sympathetic 
and  generous,  buoyant  and  optimistic,  and  will  stick 
to  his  friends  at  any  cost,  and  many  times  to  his 
disadvantage  from  the  standpoint  of  mere  expedi- 
ency. His  is  the  simple  and  kindly  nature  that 
gives  voucher  for  strength  and  integrity  of  purpose, 
and  he  is  one  who  loves  to  ‘hold  communion  with 
nature  in  her  visible  forms,’  this  being  evidenced  by 
the  fact  that  he  is  seldom  if  ever  seen  without  a 
flower  on  the  lapel  of  his  coat.” 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1447 


John  K.  West.  The  City  of  Detroit,  Minnesota, 
has  profited  by  the  stable  citizenship  and  excellent 
business  abilities  of  John  K.  West  since  the  year 
1881,  during  which  time  he  has  been  interested  in 
real  estate  and  particularly  in  the  handling  of  farm- 
ing properties  in  Becker,  Ottertail  and  Hubbard 
counties.  He  was  born  January  27,  1847,  at  Pitts- 
field, Massachusetts,  a son  of  John  C.  and  Maria  L. 
(Goodrich)  West,  and  both  sides  of  the  family  is 
descended  from  ancestors  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try at  an  early  day. 

The  founder  of  the  West  family  in  America  was 
Thomas  West,  who  came  to  New  England  in  1633 
in  the  ship  Mary  and  John  and  is  said  to  have  set- 
tled in  Duxbury,  near  Plymouth.  William  Good- 
rich, the  founder  of  the  Goodrich  family,  was  ad- 
mitted as  a freedman  in  Connecticut,  May  15,  1656, 
served  on  the  grand  jury  at  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
in  1662,  was  in  the  General  Assembly  at  Hartford, 
May  11,  1663,  was  called  Ensign  William  Goodrich 
in  1676  just  after  the  close  of  King  Philip’s  war, 
and  died  at  Westerfield,  Connecticut,  in  1676.  John 
C.  West,  the  father  of  John  K.,  was  born  at  Pitts- 
field, Massachusetts,  in  1811,  and  throughout  his 
life  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  dying  in  No- 
vember, 1893.  He  was  for  a time  a member  of  the 
Massachusetts  State  Militia,  and  was  also  prominent 
in  public  affairs,  serving  for  twenty-three  consec- 
utive years  as  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen 
of  Pittsfield.  He  was  independent  in  his  political 
views.  Mrs.  West,  who  was  born  at  Pittsfield  in 
1815,  passed  her  entire  life  there  and  died  in  1895. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children : Charles  E., 
who  is  retired  and  lives  at  Pittsfield;  John  K. ; 
Frank  E.,  a graduate  of  Williams  College,  Wil- 
liamstown,  Massachusetts,  and  now  a successful 
practicing  physician  of  Brooklyn,  New  York';  and 
Frederick  T.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness at  Chicago,  Illinois. 

John  K.  West  attended  the  public  schools  of  Pitts- 
field and  was  prepared  for  college  at  Williston 
Seminary.  In  1868  he  was  graduated  from  Williams 
College  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  Mr. 
West  came  to  Detroit,  Minnesota,  in  1881,  and  here 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  handling  of  real 
estate,  loans,  etc.,  having  interests  in  city  properties 
as  well  as  in  farm  lands  in  Becker,  Ottertail  and 
Hubbard  counties.  He  has  been  connected  with 
various  enterprises  tending  to  promote  the  interests 
of  this  locality.  His  offices  are  located  at  No.  903 
Washington  Avenue.  Mr.  West  bears  an  excellent 
reputation  in  business  circles,  gained  through  a 
long  and  honorable  career.  He  maintains  inde- 
pendent views  as  to  political  questions. 

On  October  20,  1875,  at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts, 
Mr.  West  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jessie 
Campbell,  who  died  without  issue  January  25,  1903. 
Mr.  West  was  again  married,  February  2,  1905,  at 
Detroit,  Minnesota,  when  he  was  united  with  Miss 
Agnes  Brownjohn,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  George 
W.  Brownjohn,  who  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman 
of  Detroit,  where  he  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  have 
no  children. 

Hon.  Henry  A.  Morgan.  One  of  the  best  known 
and  most  successful  lawyers  in  Southern  Minnesota 
is  Henry  A.  Morgan  of  Albert  Lea.  His  career  has 
exemplified  all  the  success  and  also  the  generous 
public  service  of  a most  representative  lawyer.  Mr. 
Morgan  has  been  honored  on  a great  number  of  oc- 
casions with  positions  of  responsibility  and  trust,  and 
Vol.  Ill— 12 


as  state  senator  won  a reputation  for  fidelity  to  ideals 
and  leadership  which  well  deserved  another  term, 
and  only  the  pressure  of  private  practice  caused  him 
to  decline  further  honors  in  the  state.  Mr.  Morgan 
began  life  without  special  advantages,  and  rose  from 
a place  as  a poor  boy  to  the  front  rank  in  a learned 
profession,  and  as  an  influential  factor  in  both  city 
and  state. 

Henry  A.  Morgan,  who  is  descended  from  a fam- 
ily of  Scotch  and  Welsh  people,  that  was  brought  to 
America  and  settled  in  Vermont  several  generations 
ago,  was  born  at  Clarinda,  Iowa,  March  14,  1863. 
During  his  infancy  his  parents  moved  to  Hesper, 
Iowa,  and  it  was  in  that  village  that  he  grew  up  and 
received  his  early  education.  His  father,  Harley 
Morgan,  born  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  1817,  was  an 
early  settler  in  Iowa,  followed  the  contracting  busi- 
ness there,  and  in  1888  moved  to  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington, where  he  died  in  1910.  Harley  Morgan  mar- 
ried Ruth  Durray,  also  a native  of  Vermont,  who 
now  lives  at  Ferndale,  Washington. 

When  Henry  A.  Morgan  was  seventeen  years  of 
age  in  1880  he  came  to  Albert  Lea,  where  his  brother 
was  engaged  in  practice  as  a lawyer,  and  when  the 
town  contained  a population  of  about  fifteen  hundred 
and  was  just  beginning  its  development  into  one  of 
the  important  cities  of  Minnesota.  For  five  years  he 
worked  and  studied  in  the  law  office  of  John  A. 
Lovely  and  D.  F.  Morgan,  and  for  the  first  two  years 
was  a student  in  the  high  school,  until  graduating  in 
1882.  His  law  studies  continued  with  his  brother  and 
Mr.  Lovely  and  in  1885  came  to  his  admission  to  the 
bar.  A reorganization  of  the  firm  title  was  effected, 
making  it  Lovely,  Morgan  & Morgan.  In  the  early 
part  of  1888  D.  F.  Morgan  moved  to  Mankato,  Min- 
nesota, and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  Mr. 
Lovely  removed  to  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Morgan  then  prac- 
ticed alone  for  a few  months,  until  joining  Walter  J. 
Trask,  but  at  the  end  of  six  months  Mr.  Trask  went 
west  to  California.  In  1901,  after  a number  of  years 
of  independent  practice,  Mr.  Morgan  became  a part- 
ner of  John  F.  D.  Meighen,  a young  lawyer  of  a 
prominent  old  family  in  Southeastern  Minnesota. 
Their  partnership  continued  until  September,  1913, 
and  since  then  Mr.  Morgan  has  looked  after  his  own 
practice.  As  a lawyer  he  has  found  his  time  entirely 
occupied  by  a general  civil  and  criminal  practice,  and 
has  never  resorted  to  side  lines  in  order  to  supple- 
ment his  strictly  professional  business. 

Public  duties  have  formed  an  important  part  of  his 
career  for  twenty-five  years.  He  is  a republican  in 
politics,  and  first  came  into  public  life  as  city  attor- 
ney of  Albert  Lea  during  1888-89.  In  that  time  he 
drew  up  the  amended  charter  of  the  city.  Mr.  Mor- 
gan was  for  eight  years  county  attorney,  from  1891 
to  1899,  inclusive.  His  name  also  appears  on  the 
official  annals  of  his  home  city  as  mayor  during 
1902-1903.  His  public  service  culminated  with  his 
election  to  the  State  Senate,  in  which  he  served  dur- 
ing 1903-05,  and  was  a member  of  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee, Committee  on  Municipal  Corporations,  and 
on  the  Game  and  Fish  Committee,  besides  other 
minor  committees.  It  was  Senator  Morgan  who  pre- 
pared and  had  passed  the  remodeled  game  law,  which 
is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind  in  any 
state.  He  was  identified  with  all  the  work  of  the 
Legislature  during  his  term.  His  reelection  would 
have  been  a foregone  conclusion,  had  not  his  law 
practice  demanded  his  attention. 

Fraternally  his  affiliations  are  with  Western  Star 
Lodge  No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Apollo  Commandery 


1448 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


No.  12,  K.  T. ; Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine; 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Albert  Lea;  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  Mr.  Morgan  has  been  a stockholder  and 
director  in  the  Albert  Lea  State  Bank  since  its  or- 
ganization. 

On  September  i,  1886',  at  Albert  Lea,  Mr.  Morgan 
married  Miss  Helen  A.  Hall,  daughter  of  Albert  and 
Anna  P.  Hall.  Her  parents,  who  came  from  the 
State  of  Maine,  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Albert  Lea.  Mr.  Morgan’s  son  Philip  died  in  child- 
hood, and  the  only  living  child  is  Barbara  J.,  a gradu- 
ate of  Albert  Lea  College  and  Rockford  College  in 
Illinois.  The  family  home  is  at  405  Vine  Street. 

William  Morris  Carson.  One  of.  St.  Paul’s 
prominent  lawyers  was  the  late  William  Morris 
Carson,  who  for  nearly  thirty  years  was  active  as 
a lawyeT  and  citizen.  His  death  on  October  15, 
1914.  removed  a most  estimable  citizen  and  a man 
of  wide  acquaintance  and  with  hosts  of  friends  in 
St.  Paul  and  the  Northwest. 

William  Morris  Carson  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  September  2,  1851.  and  was  about  sixty- 
three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
parents  were  Washington  King  and  Mary  (Clark) 
Carson.  His  father  was  a wholesale  grocer  in 
Baltimore.  William  M.  Carson  was  educated  in  the 
Baltimore  private  schools,  and  afterwards  entered 
Princeton  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
law.  He  practiced  as  a lawyer  in  his  native  city 
of  Baltimore  until  about  1885,  in  which  year  he 
came  to  St.  Paul  and  was  thenceforward  connected 
with  the  bar  and  also  for  many  years  was  general 
agent  for  the  Germania  Life  Insurance  Company. 
At  one  time  he  was  secretary  to  Mayor  Robert  A. 
Smith.  Mr.  Carson  was  a strong  political  advocate 
of  the  principles  of  the  democratic  party,  was  a 
member  of  the  Ramsey  County  Bar  Association, 
and  his  ability  commanded  the  thorough  respect 
and  admiration  of  his  colleagues  in  the  St.  Paul 
bar.  A Presbyterian,  he  usually  regulated  his 
church  attendance  by  his  liking  for  the  individual 
minister. 

Mr.  Carson  was  married  at  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
in  1881  to  Louise  Perry  McCay,  a daughter  of  Rob- 
ert and  Louise  (Wiley)  McCay,  the  former  a native 
of  Alabama  and  the  latter  of  Georgia.  Her  father 
was  a Southern  planter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carson  were 
the  parents  of  three  children.  The  daughter  Helen 
Dering,  unmarried,  lives  in  Chicago  and  is  an  in- 
structor in  the  Art  Institute.  Ruth  Erskine  is  the 
wife  of  George  Kelsey  William  Watson,  and  has 
one  daughter,  Ruth  McCay  Watson,  now  two  years 
of  age.  Thornton  McCay  Carson,  the  oldest  child, 
is  a successful  architect  in  St.  Paul.  George  Wat- 
son is  a Scotch  Canadian,  and  prior  to  the  outbreak 
of  the  present  war  was  made  captain  of  the  Ninetieth 
Winnipeg  Rifles,  which  office  he  still  holds.  Both 
he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Thornton  McCay  Car- 
son,  enlisted  for  army  service  on  August  12,  19T4, 
and  are  now  with  the  English  army  along  the 
Meuse  River  in  Belgium  and  Northern  France 
Mrs.  Watson  lives  with  her  mother  in  St.  Paul  at 
482  Holly  Avenue. 

Walter  J.  Westfall.  Probably  no  real  estate 
man  in  Minnesota  has  a better  practical  eauipment 
for  his  business  than  W.  J.  Westfall,  head  of  the 
W.  J.  Westfall  Land  Company  of  Minneapolis.  Mr. 
Westfall  has  lived  close  to  the  land  all  his  life,  grew 
up  on  a farm  in  Ohio,  knew  the  practical  details  of 


soil  cultivation  when  a boy,  and  has  been  handling 
real  estate  every  year  since  reaching  his  majority. 
He  had  a thorough  training  in  the  business  in  New 
York  City,  has  had  offices  in  several  of  the  larger 
American  cities,  and  has  handled  lands  and  general 
real  estate  in  almost  every  state  of  the  Union  and 
also  in  Canada.  His  company  at  Minneapolis,  with 
offices  in  the  Palace  Building,  now  gives  special  at- 
tention to  the  handling  of  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin 
farm  and  timber  lands,  and  also  city  property,  loans 
and  rentals.  The  company  own  and  control  about  a 
hundred  thousand  acres  of  cut-over  land  in  the  old 
lumber  district  of  Minnesota,  some  forty  thousand 
acres  of  hardwood  timber  lands  in  Wisconsin,  and 
hundreds  of  improved  and  unimproved  farm  tracts 
throughout  the  state,  but  particularly  in  the  Red 
River  Valley  and  in  Southern  Minnesota.  The  com- 
pany also  handles  small  acreage  tracts  in  the  vicinity 
of  Minnetonka  Lake. 

Walter  J.  Westfall  was  born  at  Mulheiser,  near 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  Hamilton  County,  January  15, 
1874.  His  parents  were  Allen  and  Cynthia  (North- 
cutt)  Westfall.  Llis  father  was  born  at  Troy  in 
Miami  County,  Ohio,  and  his  mother  at  Muncie, 
Indiana.  Allen  Westfall  was  a man  of  considerable 
wealth  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  and  hired  a sub- 
stitute at  Cincinnati  to  take  his  place  in  the  ranks. 
In  addition  he  also  showed  his  kindness  and  liber- 
ality during  the  war  by  hauling  wood  and  distribut- 
ing it  among  the  widows  and  wives  of  soldiers.  For 
a number  of  years  after  the  war  he  was  a small  fruit 
grower  and  market  gardener  near  Cincinnati,  but 
finally  returned  to  the  old  homestead  where  he  was 
born,  and  died  there  November  22,  1910.  There  were 
six  children  in  the  family,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Julia,  wife  of 

A.  J.  Renpfer  of  Spencerville,  Ohio;  Charles  E.,  a 
market  gardener  living  on  the  old  homestead  near 
Troy;  Clara  and  Lydia,  who  married  brothers,  the 
former  being  Mrs.  George  Weikert  of  Ludlow  Falls, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  being  Mrs.  Charles  Weikert  of 
Covington,  Ohio;  Walter  J.  and  his  brother  William 
H.,  now  a market  gardener  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  were 
both  born  near  Cincinnati,  while  the  other  four  chil- 
dren were  born  at  the  old  homestead  near  Troy. 

Walter  J.  Westfall  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  at  Cincinnati,  and  in  the  Munson  Business 
College,  which  subsequently  became  the  Cincinnati 
School  of  the  Masse  Business  College,  which  oper- 
ates schools  all  over  the  country.  With  a substan- 
tial education  Mr.  Westfall  spent  about  three  and  a 
half  years  as  a farmer,  and  then  went  to  New  York 
City  and  acquired  a systematic  training  in  the  real 
estate  business  in  the  handling  of  city  property  for 
two  years.  In  1898  he  located  at  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  handled  Florida  lands  for  two  years,  spent 
about  two  years  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  in  the 
handling  of  city  property  and  in  the  spring  of  1903 
came  to  Minneapolis  and  opened  offices  in  the  Kasota 
Building.  During  the  next  five  years  Mr.  Westfall 
did  a good  business  in  the  handling  of  city  property 
and  in  Canadian  lands,  but  then  left  Minneapolis  and 
located  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  for  several  years 
dealt  in  city  property  and  farm  lands  in  and  around 
that  city. 

On  April  14,  1913,  Mr.  Westfall  returned  to  Min- 
neapolis and  opened  his  first  offices  in  the  Palace 
Building,  as  the  W.  J.  Westfall  Land  Company.  Be- 
tween the  years  1903  and  1906,  while  in  business  at 
Minneapolis,  Mr.  Westfall  located  about  twelve  hun- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1449 


dred  people  on  farms  in  the  Province  of  Alberta, 
Canada,  over  lands  between  Lloydminster  west  and 
southwest  to  the  Battle  River.  In  his  operations  as 
a real  estate  man  Mr.  Westfall  has  sold  property  in 
thirty-eight  states  of  the  Union,  and  has  traveled 
over  every  state  and  also  from  Halifax,  Nova 
Scotia,  to  British  Columbia,  and  has  also  made  one 
trip  to  Cuba.  He  has  recently  opened  branch  offices 
at  301  West  Forsyth  Street,  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
and  in  suite  402  Commercial  Bank  Building,  Mason 
City,  Iowa.  His  company  is  a member  of  the  Minne- 
sota Farm  Lands  Association.  While  a successful 
business  man,  and  with  a more  than  ordinary  faculty 
for  successfully  mingling  with  men,  it  should  be 
stated  as  a fact  tending  to  disprove  some  contrary 
theories,  that  in  all  his  relations  Mr.  Westfall  has 
never  taken  a glass  of  liquor  nor  used  tobacco  in 
any  form,  and  is  a business  man  of  exemplary  habits. 
Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America. 

On  October  2,  1895,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  Mr.  Westfall 
married  Miss  Emma  E.  Miller.  Mrs.  Westfall  died 
at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  February  7,  1903,  leaving 
one  daughter,  Consuela  Eva,  who  was  born  in  Day- 
ton  and  is  now  attending  public  school  at  Monticello, 
Minnesota.  Mr.  Westfall  is  a member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  his  recreations  aside  from  an 
energetic  and  almost  incessant  attention  to  business, 
are  found  in  an  occasional  fishing  and  hunting  excur- 
sion. 

Frank  E.  Bentley.  Now  serving  as  judge  of 
probate,  Frank  E.  Bentley  has  some  interesting  asso- 
ciations with  Chippewa  County.  Many  years  ago 
when  a young  man,  in  1878,  he  broke  up  the  first  half 
section  of  land  placed  in  cultivation  in  that  county. 
He  has  been  active  as  a farmer  and  man  of  affairs 
at  Montevideo  for  a number  of  years,  and  in  his 
present  position  his  service  has  been  so  acceptable 
as  to  bring  him  re-election  so  that  he  has  held  the 
office  continuously  for  about  six  years. 

Frank  E.  Bentley  was  born  in  Columbia  County, 
Wisconsin,  in  1858,  but  was  brought  when  a child  to 
Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  in  i860.  His  father,  An- 
drew Bentley,  was  born  in  1831,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  died  in  1884.  He  went  as  a child  to  Wis- 
consin in  1838,  while  Wisconsin  was  still  a territory, 
and  in  i860  brought  his  family  out  to  Olmsted 
County,  where  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  and  lived 
there  during  the  Civil  war  and  the  Indian  troubles. 
He  acquired  a farm  of  400  acres  in  that  county  and 
was  one  of  the  county’s  successful  and  influential 
men.  He  belonged  to  the  Masonic  order,  was  a re- 
publican in  politics  and  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Wiltse, 
was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1835,  and  they  were 
married  in  1851.  To  their  union  were  born  fourteen 
children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  as  follows:  Judge 
Bentley:  Mary  Mansfield,  now  living  in  New  Hamp- 
shire ; Mrs.  Rose  Rollins,  of  Minneapolis ; W.  L. 
Bentley  of  Woodburn,  Oregon ; Mrs.  Susie  Roat  of 
St.  Paul,  and  L.  H.  Bentley  of  Minneapolis. 

Judge  Bentley  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Olmsted  County,  and  attended 
the  schools  in  Rochester  and  the  high  school  at 
Plainview.  Farming  has  been  his  regular  business 
for  over  thirty-five  years,  and  during  practically  all 
of  this  time  he  has  been  identified  with  Chippewa 
County,  having  witnessed  its  development  from  a 
raw  prairie.  In  1899  he  was  appointed  to  the  office 
of  postmaster  of  Montevideo,  holding  that  office  six 


years.  Governor  Eberhart  appointed  him  judge  of 
probate  for  Chippewa  County  in  1910,  and  since  then 
he  has  been  twice  elected  to  the  office.  Judge  Bentley 
is  a director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Monte- 
video. He  is  active  in  fraternal  affairs,  has  passed 
all  the  chairs  in  the  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

Judge  Bentley  was  married  at  Plattsburg,  New 
York,  in  1884,  to  Ressa  M.  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
Franklin  County,  New  York,  in  1865.  They  are  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Lena,  the  wife  of  John 

W.  Peterson;  Mildred,  and  Wilma.  The  two  oldest 
daughters  are  high  school  graduates,  while  Mildred 
is  a graduate  of  the  Valparaiso  University  of  In- 
diana. 

Jens  Ohnstad.  A physician  and  surgeon  whose 
capabilities  are  beyond  question,  and  whose  ex- 
perience has*  brought  him  a fine  private  practice  is 
Dr.  Jens  Ohnstad  of  McIntosh,  where  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  medical  fraternity  for  a number 
of  years  and  is  proprietor  and  founder  of  the  Ohn- 
stad Hospital. 

Jens  Ohnstad  was  born  in  Dane  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, June  20,  1868,  a son  of  Rognald  and  Carrie 
(Jerdee)  Ohnstad.  His  parents  were  Norwegian 
people,  and  substantial  farmers  of  Wisconsin  and 
later  of  Iowa.  Dr.  Ohnstad  grew  up  in  Dane 
County,  Wisconsin,  and  attended  a private  school  at 
St.  Ansgar,  Iowa.  During  his  early  career  he  spent 
two  years  as  a teacher,  and  through  his  own  earn- 
ings and  without  any  assistance  paid  his  way  through 
medical  school.  He  entered  the  Minneapolis  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  the  medical  de- 
partment of  Hamline  University,  and  was  gradu- 
ated M.  D.  C.  D.  in  1903.  He  soon  afterward  es- 
tablished his  office  at  McIntosh,  and  has  enjoyed  a 
successful  private  practice.  In  1910  he  established 
the  Ohnstad  Hospital,  a well  equipped  institution 
with  accommodations  for  eight  beds,  and  which  fur- 
nishes a much  desired  service  in  that  section  of 
Polk  County.  Dr.  Ohnstad  is  a member  of  the  Red 
River  Valley  and  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  so- 
cieties and  the  American  Medical  Association,  and 
by  study  and  fraternal  relations  with  other  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  keeps  himself  constantly  abreast 
of  the  modern  improvements  in  the  science  of  medi- 
cine and  surgery. 

Dr.  Ohnstad  is  a member  of  the  Indeoendent 
Scandinavian  Workingmen's  Association,  and  of  the 
Royal  Neighbors.  For  five  years  he  served  as 
health  officer  at  McIntosh.  On  October  20,  1908, 
Dr.  Ohnstad  married  Mabel  Hooverson  of  Red 
Wing,  Minnesota.  Their  two  sons  are  Peter  Rolf 
and  Carsten  Jerdee. 

Charles  L.  Conger.  The  progress  of  the  Village 
of  McIntosh  in  Polk  County  during  the  past  twen- 
ty-four years  has  been  aggressively  forwarded  in 
many  ways  by  Charles  L.  Conger,  who  is  one  of 
the  leading  bankers  in  Northern  Minnesota,  and 
whose  ability  as  an  organizer  has.  been  called  into 
play  in  connection  with  many  important  movements 
and  with  the  public  affairs  of  his  community. 

The  Citizens  State  Bank  of  McIntosh,  of  which 
Mr.  Conger  is  cashier,  and  with  which  he  has  been 
identified  for  a number  of  years,  was  organized  as 
a private  institution  August  17,  1891,  being  known 
at  that  time  as  the  Citizens  Bank.  J.  P.  Foot  was 
the  first  president;  A.  A.  Miller,  vice  president;  and 


1450 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


C.  F.  Page,  cashier.  The  capital  stock  was  then 
$10,000.  On  January  6,  1908,  there  came  a reorgani- 
zation under  a charter  from  the  state  as  the  Citi- 
zens State  Bank  of  McIntosh.  The  capital  is  now 
$10,000,  with  surplus  of  $5,000,  undivided  profits, 
$3,000,  while  the  item  of  deposits  approximates 
$125,000.  The  bank  owns  a substantial  two-story 
brick  block,  50x25  feet,  eligibly  located  in  the  center 
of  the  town.  The  present  officers  are : J.  P.  Foot, 

president;  A.  A.  Miller,  vice  president;  Charles  L. 
Conger,  cashier. 

Charles  Leslie  Conger  was  born  in  Eau  Claire, 
Wisconsin,  January  17,  1869,  a son  of  William  and 
Susan  (Wright)  Conger.  His  father  was  a con- 
tractor and  builder  and  removed  from  Wisconsin  to 
Iowa,  where  Charles  L.  Conger  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools.  Mr.  Conger  has 
been  a resident  of  Minnesota  since  September,  1891. 
He  was  in  a law  office  at  Crookston  for  one  year, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1892  removed  to  McIntosh  and 
became  identified  with  the  Citizens  Bank  as  as- 
sistant cashier,  and  in  December,  1898,  became  cash- 
ier, holding  the  same  office  when  the  reorganization 
was  effected  under  a state  charter. 

The  official  records  of  the  Village  of  McIntosh 
indicate  that  Mr.  Conger  has  enjoyed  probably  the 
lion’s  share  of  public  honor.  For  seven  terms  he 
was  mayor,  and  for  fourteen  years  was  treasurer  of 
the  village.  In  banking  affairs  he  is  quite  well 
known  over  the  state,  being  a member  of  the  execu- 
tive council  of  the  Minnesota  Bankers  Association. 
On  the  score  of  ancestry  he  is  a member  of  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  one  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  Minnesota  Chapter.  In 
the  Northern  Minnesota  Development  Association 
he  has  held  positions  on  the  executive  board,  as  a 
director  and  also  as  vice  president.  He  is  also  a 
former  president  of  the  McIntosh  School  Board, 
and  has  served  as  president  of  the  Commercial  Club. 

In  the  Knights  of  Pythias  order  he  is  a past 
chancellor  and  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Masonic 
order,  and  is  banker  of  the  local  camp  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America. 

On  June  28,  1897,  Mr.  Conger  married  Leona 
Halverson  of  Litchfield,  Minnesota.  The  one  son 
of  that  union  is  William  L.  Mrs.  Conger  died  Sep- 
tember 14,  1902,  and  on  December  8,  1903,  he  was 
married  at  Albert  Lea,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Louise 
A.  Heiser. 

Hon.  H.  H.  Dunn.  While  his  rank  as  a success- 
ful and  able  lawyer  was  established  many  years  ago, 
Mr.  Dunn  has  more  recently  come  into  state-wide 
prominence  through  his  particularly  efficient  and 
progressive  service  as  a legislative  leader.  Without 
doubt  he  is  today  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  po- 
tential figures  in  Minnesota  public  affairs. 

H.  H.  Dunn  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Minne- 
sota, October  28,  1867,  a son  of  James  W.  Dunn, 
who  was  born  in  Eastport,  Maine,  in  1828,  and  died 
in  Jackson  County,  Minnesota,  in  1889.  Grandfather, 
James  J.  Dunn,  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and 
during  his  residence  at  Eastport,  Maine,  was  con- 
nected with  the  fishing  industry.  James  W.  Dunn 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  Minnesota,  followed  the 
vocations  of  school  teacher  and  farmer,  and  carried 
to  his  grave  a bullet  that  struck  him  in  the  thigh 
during  the  battle  of  Iuka  in  the  Civil  war.  He  had 
served  for  two  years  as  sergeant  in  Company  B of 
the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Minnesota  Infantry,  and  was 


given  an  honorable  discharge  as  a result  of  his 
wounds.  James  W.  Dunn  married  Elizabeth  M. 
Seely,  who  died  in  Jackson  County,  Minnesota,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-nine.  She  was  of  a prominent  colonial 
family  that  was  identified  with  the  old  State  of 
Virginia. 

H.  H.  Dunn  grew  up  in  Jackson  County,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools,  and  when  seventeen  years 
of  age  entered  the  office  of  a lawyer  at  Jackson,  and 
continued  his  studies  until  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1890.  Since  then  his  career  has  been  one  of  steady 
climbing  in  his  profession,  and  equally  effective  and 
useful  service  to  the  public,  often  in  the  thankless 
duties  which  a democratic  community  requires  of  its 
citizens.  Mr.  Dunn  practiced  at  Fairmont,  Minne- 
sota, from  1892  until  January  1,  1899,  and  his  home 
has  since  been  in  Albert  Lea.  He  has  a large  practice 
and  has  reached  that  point  in  his  profession  where 
he  is  able  to  pick  and  choose  his  business.  His  offices 
are  in  the  First  National  Bank  Building,  and  he  is  a 
director  in  the  Freeborn  County  State  Bank  and  in 
the  Motor  Inn  Company. 

Since  reaching  his  majority  Mr.  Dunn  has  voted 
and  worked  with  the  republican  party,  but  always  as 
one  of  its  progressive  members.  Four  years  of  serv- 
ice as  city  attorney  at  Fairmont  introduced  him  to 
practical  politics,  and  from  1897  to  1899  he  repre- 
sented the  Martin-Watonwan  District  in  the  State 
Senate.  During  that  time  Senator  Dunn  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Judiciary  and  the  Printing  committees, 
and  chairman  of  a special  committee  to  investigate 
the  labor  bureau  of  Minnesota,  besides  membership 
on  minor  committees.  After  his  first  term  as  sena- 
tor he  was  elected  in  1900  mayor  of  Albert  Lea  and 
devoted  much  of  the  time  during  his  two  terms  in 
that  office  to  the  improvement  and  the  economical 
administration  of  his  home  city.  In  the  fall  of  1910 
came  his  election  to  the  House  of  Representatives 
from  Freeborn  County,  and  during  the  1911  session 
lie  was  honored  with  the  office  of  speaker  of  the 
House.  In  1912  he  was  reelected  and  served  through 
the  session  of  1913.  He  was  speaker  of  the  House 
during  the  extra  session  of  1912.  Many  of  the  most 
important  legislative  measures  originated  and  passed 
during  the  last  three  or  four  years  have  been  either 
directly  or  indirectly  the  work  of  Senator  Dunn.  Im- 
portant legislation  with  which  his  name  should  be 
associated  was  the  passage  in  1911-12  of  the  state- 
wide primary  law;  the  bill  increasing  the  gross  earn- 
ings tax  on  railroads,  adding  approximately  two  mil- 
lion dollars  a year  to  the  state  revenues;  the  cor- 
rupt practice  act ; the  ratification  of  the  income  tax 
and  the  United  States  senators  amendments ; one  of 
the  best  child  labor  laws  in  the  country;  and  during 
the  1913  session  Mr.  Dunn  was  chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Dairy  Products  and  Live  Stock,  a member 
of  the  Judiciary,  the  Reapportionment,  the  Roads 
and  Bridges,  the  Railroads  and  the  Corporations 
committees.  Mr.  Dunn  was'  author  of  the  House 
Distance  Tariff  Law,  known  as  the  Cashman  Bill  in 
the  Senate,  and  had  charge  of  that  measure  during 
its  consideration  by  the  House.  The  passage  of  the 
state  Oleomargarine  Law,  of  the  Butter  Brand  Law, 
of  the  Hog  Cholera  Serum  Law  and  other  important 
legislation  affecting  farming  and  live  stock  interests 
were  brought  about  through  his  efficient  leadership. 
Mr.  Dunn  was  author  of  the  bill  reserving  all  min- 
eral rights  in  lands  deeded  to  railroads,  with  an 
approximate  saving  to  the  state  of  three  million 
dollars.  He  supported  the  initiative,  referendum 


'tAyi 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1451 


and  recall  and  other  progressive  legislation  during 
that  session. 

Senator  Dunn  is  affiliated  with  Western  Star  Lodge 
No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Albert  Lea  Chapter  No.  30, 
R.  A.  M. ; Apollo  Commandery  No.  12,  K.  T. ; Osman 
Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  St.  Paul;  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Albert  Lea; 
is  exalted  ruler  of  Albert  Lea  Lodge  No.  813,  B.  P. 
O.  E.  Mr.  Dunn  has  been  a member  of  the  Business 
Men’s  League  since  its  organization,  and  belongs  to 
the  American  Bar  Association. 

His  residence  is  at  204  Fountain  Street  in  Albert 
Lea.  On  October  4,  1894,  in  Fairmont,  Minnesota, 
Mr.  Dunn  married  Miss  Eva  Nicholas,  daughter  of 
H.  B.  and  Isabella  Nicholas,  of  Emmetsburg,  Iowa. 
Both  her  parents  are  now  deceased,  and  her  father 
was  engaged  in  railway  construction  work.  Mr. 
Dunn  and  wife  have  two  children : Isobel,  who  is  a 

student  in  the  Albert  Lea  College  for  Women,  and 
Virginia  in  the  Albert  Lea  High  School. 

Carl  M.  Berg.  President  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  McIntosh,  C.  M.  Berg  is  one  of  the  group 
of  business  men  who  are  chiefly  responsible  for  the 
direction  and  control  of  the  larger  commercial  and 
financial  interests  of  Polk  County.  His  success 
and  position  have  been  honorably  won,  and  his 
career  has  been  a rise  from  a humble  clerkship  to  a 
bank  presidency.  Mr.  Berg  is  the  example  of  a man 
who  without  means  and  without  influential  friends 
in  boyhood,  has  steadily  climbed  upward  to  the  posi- 
tion which  his  ambition  coveted. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  McIntosh  is  the  out- 
growth of  a private  bank,  known  as  the  Bank  of 
McIntosh  in  1889,  and  it  later  became  the  State  Bank 
of  McIntosh  owned  by  James  and  Sol  H.  Drew,  who 
were  controlling  factors  in  the  institution  until  about 
1901.  On  January  1,  1903,  the  State  Bank  was  con- 
verted into  the  First  National  Bank.  In  1915  some 
of  the  items  taken  from  the  bank  statement  indicate 
a capital  stock  'of  $25,000,  surplus  of  $5,000,  un- 
divided profits  of  $6,000,  with  deposits  of  approxi- 
mately $190,000.  The  bank  owns  and  occupies  a sub- 
stantial pressed  brick,  two-story  block,  23x52  feet, 
and  well  furnished  for  banking  purposes,  the  second 
story  being  used  for  offices.  All  the  present  officers 
have  been  identified  with  the  institution  for  ten  years 
or  more.  The  president  is  Mr.  Berg  and  the  vice 
president  K.  K.  Hoffard  and  the  cashier  George  A. 
Beito. 

Carl  M.  Berg  was  born  in  Grue  Prestegjeld.  Solor, 
Norway,  April  10,  1873,  spent  his  early  youth  in  that 
country,  attended  the  Norwegian  schools,  and  in 
1888,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  came  to  America  with 
his  parents.  The  family  established  their  home  on 
a farm  in  King  township  of  Polk  County.  Several 
years  later,  having  continued  to  attend  school  and 
securing  a practical  knowledge  as  a farmer,  Mr. 
C.  M.  Berg  began  his  career  in  1892  as  clerk  in  a 
store  at  McIntosh,  and  continued  in  that  line  of 
business  until  1899.  For  two  seasons  he  sold  agri- 
cultural implements  on  the  road,  and  in  1901  took 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the  State  Bank  of 
McIntosh.  He  was  later  promoted  to  assistant 
cashier,  and  continued  to  hold  that  position  after 
the  organization  of  the  First  National  Bank.  In 
1905  he  was  promoted  to  cashier,  and  held  that  of- 
fice until  January  10,  1911,  when  elected  president. 

Mr.  Berg  was  married  November  18,  1896,  to  Miss 
Bertha  Bjorgo,  who  came  to  Polk  County  with  her 
parents  during  the  early  settlement  of  what  is  known 


as  the  thirteen  towns.  While  giving  the  best  ener- 
gies of  his  nature  to  his  work  as  a banker,  Mr.  Berg 
has  also  concerned  himself  beneficially  with  public 
affairs.  He  has  served  in  the  office  of  mayor,  was 
for  eight  years  a member  of  the  school  board,  hold- 
ing the  office  of  treasurer,  and  in  1914  becoming 
president  of  the  board.  He  is  treasurer  of  the 
North  Star  Creamery  Association  and  treasurer  of 
the  Scandinavian  Workingmen’s  Association.  For 
the  past  twenty-three  years  he  has  held  the  office  of 
treasurer  of  St.  John's  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church. 
He  is  also  a former  president  of  the  McIntosh  Com- 
mercial Club. 

0L 

James  Lewis  Humphrey.  The  Farmers  State 
Bank  of  Fosston,  which  furnishes  a financial  service 
to  a large  and  prosperous  district  in  Polk  County,  is 
an  institution  with  a successful  history  of  seven 
years.  It  was  organized  October  8,  1908,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $10,000.  The  first  officers  were  J.  A. 
Northrop,  president;  John  Mittum,  vice  president; 
M.  A.  Hendrickson,  cashier.  The  bank  has  its  quar- 
ters in  its  own  building,  a structure  25x75  feet,  with 
the  second  floor  occupied  for  offices.  A statement 
of  the  bank’s  condition  in  1915,  shows  capital  stock 
of  $10,000,  surplus  of  $1,500,  undivided  profits  of 
$700,  with  deposits  of  $125,000.  Mr.  Northrop  is 
still  president,  while  the  two  vice  presidents  are 
John  Mittum  and  H.  K.  Lee,  and  the  cashier  is  J.  L. 
Humphrey. 

James  Lewis  Humphrey,  now  cashier  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  of  Fosston,  has  made  banking 
his  business  and  profession  from  early  manhood, 
and  though  still  a young  man,  has  reached  an  envi- 
able position  in  his  home  community,  and  is  also  well 
known  among  Minnesota  bankers,  having  in  1914 
served  as  president  of  the  Ninth  District  of  the  Min- 
nesota Bankers  Association.  He  was  born  in  Lyon 
County,  Minnesota,  May  26,  1881,  a son  of  Marcus 
C.  and  Frances  (Lewis)  Humphrey.  His  father  was 
a merchant.  The  son  received  his  education  in  pub- 
lic schools  and  also  attended  a business  college.  His 
first  important  experience  was  one  year  spent  in  the 
farm  loan  business.  In  1906  he  went  to  Crookston 
as  assistant  cashier  of  the  Crookston  State  Bank, 
and  in  1910  became  identified  with  the  Farmers  State 
Bank  of  Fosston,  and  since  that  year  has  been 
cashier  of  the  institution.  Mr.  Humphrey  is  a for- 
mer president  of  the  Fosston  Commercial  Club  and 
is  a member  of  the  local  board  of  health.  In  Mas- 
onry he  belongs  to  both  the  lodge  and  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  and  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  United  Commercial 
Travelers.  On  November  7,  1908,  he  married  Miss 
Elva  Murray  of  Minneapolis. 

S.  S.  Stadsvold.  Probably  more  of  the  substantial 
business  enterprise  of  Fosston  revolves  about  the 
name  of  S.  S.  Stadsvold  than  any  other  citizen.  Mr. 
Stadsvold  was  one  of  the  founders  and  is  now 
president  of  the  Fosston  Elevator  and  Flouring 
Mills,  one  of  the  leading  institutions  of  its  kind  in 
Northern  Minnesota,  is  officially  identified  with  half 
a dozen  banks  or  other  local  concerns,  and  has  been 
one  of  the  most  effective  workers  in  behalf  of  com- 
munity upbuilding  and  civic  progress  at  Fosston  since 
the  early  days. 

The  Fosston  Elevator  and  Flouring  Mills  were 
founded  as  an  institution,  though  not  under  that 


1452 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


name,  in  1888,  when  Mr.  Stadsvold  and  associates 
built  a flour  mill  with  a daily  capacity  of  sixty 
barrels.  This  mill  was  burnt,  and  in  1897  was  re- 
built, with  a daily  capacity  of  125  barrels.  The  ele- 
vator has  a capacity  of  33,000  bushels.  This  is  now 
a large  and  imposing  plant,  the  mill  proper  being  a 
building  48x60  feet,  while  the  elevator  is  34x36  feet 
on  foundations,  and  rising  to  a height  of  sixty 
feet,  and  a warehouse  completes  the  group  on  a 
foundation  24  by  94  feet.  The  old  mill  employed 
five  men,  while  at  the  present  time  the  number  of 
employes  is  twelve.  The  mills  deal  in  wheat,  oats, 
barley,  corn  and  flax,  and  manufacture  two  or  more 
staple  brands  of  Minnesota  flour  from  No.  1 hard 
spring  wheat. 

Sever  S.  Stadsvold  was  born  in  Waukon,  Iowa, 
September  30,  1861,  a son  of  Seron  and  Gurie  Stads- 
vold. His  father  was  an  Iowa  farmer.  Mr.  Stads- 
vold spent  his  youth  in  the  country  districts  of  Iowa, 
was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  hard  work  when 
a boy,  and  secured  his  education  from  district  schools 
and  high  school.  He  was  still  a young  man  when 
in  1884  he  established  a general  merchandise  store 
at  Lake  Park,  Minnesota.  Two  and  a half  years 
later,  on  November  6,  1886,  he'  arrived  in  the  then 
small  Village  of  Fosston,  and  started  as  a general 
merchant.  From  that  start  he  has  developed  interests 
which  have  made  him  the  leading  factor  in  this 
locality.  In  1887  he  built  saw  mills,  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing seven  years  cut  from  five  to  six  million  feet 
of  lumber  at  Fosston  each  year.  In  the  fall  of  1888, 
as  a member  of  the  firm  of  Larson  Bros.  & Stads- 
vold, he  built  the  flour  mill  already  mentioned.  In 
1893  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Stads- 
vold took  the  flour  milling  part  of  the  business. 

His  services  as  a business  man  and  his  ability 
to  control  capital  have  naturally  brought  him  into 
banking  affairs.  Mr.  Stadsvold  is  now  vice  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Fosston,  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  that  institution  under  the 
name  Bank  of  Fosston.  Fie  is  vice  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Bagley,  a director  of  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Shevlin,  is  president  of  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Clearbrook. 

His  record  of  ..public  service  is  hardly  less  note- 
worthy than  his  business  achievements.  For  five 
terms  he  was  honored  with  the  office  of  mayor  of 
Fosston.  For  twenty-one  years  he  has  been  a mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  and  for  nineteen  years  of 
that  time  was  its  president,  and  in  that  capacity 
assisted  in  the  building  of  all  the  local  schoolhouses. 
For  four  years  he  was  a member  of  the  State  Board 
of  Equalization,  and  has  long  been  a leading  figure 
in  Polk  County  in  republican  politics.  He  has  served 
as  chairman  of  the  Polk  County  Central  Committee 
and  also  on  the  State  Central  Committee,  and  though 
a vigorous  advocate  of  republican  doctrines  in  his 
interest  in  the  upbuilding  of  city,  county  and  state, 
has  never  allowed  his  partisanship  to  interfere  with 
good  service.  Mr.  Stadsvold  is  a member  of  the 
Commercial  Club,  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

On  June  26,  1888,  Mr.  Stadsvold  married  Miss 
Minnie  Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden.  They 
have  reason  to  be  proud  of  their  family  of  four 
children.  Millie  Geneva,  the  oldest,  is  the  wife  of 
Wallace  E.  Pearson,  formerly  of  Ada,  Minnesota, 
and  now  claim  agent  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
way at  Livingston,  Montana.  Sidney  C.  J.  is  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Francis 


H.  E.  is  a student  of  law  in  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota. Stella  Madeline  is  a student  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota  and  in  the  Northwestern  Con- 
servatory of  Music,  and  is  a young  woman  who  has 
distinguished  herself  in  athletics,  as  has  also  her 
two  brothers,  and  has  set  many  of  the  records  in 
woman’s  events  in  various  athletic  contests  at  the 
State  University. 

Lewis  Lohn.  The  career  of  Lewis  Lohn  and  that 
of  the  thriving  Village  of  Fosston  have  developed 
side  by  side,  and  there  has  been  little  in  the  business, 
financial  and  civic  progress  of  the  city  with  which 
Mr.  Lohn  has  not  identified  himself  in  some  effective 
and  public-spirited  manner.  Primarily  he  has  been  a 
banker,  but  has  also  held  some  public  positions  since 
the  incorporation  of  the  village. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Fosston,  of  which 
Mr.  Lohn  is  cashier,  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  Bank 
of  Fosston,  which  was  established  in  1889,  and 
with  which  Mr.  Lohn  was  even  at  that  time  identified. 
The  reorganization  under  a national  charter  occurred 
in  1903.  This  bank  has  a capital  stock  of  $30,000, 
surplus  of  $6,000,  undivided  profits  of  $6,000,  and 
in  matter  of  deposits,  which  aggregate  $425,000,  this 
bank  shows  exceptional  popularity  and  power.  The 
bank  owns  a two-story  pressed  brick  building,  32  by 
40  feet,  with  offices  above  the  banking  room.  The 
officers  are:  A.  D.  Stephens,  president;  S.  S.  Stads- 
vold, vice  president;  and  Lewis  Lohn,  cashier. 

Lewis  Lohn  was  born  September  25,  1857,  in  Boone 
County,  Illinois,  a son  of  Knute  and  Syneva  Lohn. 
His  father  was  a farmer,  and  the  son  grew  up  on 
a farm  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
and  Cedar  Valley  Seminary  at  Osage,  Iowa.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  the  Northwest  and 
took  up  a claim  in  Dakota  Territory  and  lived  in 
Traill  County  for  a number  of  years.  He  served 
as  deputy  register  of  deeds  in  that  county  for  two 
years,  and  in  1882  was  regularly  elected  to  that 
office,  and  held  the  position  creditably  for  four  years. 
Mr.  Lohn  removed  to  Fosston,  Minnesota,  in  1887, 
and  for  five  years  was  a local  merchant.  He  then 
became  actively  identified  with  the  private  banking 
business,  held  the  post  of  cashier  and  continued  in 
the  same  office  upon  the  organization  of  the  First 
National  Bank. 

When  Fosston  was  incorporated  Mr.  Lohn  was 
the  man  honored  with  the  first  office  of  mayor, 
serving  one  term.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the  local 
school  board  since  its  organization,  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  and  is  still  an  influential  member  of 
the  Commercial  Club.  His  fraternal  affiliations  are 
with  the  Masonic  Order  and  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Lohn  married  Fannie  Houghton,  and  the 
five  sons  of  that  union  are : Lewis  Kent,  in  the 

banking  business  at  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota; 
Francis  H.,  connected  with  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Fosston;  Dwight,  a merchant  in  Froid,  Montana; 
Leon,  in  the  insurance  business  at  Duluth ; and 
Victor  H.,  a student  in  the  Agricultural  College  at 
Fargo,  North  Dakota.  Mr.  Lohn  married  for  his 
present  wife  Gertrude  Houghtaling  of  Fosston. 

Hon.  Henry  F.  Maurin.  One  of  the  progressive, 
energetic  and  thoroughly  capable  business  men  of 
Elizabeth,  Minnesota,  Henry  F.  Maurin  is  also  serv- 
ing in  the  capacity  of  mayor  of  this  thriving  little 
community,  and  is  taking  an  active  and  helpful  part 
in  the  interests  which  are  promoting  its  growth  and 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1453 


welfare.  He  was  born  at  Parkdale,  Ottertail  County, 
Minnesota,  July  9,  1882,  at  the  time  of  a visit  of  his 
parents,  Peter  and  Anna  (Kaus)  Maurin,  who  were 
residents  of  Elizabeth. 

Peter  Maurin,  during  the  more  than  forty-three 
years  of  his  residence  at  Elizabeth,  was  one  of 
Ottertail  County’s  most  prominent  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens.  He  was  born  in  1839,  at  Unter- 
Wald,  Unter-Krain,  Austria,  and  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  when  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
first  locating  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  found 
a number  of  his  countrymen.  Two  years  were  spent 
in  the  Illinois  metropolis,  and  in  1859  he  moved  to 
St.  Paul,  in  which  city  he  resided  for  three  years, 
then  going  to  Cold  Springs,  Minnesota,  where  he 
was  associated  in  business  with  his  brother,  Marcus, 
for  nine  years.  In  the  winter  of  1870-71  Mr. 
Maurin  came  to  Elizabeth  as  a pioneer.  He  had 
been  a merchant  all  of  his  life,  and  on  locating 
at  Elizabeth  purchased  a small,  store  from  Jacob 
Movrin,  this  forming  the  nucleus  for  the  present 
large  establishment  of  the  Peter  Maurin  Company. 
At  the  start  Mr.  Maurin’s  operations  were  carried 
on  in  a modest  manner,  but  as  the  years  passed 
and  he  attracted  trade  to  his  store,  he  increased 
his  stock  and  his  building,  branched  out  into  new 
territory  and  made  his  business  at  Elizabeth  one 
of  the  most  important  of  the  town,  it  now  being 
valued  in  the  neighborhood  of  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  He  was  president  of  the  Merchants  State 
Bank  of  Elizabeth,  and  a director  in  the  First  State 
Bank  of  Fergus  Falls,  and  at  the  latter  place  was 
the  builder  of  the  Maurin  Block,  a handsome  and 
substantial  structure.  He  was  also  largely  interested 
in  farms,  being  the  owner  of  six  properties  aggre- 
gating over  one  thousand  acres  in  Ottertail  County, 
as  well  as  a farm  at  Little  Falls.  He  was  a faithful 
member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  throughout  his 
life  strictly  adhered  to  high  principles  of  business 
integrity,  gaining  and  retaining  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  came  into  contact.  A 
democrat  in  his  political  views,  he  served  for  some 
years  as  postmaster  of  Elizabeth,  and  for  many  years 
acted  in  the  capacity  of  mayor,  the  town  developing 
considerably  under  his  able  administration.  He  died 
at  Elizabeth,  in  August,  1914. 

Peter  Maurin  married  Miss  Anna  Kaus,  who  was 
born  at  Faribault,  Minnesota,  and  is  now  a resident 
of  Elizabeth,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  as  follows : Amelia,  who  married  Charles 

Nangle,  a general  merchant  of  Bemidji,  Minnesota; 
Martha,  who  married  George  Schroeder,  and  resides 
on  a farm  in  Ottertail  County;  Matilda,  who  died 
unmarried  in  February,  1913;  Marcus,  educated  in 
the  Elizabeth  public  schools  and  St.  John’s  Uni- 
versity, secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Peter  Maurin 
Company,  at  Elizabeth,  married  Irene  Barron,  who 
died  in  1913,  leaving  one  child,  Marcus  P.,  born 
February  12,  1913;  Frank,  an  attorney,  married 
Frances  Sharp  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  died  in 
1905,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years;  Antoinette,  who 
married  Ole  Sletvold,  in  the  machinery  and  imple- 
ment business  at  Elizabeth ; and  Henry  F. 

Henry  F.  Maurin  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Elizabeth,  after  leaving  which  he  attended  St.  John’s 
University  for  six  years  and  was  graduated  there- 
from in  1902.  At  that  time  he  entered  upon  his 
career  in  his  father’s  business,  and  has  continued  to 
be  connected  therewith  to  the  present  time.  The 
establishment  of  the  Peter  Maurin  Company  is 
located  on  Broadway,  and  the  officers  of  the  con- 


cern are : Mrs.  Peter  Maurin,  president ; Henry  F. 

Maurin,  vice  president;  Marcus  Maurin,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  Mr.  Maurin  has  numerous  other 
business  interests,  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  force- 
ful and  enterprising  business  men  of  his  part  of  the 
county.  In  politics  a democrat,  in  1911  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Elizabeth,  a position  which  he 
now  holds.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  and  is  still  a member  thereof. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Maurin  is  connected  with  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America,  Camp  No.  2302,  and 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Lodge 
No.  1093,  of  Fergus  Falls. 

In  1911,  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  Mr.  Maurin  was 
married  to  Miss  Laura  J.  Rush,  whose  father,  James 
Rush,  is  a retired  railroad  superintendent  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin.  To  this  union  there  has  been 
born  one  daughter,  Dorothy  J. 

I 

Hon.  Ernest  Lundeen.  In  bold  and  clear  char- 
acters Hon.  Ernest  Lundeen  has  inscribed  his  name 
upon  the  history  of  Minneapolis,  both  in  the  domain 
of  the  law  and  as  a representative  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  offices  of  public  trust  and  importance, 
where  he  has  been  able  to  prepare  and  secure  the 
passage  of  much  beneficial  legislation.  As  one  of 
his  city’s  most  helpful  men,  his  record  has  always 
been  characterized  by  fidelity  to  duty. 

Mr.  Lundeen  was  born  near  Beresford,  South 
Dakota,  on  the  homestead  of  his  father,  August  4, 
1878,  and  is  a son  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Henry  and 
Christine  C.  (Peterson)  Lundeen.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  secured  in  the  common  school  of  the 
Brooklyn  district,  near  Beresford,  and  at  Harcourt, 
Iowa,  and  in  1895  he  was  graduated  from  the  Day- 
ton  (Iowa)  High  School.  Following  this,  he  en- 
tered Carleton  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1901, 
securing  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  his 
entire  college  career  was  one  crowded  with  accom- 
plishments of  a high  order.  As  a student  of  Carle- 
ton  College,  in  1900,  he  won  the  state  championship 
in  oratory,  and  represented  Minnesota  in  the  inter- 
state oratorical  contest  during  the  same  year.  While 
at  Carleton  he  was  prominent  in  athletics,  playing 
on  three  state  champion  football  teams  and  being 
captain  of  the  track  team,  and  also  served  in  the 
capacity  of  editor  of  the  college  paper.  He  has 
stood  valiantly  for  Minnesota  in  a large  number  of 
struggles  for  supremacy  in  debate,  oratory,  rifle  and 
general  athletic  contests.  In  1903  he  was  one  of 
the  representatives  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
in  debate  against  Northwestern  University,  Chicago, 
and  more  than  fifty  gold,  silver  and  bronze  medals, 
won  in  contests,  testify  to  his  prowess  as  a partici- 
pant in  many  hard-fought  meets.  Mr.  Lundeen  took 
up  the  study  of  his  chosen  vocation  of  the  law  at 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  after  his  gradua- 
tion from  that  institution,  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
May  21,  1906.  He  was  a member  of  the  National 
Champion  Rifle  team  in  1909,  and  has  long  been 
recognized  as  one  of  the  country’s  most  skilled  and 
versatile  athletes. 

The  foregoing  things  have  been  indicated  to  dem- 
onstrate what  nature  and  training  have  done  in  the 
way  of  physical  and  mental  endowment  and  devel- 
opment for  Mr.  Lundeen,  but  it  is  rather  his  career 
as  a lawyer  and  legislator  which  is  our  chief  con- 
cern. He  was  elected  by  large  majorities  from  the 
Forty-second  District  to  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives in  1910  and  again  in  1912,  and  has  always  been 
found  on  the  side  of  the  people  and  in  accord  with 


1454 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


progressive  theories  of  political  thought.  He  is  a 
republican  and  has  shown  great  loyalty  to  the  peo- 
ple regardless  of  political  considerations. 

Mr.  Lundeen  is  the  author  of  the  law  which  in 
the  session  of  1911  increased  the  value  of  human 
life,  when  lost  in  the  industries,  from  $5,000  to 
$7,500,  of  the  legislation  which  provided  a purchas- 
ing department  for  the  City  of  Minneapolis,  and  of 
the  admirable  law  which  gave  permission  for  a 
municipally  owned  electric  light  plant.  In  the  ses- 
sion of  19x2,  Mr.  Lundeen  made  a strong  fight  for 
two  amendments  to  the  United  States  Constitution, 
the  national  income  tax  and  the  direct  election 
of  senators  by  the  people.  Both  of  these  bills  were 
passed.  In  the  same  session  he  was  the  author  of 
a recall  bill  which  passed  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives by  a vote  of  93  to  3,  and  this  bill  failed  in 
the  Senate  by  only  six  votes.  During  the  session 
of  1913,  among  much  other  important  work  done, 
Mr.  Lundeen  was  the  framer  of  the  law  calling  for 
state  insurance  at  cost  on  public  buildings,  which 
saved  at  once  to  the  state  the  sum  of  a third  of  a 
million  dollars,  although  he  was  compelled  to  labor 
assiduously  to  overcome  the  bitter  opposition  which 
at  first  met  it.  After  three  hard-fought  defeats,  he 
finally  secured  the  passage,  in  1913,  without  a single 
dissenting  vote,  of  the  presidential  primary  law, 
Minnesota  being  one  of  the  first  states  in  the  Union 
to  take  such  a stand  as  to  the  choice  of  president, 
thereby  eliminating  boss  rule  in  national  party  con- 
ventions. Mr.  Lundeen  was  also  charman  of  the 
Soldiers’  Home  Committee  during  this  session.  His 
efforts  also  amended  the  workmen's  compensation 
act,  securing  for  injured  employes  $200,  available 
during  the  first  ninety  days,  for  medical  and  sur- 
gical attendance,  hospital  charges,  medicines,  nurses, 
crutches  and  artificial  limbs.  For  these  and  other 
important  services  he  received  endorsement  and  ap- 
proval from  the  State  Progressive  League  and  the 
Minnesota  State  Federation  of  Labor.  Mr.  Lun- 
deen is  in  close  touch  with  his  party  as  far  as  it  is 
in  line  with  progressive  ideas,  and  was  elected  with- 
out opposition  alternate  delegate  from  Hennepin 
County  to  the  national  republican  convention  held 
at  Chicago  in  1912.  In  April,  1914,  Mr.  Lundeen 
announced  his  candidacy  for  the  republican  nom- 
ination to  Congress  as  representative  of  the  new 
Fifth  Congressional  District,  comprising  all  the  City 
of  Minneapolis  except  the  third,  fourth  and  tenth 
wards.  His  platform  was  his  record  as  a progress- 
ive legislator  in  the  state  and  a promise  to  carry 
into  the  National  Legislature  his  persistent  efforts 
for  economical  expenditures  and  the  enactment  of 
laws  which  would  improve  social  conditions  and  a 
sturdy  adherence  to  the  welfare  of  the  country 
rather  than  to  the  sectional  interests  or  to  party 
advancement.  Mr.  Lundeen  made  an  excellent  cam- 
paign and  was  strongly  supported,  carrying  five 
wards  out  of  the  ten  comprising  the  district,  but 
was  defeated  in  the  primaries  in  June,  1914,  by  the 
present  congressman,  George  Smith. 

In  addition  to  his  extensive  law  practice,  Mr. 
Lundeen  is  prosperously  interested  in  the  real  estate 
and  investment  business  and  maintains  well-ap- 
pointed offices  at  No.  406  Northwestern  Bank  Build- 
ing, at  the  corner  of  First  Avenue,  south,  and 
Fourth  Street.  He  still  maintains  his  connection 
with  university  and  college  associations  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  Athenian,  Shakopean  and  Delta  Sigma 
Rho  fraternities.  His  military  record  includes  sev- 
eral years  spent  as  a member  of  the  Minnesota 


National  Guard,  in  which  he  acted  as  lieutenant  of 
Company  F,  as  well  as  service  as  a volunteer  during 
the  late  war  between  the  United  States  and  Spain. 
Fraternally,  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Khoras- 
san,  the  Masons,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Spanish- 
American  War  Veterans.  He  is  a genuinely  pro- 
gressive, upright  and  far-seeing  citizen  and  has  con- 
sistently supported  progressive  and  labor  legislation. 
Mr.  Lundeen  is  also  widely  known  in  social  and 
club  circles  of  the  city,  and  belongs  to  the  Min- 
neapolis Athletic  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and 
Commerce  Association,  and  various  other  organ- 
izations. 

Ernest  H.  Reff.  Among  the  men  who  have  sup- 
plied hope  and  enthusiasm,  as  well  as  hard  work 
and  business  enterprise  to  the  development  of  North- 
ern Minnesota,  Ernest  H.  Reff  deserves  particular 
mention  in  this  work  for  his  part  in  the  history  of 
Bagley  and  Clearwater  County.  Mr.  Reff  went  to 
that  locality  as  a homesteader  before  the  organiza- 
tion of  Clearwater  County,  and  there  have  been  few 
movements  of  any  importance  since  with  which  his 
name  has  not  been  influentially  associated. 

Ernest  H.  Reff  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  New 
York,  January  27,  1876,  a son  of  Christopher  and 
Mary  (Backus)  Reff.  His  father  was  a farmer,  and 
about  five  years  after  the  birth  of  his  son,  in  June, 
1881,  arrived  in  Minnesota  and  located  in  Ottertail 
County.  Mr.  Reff  was  educated  in  Minnesota,  and 
for  about  eight  years  was  connected  with  school 
work  as  a teacher.  In  1897  he  took  up  a homestead 
in  what  is  now  Clearwater  County,  and  remained 
on  it  in  the  work  of  proving  up  and  developing  the 
land  until  1902.  When  Clearwater  County  was 
organized  Mr.  Reff  was  appointed  the  first  clerk  of 
court,  held  that  for  two  years  under  appointment 
and  then  was  elected  for  two  successive  terms,  so 
that  his  service  continued  for  ten  years.  Mr.  Reff’s 
chief  business  is  an  abstracter,  having  purchased 
the  Clearwater  County  abstract  books  several  years 
ago  and  being  now  owner  of  the  Clearwater  Abstract 
Company.  He  helped  organize  the  Bagley  Build- 
ing & Loan  Association,  of  which  he  has  been 
secretary,  and  also  organized  and  is  president  of 
the  Clearwater  County  Agricultural  Society.  He 
was  former  president  and  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Co-operative  Creamery  Association  of  Bag- 
ley.  He  has  done  a great  deal  to  stimulate  enter- 
prise in  an  agricultural  way,  and  is  credited  with 
having  brought  into  Clearwater  County  the  first 
thoroughbred  cattle,  hogs  and  poultry.  For  six 
years  he  was  the  manager  for  the  Clearwater  County 
Agricultural  Exhibits  at  the  State  Fair,  and  in  every 
possible  way  lias  helped  to  forward  movements  for 
the  upbuilding  of  his  home  town  and  county.  For 
a number  of  years  he  served  as  township  clerk. 
Before  the  organization  of  Clearwater  County  he 
served  as  deputy  superintendent  of  schools,  and 
held  all  the  examinations  for  local  teachers.  He  is 
a member  of  the  school  board  at  Bagley  and  was 
on  that  board  when  the  new  schoolhouse  was  con- 
structed. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Reff  is  a past  noble  grand  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Royal  League.  On  August  17,  1901,  he  married 
Sophia  Pattison  of  Cormorant,  Minnesota.  Their 
three  children  are  named  Alan  Randolph,  Mildred 
Mary  and  Robert  Ernest. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1455 


Mankato  Public  Library  is  one  of  the  best  of 
Mankato’s  public  buildings  and  is  centrally  located 
on  South  Broad  Street.  The  present  building  was 
erected  in  1902  at  a cost  of  $40,000,  a gift  of  Mr. 
Andrew  Carnegie.  It  is  one  story,  of  pressed  brick 
with  Mankato  stone  trimmings,  the  grounds  about 
the  building  being  attractive  and  well  kept.  It  is 
practically  fireproof  with  its  concrete  floors,  steel 
stacks  and  other  furnishings.  The  ground  floor 
has  large  separate  reading  rooms  for  adults  and 
children,  loan  desk,  stack  room,  trustees’  and 
librarian's  offices.  In  the  basement  floor  is  a lecture 
room  and  living  rooms  for  the  janitor.  Throughout 
the  building  is  well  planned,  lighted  and  equipped. 
At  the  end  of  1914  the  library  contained  18,062 
volumes,  having  added  1,151  volumes  during  the 
year,  spending  $1,091.59  for  books  and  $265.20  for 
periodicals.  It  is  the  fifth  library  in  size  in  the 
state  and  is  a well  selected  and  good  working 
library.  In  1906  and  1907  it  was  thoroughly  re- 
organized. The  annual  income  from  taxation  is 
about  $5,000.  At  present  this  library  has  a staff  of 
three  and  a board  of  trustees  consisting  of  nine 
members,  who  are  appointed  by  the  mayor. 

Albert  Kaiser.  Few  namfes  occur  more,  persist- 
ently in  official  relation  with  the  business  affairs  of 
Northern  Minnesota  than  that  of  Albert  Kaiser, 
whose  home  is  at  Bagley,  where  he  is  the  active 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  but  whose  in- 
terests extend  in  a wide  radius  around  that  town, 
including  official  associations  with  a number  of 
banks  and  with  many  private  and  public  organiza- 
tions of  a business,  or  civic  character.  Mr.  Kaiser 
is  a printer  by  trade,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  news- 
paper men  in  the  northern  counties  of  the  state  and 
is  still  president  of  the  principal  newspaper  and 
printing  plant  at  Bemidji.  Mr.  Kaiser  possesses 
the  faculty  of  a business  builder  and  the  power  of 
attracting  to  himself  those  elements  which  consti- 
tute success. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Bagley,  in  which  he 
is  now  cashier,  was  organized  in  1903  with  a capital 
stock  of  $25,000  and  the  first  officers  were : A.  D. 

Stephens,  president;  Albert  Kaiser,  vice  president; 
and  F.  M.  Olson,  cashier.  At  the  present  time  while 
Mr.  Stephens  still  remains  president,  the  vice  presi- 
dent is  S.  S.  Stadsvold  of  Fosston,  while  Mr. 
Kaiser  assumes  the  principal  executive  responsibili- 
ties in  the  post  of  cashier.  The  bank  still  retains 
its  capital  stock  of  $25,000,  with  surplus  of  $5,000, 
and  undivided  profits  of  $700.  The  bank  owns  a 
two-story  building,  25  by  60  feet,  with  crushed 
brick  front  and  stone  trimmings,  the  upper  floor 
’ being  used  for  offices.  One  interesting  feature  of 
this  bank  is  the  free  reading  room  conducted  as  a 
part;  of  the  establishment,  and  also  an  information 
bureau  for  the  benefit  of  customers. 

Albert  Kaiser  was  born  in  Winona,  Minnesota, 
January  17,  1864,  a son  of  William  and  Amelia 
(Kaiser)  Kaiser,  who  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Min- 
nesota. His  father  was  a contractor  and  builder. 
Albert  Kaiser  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  at  an  early  age  began  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  printing  trade.  When  twenty 
years  of  age,  in  1884,  Mr.  Kaiser  established  at 
Fosston  a publication  known  as  the  Thirteen  Towns, 
which  was  the  principal  news  and  advertising  me- 
dium for  a large  group  of  little  communities  in 
Polk  and  adjoining  counties.  He  continued  this 
newspaper  for  ten  years.  In  1892  Mr.  Kaiser  was 


associated  with  others  in  establishing  the  Bank  of 
Fosston,  and  was  vice  president.  For  five  years 
he  held  the  office  of  state  surveyor  of  logs  and 
lumber.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  Fosston 
school  board  two  years.  Mr.  Kaiser  has  been  iden- 
tified with  Bagley  since  January,  1904,  by  residence, 
at  that  date  assuming  his  present  duties  as  cashier. 

Mr.  Kaiser  is  also  president  of  the  First  State 
Bank  of  Shevlin,  director  of  the  First  State  Bank 
of  Clearbrook,  director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Fosston,  a director  of  the  Clearbrook  Lumber 
Company,  president  of  the  Bemidji  Daily  Pioneer 
Publishing  Company,  and  president  of  the  Bagley 
Water  and  Light  Commission.  He  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Bagley  Commercial  Club,  is  now 
treasurer  of  the  local  school  board,  and  is  always 
ready  to  lend  his  influence  and  energy  for  the  pro- 
motion of  any  movement  which  promises  benefit  to 
his  locality.  His  interests  are  not  altogether  con- 
fined to  the  town,  since  he  has  a farm  of  320  acres 
two  and  a half  miles  from  Bagley,  and  in  estab- 
lishing and  improving  this  attractive  place  set  an 
example  'which  has  been  of  great  benefit  to  the 
agricultural  district.  His  farm  is  the  home  of  thor- 
oughbred cattle  and  swine.  Mr.  Kaiser  is  a mem- 
bet  of  the  Minnesota  State  Historical  Society,  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks. 

On  July  24,  1893,  he  married  Miss  Hilda  Fred- 
erika  Mark  of  Minneapolis.  Their  three  children 
are : Roscoe  M.,  a student  in  the  Carleton  College 

at  Northfield;  William  H.,  also  a student;  and 
Albert  F.,  still  in  school. 

The  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Savings  Bank  of 
Minneapolis.  This  bank  has  for  forty  years  been 
one  of  the  distinctive  institutions  in  the  financial 
district  of  Minneapolis.  It  is  exclusively  a savings 
bank,  organized  on  the  mutual  plan,  with  neither 
stock  nor  stockholders.  All  property  and  profits 
are  held  solely  for  the  benefit  of  its  depositors.  It 
does  no  collection  or  commercial  business  and  takes 
no  commercial  risks  of  any  kind.  The  funds  of  the 
bank,  aside  from  an  amount  necessary  to  meet  the 
ordinary  demands  of  the  depositors,  are  invested  in 
securities  approved  for  savings  banks  by  the  laws 
of  Minnesota.  From  the  profits  a surplus  is  accu- 
mulated and  maintained  sufficient  to  protect  the 
depositors  against  possible  contingency.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  profits  is  distributed  to  the  deposit- 
ors in  the  form  of  dividends  or  interest. 

By  1915  the  total  amount  of  dividends  paid  to 
depositors  during  the  bank’s  existence  amounted  to 
more  than  nine  millions  of  dollars.  On  April  1, 
1915,  its  total  resources  were  $19,544,899.15,  and  the 
surplus  amounted  to  over  a million  dollars.  The 
total  deposits  at  that  date  amounted  to  $18,373,- 
626.84,  and  an  interesting  feature  of  this  statement 
is  that  there  were  upwards  of  twenty-eight  thou- 
sand school  children  accounts,  aggregating  over 
forty-eight  thousand  dollars,  in  addition  to  over 
seventy  thousand  regular  interest  accounts. 

The  bank  was  incorporated  September  9,  1874,  as 
a mutual  savings  bank,  without  capital  stock,  under 
the  General  Laws  of  1867  of  the  State  of  Minnesota. 
The  original  incorporators  and  first  board  of  trus- 
tees were  H.  T.  Welles,  Clinton  Morrison,  William 
Chandler,  Charles  McC.  Reeve,  E.  H.  Moulton, 
Paris  Gibson,  W.  P.  Westfall,  Thomas  Lowry  and 
A.  D.  Mulford. 


1456 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


The  first  board  met  and  organized  for  business 
on  the  ioth  of  October,  1874,  at  the  office  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Lowry.  Shortly  after,  in  the  year  1874, 
the  bank  commenced  receiving  deposits.  It  first 
occupied  a small  room  on  Washington  Avenue  un- 
der the  Nicollet  House.  By  January  1,  1875,  the 
deposits  amounted  to  $17,540.55. 

The  deposits  of  the  bank  in  18 86  had  increased  to 
over  two  million  dollars  and  on  account  of  the 
growth  of  its  business  the  bank  was  compelled  to 
go  into  larger  quarters.  It  moved  its  banking  house 
to  Temple  Court  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Hennepin  avenues. 

In  this  latter  location  the  prosperity  of  the  bank 
was  still  more  marked  and  by  1891  the  deposits  had 
grown  to  over  $4,500,000.  The  volume  of  business 
had  become  so  great  that  the  trustees  decided  to 
erect  a building  for  the  sole  use  of  the  bank.  Such 
building  was  completed  in  1893  and  was  the  first  to 
be  erected  and  used  exclusively  for  banking  purposes 
in  the  City  of  Minneapolis. 

In  the  year  1908,  the  growth  of  the  bank  having 
continued  until  the  deposits  were  about  twelve 
million  dollars,  the  trustees  decided  to  enlarge  the 
banking  offices.  The  business  of  the  bank  was  tem- 
porarily transferred  to  the  building  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  Bank  of  Commerce,  and  the  banking 
house  at  1 15  South  Fourth  Street  was  remodeled 
and  enlarged  to  its  present  size.  The  present  build- 
ing is  of  Italian  Renaissance  style,  two  stories  in 
front  and  covering  a plat  of  land  fronting  seventy- 
five  feet  on  Fourth  Street  by  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
five  feet  in  depth. 

The  growth  of  the  deposits  of  the  bank  is  shown 
concisely  by  the  following  figures:  1875,  January 

1,  $17,540;  1880,  January  1,  $178,178;  1890,  January 
1,  $3,444,238;  1900,  January  1,  $7,870,279;  1910,  Jan- 
uary 1,  $12,494,006;  1914,  January  1,  $17,296,349.59; 
1915,  April  1,  $18,373,626.84. 

The  present  trustees  are : Messrs.  Eugene  J. 

Carpenter,  John  Crosby,  Karl  DeLaittre,  N.  F.  Haw- 
ley, T.  B.  Janney,  Cavour  S.  Langdon,  Wm.  G. 
Northup,  Alfred  F.  Pillsbury,  John  Washburn, 
Charles  C.  Webber  and  O.  C.  Wyman.  Most  of 
these  names  are  at  once  identified  as  those  of  execu- 
tives in  leading  commercial  and  industrial  concerns 
of  Minneapolis.  The  officers  are:  Mr.  T.  B.  Jan- 

ney, president;  Mr.  O.  C.  Wyman,  vice  president; 
Mr.  Wm.  G.  Northup,  second  vice  president;  Mr. 
N.  F.  Hawley,  secretary  and  treasurer;  Mr.  John 
Crosby,  assistant  treasurer. 

Newton  F.  Hawley.  A prominent  figure  in  finan- 
cial and  general  business  circles  of  Minneapolis, 
Mr.  Hawley  is  the  secretary,  treasurer  and  general 
manager  of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Savings 
Bank  of  Minneapolis,  an  institution  that  was  founded 
forty  years  ago  and  that  now  has  deposits  to  the 
amount  of  over  eighteen  million  dollars,  with  re- 
sources as  indicated  by  the  quarterly  statement  made 
April  1,  1914,  of  $19,544,899.15.  These  figures  stand 
in  emphatic  evidence  of  the  great  business  controlled 
by  this  old  and  stable  institution,  which  is  one  of 
the  strongest  of  its  kind  in  the  Northwest.  Its  func- 
tions are  those  of  a mutual  savings  bank.  It  has 
nd  stock  or  stockholders.  All  property  and  profits 
are  held  solely  for  the  benefit  of  its  depositors.  It 
does  no  collection  or  commercial  business  and  takes 
no  commercial  risks  of  any  kind.  It  has  within  the 
period  of  its  existence  paid  out  in  dividends  to  de- 
positors more  than  nine  million  dollars ; its  opera- 


tions are  based  on  the  staunchest  of  foundations, 
and  its  management  is  vested  in  citizens  of  the 
highest  standing  in  the  community.  The  trustees  of 
the  bank  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in  the  autumn 
of  1915,  are  here  designated,  together  with  their 
other  important  business  connections : E.  J.  Car- 

penter, of  Carpenter-Lamb  Lumber  Company;  John 
Crosby,  treasurer  Washburn-Crosby  Company;  Karl 
DeLaittre,  president  Green  & DeLaittre  Company ; 
Newton  F.  Hawley  treasurer  of  the  bank;  T.  B. 
Janney,  president  of  the  bank  and  of  Janney,  Sem- 
ple, Hill  & Company;  Cavour  S.  Langdon,  of  Linton 
& Company,  railroad  contractors ; William  G. 
Northup,  president  North  Star  Woolen  Mill  Com- 
pany and  vice  president  Minneapolis  Trust  Com- 
pany ; Alfred  F.  Pillsbury,  president  St.  Anthony 
Falls  Water  Power  Company  and  vice  president 
Pillsbury  Flour  Mills  Company;  John  Washburn, 
vice  president  Washburn-Crosby  Company;  Charles 
C.  Webber,  president  Deere  & Webber  Company; 
and  O.  C.  Wyman,  president  Wyman,  Partridge  & 
Company.  The  full  executive  corps  of  the  institu- 
tion is  as  here  noted:  T.  B.  Janney,  president;  O. 

C.  Wyman,  vice  president;  William  G.  Northup, 
second  vice  president;  Newton  F.  Hawley,  secre- 
tary, treasurer  and  general  manager ; F.  P.  Garcken, 
assistant  secretary ; H.  E.  Cobb,  second  assistant 
secretary;  John  Crosby,  assistant  treasurer;  F.  P. 
Leonard,  second  assistant  treasurer ; E.  V.  Cotton, 
third  assistant  treasurer;  and  C.  B.  Leonard,  coun- 
sel. 

Newton  F.  Hawley  was  born  at  Springdale, 
Woodbury  County,  Iowa,  on  the  28th  of  November, 
1859,  and  is  a son  of  Newton  J.  and  Delia  (Can- 
field)  Hawley.  He  was  afforded  the  advantages  of 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  state,  including 
those  of  the  high  school  at  Tipton,  Cedar  County, 
and  in  1879  was  graduated  from  Iowa  College  at 
Grinnell,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In 
1882  he  received  from  his  alma  mater  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts,  after  a post-graduate  course. 
Mr.  Hawley,  coming  to  Minneapolis  in  1880,  gave 
careful  attention  to  preparing  himself  for  the  legal 
profession,  and  in  1884,  at  Minneapolis,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Minnesota  bar.  In  this  city  he  forth- 
with engaged  in  the  active  practice  -of  law,  in  which 
he  continued,  and  with  distinctive  success,  until 
January  1,  1906,  when  he  was  elected  secretary, 
treasurer  and  trustee  of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics 
Savings  Bank,  his  office  of  treasurer  making  him 
the  managing  executive  of  this  great  institution,  the 
affairs  of  which  now  engross  his  time  and  attention. 
Within  the  period  of  his  active  professional  work 
Mr.  Hawley  was  successively  a member  of  the  law 
firms  of  Hahn  & Hawley;  Hahn,  Belden  & Hawley; 
and  Belden,  Hawley  & Jamison,  and  he  held  posi- 
tion as  one  of  the  representative  members  of  the 
Minnesota  bar. 

For  many  years  since  his  graduation  in  that  insti- 
tution Mr.  Hawley  has  served  as  trustee  of  Iowa 
College,  and  in  Minneapolis  he  has  shown  specially 
vital  and  loyal  interest  in  municipal  affairs,  with 
strong  influence  in  the  furtherance  of  civic  and 
material  progress  and  the  bettering  of  municipal 
government.  He  was  a member  of  the  city  charter 
commission  of  1898  and  also  of  that  of  1906,  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  from  1899  to 
1905,  and  is  a member  of  the  educational  advisory 
commission.  In  local  affairs  Mr.  Hawley  is  not 
constrained  by  strict  partisan  lines,  but  where  state 
and  national  issues  are  involved  he  has  been  found 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1457 


a stalwart  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  republican 
party.  He  is  a member  of  the  American  Academy 
of  Political  and  Social  Science,  the  National  Muni- 
cipal League,  and  other  organizations  devoted  to 
the  consideration  of  governmental,  economic,  socio- 
logical and  municipal  matters  and  to  the  general 
furtherance  of  high  civic  ideals  and  politics.  Mr. 
Hawley  is  vice  president  and  head  of  the  civic 
division  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association,  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Minnikahdah 
Club  and  the  Six  O’clock  Club,  and  is  identified 
with  the  Pillsbury  Settlement  House.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  in  Plymouth  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

In  Minneapolis,  September  6,  1884,  Mr.  Hawley 
married  Miss  Ellen  M.  Field.  She  was  born  and 
educated  in  New  York  State.  Their  two  children 
are : Robert  and  Douglas. 

Francis  Joseph  McPartlin.  International  Falls 
has  been  the  stage  of  Mr.  McPartlin’s  career  as  a 
lawyer  and  business  man  and  citizen  for  the  past 
thirteen  years.  He  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  and 
may  be  said  to  have  graduated  into  the  law  from  a 
printer's  case.  He  is  a man  of  most  creditable  at- 
tainments, and  enjoys  not  only  a good  practice  but 
substantial  influence  in  his  home  community. 

Francis  Joseph  McPartlin  was  born  in  Sibley 
County,  Minnesota,  December  27,  1875,  a son  of 
Frank  and  Catherine  (Kelley)  McPartlin.  His 
father  was  a native  of  Ireland,  and  his  mother,  of 
Irish  parentage,  was  born  in  Maine,  and  they  lo- 
cated on  a homestead  in  the  pioneer  State  of  Min- 
nesota in  1866.  Mr.  McPartlin  grew  up  on  a farm, 
attended  public  schools,  and  early  in  life  entered  a 
printing  office  to  learn  the  trade.  That  was  his 
means  of  support  for  several  years,  and  it  was  while 
setting  type  that  he  determined  upon  the  profession 
of  law.  During  the  period  of  hostilities  between 
the  United  States  and  Spain  he  enlisted  in  April, 
1898,  in  Company  H of  the  Fourteenth  Minnesota 
Regiment,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  No- 
vember, 1898,  when  mustered  out  as  a corporal.  He 
soon  afterwards  became  a student  in  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  where  he 
was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1902. 

After  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  established  a 
newspaper  at  Barrett,  Minnesota,  but  sold  out  in 
1902,  and  removed  to  International  Falls,  where  he 
has  had  his  office  and  has  been  caring  for  a grow- 
ing general  practice.  With  success  as  a lawyer  he 
has  enjoyed  some  official  distinction.  For  five  years 
he  was  United  States  commissioner,  for  two  years 
county  attorney,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term 
as  city  attorney.  On  April  13,  1915,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court.  Mr.  McPartlin  is  president  of  the  Ray  Iron 
Mining  Company. 

Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Maccabees,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  is  state  advocate 
for  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Association.  On  July  17, 
1906,  he  married  Miss  Alice  M.  Green  of  Wadena. 
Their  . three  children  are  Catherine,  George  and 
Francis. 

Raymond  Bridgman  has  gained  a secure  place  as 
one  of  the  resourceful  and  honored  members  of  the 
Minneapolis  bar.  He  has  been  engaged  in  practice 
since  1904,  and  has  acquired  a substantial  reputation 
both  as  a lawyer  and  as  a business  man. 


A native  of  Wisconsin  he  was  born  at  Warrens, 
Monroe  County,  of  a pioneer,  family  of  that  state. 
His  parents,  Brainerd  Lewis  and  Mary  J.  (Stone) 
Bridgman,  were  also  natives  of  Wisconsin.  In 
earlier  generations  the  family  represented  the  old 
puritan  stock  of  New  England. 

Raymond  Bridgman  has  his  own  efforts  to  thank 
largely  for  his  liberal  education.  As  a boy  he  at- 
tended public  schools,  and  later  entered  Yankton 
College  at  Yankton,  South  Dakota,  where  he  was 
graduated  A.  B.  in  1901.  With  this  literary  prepara- 
tion, he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota,  and  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1904  and  the  degree  LL.  B.  His  ambition  and 
determined  purpose  were  well  illustrated  while  gain- 
ing an  education,  since  he  depended  entirely  upon 
his  own  resources  for  expenses  both  at  Yankton 
College  and  the  University  of  Minnesota.  His  early 
life  was  spent  on  a farm,  and  both  body  and  mind 
were  well  disciplined  by  its  activities.  When  he 
entered  the  University  of  Minnesota  he  had  a cash 
capital  of  $10.  He  did  not  consider  it  beneath  his 
dignity  to  accept  any  honorable  occupation  that 
would  enable  him  to  meet  his  expenses. 

In  addition  to  his  private  practice  as  a lawyer 
Mr.  Bridgman,  since  1907  has  been  associated  with 
John  F.  Ryan  in  an  extensive  contracting  and  build- 
ing business.  The  firm  of  Bridgman  & Ryan  has 
erected  in  Minneapolis  more  than  four  hundred 
houses,  which  have  been  sold  largely  to  working 
people  on  the  monthly-payment  plan.  Thus  many 
ambitious  citizens  have  been  able  to  gain  homes  of 
their  own.  Not  unacquainted  with  hardships  and 
poverty  himself,  Mr.  Bridgman  combined  motives 
of  altruism  with  this  business,  and  has  found  it  a 
matter  of  satisfaction  to  aid  others  who  are  striving 
earnestly  for  independence. 

As  to  politics  he  has  always  stood  staunchly  with 
the  republican  party,  and  as  exponent  of  clean  pol- 
itics. While  a resident  of  South  Dakota  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  republican  state  convention  from 
which  United  States  Senator  Pettigrew  and  his 
followers  withdrew  in  anger  at  the  proceedings, 
which  merely  represented  an  attempt  on  the  part  of 
the  liberal  and  progressive  members,  among  whom 
Mr.  Bridgman  was  prominent  in  effecting  an  honest 
organization  of  . the  state,  party.  Mr.  Bridgman  is 
unmarried,  and  is  well  known  in  social,  professional 
and  business,  circles.  He  is  a member  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  the  Min- 
neapolis Athletic  Club,  the  Interlachen  Club,  the 
General  Alumni  Association,  the  Minneapolis  Auto- 
mobile Club,  and  Minneapolis  Lodge  No.  44  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  His  law 
offices  are  in  the  Security  Bank  Building. 

William  C.  Frank.  Since  the  outset  of  his  inde- 
pendent career  identified  with  banking  and  now  the 
accommodating  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Wood 
Lake,  William  C.  Frank  is  a Minnesota  citizen  whose 
career  has  been  passed  here  from  birth  and  has 
always  been  honorably  and  influentially  identified 
with  the  welfare  of  Yellow  Medicine  County.  He 
has  applied  his  efforts  to  one  line  and  as  a result 
of  that  concentration  has  already  before  thirty  years 
of  age  become  one  of  the  leading  young  business 
men  of  Wood  Lake. 

William  C.  Frank  was  born  in  Posen  Township, 
Yellow  Medicine  County,  Minnesota,  November  11, 
1886.  His  family  for  generations  back  were  resi- 
dents of  Eastern  Germany  and  his  father,  Randolph 


1458 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Frank,  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Posen  in  1847. 
Pie  came  to  America  in  1856,  when  a very  young 
man,  located  in  Wisconsin,  but  in  1870  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  homesteaders  of  Yellow  Medicine 
County,  Minnesota.  After  an  industrious  career 
in  the  farming  districts  for  many  years  he  retired 
in  1905  to  Cottonwood,  where  he  still  resides, 
Randolph  Frank  married  Augusta  Steabner,  also  a 
native  of  Germany.  Erqma,  the  oldest  of  their 
children,  married  W.  C.  Hagemeister,  and  they  re- 
side on  a farm  at  Barron,  Wisconsin;  Anna,  the 
second  daughter,  died  March  24,  1878,  at  the  age  of 
four  years ; Reuben  died  September  3,  1903,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-seven;  Emelie  is  a trained  nurse  in 
Minneapolis ; Herman  occupies  the  old  homestead 
farm  in  Yellow  Medicine  County;  William  C.  is  the 
youngest  of  the  children. 

Idis  boyhood  was  spent  on  the  farm  with  an  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  and  at  the  «age  of 
seventeen  he  entered  the  Mankato  Commercial  Col- 
lege and  was  given  a thorough  training  there  for 
two  years.  In  1905,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  Mr. 
Frank  was  taken  into  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Cottonwood  as  bookkeeper,  and  remained  with  that 
institution  until  1912,  having  in  the  meantime  been 
advanced  to  the  position  of  assistant  cashier  after 
only  six  months  of  experience.  When  Mr.  Frank 
came  to  Wood  Lake  on  August  15,  1912,  it  was  to 
take  the  place  of  assistant  cashier  in  the  State  Bank 
of  Wood  Lake,  and  on  January  6,  1915,  he  was 
advanced  to  his  present  office  as  cashier,  and,  is  also 
a stockholder  and  director.  The  State  Bank  of 
Wood  Lake  was  established  under  a state  charter 
in  April,  1902,  and  in  the  same  year  was  erected 
a modern  bank  building,  though  a second  story  was 
added  in  1905.  The  bank  is  located  at  the  corner 
of  Second  Avenue  and  Third  Street.  The  present 
officers  of  the  bank  are : J.  H.  Catlin,  of  Cotton- 

wood, president;  Julius  Alke,  of  Wood  Lake,  vice 
president;  William  C.  Frank,  cashier;  and  P.  J. 
Koehler  and  Silas  S.  Orr,  assistant  cashiers.  The 
State  Bank  of  Wood  Lake  has  a capital  of  $15,000, 
well  fortified  by  a surplus  of  $10,000. 

Politically  Mr.  Frank  is  a progressive.  He  is 
now  serving  as  clerk  of  the  school  board  of  District 
No.  7,  and  for  the  past  two  years  has  filled  the 
office  of  village  treasurer.  He  attends  the  German 
Lutheran  Church.  In  October,  19x3,  at  Janesville, 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Frank  married  Miss  Edith  Fratzke, 
a daughter  of  Gustav  Fratzke,  who  is  a retired 
farmer  at  Janesville. 

William  Steeling  Ervin.  One  of  the  young  at- 
torneys, now  well  established  in  practice,  and  serving 
as  county  attorney  of  Pine  County,  William  Sterling 
Ervin  is  an  alumnus  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
and  his  early  accomplishments  give  promise  of  a 
broad  and  successful  career  in  his  chosen  profession. 

William  Sterling  Ervin  was  born  in  Birmingham,' 
Iowa,  September  4,  1886,  a son  of  Robert  M.  and 
Malzena  (Cole)  Ervin.  His  father  was  a stone- 
cutter by  trade.  William  S.  Ervin  as  a boy  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  finished  his  education 
in  the  collegiate  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota  and  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1910  from 
the  law  department  of  the  same  institution.  He 
had  a year  of  practical  experience  in  the  law  in 
Minneapolis,  and  in  June,  1911,  located  for  practice 
at  Sandstone  in  Pine  County.  Here  he  has  succeeded 
in  building  up  a good  business  in  the  general  lines 
of  practice.  For  one  year  he  served  as  village 


attorney  of  Sandstone  ■ and  in  November,  1914,  was 
elected  county  attorney  of  Pine  County. 

Mr.  Ervin  is  a member  of  the  Nineteenth  Judicial 
District  Bar  Association.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  order  and  in  politics  is  a republican.  On 
June  24,  1914,  he  married  Elsie  L.  Orth  of  North 
St.  Paul. 

Edward  E.  Smith.  A veteran  of  the  Minneapolis 
bar,  Edward  E.  Smith  has  practiced  law  in  Min- 
nesota more  than  thirty  years.  He  has  a large 
general  practice,  and  his  offices  are  in  the  New 
York  Life  Building.  In  the  field  of  politics  he 
is  as  well  if  not  better  known  to  the  people  of 
Minnesota.  He  has  served  in  both  branches  of 
the  State  Legislature,  and  in  many  ways  has  im- 
pressed his  ability  and  influence  on  the  life  of  the 
state  during  the  past  three  decades. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a native  Minnesotan  and  of  a 
pioneer  family.  He  was  born  at  Spring  Valley, 
Fillmore  County,  May  5,  1861,  a son  of  Dryden  ana 
Elizabeth  Ann  (Hines)  Smith,  the  former  a native 
of  Illinois  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Dryden  Smith 
was  also  a lawyer  by  profession,  and  one  of  the 
early  men  to  practice  in  Minnesota.  In  i860,  about 
two  years  after  the  admission  of  Minnesota  to  the 
Union,  he  established  his  home  at  Spring  Valley, 
and  for  many  years  was  both  honored  and  useful 
in  that  section  of  the  state.  He  had  sound  knowl- 
edge and  ability  as  a lawyer,  was  a figure  in  political 
affairs  and  as  a leader  of  public  opinion,  and  his 
name  has  a merited  place  in  the  list  of  pioneers. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  closing  years  of 
their  lives  in  Spring  Vailey. 

Reared  in  his  native  town,  Edward  E.  Smith 
attended  the  public'  schools,  but  acquired  most  of 
his  training  for  law  at  Charles  City,  Iowa,  where 
he  read  under  the  direction  of  capable  lawyers  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883.  He  soon  after- 
wards returned  to  Minnesota  and  Minneapolis  has 
been  the  stage  of  his  professional  activities  for 
more  than  thirty  years.  Mr.  Smith  is  a resourceful 
trial  lawyer,  has  handled  many  important  cases  in 
the  various  courts,  and  almost  from  the  beginning 
of  his  practice  has  had  a profitable  clientage.  He 
has  found  individual  practice  most  suitable  to  his 
inclination,  and  has  had  no  important  affiliation 
with  other  lawyers. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Smith  has  been  one  of  the 
dominating  figures  in  the  republican  party  of  Min- 
nesota. He  has  served  on  various  party  committees, 
has  been  a delegate  to  many  conventions,  and  is 
now  a member  of  the  Republican  State  Central 
Committee.  Under  the  title  “Prominent  Figures  in 
the  Political  Arena,”  one  of  the  daily  papers  of 
Minneapolis  has  recently  published  a series  of 
articles,  in  one  of  which  special  attention  was  paid 
to  the  career  of  Mr.  Smith.  From  this  article  the 
following  estimate  of  his  political  career  is  taken 
in  substance:  “Edward  E.  Smith,  lawyer,  is  prob- 

ably known  to  every  voter  in  Minneapolis.  For  the 
last  seventeen  years  he  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  politics  of  Minnesota  and  the  nation.  He  has 
built  up  a large  legal  practice  and  is  well  and 
favorably  known.  It  was  not  long  after  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  that  his  natural  bent  for  political 
affairs  asserted  itself,  even  when  a very  young  man. 
He  was  active  in  politics  and  soon  became  a leading 
figure  in  the  state.  His  first  successful  adventure 
in  the  political  arena  was  in  1894,  when,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-three,  he  was  elected  to  a seat  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1459 


Minnesota  State  Legislature  as  a representative  of 
the  Minneapolis  district.  He  distinguished  himself 
as  a capable  lawmaker.  He  made  a brilliant  record 
in  1895  and  was  re-elected  for  the  session  of  1897. 
He  was  then  promoted  to  a higher  field  in  the 
State  Senate.  It  was  here  that  the  brilliant  per- 
formance of  his  early  work  in  the  Legislature  found 
its  fruition.  Mr.  Smith  served  in  the  Senate  during 
the  sessions  of  1899,  1901,  1903,  1905,  1907  and  1909. 
He  became  the  leader  of  the  republican  members  on 
the  floor  of  the  Senate,  and  was  elected  president 
pro  tempore  of  that  body.  His  work  made  him  a 
marked  man  and  he  was  a power  as  no  one  else 
was  in  those  twelve  years  of  service  in  the  Senate. 

‘‘The  death  of  Gov.  John  A.  Johnson  in  September, 
1909,  resulted  in  the  raising  of  Adolph  O.  Eberhart, 
at  that  time  lieutenant  governor,  to  the  post  of 
chief  executive  of  the  state.  The  office  of  lieutenant 
governor  left  vacant  by  Governor  Eberhart  was  filled 
between  September  23,  1909,  and  January  3,  1911,  by 
Edward  E.  Smith  of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Smith’s 
record  in  the  State  Legislature  was  remarkable  for 
its  constructive  legislation.  During  nearly  the  entire 
time  of  his  service  in  both  branches  he  was  chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  Taxation,  which  is  re- 
garded as  perhaps  the  most  important  committee 
in  the  Legislature.  It  was  due  largely  to  the  efforts 
of  Mr.  Smith  that  Minnesota’s  well  known  taxation 
system  was  established.  He  has  attained  more  than 
state-wide  reputation  as  an  expert  in  municipal  and 
state  taxation.  He  has  been  for  some  time  and  is 
now  chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Com- 
mittee. All  his  life  he  has  been  a republican,  and 
known  in  national  republican  circles  as  one  of  the 
most  influential  leaders  in  the  state.  He  has  a large 
general  practice  in  Minneapolis,  and  has  made  a 
striking  success  in  the  legal  profession  as  he  has 
in  the  Legislature.  Being  an  expert  on  the  subject 
of  law,  it  is  natural  that  he  should  make  for  himself 
a reputation  as  a tnaker  of  laws.” 

Mr.  Smith  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Bar 
Association  and  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Associa- 
tion, and  is  actively  identified  with  the  Minneapolis 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  the  Minneapolis 
Club,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the  Lafayette 
Club,  the  Interlachen  Country  Club  and  the  Uni- 
versity Club  of  Minneapolis.  He  takes  a prominent 
interest  in  Masonic  work  in  his  home  city,  and  has 
attained  the  thirty-second  degree  in  the  Scottish 
Rite. 

At  Charles  City,  Iowa,  August  13,  1884,  Mr.  Smith 
married  Miss  Esther  E.  Leonard,  who  was  born 
and  reared  at  that  place.  Their  two  children  are 
Harriet  L.  and  Rollin  L.  Harriet  was  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Minnesota  in  1908,  and  in  1911 
became  the  wife  of  Murray  R.  Waters,  Jr.,  a mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  M.  R.  Waters  & Sons,  prominent 
in  the  farm  mortgage  business  at  Minneapolis. 
Rollin  L.  Smith  was  graduated  Bachelor  of  Letters 
from  Princeton  University  in  1911,  and  in  June, 
1914,  took  the  law  degree  from  the  University  of 
Minnesota. 

Arthur  Guiteau  Wedge.  The  First  National 
Bank  of  Bemidji,  of  which  Mr.  Arthur  Guiteau 
Wedge  is  the  vice  president,  is  the  largest  banking 
house  of  Beltrami  County,  and  is  the  outgrowth  of 
the  first  financial  institution  established  in  that 
county.  As  a private  bank  under  the  name  of  Bank 
of  Bemidji  it  began  business  in  1897,  and  one  of  the 
men  chiefly  interested  in  it  from  the  beginning 


was  Mr.  F.  P.  Sheldon.  From  a recent  statement 
of  the  First  National  Bank  its  capital  stock  appears 
as  $50,000,  surplus  $12,000,  and  with  a splendid  array 
of  deposits,  aggregating  about  $600,000.  The  presi- 
dent is  F.  P.  Sheldon,  the  vice  president  A.  G. 
Wedge,  Jr.,  and  the  cashier  R.  H.  Schumaker,  with 
G.  H.  Strickland,  assistant  cashier.  The  bank  has 
handsome  quarters,  a two-story  block,  25  by  90  feet, 
is  on  the  second  floor,  and  the  bank  in  1914  spent 
about  $20,000  in  remodeling  the  building. 

Arthur  Guiteau  Wedge  was  born  at  Albert  Lea, 
Minnesota,  December  9,  1871,  a son  of  Asahel  G. 
and  Mary  J.  (Trigg)  Wedge.  His  father  was  a 
lawyer  by  profession  and  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Minnesota.  The  son  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Albert  Lea  and  in  St.  Paul,  and 
also  had  the  benefit  of  a commercial  course.  When 
still  a boy  he  was  given  a place  as  messenger  in 
one  of  the  St.  Paul  banks,  and  in  1890  became 
assistant  teller  in  the  Germania  Bank  of  St.  Paul, 
and  was  subsequently  promoted  to  paying  teller. 
In  1898  Mr.  Wedge  became  cashier  of  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Detroit,  Minnesota,  and  when  the 
Merchants  National  Bank  of  that  village  was  organ- 
ized he  became  its  president  and  held  that  post 
until  1908.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Bemidji  as  vice 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank. 

Mr.  Wedge’s  banking  interests  are  indicated  by 
the  following  list  of  institutions  with  which  he  is 
officially  identified:  Vice  president  of  the  First 

National  Bank  of  Grand  Rapids,  the  First  National 
of  Deer  River,  the  First  National  of  International 
Falls,  the  First  State  Bank  of  Little  Fork,  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Big  Falls,  the  First  State  Bank  of 
Kelliher,  the  Cohasset  State  Bank ; and  director  in 
the  People's  State  Bank  of  Thief  River  Falls.  He 
is  also  president  of  the  Bemidji  Investment  Company 
and  is  president  of  the  Beltrami  Creamery  Asso- 
ciation. While  primarily  a banker,  he  has  made  the 
welfare  of  every  locality  with  which  he  is  identified 
a matter  of  active  concern,  and  has  been  one  of 
the  real  upbuilders  of  Northern  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Wedge  is  treasurer  of  the  Minnesota  State 
Agricultural  Association,  and  was  formerly  a mem- 
ber of  the  Forestry  Commission  of  the  state.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason.  On  June 
17,  1901,  Mr.  Wedge  married  Margaret  Ford,  of 
Crookston,  Minnesota,  and  formerly  a teacher  in 
the  Detroit  High  School.  Their  three  children  are : 
Margaret,  Miriam  and  Katherine. 

Franz  Jevne.  For  seven  years  Franz  Jevne  has 
been  a hard-working  young  lawyer  in  Northern 
Minnesota,  and  already  has  a position  such  as  many 
older  members  of  this  profession  might  well  envy. 
Since  1912  he  has  succeeded  in  establishing  himself 
as  a successful  attorney  at  International  Falls. 

Franz  Jevne  was  born  in  Meridian,  Wisconsin, 
March  4.  1884,  a son  of  Peter  and  Kari  Jevne.  His 
father  came  to  the  United  States  in  1845,  and  fol- 
lowed a career  as  a farmer.  The  son  grew  up  on 
a farm,  attended  public  school,  and  was  also  given 
the  advantages  of  Luther  College  at  Decorah.  Iowa. 
He  left  college  in  1904,  and  while  earning  his  own 
living  steadily  pursued  his  studies  in  the  law  until 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1908.  Mr.  Jevne  began  prac- 
tice at  Big  Falls,  Minnesota,  and  remained  there 
until  1912.  During  that  time  he  served  as  city  at- 
torney, and  on  coming  to  International  Falls  brought 
with  him  a valuable  experience  and  excellent  rec- 
ommendations as  a lawyer.  His  practice  is  of  a 


1460 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


general  nature  and  he  is  now  giving  much  of  his 
attention  to  the  duties  of  county  attorney,  to  which 
he  was  first  elected  in  1912  and  re-elected  in  1914. 
Mr.  Jevne  is  president  of  the  Koochiching  & On- 
tario Land  Company. 

He  is  well  known  in  social  circles  in  many  parts 
of  the  state.  He  has  taken  thirty-two  degrees  in 
Scottish  Rite  Masonry,  is  a member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  has  affiliations  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows.  He  belongs  to  the  Odin  Club 
at  Minneapolis,  and  also  the  University  Club  and 
the  Athletic  Club  of  that  city.  In  the  line  of  his 
profession  he  is  a member  of  the  American  Bar 
Association,  and  in  politics  a republican. 

At  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  January  18,  1908,  Mr. 
Jevne  married  Miss  Beatrice  Perkins.  Their  two 
children  are  Beatrice  and  Franz,  Jr. 

George  Earl  Carson.  Some  of  the  first  important 
enterprises  marking  the  advance  of  civilization  into 
what  is  now  Beltrami  had  their  authorship  in  mem- 
bers of  the  Carson  family.  George  E.  Carson  who 
established  the  first  trading  post  in  that  locality  also 
had  the  first  regular  merchandise  store  at  Bemidji. 
His  name  is  associated  with  various  other  business 
and  public  affairs  of  that  section,  and  the  history 
of  the  village  could  be  told  in  his  biography  with- 
out many  omissions. 

George  Earl  Carson  was  born  in  Iowa  at  Fort 
Atkinson  June  13,  1866,  a son  of  George  M.  and 
Susanna  (Huntzinger)  Carson.  His  father  was  an 
Iowa  farmer  but  in  1892  located  in  the  pioneer  vil- 
lage of  Bemidji,  Minnesota,  and  established  and 
managed  the  first  hotel  there.  He  afterwards  served 
as  judge  of  probate  and  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  was  proprietor  of  the  hotel  until  1898,  and  died 
September  4,  1900. 

George  E.  Carson  had  a public  school  education 
back  in  Iowa,  but  at  the  age  of  thirteen  began  his 
practical  business  experience  as  clerk  in  a general 
store.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  conducting  a 
hotel  at  what  is  now  the  village  of  Staples,  Min- 
nesota, and  in  1887  began  cattle  ranching  in  this 
state. 

In  1889  with  his  brother  he  came  into  the  wilder- 
ness of  what  is  now  Beltrami  County,  and  estab- 
lished the  first  trading  post  in  the  district,  cutting 
a road  through  the  forests  for  the  passage  of  their 
wagons.  It  was  known  under  the  title  of  Carson 
Brothers  Trading  Post.  In  1895  they  moved  the 
business  to  the  corner  of  Beltrami  Avenue  and  Third 
Street,  and  that  can  be  properly  called  the  first  store 
in  the  village.  Mr.  Carson  was  engaged  in  this 
business  until  1898. 

On  the  organization  of  Beltrami  County  Mr.  Car- 
son  was  appointed  the  first  county  treasurer,  and 
held  that  office  two  years.  He  has  also  served  as 
a member  of  the  village  council  and  for  four  years 
was  postmaster.  In  1909  he  acquired  an  interest  in 
the  Bemidji  Pioneer  Publishing  Company,  of  which 
he  is  now  vice  president  and  treasurer.  The  presi- 
dent is  A.  Kaiser,  and  the  secretary  and  manager 
is  E.  H.  Denu.  The  Bemidji  Weekly  Pioneer  was 
established  in  1894  by  Mr.  Kaiser,  and  has  always 
been  conducted  as  a republican  paper.  The  Daily 
Pioneer  had  its  first  issue  in  1903.  The  circulation 
of  these  two  papers  covers  not  only  Beltrami  County 
but  many  counties  adjacent,  and  there  are  between 
thirteen  and  fifteen  hundred  subscribers  to  each 
paper.  The  Pioneer  Publishing  Company  has  one 


of  the  best  equipped  printing  plants  in  Northern 
Minnesota,  and  besides  the  issue  of  the  Daily  and 
Weekly  Pioneer,  also  has  facilities  for  linotype  com- 
position, job  printing,  and  deals  both  wholesale  and 
retail  in  stationery  and  office  supplies.  About  seven- 
teen people  find  employment  in  the  newspaper  and 
printing  offices. 

Mr.  Carson  during  his  residence  in  Beltrami 
County  has  acquired  some  valuable  holdings  in  real 
estate,  and  is  vice  president  of  the  Bemidji  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association.  He  is  a member  and 
former  director  of  the  Commercial  Club  and  in 
the  Masonic  Order  has  taken  thirty-two  degrees  in 
the  Scottish  Rite  and  is  a member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  On  May  18,  1897,  he  married  Miss  Cora 
Omich  of  Bemidji.  Their  three1  children  are  Dor- 
othy, Margaret  and  Donovan. 

Montreville  J.  Brown.  A lawyer  with  growing 
practice  and  influence  at  Bemidji,  Montreville  J. 
Brown  is  a son  of  Chief  Justice  Calvin  L.  Brown 
of  the  Minnesota  Supreme  Court,  and  has  already 
shown  much  of  the  ability  which  has  distinguished 
that  eminent  Minnesota  jurist. 

Montreville  J.  Brown  was  born  at  Morris,  Min- 
nesota, June  13,  1884,  a son  of  Calvin  L.  and  An- 
nette Brown.  His  father  was  born  at  Goshen,  New 
Hampshire,  April  26,  1854,  a son  of  John  H.  Brown. 
Judge  Brown  was  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of 
law  at  Morris,  Minnesota,  until  1887,  when  he  went 
upon  the  district  bench,  serving  there  until  1899, 
and  since  November  29th  of  that  year  has  been  a 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Minnesota,  being 
now  chief  justice.  He  was  married  September  x, 
1879,  t°  Annette  Marlow  of  Willmar,  Minnesota. 

Montreville  J.  Brown  received  his  early  education 
at  Morris,  and  is  a graduate  of  the,  Universitv  of 
Minnesota,  both  in  the  academic  and  law  depart- 
ments. He  finished  his  course  in  the  former  in  1907 
and  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1909.  Since  then  he 
has  been  located  in  the  general  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Bemidji. 

Mr.  Brown  has  served  three  years  as  member  of 
the  local  school  board  and  is  a director  of  the  Com- 
mercial Club.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minnesota 
Chapter  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 
He  belongs  to  the  Alphi  Delta  Phi  and  the  Phi 
Delta  Phi  college  fraternities,  and  is  also  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  order  and  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  On  November  19,  1910, 
Mr.  Brown  married  Miss  Minnie  S.  Stinchfield  of 
Rochester,  Minnesota.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  children : Alice  Katherine  and  Louise  Stinch- 

field. 

Arthur  P.  White.  A prominent  banker,  lumber- 
man and  business  man  of  Bemidji  is  Arthur  P. 
White,  president  of  the  Northern  National  Bank  of 
that  city.  This  is  one  of  the  prosperous  institutions 
of  Northern  Minnesota,  and  was  first  conducted  as 
a private  institution,  beginning  in  1901  with  a cap- 
ital of  $10,000.  In  1906  its  organization  was  effected 
under  a national  charter  with  a capital  of  $25,000. 
A statement  of  the  bank’s  condition  in  1915  shows 
capital  stock  of  $50,000,  surplus  of  $10,000,  undi- 
vided profits  of  $2,500,  with  an  approximate  aggre- 
gate of  deposits  at  $400,000.  The  officers  besides 
Mr.  White  as  president  are : A.  D.  Stephens,  vice 

president;  Walter  L.  Brooks,  cashier;  and  George 
W.  Rhea,  assistant  cashier. 

Arthur  Parker  White  comes  from  the  State  of 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1461 


Maine  and  in  Northern  Minnesota  has  found  a 
country  not  dissimilar  to  that  in  which  he  was  born 
and  reared.  His  birth  occurred  in  the  City  of  Bath 
May  26,  1868,  and  his  parents  were  Benjamin  L. 
and  Mary  (Blinn)  White,  his  father  a shipbuilder. 
After  attending  the  public  schools  be  completed  his 
education  in  Wilbraham  Academy  in  Massachusetts, 
and  then  had  four  years  of  preparatory  business 
experience  in  a wholesale  clothing  house  at  Boston. 
On  coming  West  he  first  located  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Minnesota,  conducted  a general  store  there,  and  in 
1892  engaged  in  the  banking  business  as  cashier  of 
the  First  State  Bank  of  Grand  Rapids.  In  1898  he 
removed  from  Grand  Rapids  to  Bemidji,  and  was 
cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Bemidji  and  continued  with 
that  institution  after  it  became  the  First  National 
Bank  until  1904.  On  the  organization  of  the  North- 
ern National  Bank  he  accepted  the  place  of  presi- 
dent, which  he  has  since  held.  Mr.  White  is  also 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Welsh  Timber  Com- 
pany, which  has  holdings  amounting  to  5, 000  acres 
in  the  timber  districts  of  Northern  Minnesota.  He 
is  president  of  the  Bacon-White  Company.  Mr. 
White  has  served  as  president  of  the  Bemidji  Com- 
mercial Club,  is  a Mason  of  high  standing,  having 
taken  thirty-two  degrees  in  the  Scottish  Rite  and 
being  affiliated  with  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  is  also 
a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks.  In  April,  1915,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Hammond  director  of  the  State  Normal 
School  Board  for  a term  of  four  years. 

On  October  10,  1894,  Mr.  White  married  Helen 
Polley  of  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children : Marian  Frances,  a student 

in  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  Harold  Loring, 
also  a student. 

Frank  Sumner  Lycan.  With  more  than  thirty 
years  of  practical  business  experience  in  the  North- 
west, Frank  S.  Lycan  is  proprietor  of  the  leading 
hotel  of  Bemidji,  and  for  a number  of  years  has 
been  actively  identified  with  republican  politics  and 
with  civic  affairs  both  in  his  home  community  and 
in  the  state  at  large. 

Frank  Sumner  Lycan  was  born  in  Elmira,  New 
York,  November  6.  1859,  a son  of  John  M.  and 
Donna  M.  (Terry)  Lycan.  His  father  was  a whole- 
sale merchant  and  the  son  grew  up  in  the  State  of 
Ohio,  where  his  father  was  in  business,  attended 
the  public  schools,  and  had  six  years  of  training  in 
a general  merchandise  house.  In  1882  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  he  came  to  St.  Paul,  and  for  ten 
A^ears  was  a traveling  salesman  out  of  that  citv.  He 
finally  organized  a wholesale  grocery  house  known 
as  the  Grand  Forks  Mercantile  Company1  in  Grand 
Forks.  North  Dakota,  and  remained  as  its  secretary 
and  general  manager  for  seven  years.  Finally  he 
turned  to  the  hotel  business,  and  was  associated 
with  his  brother  W.  S.  Lycan  at  Crookston  for 
several  years,  and  on  September  15,  1907,  came  to 
Bemidji  and  bought  the  Hotel  Markham,  one  of 
the  best  equipped  and  most  popular  hostelries  in 
Northern  Minnesota. 

_ Mr.  Lycan  is  a member  of  the  Merchants  Asso- 
ciation and  is  a former  president  of  the  Commercial 
Club.  In  1915  he  was  elected  alderman  at  large  of 
the  city.  _ He  is  a member  of  the  State  Economy 
and  Efficiency  Commission,  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Eberhardt  to  revise  the  svstem  of  state  gov- 
ernment, and  for  many  vears  has  been  interested 
in  the  republican  party.  In  1912  he  was  a delegate 


to  the  republican  national  convention  at  Chicago. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 
Mr.  Lycan  is  an  ardent  sportsman  and  is  fond  of 
hunting. 

On  June  26;  1886,  he  married  Jessie  H.  Monaghan 
of  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota.  Their  three  chil- 
dren are:  Donna  M.;  Ralph  B.,  associated  with 

his  father  in  the  hotel  business;  and  Wilbur  S.,  a 
student  in  the  University  of  Minnesota. 

John  Harrison  Brown.  As  a lawyer  Mr.  Brown 
practiced  for  about  ten  years  in  Southwestern  Min- 
nesota, and  is  now  enjoying  a substantial  practice 
and  a solid  position  in  the  community  of  Interna- 
tional Falls.  He  is  a native  of  Minnesota  and  an 
alumnus  of  the  State  University. 

John  Harrison  Brown  was  born  in  Benson,  Swift 
County,  Minnesota,  November  3,  1881,  a son  of 
Frank  K.  and  Virginia  (Thornton)  Brown.  His 
father  was  a railroad  engineer.  The  Browns  have 
been  identified  with  the  United  States  since  colonial 
days  and  Mr.  Brown  enjoys  the  honor  of  member- 
ship in  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

His  early  education  came  from  the  public  schools, 
and  later  he  entered  the  University  of  Minnesota 
and  remained  a student  until  graduating  from  the 
law  department.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1902  but  did  not  immediately  take  up  active  prac- 
tice. In  1904  he  opened  his  office  in  Tyler,  Lincoln 
County,  and  remained  there  until  March,  1914.  At 
that  date  he  removed  to  International  Falls  and  has 
already  established  a promising  practice.  During 
his  residence  at  Tyler  he  was  for  seven  years  village 
attorney  and  also  secretary  of  the  republican  county 
committee.  He  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  Fed- 
eration of  County  Fairs  in  Minnesota  since  its  or- 
ganization in  1909.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  order,  and  belongs  to  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

On  October  31,  1908,  Mr.  Brown  married  Miss 
Laura  Clopp  of  Estherville,  Iowa. 

Clyde  C.  Dragoo.  In  connection  with  the  quarry- 
ing and  manufacturing  of  granite  in  Benton  County 
Mr.  Dragoo  has  gained  a position  of  special  promi- 
nence, and  in  this  field  of  industrial  enterprise  he 
now  has  distinct  prestige  as  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  of  Sauk  Rapids,  the  judicial  center  of 
the  county. 

Clyde  Carroll  Dragoo  was  born  at  Morris,  Stevens 
County,  Minnesota,  on  the  8th  of  May,  1880.  and  is 
a son  of  E.  William  and  Sarah  (Garver)  Dragoo. 
The  father,  who  is  now  deceased,  was  a hardware 
merchant  at  Royalton,  Minnesota.  After  profiting 
duly  by  the  advantages  afforded  in  the  public  schools 
Clyde  C.  Dragoo  entered  Highland  Park  College,  in 
the  City  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  in  this  institution 
he  gave  special  attention  to  the  study  of  pharmacy. 
In  April,  1899,  Mr.  Dragoo  assumed  the  position  of 
bookkeeper  for  a granite  company  at  St.  Cloud.  Min- 
nesota, and  later  he  became  secretary  of  the  Western 
Granite  Company,  at  Sauk  Rapids.  On  the  10th  of 
April,  1911,  he  organized  in  this  city  the  Sauk  Rapids 
Granite  Company,  which  was  incorporated  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $18,000  and  of  which  he  served  as 
secretary  until  April,  1914,  when,  to  meet  the  de- 
mands placed  upon  the  company  by  its  rapidly 
expanding  business,  its  capital  was  increased  to  $300,- 
oqo  and  he  assumed  his  present  executive  office,  that 
of  vice  president.  George  W.  Bestor  of  Minneapolis, 


1462 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Minnesota,  is  president  of  the  company  and  Emil  R. 
Kelm  of  Sauk  Rapids  is  secretary.  The  company’s 
business  now  extends  far  outside  the  limits  of  Min- 
nesota and  its  products  are  shipped  into  ten  or  more 
different  states.  Employment  is  given  to  a force  of 
200  men  and  the  business  is  an  important  adjunct  to 
the  industrial  and  commercial  prestige  of  Sauk 
Rapids.  The  company  deals  in  four  brands : Sauk 

Rapids  Peerless  Pink,  Sauk  Rapids  Peerless  Red, 
Sauk  Rapids  Peerless  Light  Gray,  Sauk  Rapids  Peer- 
less Dark  Gray.  They  handle  monumental  granite, 
building  granite,  paving  granite  and  crushed  granite, 
both  finished  and  in  the  rough. 

Mr.  Dragoo  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  and  is  a trustee  of  Unity  Church  at  St.  Cloud 
and  president  of  the  Unity  Men’s  Club. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1905,  Mr.  Dragoo  wedded 
Miss  Myra  Ella  Eldred,  of  St.  Cloud,  and  their  two 
children  are  Florence  Eldred  and  Parker  Earle.  Mr. 
Dragoo’s  home  is  in  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota. 

George  Niram  Millard  is  one  of  the  prominent 
young  bankers  of  Northern  Minnesota,  and 
has  been  identified  with  that  business  ever 
since  leaving  college.  He  has  been  continuously  in 
the  service  of  the  Sheldon  line  of  banks  in  the 
Northern  part  of  the  state,  and  is  now  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  International  Falls.  The 
First  National  Bank  was  organized  in  1904  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $25,000.  In  1902  there  had  been 
organized  the  First  State  Bank,  with  a capital  of 
$10,000.  The  two  institutions  were  consolidated  in 
1908  under  the  name  First  National  Bank,  with  cap- 
ital stock  of  $25,000  and  surplus  of  $5,000.  This 
is  a solid  institution,  and  while  the  capital  is  still 
$25,000,  a recent  statement  in  1915  shows  surplus 
and  undivided  profits  of  $20,000,  while  the  deposits 
aggregate  about  $320,000.  The  bank  owns  its  own 
home,  a substantial  brick  block,  25  by  100  feet,  with 
offices  above  the  banking  rooms.  The  present  officers 
are  F.  P.  Sheldon,  president;  A.  G.  Wedge,  Jr.,  vice 
president;  G.  N.  Millard,  cashier;  and  J.  G.  Peter- 
son, assistant  cashier. 

Mr.  Millard  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  born  at 
Marshall  on  January  6,  1881,  a son  of  James  M. 
and  Elizabeth  (Mallory)  Millard.  His  father  was 
a farmer  and  early  settler  in  the  vicinity  of  Mar- 
shall. After  spending  his  younger  years  on  a farm, 
getting  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  Mr.  Mil- 
lard entered  the  Pillsbury  Academy,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1901.  He  at  once  found  oppor- 
tunity awaiting  him  in  the  Sheldon  line  of  banks, 
and  was  soon  made  assistant  cashier,  at  first  in  the 
bank  at  Grand  Rapids  and  later  at  Bemidji.  His 
next  promotion  was  as  cashier  of  the  First  State 
Bank  at  Big  Falls,  and  in  1907  he  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  In- 
ternational Falls. 

Mr.  Millard  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity and  in  politics  is  a republican.  On  September 
28,  1910,  he  married  Miss  Blanche  Marie  Kinney  of 
International  Falls.  They  have  two  children:  Mar- 
jorie Elaine  and  George  Kinney. 

Sumner  C.  Bagley.  The  name  of  this  veteran 
lumberman,  pioneer  railroad  contractor,  and  Min- 
nesota citizen  is  now  bestowed  on  one  of  the  thriv- 
ing little  cities  of  Clearwater  County,  for  Bagley 
was  named  in  his  honor,  and  it  is  an  appropriate 
commemoration  of  his  varied  and  influential  ac- 


tivities during  the  period  of  the  development  of 
Northern  Minnesota. 

Sumner  C.  Bagley,  like  many  other  Minnesota 
lumbermen,  was  a native  of  Maine,  born  at  Argyle 
June  1,  1837.  As  part  of  his  early  experience  he 
lived  for  several  years  in  the  mining  districts  of 
California  following  the  discovery  of  gold  in  that 
state.  Coming  to  Minnesota  in  1865,  he  became  one 
of  the  early  workers  in  the  great  lumber  woods, 
and  subsequently  took  up  log  contracting  on  the 
Mississippi  River.  About  thirty-five  years  ago  he 
located  at  Fosston  and  engaged  in  farming  and  log- 
ging along  the  Clearwater  River,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  what  was  known  as  the 
Thirteen  Towns.  He  also  was  in  business  as  a 
railway  contractor,  and  constructed  ten  miles  of 
the  Great  Northern  Railway  from  Bemidji  west. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  engage  in  cruising 
and  in  prospecting  for  railway  routes  in  Northern 
Minnesota.  The  death  of  this  honored  pioneer  oc- 
curred July  26,  1914,  while  his  wife,  Mrs.  Liddie 
Bagley,  died  in  May,  1874. 

Alfred  M.  Bagley,  a son  of  the  late  Sumner  C. 
Bagley,  is  the  worthy  successor  of  his  father  in 
business  enterprise,  and  is  now  at  the  head  of  one 
of  the  most  important  manufacturing  establishments 
of  Northern  Minnesota.  He  was  born  April  28, 
1874,  and  grew  up  in  the  State  of  Maine,  being  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  coming  out  to  Min- 
nesota in  1891.  He  became  associated  with  his 
father  in  logging  at  Fosston  and  after  his  marriage 
became  engaged  in  the  livery  business  at  Solway, 
Minnesota.  In  May,  1901,  Mr.  Bagley  came  to 
Bemidji,  was  engaged  in  the  livery  business  until 
1905.  and  in  that  year  organized  the  Bemidji  Handle 
Company,  of  which  he  was  president  and  general 
manager.  Subsequently  the  scope  of  this  concern 
was  expanded  and  the  business  organized  as  the 
Bemidji  Manufacturing  Company  of  which  Mr. 
Bagley  is  president  and  manager.  About  twenty- 
five  men  are  employed  and  the  annual  output  con- 
sists of  about  seventy-five  carloads  of  shims,  sixty 
carloads  of  lath,  and  about  fifteen  million  tie  plugs. 
The  mills  and  warehouses  and  yards  cover  about 
three  acres. 

Mr.  Bagley  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order 
and  the  United  Commercial  Travelers  and  the  Be- 
midji Commercial  Club.  On  July  7,  1896,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Flora  E.  Vinal  of  Orono,  Maine.  Their 
two  daughters  are  Florence  E.  and  Catherine  K. 

Judge  Andrew  Grindeland.  By  his  public  services 
Andrew  Grindeland  of  Warren  has  for  many  years 
been  one  of  the  most  useful  citizens  of  Northern 
Minnesota.  A lawyer  by  profession,  he  first  became 
known  to  a few  people  in  Minnesota  as  a school 
teacher,  an  occupation  he  followed  while  struggling 
to  get  an  education  in  the  Iowa  State  University. 
After  his  graduation  in  law  and  his  admission  to 
the  bar  he  practiced  continuously  at  Warren  up  to 
March,  1903,  when  he  was  appointed  district  judge 
by  Governor  Van  Sant.  Judge  Grindeland  has  served 
in  many  important  offices,  both  town  and  county, 
as  state  senator  left  his  name  attached  to  some 
important  legislation,  and  is  now  giving  an  impartial 
and  high-minded  administration  as  judge  of  the 
Fourteenth  District  Court. 

Andrew  Grindeland  was  born  in  Winneshiek 
County,  Iowa,  November  20,  1856,  a son  of  Ingebrigt 
and  Lucy  (Hatlestad)  Grindeland.  His  father  was 
a farmer,  a native  of  Norway,  born  in  1831,  came 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1463 


to  America  in  1850,  and  after  living  on  a farm  near 
Rock  Prairie,  Wisconsin,  moved  to  Iowa,  where 
for  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  progressive 
farmer  citizens,  and  died  in  1889.  The  mother  was 
born  in  1819  and  died  in  1883. 

Judge  Grindeland  had  his  early  training  on  a farm, 
as  a boy  came  to  know  the  ways  and  customs  of  a 
rural  district,  and  from  the  local  schools  in  Septem- 
ber, 1874,  matriculated  as  a student  in  the  Decorah 
Institute  at  Decorah,  Iowa.  His  means  were  in- 
sufficient to  allow  a consecutive  attendance  at  this 
school  to  the  point  he  desired,  and  in  1877  he  was 
in  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  teaching  school ; also 
taught  a term  in  Winneshiek  County,  Iowa.  In 
January,  1878,  he  was  enrolled  as  a student  in  the 
University  of  Iowa,  and  with  some  interruptions 
continued  his  study  there  until  graduating  from  the 
law  department  in  1882.  In  July  of  the  same  year 
he  located  at  Warren,  and  though  without  friends 
-or  with  any  special  recommendation  to  local  favor 
at  the  beginning,  he  was  soon  counted  among  the 
most  promising  young  members  of  the  Marshall 
County  bar. 

After  continuing  in  general  practice  for  several 
years  he  was  elected  judge  of  probate  in  1888.  For 
a time  he  served  as  a court  commissioner  and  as 
-city  recorder  at  Warren.  From  1899  to  1903  Mr. 
Grindeland  represented  the  Sixty-third  Senatorial 
District  in  the  State  Senate.  His  legislative  record 
deserves  some  particular  mention.  His  name  is 
associated  with  the  authorship  of  the  "Grindeland 
Commission  Law,”  which  was  passed  in  1899  for 
the  regulation  and  bonding  of  commission  firms 
handling  the  products  of  farmers.  The  Supreme 
Court  subsequently  affirmed  the  constitutionality  of 
this  law,  and  in  handing  down  the  decision  one  of 
the  justices  commented  as  follows : “It  was  publicly 
believed  that  the  business  of  selling  agricultural 
products  and  farm  produce  on  commission  had  be- 
come saturated  with  false  and  fraudulent  methods 
to  the  great  injury  of  a large  class  of  our  citizens, 
who  were  compelled  to  deal  with  commission  men, 
and  who  were  powerless  to  detect  or  prevent  the 
wrong,  and  that  the  business  had  become  sufficiently 
affected  with  public  interest  as  to  be  the  proper 
subject  of  police  regulation.  . . . This  enactment 

was  designed  to  prevent  the  false  and  fraudulent 
practices  of  the  character  complained  of,  to  correct 
the  evils  generally  believed  to  prevail  and  to  compel 
the  merchant  to  whom  property  was  consigned  for 
sale  on  commission  to  deal  honestly  and  to  be  faith- 
ful to  his  trust.”  While  in  the  senate  Judge  Grinde- 
land also  used  his  influence  effectively  in  behalf  of 
drainage  in  the  Red  River  Valley  and  in  addition  to 
securing  an  appropriation  of  $50,000  in  1901  for 
drainage  purposes,  he  also  introduced  and  secured 
the  passage  of  the  Judicial  Drainage  Law,  as  a 
result  of  which  the  resources  of  the  state  were  co- 
ordinated with  locally  organized  districts  for  the 
construction  of  drainage  ditches,  and  under  that 
legislation  hundreds  of  miles  of  ditching  has  been 
completed  in  the  Red  River  Valley  and  elsewhere, 
bringing  untold  benefits  to  the  agricultural  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  state.  These  are  only  two  of  the 
more  important  measures  which  secured  the  favor 
and  hearty  advocacy  of  Mr.  Grindeland  while  in 
the  Senate.  He  also  voted  and  worked  for  temper- 
ance legislation.  Both  in  the  capacity  of  senator 
and  subsequently  he  has  worked  with  eminent  dis- 
interestedness in  behalf  of  education,  public  health, 
agricultural  development,  and  every  movement  sanc- 
voi.  m— 13 


tioned  by  common  sense  and  high  ideals  as  to  the 
public  welfare. 

Judge  Grindeland  was  first  appointed  to  the  office 
of  district  judge  in  the  Fourteenth  District,  and 
has  since  been  twice  elected  to  that  office,  and  his 
record  places  him  among  the  strong  and  fearless 
jurists  of  the  state.  Prior  to  his  service  in  the 
Senate  he  was  a member  of  the  board  of  the  State 
Normal  School  and  gave  particular  attention  to  the 
strengthening  of  the  school  at  Moorhead.  He  was 
later  again  made  a member  of  the  Normal  School 
Board.  After  his  service  in  the  Senate  he  was  a 
republican  candidate  for  Congress  from  the  Ninth 
Congressional  District.  For  fifteen  years  he  served 
as  a member  of  the  school  board  at  Warren  and 
in  that  time  did  much  for  the  building  up  of  the 
State  Fligh  School,  and  for  several  years  last  past 
he  has  delivered  lectures  to  the  young  people’s 
societies  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Minnesota  Society  for  the  Friendless,  and 
to  that  cause  has  unselfishly  devoted  both  time  and 
money.  He  is  a member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  Luther  College  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  having  been 
chosen  by  the  church  to  this  position  in  1914.  He 
is  president  of  the  Synod  Lutheran  Church  Con- 
gregation. Outside  of  his  profession  Judge  Grinde- 
land’s  principal  business  interest  is  as  director  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Warren. 

On  October  5,  1882,  about  the  time  he  began  his 
career  as  a lawyer,  Judge  Grindeland  married  Ingeri 
Forde,  who  was  born  in  Norway  and  came  to 
America  at  the  age  of  eight  months,  her  family 
settling  in  Iowa.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
seven  children : Louise  Therese,  now  the  wife  of 

Dr.  O.  F.  Mellby  of  Thief  River  Falls,  is  a graduate 
from  the  Lutheran  Ladies’  Seminary  of  Red  Wing; 
Synneva,  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
is  now  principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Thief  River 
Falls ; Clarice  Cecilia,  also  a graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  became  principal  of  the  high 
school  at  Litchfield,  and  was  elected  professor  of 
English  at  Park  Region  Luther  College,  Fergus 
Falls ; Ingolf  Arne  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  LTniversity  of  Minnesota  in  1915 ; Evelyn 
Amanda  graduated  from  the  Lutheran  Seminary  at 
Red  Wing  in  1912,  and  is  now  teacher  of  music 
in  the  high  school  in  Thief  River  Falls ; Estella 
Eleanor  is  a graduate  of  the  Lutheran  Ladies’  Semi- 
nary at  Red  Wing;  Gladys  Maurine  is  still  in  the 
public  schools  at  Warren. 

James  Compton.  The  limitations  of  the  province 
of  this  publication  are  such  that  in  any  specific  case 
there  must  be  abridgment  in  the  offering  of  a 
review  of  the  career  of  anjr  person  properly  worthy 
of  representation  in  the  history.  When  cognizance 
is  taken  of  the  character  and  services  of  so  honored 
a citizen  as  the  late  Capt.  James  Compton  this 
necessity  for  curtailment  of  data  seems  the  more 
deplorable,  and  in  entering  a tribute  to  his  memory 
it  has  been  deemed  expedient  to  reproduce,  with 
certain  paraphrase  and  additions,  the  memoir  offered 
at  the  time  of  his  death  by  the  Minnesota  Com- 
mandery  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion 
of  the  United  States,  of  which  he  was  an  appre- 
ciative and  valued  member.  This  memoir  covers 
the  more  salient  points  in  the  history  of  his  life 
and  is  well  worthy  of  perpetuation  in  this  publica- 
tion. Owing  to  the  fact  that  more  or  less  change 
is  made  in  the  reproduction  it  is  not  thought  neces- 
sary to  utilize  formal  indices  of  quotation. 


1464 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Captain  James  Compton  was  born  at  Meadville, 
the  judicial  center  of  Crawford  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  the  14th  of  January,  1840,  and  his  death 
occurred  January  15,  1908,  at  the  Minnesota  Soldiers’ 
Home,  Minnehaha,  of  which  institution  he  had  been 
the  commandant  for  several  years  and  up  to  the 
time  when  he  was  summoned  from  the  stage  of  his 
mortal  endeavors.  The  Loyal  Legion  memorial  pays 
its  tribute  substantially  as  given  in  the  following 
paragraphs : 

When  President  Lincoln  made  his  first  call  for 
troops  to  maintain  the  Union  Companion  Compton 
was  among  the  first  to  respond,  and  enlisted  April 
22,  1861,  in  what  afterward  became  Company  F, 
Ninth  Pennsylvania  Reserve  Volunteer  Corps. 
Later,  with  a companion,  he  went  west  to  join 
Fremont’s  Body  Guard,  but  before  arriving  at  St. 
Louis  the  guard  had  practically  been  abolished,  and 
he  enlisted  for  the  second  time  November  2,  1861, 
in  Company  C,  Fifty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. He  was  appointed  sergeant  February  17, 
1862 ; commissioned  first  lieutenant  March  3,  1862 ; 
and,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  was  promoted  to  be  captain  April 
7,  1862.  He  was  appointed  inspector  general  on 
the  staff  of  Gen.  Robert  N.  Adams,  August  1,  1864. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth, 
Iuka,  Dalton,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw 
Mountain  and  Atlanta,  and  marched  to  the  sea  with 
Sherman.  He  was  discharged  from  service  Decem- 
ber 31,  1864. 

Captain  Compton  came  to  Minnesota  in  1872  and 
settled  at  Fergus  Falls,  Ottertail  County.  There  he 
was  for  many  years  interested  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness ; he  served  as  county  auditor  of  Ottertail 
County  from  1873  to  1877 : and  he  was  a member 
of  the  State  Senate  from  1882  to  1890.  In  1891  he 
was  appointed,  by  President  Harrison,  to  the  office 
of  surveyor  general  of  public  lands  in  Minnesota, 
and  he  retained  this  position  four  years.  In  189s 
he  became  deputy  state  bank  examiner,  under  the 
administration  of  Governor  Lind,  and  in  1900  there 
came  to  him  a most  consistent  preferment,  in  that 
the  trustees  of  the  Minnesota  Soldiers’  Home  elected 
him  commandant  of  that  institution,  an  office  to 
which  he  was  thereafter  annually  re-elected,  holding 
that  position  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  1890  Captain  Compton  was  elected  commander 
of  the  Department  of  Minnesota,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  in  1899  he  was  elected  senior  vice 
commander  of  the  Minnesota  Commandery.  Military 
Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States. 

Thus  briefly  has  been  sketched  the  career  of  Cao- 
tain  Compton  as  a soldier  and  citizen.  Love  for 
his  country  was  with  him  an  inherited  passion.  His 
great-grandfather  was  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  his 
father  and  grandfather  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his 
brother  in  the  Mexican  war — all  soldiers  under  that 
flag  he  loved  and  followed  and  fought  for  so  long 
and  well.  There  was  no  uncertainty  in  his  mind  as 
to  the  issues  joined  in  the  Civil  war.  He  firmly 
believed  that  one  side  was  “everlastingly  right”  and 
the  other  “everlastingly  wrong,”  and  that  he  was 
on  the  right  side.  He  lived  to  do  what  he  thought 
and  believed  to  be  right,  nor  was  there  any  uncer- 
tainty in  his  mind  on  these  things.  He  was  born 
into  a Christian  family,  reared  in  the  Christian  faith 
and  practice,  and  never  departed  from  it.  The  du- 
ties of  commandant  of  the  Soldiers’  Home  call  for 
the  exercise  of  the  Christian  virtues  in  the  largest 
sense,  and  never  did  he  retire  for  the  night  without 


getting  on  his  knees  and  in  prayer  asking  for  pa- 
tience and  wisdom  to  perform  the  duties  devolving 
upon  him.  His  was  an  impulsive  nature  and  quick 
of  temper,  hence  he  felt  his  need  of  the  infinite 
fountain  of  patience. 

Captain  Compton  was  a true  Christian  gentleman 
— a Christian  and  a gentleman  in  the  highest  and 
best  sense.  As  a Christian  his  religion  was  of  the 
old-time  sort,  the  religion  taught  him  at  his  mother’s 
knee,  the  religion  he  carried  down  deep  in  his  pa- 
triotic heart  when  he  put  on  the  uniform  of  blue 
and  went  forth  to  fight  for  his  country.  He  was 
always  careful  of  the  rights  of  others,  tender  and 
true,  with  no  disposition  to  infringe  upon  the  privi- 
leges of  his  neighbor,  but  in  an  easy  manner  guarded 
his  own.  Possessed  of  the  characteristics  enumer- 
ated, it  Is  no  wonder  that  he  brought  to  business 
and  official  life  a high  sense  of  duty  and  responsi- 
bility, and  in  every  engagement,  private  or  public, 
won  the  confidence,  esteem  and  love  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  was  a man  of  integ- 
rity, thoroughly  honest — honest  not  only  in  his  rela- 
tions with  others  but  also  with  himself — honest  in 
his  heart  and  purpose  as  well  as  in  his  actions. 
There  was  nothing  of  the  double-minded  man  about 
him.  He  was  always  straightforward,  frank,  out- 
spoken and  willing  to  state  his  position  on  any  sub- 
ject and  give  his  reasons  therefor;  and  they  were 
generally  so  well  founded  that  it  was  not  easy  to 
change  them.  He  excelled  as  a friend.  He  not 
only  appreciated  his  friends  but  was  also  devoted  to 
them  and  always  stood  ready  to  defend  them.  Truly, 
he  was  a strong,  gentle,  brave,  tender,  upright  and 
sincere  man,  one  whom  it  was  an  honor  to  know 
and  whose  friendship  it  was  a privilege  to  share. 

Captain  Compton’s  virtues  shone  forth  at  their 
brightest  and  best  in  his  family.  Here  the  circle  of 
love  was  complete.  Those  who  were  privileged  to 
be  admitted  to  that  inner  circle  realize  how  closely 
the  tender  ties  of  the  family  were  interwoven  in 
his  heart.  Soon  after  his  discharge  from  the  army 
Captain  Compton  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Louise  Gould,  who  was  born  and  reared  at  West 
Springfield,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  lifelong  com- 
panionship and  comradeship  of  his  wife  constituted 
his  dearest  possession,  the  relations  of  the  home 
having  always  been  of  ideal  character.  Mrs.  Comp- 
ton still  survives  her  honored  husband  and  resides 
in  Minneapolis,  with  her  being  her  only  son,  William 
G.,  of  whom  specific  mention  is  made  on  other  pages 
of  this  work.  Of  the  three  children  the  eldest  is 
Mrs.  Frank  J.  'Evans,  of  Fergus  Falls,  this  state; 
another  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Adolph  O.  Eliason, 
of  St.  Paul;  and  William  G.  is  assistant  city  attor- 
ney of  Minneapolis.  The  eldest  of  the  children  was 
born  at  Lanark,  Illinois,  and  the  other  two  at  Fergus 
Falls,  Minnesota. 

Captain  Compton  was  inflexible  in  his  allegiance 
to  the  republican  party.  He  honored  and  was  hon- 
ored by  the  State  of  Minnesota,  and  within  the 
gracious  borders  of  this  favored  commonwealth 
there  are  indeed  many  who  shall  long  revere  his 
memory  and  cherish  the  thought  of  their  associa- 
tion with  him  in  varied  relations  of  life.  His  char- 
acter and  achievement  admirably  illustrated  the  con- 
sistency of  the  statement  that  “the  bravest  are  the 
tenderest ; the  loving  are  the  daring.” 

William  G.  Compton.  A representative  member 
of  the  bar  of  the  Minnesota  metropolis,  Mr.  Comp- 
ton is  now  serving  as  assistant  city  attorney  of  Min- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1465 


neapolis,  and  he  is  a worthy  scion  of  a family  whose 
name  has  been  most  worthily  linked  with  Minnesota 
history  for  more  than  two  score  years.  His  father, 
the  late  Captain  James  Compton,  was  a distinguished 
and  highly  honored  citizen,  served  in  various  offices 
of  high  public  trust,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was.  commandant  of  the  Minnesota  Soldiers’  Home. 
To  him  a memorial  tribute  is  paid  on  other  pages 
of  this  publication,  so  that  further  review  of  the 
family  history  is  not  demanded  in  the  present  con- 
nection. 

William  Gould  Compton  was  born  at  Fergus  Falls, 
Ottertail  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  7th  of  August, 
1877,  and  is  the  only  son  of  Captain  James  and 
Louise  (Gould)  Compton,  the  former  of  whom  died 
January  15,  1908,  and  the  latter  resides  with  her 
son  in  Minneapolis.  The  public  schools  of  his 
native  state  afforded  to  William  G.  Compton  his 
early  educational  advantages,  and  he  was  graduated 
in  the  Central  High  School  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  189b.  Soon  afterward 
he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1902  and 
from  which  he  receive  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Laws.  Prior  to  his  graduation  Mr.  Compton  passed 
about  one  year  at  Montevido,  Chippewa  County, 
where  he  served  his  professional  novitiate  in  asso- 
ciation with  the  present  attorney  general  of  Minne- 
sota, Hon.  Lyndon  A.  Smith.  After  his  graduation 
in  the  law  school  he  was  engaged  in  the  work  of 
his  profession  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  for  one 
year,  and  for  five  years  thereafter  he  was  numbered 
among  the  representative  members  of  the  bar  of 
the  State  of  Idaho,  having  been  engaged  in  practice 
at  Caldwell,  Canyon  County,  and  at  Moscow,  judicial 
center  of  Latah  County  and  seat  of  the  University 
of  Idaho.  From  the  Gem  State  Mr.  Compton  finally 
removed  to  the  City  of  Spokane,  Washington,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  practice  until  1910,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  state  and  entered  the  office  of 
the  city  attorney  of  Minneapolis.  He  has  since  con- 
tinued to  give  efficient  service  as  assistant  city  at- 
torney, and  he  has  been  resourceful  and  influential 
in  the  directing  and  handling  of  the  legal  depart- 
ment of  the  municipal  government  of  the  metropolis 
of  his  native  state,  the  while  he  has  gained  and  re- 
tained a wide  circle  of  friends,  in  professional, 
business  and  social  circles. 

At  the  inception  of  the  Spanish-American  war 
Mr.  Compton  was  a student  in  the  law  department 
of  the  Llniversity  of  Minnesota,  but  he  forthwith 
subordinated  his  personal  interests  to  respond  to 
the  call  of  patriotism  and  to  do  his  part  in  uphold- 
ing the  military  prestige  of  the  family  name,  his 
father  having  been  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Union 
in  the  Civil  war,  an  uncle  in  the  agnatic  line  having 
served  in  the  Mexican  war.  his  paternal  grandfather 
having  been  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  the 
latter's  father  having  been  a patriot  soldier  of  the 
Continental  line  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
Mr.  Compton  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  with  this  command  he  was 
in  active  service  in  the  Philippine  Islands  until 
October,  1899,  when  he  was  mustered  out,  duly  re- 
ceiving his  honorable  discharge  as  a private  and 
returning  with  his  regiment  to  Minneapolis.  He  is 
identified  not  only  with  the  Spanish-American  War 
Veterans’  Association  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans, 
but  he  has  also  the  distinction  of  maintaining  active 
affiliation  with  the  Minnesota  Commandery  of  the 
Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United 


States,  of  which  noble  patriotic  body  his  honored 
father  had  served  as  senior  vice  commander. 

In  politics  Mr.  Compton  is  aligned  as  a stanch 
supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  but 
he  has  not  entered  vigorously  into  political  activities, 
his  present  official  preferment  being  retained  under 
the  civil  service  regulations  rather  than  through  po- 
litical influence.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Order  of  Camels 
of  the  World,  and  the  Psi  Upsilon  and  Phi  Delta 
Phi  fraternities  of  the  University  of  Minnesota. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Bethlehem  Presbyterian 
Church,  and,  as  a bachelor,  he  resides  with  his 
widowed  mother  at  19  West  Twenty-fifth  Street. 
That  Mr.  Compton  is  possessed  of  literary  talent  as 
well  as  deep  interest  in  and  love  for  children  is  indi- 
cated by  the  following  quotations  taken  from  the 
“Children’s  Newspaper,”  a department  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Daily  News,  of  April  25,  1914: 

“William  G.  Compton,  assistant  city  attorney,  can 
write  some  of  the  dandiest  stories  for  children 
you’ve  ever  read,  and  he  is  going  to  write  some  for 
the  boys  and  girls  who  are  readers  of  the  Saturday 
Children’s  Newspaper.  You’d  be  surprised  to  learn 
how  Mr.  Compton  started  writing  these  stories.  He 
has  a niece,  Louise  Eliason,  eight  years  old,  who 
lives  at  688  Fairmount  Avenue,  St.  Paul.  She  was 
sick  with  scarlet  fever  a few  weeks  ago,  and  no 
one  in  the  family  could  amuse  her.  She  thought 
of  her  big  uncle.  It  was  by  her  request  that  ‘Uncle 
William’  wrote  the  ‘Scarlet  Fever  Fish,’  a real  nov- 
elty story  for  children  which  will  be  started  on 
this  page  next  Saturday.  Mr.  Compton  wrote  the 
story  in  the  form  of  a series  of  letters  to  his  little 
niece — one  every  week.  Maybe  you  think  she  wasn’t 
just  ‘tickled  to  death’  every  Thursday  when  she 
would  find  a nice  letter  from  uncle,  waiting  to  be 
read.” 

Byron  Harvey  Timberlake.  A resident  of  Min- 
nesota for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  now  general 
representative  for  Minnesota  and  Iowa  of  the 
Provident  Life  and  Trust  Company  of  Philadelphia, 
Byron  H.  Timberlake  has  spent  his  active  life  in 
work  of  increasing  responsibility  and  service.  For 
two  terms  he  was  a member  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, but  for  twenty-three  years  has  been  identified 
with  life  insurance,  and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest 
men,  in  point  of  service,  in  that  field  in  the  state. 
His  fidelity  and  skill  have  given  him  a high  place 
in  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  best  managed 
life  insurance  companies  in  America. 

Byron  Harvey  Timberlake  was  born  near  Salem, 
Washington  County,  Indiana,  August  17,  1861,  a 
son  of  Aquilla  and"  Jane  (Thompson)  Timberlake, 
both  now  deceased.  His  great-grandfather,  John 
Timberlake,  was  a Virginia  farmer  of  English  an- 
cestry, but  early  in  the  nineteenth  century  brought 
his  family  and  slaves  to  Ohio.  Fie  manumitted  his 
slaves  in  that  state,  giving  the  required  bond.  Many 
of  the  Virginia  Timberlakes  fought  with  the  Con- 
federate army  during  the  war. 

Mr.  Timberlake  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  spent  his  boyhood  and  early  youth  in  Indiana, 
Illinois  and  in  Kansas.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  came  to  Minnesota,  in  1883,  and  employed  sev- 
eral of  the  following  years  in  gaining  a liberal  edu- 
cation. He  attended  the  Minneapolis  Academy  and 
then  the  University  of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  took 
honors  in  oratory  and  as  manager  of  athletics,  and 
was  graduated  in  1891.  In  the  meantime  he  had 


1466 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


supported  himself  by  employment  with  the  Min- 
neapolis Harvester  Company  in  South  Minneapolis, 
and  was  sent  South  by  that  company  as  a field  ex- 
pert all  over  the  wheat  belt.  He  also  took  a course 
in  a business  college.  With  this  thorough  education 
and  well  tested  business  experience,  Mr.  Timber- 
lake  after  finishing  his  university  career  engaged  in 
the  life  insurance  business.  For  two  years,  1897-99, 
he  was  deputy  insurance  commissioner  of  Minne- 
sota with  offices  in  the  Capitol  Building  at  St.  Paul. 
For  several  years  he  was  manager  in  Minnesota  for 
the  Prudential  Insurance  Company  of  America,  and 
now  has  the  post  of  general  representative  in  the 
states  of  Minnesota  and  Iowa  for  the  Provident 
Life  and  Trust  Company  of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Timberlake  has  taken  much  interest  in  re- 
publican politics.  His  first  election  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  Legislature  came  in  1904.  In . 1906  he 
was  again  elected  to  represent  the  Thirty-ninth  Dis- 
trict in  the  thirty-fifth  session,  and  proved  a valu- 
able adviser  and  worker  in  both  sessions.  Though 
a new  member  in  the  thirty-fourth  session,  he  did 
some  especially  effective  work  for  the  university, 
being  representative  of  what  is  known  as  the  Uni- 
versity District  of  Minneapolis.  He  was  a member 
of  several  important  committees,  and  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  that  framed  and  helped  to  pass 
the  bill  reorganizing  the  insurance  department  of 
the  state,  which,  among  other  beneficial  changes, 
required  that  all  fees  should  be  paid  into  the  state 
treasury.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Insurance  Com- 
mittee at  the  1907  session  which  put  through  so 
many  reform  bills  affecting  the  business  of  life 
insurance.  All  friends  of  the  university  were 
grateful  to  him  for  his  work  in  securing  some 
needed  appropriations  and  other  favorable  legisla- 
tion in  behalf  of  this  institution. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Timberlake  is  affiliated  with  Cat- 
aract Lodge  No.  2,  A.  F.  & A.  M.;  also  with  the 
chapter,  council  and  commandery  on  the  East  Side, 
and  is  a past  presiding  officer  in  all  the  bodies  of 
the  York  Rite,  and  a member  of  Zurah  Temple  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine.  No  doubt  the  greatest  body  of 
Knights  Templar  ever  assembled  in  Minnesota  met 
at  Minneapolis  in  May,  1915,  in  celebration  of  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of 
Minnesota.  Mr.  Timberlake  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  program.  He  was  a member  and 
director  of  the  old  Commercial  Club  of  Minneapolis, 
which  subsequently  became  merged  with  the  Min- 
neapolis Athletic  Club,,  in  which  he  is  also  a mem- 
ber. Mr.  Timberlake  is  a member  and  a vestryman 
in  Holy  Trinity  parish  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
During  his  university  career  he  belonged  to  the 
Minnesota  Beta  Chapter  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  fra- 
ternity, and  an  interesting  fact  in  this  relation  is 
that  his  son  is  a member  of  the  same  chapter  of 
this  fraternity,  and  that  is  the  first  case  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  local  chapter  in  which  father  and  son 
have  had  membership. 

Mr.  Timberlake  was  married  in  1891  to  Miss 
Emma  Kemp,  who  died  March  ix,  1899.  She  left 
three  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Timberlake  were 
graduated  from  the  university  together,  and  were 
married  soon  after  graduation.  Lucile,  the  oldest 
of  their  children,  is  a graduate  of  the  East  High 
School,  received  her  certificate  for  the  two  years’ 
course  in  home  economics  from  the  State  Univer- 
sity in  1912.  She  taught  domestic  science  and  art 
in  the  high  school  at  Elbow  Lake,  Minnesota,  for 
two  years,  and  is  now  in  charge  of  the  work  in 


those  branches  at  the  Shakopee  High  School.  Har- 
old C.  is  a graduate  of  Pillsbury  Academy  and  is 
now  in  the  division  of  horticulture,  College  of 
Agriculture,  in  the  University  of  Minnesota,  being- 
interested  in  athletics  and  all  forms  of  outdoor 
sports.  The  daughter  Emma  is  now  in  East  High. 
All  the  children  were  born  in  Minneapolis.  In 
1901  Mr.  Timberlake  married  Miss  Lilian  Chatter- 
don.  Her  father,  the  late  Judge  Chadderdon,  of 
Redwood  Falls,  Minnesota,  spelled  his  name  differ- 
ently from  the  present  generation.  Judge  Chadder- 
don was  a prominent  pioneer  in  Minnesota,  and  rep- 
resented the  Twenty-first  District  in  the  Legisla- 
tures of  1872-73.  His  widow  and  four  children  are 
still  living,  Mrs.  Timberlake  being  one  of  the  daugh- 
ters. Mr.  Timberlake’ s summer  home  is  on  Shady 
Island  in  Lake  Minnetonka,  and  the  family  resort 
to  that  beautiful  place  for  considerable  portions  of 
the  winter  season. 

Walter  L.  Badger.  In  Minneapolis  real  estate 
circles  there  is  no  firm  with  a better  reputation  for 
conservative  and  safe  handling  of  the  interests  en- 
trusted to  its  care,  and  for  judicious  promotion  of 
building  and  development  in  the  downtown  district, 
than  the  Walter  L.  Badger  Company,  whose  offices 
are  in  the  Oneida  Building.  The  business  of  the 
company  comprises  real  estate,  loans,  insurance, 
management  of  estates,  and  renting  and  supervision 
of  property,  especially  in  the  central  district  of  the 
Minnesota  metropolis.  The  company  handles  a 
great  amount  of  property  for  non-resident  owners 
and  for  estates  of  the  more  important  order.  The 
principals  in  this  company  have  made  a specialty  of 
the  handling  and  development  of  real  estate  along 
Seventh  Street  and  Hennepin  Avenue,  and  Mr. 
Badger  has,  with  no  little  consistency,  been  termed 
the  “father”  of  modern  Seventh  Street,  in  the  devel- 
opment of  which  to  its  present  high  standard  his 
has  been  the  dominating  influence.  When  he  ini- 
tiated his  ambitious  and  well  defined  activities  in 
bringing  this  thoroughfare  up  to  metropolitan 
standards  its  physical  condition  was  represented 
principally  by  more  or  less  inferior  buildings,  util- 
ized principally  as  boarding  houses.  He  had  the 
prescience  and  discrimination  to  realize  the  possi- 
bilities in  improving  the  street,  and  his  convictions 
have  ever  been  attended  by  the  courage  of  definite 
action.  When  he  set  to  himself  the  work  of  vir- 
tually redeeming  Seventh  Street  from  obscurity, 
lots  thereon  were  valued  at  about  $235  a front  foot, 
and  the  results  of  his  well  ordered  enterprise  are 
best  shown  in  the  enhanced  values  of  the  property 
at  the  present  time,  the  average  frontage  now  being 
appraised  at  fully  $3,500  a foot.  While  others  have 
in  a measure  contributed  to  this  wonderful  develop- 
ment Mr.  Badger  is  the  one  man  to  whom  the  max- 
imum of  credit  is  due,  and  he  merits  great  praise 
for  the  progressive  ideas  and  splendid  business  acu- 
men which  enabled  him  to  achieve  such  admirable 
results  and  add  much  to  the  material  and  civic  pros- 
perity of  the  city.  Mr.  Badger  erected  the  Badger 
Building,  at  37-39  South  Seventh  Street,  the  struc- 
ture being  of  the  best  modern  type  and  five  stories 
in  height.  The  building  adjoins  the  Hotel  Radisson 
and  its  upper  floors  are  now  utilized  as  an  annex 
to  that  popular  hostelry.  Within  recent  years  many 
of  the  largest  transactions  in  the  handling  of  prop- 
erty in  the  commercial  district  of  Minneapolis  have 
been  effected  through  the  medium  of  the  Walter  L. 
Badger  Company.  The  firm  has  a large  eastern 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1467 


clientage,  and  in  investment  and  banking  circles  the 
judgment  of  this  company  has  come  to  be  regarded 
as  the  ultirhate  authority  in  designating  safe  and 
conservative  investments  in  real  estate. 

About  thirty  years  ago  Walter  L.  Badger,  who  is 
president  of  the  company  that  bears  his  name,  was 
an  office  boy  for  a Minneapolis  real  estate  firm.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  one  line  of  business 
ever  since  and  is  now  at  the  head  of  a specially 
large  and  prosperous  business,  his  associates  being 
Frederick  T.  Krafft,  treasurer,  and  Edson  J.  Kel- 
logg, secretary. 

Walter  Louis  Badger  was  born  at  Fond  du  Lac, 
Wisconsin,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1868,  and  soon  after 
his  birth  his  parents  removed  to  Oshkosh,  that  state, 
from  which  city,  in  1878,  they  came  to  Minneapolis. 
Mr.  Badger  is  a son  of  George  A.  and  Harriet  E. 
(Hastings)  Badger,  both  natives  of  Massachusetts 
and  representatives  from  old  and  honored  New 
England  stock.  George  A.  Badger  devoted  his  en- 
tire active  career  to  mercantile  pursuits  and  for 
nearly  a decade  he  was  one  of  the  leading  merchants 
of  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin.  After  coming  to  Minneap- 
olis he  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  with  which 
he  here  continued  to  be  actively  identified  until  his 
retirement,  about  ten  years  prior  to  his  death.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  died  in  Minneapolis  in  the  year  1904. 
Of  their  three  sons  the  eldest  is  Charles  H.,  of 
Indianapolis,  Indiana;  Walter  L.,  of  this  review, 
was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  and  William  A., 
who  was  successfully  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness in  Minneapolis,  died  in  the  year  1909. 

Walter  L.  Badger  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools 
of  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  for  his  preliminary  educa- 
tional discipline,  and  he  was  about  ten  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Minneapolis, 
where  he  continued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools. 
He  acquired  his  initial  experience  in  the  real  estate 
and  insurance  business  by  holding  the  dignified 
preferment  of  office  boy  for  John  Goldbury,  and  he 
had  the  mental  alertness  and  good  judgment  to 
profit  greatly  from  the  experience  gained  with  the 
passing  years.  In  1888  Mr.  Badger  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  and  insurance  business  in  an  independ- 
ent way,  and  the  energy  and  circumspection  which 
he  brdught  to  bear  resulted  in  the  steady  and  sub- 
stantial expansion  of  his  private  enterprise,  with 
the  final  result  of  bringing  about  the  organization 
and  incorporation  of  the  present  Walter  L.  Badger 
Company. 

The  political  allegiance  of  Mr.  Badger  is  given 
to  the  republican  party,  and  though  he  shows  a 
loyal  interest  in  public  affairs  and  gives  his  influ- 
ence in  the  support  of  good  government  he  has 
never  sought  or  desired  public  office.  He  is  specially 
well  known  for  his  zealous  advocacy  of  those  meas- 
ures which  conserve  municipal  reforms  and  im- 
provements. His  varied  business,  civic  and  social 
relations  include  his  identification  with  the  Min- 
neapolis Club,  the  Minikahda  Club,  the  Minneapolis 
Athletic  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Real  Estate  Board, 
the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association, 
the  Minneapolis  Automobile  Club,  and  the  Inter- 
lachen  Country  Club.  He  is  affiliated  with  Min- 
neapolis Lodge  No.  19,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers of  Plymouth  Congregational  Church. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  1890,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Badger  to  Miss  Anna  Dawson,  of 
Keokuk,  Iowa.  Of  the  three  children  only  one  is 
living,  Lester  R.,  who  was  born  in  Minneapolis  and 


who  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  pursued  higher  studies  in 
Williams  College,  at  Williamsburg,  New  York.  He 
is  now  associated  with  his  father  in  business.  The 
two  deceased  children  were  Norman  D.  and  Mar- 
garette. 

Thomas  Reardon.  The  foremost  business  man 
and  citizen  of  Beardsley  in  Bigstone  County  is 
Thomas  Reardon,  who'  represents  a family  that  has 
been  identified  since  pioneer  times  with  the  agri- 
cultural and  life  stock  interests  of  this  section,  who 
is  himself  one  of  the  leading  stock  buyers  in  West- 
ern Minnesota,  and  at  Beardsley  has  been  in  active 
business  for  more  than  ten  years  and  is  now  mayor 
of  that  little  city. 

Thomas  Reardon  was  born  in  Lewis  County,  New 
York,  October  17,  1873,  and  comes  of  a fine  old 
family  of  Catholic  Irish  ancestry.  His  grandfather, 
James  Reardon,  was  a native  of  County  Cork,  Ire- 
land, and  brought  his  family  to  this  country  from 
Ireland  in  1875,  locating  in  Lewis  County,  New 
York,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  as  a farmer. 
William  Reardon,  the  father  of  Thomas,  was  born 
in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1831,  was  about  four 
years  old  when  the  family  came  to  America,  and  in 
Lewis  County,  New  York,  where  he  grew  up,  be- 
came the  owner  of  a dairy  farm.  On  March  26, 
1880,  he  brought  his  family  from  New  York  to  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota,  and  soon  afterward  settled  as  a 
pioneer  homesteader  in  Bigstone  County.  For  the 
past  thirty-five  years  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
development  of  the  country  and  with  diversified 
farming  and  stock  raising  in  that  county.  He  and 
his  wife  are  still  living,  and  his  wife’s  maiden  name 
was  Catherine  Mahon,  also  a native  of  Ireland. 
They  are  honored  as  the  parents  of  a fine  family  of 
children,  as  follows:  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  James 
McCrea,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Graceville  and  a large  business  man  there ; James,  a 
farmer  four  miles  east  of  Beardslev-  William  Jr., 
who  is  a merchant  and  stock  dealer  at  Mandam, 
North  Dakota ; Nancy,  who  lives  at  home  with  her 
parents ; Catherine,  who  lives  with  her  sister  Mary 
in  Graceville ; Winifred,  a teacher  in  the  schools  at 
Brainerd,  Minnesota;  Timothy  Joseph,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  two  and  a half  years ; and  Helen,  a 
teacher  in  Beardsley. 

Thomas  Reardon  came  to  Minnesota  at  the  age 
of  seven  years,  secured  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Bigstone  County,  and  with  a finishing 
course  at  Willmar  'Seminary.  His  early  life  until 
the  age  of  twenty-four  was  spent  on  his  father’s 
farm,  and  he  is  a farmer  both  by  training  and  in- 
clination. At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  bought  some 
land  of  his  own,  but  still  continued  to  be  associated 
with  his  father  and  brother  in  the  management  of 
extensive  farming  and  live  stock  interests  until  the 
spring  of  1903.  In  that  year  Mr.  Reardon  came  into 
Beardsley  and  opened  a retail  meat  market  and  also 
engaged  in  the  shipping  of  live  stock  under  the  firm 
name  of  Reardon  Brothers.  Those  lines  he  still  con- 
tinues. enjoys  an  extensive  acquaintance  all  over 
Western  Minnesota,  and  has  made  a name  for  fair 
and  square  dealing. 

Mr.  Reardon  was  honored  with  the  office  of  mayor 
of  Beardsley  in  the  spring  of  1914,  and  for  six  years 
previously  had  served  on  the  village  council.  Polit- 
ically he  maintains  an  independent  attitude,  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  is  affiliated  with 


1468 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Gracevilie  Council  No.  1391  of  the  Knights  of  Co- 
lumbus. Mr.  Reardon  is  unmarried. 

Clint  L.  Luce.  For  more  than  thirty  years  Mr. 
Luce  has  been  closely  identified  with  those  activities 
which  constitute  the  business  and  civic  life  of  a com- 
munity, and  which  in  the  aggregate  have  made  Albert 
Lea  one  of  the  most  progressive  cities  in  Minnesota. 
Mr.  Luce  has  had  a long  and  varied  experience  as 
a newspaper  man,  and  while  never  active  in  practical 
politics  has  worked  through  various  organizations 
for  the  promotion  of  institutions  which  mean  much 
to  the  community,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  business 
men. 

Clint  L.  Luce  was  born  in  Lanroile,  Vermont,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1854.  The  Luce  family  came  originally 
from  Wales,  landing  at  Martha’s  Vineyard  during 
the  Colonial  times,  and  lived  in  New  England  for 
generations.  His  grandfather  was  Jonathan  Luce, 
who  lived  and  died  as  a Vermont  farmer.  Mr. 
Luce’s  father  was  Harvey  Luce,  who  was  born  in 
Vermont  in  1820  and  died  in  Allamakee  County, 
Iowa,  in  1887.  He  likewise  spent  his  career  as  a 
farmer.  He  was  married  to  Ann  Stone,  a native  of 
Vermont,  who  died  in  1872  in  Allamakee  County. 
They  came  West  and  settled  in  the  latter  county  in 

1855- 

Clint  L.  Luce  had  an  ordinary  education  in  North- 
ern Iowa,  came  to  Freeborn  County,  Minnesota,  in 
1873,  and  in  the  same  winter  continued  his  studies 
in  school  at  Albert  Lea,  and  after  finishing  his  edu- 
cation taught  school  for  several  terms.  In  1878  Mr. 
Luce  entered  a newspaper  office  in  Albert  Lea, 
learned  the  business  in  all  its  technical  and  commer- 
cial phases,  and  eventually  became  editor  and  half 
owner  of  the  Albert  Lea  Enterprise,  conducted  that 
well  known  local  journal  until  1898,  a period  of 
fourteen  years.  From  1901  until  1910  Mr.  Luce  was 
editor  of  the  Daily  Tribune  at  Albert  Lea.  His  busi- 
ness relations  since  then  have  extended  over  a 
broader  field,  and  he  is  now  secretary  of  the  Luce 
Corset  Company,  of  the  Skinner,  Chamberlain  Com- 
pany, a director  in  the  Citizens  National  Bank,  and 
owns  half  of  the  Luce-Reynolds  Building,  a business 
block  situated  on  College  Street. 

Mr.  Luce  is  a progressive  republican,  and  in  1912 
was  chairman  of  the  republican  county  committee. 
He  has  served  on  both  county  and  state  committees, 
but  has  never  sought  office,  and  his  service  has  been 
in  those  honorary  and  unremunerative  positions 
which  do  more  to  advance  the  public  welfare  than 
the  paid  political  offices.  Mr.  Luce  helped  establish 
a library  at  Albert  Lea,  and  was  chairman  of  the 
board  that  constructed  the  $20,000  library.  He  was 
among  the  organizers  of  the  Hospital  Association, 
and  that  movement  brought  the  $50,000  hospital  to 
Albert  Lea.  For  the  past  six  years  Mr.  Luce  has 
served  as  secretary  of  the  Business  Men’s  League, 
and  for  the  same  length  of  time  has  been  president 
of  the  Freeborn  Agricultural  Society,  and  for  many 
years  active  in  that  organization.  He  is  secretary 
of  the  Country  Club,  affiliates  with  Western  Star 
Lodge  No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  was  formerly  a mem- 
ber of  the  Albert  Lea  Chapter  of  the  Royal  Arch, 
and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  Luce, 
who  is  unmarried,  resides  in  the  Luce-Reynolds 
Building. 

Charles  Schunemann.  A solid  business  enter- 
prise at  St.  Paul  is  the  Schunemann  & Evans  depart- 
ment store,  which  has  a history  of  its  own  illus- 


trating both  the  progress  of  the  town  and  the  career 
of  one  of  its  foremost  citizens.  The  business  was 
started  at  St.  Paul  in  1888,  at  which  time  Charles 
Schunemann  and  his  partner  Mr.  Evans,  both  prac- 
tical merchants  with  broad  and  varied  experience, 
came  from  St.  Louis,  and  in  the  new  situation  began 
laying  the  foundation  for  a business  which  has  been 
one  of  progressive  growth  down  to  the  present  time. 
In  1912  Mr.  Evans  retired  from  the  firm,  and  the 
business  was  then  incorporated  with  a capital  stock 
of  $700,000.00.  Mr.  Charles  Schunemann  was 
elected  president,  Mr.  A.  Schunemann  vice  president, 
and  Walter  L.  Mayo  secretary,  with  Carl  Schune- 
mann treasurer. 

The  store,  one  of  the  conspicuous  features  of  the 
retail  shopping  district  of  St.  Paul,  is  a five-story 
brick,  200  by  120  feet  foundation,  and  all  the  floors 
and  the  basement  are  devoted  to  the  immense  stock 
carried  in  the  different  departments.  The  total  floor 
space  aggregates  about  144,000  feet,  and  about  500 
people  are  employed  as  clerks,  salesmen,  office  work- 
ers and  in  the  other  departments  of  a large  mer- 
cantile service,  with  which  every  resident  of  St. 
Paul  is  familiar. 

The  building  up  of  an  enterprise  of  this  character, 
even  in  twenty-five  years,  requires  more  than  ordi- 
nary commercial  acumen,  experience  and  ability.  It 
is  the  result  of  careful  planning,  attention  to  details, 
an  executive  ability  in  the  organization  and  mar- 
shalling of  a competent  staff  of  employes,  accurate 
estimates  of  trade  possibilities,  the  maintenance  of 
credit  connections,  and  progressive  merchandising  in 
every  line.  The  success  of  the  business  is  the  best 
monument  to  the  work  of  Charles  Schunemann  and 
his  standing  in  the  business  and  civic  community  of 
St.  Paul. 

Recently  when  the  business  celebrated  its  twenty- 
sixth  birthday  as  the  oldest  department  store  in  St. 
Paul,  some  of  the  details  of  the  house’s  growth  were 
told  in  the  St.  Paul  papers,  from  which  a brief  quo- 
tation will  be  appropriate : “It  was  in  1888  that 
Schunemann  & Evans’  first  store  began  to  do  busi- 
ness. That  was  in  the  old  days  of  St.  Paul’s  retail 
business  when  the  shopping  district  was  on  Third 
street.  The  Schuneman  & Evans  store  was  a two- 
story  building  at  57-59  Third  street.  The  firm  moved 
to  its  six-story  building  at  Sixth  and  Wabasha 
streets  in  1891.  Another  step  was  taken  in  1900  when 
a fifty-foot  addition  to  the  north  side  of  the  building 
was  made.  The  firm  also  has  a large  warehouse  on 
Tenth  street  near  Robert  street.  When  the  store 
was  opened  it  occupied  12,000  feet  of  floor  space  and 
less  than  forty  persons  were  employed.  Now  its 
floor  space  is  181,000  feet  and  the  average  pay 
roll  contains  500  names.” 

Mr.  Charles  Schunemann  resides  in  a fine  home 
at  275  Summit  Avenue.  His  wife,  whom  he  married 
in  1887,  was  formerly  Miss  Alice  Mayo,  who  was 
born  in  Illinois. 

Fred  Burnett  Hill  was  born  at  Redwing,  Good- 
hue  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  15th  of  May,  1876. 
He  is  the  son  of  Edwin  Frederick  Hill  and  Grace 
Jeannette  (Squire)  Hill.  There  were  two  other 
sons : Charles  Melvin,  the  oldest,  is  in  the  real  es- 
tate business  at  Boise,  Idaho,  and  Wilbur  Squire, 
the  youngest,  is  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Twin 
Falls  Times,  Twin  Falls,  Idaho.  Edwin  F.  Hill  now 
resides  in  Los  Angeles,  California.  Mrs.  Edwin  F. 
Hill  died  on  June  18,  1903.  She  was  the  daughter 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1469 


of  Nathan  Squire  who  was  a pioneer  settler  of  Good- 
hue  County. 

Edwin  F.  Hill  was  born  at  Hudson,  New  Hamp- 
shire, on  May  19,  1846,  the  son  of  Reuben  and 
Mary  (Chase)  Hill.  In  1856  Reuben  Hill  settled 
with  his  family  at  Redwing,  Minnesota.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Both  died  in  1885  at  Redwing.  The  original  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Hill  family  in  America  were  three 
brothers  who  emigrated  from  England  in  1646.  The 
one  who  settled  at  Hudson,  New  Hampshire,  was 
the  ancestor  of  Reuben  Hill.  One  of  the  other 
brothers  settled  in  Connecticut  and  the  third  in 
Eastern  New  York.  Edwin  Hill  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Redwing  and  in  Hamline  College, 
then  just  beginning  its  work  in  Redwing.  He  was 
a contractor  by  trade,  having  learned  the  business 
from  his  father.  He  retired. from  active  business  in 
1907.  He  is  a member  of  the  Congregational  Church 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is 
a member  of  the  progressive  party.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Grace  Jeannette  Squire  on  July  9,  1873. 

In  the  fall  of  1895  Fred  B.  Hill  entered  Carleton 
College  and  was  graduated  in  1900  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Literature.  In  1903  he  was  graduated 
from  Hartford  Theological  Seminary  with  the  de- 
gree of  Bachelor  of  Divinity.  He  was  ordained  to 
the  Congregational  ministry  in  1903  at  Providence, 
Rhode  Island,  where  he  was  assistant  minister  of 
the  Central  Congregational  Church.  In  1905-06  fol- 
lowing his  marriage  to  Miss  Deborah  Wilcox  Sayles 
he  made  a tour  of  the  world.  In  1906-7  he  studied 
again  at  Hartford  Theological  Seminary  and  in  the 
fall  of  1907  entered  upon  the  work  of  instructor  in 
biblical  literature  in  Carleton  College.  In  1909  he 
was  made  full  professor  in  that  department.  The 
year  1914-15  was  spent  in  graduate  study  at  Yale 
School  of  Religion. 

Professor  Hill  is  chairman  of  the  Social  Service 
Commission  of  the  National  Council  of  Congrega- 
tional Churches ; is  a corporate  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Board  of  Commissioners  of  Foreign  Missions ; 
is  also  a member  of  various  educational  and  philan- 
thropic organizations.  He  is  president  of  the  North- 
field  Hospital  Association  and  a member  of  the 
board  of  education.  He  is  a member  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Club,  the  University  Club  of  Minneapolis, 
the  Graduates  Club  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
and  the  honorary  society  of  Phi  Beta  Kappa.  He  is 
a member  of  Social  Lodge,  No.  48,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
and  Corinthian  Chapter,  No.  33,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of 
Faribault  Commandery,  No.  8,  Knights  Templar. 

On  June  14th,  1905,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Hill  to  Deborah  Wilcox  Sayles,  daughter  of  Frederic 
C.  and  Deborah  Wilcox  Sayles  of  Pawtucket,  Rhode 
Island.  They  have  five  children:  Mary  Sayles,  Fred 
Burnett,  Jr.,  Robert  Clark,  Edward  Sanderson  and 
Deborah  Jeannette. 

Lars  Backe.  One  of  the  pioneers  of  Thief  River 
Falls  is  Lars  Backe,  who  put  up  one  of  the  first 
residences  in  that  town  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century  ago,  _ and  has  since  been  actively  identified 
with  its  business  and  civic  affairs.  Mr.  Backe  is 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Northern  Minnesota,  was  a 
homesteader,  and  got  his  start  in  the  strenuous 
work  of  country  development. 

Lars  Backe  was  born  in  Norway  August  29,  1856, 
a son  of  Bartel  and  Eline  Backe.  His  parents  were 
farmers  of  the  old  country.  Lars  Backe  received 
his  education  and  his  early  training  in  his  native 


land,  and  in  1880  crossed  the  ocean  and  became  one 
of  the  pioneers  in  Minnesota,  locating  a homestead 
and  also  supporting  himself  by  employment  in  offi- 
ces and  stores  for  several  years.  In  1888  he  bought 
lots  and  built  one  of  the  first  residences  of  the 
town  of  Thief  River  Falls,  and  has  since  been  iden- 
tified with  that  community  in  business  affairs,  in 
real  estate  and  insurance,  and  other  lines.  In  1893 
he  was  elected  village  recorder  and  held  that  office 
until  November,  1896,  when  the  town  was  incor- 
porated. He  then  held  the  office  of  clerk  of  Thief 
River  Falls  for  sixteen  years.  In  1911  he  was 
elected  mayor,  taking  office  January  1,  1912,  and 
two  years  later  was  again  elected  to  the  same  honor, 
and  since  January  1,  1915,  has  been  on  his  second 
term  of  two  years.  He  has  been  a member  of  the 
board  of  education  since  its  organization,  and  has 
done  much  to  promote  good  schools  and  the  up- 
building of  the  local  library.  Mr.  Backe  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Holt,  and  does 
a large  business  in  real  estate  and  fire  insurance, 
and  is  also  a contractor  and  builder  for  cement 
construction. 

Mr.  Backe  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  with  the  Sons  of  Norway, 
and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Church  and  was  one  of  its  organizers  at  Thief 
River  Falls.  In  Ottertail  County,  Minnesota,  in 
July,  1884,  Mr.  Backe  married  Kerstie  Loken.  Mrs. 
Backe  died  in  December,  1889,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren : Emma  L.,  who  is  librarian  of  the  public 

library  at  Thief  River  Falls;  Bartel  L.,  cashier  of 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  at  Holt;  and  Clara  L.,  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools. 

Capt.  Mathias  Baldwin  is  one  of  the  able  and 
popular  members  of  the  Minneapolis  bar,  has  served 
as  first  assistant  county  attorney  of  Hennepin  Coun- 
ty, has  been  a prominent  figure  in  the  Minnesota 
National  Guard,  in  which  he  gained  his  pres- 
ent military  title  after  having  served  with  his 
regiment  with  marked  efficiency,  and  further  inter- 
est attaches  to  his  career  by  reason  of  his  being  a 
native  son  of  Minnesota  and  a scion  of  one  of  the 
sterling  pioneer  families  of  this  state. 

Captain  Baldwin  was  born  on  a farm  in  High  For- 
est Township,  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  on  the 
26th  of  August,  1875,  and  is  a son  of  Cornelius  and 
Julia  (Monette)  Baldwin,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Dunkirk,  County  Cork,  Ireland,  and  the 
latter  in  Quebec,  Canada,  of  French  lineage.  Cor- 
nelius Baldwin  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
land  and  immigrated  to  the  United  States  about  the 
year  1854,  his  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  Monette  hav- 
ing been  solemnized  at  the  home  of  the  bride’s  par- 
ents, twelve  miles  south  of  Rochester,  Olmsted 
County,  Minnesota,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Baldwin  hav- 
ing been  pioneer  settlers  in  that  county.  Cornelius 
Baldwin  became  one  of  the  progressive  pioneer  farm- 
ers of  Olmsted  County,  and  he  was  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  farm  in  Rock  County,  this  state,  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1895,  his  widow  being  now  a resident 
of  Pipestone,  the  judicial  center  of  Pipestone 
County,  and  being  a devout  communicant  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  as  was  also  her  husband.  They 
became  the  parents  of  six  sons  and  four  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  living.  The  eldest  of  the  number 
is  Cornelius  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  plumbing 
business  in  Minneapolis ; two  of  the  sisters  married 
farmers ; one  sister  is  a successful  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  and  another  is  a nun  of  a Catholic 


1470 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


sisterhood,  identified  with  a convent  in  South  Da- 
kota ; and  all  of  the  other  brothers  are  farmers 
except  Captain  Baldwin  of  this  review  and  Edmund, 
who,  as  a member  of  the  United  Stated  Marine 
Corps,  is  attached  to  the  United  States  legation  at 
Pekin,  China. 

Captain  Baldwin  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Olmsted  and  Rock  counties, 
in  which  latter  he  was  graduated  in  the  high  school 
at  Luverne  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1898.  In 
preparation  for  the  work  of  his  chosen  profession 
Captain  Baldwin  entered  the  law  department  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1903  and  from  which  he  received  at  that  time  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  Not  satisfied  with 
other  than  the  best  possible  fortification  for  the 
vocation  which  he  had  selected,  the  captain  com- 
pleted in  the  law  department  of  the  university  an 
effective  post-graduate  course,  resultant  upon  which 
was  his  reception,  in  1904,  of  the  supplemental  de- 
gree of  Master  of  Laws. 

In  the  year  of  his  graduation  Captain  Baldwin 
formed  a partnership  alliance  with  Frank  D.  Larra- 
bee  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Minne- 
apolis, under  the  firm  name  of  Larrabee  & Baldwin, 
and  with  offices  in  the  Metropolitan  Life  Building. 
The  partnership  was  dissolved  at  the  expiration  of 
two  years  and  thereafter  Captain  Baldwin  conducted 
a substantial  individual  practice  for  four  years.  Ir 
1909  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Joseph  L. 
Murphy,  under  the  firm  name  of  Baldwin  & Murphy, 
and  this  alliance  continued  one  year,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  there  came  distinctive  recognition  of 
the  legal  ability  and  resourcefulness  of  Mr.  Baldwin, 
in  his  appointment  as  first  assistant  prosecuting  at- 
torney of  Hennepin  County,  the  appointment  hav- 
ing been  made  by  James  Robertson,  the  present 
county  attorney.  His  official  duties  continued  to  de- 
mand the  services  of  Captain  Baldwin  until  he  went 
out  of  office  January  1,  1915,  and  he  made  an  ad- 
mirable record  as  a public  prosecutor.  He  is  now 
associated  with  the  Baldwin-Murphy  Company  with 
offices  at  1050-52  Security  Bank  Building. 

It  was  given  to  Captain  Baldwin  to  tender  his 
services  to  the  nation  in  the  Spanish-American  war, 
his  eligibility  for  which  had  been  reinforced  through 
his  prior  identification  with  Company  IT,  Second 
Regiment,  Minnesota  National  Guards,  at  Luverne, 
in  1896-7.  On  the  16th  of  July,  1898.  with  the  other 
members  of  his  company,  "Captain  Baldwin  enlisted 
in  the  United  States  service,  as  a member  of  Com- 
pany G,  Fifteenth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry. 
He  was  made  sergeant  of  his  company  and  the  regi- 
ment proceeded  to  a reserve  camp  in  the  South, 
demand  not  having  been  made  for  its  service  in 
Cuba  or  on  another  stage  of  warfare.  The  captain 
and  his  comrades  were  mustered  out,  at  Augusta, 
Georgia,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1899,  after  having 
shown  the  finest  military  spirit  and  discipline, 
though  denied  participation  in  active  polemic  con- 
flict. In  Minneapolis,  after  the  close  of  the  Spanish 
war,  Captain  Baldwin  identified  himself  with  Com- 
pany F of  the  First  Regiment  of  the  Minnesota  Na- 
tional Guards,  in  which  he  passed  through  the  vari- 
ous grades  of  promotion  to  the  office  of  captain,  a 
position  of  which  he  continued  the  efficient  and  pop- 
ular incumbent  from  February  8,  1908,  to  June  20, 
1914,  when  he  was  retired.  He  was  senior  caotain 
of  the  regiment  at  the  time  when  he  requested  re- 
tirement and  was  thus  in  line  for  promotion  to  the 
rank  of  major.  Within  his  six  years’  service  as 


captain  of  his  company  he  won  the  regimental 
championship  for  marksmanship  for  each  year  save 
the  first,  besides  which  he  won  the  state  champion- 
ship in  each  of  four  years  of  this  period.  Further 
distinction  was  his  in  1909,  when  he  captured  the 
national  championship,  in  a contest  at  Camp  Perry, 
Ohio.  In  1912  he  was  coach  of  the  Minnesota  Rifle 
Team  and  in  the  following  year  he  was  an  active 
member  of  this  organization.  He  has  been  known 
since  1909  as  an  expert  shot  with  both  rifle  and 
pistol,  and  in  1913  won  the  medal  at  the  contest  held 
by  the  National  Rifle  Association. 

Captain  Baldwin  is  a stalwart  in  the  camp  of  the 
republican  party,  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
Bar  Association,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Camels  of 
the  World.  In  the  Knights  of  Columbus  he  served 
two  years  as  district  deputy.  As  a communicant  of 
the  Catholic  Church  the  captain  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  as  is  also  his  wife, 
their  home  being  at  1329  Seventeenth  Avenue. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1911,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Captain  Baldwin  to  Miss  Anna  L.  Ken- 
nedy, daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Duggan) 
Kennedy,  of  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Baldwin  was  born 
and  reared  in  this  city,  where  her  parents  still  re- 
side, and  is  a graduate  of  Holy  Angels  Academy. 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  have  two  children, — Mar- 
garet Julia  and  John  Kennedy. 

John  Alexander  Thompson.  A Minneapolis  pio- 
neer of  honored  memory  was  the  late  John  Alexan- 
der Thompson,  who  was  identified  with  St.  Anthony 
Village  through  its  various  development  into  a city 
from  1855  until  his  death  on  June  11,  1891,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-nine  years. 

John  Alexander  Thompson  was  born  at  St.  Davids 
in  New  Brunswick  May  26,  1832,  a son  of  Hiram 
and  Belinda  (Woodstock)  Thompson.  He  was 
reared  to  a life  of  activity  and  as  a boy  had  experi- 
ence in  the  lumber  woods  of  Eastern  Canada.  Fol- 
lowing the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  in  1848 
he  went  out  to  the  Pacific  coast  by  the  Isthmus  route 
and  spent  three  years  there,  from  1849  to  1852. 
After  his  return  to  New  Brunswick  he  remained  only 
a few  years,  and  in  1855  located  in  Minneapolis. 
For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness with  Leonard  Day  & Son. 

The  late  Mr.  Thompson  was  a democrat  in  na- 
tional politics,  and  was  a member  of  Hennepin 
Lodge,  No.  4.  A..  F.  & A.  M.  He  was  a member  of 
Gethsemane  Church  at  Minneapolis,  and  a beauti- 
ful memorial  window  has  been  placed  in  the  edifice 
by  his  children.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  distinction 
of  being  the  first  couple  to  be  married  in  the  old 
Gethsemane  Church.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Victoria  A.  Moore.  At  his  death  Mr.  Thompson 
left  seven  grown  children,  named  as  follows : Etta 
Thompson  Gould,  the  widow  of  the  late  Judge  Ozro 
B.  Gould,  whose  life  is  given  appropriate  attention 
on  other  pages;  Josephus  Moore  Thompson,  who 
died  in  California  January  15,  1912,  and  was  brought 
back  to  Minneapolis  for  burial ; Albert  Delano 
Thompson,  who  is  president  and  treasurer  of  the 
A.  D.  Thompson  Drug  Company  and  is  mentioned 
in  succeeding  paragraphs ; Alice  Thompson  Doll, 
wife  of  Charles  E.  Doll,  of  Evanston,  Illinois;  Fred 
H.  Thompson,  a druggist  at  the  corner  of  Tenth 
Street  and  Marquette  Avenue;  Clifford  W.  Thomp- 
son, a resident  of  Monroe,  Washington;  and  Charles 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1471 


W.  Thompson,  vice  president  of  the  A.  D.  Thomp- 
son Drug  Company  of  Minneapolis. 

Albert  Delano  Thompson.  One  of  the  solid  busi- 
ness men  of  Minneapolis,  where  he  has  been  con- 
tinuously identified  with  the  drug  trade  for  the  past 
thirty-seven  years,  A.  D.  Thompson  has  achieved 
more  than  the  ordinary  prominence  of  the  success- 
ful merchant  and  is  a leader  in  the  various  associa- 
tions of  druggists  in  his  home  state  and  in  the  United 
States. 

The  A.  D.  Thompson  Drug  Company,  of  which  he 
is  president  and  treasurer,  was  incorporated  in  1899 
with  a capital  stock  of  $20,000  which  in  1910  was  in- 
creased to  $100,000.  The  other  officers  of  this  com- 
pany are:  Charles  W.  Thompson,  vice  president; 
and  George  H.  Kulp,  secretary.  This  business  is  the 
logical  development  and  outgrowth  of  the  career 
of  Mr.  A.  D.  Thompson,  who  became  identified  with 
the  retail  trade  in  Minneapolis  in  1878,  his  first  store 
being  at  First  Avenue  South  and  Washington,  sub- 
sequently removing  to  First  Avenue  South  and  Third 
Street,  and  still  later  opening  a store  at  Fourth 
Street  and  Nicollet,  which  is  now  one  of  the  two 
stores  of  the  company,  the  other  being  at  Third 
Street  and  First  Avenue  South.  The  buildings  in 
which  these  stores  are  located  were  purchased  in 
October,  1910,  by  the  Albert  D.  Thompson  Company, 
which  has  the  same  officers  and  directors  as  the 
A.  D.  Thompson  Drug  Company. 

Albert  Delano  Thompson,  a son  of  the  late  John 
A.  and  Victoria  A.  Thompson,  reference  to.  whom  is 
made  in  preceding  paragraphs,  was  born  September 
24,  1861,  at  St.  Stephens,  New  Brunswick.  Fie  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  Minneapolis  public 
schools  and  in  the  State  University,  and  has  been 
continuously  in  the  drug  trade  since  1878. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  president  in  1908-09  of  the 
Minneapolis  Retail  Druggists  Association;  was  pres- 
ident in  1910  of  the  Minnesota  State  Pharmaceutical 
Association;  was  president  of  the  Northwestern 
Branch  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association 
in  1914  and  re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  1915;  and 
in  1910  was  a delegate  to  the  American  Pharmaceuti- 
cal Association  at  Richmond,  Virginia.  By  appoint- 
ment from  Governor  Johnson  Mr.  Thompson  was 
the  Minnesota  delegate  to  the  Lincoln  celebration 
at  Flodgensville,  Kentucky,  on  February  12,  1909, 
the  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  the  Great 
Emancipator.  He  attended  the  laying  of  the  corner 
stone  of  the  memorial  building  at  the  Lincoln  farm. 
Mr.  Thompson  is  a democrat  in  national  politics, 
and  is  affiliated  with  Kuhrum  Lodge  No.  119,  A.  F. 
& A.  M..  and  his  church  home  is  St.  Mark's  Epis- 
copal at  Minneapolis. 

Ozro  Barnes  Gould  was  born  in  Brantford,  On- 
tario, Aoril  17,  1840.  He  was  a son  of  Ozro  A.  and 
Mary  (Barnes)  Gould.  His  father  died  when  he 
was  five  years  old  and  his  mother  returned  to  the 
United  States.  The  common  schools  of  Ohio  af- 
forded Judge  Gould  his  early  education  and  later  he 
attended  the  academy  at  Republic  in  the  same  state. 
Attaining  his  majority  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil 
war,  he  promptly  subordinated  all  personal  interests 
to  tender  his  aid  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He  en- 
listed as  a member  of  the  Fi^-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  through  successive  promotions  was 
advanced  to  the  rank  of  captain  of  Company  G of 
this  resriment.  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  in 
July,  1865.  He  first  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Po- 


tomac and  later  under  the  command  of  General  Sher- 
man. In  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  on  the  2d  of 
May,  1863,  Judge  Gould  was  severely  wounded  and 
was  captured  by  the  enemy.  His  exchange  was  ef- 
fected and  at  the  earliest  possible  date  he  rejoined 
his  regiment.  In  later  years  he  continued  to  mani- 
fest a deep  interest  in  his  old  comrades  in  arms  and 
was  affiliated  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Judge  Gould  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  offices 
of  Lee  and  Brewer  of  Tiffin,  Ohio,  and  later  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1867.  In  the  same  year  the  ambitious  young 
lawyer  came  to  Minnesota  and  became  one  of  the 
pioneer  members  of  the  bar  of  Winona  County.  He 
was  recognized  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  influ- 
ential members  of  the  Minnesota  bar,  serving  as 
judge  of  the  Third  Judicial  District  from  1895-97. 

Judge  Gould  was  an  influential  figure  in  the  public 
affairs  of  the  State  of  Minnesota  and  gave  himself 
with  characteristic  vigor  to  the  furtherance  of  enter- 
prises and  measures  projected  for  the  good  of  the 
commonwealth.  He  represented  Winona  County  in 
the  State  Legislature  1881-82,  having  previously 
given  efficient  service,  1871-78,  as  a member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Minnesota  Orphans  Home. 
Judge  Gould  gave  the,  last  six  years  of  his  life  to 
the  newly  instituted  board  of  control  of  state  insti- 
tutions to  which  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  S.  R.  Van 
Sant  and  was  chairman  of  the  board  at  the  time  of 
his  death  which  occurred  at  the  Northwestern  Hos- 
pital on  the  16th  of  January,  1907.  The  funeral  serv- 
ices were  held  from  St.  Paul’s  Church  in  Winona. 
His  death  was  held  as  a personal  loss  and  bereave- 
ment by  the  people  of  that  city  where  he  had  long 
maintained  his  home. 

Judge  Gould  married  in  1885,  Miss  Mary  E.  Couse, 
who  died  in  1892.  In  1899  Judge  Gould  married  Miss 
Etta  Thompson  of  Minneapolis  who  with  two  sons 
and  a daughter  survive  him.  Mrs.  Gould  maintains 
her  home  in  Minneapolis  at  2000  Penn  Avenue, 
South.  With  her  are  her  daughter,  Mary  and  son, 
Ralph  F.  Ozro  C.  Gould,  the  eldest  son  is  now  in 
the  consular  service  in  Newfoundland. 

Judge  Gould  was  a strong  and  well  balanced  men- 
tality and  a character  that  was  the  virtual  expression 
of  high  ideals  and  intrinsic  nobility,  so  that  he  ever 
commanded  the  unqualified  confidence  and  good  will 
of  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  in  the  various 
relations  of  a long,  worthy  and  useful  life. 

George  T.  Simpson.  A fine  sense  of  proportion 
has  been  exemplified  in  the  career  of  this  representa- 
tive member  of  the  Minneapolis  bar,  an  honored  citi- 
zen and  prominent  lawyer  who  served  with  distinction 
as  attorney  general  of  Minnesota  and  who  is  now 
engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession. 

Mr.  Simp-son  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  and  further 
mention  of  the  honored  and  influential  pioneer  fam- 
ily from  whence  he  comes  is  found  on  other  pages 
in  a review  of  the  life  record  of  his  father,  the  late 
Thomas  Simpson.  In  his  profession  he  has  shown 
both  solid  and  brilliant  qualities,  especially  during 
his  incumbency  as  attorney  general,  and  the  State 
of  Minnesota  will  continue  to  honor  Mr.  Simpson 
for  the  work  he  accomplished  in  that  office,  from 
which  he  retired  voluntarily  on  the  1st  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1912.  In  the  entire  history  of  Minnesota  he 
figures  as  the  only  executive  state  officer  who  vol- 
untarily resigned  to  enter  private  life. 

George  T.  Simpson  was  born  at  Winona,  Minne- 


1472 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


sota,  in  the  county  of  the  same  name,  on  the  25th  of 
September,  1867.  He  acquired  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  city  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  Minnesota  State  Normal  School  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1885.  He  matriculated  in  the 
University  of  Wisconsin,  at  Madison,  and  was  there 
graduated  in  1890,  with  the  degree  Bachelor'  of 
Letters.  In  preparation  for  his  chosen  profession 
he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  same  univer- 
sity, was  admitted  to  the  Wisconsin  bar  in  1894,  and 
in  the  following  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his 
native  state.  He  began  practice  in  his  home  city, 
where  his  close  application,  excellent  technical  knowl- 
edge and  personal  popularity  soon  enabled  him  to 
build  up  a satisfactory  law  business.  He  served  as 
city  attorney  from  1897  to  1899,  inclusive,  and  for 
four  years,  1900-1904,  held  the  office  of  county  attor- 
ney of  Winona  County,  a position  in  which  his  ef- 
fective work  tended  greatly  to  enhance  his  personal 
prestige.  In  1905  there  came  distinctive  recognition 
of  his  ability,  in  his  appointment  as  assistant  attor- 
ney general  of  the  state,  under  Edward  T.  Young, 
then  attorney  general.  In  this  capacity  he  showed 
marked  discrimination  and  resourcefulness  in  the 
handling  of  important  matters  consigned  to  him,  and 
thus  higher  preferment  came  as  a normal  result. 

In  1908,  after  a unanimous  nomination  at  the  hands 
of  the  state  convention  of  the  republican  party,  he 
was  elected  attorney  general,  leading  the  state  ticket. 
Again,  in  1910,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  by  the 
state  convention  of  the  same  party,  and  in  the 
election  which  followed  he  again  received  over 
eighty  thousand  majority.  In  this  high  office  Mr. 
Simpson  made  a record  that  stands  to  his  enduring 
credit  and  one  that  contributed  much  to  the  well 
being  of  the  state. 

The  public  press  at  the  time  of  his  retirement 
from  office,  in  mentioning  the  more  important  mat- 
ters with  which  he  had  been  connected  during  his 
term  of  office,  commented  upon  the  fact  that  during 
his  term  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
had  determined  that  the  State  of  Minnesota  had  a 
right  to  raise  or  lower,  at  will  but  within  reasonable 
limits,  the  percentage  of  gross  earnings  which  shall 
be  paid  by  a railway  company  as  taxes  to  the  state, 
and  that,  as  a result  thereof,  there  had  been  col- 
lected as  back  taxes  from  the  railway  companies  of 
the  state  the  sum  of  $806,392.54;  that  the  same  court 
had  also  forever  -settled  the  question  as  to  the  right 
of  the  State  of  Minnesota  to  protect  the  pine  timber 
of  the  state  and  that  as  a result  of  the  latter,  by 
way  of  trespass  suits  and  settlements,  there  had  been 
paid  into  the  coffers  of  the  state  $109,890.84;  that  in 
settlement  of  the  Western  Union  tax  cases  a further 
sum  of  $103,407.33  had  been  collected  by  way  of 
back  taxes ; that  as  a result  of  the  opinion  of  the 
attorney  general  in  the  matter  of  the  estate  of  John 
S.  Kennedy,  a non-resident  of  the  state,  who  died 
owning  large  amounts  of  stock  of  the  Great  North- 
ern Railway  Company,  there  had  been  collected  and 
paid  into  the  state  treasury,  in  one  sum,  $345,325.25, 
and  that  as  a general  result  of  this  opinion  there  had 
been,  and  would  be  thereafter,  covered  into  the  state 
treasury  from  such  source  alone,  each  year,  more 
than  sufficient  to  pay  the  ordinary  running  expenses 
of  the  attorney  general’s  office,  including  salaries ; 
that,  together  with  the  state  auditor,  S.  G.  Iverson, 
he  had  been  largely  instrumental  in  the  settlement 
of  the  long  pending  controversy  between  the  Indians 
and  the  State  of  Minnesota  affecting  the  swamp- 
land grants,  and  that  in  consequence  thereof  the 


state  had  already  received,  and  would  continue  to 
receive,  the  title  to  large  bodies  of  swamp  land  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  state;  that  he  had  com- 
menced the  action  (lately  before  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  state)  involving  the  ownership  of  ore  under- 
neath the  waters  of  meander  lakes;  and  that  he  had 
first  instituted  the  rule  now  in  force  in  the  attorney 
general’s  office  that  all  of  the  work  of  the  depart- 
ment should  be  done  by  the  men  employed  therein, 
except  where  the  Legislature  directed  otherwise. 
In  a report  to  the  governor,  under  date  of  Decem- 
ber 31,  19x1,  summing  up  his  work,  Mr.  Simpson 
points  out  that  the  past  three  years  “have  seen  the 
tax  and  timber  laws  of  the  state  sustained  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States:  an  enforcement 
of  its  anti-trust  laws;  an  upholding  of  its  statutes 
against  crime;  and  a successful  assertion  of  its  rights 
as  against  those  financially  indebted  to  it.  In  addi- 
tion thereto  the  most  important  rate  litigation  (Min- 
nesota rate  cases)  in  the  history  of  the  United  States 
has  been  tried  and  submitted  to  the  courts,  and  the 
first  thorough  investigation  of  express  rates  initi- 
ated.” Mr.  Simpson  closed  his  report  with  the  fol- 
lowing statement : “In  thus  closing  my  administra- 
tion of  the  office,  I am  leaving  public  life,  probably 
never  again  to  re-enter  the  same.  I desire  to  ex- 
press to  you,  and  through  you  to  the  people  of  the 
state,  my  keen  appreciation  of  the  many  courtesies 
and  favors  shown  me  by  them  during  the  years  gone 
by.”  Thus  there  retired  from  public  office  a man 
who  could  have  remained  had  he  so  willed — a unique 
situation. 

It  is  said  that  during  the  three  years  Mr.  Simpson 
held  the  office  of  attorney  general  there  were  paid 
into  the  state  treasury  practically  three  millions  of 
dollars,  the  result  of  the  successful  termination  of 
actions  instituted  in  part  by  his  predecessor  and  in 
part  by  himself,  and  all  finished  by  him  within  his 
term  of  office. 

Honesty,  frankness,  efficiency  and  a high  sense  of 
civic  loyalty  characterized  the  administration  of  Mr. 
Simpson  in  the  office  of  attorney  general,  and  though 
he  signalized  at  the  time  of  his  resignation  his  in- 
tention to  withhold  himself  thereafter  from  public 
office,  he  has  not  been  entirely  the  arbiter  of  his  own 
destiny,  at  least  to  the  extent  of  regulating  the  de- 
sires of  his  party  friends  and  admirers.  One  hears 
his  name  repeatedly  suggested  in  connection  with  the 
republican  nomination  for  the  office  of  governor  of 
the  state,  and  again  as  United  States  senator.  He 
has  a wide  acquaintanceship  throughout  his  native 
state,  and  his  circle  of  friends  is  co-extensive  with 
that  of  his  acquaintances.  He  has  been  an  influential 
figure  in  the  councils  and  campaign  activities  of  the 
republican  party  in  Minnesota,  and  has  never  wavered 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  cause 

Mr.  Simpson  is  identified  with  the  American  Bar 
Association  and  the  Minnesota  Bar  Association.  He 
is  affiliated  with  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  college  frater- 
nity, and  in  the  time-honored  Masonic  fraternity 
has  received  the  thirty-second  degree  of  the  Ancient 
and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  besides  holding  member- 
ship in  Osman  Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order 
of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  in  the  Citv  of 
St.  Paul.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Club. 

In  his  native  city  of  Winona,  on  the  26th  of  De- 
cember, 1899.  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Simpson  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ludwig,  daughter  of  the 
late  Gen.  John  Ludwig,  who  was  long  one  of  the 
honored  and  influential  citizens  of  Minnesota  and 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  democratic  party. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1473 


Concerning  General  Ludwig  a memoir  appears  on 
other  pages  of  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpson 
have  one  daughter,  Margaret. 

This  article  may  conclude  with  a few  words  from 
Henry  A.  Castle,  editor-in-chief  of  this  History  of 
Minnesota : “Minnesota  has  been  honored  with  the 
distinguished  services,  in  the  office  of  attorney  gen- 
eral, of  a long  line  of  men  eminent  in  their  pro- 
fession and  remarkably  successful  in  protecting  the 
interests  of  the  commonwealth.  But  probably  to 
none  have  been  given  greater  opportunities  for  valu- 
able achievements,  in  establishing  solid  principles  of 
jurisprudence  that  will,  for  generations  to  come, 
inure  to  the  substantial  benefit  of  all  the  people,  than 
to  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  achievements  in 
public  life  are  his  enduring  monument.” 

John  Ludwig.  Inffhe  primary  sense  the  biography 
of  any  man  may  be  tersely  epitomized  in  the  state- 
ment that  he  was  born,  he  lived  and  he  died.  But 
how  little  this  expresses  the  influence  of  a strong 
and  noble  character  with  the  span  of  a normal  life- 
time. He  whose  name  introduces  this  review  was 
one  of  the  sterling  sons  of  the  Duchy  of  Luxembourg 
who  came  to  the  United  States  in  the  ’50s  and  es- 
tablished homes  in  Wisconsin,  as  pioneers  of  that 
commonwealth.  Imbued,  as  a youth,  with  the  utmost 
loyalty  to  the  land  of  his  adoption,  he  responded, 
within  five  years  after  his  arrival  in  the  United 
States,  to  the  call  for  volunteers  to  aid  in  maintain- 
ing the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and  it  was  given  him 
to  render  most  gallant  and  meritorious  service  in  the 
Civil  war,  in  which  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  second 
lieutenant.  In  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  was 
familiarly  known  by  the  title  of  general,  this  having 
been  in  recognition  of  his  service  as  commissary 
general  of  the  Minnesota  National  Guard. 

Of  all  that  makes  for  worthy  and  useful  man- 
hood General  Ludwig  acquitted  himself  well  in 
thought  and  achievement.  His  heart  was  attuned 
to  sympathy,  and  this  sympathy  found  exemplifica- 
tion in  kindliness,  tolerance  and  practical  helpful- 
ness. For  many  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  one 
of  the  most  honored  and  influential  citizens  of 
Winona,  the  fine  Minnesota  city  that  is  the  judicial 
center  of  the  county  of  the  same  name,  and  he  had 
much  to  do  with  its  development  and  upbuilding 
along  both  civic  and  material  lines.  He  was  one  of 
the  leaders  in  the  Minnesota  councils  and  activities 
of  the  democratic  party,  and  was  its  candidate  for 
offices  of  high  public  trust.  He  made  his  life  count 
for  good  in  its  every  relation  and  his  name  and 
memory  are  revered  and  honored  in  the  state  that 
long  represented  his  home,  his  death  having  oc- 
curred at  Winona,  on  the  21st  of  September,  1906, 
only  a few  months  prior  to  his  sixty-seventh  birth- 
day anniversary. 

At  Canach,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Luxembourg, 
John  Ludwig  was  born  on  the  26th  of  December, 
1839,  and  in  his  native  land  he  received  excellent 
educational  advantages  in  his  youth,  thus  initiating 
the  accumulation  of  that  broad  fund  of  knowledge 
that  later  was  to  mark  him  as  a man  of  fine  in- 
tellectual ken  and  mature  judgment.  In  1836,  as  a 
youth  of  about  seventeen  years,  General  Ludwig 
yielded  to  the  urge  of  ambitions  and  determined 
purpose,  as  shown  in  his  immigration  to  America, 
his  being  the  strength  of  integrity  and  industry  and 
his  the  confidence  that  makes  for  productive  achieve- 
ment along  normal  lines  of  endeavor.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  in  the  United  States  he  was  found  ac- 


tively identified  with  mercantile  business  at  Fond  du 
Lac,  Wisconsin,  where  he  continued  in  this  line  of 
enterprise  until  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war,  when 
he  laid  aside  all  personal  considerations  to  tender 
his  services  in  defense  of  the  Union.  On  the  30th 
of  October,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Com- 
pany C,  Ninth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
later  he  was  transferred  to  Company  A of  the  same 
regiment,  the  valiant  history  of  which  virtually  con- 
stitutes the  record  of  his  faithful  and  efficient  mili- 
tary career,  as  he  continued  in  active  service  for 
several  months  after  the  final  surrender,  his  honor- 
able discharge  having  been  accorded  him,  at  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas,  on  the  30th  of  January,  1866,  and 
his  commission  as  second  lieutenant  having  been 
received  May  30th  of  the  preceding  year.  His  serv- 
ice was  principally  with  the  western  forces  and  he 
took  part  in  numerous  spirited  engagements,  in- 
cluding those  at  Newtonia,  Missouri,  and  Spoon- 
ville  and  Jenkins’  Ferry,  Arkansas.  It  was  his 
privilege  and  distinctive  pleasure  in  later  years  to 
vitalize  his  more  gracious  memories  and  associations 
of  the  Civil  war  through  affiliation  with  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  with  Minnesota  Com- 
mandery  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion 
of  the  United  States,  in  each  of  which  he  was  spe- 
cially influential  and  popular. 

After  the  close  of  his  service  as  a soldier  of  the 
Union  young  Lieutenant  Ludwig  returned  to  the 
North  and  established  his  residence  in  the  City  of 
Chicago,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness for  a time.  In  1867  he  came  to  Minnesota  and 
opened1  a hotel  at  Winona,  where  he  met  with  ex- 
cellent success,  the'  result  being  that  a few  years 
later  he  erected  the  substantial  block  that  is  still 
known  as  the  Ludwig  Building  and  in  which  he  con- 
ducted for  many  years  a hotel  of  high  standard 
and  great  popularity.  In  1892,  in  harmony  with  other 
progressive  measures  fostered  by  him,  General  Lud- 
wig effected  the  organization  of  the  German-Ameri- 
can  Bank  of  Winona,  of  which  he  was  the  first 
president.  In  1893-94  he  had  the  distinction  of  serv- 
ing as  president  of  the  Luxemburg  Association  of 
America,  in  the  affairs  of  which  he  ever  manifested 
the  deepest  interest. 

General  Ludwig  at  all  times  stood  as  an  exponent 
of  the  most  insistent  civic  loyalty  and  progressive- 
ness, was  liberal  in  support  of  measures  projected 
for  the  general  good  of  the  community  and  the  state 
in  which  he  lived,  and  was  'unabating  in  his  zeal 
as  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  democratic 
party.  He  served  one  term  as  a member  of  the  city 
council  of  Winona,  three  terms  as  city  treasurer,  and 
four  terms  as  mayor.  In  1886  he  was  the  demo- 
cratic nominee  for  state  treasurer,  but  was  unable 
to  surmount  the  obstacle  of  party  minority,  a con- 
dition that  also  prevailed  and  compassed  his  defeat 
when  he  ran  for  lieutenant  governor  of  Minnesota, 
in  1894.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  National  Demo- 
cratic Convention  of  1888,  at  St.  Louis,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  chosen  to  formally  notify 
President  Cleveland  of  his  nomination.  He”  served 
as  commissary  general  of  the  state  under  the  admin- 
istration of  Governor  Lind,  and  was  appointed  by 
the  late  Governor  Johnson  a member  of  the  State 
Capitol  Commission,  a position  of  which  he  was  the 
incumbent  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  one  of 
the  prominent  representatives  of  Minnesota  at  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  in  St.  Louis,  and 
there  served  as  judge  in  one  of  the  departments. 
Concerning  his  work  in  these  various  positions, 


1474 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


many  of  which  required  vigilance,  business  capacity 
and  a high  order  of  executive  ability,  it  has  con- 
sistently been  said  that  no  duty  was  neglected  by 
him  and  that  “public  affairs  and  official  work  re- 
ceived prompt  attention  even  when  this  involved  the 
sacrifice  of  personal  interests.’’  The  religious  faith 
of  General  Ludwig  guided  and  governed  his  entire 
life.  His  funeral  services,  on  the  23d  of  September, 
1906,  were  held  at  the  pro-cathedral  in  Winona,  and 
were  conducted  by  Rt.  Rev.  J.  B.  Cotter,  bishop  of 
the  diocese,  the  entire  community  manifesting  a 
sense  of  personal  loss  and  bereavement.  The  sur- 
viving former  mayors  of  Winona  acted  as  honorary 
pallbearers  at  the  funeral  and  the  remains  of  the 
loved  and  gallant  citizen  and  friend  were  laid  to 
rest  in  beautiful  St.  Mary’s  Cemetery,  Winona. 

In  the  City  of  Chicago,  in  1865,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  General  Ludwig  to  Miss  Anna  Siegfried, 
who  died  in  1909.  Six  children  survive, — Mrs. 
George  T.  Simpson,  concerning  whose  husband,  for- 
mer attorney  general  of  Minnesota,  individual  rec- 
ord is  given  elsewhere  in  this  publication ; Charles 
M.,  who  was  a soldier  in  the  Spanish-American  war, 
in  which  he  served  both  in  Cuba  and  the  Philippine 
Islands,  and  who  is  now  a resident  of  Chicago; 
Marie  E.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Shackell  reside  in  Winona; 
Emma  A.  at  Idaho  Falls,  Idaho;  and  Otto  P.  at 
Frazee,  Minnesota.  Another  daughter,  Eda  M.,  wife 
of  Thomas  B.  Hill,  died  October  13,  1905. 

Svan  Johan  Turnblad.  Through  his  individual 
and  public  services  in  connection  with  good  govern- 
ment, temperance  and  morality,  as  well  as  through 
the  columns  of  his  paper,  the  Posten,  Mr.  Turnblad 
probably  exerts  a more  powerful  influence  on  public 
opinion  throughout  Minnesota  and  the  Northwest 
than  any  other  foreign-born  citizen.  His  paper  is 
the  recognized  mouthpiece  of  Swedish-American 
thought,  and  being  published  in  the  Swedish  lan- 
guage covers  a large  and  important  field  in  North- 
western journalism. 

Svan  Johan  Turnblad  was  born  on  October  7, 
i860,  in  Tubbamala,  Vislanda,  Sweden.  His  par- 
ents were  Olof  M.  and  Ingegerd  (Mansson)  Turn- 
blad. When  he  was  eight  years  old  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  America,  coming  directly  to  Vasa, 
Goodhue  County,  Minnesota.  Here  Swan  J.,  as  he 
is  usually  called,  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
Zoar,  and  attended  the  lower  and  high  schools  of 
Vasa.  While  still  in  school  he  was  the  victim  of 
a craving  not  uncommon  among  boys  to  practice 
the  arts  and  mystery  of  the  printer’s  craft,  though 
in  his  case  this  early  enthusiasm  was  hardened  into 
a steadfast  ambition  and  proved  the  core  of  his 
life  work.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  set  and 
printed  an  arithmetic  of  which  his  school  principal, 
Prof.  P.  T.  Lindholm,  was  the  author. 

For  a short  time  he  taught  in  the  Vasa  High 
School  and  then,  looking  for  a wider  field  of  activ- 
ity, he  came  to  the  Twin  Cities  and  began  his  news- 
paper career  on  the  staff  of  the  Minnesota  State- 
Tidning.  In  1887  he  was  asked  to  undertake  the 
management  of  the  Svenska-Amerikanska  Posten  in 
Minneapolis,  and  since  that  time  his  whole  thought 
and  endeavor  has  been  to  make  this  the  best  among 
Swedish-American  newspapers.  In  1897  he  became 
the  sole  owner  of  the  Posten,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1915  erected  the  Posten  Building  on  the 
corner  of  Seventh  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  south, 
for  the  exclusive  use  of  that  paper. 

This  is  a weekly  newspaper  published  in  the 


Swedish  language  and  established  for  the  primary 
purpose  of  exercising  an  influence  in  the  spread  of 
temperance  pnd  prohibition  propaganda  throughout 
the  Northwest.  Under  Mr.  turnblad  its  scope  was 
broadened  without  any  sacrifice  of  its  basic  prin- 
ciples, so  as  to  become  such  a paper  as  is  needed 
in  every  household.  Its  pages  are  filled  with  gen- 
eral domestic  news  and  also  with  dispatches  and 
correspondence  on  world  news,  especially  those 
topics  of  direct  interest  to  the  Scandinavian  popula- 
tion. With  the  high  moral  purpose  which  has  been 
maintained  as  its  essence  from  the  beginning,  clean 
and  wholesome  in  every  department,  the  Posten  has 
for  years  been  a factor  and  influence  in  promoting 
progress  and  elevating  the  general  level  of  com- 
munity and  civic  life  among  its  ever  increasing  circle 
of  readers.  It  has  always  maintained  a strictly  in- 
dependent position  in  politics,  and  with  absolute 
loyalty  to  American  institutions,  it  has  been  a power 
for  good  in  the  development  of  citizenship  of  high 
ideals.  In  1897  Mr.  Turnblad  bought  and  brought 
over  from  Sweden  a loan  library  of  six  thousand 
volumes  for  the  use  of  his  subscribers.  In  1902 
because  of  a complete  crop  failure  in  Northern 
Sweden  there  was  much  suffering  there  and  about 
twenty  thousand  dollars  was  raised  through  the 
columns  of  Posten  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers. 

His  influential  position  in  the  newspaper  world 
has  necessarily  brought  Mr.  Turnblad  into  the 
larger  public  life  of  Minnesota.  In  1899  Governor 
Lind  named  him  a member  of  the  State  Reform- 
atory Board,  where  he  took  the  lead  in  reforming 
certain  abuses  which  had  crept  into  the  manage- 
ment and  helped  to  introduce  a new  spirit  of  con- 
servation and  reformation  into  the  conduct  of  that 
institution.  In  appreciation  of  his  services  on  that 
board  Governor  Johnson  placed  him  on  the  State 
Board  of  Visitors  to  all  the  state  institutions,  on 
which  board  he  has  remained  through  succeeding 
administrations.  Although  he  has  served  on  these 
boards  with  the  greatest  interest  and  enthusiasm, 
as  he  believes  every  citizen  should  do  his  share  in 
serving  his  country  and  community,  he  has  never 
accepted  an  appointment  with  remuneration  and  is 
in  no  sense  of  the  word  a politician.  In  1905  he 
was  appointed  colonel  on  the  staff  of  Governor 
Johnson,  an  appointment  which  was  also  continued 
by  his  successor.  He  is  a high  degree  Mason, 
thirty-second  Scottish  Rite,  Knights  Templar  and 
Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  a B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  is 
a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association,  the  Athletic  Club  and  the  Automobile 
Club.  While  he  is  first  and  foremost  a loyal  Amer- 
ican citizen,  he  takes  a deep  interest  in  the  welfare 
and  all  that  pertains  to  the  land  of  his  forefathers 
and  owns  one  of  the  best  private  libraries  of 
Swedish  literature  and  reference  books  in  this  coun- 
try. His  recreations  are  traveling  and  motoring. 
He  is  a member  of  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  1883  he  married  Christina  Nilsson  of 
Worthington,  Minnesota,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter. 

P.  B.  Getchell.  The  Getchell-Tanton  Company, 
of  which  Mr.  Getchell  is  vice  president,  is  one  of 
the  best  known  in  the  grain  commission  trade  in  the 
City  of  Minneapolis.  Its  home  offices  are  in  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  branch  office.s  are  main- 
tained at  Duluth  and  Milwaukee.  Mr.  Getchell  repre- 
sents an  old  family  of  the  Northwest,  and  his  own 


' 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1475 


career  has  been  a steady  progress  and  rise  from  hum- 
ble to  great  responsibilities. 

P.  B.  Getchell  was  born  in-  Minneapolis  February 
14,  1871,  a son  of  Daniel  W.  and  Mary  (Lavery) 
Getchell.  His  father  was  born  at  Machias,  Maine. 
His  mother  was  six  months  of  age  when  her  parents 
left  their  old  home  in  Southern  Ireland  and  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States.  She  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  was  a young 
woman  when,  in  1853,  her  parents  became  pioneer 
settlers  at  old  St.  Anthony,  which  was  then  a small 
frontier ’town  with  only  slight  promise  of  becoming 
a great  metropolis.  Mr.  Getchell’s  paternal  grand- 
father, Joseph  Getchell,  was  likewise  one  of  the  terri- 
torial pioneers  of  Minnesota,  establishing  his  home 
in  the  Northwest  in  1854.  After  coming  here  he  in- 
vested his  entire  fortune  in  timber  land.  A few 
months  after  his  arrival  in  the  territory  he  con- 
tracted a severe  cold  and  was  taken  away  by  death 
at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years.  He  was  a thorough 
and  far-sighted  business  man,  and  made  investments_ 
in  Minnesota  which,  had  his  life  been  spared,  would 
undoubtedly  in  time  have  brought  a large  fortune. 
After  his  death  unfair  advantage  was  taken  of  the 
business  inexperience  of  his  widow  and  children,- 
with  the  result  that  nearly  all  the  property  he  had 
purchased  was  lost  to  the  family.  His  widow,  Mary, 
lived  to  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

Daniel  W.  Getchell  was  still  young  when  he  came 
to  Minneapolis,  and  had  the  somewhat  meager  ad- 
vantages of  the  pioneer  schools.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  left  home  and  school  to  enroll  himself  among 
the  young  soldiers  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war. 
He  enlisted  as  a private  in  a famous  command,  the 
First  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he 
served  three  years,  and  made  a record  as  a faithful 
and  valiant  soldier  in  many  engagements  and  cam- 
paigns. During  the  Indian  outbreak  in  Minnesota 
lie  served  about  a year  as  a member  of  Hatch’s  Bat- 
talion. After  the  war  he  was  employed  as  a sta- 
tionary engineer  for  some  time,  and  from  1880  until 
1914  was  a janitor  of  the  Minneapolis  Public  Schools, 
having  been  for  many  years  connected  in  that  ca- 
pacity with  the  Webster  School.  He  finally  resigned 
and  is  now  living  retired,  both  he  and  his  wife  being 
among  the  honored  pioneer  citizens  of  Minneapolis. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  two  sons  and  five  daughters  are  living : 
Mrs.  William  Crocker,  of  Seattle,  Washington;  John 
E.,  a salesman  with  the  Minneapolis  Chamber  of 
Commerce;  P.  B. ; Mrs.  Thomas  Todd,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, California;  Mrs.  Louis  Hildebrand,  Mrs.  Frank 
J.  Wells,  and  Mrs.  Alfred  A.  Brault,  all  of  Minne- 
apolis, in  which  city  the  children  were  born  and 
reared. 

P.  B.  Getchell  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Minneapolis.  After  two  years  in 
high  school  he  was  taken  into  the  grain  commission 
firm  of  G.  W.  Van  Dusen  & Company  as  office  boy. 
Alert  of  mind  and  ambitious,  he  quickly  gained 
knowledge  by  observation  and  practice,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  bookkeeper,  and  also  became  inspector  in 
the  service  of  this  well  known  firm,  with  which  he 
was  connected  for  thirteen  years.  Following  that 
he  was  for  three  years  a salesman  for  the  Spencer 
Grain  Company  and  then  for  a similar  time  was 
manager  of  the  cash  grain  department  of  the  firm  of 
Woodward  & Company. 

With  this  broad  and'  varied  experience,  Mr.  Getch- 
ell embarked  in  the  commission  business  independ- 
ently. He  formed  a partnership  with  A.  G.  Tanton 


and  F.  C.  Lydiard,  under  the  name  Getchell-Tanton 
Company.  - This  firm  has  built  up  a substantial  and 
prosperous  commission  business,  and  fair  and  hon- 
orable methods  and  progressive  policies  have  given 
the  company  a high  reputation  all  over  the  North- 
west. Mr.  Tanton  is  president,  Mr.  Getchell  vice 
president  and  Mr.  Lydiard  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Mr.  Getchell’s  business  interests  and  civic  and  so- 
cial relations  have  a broad  range.  He  is  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Hoppenrath  Cigar  Company,  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  and  retail  cigar  business  in  Minne- 
apolis. He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  the  Duluth  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
and  the  Milwaukee  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  as 
a company  the  Getchell-Tanton  concern  is  identified 
with  the  Minneapolis  Civic  & Commerce  Association. 
In  politics  he  is  an  uncompromising  advocate  of  the 
principles  and  policies  of  the  republican  party,  and 
for  a long  term  of  years  was  active  in  politics  both 
in  Minneapolis  and  in  the  state.  In  November,  1910, 
he  was  elected  alderman  from  the  Tenth  Ward,  and 
his  efficient  and  constructive  work  in  the  municipal 
government  was  given  popular  approval  by  his  re- 
election  in  1914.  He  has  a wide  circle  of  friends  in 
business  and  social  circles  and  is  identified  with  the 
following  organizations : Royal  Arcanum,  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America,  Minneapolis  Athletic 
Club,  North  Side  Commercial  Club,  Tenth  Ward 
Commercial  Club,  Camden  Commercial  Club,  Camden 
Athletic  Club  and  the  Penn  Commercial  Club.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church 
of  the  Ascension. 

September  26,  1894,  Mr.  Getchell  married  Miss 
Ida  Wolsfield  of  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Getchell  was 
born  at  River  Falls,  Pierce  County,  Wisconsin,  at- 
tended the  State  Normal  School  there  and  later  was 
a student  in  the  German  Catholic  School  o'f  Minne- 
apolis. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Getchell  have  three  children : 
Grace  Catharine,  Verna  Agnes  and  Francis  Benjamin. 

George  C.  Paulson.  The  honor  paid  George  C. 
Paulson  by  the  citizens  of  Chippewa  County  in  1914 
in  his  election  ta  the  office  of  county  treasurer  was 
one  well  bestowed  in  recognition  of  his  standing  as 
a man  of  the  community  and  one  who  has  for  up- 
wards of  twenty  years  been  known  to  the  county  as 
an  energetic  farmer  and  business  man. 

George  C.  Paulson  was  born  in  Rock  County,  Wis- 
consin, in  1874,  and  has  lived  in  the  State  of  Minne- 
sota since  1896.  His  parents  were  Colburn  and 
Christina  Paulson.  His  father  was  a native  of  Nor- 
way and  came  to  Wisconsin  in  1850  and  died  in  1876. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  homesteaders  in  Wiscon- 
sin, and  quite  a successful  man.  Politically  he  was 
identified  with  the  republican  party  and  his  church 
was  the  Lutheran.  His  wife  had  come  to  Wisconsin 
in  1852  and  she  died  in  that  state  in  1893.  To  their 
marriage  were  born  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living:  Holgrim,  Belle,  Paul,  Amos,  Ole,  Emma, 
Nellie  and  George  C.  The  daughters  married  suc- 
cessful farmers. 

George  C.  Paulson  received  his  early  training  in 
the  common  schools  of  Wisconsin,  and  when  still  a 
youth  took  up  farming,  and  after  coming  to  Minne- 
sota was  also  employed  in  the  Government  service 
and  in  all  his  ventures,  whether  as  a farmer,  mer- 
chant, or  public  official,  has  been  exceptionally  able 
and  trustworthy.  Politically  he  is  a progressive  re- 
publican and  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Paulson  was  married  in  1897  to  Berthena 
Pederson.  Mrs.  Paulson  belongs  to  a prominent  fam- 


1476 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


ily  of  farmers  living  about  Montevideo.  To  this 
union  were  born  seven  children : Clark,  aged  sixteen, 
and  now  in  high  school ; Oscar,  aged  fourteen ; 
Mabel,  aged  twelve;  Melvin,  aged  nine;  Floyd,  aged 
seven;  Earl,  aged  four,  and  Verdi. 

Emil  Slawik.  Until  his  death  on  November  9, 
1914,  Emil  Slawik  was  president  of  the  Slawik  Fur 
Company,  one  of  the  leading  concerns  of  the  kind  in 
St.  Paul  and  the  Northwest.  His  own  ability  and 
forceful  enterprise  had  brought  about  his  rise  from 
humble  circumstances  to  a conspicuous  position  and 
influential,  prominence  in  business  affairs.  He  came 
to  America  with  training  and  skill  in  the  trade  of 
furrier,  and  by  years  of  faithful  industry  and  sound 
business  judgment  had  reached  an  independent  posi- 
tion in  St.  Paul  business  affairs  a number  of  years 
before  his  death. 

Emil  Slawik  was  born  in  Oberschlesien,  Germany, 
April  6,  1857,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Lamia) 
Slawik,  who  spent  all  their  lives  in  Germany.  He 
grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and  in  addition  to  ac- 
quiring substantial  education  was  apprenticed  to  and 
learned  the  trade  of  furrier.  In  1880  Emil  Slawik 
came  to  America,  was  located  for  a time  in  the  City 
of  Chicago,  later  at  Reading,  Michigan,  where,  he 
worked  at  his  trade  three  years,  and  from  that  time 
until  his  death  was  continuously  identified  by  business 
and  residence  with  St.  Paul.  For  nineteen  years  he 
was  foreman  of  the  fur  manufacturing  department 
for  the  Lanpher-Skinner  Company,  and  in  that  em- 
ployment laid  the  basis  of  his  own  independent  busi- 
ness career.  In  1900  he  engaged  independently  in 
business,  and  from  a small  but  substantial  part  de- 
veloped the  Slawik  Fur  Company  with  a trade 
extending  over  several  states,  and  everywhere  recog- 
nized as  a high  grade,  reliable  concern.  He  was  the 
founder  and  continued  as  president  of  the  company 
until  his  death. 

January  9,  1886,  Mr.  Slawik  married  Miss  Anna  R. 
Bodley.  She  was  born  in  England,  a daughter  of 
George  and  Susanna  Bodley,  who  in  the  early  ’80s 
settled  at  Farmington,  Minnesota,  and  the  other  chil- 
dren in  that  family  were:  Adelaid,  deceased;  Julia, 
deceased;  Albert;  Caleb;  and  Arthur  G.  Mr.  Bodley 
was  a farmer  in  England  and  continued  the  same 
occupation  in  Minnesota  until  he  retired  to  live  with 
his  son  Albert  in  St.  Paul,  where  he  died  February 
22,  1915.  Mrs.  Bodley  died  in  Minnesota  March  16, 
1892.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slawik  became  the  parents  of 
three  children : Victoria  F.,  Albert  and  Harold. 

The  late  Mr.  Slawik  was  a member  of  the  St.  Paul 
Commercial  Club  and  the  Kriegenbund  Association, 
and  politically  was  a republican.  His  home  was  a 
handsome  residence  at  1730  Marshall  Avenue.  His 
genial  and  democratic  manner  won  him  many  friends 
among  his  business  associates,  and  during  thirty  years 
of  residence  in  St.  Paul  he  won  honorable  prosperity 
and  was  always  a public  spirited  citizen.  He  had 
both  the  ability  and  energy  which  enabled  him  to 
carry  out  extensive  plans,  and  he  was  the  type  of 
citizen  whose  name  deserves  to  be  well  remembered 
in  St.  Paul. 

t 

Frank  H.  Peavey.  It  is  not  the  exaggeration  of 
rhetoric  but  the  serious  judgment  of  men  competent 
to  measure  such  achievements,  that  no  one  man  de- 
veloped and  controlled  greater  interests  and  a more 
extensive  organization  in  the  western  grain  trade 
than  the  late  Frank  H.  Peavey  of  Minneapolis. 
Though  his  life  was  not  long,  and  death  called  him 


at  the  age  of  fifty-one,  when  his  enormous  business 
interests  seemed  at  their  climax,  his  career  was 
crowded  with  achievements,  and  may  well  prove  a 
source  of  inspiration  to  every  Minnesota  boy. 
Energy,  enterprise,  pluck  and  persistence  crowned 
with  success,  long  before  its  autumn,  a life  that 
began  almost  in  penury.  A more  brilliant  example 
of  what  can  be  accomplished  through  native  ability 
and  boundless  industry  is  hardly  to  be  found  in  the 
state. 

Frank  H.  Peavey  was  born  at  Eastport,  Maine, 
January  20,  1850,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Chicago 
December  30,  1901.  He  was  a son  of  Albert  D.  and 
Mary  (Drew)  Peavey,  also  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land. The  father  was  a lumber  and  shipping,  mer- 
chant of  fine  business  capacity  and  great  force  of 
character.  The  son  was  reared  in  his  native  town 
to  the  age  of  fifteen.  Then  his  father  died  and  he 
became  almost  the  sole  dependence  of  the  mother. 

The  youth,  though  but  an  immature  boy,  at  once 
entered  upon  the  high  and  holy  duty  before  him 
with  ardor,  and  from  then  to  the  end  of  his  life  he 
was  never  idle.  He  was  constantly  on  the  lookout 
for  opportunities  for  advancement,  and  as  he  grew 
older  they  came  to  him  in  satisfactory  numbers  and 
value.  The  great  Northwest  attracted  him.  He 
located  first  in  Chicago,  where  he  became  a book- 
keeper in  the  Northwestern  Bank.  Two  years  later, 
in  1867,  he  moved  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  entered 
the  employ  of  H.  D.  Booge  & Company.  By  this 
change  of  location  Mr.  Peavey  found  an  open  way 
to  success.  He  made  friends  on  every  hand,  and 
steady  progress  in  advancement.  Half  his  earnings 
were  sent  back  regularly  to  his  mother,  to  whom 
his  first  duty  was  always  paid.  In  a short  time  he 
became  a partner  in  an  agricultural  implement  busi- 
ness, and  in  1871  brought  his  mother  and  the  other 
members  of  the  family  to  Sioux  City  and  set  up  a 
home.  Twice  his  business  property  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  but  he  continued  his  work  with  intensified 
energy  and  determination. 

In  time,  Mr.  Peavey  became  interested  in  the  grain 
trade,  then  in  its  infancy,  in  the  Northwest,  both 
in  volume  and  method.  But  this  far-seeing  man 
divined  its  possibilities  and  confidently  embarked  in 
it  with  all  his  resources.  At  the  age  of  23  or  in 
1873,  he  was  the  owner  and  manager  of  an  old-style 
“blind  horse”  elevator,  with  a capacity  of  6,000 
bushels,  in  Sioux  City.  The  next  year  he  secured 
control  of  four  small  elevators  on  the  old  Dakota 
& Southern  Railroad,  and  began  to  buy  grain  for 
the  first  elevator  built  in  Duluth,  which  had  just 
been  completed.  A little  later  he  brought  into  his 
business  and  under  his  management  the  elevators  on 
what  was  then  known  as  the  Sioux  City  & St.  Paul 
Railroad  (now  the  “Omaha”),  and  his  operations 
in  grain  grew  rapidly. 

At  this  point  in  his  history  the  Minneapolis  flour 
mills  were  also  extending  their  business  rapidly, 
and  in  1875  he  began  business  in  the  Flour  City, 
becoming  connected  with  the  Minneapolis  Millers' 
Association,  for  which  he  bought  grain  as  long  as 
it  continued  to  operate.  By  1878  he  had  control  of 
elevators  at  all  points  on  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul, 
Minneapolis  & Omaha  Railroad  in  South  Dakota, 
and  four  years  later  his  operations  took  in  the  whole 
“Omaha”  road  southwest  of  Minneapolis.  The  same 
year,  the  Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Commerce  hav- 
ing been  organized  and  the  grain  business  here 
placed  on  a firm  financial  basis,  he  opened  his  first 
offices  in  this  city. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1477 


Mr.  Peavey,  however,  continued  to  maintain  his 
mother’s  home  in  Sioux  City,  and  to  the  end  of  his 
life  he  considered  it  very  much  his  own  home,  al- 
though in  1884  he  established  one  for  himself  and 
family  in  Minneapolis.  From  that  time  on  he  took 
a very  prominent  part  in  building  up  the  grain 
market  of  this  city.  In  1884  he  extended  his  opera- 
tions to  all  points  on  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis 
Railroad,  and  thus  became  one  of  the  leading  oper- 
ators in  the  most  rapidly  expanding  grain  trade  in 
the  world.  In  fact,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  through 
his  large  system  of  elevators,  he  owned  and  operated 
the  most  extensive  grain  business  known  in  human 
history. 

In  1889,  the  arms  of  this  great  business  genius, 
like  those  of  fabled  Briareus,  were  reaching  out  far 
and  wide.  He  built  a great  elevator  at  Portland, 
Oregon,  and  added  to  it  some  thirty  subsidiary 
houses  in  the  rural  districts  along  the  lines  of  the 
Oregon  Railway  & Navigation  Company  in  Oregon 
and  Washington.  This  was  the  first  large  terminal 
elevator  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  During  the  next 
year  he  built  the  Union'  Pacific  elevator  in  Kansas 
City,  extended  his  operations  to  the  lines  of  the 
Union  Pacific  and  leased  a terminal  elevator  at 
Omaha.  In  1893  he  took  in  points  on  the  Northern 
Pacific.  The  next  year  he  built  the  Republic  at 
Minneapolis,  and  in  1897  acquired  the  Belt  Line 
elevator  at  West  Superior,  Wisconsin.  In  1898  the 
Peavey  elevators  at  South  Chicago  were  built,  and 
in  1899  the  Peavey  Terminal  house  at  Duluth  and 
the  big  elevator  at  Council  Bluffs  were  erected. 
Within  the  same  year  Mr.  Peavey’s  operations  were 
extended  to  a part  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway 
System. 

Mr.  Peavey  was  a very  careful  and  exhaustive 
student  of  his  work  and  omitted  no  effort  necessary 
on  his  part  to  guard  his  interests.  When  he  con- 
templated erecting. the  Duluth  Terminal  elevator  he 
sent  a special  representative  to  Europe  to  investi- 
gate the  concrete  storage  system  in  vogue  on  that 
continent,  and  as  a result  determined  to  adapt  the 
system  to  the  needs  of  grain  handling  in  this  coun- 
try. An  experimental  concrete  bin  was  built  at  one 
of  the  elevators  in  Minneapolis,  and  after  being 
tested  several  months,  was  found  to  be  entirely  satis- 
factory. The  concrete  system  was  then  adopted  in 
the  construction  of  the  Duluth  Terminal,  and  it  be- 
came the  first  great  concrete  grain  elevator  built  in 
this  country. 

In  1900  the  Peavey  Steamship  Company  was  or- 
ganized and  four  large  grain  carriers  were  built  to 
operate  on  the  Great  Lakes.  This  was  Mr.  Peavey’s 
last  new  enterprise. 

He  died  suddenly  December  30,  1901.  He  had 
been  in  the  Northwest  thirty-six  years,  but  in  that 
period  he  built  up  the  enormous  grain  trade  herein 
briefly  detailed,  established  the  highest  credit  for 
himself  and  his  enterprises,  and  acquired  a large 
fortune.  His  operations  entered  at  Minneapolis, 
touched  the  Great  Lakes  at  Chicago  and  Duluth, 
extended  far  into  the  Southwest  beyond  Kansas 
City  and  Omaha,  and  reached  to  the  Pacific  North- 
west. 

After  Mr.  Peavey’s  death  the  business  built  up 
by  him  was  continued  under  the  management  of 
his  son,  George  W.  Peavey  (now  deceased)  and  his 
sons-in-law,  Frank  T.  Heffelfinger  and  Frederick 
B.  Wells,  who  were  associated  with  him  before  his 
death. 

Although  engrossed  with  his  personal  affairs  Mr. 


Peavey  never  neglected  the  interests  of  his  com- 
munity. He  was  interested  in  the  cause  of  public 
education  and  served  on  the  city  school  board  in 
1895,  but  never  held  any  other  public  office.  In  his 
political  relations  he  was  cordially  attached  to  the 
republican  party ; but  he  was  always  independent  in 
political  thought  and  action,  and  was  liberal  in  his 
views  in  all  things.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a 
Universalist  and  he  made  his  faith  practical  in  good 
work  for  his  own  and  all  other  denominations.  In 
the  language  of  the  old  Latin  poet,  Terence,  ‘‘He 
was  a man  and  nothing  that  was  human  was  for- 
eign to  him.”  By  his  radiant  example  and  through 
the  expression  of  his  real  feelings  he  taught  men 
everywhere  that  fellowship  and  confidence  was  a 
heritage  for  all  alike,  and  that  by  working  together 
good  would  come  to  all. 

September  19,  1872,  Mr.  Peavey  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Dibble  Wright.  His  substance  had  been 
wasted  by  fire  the  year  before  and  his  business  was 
at  a standstill,  but  this  discouraging  circumstance 
did  not  delay  the  marriage,  nor  cause  either  the 
husband  or  wife  to  doubt  the  future.  To  their  union, 
which  was  always  congenial  and  felicitous,  were 
born  three  children,  their  daughters,  Mrs.  Frank  T. 
Heffelfinger  and  Mrs.  Frederick  B.  Wells,  and  their 
son,  George  W.  Peavey. 

Samuel  C.  Pattridge.  During  a career  of  nearly 
twenty  years  of  practice  in  Minnesota,  Samuel  C. 
Pattridge  has  gained  the  distinctions  of  a repre- 
sentative lawyer  and  on  a number  of  occasions  has 
been  honored  with  positions  of  responsibility  and 
trust.  Most  of  his  education  and  all  his  profes- 
sional advancement  have  been  won  as  a result  of 
individual  efforts,  and  he  now  has  a front  rank  in 
a learned  profession  and  is  serving  with  honor  and 
usefulness  m the  othce  of  county  attorney  of  Fill- 
more County. 

Samuel  C.  Pattridge  was  born  in  Olmsted  County, 
Minnesota,  April  12,  1872,  a son  of  Curtis  A.  and 
Delilah  (Carr)  Pattridge.  His  father  was  born  in 
Vermont  in  1833  a son  of  Abel  Pattridge,  who  was 
a native  of  the  same  state  and  by  trade  a shingle- 
maker.  After  the  grandfather's  death  his  family  all 
came  out  to  Minnesota.  Curtis  A.  Pattridge  who 
died  October  31,  1892,  came  out  to  Minnesota  in 
1855,  was  a pioneer  and  pre-empted  a 160  acres 
from  the  Government.  That  land  is  still  owned  by 
his  descendants.  Although  he  came  to  this  state 
with  nothing,  he  died  a successful  man.  In  the  days 
of  the  California  gold  excitement  he  went  West 
and  remained  there  several  years,  returning  to  Min- 
nesota by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  Curtis 
A.  Pattridge  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order 
for  many  years,  and  in  politics  was  independent. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1833,  is  still 
living.  They  were  married  in  their  native  state  in 
1866.  Mrs.  Pattridge  was  a daughter  of  Samuel 
Carr  of  Vermont.  There  were  four  children,  and 
three  are  now  living:  George,  now  deceased,  was 

a farmer ; Vira,  unmarried,  is  head  bookkeeper  with 
the  house  of  Hackett-Gates  Hardware  Company  at 
St.  Paul;  Samuel  C.  and  May,  wife  of  Clarence 
Denny,  a farmer  at  Pleasant  Grove,  Minnesota. 

Samuel  C.  Pattridge  was  educated  in  the  graded 
schools  of  Pleasant  Grove,  and  for  two  years  in 
early  life  taught  school.  In  1893  he  entered  the 
LTniversity  of  Minnesota,  pursued  the  course  of  law 
and  was  graduated  in  1895.  His  first  location  was 
at  Graceville,  where  he  remained  one  year,  was  for 


1478 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


about  the  same  time  located  at  Stewartville,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1897  came  to  Spring  Valley,  where  he 
has  gained  his  best  success  as  a lawyer.  At  Grace- 
ville  and  Stewartville  he  was  associated  in  practice 
with  A.  M.  Brand,  and  at  Spring  Valley  was  for 
eight  years  a partner  of  C.  D.  Allen.  He  is  now 
alone,  and  has  a large  and  profitable  clientage. 

On  September  23,  1902,  at  Spring  Valley  Mr. 
Pattridge  married  Myrtle  Henderson.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  Fraternally 
he  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  order,  having  served 
as  secretary  of  his  lodge  for  eight  years,  and  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  He  has  long  been  one  of  the  leaders 
in  the  republican  party  in  Fillmore  County,  served 
as  city  attorney  of  Spring  Valley  eight  years,  for 
six  years  was  municipal  judge  and  in  1912  was 
elected  to  his  present  office  as  county  attorney.  In 
1914  Mr.  Pattridge  was  unopposed  for  the  nomina- 
tion. Through  his  profession  he  has  acquired  some 
extensive  interests,  particularly  a fine  farm  of  325 
acres  located  at  Spring  Valley.  He  takes  much 
pride  in  equipping  and  keeping  this  place  up  to 
model  standards,  and  raises  high  grade  hogs  and 
cattle. 

Capt.  Joseph  Sellwood.  By  common  consent 
throughout  the  mining  districts  of  northern  Mich- 
igan, Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  the  late  Capt.  Jo- 
seph Sellwood  was  regarded  as  pre-eminent  in  his 
ability  as  a mine  operator,  and  in  power  of  intellect 
and  will  and  force  of  character  was  one  of  the 
strongest  men  of  his  time.  He  was  a leader  of  men 
and  an  executive  in  large  industrial  affairs,  and  his 
own  fortune  and  the  success  of  the  enterprises  with 
which  he  was  connected  were  built  up  on  this  qual- 
ity of  leadership  and  personal  efficiency.  The  City 
of  Duluth  in  particular,  which  had  been  his  home 
for  over  a quarter  of  a century,  lost  much  in  the 
death  of  Captain  Sellwood,  who  was  known  there 
not  only  as  a mine  operator  and  banker,  but  as  a 
philanthropist,  public-spirited  citizen,  loyal  friend 
and  courteous  gentleman.  In  order  to  appreciate 
and  measure  the  scope  of  his  later  accomplishments, 
it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen he  was  laboring  far  underground  in  a Cornish 
copper  mine,  and  was  the  son  of  a Cornish  miner. 
Little  opportunity  for  schooling  was  afforded  when 
upon  his  boyhood  shoulders  fell  the  responsibility 
of  caring  for  the  family,  but  experience  is  a thor- 
ough, if  hard  teacher,  and  Joseph  Sellwood  was  an 
apt  pupil.  In  later  years  when,  through  his  own 
unaided  efforts,  he  had  changed  the  whole  scheme 
of  his  life  and  found  every  path  of  opportunity  and 
culture  open  to  him,  he  recalled  that  laborious,  dis- 
couraging period  as  one  of  discipline,  believing  that 
therefrom  came  the  physical  endurance,  the  mental 
fortitude  and  the  steadying  control  which  afterward 
brought  him  to  fortune  and  prominence. 

Joseph  Sellwood  was  born  at  Cornwall,  England, 
December  5,  1846,  a son  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth 
(Carter)  Sellwood.  Educated  in  a public  school  at 
Cornwall,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  took  his 
place  among  the  miners,  digging  copper  ore  and  tin, 
and  was  a mine  worker  until  his  emigration  to 
America  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  After  less 
than  three  months  employment  in  the  Mount  Hope 
iron  mine,  in  New  Jersey,  in  August,  1863,  he  came 
to  Michigan  and  entered  the  old  Ogemaw  mine, 
now  a part  of  the  Maas  mine  in  Ontonagon  County. 
Until  August  1,  1870,  his  home  was  in  the  copper 


country,  most  of  the  last  year  at  Calumet.  Then 
came  a transfer  of  his  sphere  of  action  from  the 
copper  mines  to  the  iron  range,  a step  that  entirely 
altered  his  whole  future  career.  In  1870  Mr.  Sell- 
wood was  employed  by  the  old  New  York  Mining 
Company,  operating  at  Ishpeming,  on  the  Marquette 
Range,  and  labored  for  a time  as  an  ordinary  miner, 
but  soon  began  to  assume  small  contracts  for  taking 
out  ore.  His  first  ventures  were  on  a modest  scale, 
but  within  a few  years  he  was  handling  contracts 
for  the  entire  output  of  mines,  beginning  with  a 
part  of  the  old  New  York  mine  and  continuing 
until  his  contracts  embraced  most  of  the  mining  of 
the  New  York  and  Cleveland  mines,  these  proper- 
ties being  controlled  by  Samuel  J.  Tilden  and  the 
Cleveland  Iron  Company,  the  Cleveland  mine  now 
being  operated  by  the  Cleveland-Cliffs  Iron  Com- 
pany. 

In  1884  the  firm  of  Mather,  Morse  & Company, 
in  which  the  chief  interests  were  those  of  Samuel 
Mather,  J.  C.  Morse  and  James  Pickands,  sent  Mr. 
Sellwood  to  open  the  Colby  mine,  the  first  on  the 
new  range,  located  on  the  present  site  of  the  Town 
of  Bessemer.  Mr.  Sellwood  had  a fourth  interest 
in  the  property  which  at  that  time  included  the 
present  Colby  mine  operated  by  Corrigan,  McKin- 
ney & Company,  and  a part  of  the  Tilden,  now  con- 
trolled by  the  United  States  Steel  Corporation.  In 
the  same  year  that  brought  him  to  the  Gogebic 
Range,  Mr.  Sellwood  opened  the  Brotherton  Mining 
Company,  becoming  president  and  securing  a one- 
fourth  interest  therein,  and  this  ownership  contin- 
ued until  the  sale  of  the  property  to  the  Lacka- 
wanna Steel  Company,  which  also  bought  the  Sun- 
day Lake  mine  adjoining.  The  latter  had  been 
abandoned  as  an  unprofitable  venture,  but  Mr.  Sell- 
wood obtained  a lease  of  the  property,  brought  it 
under  the  same  control  as  the  Brotherton,  and  the 
property  is  still  being  operated. 

Captain  Sellwood  came  to  Duluth  in  1888  and 
opened  the  Chandler  mines  at  Ely  on  the  Ver- 
milion Range,  and  four  years  later  took  charge  of 
an  undertaking  to  explore  properties  for  the  Min- 
nesota Iron  Company,  of  which  he  was  made  vice 
president,  gathering  all  properties  under  one  con- 
trol. In  addition  to  this  he  was  closely  identified 
with  the  development  of  the  Menominee,  Gogebic, 
Mesaba  and  the  Baraboo  iron  district.  Captain 
Sellwood  was  in  charge  of  all  mines  of  the  Amer- 
ican Steel  and  Wire  Company  in  the  Lake  Superior 
district  from  1898  to  1902,  but  when  the  American 
Steel  Corporation  was  formed  left  the  former  con- 
cern to  pick  up  properties  on  the  Mesaba  range  for 
himself  and  the  independent  interests  with  which 
he  was  associated.  Besides  a number  of  forties 
obtained  for  himself  and  independent  companies, 
he  acquired  control  of  the  Longyear,  Leetonia, 
Croxton,  La  Rue,  Cyprus,  Adriatic,  Pearce,  Morrow 
and  Cass  mines.  Of  these  the  Longyear  and  Lee- 
tonia were  taken  over  by  the  Interstate  Iron  Com- 
pany, the  mining  organization  of  the  Jones  & 
Laughlin  Steel  Company,  the  Croxton  and  La  Rue 
went  to  the  Cherry  Valley  Iron  Company,  and  later 
to  the  Pittsburgh  Iron  Ore  Company,  and  the  Pearce 
was  obtained  by  the  Meridian  Iron  Company,  of 
which  O.  B.  Warren  was  the  mining  manager. 
Equal  interests  were  held  by  Pickands,  Mather  & 
Company  and  Captain  Sellwood  in  the  Cyprus  and 
Adriatic.  Captain  Sellwood  also  was  prevailed  upon 
to  take  charge  of  the  mines  of  the  International 
Harvester  Company,  the  Hawkins  and  Agnew,  on 


f 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1479 


the  Mesaba  Range,  and  the  Illinois  in  Wisconsin. 
He  reserved,  however,  the  right  to  look  after  his 
own  interests,  to  whatever  extent  they  might  re- 
quire, and  something  of  the  character  of  the  man 
is  shown  in  this  frank  understanding  regarding  the 
division  of  his  interests.  For  years  he  visited  these 
properties  regularly,  going  about  the  range  in  all 
conditions  of  weather.  Captain  Sellwood  made  a 
life  study  of  mining;  it  was  his  means  of  liveli- 
hood when  in  want,  it  was  that  upon  which  he 
founded  and  amassed  his  fortune,  and  it  remained 
his  hobby  until  the  last. 

A mining  expert  in  speaking  of  Captain  Sell- 
wood's  qualifications  as  a miner  said : “He  was  by 

far  the  most  able  mining  man  in  the  Lake  Superior 
district,  if  not  in  the  United  States.  Even  the  few 
who  considered  themselves  superior  in  mining  abil- 
ity will  miss  his  good,  conservative  advice.  It  is 
a well  known  fact  among  mining  men  that  had  the 
Minnesota  Mining  Company  followed  Mr.  Sell- 
wood’s  advice,  it  would  have  owned  the  greater 
part  of  the  Mesaba  Range  at  pine-land  prices.” 

At  one  time  and  another  Captain  Sellwood  was 
interested  in  twelve  mines  and  one  steamship  com- 
pany. He  was  president  of  the  City  National  Bank 
of  Duluth,  the  Bank  of  Ely,  the  Bank  of  Two  Har- 
bors, the  Cass  Mining  Company  and  of  the  Brad- 
ford Mining  Company.  He  was  vice  president  of 
the  Cyprus  Mining  Company  and  of  the  Adriatic 
Mining  Company,  head  of  the  firm  of  Joseph  Sell- 
wood & Company,  Ishpeming,  Michigan ; president 
and  director  of  the  Leithhead  (now  Northern) 
Drug  Company,  and  vice  president  of  the  Duluth 
and  Iron  Range  Railway  Company  until  1898. 
Practically  all  of  his  mining  interests  were  relin- 
quished about  the  time  he  organized  the  City  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  which  he  became  president  two 
years  later,  and  was  head  of  that  institution  up  to 
his  death.  From  the  outset  of  his  career  in  bank- 
ing he  gave  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  it.  His  business  interests,  aside  from  min- 
ing, became  a large  part  of  his  daily  responsibilities. 
A few  years  prior  to  his  death  he  erected  the 
stately  Sellwood  Building  on  the  corner  of  Superior 
Street  and  Second  Avenue,  west,  was  a heavy  in- 
vestor in  the  ore-carrying  lake  trade,  built  the 
steamer  Joe  S.  Morrow,  naming  it  after  his  young 
grandson,  and  in  his  own  honor,  the  Joseph  Sell- 
wood of  the  fleet  of  Mitchell  & Comoany,  was 
named. 

Politically,  Captain  Sellwood  was  a stanch  repub- 
lican. Although  adhering  to  a wholesome  general 
mode  of  living,  his  most  intimate  acquaintances 
declare  that  he  indulged  a craving  for  hard  work  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  probably  deprived  him  of  a 
longer  life.  He  is  said  to  have  frequently  put  in 
eighteen-hour  days,  in  the  “early  days,”  and  his 
application  to  the  work  in  hand  in  later  years  was 
hardly  less  assiduous.  Captain  Sellwood  was 
abundantly  endowed  with  admirable  personal  at- 
tributes, and  numbered  among  his  wide  circle  of 
friends  were  many  who  were  attached  to  him  not 
merely  because  they  appreciated  his  personality  and 
his  many  aggressive  achievements,  but  also  because 
they  owed  him  much.  Throwing  intimate  light  on 
many  traits  of  general  munificence  that  endeared 
him  to  hundreds,  a close  personal  friend  said  at  the 
time  of  his  death : “I  believe  any  mention  at  this 
time  of  Captain  Sellwood  should  include  reference 
to  his  qualities  of  charity  and  generosity.  He  gave 
much  to  the  poor;  yet  he  never  regarded  himself 

Vol.  Ill— 14 


as  a philanthropist.  He  permitted  many  debtors, 
less  successful  than  himself,  to  go  their  ways,  un- 
molested ; but  this  was  not  generally  known.  The 
Captain  gave  large  sums  to  the  church  of  which  he 
was  a member,  as  well  as  to  other  organizations,  in 
the  same  unostentatious  manner  that  he  would 
make  the  rounds  of  many  homes  of  the  city’s  needy 
on  Thanksgiving,  Christmas  and  New  Year’s  Days, 
leaving  in  his  wake  dinners  for  'scores  who  might 
otherwise  want  for  food.  And  because  these  ac- 
tions were  not  paraded — because  they  were  not 
accompanied  by  the  strident  strains  of  blaring  band 
they  were  known  only  to  a few.  That  was  as  Cap- 
tain Sellwood  would  have  had  it.  He  was  possessed 
of  no  false  sense  of  modesty,  but  he  performed  acts 
of  charity  in  a quiet,  matter-of-fact  manner,  and 
wished  little  attention  called  to  them.” 

A member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
Chur:h,  Captain  Sellwood'  contributed  much  to  its 
needs  and  was  active  in  furthering  its  undertak- 
ings. He  died,  firm  in  the  faith,  February  25,  1914, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Forest  Hill  Cemetery.  His 
children  living  are : Richard  M.,  Mrs.  L.  W.  Leith- 
head and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Mershon. 

It  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  close  this  all  too 
brief  review  of  the  life  of  one  of  Duluth’s  most 
prominent  and  helpful  citizens  with  an  editorial 
taken  from  the  Duluth  News-Tribune,  of  the  date 
February  25,  1914,  which  said : “A  man  must  be 
judged  by  the  public  by  his  works,  his  accomplish- 
ments, what  he  has  done.  His  intimates  have  other 
measures,  for  all  men  are  two  men,  but  to  the  mass 
of  his  fellow-beings  the  only  side  seen  is  that  which 
shows  itself  in  works.  Joseph  Sellwood  had  no  rea- 
son to  shun  either  judgment.  The  man  who  at  nine 
years  was  holding  the  drill  for  a miner  in  the  Cor- 
nish mines  and  at  sixty-seven  was  himself  the 
owner  of  mines  and  banks,  of  great  buildings  and 
varied  business  interests,  commands  at  least  respect 
by  force  of  his  accomplishments.  From  this  begin- 
ning, with  no  help  at  any  stage  of  his  life  but  what 
he  compelled  by  merit ; with  no  favor  that  he  did 
not  earn  in  advance,  Mr.  Sellwood  made  himself 
one  of  the  wealthiest,  most  prominent  and  influ- 
ential men  of  the  Michigan-Minnesota  mining 
region.  A big  man  physically,  with  a will  of  iron, 
never  admitting  fatigue,  he  drove  himself  relent- 
lessly. He  always  delivered  all  that  was  expected 
of  him  and  more.  He  never  failed  to  do  what  he 
undertook.  He  never  disappointed  those  who  de- 
pended upon  his  efforts.  Fie  came  up  through  all 
the  ^stages  of  mining  by  successive  conquests.  This 
is  the  man  the  public  knows.  The  man  who  suc- 
ceeded by  sheer  force  of  muscle,  will,  and  inborn 
intelligence.  The  rough  miner  who  became  the 
gentlemanly  banker  and  capitalist,  but  without  pre- 
tense, without  gloss,  without  softness,  always  simple 
and  genuine.  He  simply  wore  off  the  roughness 
that  hid  the  diamond.  His  intimates,  his  close 
friends  and  business  associates,  knew  the  other 
Joseph  Sellwood,  of  whom  the  public  only  guessed, 
the  man  whose  loyalty  never  swerved,  who  was 
never  scared,  and  whose  friendship,  like  his  father- 
hood, had  a vast  wealth  of  tenderness,  of  sym- 
pathy and  kindliness. 

“As  a citizen,  Duluth  has  known  him  to  respect 
and  admire  him.  His  name  was  a synonym  for  all 
that  was  substantial  and  dependable.  His  loss  to 
Duluth  is  great,  and  his  loss  to  his  friends  will 
leave  an  unfillable  gap.  To  his  associates  he  was 

bulwark  of  defense  that  never  failed  and  in  ag- 


1480 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


gressive  action  he  had  few  equals.  He  was  in  fact 
a remarkable  man ; one  of  the  best  examples  of 
what  America’s  opportunities  give  to  this  world  in 
the  development  of  native  ability.  It  did  not  seem 
that  that  massive  frame  could  ever  yield  to  disease, 
as  it  had  never  yielded  to  any  physical  task.  But 
he  has  gone,  and  who  shall  doubt  that  such  a life 
was  but  a preparation  for  a greater,  or  believe  that 
it  has  indeed  ended  here?” 

Such  a career  recalls  the  words  of  a philosopher, 
with  suggestive  application  to  the  life  of  Captain 
Sellwood : “Do  not  believe  that  all  greatness  and 
heroism  are  in  the  past.  Learn  to  discover  princes, 
prophets,  heroes  and  saints  among  the  people  about 
you.  Be  assured  they  are  there.” 

Forrest  Edward  Langworthy.  Prominent  in  the 
journalistic  field  of  Southeastern  Minnesota  is  found 
Forrest  Edward  Langworthy,  whose  entire  life  has 
been  devoted  to  newspaper  work,  and  who  for  many 
years  has  been  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Mercury- 
Vidette,  at  Spring  Valley.  A man  of  excellent  abili- 
ties, both  as  a writer  and  in  a business  way,  he  has 
made  a success  of  his  activities  and  achieved  a sub- 
stantial reputation  among  the  members  of  the  craft. 

Mr.  Langworthy  was  born  at  Grand  Meadow, 
Minnesota,  February  17,  1861,  and  is  a son  of  Ben- 
jamin F.  and  Sarah  M.  (Clemens)  Langworthy. 
The  father  was  born  in  Ohio,  January  22,  1822,  and 
lived  in  his  native  state  until  he  was  twelve  years 
of  age,  at  which  time  he  was  taken  by  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  the  family  settling  on  a farm.  When 
he  attained  manhood,  in  1846,  he  removed  to  Osh- 
kosh, Wisconsin,  and  established  himself  in  business 
as  the  proprietor  of  a store,  thus  continuing  until 
1856,  which  year  saw  his  arrival  in  Fillmore  County. 
At  that  time  he  located  at  Chatfield,  where  he  was 
connected  with  the  banking  firm  of  Langworthy, 
O’Farrell  & Company  for  two  years.  In  1858  he 
moved  to  Mower  County,  and  at  once  became  ac- 
tively identified  with  political  affairs,  so  that  in  the 
fall  of  1859  he  was  sent  as  representative  to  the 
State  Legislature  from  that  county.  He  was  later 
appointed  route  agent  for  the  railway  mail  service 
and  moved  to  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin,  for  four  years, 
and  in  1880  he  and  his  son  established  the  Mercury 
at  Grand  Meadow,  Minnesota.  This  newspaper  was 
subsequently  moved  to  Austin,  Minnesota,  and  then 
to  Spring  Valley,  where  Mr.  Langworthy  continued 
to  be  connected  with  its  operation  until  his  death, 
January  21,  1907.  Mrs.  Langworthy  survived  him 
several  years,  passing  away  in  1910.  They  were 
married  in  1849,  and  she  was  born  in  Vermont,  be- 
longing to  the  same  family  which  gave  to  the  world 
the  famous  American  humorist,  Mark  Twain.  Two 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langworthy : 
Emma  C.,  who  became  the  wife  of  D.  L.  Tanner, 
of  Mower  County,  and  Forrest  Edward,  of  this  re- 
view. 

The  public  schools  and  the  LaCrosse  High  School 
furnished  Forrest  Edward  Langworthy  with  his 
educational  training,  and  at  the  time  of  his  gradua- 
tion from  the  latter  school  he  became  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  printing  business,  in  connec- 
tion with,  the  establishment  of  the  Mercury.  He 
accompanied  this  paper  to  Austin,  and  later  to 
Spring  Valley,  and  during  the  entire  time  of  its 
existence  has  been  steadily  working  for  its  success. 
In  1903  Mr.  Langworthy  . purchased  "the  Vidette,  with 
which  it  has  been  combined,  and  the  paper  is  now 
known  as  the  Mercury-Vidette.  Mr,  Langworthy 


is  a republican,  but  through  the  columns  of  his 
newspaper  has  attempted  to  present  all  matters  in 
a fair  and  impartial  way.  The  support  of  both 
subscribers  and  advertisers  is  being  given  him,  and 
at  the  present  time  his  weekly  has  a circulation  of 
1,600  and  is  considered  by  merchants  an  excellent 
advertising  medium.  In  connection  with  his  print- 
ing plant,  Mr.  Langworthy  has  a job  office,  where 
he  does  the  finest  class  of  work.  He  is  well  known 
in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  has  many  friends  both 
in  and  out  of  the  ranks  of  journalism.  He  has  not 
sought  public  office  for  himself,  but  has  at  all  times 
been  an  earnest  and  conscientious  citizen,  using  the 
columns  of  his  paper  frequently  in  supporting  move- 
ments which  have  made  for  betterment  and  prog- 
ress. With  his  family  he  attends  the  Congregational 
Church. 

Mr.  Langworthy  was  married  December  21,  1885, 
to  Miss  Blanche  E.  Beers,  and  to  this  union  there 
have  been  born  three  children : Rev.  Earl  Ray, 
born  in  1886,  a minister  of  the  Free  Methodist 
Church ; Elmer  DeLoss,  born  in  1888,  a lieutenant 
in  the  United  States  Navy,  having  finished  his  course 
in  the  United  States  Naval  Academy,  at  Annapolis, 
in  1910;  and  Glenn  Franklin,  born  in  1895,  who  is 
in  the  office  with  his  father. 

Herman  R.  Russell,  M.  D.  With  residence  and 
professional  headauarters  at  Stewartville,  Doctor 
Russell  is  one  of  the  honored  physicians  and  sur- 
geons who  are  upholding  the  prestige  and  best 
ethics  of  the  profession  in  his  native  county  of  Olm- 
sted, and  he  is  a scion  of  an  honored  pioneer  family 
of  Minnesota.  His  devotion  to  his  chosen  calling 
is  such  that  he  subordinates  all  other  interests  to 
its  demands  and  he  controls  a large  and  representa- 
tive practice,  the  exigencies  of  which  leave  him  but 
little  leisure. 

Doctor  Russell  was  born  in  the  village  of  Pleasant 
Grove,  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  10th  of 
June,  1871,  and  is  a son  of  Charles  W.  and  Martha 
L.  (Lovelace)  Russell,  who  now  reside  in  Stewart- 
ville, both  being  natives  of  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Charles'  W.  Russell  is  a son  of  Richard  S. 
Russell,  who  was  born  in  London,  England,  and 
who  came  to  the  United  States  as  a lad  of.  sixteen 
years.  He  became  a resident  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  his  marriage  was  solemnized  and  where  he 
continued  to  follow  agricultural  pursuits  until  1859, 
when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Minnesota,  which 
had  been  admitted  to  statehood  in  the  preceding 
year.  He  settled  in  Olmsted  county  and  the  closing 
years  of  his  life  were  nassed  in  the  village  of 
Pleasant  Grove,  after  his  retirement  from  active 
farming  operations.  Mrs.  Martha  L.  (Lovelace) 
Russell  is  a daughter  of  Harmon  A.  Lovelace,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  who  finally  immi- 
grated from  the  old  Keystone  State  to  Minnesota. 
He  took  up  government  land  in  Lyon  County,  where 
he  instituted  the  development  of  a farm,  and  he 
continued  to  reside  on  his  old  homestead  until  his 
death,  having  been  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of 
the  county , mentioned. 

Charles  W.  Russell,  father  of  the  doctor,  who  is 
the  only  child,  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Minnesota,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
tendered  his  aid  in  defense  of  the  Union,  the  integ- 
rity of  which  was  menaced  by  armed  rebellion  on 
the  part  of  the  southern  states.  He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H,  Sixth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1481 


he  served  during  the  entire  course  of  the  Civil  war, 
as  well  as  for  some  time  after  its  close,  his  military 
career  having  covered  a period  of  nearly  five  years 
Shortly  after  his  enlistment  he  was  appointed  as- 
sistant paymaster,  under  Paymaster  General  Brown, 
at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  service  on  such  detail 
work  compassed  much  of  his  long  period  of  loyal 
activity  in  connection  with  the  war.  He  participated 
in  a number  of  minor  engagements,  principally  in 
Plorida,  about  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  he  perpetuates  the  more  gracious  memories  of 
his  army  life  through  his  active  affiliation  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

After  the  termination  of  his  long  and  earnest 
service  in  behalf  of  the  Union  Mr.  Russell  returned 
to  his  home,  and  finally  he  opened  a modest  gen- 
eral merchandise  store  at  Pleasant  Grove,  Olmsted 
County,  where  also  he  held  the  position  of  post- 
master for  a number  of  years.  He  then  removed 
to  Stewartville,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  for  five  years,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  a valued  an  honored  attache  of  the  First  State 
Bank  of  Stewartville.  He  is  well  known  in  the 
county  that  has  long  represented  his  home  and  his 
sterling  character  has  given  him  secure  place  in 
popular  confidence  and  esteem.  In  a basic  way  he 
gives  his  support  to  the  democratic  party,  but  in 
local  affairs  he  maintains  an  independent  attitude 
and  is  not  constrained  by  strict  partisan  lines.  He 
is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  is  past 
master  of  the  lodge  at  Pleasant  Grove,  besides  hav- 
ing served  as  its  treasurer. 

Doctor  Russell  depended  upon  his  own  resources 
in  acquiring  his  higher  academic  training  and  pro- 
fessional education.  His  earlier  discipline  was  that 
afforded  in  the  public  schools  of  Olmsted  County, 
and  later  he  attended  for  four  months  the  high 
school  at  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin.  He  finally  began 
the  study  of  medicine  under  effective  private  pre- 
ceptorship,  and  he  first  entered  medical  college  in 
September,  1895,  having  devoted  some  time  to  prac- 
tice before  his  formal  graduation.  In  the  Chicago 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  he  was 
graduated  as 'a  member  of  the  class  of  1899,  and 
with  the  well  earned  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine. 
After  his  graduation  the  doctor  established  himself 
in  active  general  practice  at  Stewartville,  and  within 
the  past  few  years,  it  is  but  consistent  to  say,  prob- 
ably no  physician  in  similar  practice  in  the  county 
has  controlled  a larger  or  more  important  profes- 
sional business,  the  demands  upon  Doctor  Russell’s 
time  and  attention  being  really  greater  than  he  can 
meet.  He  continues  a close  and  appreciative  student 
and  avails  _ himself  of  the  best  of  standard  and 
periodical  literature  pertaining  to  medical  and  sur- 
gical science,  besides  which  he  profits  duly  from 
his  active  membership  in  the  Olmsted  Countv  Med- 
ical Society,  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society, 
and  the  American  Medical  Association. 

Doctor  Russell  has  had  no  ambition  to  enter  the 
turbulent  stream  of  so-called  practical  politics  but 
gives  his  allegiance  to  the  democratic  party.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  including  the 
consistory  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  in 
the  City  of  Chicago  and  the  Osman  Temple  of  the 
Ancient  Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine 
in  the  City  of  St.  Paul. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  1900,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Doctor  Russell  to  Miss  Hanna  L.  Ma- 
nion,  of  Eyota,  Olmsted  County,  and  they  have  two 


children,  Patrice  and  Charles  Owen,  both  of  whom 
are  attending  the  public  schools  of  Stewartville. 

James  Iverson.  The  late  James  Iverson,  who 
died  February  6,  1913,  was  a resident  of  Minneap- 
olis more  than  forty  years.  He  deserves  to  be  re- 
membered as  a quiet,  unassuming,  hardworking  man, 
who  prospered  in  his  business  and  strove  with  all 
his  energy  to  effect  proper  position  for  his  family. 
His  home,  where  his  widow  and  some  of  the  chil- 
dren now  reside,  was  at  3309  Aldrich  Avenue,  South. 

James  Iverson  was  born  in  Denmark  March  29, 
1833,  and  was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age  when 
death  called  him.  He  had  only  a meager  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  country  and  came  to 
America  at  about  the  age  of  twenty-one.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  followed  his  trade  as  black- 
smith in  the  southern  part  of  Wisconsin,  in  Racine 
County,  and  in  1871  moved  to  Minneapolis,  and 
established  a carriage  shop  on  First  Street  and 
Second  Avenue,  North.  That  was  his  place  of 
business  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  he  finally 
retired  from  active  affairs  about  1905. 

Mr.  Iverson  was  a member  of  the  Masonic  order 
and  attended  the  Free  Methodist  Church.  He  was 
married  in  Racine  County,  Wisconsin,  May  4,  1858, 
to  Hannah  Schnitzmeyer,  who  is  still  living.  The 
one  son  is  Fred  Iverson,  teller  in  the  First  and 
Security  National  Bank  of  Minneapolis,  and  the 
father  of  two  children,  Grace  and  Wilbur.  The 
oldest  daughter  is  Mrs.  Emma  M.  McKean,  a widow, 
whose  husband  was  in  the  insurance  business,  and 
she  has  two  children,  Leslie  and  Genevieve.  Mrs. 
A.  Bannister,  the  third  daughter,  whose  husband  is 
employed  with  the  Soo  Railway,  has  three  children, 
Russell,  Louise  and  James. 

Otto  S.  Langum.  During  more  than  a quarter  of 
a century  of  public  service  in  Minneapolis  Mr. 
Langum  has  entrenched  himself  firmly  in  popular 
confidence  and  esteem,  and  this  was  shown  in  an 
emphatic  way  in  November,  1914,  when  he  was  re- 
elected sheriff  of  Hennepin  County  by  a large  and 
significant  majority.  His  advancement  in  life  has 
been  the  result  of  his  own  integrity  and  worthy 
efforts,  and  he  is  one  of  the  efficient  and  honored 
executive  officers  of  the  county  which  has  repre- 
sented his  home  from  his  youth  and  in  which  he  is 
now  entering  upon  his  fourth  consecutive  term  in 
the  office  of  sheriff.  Shortly  before  his  last  elec- 
tion the  following  pertinent  statements  appeared  in 
one  of  the  leading  Minneapolis  daily  papers : 

“Mr.  Langum  was  elected  sheriff  as  an  honest  and 
efficient  man.  The  first  quality  he  owes  to  his  an- 
cestry and  early  training,  and  the  second  to  his 
intelligent  experience  in  the  office  of  sheriff  and  to 
his  continuous  service  and  close  application  to  the 
duties  of  his  position.  He  has  deservedly  won  the 
office  he  holds,  by  working  his  way  through  all  the 
subordinate  positions  in  that  office,  and  the  position 
of  chief  of  his  department  is  only  the  just  reward 
of  his  faithful  and  continuous  service.  In  a large 
metropolitan  county  like  Hennepin,  the  office  of 
sheriff  is  of  paramount  importance  in  insuring  the 
smooth  and  effective  operation  of  the  business  of 
the  county  and  the  courts.  So  far  as  the  sheriff’s 
office  under  Mr.  Langum  has  been  responsible  for 
the  public  business  and  the  performance  of  these 
duties  directly  delegated  to  his  department,  it  has 
been  administered  in  a fashion  which  causes  him 
every  possible  assurance  of  continuing  in  the  office 
he  has  held  so  successfully.” 


1482 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Mr.  Langum  was  born  in  Norway,  on  the  ioth 
of  May,  i860,  and  has  been  a resident  of  Minneap- 
olis from  early  youth.  His  parents  were  in  modest 
circumstances  and  he  early  assumed  personal  re- 
sponsibility as  one  of  the  world’s  workers.  He 
was  compelled  to  leave  school  after  being  graduated 
in  the  eighth  grade  and  obtained  a position  as  janitor 
in  the  old  courthouse  of  Minneapolis  a few  weeks 
later.  Mr.  Langum  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  assigned  to  the  charge  of  the  building.  Con- 
cerning his  career  from  this  juncture  forward  the 
following  statements  have  been  written:  “In  those 

days  the  building  was  heated  by  wood  stoves. 
Langum  supplied  the  wood  and  later  the  coal.  His 
regular  rising  hour  was  4 o’clock  in  the  morning. 
He  had  to  build  a score  of  fires,  besides  individually 
sweeping  and  scrubbing  the  whole  building.  After 
a few  years  of  this  work  Langum  was  made  a 
deputy  sheriff,  and  for  years  he  was  the  youngest 
deputy  on  the  force,  even  as  he  became  one  of  the 
most  trusted.  During  his  service  he  handled  many 
of  the  most  celebrated  of  Minneapolis’  criminals. 
Langum  was  first  elected  sheriff  in  1908,  and  he 
now  has  one  of  the  most  experienced  and  efficient 
force  in  the  country.  Many  of  the  old  guard  of 
deputies  still  remain  in  the  office.  Others,  who  have 
been  appointed  since,  have  learned  to  respect  and 
admire  the  sheriff  and  are  authority  for  the  state- 
ment that  he  never  sends  them  where  he  wouldn’t 
go  himself.  Single-handed,  Langum  captured  two 
armed  bandits  who  had  robbed  the  Wayzata,  State 
Bank.  He  bade  his  deputies  stay  in  the  road  out- 
side while  he  went  into  the  woods  after  the  mal- 
factors,  whom  he  captured.  During  his  administra- 
tion gambling  houses,  blind  pigs  and  other  nefari- 
ous resorts  at  Lake  Minnetonka  have  been  dimin- 
ished, and  now  only  a few  illegal  liquor  sellers  pre- 
serve a stealthy  existence.” 

Quotations  from  another  newspaper  article  are 
likewise  worthy  of  perpetuation,  with  but  slight 
paraphrase,  in  this  connection : 

“In  1886  Mr.  Langum  was  made  a deputy  sheriff 
of  Hennepin  County  and  was  successful  in  running 
down  many  of  the  famous  fugitives  of  that  day. 
For  ten  years  he  served  with  increasing  success  in 
the  office  of  the  sheriff,  and  his  continuous  service 
and  conscientious  record  for  hard  work  gained  to 
him  appointment  to  the  office  of  deputy  county 
auditor.  This  position  he  filled  successfully  for  the 
next  four  years,  with  the  exception  of  the  years 
1898-9,  when  he  was  a member  of  the  Thirteenth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served  in  the 
Spanish-American  war,  his  command  hems'  assigned 
to  duty  in  the  Philippine  Islands.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Minnesota  National  Guard  for  ten  years 
of  the  time  he  was  serving  as  deputy  sheriff.  On 
his  return  from  the  Spanish-American  war  Mr. 
Langum  resumed  his  duties  as  chief  deputy  county 
auditor,  and  he  completed  his  fourth  year  in  that 
position.  His  record  while  in  the  office  of  the 
county  auditor  was  above  reproach  and  his  success 
in  that  capacity  was  the  result  of  continuous  hard 
work  and  close  application  to  his  duties.  His  next 
position  in  tffe  service  of  his  county  was  that  of 
deputy  county  treasurer,  which  incumbency  he  re- 
tained two  years,  1901  and  1902.  He  here  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  natural  executive  ability  and 
by  careful  attention  to  the  details  of  his  work.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  in  this  office  Mr.  Langum 
was  again  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  office  of 


deputy  sheriff,  a position  which  he  retained  for  six 
years. 

"In  1908  the  people  of  Hennepin  County  decided 
that  this  man,  who  had  been  sheriff  in  deed  if  not 
in  name  for  more  than  eighteen  years  and  in  the 
public  service  for  twenty-four  years,  should  be  given 
a chief  instead  of  a subordinate  position,  and  he 
was  consequently  elected  sheriff  of  the  county.  The 
citizens  have  since  contrived  to  keep  him  in  this 
office,  in  which  his  administration  has  been  most 
careful  and  effective  and  with  the  duties  of  which 
he  has  been  associated  during  the  major  part  of 
his  adult  life.” 

Of  Sheriff  Langum’s  assistants  in  the  office  of 
sheriff  it  may  be  noted  that  Joseph  Schutta  is  as- 
signed to  criminal  matters,  John  P.  Wall  is  chief 
deputy,  Nels  Clausen  is  jailer,  and  Benjamin  A.  Ege 
is  bookkeeper. 

In  the  year  1888,  in  Minneapolis,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Langum  to  Miss  Henrietta 
Lyford  Trott. 

Henry  W.  Buscho.  At  Wells  in  Faribault 
County  one  of  the  solid  business  enterprises  is  the 
large  general  store,  conducted  by  Henry  W.  Buscho 
and  S.  A.  Anderson.  This  is  an  enterprise  which 
reflects  the  experience  and  thorough  ability  of  the 
partners,  and  through  this  medium  Henry  W. 
Buscho  in  a little  more  than  twenty  years  has  ad- 
vanced from  the  position  of  clerk  to  that  of  one  of 
the  most  substantial  merchants,  bankers  and  citizens 
of  the  community. 

Henry  W.  Buscho  was  born  in  Brush  Creek  Town- 
ship,- Faribault  County,  July  28,  1869.  His  family 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  to  locate  in  Faribault 
County.  His  father,  G.  J.  Buscho,  was  born  in 
Prussia,  Germany,  in  1844,  came  to  America  when  a 
boy  in  1862,  landing  in  New  York  City,  and  from 
there  coming  out  to  Wisconsin.  He  spent  several 
years  in  the  arduous  labor  of  the  pine  woods,  and  in 
1862  arrived  in  Minnesota,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
men  to  clear  up  and  improve  land  in  Brush  Creek 
Township  of  Faribault  County.  Many  years  were 
spent  as  a farmer,  and  he  is  now  living  retired  at 
Wells,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  well-earned  prosperity. 
G.  J.  Buscho  married  Miss  Louisa  Webber,  a native 
of  Indiana.  Their  children  are:  Henry  W. ; Tina, 

wife  of  William  Bartell,  a farmer  in  Waseca  County; 
Edward,  who  lives  on  the  homestead  farm ; Bertha, 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Fred  Werner,  a minister  of  the 
German  Evangelical  Association,  and  now  living  at 
Marshall,  Minnesota ; Sarah,  deceased,  whose  hus- 
band is  Ed  Oehler,  a farmer  at  Buffalo  Lake,  Min- 
nesota; Ella,  the  deceased  wife  of  Ed  Werner,  and 
she  died  in  Dakota,  where  her  husband  is  still  a 
farmer ; George,  a clerk  in  his  brother  Henry’s 
store;  Fred,  a truck  gardener  at  Portland,  Oregon; 
and  Perry,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Brush 
Creek  Township. 

Henry  W.  Buscho  grew  up  as  a farm  boy  in 
Brush  Creek  Township,  attended  the  district  schools 
there,  later  the  Mankato  Normal  School,  and  in  1893 
was  prepared  for  his  business  career  by  a course 
in  the  Mankato  Business  College.  In  that  year  he 
became  identified  with  merchandising  in  Wells  as 
clerk  for  S.  A.  Anderson.  In  1894  he  bought  a half 
interest  in  the  store,  and  now  for  twenty  years  they 
have  conducted  a constantly  growing  business,  and 
have  the  largest  general  store  in  Wells  and  sur- 
rounding country.  Their  business  is  situated  on  C 
Street,  where  they  have  a two-story  building,  90x50 


i 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1483 


feet,  stocked  with  a complete  line  of  general  goods. 
Their  trade  comes  from  all  the  eastern  section  of 
Faribault  County. 

Besides  his  position  as  a merchant  Mr.  Buscho  is 
also  vice  president  of  the  Wells  National  Bank.  He 
is  active  in  both  civic  and  social  affairs,  is  a repub- 
lican, served  three  years  as  city  recorder  and  for  the 
past  twelve  years  has  been  a member  of  the  school 
board,  and  one  of  the  men  responsible  for  the  excep- 
tional position  occupied  by  W ells  as  an  educational 
center.  Mr.  Buscho  is  affiliated  with  Wells  Lodge, 
A.  F.  & A.  M. ; with  Wells  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; with 
Albert  Lea  Commandery,  K.  T. ; and  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  LTnited 
Workmen.  In  1896  at  Wells  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Korman. 

Loren  Fletcher.  In  a history  of  the  great  State 
of  Minnesota  it  may  well  be  said  that  not  too  often 
can  recognition  be  taken  of  the  character  and  serv- 
ices of  such  sterling  pioneers  and  distinguished  citi- 
zens as  Hon.  Loren  Fletcher,  who  came  to  this 
commonwealth  nearly  sixty  years  ago,  as  a young 
man  of  energy  and  ambition,  fully  appreciative  of 
the  duties  and  responsibilities  involved  in  every  pro- 
ductive life.  While  through  his  own  well  directed 
endeavors  along  normal  lines  of  enterprise  he  ac- 
quired a substantial  fortune,  his  energies  and  influ- 
ence were  also  in  connection  with  the  civic  and  in- 
dustrial development  and  progress  of  Minnesota, 
which  was  not  admitted  to  the  Union  until  about 
two  years  after  his  arrival  within  its  borders.  With 
the  passing  years  there  came  to  Mr.  Fletcher  mani- 
fold and  important  business  interests,  but  he  proved 
equal  to  all  emergencies,  developed  a splendid  mas- 
tery of  expedients  and  gained  precedence  as  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  affairs  in  the  Minnesota 
metropolis.  A man'  of  integrity  and  honor,  well 
disciplined  in  mind  and  judicial  in  his  natural  at- 
titude to  men  and  affairs,  simple  and  unostentatious 
in  his  self-respecting  and  tolerant  individuality, 
Mr.  Fletcher  could  not  fail  to  measure  up  most 
fully  to  the  best  standards  of  manhood.  His  eligi- 
bility for  offices  of  public  trust  soon  became  recog- 
nized, as  shown  by  his  long  and  distinguished  serv- 
ice as  a member  of  the  Minnesota  Legislature  and 
as  representative  of  the  state  in  the  United  States 
Congress.  His  was  an  important  influence  in  civic 
and  business  affairs  during  the  formative  period 
of  Minnesota  history.  No  man  ever  received  more 
tokens  of  her  honor ; no  man  was  ever  more  faith- 
ful to  his  trusts.  Now,  venerable  in  years,  he  is 
held  in  unequivocal  esteem  in  the  great  state  which 
has  long  represented  his  home  and  in  which  he  still 
passes  the  summer  seasons,  the  winters  customarily 
finding  him  pleasantly  established  in  the  national 
capital.  Thus  every  publication  that  has  to  do  with 
Minnesota,  and  especially  with  the  City  of  Min- 
neapolis, must,  as  a matter  of  consistency,  give  con- 
sideration to  this  gallant  and  venerable  citizen. 

Of  a long  line  of  sturdy  New  England  ancestry, 
the  lineage  of  Mr.  Fletcher  is  more  remotely  traced 
back  to  English  origin,  and  he  himself  is  a native 
of  the  old  Pine  Tree  State.  He  was  born  in  Mount 
Vernon,  Kennebec  County,  Maine,  on  the  10th  of 
April,  1831,  and  strong  constitution,  right  living  and 
right  thinking  have  been  the  forces  that  have  given 
to  him,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four  years, 
the  wonderful  mental  and  physical  vigor  that  deny 
the  number  of  decades  that  have  marked  his  path- 


way of  life.  Capt.  Levi  Fletcher,  his  father,  was  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  honored  citizen  of  Kenne- 
bec County,  Maine,  and  his  endeavors  enabled  him 
to  achieve  independence  and  prosperity,  so  that  his 
four  sons  and  two  daughters  were  not  denied  ex- 
cellent educational  advantages,  as  gauged  by  the 
standards  of  the  locality  and  period.  He  acquired 
his  title  of  captain  through  his  service  in  the  State 
Militia  of  Maine. 

Loren  Fletcher,  the  youngest  of  the  four  sons, 
early  gained  fellowship  with  the  sturdy  activities  of 
the  home  farm  in  New  England,  and  availed  him- 
self of  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  of 
the  village  of  Mount  Vernon,  after  which  came  two 
years  at  Kent’s  Hill  Seminary,  an  excellent  institu- 
tion in  his  home  county.  Thus  was  laid  substantial 
foundation  for  the  liberal  education  which  he  later 
acquired  through  self-discipline  and  through  active 
association  with  men  and  affairs.  Mr.  Fletcher 
had  in  his  youth  a desire  to  learn  a trade,  but  after 
a short  experience  of  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of 
stone-cutter,  when  he  was  about  seventeen  years  oi 
age,  he  found  the  edge  of  his  desire  along  this  line 
was  appreciably  dulled  and  became  convinced  that 
his  tastes  and  inclinations  lay  more  in  the  direc- 
tion of  merchandising.  Accordingly  he  went  to  the 
City  of  Bangor,  Maine,  and  was  clerk  in  a boot 
and  shoe  store  three  years.  Although  his  wages 
were  scarcely  more  than  nominal  he  gained  valuable 
experience,  and,  being  dominated  by  the  character- 
istic New  England  spirit  of  thrift  and  economy,  he 
carefully  saved  his  earnings  and  finally  determined 
to  identify  himself  with  the  rapidly  developing 
West,  where  was  assurance  of  better  opportunities 
for  achieving  success  through  individual  effort. 
Going  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  the  prospects  did  not 
prove  sufficiently  inviting  to  cause  him  to  tarry 
long,  and  he  soon  joined  the  tide  of  immigration 
that  was  moving  into  the  Territory  of  Minnesota. 
The  summer  of  1856  found  him  in  the  Village  of  St. 
Anthony,  the  nucleus  of  the  present  metropolis  of 
Minneapolis.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  at  the  time  a young 
man  of  twenty-three  years,  and  in  his  immigration 
to  the  West  was  accompanied  by  his  bride,  whom 
he  had  married  shortly  before  departing  from 
Maine.  At  St.  Anthony  Mr.  Fletcher  found  tem- 
porary employment  as  a clerk  in  a pioneer  mer- 
cantile establishment,  and  in  the  following  year 
entered  the  employ  of  the  late  Dorilius  Morrison, 
who  was  then  carrying  on  an  extensive  lumber 
business.  This  association  brought  to  Mr.  Fletcher 
varied  experiences,  as  at  times  he  was  in  charge 
of  lumber  yards  at  Hastings  and  St.  Peter  and  at 
other  periods  had  supervision  of  the  winter's  cut 
of  logs  in  the  heavily  timbered  districts  of  the 
northern  sections  of  the  state,  as  well  as  of  the 
driving  of  the  logs  down  the  river  and  the  sub- 
sequent manufacturing  of  the  same  into  lumber  in 
the  sawmills  at  St.  Anthony’s  Falls.  He  continued 
to  be  thus  engaged  about  three  years,  and  in  i860 
he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  modest  dry  goods 
store  of  Edward  L.  Allen,  at  St.  Anthony.  In  the 
following  year,  however,  this  alliance  was  termi- 
nated and  he  associated  himself  with  Charles  M. 
Loring  in  the  mercantile  business  and  other  lines 
of  enterprise,  Mr.  Loring  being  today  one  of  the 
best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed  pioneer  citi- 
zens of  Minneapolis.  The  new  firm  established  a 
general  store  on  the  site  of  the  old  city  hall,  which 
is  still  standing,  and  in  the  early  stages  of  their 
enterprise  they  gave  attention  chiefly  to  dealing  in 


1484 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


lumbermen’s  supplies,  the  business  being  continued, 
with  ever  increasing  success,  at  the  original  loca- 
tion for  more  than  fifteen  years.  The  energy  and 
progressive  ideas  of  the  two  interested  principals 
led  them  into  other  fields  of  enterprise  and  their 
operations  eventually  had  much  bearing  upon  the 
development  and  upbuilding  of  Minneapolis  and 
the  state.  They  became  dealers  in  pine  lands,  in- 
terested in  lumbering  operations,  in  the  develop- 
ment and  handling  of  agricultural  lands,  in  con- 
tracting along  varied  lines,  in  the  furnishing  of 
Indian  supplies,  in  the  buying  and  selling  of  town 
and  city  lots,  and  finally  in  the  manufacturing  of 
flour,  in  the  milling  business  the  firm  was  for  many 
years  one  of  special  prominence  and  influence.  In 
this  important  field  of  enterprise,  which  has  given 
to  Minneapolis  world-wide  reputation,  they  were 
at  first  associated  with  the  late  William  F.  Cahill, 
and  later  they  became  the  proprietors  of  the  Galaxy 
mill  and  the  Minnetonka  mills.  Messrs.  Loring  and 
Fletcher  manifested  great  initiative  and  constructive 
ability  in  their  various  lines  and  became  numbered 
among  the  most  prominent  factors  in  industrial 
and  commercial  activities  in  the  Minnesota  metro- 
polis where  each  received  well  merited  reward  for 
years  of  earnest  and  honorable  endeavor,  for  each 
became  a man  of  substantial  wealth.  The  partner- 
ship continued  for  more  than  forty  years,  with 
mutual  profit  and  complete  cordiality  and  unanim- 
ity, and  it  is  a matter  of  gratification  to  both  that 
they  were  thus  associated  while  winning  their  way 
to  large  and  worthy  success,  their  intimate  friend- 
ship remaining  inviolable  to  the  present  day. 

In  the  character  and  career  of  Mr.  Fletcher  com- 
promise with  principle  for  the  sake  of  self-advance- 
ment has  never  been  exhibited.  Popular  apprecia- 
tion of  his  ability  and  loyalty  has  been  pronounced 
and  has  enabled  him  to  be  of  valuable  assistance  in 
directing  the  governmental  policies  of  the  state  in 
which  his  interests  have  long  been  centered.  The 
decade  between  1873  and  1883  found  him  enrolled 
as  a valued  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the 
Minnesota  Legislature,  and  served  as  speaker  for 
three  successive  sessions — 1881-83.  His  third  elec- 
tion to  this  position  was  by  unanimous  vote.  Mere 
partisanship  was  thus  subordinated  by  the  evident 
desire  to  honor  a sterling  and  influential  citizen 
who  had  been  unswerving  in  his  devotion  to  the 
interests  of  the  state  and  its  people  and  had  been 
potent  in  the  furtherance  of  wise  legislation.  Con- 
cerning Mr.  Fletcher’s  service  as  a member  of  the 
Legislature  it  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  details, 
for  all  this  is  a matter  of  record,  redounds  to  his 
lasting  credit,  and  guaranteed  his  subsequent 
promotion. 

Through  all  his  years  as  a private  citizen  and  in 
official  affairs  Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  uncompromis- 
ing in  his  allegiance  to  the  cause  of  the  republican 
party,  with  a clear  estimate  as  to  policies  in  gov- 
ernmental and  economic  affairs. 

After  an  interim  of  several  years  of  comparative 
inactivity  in  the  domain  of  politics,  the  crowning 
honor  of  Mr.  Fletcher’s  career  in  the  service  of  his 
state  came  in  his  election  to  the  United  States 
Congress.  He  was  chosen  the  first  representative 
of  the  newly  organized  congressional  district  com- 
prising Hennepin  County  and  including  the  City  of 
Minneapolis.  He  was  first  elected  in  1892;  in  1894 
he  was  reelected  by  a largely  increased  majority, 
and  by  successive  reelections  continued  his  effective 
service  in  the  National  Legislature  for  five  suc- 


cessive terms,  during  which  he  proved  himself  alto- 
gether worthy  of  the  high  preferment  given  him 
by  the  voters  of  his  state.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  active 
and  faithful  in  the  deliberations  on  the  floor  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  and  in  those  of  the 
various  committees  to  which  he  was  assigned. 
Sincere  and  direct  in  this  as  in  all  other  relations 
of  life,  he  gained  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
colleagues,  and  while  he  made  no  claims  to  ora- 
torical ability  and  no  attempt  to  exploit  his  in- 
dividuality on  the  floor  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, his  mature  judgment,  his  long  legislative 
experience,  and  his  broad  grasp  of  the  issues  and 
problems  considered  in  Congress,  made  him  dis- 
tinctly influential  in  general  legislation.  He  was, 
moreover,  universally  recognized  in  Minnesota  and 
in  Washington  as  a most  effective  representative 
of  his  constituency,  being  tireless  in  working  for 
all  that  benefited  them,  individually  or  collectively. 
He  was  also  one  whose  loyalty  and  patriotism  were 
not  to  be  deflected  by  means  of  sophistry  or  com- 
promise. Mr.  Fletcher  stood  sponsor  for  the  best 
ideals  of  American  democracy,  and  his  name  will 
stand  high  on  the  roll  of  those  who  have  best 
represented  Minnesota  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States. 

The  year  prior  to  his  immigration  to  the  West 
Mr.  Fletcher  wedded  Miss  Amerette  J.  Thomas. 
She  likewise  was  born  and  reared  in  Maine,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Capt.  John  Thomas,  a sea- 
faring man  of  Bar  Harbor,  that  state.  The  only 
child  of  this  union  was  a daughter  who  died  in 
girlhood,  and  the  supreme  loss  and  bereavement  in 
the  life  of  Mr.  Fletcher  was  that  which  came  when 
death  took  away  his  loved  and  devoted  wife,  who 
was  summoned  to  eternal  rest  in  1892.  By  her 
gentle  and  gracious  personality  she  had  gained  the 
affectionate  regard  of  all  who  came  within  the 
sphere  of  her  influence.  Since  the  death  of  his 
wife  Mr.  Fletcher  has  maintained  his  winter  resi- 
dence in  the  City  of  Washington,  the  friend  and 
confidant  of  many  of  the  nation’s  representative 
men.  But  his  abiding  love  for  Minneapolis  is 
shown  in  his  passing  the  summer  months  there 
with  residence  in  the  Plaza  Hotel.  Here  he  de- 
lights to  perpetuate  the  gracious  memories  and  asso- 
ciations of  past  years  and  to  recall  the  conditions 
and  incidents  of  the  pioneer  days. 

James  S.  Bell.  Minneapolis  has  been  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  several  of  its  most  notable 
men  in  recent  years,  and  probablv  none  was  closer 
to  the  heart  of  Minneapolis  industry  and  exercised 
a greater  controlling  influence  in  purely  business 
affairs  than  James  S.  Bell.  Fortunately  the  record 
of  his  career  from  the  standpoint  of  the  milling 
industry  has  been  carefully  estimated  and  appreci- 
ated by  one  who  knew  both  his  business  and  per- 
sonal activities  in  an  article  in  “The  Northwestern 
Miller,”  and  that  article  is  both  the  basis  and  sub- 
stance of  the  following  sketch  for  this  history  of 
Minnesota. 

Probably  in  the  entire  history  of  the  American 
milling  industry,  according  to  the  judgment  of  this 
writer,  no  man  ever  made  as  great  an  impression 
upon  the  trade  in  such  a comparatively  short  time 
as  James  S.  Bell.  He  came  to  Minneapolis  from 
Philadelphia  about  twenty-seven  years  before  his 
death,  and  while  his  previous  business  experience 
had  been  with  the  handling  of  the  product  of  the 
mill,  his  knowledge  of  milling  itself  was  so  limited 


HISTORY  OF  .MINNESOTA 


1485 


as  to  be  almost  negligible.  In  this  brief  period  he 
became  not  only  the  active,  directing  head  of  a large 
establishment,  but  so  great  was  his  knowledge  and 
so  sound  his  judgment  that  he  was  able  to  advance 
the  business  scope  of  the  company  of  which  he  was 
president  beyond  any  bounds  that  even  the  imagina- 
tion of  his  predecessors  among  the  leaders  of  the 
industry  could  have  conceived  possible. 

There  have  been  great  millers,  but  Mr.  Bell  was 
pre-eminently  the  great  merchant  miller.  His  pred- 
ecessors and  business  associates,  each  one  of  them 
masters  in  their  particular  fields,  and  who,  like  the 
makers  of  the  coral  islands,  built  themselves  into 
the  structure  which  outlasts  them,  have  all  passed 
away.  The  last  of  the  group  of  notable  Minneap- 
olis millers  to  be  claimed  by  death  was  James  S. 
Bell,  thereby  leaving  vacant  a leadership  rare  in 
its  magnificient  grasp  of  business  and  so  beautiful 
in  its  relationship  to  his  fellow  workers  that  its 
record  is  unrivaled. 

Mr.  Bell’s  business  genius  developed  and  ex- 
panded with  maturity.  Transplanted  from  the  con- 
servative atmosphere  of  Philadelphia  to  the  more 
exhilarating  and  less  conventional  business  life  of 
Minneapolis,  when  over  forty  years  old,  he  seemed 
instantly  to  strike  new  roots  into'  his  adopted  soil. 
He  utilized  his  inheritance  of  past  experience,  not 
as  a final  conviction,  as  seeking  to  make  his  new 
surroundings  conform  to  it,  but  wisely,  as  a guide 
to  his  further  growth  in  mind  as  well  as  in  material 
respects.  Although  in  fundamental  principles  he 
remained  unchanged,  yet  every  year  added  to  his 
life  found  him  a greater  and  broader  man,  with  a 
wiser  comprehension  of  his  relation  to  the  world. 
His  business  grew  enormously  but  never  grew  faster 
or  more  strongly  than  he  did.  Always  he  was  ahead 
of  it. 

James  Stroud  Bell  was  born  in  Philadelphia  June 
30,  1847,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Minneapolis  April 
5,  1915,  in  his  sixty-eighth  year.  His  parents  were 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Faust)  Bell.  Samuel  Bell 
was  a Philadelphia  miller  and  in  1827  established 
in  that  city  a flour  commission  house  which  for 
many  years  stood  as  one  of  the  leading  concerns 
of  its  kind  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  Including 
James  S.  Bell,  there  have  been  five  generations  of 
the  Bell  family  in  America,  and  they  came  to  this 
country  from  Scotland,  and  in  later  generations 
there  was  an  important  Quaker  admixture. 

James  S.  Bell’s  education  so  far  as  it  depended 
on  mere  books,  was  obtained  in  the  grammar  schools 
of  Philadelphia  and  its  Central  High  School.  In 
1863,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  became  a clerk  in 
the  establishment  of  W.  & S.  Bell,  flour  dealers, 
remaining  for  five  years  in  this  capacity.  In  1868 
he  was  made  a partner  in  the  firm  of  Samuel  Bell 
& Sons,  one  of  the  oldest,  largest  and  most  highly 
respected  flour  houses  in  the  eastern  states.  It  was 
the  agent  at  Philadelphia  and  New  York  for  the 
Washburn-Crosby  flour  and  thus  Mr.  Bell  became 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  brands  of  the  concern 
and  methods  of  selling  its  flour  for  twenty  years 
before  he  removed  to  Minneapolis. 

In  1888  the  situation  in  regard  to  the  great  Wash- 
burn plant  in  Minneapolis  was  unusual  in  the  open- 
ing it  afforded  for  just  the  right  kind  of  man.  The 
mills  were  owned  by  the  C.  C.  Washburn  Flouring 
Mills  Company,  consisting  of  the  heirs  of  Governor 
Washburn.  Tbeir  daily  capacity  was  8,000  barrels, 
and  for  a number  of  years  they  had  been  leased  to 
Washburn,  Crosby  & Company.  John  Crosby  of 


this  firm  had  died  the  year  before  and  Mr.  Dun- 
woody  was  in  ill  health  and  desired  to  withdraw 
temporarily  from  the  cares  of  business.  It  became 
necessary,  therefore,  to  dissolve  and  a new  firm 
was  contemplated  to  take  over  the  operation  of  the 
plant.  Mr.  Bell  through  his  close  connection  with 
Washburn,  Crosby  & Company  as  a member  of  the 
firm  which  represented  it  in  Philadelphia  and  New 
York,  became  interested  with  others  in  the  plan  and 
in  the  late  summer  of  1888  the  firm  of  Washburn, 
Martin  & Company  was  formed.  This  continued 
for  a year,  when,  on  September  1,  1889,  it  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company.  Mr. 
Bell  became  president. 

Mr.  Bell  soon  discovered  that  he  had  entered  the 
milling  business  at  a very  critical  and  anxious  time. 
Speculators  had  pushed  the  price  of  wheat  far  above 
an  export  basis  and  the  export  of  flour  had  become 
a very  important  element  in  the  operation  of  the 
Minneapolis  mills.  The  year  before  Mr.  Bell  ceased 
to  be  a flour  merchant  and  became  a merchant 
miller,  over  forty  per  cent  of  the  output  of  the 
Minneapolis  mills  had  been  shipped  abroad,  and 
indeed  the  flour  export  for  that  year  reached  high- 
water  mark  in  relation  to  the  out-turn. 

It  is  a singular  fact  that  Mr.  Bell’s  advent  in 
the  milling  business  should  have  been  coincident 
with  the  relative  decline  in  the  export  flour  trade, 
and  the  consequent  compulsory  intensive  develop- 
ment of  the  domestic  market,  or,  if  we  are  to  be- 
lieve that  the  time  and  the  man  are  providentially 
brought  together,  then  his  arrival  on  the  scene  of 
action  at  this  critical  period  in  the  milling  history 
of  Minneapolis  was  more  than  a coincident,  it  was 
fore-ordained.  For  Mr.  Bell’s  previous  experience 
had  given  him  a complete  understanding  of  the 
merchandising  side  of  milling  in  relation  to  the 
domestic  markets  rather  than  the  foreign  trade.  He 
was  not  a practical  miller  in  the  operative  sense, 
nor  was  he  particularly  and  especially  qualified  to 
develop  an  export  trade,  but  he  was  pre-eminently 
a master  and  a leader  in  the  new  line  of  effort 
which  the  mills  of  Minneapolis  were  destined  to 
enter  upon,  the  systematic  cultivation  and  expansion 
of  the  home  markets. 

With  the  export  flour  trade  soon  to  become  less 
of  a factor  in  the  operation  of  the  Minneapolis 
mills,  and  the  necessity  of  securing  a stronger  hold 
upon  domestic  consumption  confronting  or  about  to 
confront  the  industry,  only  a miller  with  a real 
genius  for  marketing  flour  could  have  won  success. 
In  1888  the  situation  became  so  serious  with  millers 
throughout  the  country  on  account  of  the  high  price 
at  which  wheat  was  held  by  the  speculators,  the 
consequent  impossibility  of  selling  flour  abroad  and 
the  congestion  of  the  domestic  flour  market,  that 
on  December  21  a meeting  was  held  at  Milwaukee 
to  consider  the  state  of  the  industry.  An  attempt 
grew  out  of  this  to  regulate  and  reduce  the  output 
of  the  mills,  which  was  temporarily  successful  to 
a degree.  Nevertheless,  the  milling  year  which 
closed  in  August,  1889,  was  disastrous  to  many  and 
unsatisfactory  to  all.  It  was  at  the  conclusion  of 
this  term,  as  already  stated,  that  the  firm  of  Wash- 
burn, Martin  & Company  was  dissolved  and  the 
Washburn-Crosby  Company  formed  with  Mr.  Bell 
as  its  president. 

During  his  initial  year  in  the  milling  business 
Mr.  Bell  learned  much  of  its  pitfalls  and  discour- 
agements, its  anxieties  and  hazards,  and  no  doubt 
there  were  moments  when  he  would  gladly  have  ex- 


I486 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


changed  his  new  position  for  the  old  one  in  Philadel- 
phia; but  once  having  crossed  the  Rubicon,  Mr.  Bell 
was  incapable  of  retreat.  However,  since  the  plants 
operated  by  his  company  were  leased  and  not  owned 
by  it,  there  was  always  the  possibility  of  change 
at  the  expiration  of  the  time  agreed  upon,  and  con- 
sequently for  nine  years  following  the  organization 
ot  the  Washburn-Crosbv  Company  there  was  un- 
avoidably a suggestion  of  tentativeness  in  his  con- 
nection with  the  property  itself,  although  small 
doubt  that,  whatever  became  of  the  mills,  Mr.  Bell 
would  remain  a miller,  either  in  Minneapolis  or 
elsewhere. 

Meanwhile  the  new  company  which  took  the  orig- 
inal name  of  Washburn,  Crosby  & Company,  merely 
changing  it  to  corporate  style,  throve  mightily.  Its 
export  trade  became  of  comparatively  less  import- 
ance and  its  domestic  field  was  cultivated  to  an 
extent  and  in  a manner  which  showed  the  firm, 
consistent,  indomitable  policy  which  was  back  of  it 
and  based  upon  the  character  of  its  officers.  Or- 
ganization, splendid  system,  a fine  spirit  of  co-opera- 
tion, magnificent  efficiency,  indomitable  enterprise, 
loyalty  and  the  highest  possible  standard  of  business 
honor,  firm  rooted  in  principle ; these  and  other  at- 
tributes were  manifested  in  its  development.  In- 
heriting worthy  traditions,  it  perpetuated  and  built 
upon  strong  and  firm  foundations  a structure  of 
industrial  activity  that  was  notable  and  enduring. 

So  the  busy  and  useful  years  passed  by,  and  Mr. 
Bell  grew  with  them  to  the  stature  of  the  greatest 
merchant  miller  of  his  time,  but  it  was  not  until 
1899  that  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company  began  its 
more  recent  development,  which  has  given  it  the 
largest  milling  capacity  in  the  world,  not  leased  but 
owned.  In  1898  an  attempt  was  made  to  form  a 
flour  trust,  and  one  of  the  principal  groups  desired 
to  be  incorporated  in  the  chain  of  mills  was  the 
Washburn  Flouring  Mills  Company’s  plant,  then 
leased  by  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company.  This 
plan  so  far  as  the  great  mills  at  Minneapolis  were 
concerned  was  frustrated  when  Mr.  Dunwoody,  in 
March,  1899,  quietly  purchased  the  Washburn  mills 
and  transferred  them  to  the  Washburn-Crosby  Com- 
pany. That  was  a critical  time,  and  the  future  in- 
volved responsibilities  as  weighty  as  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  past  had  laid  upon  Mr.  Bell  and  his 
associates.  Both  Mr.  Dunwoody  and  Mr.  Bell,  had 
they  yielded  to  their  personal  inclinations,  might 
have  withdrawn  from  active  control  of  the  business 
at  that  time,  but  their  courage  was  equal  to  the 
demand  upon  it,  and  putting  aside  all  considerations 
of  personal  ease,  they  embarked  upon  the  greater 
development  of  their  enterprise  which  the  purchase 
of  the  plant  involved,  and  in  behalf  of  others, 
rather  than  themselves,  they  resolutely  went  for- 
ward. 

Since  that  time  until  now  Mr.  Bell’s  place  has 
been  that  of  a leader.  His  grasp  and  comprehen- 
sion of  the  difficult  problems  daily  thrust  upon  him 
have  been  amazing.  Present  or  absent,  his  hand 
has  been  upon  the  throttle,  his  finger  upon  the  es- 
sential, vitalizing,  inspiring  spot  whence  came  the 
impetus  of  an  enormous  and  constantly  growing  in- 
dustry. In  no  respect  did  he  show  greater  genius 
than  in  his  ability  to  create,  build  up  and  perfect 
a vital,  effective  and  highly  intelligent  organization. 
He  drew  to  his  support  lieutenants  in  every  depart- 
ment who  were  notably  able  and  competent,  and  he 
rewarded  them  with  characteristic  generosity,  not 
only  materially  but  with  fine  and  discriminative  ap- 


preciation of  their  work.  In  return  he  received  their 
best  service,  their  loyalty  and  a personal  devotion 
and  affection  which  was  both  sincere  and  profound. 

When  Mr.  Bell  came  to  Minneapolis  in  1888  the 
daily  capacity  of  the  Washburn  mills  was  8,000  bar- 
rels. The  present  daily  capacity  of  the  mills  owned 
by  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company  in  Minneapolis 
is  over  twenty-seven  thousand  barrels,  and  the  plant 
owned  by  the  company  in  Buffalo,  Louisville  and 
in  Great  Falls  and  Kalispell,  Montana,  have  a total 
capacity  of  45,000  barrels  daily,  making  it  the  great- 
est milling  concern  in  the  world. 

More  important  than  even  this  great  material  ex- 
pression of  his  energy,  was  the  influence  upon  his 
fellow  man  exerted  by  the  character,  the  life  and  the 
example  of  James  S.  Bell.  The  organization  he 
created  and  perfected  is  competent  to  carry  on  to 
even  greater  achievement  the  gigantic  undertaking 
which  these  mills  represent.  It  cannot  fail  to  per- 
petuate the  policy  of  its  great  leader,  for  it  has  the 
capacity,  the  spirit  and  the  resources  to  do  so;  but 
while  his  example  will  have  a continuous  influence 
and  his  memory  will  be  cherished  and  honored  and 
be  an  inspiration  to  all  who  serve  the  great  com- 
pany, the  loss  of  his  personality,  the  bodily  absence 
of  the  splendid  captain  to  whom  they  went  for 
counsel  and  incentive,  will  be  beyond  all  possibility 
of  repair. 

Besides  the  presidency  of  the  Washburn-Crosby 
Company  Mr.  Bell  had  many  other  affiliations  with 
milling  and  financial  affairs,  including  a place  as 
vice  president  of  the  Minneapolis  Trust  Company 
and  as  a director  in  the  Northwestern  National 
Bank.  He  was  a member  of  the  Westminster  Pres- 
byterian Church,  of  the  Union  League  Club  of 
Philadelphia,  the  Chicago  Club  of  Chicago  and  of 
the  Minneapolis  -Club,  the  Lafayette  Club  and  the 
Minikahda  Country  Club.  One  of  the  palatial  homes 
at  Lake  Minnetonka,  known  as  Belford,  located  at 
Ferndale,  was  the  residence  of  the  family  for  the 
summer  months.  James  S.  Bell  was  married  Jan- 
uary 8,  1873,  to  Miss  Sallie  Montgomery  Ford  of 
Philadelphia,  a daughter  of  Edwin  Ford,  a manu- 
facturer. Mrs.  Bell  died  June  19,  1905.  On  Sep- 
tember 25,  1912,  Mr.  Bell  was  married  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  to  Mrs.  Mabel  Sargent,  who  sur- 
vives him.  Mr.  Bell  is  also  survived  by  his  only 
son,  the  child  of  his  first  wife,  James  Ford  Bell, 
who  is  vice  president  and  a director  in  the  Wash- 
burn-Crosby Company,  vice  president  of  the  Wash- 
burn-Crosby Milling  Company,  and  secretary  of  the 
Louisville  Milling  Company.  He  was  married  at 
Minneapolis  December  10,  1902,  to  Miss  Heffel- 
finger,  daughter  of  Maj.  C.  B.  Heffelfinger  and 
Mary  Ellen  (Totten)  Heffelfinger,  a pioneer  family 
of  Minneapolis.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born 
four  children:  James  Ford,  Jr.,  Charles  H.,  Samuel 
H.  and  SalE  Louise. 

The  late  Mr.  Bell  was  more  than  a merchant 
miller ; he  was  a great  executive,  a leader  among 
men,  and  had  that  rare  power  of  compelling  and 
directing  not  only  the  forces  of  his  own  mind  and 
character  but  of  those  of  thousands  of  men  who 
eagerly  followed  and  did  the  things  he  pointed  out 
to  do.  He  possessed  the  valuable  faculty  of  being 
able  to  inspire  with  enthusiasm  the  men  under  him. 
Another  trait  was  brotherly  kindness  and  sympathy, 
and  it  is  known  that  Mr.  Bell  helped  many  strug- 
gling younger  men  to  successful  and  influential  po- 
sitions in  life. 

The  value  of  his  rare  personality,  his  clear  per- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1487 


ception  and  his  unerring  judgment  was  not  confined 
to  the  limits  of  his  own  business,  broad  as  these 
limits  were.  Everything  he  touched  responded 
quickly  to  his  understanding  capability.  Those  who 
came  incidentally  in  contact  with  him  immediately 
recognized  his  incisive  effectiveness  and  his  quick 
comprehension.  It  was  a delight  to  do  business 
with  him  and  a pleasure  to  serve  on  boards  or  com- 
mittees of  which  he  was  a member.  While  others 
hesitated  and  haggled  over  inconsequent  trifles,  he 
instinctively  went  direct  to  the  essential  issue  and 
in  a few  words  clarified  it.  He  had  little  time  to 
waste  on  past  mistakes;  wisely  he  preferred  to  look 
forward  and  provide  against  possible  repetition  of 
errors. 

Socially,  Mr.  Bell  was  of  a genial  and  hospitable 
nature.  Exceedingly  courteous  and  exceptionally 
punctilious  in  manner,  he  was  a charming  and  agree- 
able companion,  kindly  and  generous,  with  a great 
charity  for  the  weaknesses  of  others,  his  friends 
were  many  and  he  was  loyal  to  them.  His  stand- 
ards of  life  were  high  and  honorable,  and  although 
tolerant  in  his  judgments  of  his  fellow-men  he 
never  compromised  his  principles  in  order  to  gain 
an  advantage.  In  all  matters,  the  word  of  James 
S.  Bell  was  amply  sufficient. 

It  was  not  easy  to  gain  his  support  for  any  meas- 
ure; he  was  slow'  to  make  promises,  but  when  his 
approval  was  given  and  his  word  passed,  one  did 
not  hesitate  to  depend  absolutely  and  implicitly  upon 
his  position ; it  was  certain  and'  assured. 

The  fine  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which  were 
his  notable  characteristics,  combined  with  his  won- 
derful business  ability  and  marvelous  comprehen- 
sion of  essentials,  made  him  the  ideal  leader  of  a 
large  undertaking.  He  was  the  one  man  of  his 
period  in  the  milling  industry  who  might  have 
welded  the  dominant  forces  of  the  trade  into  a 
great  trust,  had  he  been  so  disposed.  Fortunately 
Mr.  Bell’s  ambition  did  not  run  in  this  direction, 
and  he  was  also  wise  enough  to  understand  that  by 
the  time  the  industry  had  reached  a point  in  its 
ruthless  competition  where  a trust  might  have  been 
possible,  this  form  of  corporate  control  was  already 
nearing  the  period  of  governmental  interference. 
He  therefore  contented  himself  with  the  develop- 
ment of  his  own  business,  without  attempting  to 
absorb  that  of  others,  and  his  remarkable  success 
attests  the  sagacity  of  his  judgment. 

It  is  not  derogatory  to  the  repute  of  others  to 
say  that  Mr.  Bell  was  the  greatest  merchant  miller 
in  the  world.  Such  is  but  a fair  summary  of  his 
business  record,  and  no  one  conversant  with  the 
facts  will  deny  this  distinction  to  him,  for  he  cer- 
tainly earned  it.  Not  alone  will  his  loss  be  felt  in 
the  industry  wherein  he  achieved  such  an  eminent 
position,  but  it  will  be  even  more  keenly  felt  by 
those  who  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  his  personal 
friendship  and  who  came  within  the  inspiring,  up- 
lifting and  vivifying  influence  of  his  daily  life. 

North  Star  College,  Warren,  Minnesota,  is  one 
of  the  educational  institutions  for  higher  learning 
that  is  making  rapid  strides  forward.  The  school, 
although  non-sectarian,  was  organized  in  1908  by 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  people  of  the  Red  River  Val- 
ley; and  Warren  was  chosen  as  the  location  for  the 
school,  because  of  the  very  large  Scandinavian  pop- 
ulation in  all  of  the  surrounding  territory. 

The  names  and  places  of  residence  of  the  persons 


forming  the  North  Star  College  corporation  are  as 
follows : 

Rev.  E.  O.  Chelgren,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

John  P.  Mattson,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

John  Lindberg,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

Aug.  Lundgren,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

P.  B.  Malberg,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

Aaron  Johnson,  Warrenton,  Minnesota. 

Nels  Johnson,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

L.  M.  Olson,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

Nels  E.  Bystrom,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

C.  H.  Lindberg,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

John  Westman,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

John  W.  Johnson,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

Alfred  Johnson,  Warrenton,  Minnesota. 

Kateket  Peter  Dalquist,  Warrenton,  Minnesota. 

Evart  Dagoberg,  Warren,  Minnesota. 

John  L.  Dalquist,  Warrenton,  Minnesota. 

E.  Olson,  Foldahl,  Minnesota. 

The  college  is  controlled  by  a board  of  directors, 
seven  in  number,  chosen  from  among  members  of 
the  North  Star  College  Corporation.  The  officers 
of  the  original  board  were  Rev.  E.  O.  Chelgren, 
president;  August  Lundgren,  vice  president;  John 
P.  Mattson,  secretary;  and  L.  M.  Olson,  treasurer. 

During  the  summer  of  1908,  three  teachers  were 
called  to  organize  and  take  charge  of  the  work  pro- 
posed. O.  E.  Abrahamson,  A.  M.,  was  called  as 
president  of  the  school.  C.  E.  Sjostrand,  B.  Com., 
was  called  as  principal  of  the  commercial  depart- 
ment, and  Miss  Olga  Hermanson  was  called  to  take 
charge  of  the  music  department. 

During  the  summer  of  1908  preparations  were 
made  for  the  opening  of  the  school,  which  took 
place  October  1 of  the  same  year.  On  the  upper 
floor  of  the  Washington  public  school  building  the 
academic  department  and  the  commercial  depart- 
ment carried  on  their  work  for  two  years.  The 
music  work  was  taken  up  in  the  basement  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  During  the  first  two 
years  the  school  work  was  carried  on  in  these  quar- 
ters. The  third  year  the  public  school  had  grown 
so  that  a part  of  the  college  work  was  crowded  out 
of  the  Washington  building.  The  academic,  do- 
mestic science  and  musical  work  was  carried  on  at 
College  Hall,  which  had  become  the  property  of 
President  O.  E.  Abrahamson. 

During  the  first  four  years  the  attendance  had 
grown  so  that  new  quarters  had  to  be  secured, 
especially  since  the  public  schools  required  all  of 
the  rooms  in  the  Washington  building.  The  officers 
of  the  college  therefore  bought  the  old  Warren 
Opera  House,  and  transformed  that  into  a school 
building  where  all  of  the  college  work  was  carried 
on  for  a year  and  a half.  During  this  time,  how- 
ever, North  Star  made  preparations  for  erecting  a 
building  of  its  own. 

At  the  time  that  the  college  was  organized,  the 
City  of  Warren  donated  a tract  of  land,  twenty 
acres  in  extent,  on  the  south  edge  of  the  city.  On 
this  land  the  new  college  building  was  to  be  erected. 
In  order  to  assist  in  the  work  of  soliciting  funds 
for  the  new  building,  Rev.  G.  Wahlund  was  called 
as  solicitor  and  manager.  The  early  construction 
of  the  building  and  its  present  large  size  and 
splendid  appearance  are  very  largely  due  to  his 
heroic  efforts. 

In  the  summer  of  1910.  excavations  for  the  college 
building  was  begun.  Work  progressed  and  the 
foundation  was  built  in  the  summer  and  fall  and 


1488 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


completed  November  23  of  the  same  year.  During 
the  next  summer,  work  on  the  new  building  was 
continued  so  that  on  the  15th  of  October  the  cor- 
nerstone for  the  new  building  was  laid.  The  walls 
of  the  building  were  then  completed  up  to  the  sec- 
ond story,  when  work  had  to  be  discontinued  on 
account  of  the  cold  weather. 

During  the  summer  of  1912  work  on  the  new 
building  was  continued,  so  that  after  having  car- 
ried on  the  school  work  in  the  old  opera  house  for 
a year  and  a half,  we  were  able  to  move  into  the 
new  college  on  the  3d  of  December.  This  was  a 
happy  day  for  both  students  and  teachers,  who  all 
helped  to  do  the  moving  of  all  school  property  to 
the  new  college  building,  so  that  not  a single  day 
of  school  work  was  lost. 

On  the  6th  of  December  a large  gathering  was 
held  at  the  college  building  at  which  Mr.  James  J. 
Hill  was  one  of  the  prominent  speakers.  This  oc- 
casion was  the  formal  opening  of  the  new  building. 

The  new  North  Star  building  is  one  of  the  finest 
and  most  up-to-date  in  this  part  of  the  state.  It 
is  complete  and  modern  in  all  respects.  The  ma- 


terial used  in  the  structure  is  concrete,  brick  and 
stone  with  the  very  best  hardwood  finish  on  the 
inside.  The  building  is  four  stories  high  and  has 
a large  attractive  cupola.  There  are  three  entrances ; 
the  main  one  faces  directly  the  street  that  leads  to 
the  center  of  the  city.  The  plans  and  specifications 
for  the  building  were  prepared  by  F.  E.  Haldin  of 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  The  total  cost  of  the 
building  is  approximately  $75,000. 

North  Star  College  has  a number  of  departments 
with  very  complete  courses  in  each : the  academic 
in  which  are  offered  the  high  school  subjects;  the 
preparatory  with  the  common  school  subjects; 
music,  commercial,  shorthand,  typewriting,  with  all 
business  subjects;  cooking,  sewing,  art,  and  some 
work  in  home  correspondence. 

The  college  has  a splendid  zoological  collection 
which  is  one  of  the  best  individual  collections  in 
the  state.  It  includes  most  of  the  mammals  and  birds 
of  Minnesota,  collections  of  reptiles,  fishes,  minerals, 
curios,  etc. 

During  the  past  four  years  the  North  Star  Signal 
has  been  issued  under  the  college  direction.  It  is 
published  monthly  in  the  interests  of  North  Star 
College  and  the  entire  Red  River  Valley.  The  pa- 
per has  met  with  a great  deal  of  encouragement, 
and  has  already  a wide  circulation.  It  contains  also 
church  news  from  the  Red  River  Valley. 


The  attendance  at  North  Star  has  been  very  satis- 
factory. The  enrollment  the  first  year  was  fifty- 
six,  the  following  year  the  enrollment  was  consid- 
erably over  one  hundred  and  since  that  time  it  has 
varied  between  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  two 
hundred.  Students  come  from  all  parts  of  the  Red 


River 

lege. 

Valley.  Splendid 
The  graduates  by 

work  is  done  at  the 
years  are  as  follows : 

col- 

1909 

2 

1912  

. .19 

1910 

13 

1913  

. .18 

I9II 

16 

1914  

••35 

1915  28 


The  present  board  of  directors  (1915)  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

Mr.  August  Lundgren,  president. 

Mr.  John  P.  Mattson,  secretary. 

Mr.  Nels  Johnson,  treasurer. 

Mr.  Nels  E.  Bystrom. 

Rev.  L.  P.  Lundgren. 

Rev.  Kr.  Rosenthal. 

Rev.  F.  N.  Anderson. 

The  faculty  at  North  Star  during  the  school  year 
1914-1915  is  as  follows : O.  E.  Abrahamson,  presi- 

dent; C.  E.  Sjostrand,  principal  of  the  commercial 
department ; Miss  Florence  Abrahamson,  domestic 
science;  Harry  B.  Johnson,  A.  B.,  teacher  in  aca- 
demic department;  Miss  Agda  Wennerberg,  prin- 
cipal of  the  music  department ; Miss  Lillie  E.  Gib- 
son, teacher  in  music  department;  Mrs.  J.  Nevin 
Johnson,  art  department;  Harry  C.  Anderson,  as- 
sistant in  academic  department;  Orville  A.  Schenck, 
assistant  in  stenographic  department. 

Extensive  and  important  changes  in  the  courses 
to  be  offered  at  North  Star  for  the  coming  year  are 
contemplated.  Since  the  school  is  located  entirely 
in  an  agricultural  region,  plans  are  being  worked 
out,  with  the  advice  of  the  national  educational  de- 
partment, with  the  intention  of  offering  such  work 
or  courses  as  will  interest  the  young  men  and  the 
progressive  farmers  of  the  neighboring  territory. 
In  this  matter  North  Star  will  take  the  lead,  and 
we  look  forward  to  important  results. 

Oscar  Eugene  Abrahamson.  President  of  the 
North  Star  College,  at  Warren,  Oscar  Eugene 
Abrahamson  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  has  been  one  of  the  leaders  in 
educational  affairs  and  in  the  denomination  activi- 
ties of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 

He  was  born  at  New  Sweden,  Nicollet  County, 
Minnesota,  May  1,  1879,  a son  of  Charles  and  Mary 
(Gunberg)  Abrahamson.  His  father  was  born  in 
Sweden,  came  to  America  in  1866,  and  after  about 
a year  on  a farm  near  Paxton,  Illinois,  removed  to 
Minnesota  in  1867,  where  he  continued  farming  in 
one  of  the  pioneer  districts. 

Oscar  E.  Abrahamson  grew  up  on  a farm,  and 
from  1890  attended  school  at  St.  Peter.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Gustavus  Adolphus*  College  of  St. 
Peter,  where  he  took  his  Bachelor’s  degree  in  1905, 
and  in  1907  was  awarded  the  degree  Master  of  Arts. 
For  one  year  he  was  principal  of  graded  school  at 
Lindstrom,  following  which  he  was  for  two  years 
an  instructor  in  the  Lutheran  Ladies  Seminary  at 
Red  Wing.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  North  Star  College,  as  told  on  preced- 
ing pages,  and  as  president  has  directed  that  insti- 
tution in  its  successful  career. 

Mr.  Abrahamson  is  also  a licensed  minister  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  and  a member  of  the 
Warren  Ministerial  Association,  of  which  he  is  sec- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1489 


retary.  He  belongs  to  the  Marshall  County  Teach- 
ers’ Association  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters  affecting  the  state  at  large.  He  is 
essentially  a student,  and  his  intimate  acquaintance 
with  books  did  not  cease  with  the  close  of  his  col- 
lege career.  He  is  also  a capable  executive  and  a 
leader  and  a worker  among  men.  Mr.  Abrahamson 
has  had  much  experience  in  musical  affairs,  is  a 
singer  and  has  been  a member  of  quartettes  and 
mixed  quartettes,  and  has  done  much  to  encourage 
musical  activity  in  the  North  Star  College.  He  is 
also  editor  of  the  North  Star  Signal.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Warren  Civic  League,  and  a member 
of  the  Warren  Commercial  Club. 

On  June  24,  1911,  he  married  Hulda  Sophia  Mag- 
nusson  of  Harris,  Minnesota,  and  a native  of  this 
state,  her  parents,  Sven  and  Marie  Magnusson,  hav- 
ing come  here  from  Sweden.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abra- 
hamson have  two  daughters,  Linnea  Marie  and  Aina 
Magnalpha. 

Edmund  Joseph  Phelps.  Among  Minneapolis 
citizens  who  have  been  not  only  successful  in  busi- 
ness but  have  done  much  to  enrich  the  community 
in  those  elements  which  make  for  civic  wholesome- 
ness and  material  prosperity,  few  have  impressed 
themselves  at  more  points  and  have  devoted  them- 
selves more  unselfishly  to  the  service  and  profit  of 
this  city  than  Edmund  J.  Phelps. 

Mr.  Phelps  comes  of  a family  whose  first  an- 
cestor in  this  country,  William  Phelps,  settled  at 
Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  as  early  as  1630.  He 
came  from  Tewksbury,  'England,  and  about  1633  re- 
moved to  Windsor,  Connecticut.  Edmund  J.  Phelps 
was  born  January  17,  1845,  in  Brecksville  near 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  a son  of  Joseph  Edmund  and  Ur- 
sula (Wright)  Phelps.  Ursula  Wright  was  like- 
wise of  an  old  American  family.  After  their  mar- 
riage in  1826  the  parents  removed  to  Batavia,  New 
York,  and  in  1844  established  a home  on  a farm  at 
Brecksville,  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Phelps  grew  up  on  a farm,  on  which  he  de- 
veloped a constitution  which  has  been  one  of  the 
best  assets  in  his  business  career.  His  intense  prac- 
ticality has  always  been  accompanied  by  high 
ideals,  and  some  of  his  business  associates  have 
referred  to  him  as  a “practical  idealist.”  His  edu- 
cation, begun  in  the  public  schools  of  Brecksville, 
was  continued  in  the  preparatory  department  of 
Baldwin  University  at  Berea,  Ohio.  He  was  also  a 
student  in  the  preparatory  department  of  Oberlin 
College,  and  finished  with  a commercial  college 
course.  His  first  important  experience  was  as  a 
teacher  in  the  Northwestern  Business  College  at 
Aurora,  Illinois,  in  1866.  He  lived  at  Aurora  until 
1878,  and  there  laid  the  foundation  for  his  business 
career.  His  first  experience  as  a banker  was  with 
the  firm  of  Volintine  & Williams  at  Aurora,  but  his 
first  independent  venture  was  in  the  furniture  busi- 
ness. Leaving  the  bank,  he  organized  the  firm  of 
E.  J.  Phelps  & Company  in  1870,  and  during  the 
following  eight  years  built  up  a flourishing  business 
at  Aurora. 

While  at  Aurora  on  September  16,  1874,  Mr. 
Phelps  married  Miss  Louisa  A.  Richardson.  Her 
parents  were  Charles  R.  and  Ruth  (Shepard)  Rich- 
ardson, who  came  from  historic  old  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  belonged  to  families  represented  in 
colonial  settlement  and  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  have  one  daughter,  Ruth,  and 


two  sons,  Richardson  and  Edmund  J.,  Jr.  Two  of 
their  children  died  in  infancy. 

In  1878,  having  disposed  of  his  business  interests 
at  Aurora,  Mr.  Phelps  moved  to  Minneapolis,  where 
he  bought  the  furniture  business  of  J.  B.  Hanson, 
and  soon  formed  a partnership  with  J.  S.  Bradstreet 
under  the  firm  name  of  Phelps  & Bradstreet.  This 
firm  not  only  supplied  a large  trade  territory,  but 
also  did  much  to  stimulate  a taste  in  artistic  furni- 
ture and  house  furnishings.  Having  withdrawn 
from  the  firm  in  1883,  in  company  with  E.  A.  Mer- 
rill he  organized  the  Minnesota  Loan  & Trust  Com- 
pany, which  has  since  developed  into  one  of  the 
greatest  financial  institutions  of  the  Northwest. 
For  a number  of  years  he  was  its  secretary  and 
treasurer.  This  company  was  the  first  to  erect  a 
fine  fireproof  office  building  in  the  Northwest, 
equipped  with  safety  deposit  vaults.  The  building, 
long  a landmark  in  the  central  business  district  of 
Minneapolis,  stands  on  Nicollet  Avenue.  It  was  the 
pioneer  organization  of  its  kind  in  Minnesota,  and 
has  been  the  model  on  which  many  similar  institu- 
tions have,  been  founded. 

After  nearly  a decade  as  one  of  the  active  direc- 
tors of  the  Minnesota  Loan  & Trust  Company,  Mr. 
Phelps  withdrew,  and  his  varied  activities  in  the 
commercial  field  since  that  time  would  be  difficult 
to  follow  and  describe.  For  several  years  his  pri- 
mary interests  centered  in  the  grain  and  elevator 
business,  being  associated  with  the  Peavey  interests 
and  was  president  of  the  Belt  Line  Elevator  Com- 
pany. While  his  relations  with  the  grain  and  ele- 
vator trade  still  continue,  he  now  has  various  other 
associations  with  business  affairs,  and  particularly 
with  those  movements  which  have  represented  the 
united  resources  of  Minneapolis  business  men  in 
the  creation  of  a larger  industrial  and  civic  center. 

Mr.  Phelps  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Minneapolis  business  union,  and 
was  its  president  in  1892.  This  organization  did 
much  to  induce  manufacturers  and  jobbers  to  make 
Minneapolis  their  headquarters.  It  was  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Phelps  that  a great  harvest  festival 
was  held  in  Minneapolis  as  an  expression  of  grati- 
tude and  joy  at  the  abundant  harvest  over  the  state 
in  1891,  and  his  leadership  in  that  movement  made 
the  festival  an  occasion  long  to  be  remembered. 
His  active  cooperation  and  financial  support  have 
also  been  given  to  many  of  the  business  enterprises 
of  the  city.  While  nothing  so  far  has  led  him  to 
take  an  active  part  in  practical  politics,  he  has  been 
none  the  less  sincerely  public  spirited,  and  through 
his  interests  in  large  business  affairs  and  quasi- 
public organizations  has  accomplished  probably  much 
more  than  could  have  been  achieved  through  any 
political  office.  When  in  1890  the  fairness  of  the 
census  was  challenged  by  the  citizens  of  St.  Paul 
and  re-enumeration  was  ordered,  Mr.  Phelps  gave 
weeks  of  laborious  work  to  the  complex  details  re- 
quired for  a recount  of  the  city’s  population.  He 
was  one  of  the  Minneapolis  men  who  did  much 
towards  securing- the  National  Republican  Conven- 
tion in  1892,  and  was  treasurer  of  the  organization. 

There  are  few  Minneapolis  citizens  who  do  not 
recognize  the  value  of  his  services  in  the  improve- 
ment and  extension  of  the  Minneapolis  park  system. 
He  was  elected  a member  of  the  Park  Board  in 
1905,  and  is  now  in  his  second  term,  which  will  ex- 
pire in  1917.  For  two  years  he  was  president  of  the 
board.  Only  recently  it  was  announced  through  the 
public  press  that  Mr.  Phelps  was  the  donor  of  what 


1490 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


is  known  as  “The  Gateway  Fountain"  to  become  the 
chief  adornment  at  the  entrance  of  the  public  park. 
This  fountain,  which  has  been  designed  and  is  now 
being  modeled;  is  to  illustrate  by  means  of  relief 
work  upon  the  drum  or  shaft  the  four  phases  of 
development  in  Minneapolis,  The  Aboriginal,  The 
Pioneer,  The  Industrial  and  The  Aesthetic.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  The  Minneapolis  Or- 
chestral Association  in  1903,  and  has  been  its  vice 
president  since  that  time.  In  November,  1914,  Mayor 
Nye  appointed  Mr.  Phelps  a member  of  the  Minne- 
apolis Art  Commission  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  John  S.  Bradstreet. 

Personally  Mr.  Phelps  is  one  of  the  most  genial 
and  democratic  citizens  of  Minneapolis.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Minikahda 
Club,  the  Lafayette  Club,  the  Automobile  Club  and 
Society  of  Colonial  Wars.  Pie  was  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  old  Commercial  Club  and  was  its 
president  in  1898  at  the  time  of  its  consolidation 
with  the  board  of  trade,  of  which  body  he  was  presi- 
dent in  1884  and  1885,  and  was  most  influential  in 
bringing  about  that  consolidation.  He  was  formerly 
an  active  member  of  the  Minnetonka  Yacht  Club 
and  its  commodore. 

The  Phelps  city  home  is  on  Park  Avenue  and 
Twenty-fourth  Street.  It  is  one  of  the  older  of  the 
handsome  residences  in  Minneapolis,  having  been 
built  in  1884,  and  is  one  of  the  best  examples  of  the 
type  of  architecture  then  prevailing  in  Minneapolis. 
Mr.  Phelps  also  has  an  attractive  summer  home  at 
Ferndale,  Lake  Minnetonka,  situated  on  ample 
grounds  with  a setting  improved  by  the  best  art 
of  the  landscape  gardener.  In  his  prosperity  Mr. 
Phelps  has  never  forgotten  his  obligations  to  the 
community  in  which  he  lives.  His  associates  assert 
that  the  best  ideals  of  service  have  always  been 
guiding  motives  with  him,  and  his  example  as  a citi- 
zen has  been  an  inspiration  to  younger  men  and  one 
of  the  best  individual  contributions  to  the  city  which 
has  been  the  center  of  his  activities  for  nearly  forty 
years. 

Otis  A.  Hallett.  A man  of  high  academic  and 
professional  attainments,  Mr.  Hallett  is  numbered 
among  the  representative  younger  members  of  the 
bar  of  the  Minnesota  metropolis,  where  he  main- 
tains his  office  at  801  New  York  Life  Building,  and 
his  residence  at  5142  Forty-second  Avenue,  South. 
On  a farm  near  Stratford,  in  Brown  County,  South 
Dakota,  Otis  A.  Hallett  was  born  on  the  7th  of 
September,  1884,  a son  of  George  W.  and  Mary 
(Nichols)  Hallett,  who  now  maintain  their  home  at 
Ware,  Montana,  in  which  state  the  father  is  a suc- 
cessful ranch  owner  and  the  operator  of  a threshing 
and  steam  plow  outfit.  George  W.  Hallett  was  the 
inventor  of  the  first  automatic  feeder  for  threshing 
machines  utilized  in  the  threshing  of  bundled  grain 
and  flax,  the  device  making  it  possible  to  handle 
bundled  grain  or  flax  without  clogging  the  machine 
and  the  invention  being  patented  under  the  title  of 
the  G.  W.  Hallett  Self-Feeder.  This  valuable  im- 
provement is  now  in  use  on  nearly  all  self-feeding 
threshing  machines  in  the  field.  Like  the  average 
inventor  Mr.  Hallett  has  never  realized  the  fortune 
that  should  have  been  his  from  the  placing  of  this 
invention  on  the  market,  his  experience  having  been 
that  of  many  another  man  of  inventive  talent,  in 
that  he  found  it  necessary  to  enlist  capitalistic  sup- 
port to  place  his  device  into  practical  use  and  was 
eventually  denied  the  rewards  of  his  talent,  in  that 


the  capitalists  took  advantage  of  him,  gained  con- 
trol of  his  invention  and  left  him  with  slight  returns 
from  the  same.  He  is  known  to  all  manufacturers 
of  threshing  machines  in  the  Union  and  is  conceded 
to  be  a man  of  splendid  mechanical  and  inventive 
ability.  He  has  handled  machinery  since  1879. 
George  W.  Hallett  is  a scion  of  a sterling  pioneer 
family  of  Minnesota  and  was  one  of  the  first  white 
children  born  in  Winona  County,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  1855.  His  wife  was  born  at  Strawberry 
Point,  Clayton  County,  Iowa.  The  parents  of 
George  W.  Hallett  were  numbered  among  the  first 
settlers  at  Winona,  Minnesota. 

Otis  A.  Plallett,  the  eldest  in  a family  of  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Minneapolis,  and  Dodge  Center,  Minnesota,  Aber- 
deen, South  Dakota,  and  Graceville,  Minnesota,  in 
which  last  named  place  he  was  graduated  in  the  high 
school  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1906,  his  am- 
bition and  earnest  application  having  been  shown  in 
his,  completion  of  the  four  years’  course  in  three 
years  and  his  having  had  the  distinction  of  being 
valedictorian  of  his  class.  After  his  graduation  Mr. 
Hallett  went  to  North  Dakota,  where  for  one  year 
he  gave  his  attention  principally  to  the  operation  of 
a steam  land-breaker.  He  finally  purchased  a res- 
taurant in  that  state  and  after,  placing  the  same  on 
a profitable  basis  he  rented  the  establishment.  From 
the  returns  he  received  in  rent  he  was  enabled  to 
return  to  Minneapolis  and  enter  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  and  while  he  was  a student  in  this  insti- 
tution his  restaurant  was  destroyed  by  fire,  entail- 
ing a loss  to  him  of  more  than  four  thousand  dol- 
lars, besides  depriving  him  of  the  rental  revenue 
upon  which  he  had  depended  to  aid  in  defraying  his 
university  and  living  expenses.  By  his  mastery  of 
expedients,  however,  he  contrived  to  continue  his 
studies  in  the  university  for  a total  of  two  years, 
though  circumstances  did  not  permit  him  to  make 
his  attendance  consecutive.  Within  this  period  he 
also  pursued  a course  in  the  Ford  Office  Commercial 
College,  in  Minneapolis,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
first  graduated,  and  later  he  served  as  manager  of 
the  institution,  from  December,  1912,  to  July,  1913. 
He  resigned  his  position  to  take  up  the  law,  and 
the  statements  already  entered  in  this  article  show 
that  nothing  could  daunt  his  courage  and  ambition 
and  that  he  held  as  insuperable  no  obstacle  placed  in 
his  path.  In  the  university  he  had  attended  the  law 
department  one  year  prior  to  the  burning  of  his 
restaurant  in  1908,  and  one  year  after  he  encoun- 
tered this  loss.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
November,  1912,  and  since  July  of  1913  he  has  been 
associated  in  practice  with  Daniel  F.  Carmichael, 
concerning  whom  individual  mention  is  made  on 
other  pages  of  this  work.  No  partnership  alliance 
of  formal  order  has  been  consummated,  however, 
and  each  of  the  two  conducts  his  law  business  under 
his  own  name  instead  of  a partnership  title. 

When  Mr.  Hallett  was  thirteen  years  of  age  he 
left  Minneapolis,  where  he  had  been  attending  the 
public  schools,  and  returned  to  the  old  homestead 
in  Brown  County,  South  Dakota,  and  thereafter  he 
continued  to  be  associated  with  his  father,  at  irreg- 
ular intervals  in  the  operation  of  the  ranch  and 
threshing  machines  and  in  other  mechanical  work, 
so  that  he  gained  a thorough  knowledge  of  machin- 
ery and  incidentally  to  place  true  valuations  upon 
honest  toil  and  endeavor.  In  1900  the  family  re- 
moved to  Grant  County,  Minnesota,  where  the  sub- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1491 


ject  of  this  sketch  was  associated  with  his  father 
m the  farming  of  an  entire  section  of  land,  much 
of  the  incidental  responsibility  devolving  upon  him. 
This  enterprise  was  continued  until  1902  and  early 
in  the  following  year  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished on  a farm  near  Graceville,  Bigstone  County, 
this  state,  where  one  year  was  given  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a half-section  of  land,  the  parents  then  re- 
moving to  the  Town  of  Graceville,  where  Otis  A. 
attended  and  was  graduated  in  the  high  school,  as 
previously  noted  in  this  context.  In  1910  Mr.  Hallett 
was  employed  as  a clerk  in  a store  on  the  East  Side 
of  Minneapolis  for  seven  months,  and  later  he 
served  as  fireman  and  assistant  engineer  for  the 
Wabash  Screen  Door  Company  for  seven  months. 

Mr.  Hallett  was,  with  his  associate  Mr.  Car- 
michael, a member  of  the  party  that  made  an  auto- 
mobile trip  from  Minneapolis  to  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton, details  of  this  pleasing  outing  beinp-  given  in 
the  sketch  of  the  career  of  Mr.  Carmichael.  Mr. 
Hallett  did  not  return  with  the  other  members  of  the 
party,  but  made  a most  interesting  hunting  trip  of 
more  than  six  weeks  in  Oregon  and  Idaho,  during 
which  he  journeyed  down  the  entire  course  of  the 
Little  Salmon  River,  in  the  wildest  and  most  pic- 
turesque of  mountain  country. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hallett  is  a stalwart  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party  and  he  has 
been  an  active  worker  in  its  local  ranks.  He  gave 
effective  service  in  the  campaign  for  the  securing 
of  new  charter  for  Minneapolis,  in  1913,  and  in  the 
municipal  campaign  of  1914  he  was  chairman  of 
the  Twelfth  Ward  Committee  that  worked  earnestly 
in  support  of  the  republican  candidate  for  governor. 
Mr.  Hallett  is  a man  of  fine  literary  tastes  and  de- 
votes much  time  to  reading  and  study,  with  special 
predilection  for  psychological  and  philosophical  sub- 
jects and  natural  science.  - 

In  the  City  of  Calgary,  Province  of  Alberta,  Can- 
ada, on  the  12th  of  July,  1910,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Hallett  to  Miss  Catheryn  W. 
Ruff,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Wright  County, 
Minnesota,  her  parents  having  been  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  that  county,  where  her  widowed  mother  still 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  which  is  on 
the  shores  of  Pulaski  Lake.  The  father,  Jacob 
Ruff,  an  influential  farmer  and  stock  buyer  of  that 
county,  died  in  1913,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hallett  have 
two  children,  Richard  A.  and  Paul  G.,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Minneapolis. 

Benjamin  Belcher  Sheffield.  The  close  con- 
nection of  Benjamin  B.  Sheffield  with  the  larger 
business  interests  and  public  institutions  in  Minne- 
sota is  indicated  by  his  official  relations  with  the 
following  organizations : President  of  the  Sheffield 
Elevator  Company;  vice  president  of  the  Com- 
mander Mill  Company,  the  Big1  Diamond  Mills 
Company  and  the  Commander  Elevator  Company. 
He  is  president  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Minnesota  School  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  and  the 
State  School  for  the  Blind  at  Faribault,  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  for  Shattuck  School 
and  a member  of  the  board  of  the  Seabury  Divin- 
ity School  at  Faribault.  It  has  been  well  said  that 
there  is.  scarcely  a public  interest  which  does  not 
enlist  his  attention  and  secure  his  aid,  and  there 
is  none  to  which  he  gives  attention  that  is  not  the 
better  for  it. 

Benjamin  Belcher  Sheffield  was  born  at  Ayles- 
ford,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada,  in  i860.  His  parents 


were  Milledge  B.  and  Rachel  (Tupper)  Sheffield, 
his  father  a native  of  Aylesford  and  his  mother  of 
Burwick.  In  1864  the  family  came  to  Faribault, 
Minnesota,  where  his  father  in  1880  became  en- 
gaged in  flour  milling.  The  son  graduated  from 
the  Shattuck  School  in  1880,  and  for  thirty-five 
years  has  been  identified  with  the  milling  industry, 
and  soon  became  manager  of  an  extensive  business 
already  established.  When  the  Sheffield  mill  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1896,  it  was  replaced  by  a mill 
of  2,500  barrels  capacity,  and  this  was  operated  by 
Mr.  Sheffield  until  1905,  when  he  sold.  In  the  mean- 
time his  interests  had  extended  to  general  grain  and 
milling  business.  He  was  a factor  in  the  Sheffield 
Elevator  Company  at  the  Minneapolis  Terminal 
from  its  beginning,  and  since  about  1899  his  busi- 
ness headquarters  have  been  in  Minneapolis.  He 
was  associated  in  1909  with  W.  D.  Gregory  and 
W.  D.  Gooding  in  the  organization  of  the  Big 
Diamond  Milling  Company,  the  Commander  Milling 
Company  and  the  Commander  Elevator  Company. 
Besides  the  Sheffield  Elevator  Company,  of  which 
he  is  president,  Mr.  Sheffield  operates  a number  of 
grain  elevators  in  Southern  Minnesota  along  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St.  Paul,  the  Chicago  Great 
Western  and  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis  railroads. 
In  Minneapolis  he  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  is  a former  president 
of  the  Security  National  Banks  at  Faribault  and 
Owatonna.  He  was  mayor  of  Faribault  for  two 
terms  and  on  the  occasion  of  the  second  election 
his  name  appeared  on  both  tickets  without 
opposition. 

Mr.  Sheffield  has  had  membership  for  a number 
of  years  on  the  board  of  directors  which  controlled 
the  two  separate  institutions  at  Faribault,  the 
School  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  and  the  School  for 
the  Blind,  and  for  the  past  seven  years  has  been 
president.  These  are  institutions  in  which  he  has 
been  particulary  interested,  and  has  given  much  of 
his  time  and  energy  to  the  welfare  of  those  under 
the  care  of  the  state  at  these  schools.  He  has  been 
a life  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Bishop  Seabury  Divinity  School  since  1897,  and 
has  also  for  a number  of  years  been  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Shattuck  School  from  which  he  him- 
self is  a graduate.  In  Masonry  Mr.  Sheffield  has 
taken  the  thirty-second  degree  of  Scottish  Rite,  and 
is  also  affiliated  with  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Minneapolis.  Politically  he  is  now  iden- 
tified with  the  republican  partv  and  in  1908  was  the 
presidential  elector  on  the  Minnesota  ticket. 

Mr.  Sheffield’s  first  wife  was  Miss  Carrie  A 
Crossett  of  Faribault.  Of  their  three  children  one 
is  now  deceased,  and  the  daughter  Blanche  was 
graduated  from  Smith  College  with  the  class  of 
1913,  and  the  daughter  Amy  is  being  educated  at 
Stanley  Hall.  Mr.  Sheffield’s  present  wife  was 
Miss  Flora  M.  Matteson  of  Minneapolis. 

Edward  F.  Waite.  One  of  the  most  notable  fig- 
ures in  municipal  affairs  in  Minneapolis  during  the 
last  thirty  years  has  been  Judge  Edward  F.  Waite. 
A lawyer  by  profession,  much  of  his  time  of  resi- 
dence has  been  taken  up  with  important  administra- 
tive duties.  He  deserves  to  be  especially  well 
remembered  for  his  services  as  superintendent  of 
the  police  department  at  the  reorganization  of  the 
municipal  government  and  the  inauguration  of  the 
reform  era  following  the  notorious  Ames  regime. 
For  the  past  ten  yeaFS  he  has  served  on  the  munici- 


1492 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


pal  and  district  benches  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis. 
Judge  Waite  is  a man  of  action  as  well  as  ideals,  is 
vigorous  but  kindly,  and  through  all  his  career  there 
has  been  no  question  of  his  earnest  and  disinterested 
purpose  to  give  a genuine  service  in  every  relation 
of  life. 

Edward  Foote  Waite  was  born  at  Norwich,  Che- 
nango County,  New  York,  January  15,  i860,  a son  of 
John  and  Betsey  M.  (Foote)  Waite.  The  family 
on  both  sides  was  founded  in  New  England  during 
the  early  colonial  days.  John  Waite  was  an  able 
member  of  the  bar  in  Central  New  York,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  lived  in  that  state  all  their  lives. 

Judge  Waite  came  to  his  majority  in  his  native 
county,  and  in  the  meantime  had  gained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  in  1880  was  gradu- 
ated A.  B.  from  Colgate  University  at  Hamilton, 
New  York.  In  preparation  for  the  profession  in 
which  his  father  had  achieved  no  little  distinction, 
he  entered  the  law  department  of  Columbian  (now 
George  Washington)  University  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  While  in  college  he  showed  the  energy  and 
diligence  at  his  studies  which  has  been  a marked 
characteristic  of  his  later  career,  and  was  graduated 
LL.  B.  in  1883,  and  in  the  following  year  received 
from  the  same  institution  the  degree  Master  of  Laws. 
While  in  law  school  Judge  Waite  paid  his  expenses 
by  working  as  a clerk  in  the  United  States  Pension 
Bureau.  After  completing  his  law  course  he  con- 
tinued with  the  same  department  as  special  examiner, 
and  was  assigned  to  duty  at  various  points.  In 
this  capacity  he  came  to  Minneapolis  in  1888,  and 
represented  the  pension  bureau  in  that  city  until 
1897.  In  1892-95  he  had  charge  of  the  important 
“Van  Lenven  investigation”  in  Northern  Iowa  and 
Southern  Minnesota. 

Nearly  fifteen  years  after  graduating  from  law 
school,  Judge  Waite  took  up  the  active  work  of  his 
profession  in  Minneapolis  in  1897,  having  resigned 
his  work  with  the  Federal  Government.  For  a time 
he  was  associated  with  the  late  Judge  Albert  H. 
Young,  who  was  for  many  years  distinguished  by 
his  service  on  the  district  bench  of  Hennepin  County. 
In  1901  Judge  Waite  was  appointed  assistant  city  at- 
torney, and  in  August  of  the  following  year  subor- 
dinated his  ambition  for  professional  work  and  his 
personal  inclinations  in  order  to  accept  a line  of  duty 
where  he  had  everything  to  lose  and  little  to  gain.  It 
was  a position  which  in  the  critical  times  of  the  mu- 
nicipal government  demanded  judgment,  loyalty  and 
courage,  and  was  a position  in  which  no  man,  how- 
ever high  minded,  faithful  and  diligent,  could  expect 
to  please  all  classes.  At  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
Mayor  David  P.  Jones,  who  had  been  elected  head 
of  the  municipal  ticket  as  the  successor  of  Mayor 
A.  A.  Ames,  Judge  Waite  became  superintendent  of 
the  police  department.  The  police  department  was 
the  chief  instrument  upon  which  the  new  mayor  had 
to  depend  in  effecting  a complete  reorganization 
and  reform  of  municipal  affairs.  A great  deal  has 
been  written  concerning  this  particular  period  of 
Minneapolis  local  history,  and  it  is  unnecessary  to 
review  the  conditions  which  had  previously  existed 
and  as  a result  of  which  Minneapolis  had  an  unen- 
viable notoriety  among  American  municipalities. 
Judge  Waite  set  about  with  the  utmost  vigor  and 
earnestness  to  reorganize  the  department  and  per- 
formed his  duties  without  fear  or  favor.  He  re- 
leased the  incompetent,  the  insubordinate  and  the 
grafters,  and  made  the  department  responsible  to 
the  city  at  large  rather  than  to  the  special  and 


individual  interests  under  whose  control  it  had  for- 
merly been.  He  accomplished  his  work  with  great 
thoroughness  and  efficiency  and  finally  resigned 
the  office  January  1,  1903. 

Judge  Waite  resumed  private  practice,  but  only 
for  a brief  interval.  In  December,  1904,  Governor 
Van  Sant  appointed  him  senior  judge  of  the  Munici- 
pal Court  in  Minneapolis,  and  after  serving  the  un- 
expired term  he  was  regularly  elected  in  November, 
1906,  for  six  years.  In  1911  Judge  Waite  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Eberhart  to  a newly  created 
district  judgeship,  and  the  following  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  same  office.  For  more  than  ten  years 
he  has  made  his  judicial  administration  an  effective 
force  for  justice  and  law  and  order  in  the  com- 
munity. One  of  the  distinctions  associated  with  his 
work  in  the  Municipal  Court  was  the  institution  of 
a system  of  probation  for  those  under  sentence  for 
minor  offenses,  and  the  effect  of  this  dispensation 
has  been  justified  in  many  ways,  and  many  per- 
manent reformations  of  character  have  been  brought 
about  by  the  humane  treatment  of  offenders  against 
the  laws.  Under  assignment  of  his  colleagues  of 
the  District  Court  he  has  had  continuous  charge  of 
the  Juvenile  Court  branch,  and  to  the  important 
duties  of  that  court  he  has  given  half  his  time  and 
special  study. 

In  national  politics  Judge  Waite  is  a republican, 
but  has  never  been  a strong  party  man  and  in  local 
affairs  particularly  has  cast  his  influence  on  the 
side  of  competence  and  honest  government,  without 
respect  to  party  interests.  Judge  Waite  was  mar- 
ried May  5,  1892,  to  Miss  Alice  M.  Eaton  of  Brook- 
lyn, New  York.  Both  have  long  been  actively  in- 
terested in  various  forms  of  social  work,  especially 
in  behalf  of  children.  Perhaps  this  has  been  due 
in  part  to  the  fact  that  neither  of  their  two  sons 
survived  early  infancy.  They  are  members  of 
Plymouth  Congregational  Church. 

John  A.  Larimore,  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 
is  a lawyer  of  twenty-five  years’- practice,  interested 
in  his  profession  as  such,  an  active  member  of  the 
local,  state  and  American  bar  associations.  He 
was  born  in  Bryan,  Williams  County,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 27,  1869;  has  lived  in  Minneapolis  for  thirty 
years  and  is  married  and  has  three  sons.  The 
Larimores  were  among  the  original  Scotcb-Irish 
immigrants  into  the  southern  states  in  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Mr.  Larimore,  however,  is  an 
American  and  can  trace  his  descent  from  many 
countries. 

Mr.  Larimore  has  always  been  interested  in  pub- 
lic affairs  and  has  given  much  time  thereto,  but 
always  in  support  of  principles  and  the  causes  of 
other  men,  and  never  himself  held  or  sought  pub- 
lic office  until  the  present  year  (1915)  when  he  was 
a member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
Minnesota  Legislature  and  was  chairman  of  the 
judiciary  committee  of  that  body. 

Mr.  Larimore  is  a member  of  many  clubs  and 
civic  associations  of  Minneapolis  and  a loyal  citizen 
of  his  city. 

Hon.  Adrian  Wilson  Annes.  The  name  of 
Adrian  Wilson  Annes,  judge  of  nrobate  of  Windom, 
is  a familiar  one  in  legal  circles  and  public  life  in 
Cottonwood  County,  for  here  he  has  passed  many 
years  in  positions  of  responsibility  and  has  attained 
distinction  both  as  jurist  and  attorney.  Judge 
Annes  was  born  at  Amadore,  Sanilac  County,  Mich- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1493 


igan,  August  8,  1854,  and  is  a son  of  George  N.  and 
Melissa  (Willets)  Annes. 

The  Annes  family  originated  in  the  North  of 
Ireland,  and  during  Colonial  days  moved  from  Eng- 
land to  Massachusetts.  On  the  Willets  side,  Judge 
Annes  is  descended  from  Henry  Champion,  a sol- 
dier of  the  Revolution,  who  was  with  Washington 
at  Valley  Forge  and  participated  in  the  campaign 
against  Burgoyne.  George  N.  Annes  was  born  in 
County  Ontario,  Canada,  and  as  a youth  left  his 
home  at  Oshawa  with  his  parents  and  came  to  the 
United  States,  the  family  locating  at  Port  Huron, 
Michigan.  In  1875  Mr.  Annes  moved  to  Waseca, 
Minnesota,  where  he  was  minister  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  having  previously  to  this  and  afterwards 
had  many  charges  at  different  places  in  Michigan 
and  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Annes  is  now  residing  with 
her  son,  Judge  Annes,  while  Reverend  Annes  is  a 
resident  of  Tacoma,  Washington. 

Judge  Annes  attended  the  public  schools  of  St. 
Clair  County,  Michigan,  until  reaching  the  age  of 
ten  years,  when  the  family  moved  to  Montcalm 
County,  in  the  same  state,  and  there  his  studies 
were  prosecuted  for  three  years.  He  next  went  to 
school  at  Middleville,  Barry  County,  to  which  place 
his  father  had  been  transferred.  In  1877  he  was 
graduated  from  Kalamazoo  College,  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy,  and  in  the  same  year 
came  to  Morristown,  Minnesota,  and  during  the 
term  of  1877-78  taught  school.  From  1878  to  1880 
he  was  principal  of  public  schools  at  Madelia, 
Minnesota,  and  from  1880  until  1883  he  acted  in  a 
like  capacity  at  Windom,  in  the  meantime  assidu- 
ously prosecuting  his  legal  studies,  having  decided 
upon  a career  in  the  law.  In  1883  he  entered  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  being  gradu- 
ated from  the  law  department  of  that  institution  in 
1885,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  the  same  year.  He  did  not 
begin  practice,  however,  until  he  had  spent  another 
year  as  principal  of  the  Windom  schools,  but  since 
1886  has  been  steadily  engaged  in  a general  civil 
and  criminal  _ practice  at  Windom,  his  professional 
business  having  assumed  large  proportions.  Mr. 
Annes  has  been  almost  constantly  the  incumbent  of 
important  positions.  From  1894  until  1900  he  was 
county  attorney  for  Cottonwood  County,  served  as 
village  attorney  for  _ a long  period,  was  president 
of  the  village  council  of  Windom  for  two  years; 
and  September  1,  1911,  was  elected  judge  of  pro- 
bate, receiving  the  re-election  to  that  office  No- 
vember 3,  1914.  Politically  he  is  a republican.  He 
served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  education  for 
two  years,  and  has  also  acted  as  a member  of  the 
teachers  examining  board.  For  some  years  Judge 
Annes  was  identified  with  the  Thirteenth  Judicial 
Bar  Association,  now  defunct.  His  religious  con- 
nection is  with  the  Baptist  Church.  Tudge  Annes  is 
past  master  of  Prudence  No.  97,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  has 
served  as  principal  sojourner  of  Windom  Chanter 
No.  48,  R.  A.  M.,  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  108,  Win- 
dom, Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which 
he  is  past  noble  grand  and  past  grand  master  of  the 
state,  is  a member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  is  an  ex-member  of  the  Ancient  Or- 
der of  United  Workmen. 

Judge  Annes  was  married  in  February.  1888.  at 
Galesburg,  Michigan,  to  Miss  Ella  F.  Chadwick, 
daughter  of  the  late  Edward  Chadwick,  who  was 
a farmer  of  Galesburg,  and  she  died  in  March,  1889 
having  been  the  mother  of  one  child : Earl  C who 


attends  Alberta  University,  at  Strathcona,  Canada. 
Mr.  Annes  was  again  married  in  1893,  at  Amadore, 
Michigan,  to  Miss  Nina  Hinkson,  daughter  of  the 
late  Charles  Hinkson,  who  was  for  some  years 
engaged  in  farming  in  the  vicinity  of  Amadore. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  Judge  and  Mrs. 
Annes : Lynn  H.,  who  is  attending  the  high  school 
at  Windom ; and  George  Everett,  who  is  a pupil 
in  the  public  schools. 

Axel  Hjalmar  Nilsson.  For  many  years  Axel 
Hjalmar  Nilsson  has  been  well  known  in  Minne- 
apolis and  the  Northwest  as  an  editor  and  news- 
paper man,  through  his  activities  in  musical  circles 
and  as  an  all  around  popular  citizen  and  man  of 
versatile  talents. 

Axel  Hjalmar  Nilsson  was  born  at  Norg,  Sweden, 
September  24,  i860.  He  was  educated  in  a col- 
legiate institute  in  his  native  city  and  later  in  a 
technical  school  at  Orebro,  graduating  after  a three 
years’  course  in  1878.  On  leaving  college  he  worked 
as  a mechanical  draftsman  in  Stockholm,  and  in 
1881  came  to  America.  Here  for  several  years  he 
was  employed  in  eastern  cities  as  a mechanical 
draftsman  and  also  as  a coppersmith,  a trade  he 
had  learned  in  the  old  country.  From  that  business 
he  gradually  drifted  into  newspaper  work,  and  has 
been  connected  with  a number  of  Swedish  publica- 
tions in  the  East  and  West  as  editor  and  advertis- 
ing manager.  He  lived  at  Worcester,  Massachu- 
setts, several  years,  and  has  been  identified  with 
Minneapolis  since  about  1902.  Of  his  standing  as  a 
citizen  and  his  varied  talents  an  article  published 
several  years  ago  said : “In  the  Swedish-American 
singing  world  Mr.  Nilsson  has  won  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a singer,  but  still  more  as  a leader. 
He  is  the  possessor  of  a fine  voice  and  has  spent 
both  time  and  effort  in  promoting  Swedish  song  in 
America.  He  has  been  honored  by  the  Swedish 
Singers  Union  with  many  prominent  positions,  and 
his  large  experience  and  power  of  organization  have 
been  of  great  value  to  Swedish  song  in  America. 
He  was  president  of  the  American  Union  of  Swed- 
ish Singers,  1910-14,  and  director-in-chief  of  that 
union  at  the  Grand  Swedish  Singing  Festival  held 
in  Minneapolis  June  8-1 1,  1914.  He  also  possesses 
dramatic  talent,  is  of  a happy  and  sunny  disposition, 
and  makes  hosts  of  friends.  He  is  a good  after- 
dinner  speaker  and  no  mean  poet.” 

A daughter  of  Mr.  Nilsson,  who  has  been  known 
as  a fine  pianist,  is  the  wife  of  Carl  R.  Chindblom, 
a former  county  commissioner  of  Chicago.  His  son, 
Verner,  is  a dentist  in  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Nilsson 
has  always  been  identified  with  the  democratic  party, 
and  in  February,  1909,  the  late  Governor  Johnson 
honored  him  with  appointment  as  deputy  oil  in- 
spector for  Hennepin  County.  After  the  death 
of  Governor  Tohnson  he  was  retained  in  office  by 
Governor  Eberhart  and  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
W.  S.  Hammond  in  April,  1915. 

^Arthur  B.  Borlaug.  The  Farmers  State  Bank  of 
Kenyon  is  one  of  the  representative  financial  insti- 
tutions in  Southeastern  Minnesota.  Every  bank 
during  its  earlier  years  acquires  estimation  and  in- 
fluence in  the  community  largely  through  the  char- 
acter and  reputation  of  men  whose  names  are  most 
intimately  associated  with  the  undertaking.  With 
any  banking  house  or  similar  concern,  whose  pros- 
perity rests  upon  commercial  credit,  the  personal 
factor  is  always  the  indispensable  quality.  The 


1494 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


success  and  prosperity  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank 
of  Kenyon  has  been  to  a large  degree  a reflection 
of  the  personal  integrity  and  high  business  standing 
of  its  principal  owner  and  president,  Botolf  J.  Bor- 
laug,  whose  son  Arthur  B.  Borlaug  has  for  seven- 
teen years  been  actively  identified  with  the  official 
management  of  the  bank  and  is  its  cashier.  The 
senior  Borlaug  has  been  identified  with  Goodhue 
County  more  than  forty-five  years,  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  a youth,  worked  as  a farm  laborer,  also  as 
clerk,  and  has  gained  a fortune  through  hard  labor, 
exceptional  business  capacity,  and  an  integrity 
which  has  always  been  unimpeachable. 

Botolf  J.  Borlaug  was  born  in  Norway,  July  18, 
1842,  came  to  America  a boy  of  twelve  years  in 
1854,  and  while  working  on  a Wisconsin  farm  for 
six  years  also  attended  a commercial  college  in 
Madison.  In  1863  he  came  to  Red  Wing,  Minnesota, 
spent  two  years  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  W.  Eisen- 
brandt,  and  after  another  short  stay  in  Wisconsin 
became  clerk  for  Olsen  & Bush  of  Red  Wing,  and 
remained  two  years  with  that  firm.  In  1867  Mr. 
Borlaug  bought  the  store  of  Robert  White  at  Nor- 
way, and  in  1870  put  up  a small  building  for  his 
store,  and  in  1873  extended  the  building  and  hence- 
forth was  one  of  the  leading  merchants  in  the 
county.  In  1891,  moving  to  Kenyon,  he  established 
a private  bank  known  as  the  Bank  of  Kenyon.  In 
1905  this  was  reorganized  as  the  Farmers  State 
Bank,  and  Botolf  J.  Borlaug  has  since  been  its 
president.  The  bank  has  a capital  of  $25,000,  with 
surplus  and  undivided  profits  of  $18,000,  and  as  the 
best  index  of  its  growth  and  standing,  its  deposits 
now  amount  to  over  $400,000.  Mr.  Borlaug  is  also 
vice  president  of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  State 
.Bank  of  Driscoll,  North  Dakota;  a director  of  the 
Farmers  Security  Company  of  Minneapolis;  and 
since  1897  has  served  as  treasurer  of  Kenyon,  having- 
shown  his  willingness  on  every  occasion  to  serve 
his  community.  A republican,  his  name  has  not  been 
conspicuous  in  politics,  and  is  best  known  as  a 
banker  and  business  man.  Since  1897  he  has  been 
a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  United 
Lutheran  Church.  On  March  6,  1868,  Bortolf  J. 
Borlaug  married  Sonave  Lowe,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  Norway.  Their  five  children  are:  Joseph 
E. ; Carl  H. ; Randi  M. ; Julius;  and  Arthur  B. 

Arthur  B.  Borlaug  was  born  in  Goodhue  County, 
March  1,  1878,  was  liberally  educated  in  preparation 
for  a business  career,  attending  Stoughton  Academy 
in  Wisconsin,  and  St.  Olaf  College  at  Northfield, 
Minnesota.  Since  the  conclusion  of  his  college  days 
he  has  been  actively  identified  with  the  affairs  of 
his  father’s  bank,  and  was  assistant  cashier  of  the 
private  bank  from  1897  to  1905,  and  then  became 
cashier.  While  business  takes  up  his  time,  Mr. 
Borlaug  believes  in  the  benefits  of  fraternal  organi- 
zations, and  has  affiliations  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
past  grand,  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  with  Faribault  Lodge  No.  1166  B.  P.  O.  E. 
Mr,  Borlaug  was  married  in  1900  to  Olena  Wrol- 
stad,  daughter  of  Ennert  Wrolstad  of  Goodhue 
County.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Cecilia,  in  school;  Ennert,  also  a schoolboy;  and 
Ardelle,  now  five  years  of  age.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Judge  L.  W..  Collins.  From  1854  until  his  death 
at  his  home  in  Minneapolis  September  27,  1912, 
Loren  W.  Collins  was  a resident  of  Minnesota.  In 


the  course  of  a career  of  half  a century  he  had 
attained  many  of  the  finest  distinctions  which  a 
state  can  bestow.  Lie  was  a gallant  soldier  in  the 
Minnesota  Indian  wars  and  in  the  struggles  in  the 
South  against  the  Southern  Confederacy,  began 
practicing  law  at  St.  Cloud  soon  after  the  war, 
held  many  offices,  including  those  of  mayor,  county 
attorney  and  representative,  sat  as  judge  in  the 
District  Court,  and  for  seventeen  years  his  learning 
and  broad  experience  were  impressed  on  the  de- 
cisions of  the  Minnesota  Supreme  Court.  His  was 
a long  life  of  seventy-four  years,  remarkable  for  its 
varied  activities  and  services,  and  particularly  rich 
in  those  fruits  which  emanate  from  a steadfast  and 
high-minded  character. 

Loren  Warren  Collins  was  of  old  New  England 
stock,  and  his  membership  in  Colonial  and  Revo- 
lutionary societies  proved  the  early  establishment 
of  the  family  line  in  America  and  its  patriotic 
devotion  to  the  country.  He  was  born  at  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  August  7,  1838.  He  was  descended 
from  Benjamin  Collins,  who  settled  at  Salisbury, 
Massachusetts,  in  1665.  Judge  Collins’  mother, 
Abigail  C.  Libby,  a native  of  New  Hampshire,  was 
descended  from  John  Libby,  who  settled  near  Bos- 
ton about  1638.  The  father,  Charles  P.  Collins, 
who  was  a native  of  Vermont,  was  for  many  years 
an  overseer  in  cotton  factories  in  Lowell  and 
Chicopee,  Massachusetts.  He  moved  from  Lowell 
to  Chicopee  in  1840,  and  eleven  years  later  trans- 
ferred his  residence  to  Palmer,  Massachusetts,  which 
was  the  family  home  for  two  years,  while  Judge 
Collins  was  a boy.  Then  in  1854  Charles  P.  Collins 
brought  his  family  out  to  the  extreme  northwestern 
frontier  and  located  on  unsurveyed  government 
land  at  Eden  Prairie  in  Hennepin  County  in  Min- 
nesota Territory.  There  the  father  became  one  of 
the  pioneer  tillers  of  the  soil. 

Judge  Collins  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  at  Chicopee  and  Palmer,  Massachu- 
setts, and  as  he  was  only  sixteen  when  the  family- 
moved  to  Minnesota,  where  colleges  of  higher  edu- 
cation did  not  then  exist,  and  as  he  could  not  com- 
mand the  resources  needed  for  higher  training  in 
other  states,  Judge  Collins  did  not  receive  a college 
education.  That  circumstance,  however,  did  not 
prevent  his  becoming  a scholarly  lawyer,  and  either 
in  intellect  or  broad  knowledge  of  the  law  he  had 
few  peers  among  his  associates.  While  in  school 
he  had  directed  his  efforts  toward  the  end  of  qual- 
ifying himself  for  teaching,  and  the  first  money- 
earned  was  as  teacher  in  a country  school  near 
Cannon  Falls  during  the  winter  of  1859-60.  For 
four  months  of  teaching  he  was  paid  $60.  In  1859 
he  had  begun  the  study  of  law  at  Hastings  with 
the  firm  of  Smith,  Smith  & Crosby,  and  kept  up 
his  law  studies  and  teaching  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  war. 

Judge  Collins’  military  service  began  with  his 
enlistment  in  1862  as  a private  in  Company  F of 
the  Seventh  Minnesota  Volunteers.  During  1862- 
63  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest  were  in  a state  of 
rebellion,  and  it  required  all  the  resources  of  men 
of  Minnesota  and  of  other  states  to  quell  the  up- 
rising. Shortly  before  the  first  Sibley  expedition 
started  against  the  Sioux  in  1862,  young  Collins 
was  elected  second  lieutenant  of  his  company.  He 
accompanied  the  Seventh  Regiment  through  the 
Indian  campaign  which  terminated  with  the  Battle 
of  Wood  Lake,  where  the  Indians  were  routed. 
As  a result  of  the  battle,  troops  recovered  some  five 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1495 


hundred  white  women  and  children  prisoners  and 
captured  several  hundred  Indians.  Tnirty-eight  In- 
dians who  had  been  engaged  in  massacre  were 
hanged  at  Mankato  after  military  trials,  and  Judge 
Collins’  company  was  one  of  those  on  duty  at  tne 
execution,  borne  years  later,  by  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  April  1 6,  1889,  a board  of  commissioners 
were  appointed  to  supervise  the  preparation  and 
publication  of  the  narrative  of  Minnesota  in  the 
Civil  and  Indian  wars.  Judge  Collins,  who  had 
been  lieutenant  of  Company  F of  the  Seventh 
Minnesota,  contributed  a chapter  sketching  the  ac- 
tivities of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  collaborating  in 
that  work  with  Sergt.  James  T.  Ramer  of  Winona 
and  others.  As  part  of  the  experiences  of  his  own 
career  it  will  be  appropriate  to  quote  the  following 
sentences  from  Judge  Collins’  chapter:  “The  com- 
pany was  enlisted  at  Hastings  by  John  Kennedy, 
T.  R.  Huddleston  and  myself  assisting.  Kennedy 
had  a commission  to  recruit  for  the  Sixth  Regi- 
ment, but  on  reaching  Fort  Snelling  with  his  men 
was  crowded  out  of  that  organization  and  on  the 
22d  of  August  very  fortunately,  I think,  the  com- 
pany was  assigned  to  the  Seventh.  Our  men  were 
nearly  all  from  Dakota  county,  a few  from  across 
the  river  in  Washington.  Captain  Kennedy  spent 
about,  five  hundred  dollars  in  raising  the  company 
and  getting  it  to  Fort  Snelling.  He  never  asked  or 
received  pay  for  this,  always  refusing  to  make  any 
claim  for  it,  although  often  urged  to  do  so.”  Judge 
Collins  also  wrote  and  published  a history  of  the 
Sibley  campaigns. 

In  the  fall  of  1863,  after  the  Indian  campaign  was 
ended,  the  Seventh  having  participated  in  the  second 
Sibley  campaign  to  North  Dakota,  the  Seventh  Reg- 
iment was  ordered  South.  At  St.  Louis  Judge  Col- 
lins was  detached  from  his  regiment  and  detailed  to 
the  Provost  Guard,  and  for  three  months  had  charge 
of  the  military  police  during  a strenuous  period  when 
St.  Louis  was  under  military  law.  After  this  he 
joined  his  regiment  in  the  South,  and  took  part  in 
a number  of  campaigns  and  battles  in  the  Lower 
Mississippi  Valley,  including  Tupelo,  Spanish  Fort 
and  Nashville.  He  was  on  the  staff  of  Col.  S.  G. 
Hill,  while  commanding  the  Third  Brigade,  First 
Division,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  and  was  present 
with  Colonel  Hill  when  the  latter  was  killed  at  the 
Battle  of  Nashville.  On  recommendation  by  Col. 
W.  R.  Marshall  of  the  Seventh  Minnesota,  Lieuten- 
ant Collins  was  recommended  for  promotion  for 
gallantry  and  efficiency  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  brevet  rank  of  captain. 

After  a service  of  six  months  as  a treasury  de- 
partment agent  in  Alabama,  Judge  Collins  returned 
North  at  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  began  practice  at  St.  Cloud  in  May, 
1866.  Two  years  later  a partnership  was  formed 
with  Charles  D.  Kerr,  an  association  that  continued 
until  Colonel  Kerr  moved  to  St.  Paul  in  1872.  In 
1879  and  until  1881  Theodore  Bruener  was  his  law 
partner. 

His  record  as  a soldier,  his  ability  as  a lawyer, 
and  his  resolute  and  forceful  qualities  of  character 
made  him  naturally  a leader  in  civic  affairs.  From 
the  close  of  the  war  almost  until  the  close  of  his 
life  he  was  again  and  again  honored  with  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  office  and  other  positions  of  trust. 
For  eight  years  he  was  county  attorney  for  Stearns 
County,  and  the  distinctive  feature  of  this  service 
was  that  he  was  the  only  republican  ever  elected 
to  a county  office  in  that  county.  In  the  municipal 
Vol.  in— 15 


affairs  of  St.  Cloud  he  was  honored  with  the  office 
of  mayor  for  four  years,  from  1876  to  1880,  and 
was  a member  of  the  State  Legislature  from  1881 
to  1883.  While  in  the  Legislature  he  was  chairman 
in  1881  of  the  Normal  School  Committee  and  a 
member  of  the  Judiciary  Committee.  At  the  extra 
session  of  1881  he  was  one  of  the  board  of  man- 
agers on  the  part  of  the  House  in  the  impeachment 
of  Judge  E.  St.  Julius  Cox.  In  1883  he  was  chair- 
man ot  the  Legislative  Finance  Committee,  chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  Temperance  Legislation 
and  a member  of  the  Judiciary  Committee. 

His  services  in  the  Legislature  were  terminated 
in  April,  1883,  when  Gov.  Lucius  .tiubbard  ap- 
pointed him  judge  of  the  Seventh  District  to  suc- 
ceed Judge  James  McKelvey.  Before  this  term 
expired,  in  November,  1884,  he  was  regularly  elected 
to  the  district  bench,  and  continued  his  judicial 
office  until  appointed  by  Gov.  A.  R.  McGill  as  asso- 
ciate justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  to  succeed  Jus- 
tice John  M.  Berry.  This  appointment  was  dated 
November  16,  1887.  Again,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
District  Court,  he  was  elected  for  the  regular  term 
as  a justice  of  the  supreme  bench  in  1888,  and 
was  twice  reelected,  and  his  service  continued  until 
April  1,  1904,  when  he  resigned.  His  resignation 
was  due  to  his  active  candidacy  for  the  nomination 
for  governor  on  the  republican  ticket.  At  the  re- 
publican convention  in  1904  Judge  Collins  and  R.  C. 
Dunn  were  rivals  for  the  gubernatorial  nomination. 
It  was  one  of  the  most  spirited  contests  in  the 
republican  ranks  in  recent  years,  and  as  the  follow- 
ing of  both  candidates  was  unyielding,  the  result 
of  the  battle  was  a temporary  split  in  the  republican 
organization  of  the  state,  and  the  beneficiary  of  that 
rupture  was  John  A.  Johnson,  the  democratic  can- 
didate who  was  elected  governor.  In  the  convention 
Mr.  Dunn  was  nominated,  and  Judge  Collins  then 
retired  to  professional  life  in  Minneapolis.  When 
Judge  Collins  was  first  elected  associate  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  in  1888,  his  democratic  oppo- 
nent was  George  W.  Batchelder,  over  whom  his 
majority  was  46,432,  the  largest  majority  ever  given 
a state  candidate  up  to  that  time.  However,  in 
1894,  Judge  Collins  surpassed  his  previous  record, 
when  his  majority  over  John  W.  Willis,  who  was 
the  nominee  of  both  the  populists  and  democrats, 
was  49,684.  During  his  career  as  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  Judge  Collins  wrote  more  than  fif- 
teen hundred  of  the  opinions  now  found  in  the 
Supreme  Court  reports,  and  his  work  is  a permanent 
contribution  to  the  jurisprudence  of  the  state. 

On  the  reorganization  of  the  Northwestern 
National  Life  Insurance  Company  in  1905,  Judge 
Collins  was  elected  its  president,  but  resigned  one 
year  later.  During  his  practice  at  Minneapolis 
from  the  close  of  his  judicial  career  until  his  death 
he  was  alone  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  but  in 
1910  became  associated  with  L.  xC  Eaton,  and  that 
relationship  was  only  dissolved  by  the  death  of  the 
senior  member. 

While  Judge  Collins  was  always  affiliated  with  the 
republican  party,  his  long  judicial  record  placed  him 
on  a plane  above  ordinary  partisanship  and  he  en- 
joyed the  appreciation  and  esteem  of  all  classes. 
An  interesting  illustration  of  this  was  when  he  was 
offered  by  the  democratic  governor.  John  Lind, 
the  office  of  United  States  senator  on  December  28, 
1900,  after  the  death  of  Sen.  C.  K.  Davis.  Both  for 
personal  and  political  reasons  Judge  Collins  felt 
obliged  to  decline  this  honor. 


1496 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Outside  of  his  profession  and  service  on  the 
bench,  Judge  Collins  long  maintained  active  rela- 
tions with  various  organizations,  and  was  par- 
ticularly interested  in  charitable  work,  and  at  one 
time  served  as  president  of  the  Minnesota  branch  of 
the  International  Sunshine  Society.  He  was  also 
a former  president  of  the  State  Historical  Society. 
But  more  than  to  any  other  organization  Judge 
Collins  was  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his  old  com- 
rades in  arms,  and  to  the  work  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  both  in  his  own  state  and  in  the 
nation.  He  served  as  state  commander  for  the 
military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  and  from  June, 
1908,  to  June,  1909,  commander  of  the  state  de- 
partment, G.  A.  R.  But  it  was  especially  in  the 
national  Grand  Armv  organization  that  his  serv- 
ices were  almost  constantly  sought,  and  for  many 
years  he  was  one  of  the  outstanding  figures  among 
the  old  soldiers  of  the  Union.  When  not  in  one 
position,  he  was  appointed  to  another,  served  as 
judge  advocate  general  of  the  national  organization 
in  1907-08,  under  Commander-in-Chief  C.  G.  Bur- 
ton and  for  many  years  was  on  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  National  Council  of  Administra- 
tion. Among  the  many  tributes  that  were  paid  to 
him  at  the  time  of  his  death,  of  especial  interest 
were  those  coming  from  Corp.  James  Tanner  of 
New  York,  who  had  been  commander-in-chief  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in  1905-06,  and 
former  United  States  commissioner  of  pensions. 
Mr.  Tanner  happened  to  be  in  Minneapolis  when 
Judge  Collins  died.  Not  only  in  his  home  city  and 
state,  but  from  men  of  distinctive  position  all  over 
the  country  there  came  numerous  messages  of  ap- 
preciation and  esteem  for  this  venerable  judge  and 
lawyer.  Judge  Collins  held  membership  in  the 
Society  of  the  Colonial  Wars  and  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution,  was  affiliated  with  the  Ma- 
sonic and  Elks  fraternities,  and  belonged  to  the 
Minneapolis  Commercial  Club,  and  the  Lafayette 
Country  Club.  He  was  a Unitarian. 

On  September  4,  1878,  Judge  Collins  was  mar- 
ried at  Berlin,  Wisconsin,  to  Ella  M.  Stewart,  who 
died  May  31,  1894.  Three  sons  survive,  as  fol- 
lows : Stewart  G.,  who  is  now  in  the  real  estate 
and  building  business  at  Duluth ; Louis  L.,  city 
editor  of  the  Minneapolis  Journal ; and  Loren  F.,  a 
Minneapolis  architect. 

Pembroke  W.  Mook.  A capacity  for  painstaking 
and-  energetic  industry  has  transformed  Pembroke 
W.  Mook,  of  Zumbrota,  from  an  impecunious  home- 
steader of  raw  property  into  the  owner  of  a pros- 
perous real  estate  business,  and  since  his  arrival  in 
this  city,  in  1901,  he  has  done  much  to  foster  and 
encourage  its  growth  and  development.  A repre- 
sentative of  that  sturdy  element  which  has  drawn 
its  material  and  intellectual  substance  from  the 
fertile  prairies,  and  with  them  has  attained  matur- 
ity through  splendid  co-operation  of  awakening 
forces,  his  operations  in  the  line  of  realty  have  been 
such  as  to  attract  new  settlers  to  the  locality  of  his 
adoption,  but  he  has  not  confined  his  efforts  to  the 
immediate  section  of  Goodhue  County  but  conducts 
large  enterprises  in  various  states  of  the  West  hnd 
Southwest. 

Mr.  Mook  was  born  in  New  York  state,  February 
13.  1857,  and  is  a son  of  Sampson  and  Margaret 
M.  (Martin)  Mook,  natives  of  the  Empire  state. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Mook,  was  born 
in  Germany,  from  whence  he  came  to  the  United 


States  as  a young  man  and  settled  in  Western  Penn- 
sylvania, later  removing  to  New  York,  where  he 
died.  ITe  was  the  father  of  twenty-three  children, 
all  by  one  wife.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Mook  was  Samuel  Martin,  who  was  born  in  Madi- 
son County,  New  York,  of  Irish  parentage.  Samp- 
son was  born  July  21,  1833,  and  grew  up  amid  agri- 
cultural surroundings,  so  that  it  was  but  natural 
that  he  adopt  the  pursuits  of  the  soil  as  his  life 
work.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  without  one 
cent  of  capital,  he  went  into  debt  for  a tract  of  land 
in  New  York,  and  there  he  so  well  directed  his 
labors,  that  in  1903  he  sold  his  large  property  at 
$135  an  acre.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mary,  on  December  29,  1914.  Mr.  Mook  was  a 
republican  in  politics  and  a member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church.  He  was  married  at  East  Pem- 
broke, New  York,  in  1851,  to  Miss  Margaret  M. 
Martin,  who  was  born  in  1831,  and  died  in  1901 
in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  she  had  been  a lifelong  member.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  three  children : Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Anthony  Gray,  a prosperous 
farmer  of  New  York  state;  Pembroke  W.,  of  this 
review;  and  Abraham,  who  died  June  10,  1912. 

Educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
locality,  Pembroke  W.  Mook  worked  on  his  father’s 
farm  until  1881,  when,  with  the  little  capital  he  had 
been  able  to  secure  from  his  earnings,  he  decided 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  West,  and  accordingly 
made  his  way  to  Dakota,  where  he  secured  a home- 
stead. His  sturdy  and  earnest  efforts  soon  brought 
results,  so  that  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  some 
property,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  his 
success  has  been  assured.  Mr.  Mook  came  to  Zum- 
brota in  1901,  and  at  that  time  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business,  which,  under  his  able  management, 
has  grown  and  developed  into  one  of  the  leading 
industries  of  its  kind  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
A large  part  of  his  property  Mr.  Mook  buys  out- 
right, and  he  is  now  the  representative  of  important 
interests  in  Mexico,  Texas,  Wisconsin,  the  Dakotas, 
Montana,  Wyoming  and  other  states,  with  proper- 
ties in  every  part  of  Minnesota.  His  confidence  in 
the  future  of  Zumbrota  has  been  shown  in  numerous 
ways,  particularly  in  his  investments  in  realty,  and 
his  home  here  is  probably  the  finest  in  the  city. 
He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  four  years 
and  discharged  his  duty  in  an  impartial  manner. 
And  also  did  able  work  for  his  adopted  community 
as  a member  of  the  city  council.  In  political  mat- 
ters, Mr.  Mook  maintains  an  independent  stand, 
refusing  to  be  bound  down  by  party  lines. 

In  1885  Mr.  Mook  was  married  to  Miss  Sylvia  M. 
Hark,  of  New  York  state,  daughter  of  Frederick 
A.  Hark,  a shoemaker  and  farmer,  of  German 
descent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mook  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  He  has  taken  a keen  inter- 
est in  fraternal  matters  and  is  widely  known  therein, 
being  a member  of  Herman  Lodge,  No.  41.  A.  F. 
& A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past  master,  of  the  Chapter 
and  Commandery  at  Red  Wing  and  the  Consistory 
and  Shrine  at  St.  Paul.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ; and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  is  past  chan- 
cellor and  at  present  deputy  grand  chancellor. 

H.  Edward  Weiss.  Of  the  younger  generation  of 
business  men  of  the  flourishing  City  of  Zumbrota, 
prominence  is  deservedly  accorded  to  H.  E.  Weiss, 
the  greater  part  of  whose  active  career  has  been 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1497 


devoted  to  operations  in  the  field  of  finance,  and 
who  is  now  cashier  of  the  Security  State  Bank,  one 
of  the  thriving  institutions  of  Goodhue  County.  A 
man  of  enterprise  and  progressive  ideas,  he  has 
brought  himself  to  the  forefront  by  his  own  efforts, 
and  while  achieving  his  personal  success  has  also 
been  instrumental  in  securing  prosperity  for  his 
city. 

Mr.  Weiss  is  a native  son  of  Zumbrota,  Goodhue 
County,  Minnesota,  where  he  was  born  November 
19,  1878,  his  parents  being  Henry  and  Mary  (Starz,) 
Weiss.  His  father,  a native  of  Germany,  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1864  as  a,  youth  of  sixteen 
years,  and  at  once  took  up  his  residence  in  Good- 
hue  County,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  identified 
with  farming  operations.  Mr.  Weiss  is  a worthy 
representative  of  his  race,  and  possesses  its  traits 
of  industry,  thrift  and  integrity,  through  which 
characteristics  he  has  made  a success  of  his  business 
affairs.  He  is  independent  in  his  political  views, 
and  at  various  times  has  served  in  offices  within  the 
gift  of  his  fellow-townsmen  in  Zumbrota  Township, 
and  at  one  time  was  a member  of  the  board  of 
county  commissioners.  He  is  a member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Weiss  was  married 
in  Mineoia  Township,  Goodhue  County,  to  Miss 
Mary  Starz,  who  was  born  in  March,  1851,  in  Wis- 
consin, a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rosine  Starz,  na- 
tives of  Germany,  both  of  whom  are  now  living 
retired  at  Zumbrota  after  many  years  passed  in  the 
pursuits  of  the  soil,  the  grandfather  having  reached 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years  and  the  grandmother 
being  eighty  years  of  age.  Five  children  were  born 
to  Henry  and  Mary  Weiss,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing: Anna  Grover,  of  Zumbrota;  H.  Edward,  of 
this  review;  and  Edith,  who  married  Mr.  Johnson, 
of  this  city. 

H.  E.  Weiss  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  in  the  vicinity  of  his  father’s  farm, 
and  this  was  subsequently  supplemented  by  a busi- 
ness course  in  a college  at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota. 
He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  but  was 
ambitious  for  a business  career  and  in  1897  secured 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  with  the  Security  State 
Bank  of  Zumbrota,  a capacity  in  which  he  continued 
to  serve  until  1902,  when  he  was  elected  cashier,  his 
present  office.  This  is  known  as  one  of  Goodhue 
County’s  substantial  banking  institutions,  well  man- 
aged by  capable  financiers,  and  has  a capital  of 
$30,000,  surplus  and  undivided  profits  of  $20,000, 
and  average  deposits  of  between  $450,000  and 
$500,000.  Mr.  Weiss  possesses  the  traits  of  courtesy, 
consideration  and  integrity,  and  maintains,  in  his 
many-sided  intercourse  with  the  public,  the  highest 
tenets  of  business  life. 

In  1902  Mr.  Weiss  was  married  to  Miss  Winifred 
Tucker,  daughter  of  Richmond  Tucker,  who  for 
many  years  was  engaged  in  farming  on  a farm 
near  Kasson,  Dodge  County,  Minnesota.  One  child 
has  been  born  to  this  union : Marion,  who  is  attend- 
ing school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weiss  are  members  of 
the  English  Lutheran  Church.  He  is  well  known  in 
Masonic  circles,  having  passed  through  all'  the  chairs 
and  being  a member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chap- 
ter; and  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Lodge  No.  845,  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks. 

John  S.  Pillsbury.  Two  public  events  ever  make 
the  name  of  John  Sargent  Pillsbury  especially 
prominent  in  the  history  of  Minnesota,  a state  that 


must,  along  manifold  directions,  ever  pay  to  his 
memory  a tribute  of  highest  honor  and  appreciation. 
Although  he  achieved  eminence  as  a man  of  affairs 
and  one  of  rare  business  and  executive  ability,  yet 
to  posterity  his  name  will  be  held  in  the  highest 
honor  on  account  of  his  labors  in  behalf  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  which  was  primarily 
through  his  efforts  and  benefactions  saved  from 
practical  extinction  and  placed  among  the  foremost 
educational  institutions  of  the  country ; and,  second, 
to  the  splendid  influence  exerted  by  him  in  bringing 
about  the  payment  of  the  repudiated  state  bonds. 

John  Sargent  Pillsbury  was  born  at  Sutton,  Mer- 
rimac  County,  New  Hampshire,  July  29,  1828,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis,  Min- 
nesota, on  the  18th  of  October,  1901.  His  ancestry 
is  traced  to  Joshua  Pillsbury,  who  came  from  Eng- 
land in  1640  and  settled  in  Newburyport,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  who  received  from  the  English  crown 
a grant  of  land,  portions  of  which  remain  in  the 
possession  of  the  Pillsbury  family  to  the  present 
day.  Micajah  Pillsbury,  great-grandfather  of  the 
future  governor  of  Minnesota,  settled  in  Sutton, 
New  Hamoshire,  in  1790.  He  to  whom  this  memoir 
is  dedicated  was  a son  of  John  and  Susan  (Wad- 
leigh)  Pillsbury,  and  his  father  was  a manufacturer 
and  influential  citizen  of  New  Hampshire,  where 
he  died  in  the  year  1857. 

The  early  educational  advantages  of  John  S.  Pills- 
bury were  limited  to  the  common  schools  in  his 
native  town,  but  through  constant  reading  and 
thought  in  later  years  he  became  educated  as  few 
college  graduates  are.  His  range  of  reading  ran 
through  all  departments  of  literature,  and  he  be- 
came a specially  close  student  of  economy,  history, 
politics  and  other  sociological  subjects.  He  left 
school  at  an  early  age  and  began  to  learn  the  paint- 
er’s trade,  and  when  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
began  clerking  in  the  general  store  conducted  at 
Warner,  New  Hampshire,  by  his  elder  brother, 
George  A.  Pillsbury.  Upon  attaining  to  his  ma- 
jority he  became  associated  in  business  with  Walter 
Harriman,  who  later  became  governor  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  this  alliance  continued  two  years, 
the  following  two  years  having  been  passed  at  Con- 
cord, the  judicial  center  of  his  native  county,  where 
he  conducted  a merchant  tailoring  establishment 
and  dealt  in  cloth.  Mr.  Pillsbury  finally  became 
assured  that  superior  opportunities  were  to  be  found 
in  the  great  West,  and  in  1853  he  made  an  extended 
tour  throughout  the  western  and  northwestern 
states.  In  June,  1855,  he  visited  Minnesota  and  de- 
termined to  make  permanent  settlement  at  St. 
Anthony.  Here  he  forthwith  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business,  in  association  with  George  F.  Cross 
and  Woodbury  Fisk.  The  firm  successfully  weath- 
ered the  financial  panic  of  1857  until  there  came  by 
fire  a loss  of  about  $38,000.  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  left 
practically  without  financial  resources,  but  he  paid 
every  indebtedness  and  within  five  years  was  again 
a prosperous  merchant.  He  continued  in  the  hard- 
ware business  until  1875,  when  he  sold  out,  for  the 
purpose  of  engaging  more  largely  in  the  milling 
business,  as  he  had  established  a few  years  pre- 
viously, in  association  with  his  nephew,  Charles  A. 
Pillsbury,  the  milling  firm  of  C.  A.  Pillsbury  & 
Company.  In  1858  he  was  elected  a member  of  the 
city  council  of  Minneapolis,  and  this  position  he 
retained  six  years.  At  the  inception  of  the  Civil 
war  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  first  three 
Minnesota  regiments  of  volunteers,  and  in  1862  he 


1498 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


gave  substantial  aid  in  recruiting  and  equipping  a 
mounted  company  that  went  to  the  frontier  to  fight 
the  Indians. 

In  1851  Congress  granted  46,000  acres  of  land  in 
the  Territory  of  Minnesota  for  the  establishing  of 
a university.  In  1856  this  land  was  mortgaged  in 
the  sum  of  $40,000  and  bonds  were  issued  for  the 
erection  of  the  university  buildings.  The  financial 
affairs  of  the  new  institution  became  greatly  in- 
volved and  the  general  view  of  the  situation  was 
that  the  institution  would  have  to  go  down  and 
the  creditors  permitted  to  take  whatever  assets 
there  were.  All  this  time,  while  actively  engrossed 
in  business,  Mr.  Pillsbury  had  watched  the  affairs 
of  the  university  with  great  solicitude,  and  he  ar- 
rived at  the  determination  that  it  should  not  fail 
until  he  had  made  every  possible  effort  to  save  it. 
He  determined  to  do  his  utmost  to  afford  the  youth 
of  Minnesota  a university  of  which  they  might  be 
proud.  He  became  one  of  the  regents  of  the  uni- 
versity in  1863,  and  in  this  office  he  brought  to  bear 
his  splendid  constructive  and  executive  powers. 
In  the  same  year  he  was  elected  a member  of  the 
State  Senate,  and  in  this  body  he  urged  the  action 
which  resulted  in  placing  of  the  university  affairs 
in  the  hands  of  a new  board  of  regents.  Mr.  Pills- 
bury naturally  was  retained  as  a member  of  the 
new  board,  and  finally,  after  indefatigable  effort, 
he  succeeded  in  fully  discharging  all  outstanding 
bonds,  and  other  claims,  without  asking  or  desiring 
personal  compensation.  Through  his  labors  and 
unselfish  devotion  there  were  saved  to  the  university 
more  than  thirty  thousand  acres  of  the  land  granted 
by  Congress,  and  also  the  present  site  of  the  uni- 
versity, the  grounds  and  buildings  of  which  are  to- 
day valued  at  fully  three-quarters  of  a million  dol- 
lars. Thus  was  the  university  freed  from  the  bur- 
dens that  threatened  to  destroy  it,  and  from  that 
time  success  was  assured.  For  virtually  an  entire 
decade  Mr.  Pillsbury  continued  a member  of  the 
State  Senate,  and  during  all  this  time  he  made  the 
affairs  of  the  university  a matter  of  personal  care 
and  study,  to  him  being  due  credit  for  the  generous 
appropriations  which  he  insistently  urged  upon  the 
Legislature. 

Mr.  Pillsbury  never  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to 
the  republican  party,  and  few  men  have  had  broader 
and  more  positive  views  concerning  matters  of  eco- 
nomic and  governmental  polity.  In  187S1  without 
effort  on  his  part,  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
governor  of  Minnesota.  His  administration,  ad- 
mirable in  every  respect,  has  become  an  integral 
part  of  the  history  of  the  state,  and  an  article  of 
the  circumscribed  province  of  the  one  here  pre- 
sented, can  not  enter  into  details  concerning  his 
labors  as  chief  executive.  However,  it  is  but  con- 
sistent that  there  be  given  an  idea  of  conditions 
that  prevailed  when  he  was  chosen  to  this  office. 
Uniting  breadth  of  view  with  great  business  sagac- 
ity, he  was  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  guidance  of  a 
young  commonwealth  struggling  with  unwonted 
difficulties.  Following  the  financial  panic  of  1873 
the  people  had  emerged  from  an  experience  of 
feverish  inflation  to  find  themselves  harassed  with 
local  debt  and  confronted  with  reduced  values.  To 
this  was  added  the  grasshopper  scourge,  which  in 
many  localities  inflicted  poverty  of  extreme  order, 
while  all  vocations  suffered  a depression  wholly 
without  precedent.  In  this  condition  of  affairs  the 
inauguration  of  Governor  Pillsbury  was  looked  for- 
ward to  with  unusual  interest.  His  reputation  for 


liberality,  his  high  integrity,  and  his  useful  career, 
as  a state  senator,  in  the  promotion  of  educational, 
charitable  and  other  enlightened  legislation,  justi- 
fied popular  expectation  and  inspired  new  hope  for 
the  future.  In  his  inaugural  address’ he  urged  the 
necessity  of  both  rigid  economy  and  liberal  ex- 
penditures, and  made  a most  earnest  plea  for  the 
honor  of  the  state,  in  urging  the  just  and  speedy 
liquidation  of  its  long  repudiated  railroad  bonds. 
Grave  responsibilities  faced  Governor  Pillsbury  dur- 
ing his  entire  period  of  service,  but  he  bravely 
and  loyally  faced  every  emergency  and  brought 
about  in  his  first  term  such  admirable  results  that 
in  1877  he  was  re-elected,  by  an  increased  majority. 
He  showed  the  deepest  humanitarian  spirit  and  also 
that  great  circumspection  and  judgment  that  make 
the  ideal  executive.  After  the  expiration  of  his  sec- 
ond term  he  was  solicited  by  the  friends  of  good 
government  to  accept  nomination  for  a third  term, 
and  though  he  expressed  an  earnest  wish  to  retire, 
the  nomination  was  virtually  forced  upon  him,  and 
he  was  re-elected  by  a large  majority,  this  being 
the  first  and  only  instance  in  the  history  of  Minne- 
sota in  which  a governor  has  been  given  three  con- 
secutive terms  of  office ; but  the  people  had  such 
confidence  in  Governor  Pillsbury  that  they  cared 
nothing  for  political  precedent. 

The  one  great  achievement  of  Governor  Pillsbury 
in  his  third  term  as  governor  was  in  bringing  about 
the  payment  of  the  principal  and  interest  on  the  long 
repudiated  bonds  of  the  state.  He  worked  against 
great  odds  in  urging  the  justice  and  imperative 
consistency  of  this  action,  and  as  leader  in  the  win- 
ning of  a noble  triumph  it  must  have  been  to  the 
governor  a proud  and  grateful  reflection  that,  ex- 
cepting a few  unpresented  bonds  in  unknown  hands, 
not  an  unredeemed  obligation  remained  to  dishonor 
the  state. 

It  is  seldom,  indeed,  that  the  highest  officer  of  an 
American  commonwealth  is  charged  with  so  many 
and  important  duties  as  those  which  crowded  the 
six  years’  administration  of  Governor  Pillsbury. 
What  with  the  labor  of  repelling  the  grasshopper 
invasion,  the  efforts  to  rescue  the  settlers  from  the 
ravages  of  these  insects,  the  duty  of  adjusting  the 
claims  of  numerous'  settlers  upon  railroad  lands, 
the  appointment  of  many  new  judicial  and  other 
officers,  the  trials  following  the  destruction  of  the 
state  capital  by  fire,  the  providing  for  the  inmates 
of  the  burned  insane  asylum,  and  the  various  labors 
and  responsibilities  in  adjusting  a long-standing 
indebtedness,  which  saved  the  credit  of  the  state  and 
subserved  public  justice, — there  was  a ceaseless  de- 
mand upon  the  governor’s  attention. 

In  1872  Governor  Pillsbury  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacturing of  flour  in  Minneapolis,  and  no  Amer- 
ican needs  ask  how  all-pervading  as  been  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Pillsbury  name  in  connection  with  this 
important  line  of  industry,  which  has  done  more 
than  all  else  to  make  Minneapolis  famous.  In  the 
earlier  stages  of  his  activities  in  this  field  of  enter- 
prise the  governor  was  associated  with  his  nephew, 
Hon.  Charles  A.  Pillsbury,  and  his  brother,  Hon. 
George  A.  Pillsbury,  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  A. 
Pillsbury  & Company,  and  the  great  industry,  one  of 
the  most  stupendous  of  its  kind  in  the  world,  is  now 
conducted  under  the  title  of  the  Pillsbury  Flour 
Mill  Company,  more  detailed  reference  to  the  gi- 
gantic concern  being  given  on  other  pages  of  this 
review,  in  the  memoir  dedicated  to  the  late  Charles 
A.  Pillsbury.  The  business  activities  of  Governor 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1499 


Pillsbury  penetrated  every  part  of  Minnesota  and 
extended  far  out  into  other  states  of  the  Union,  and 
at  his  death  his  fortune  was  approximately  esti- 
mated at  two  million  dollars.  He  had  large  lumber 
and  real  estate  interests  through  the  Northwest, 
was  identified  with  railroad  construction,  for  many 
years  was  a director  in  several  of  the  leading  bank- 
ing institutions  of  Minneapolis,  and  all  of  his  mani- 
fold capitalistic  investments  were  not  only  made 
with  characteristic  wisdom  but  they  tended  also  to 
foster  the  general  progress  and  welfare  of  the  state 
which  he  honored  and  which  greatly  honored  him. 

The  benefactions  of  Governor  Pillsbury  were 
many  and  important,  and  all  of  his  offerings  were 
made  without  ostentation  and  with  a deep  sense  of 
personal  responsibility  imposed  by  success  and 
wealth.  In  1889  he  erected  and  gave  to  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota  its  magnificent  science  build- 
ing, known  as  Pillsbury  Hall,  this  representing  an 
expenditure  of  $150,000.  Ever  apprecitative  of  his 
native  town,  endeared  to  him  by  hallowed  memories 
and  associations,  he  there  erected  the  Pillsbury 
Memorial  Hall,  a town  building  that  he  designed  as 
an  enduring  monument  to  the  memory  of  his  par- 
ents. At  Sutton,  New  Hampshire,  this  beautiful 
building  was  dedicated  on  the  13th  of  July,  1892. 
In  1898,  in  conjunction  with  his  devoted  wife,  he 
established  at  Sutton  an  endowment  fund  of  $100,- 
000  for  the  erection  and  maintenance  of  a home  for 
children  and  aged  women.  In  1900,  the  year  prior 
to  his  death,  the  governor  and  his  wife  erected  in 
Minneapolis  a home  for  working  girls,  this  noble 
institution  representing  an  investment  of  $25,000, 
and  being  named  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Pillsbury.  In 
1901,  only  a short  time  prior  to  the  close  of  his 
long  and  useful  life,  Governor  Pillsbury  donated 
$75,000  for  the  erection  of  the  fine  Pillsbury  Li- 
brary, on  the  East  Side  of  Minneapolis.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1900,  at  the  University  of  Minnesota  was 
unveiled  a fine  statue  of  Governor  Pillsbury,  the 
same  having  been  erected  by  the  appreciative  alumni 
of  that  institution. 

All  of  the  deeds  of  the  exceptionally  active  and 
prolific  life  of  Governor  Pillsbury  might  be  classed 
as  labors  for  humanity.  He  lived  a “godly,  right- 
eous and  sober  life,’’ — was  pure-hearted,  clean- 
handed, broad-minded  and  sympathetic,  and  he  re- 
joiced to  designate  himself  as  a plain  man  of  the 
people.  Ever  ready  to  listen  to  the  story  of  the 
unfortunate,  his  generosity  was  unbounded,  and  in 
his  personality  was  a veritable  incarnation  of  the 
Beatitudes.  Of  no  man  could  it  be  said  more  con- 
sistently that  he  did  not  let  his  left  hand  know  what 
his  right  hand  was  doing  in  the  way  of  charities 
and  benevolences.  Often  his  own  family  did  not 
know,  unless  the  knowledge  came  to  them  from  out- 
side sources,  of  his  acts  of  charity  and  other  forms 
of  practical  helpfulness,  and  in  many  other  gracious 
acts  of  this  nature  the  members  of  his  family  were 
equally  earnest  in  co-operation.  He  accumulated 
wealth  not  by  impinging  upon  the  rights  of  others, 
but  he  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a helping  hand  to 
others,  even  his  business  competitors.  Of  him  it 
has  been  consistently  said  that  “with  all  his  getting 
he  did  not  forget  that  there  is  a better  owning  than 
to  own,  that  the  giver,  to  the  getter,  is  the  true 
owner.”  Democratic  to  the  last  degree,  he  hated  all 
display.  Of  a sympathetic  nature,  he  was  yet  cap- 
able of  a “god-like  anger,”  and  he  hated  all  mean- 
ness as  only  a noble  nature  is  capable  of  hating. 
Rich  and  poor  alike  sought  his  counsel  and  assist- 


ance, and  all  who  came  within  the  sphere  of  his 
influence  thought  of  him  as  a friend.  With  deep 
reverence  for  the  spiritual  verities,  Governor  Pills- 
bury was  possessed  of  the  faith  that  makes  faithful, 
and  while  he  was  not  formally  a member  of  any  re- 
ligious organization  he  was  a regular  attendant  and 
officer  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Min- 
neapolis, and  contributed  generously  to  the  various 
departments  of  its  work. 

At  Warner,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  3d  of  No- 
vember, 1856,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Gov- 
ernor Pillsbury  to  Miss  Mahala  Fisk,  a daughter 
of  Capt.  John  Fisk,  who  was  a descendant  of  Rev. 
John  Fisk,  the  latter  having  immigrated  from  Suf- 
folk, England,  to  America  in  1637,  settling  at  Win- 
dom,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Pillsbury  died  June  23, 
1910,  and  in  the  gracious  evening  of  her  life  she 
was  sustained  and  comforted  by  the  memories  of 
their  long  and  devoted  companionship.  Of  the  four 
children,  Addie,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles 
M.  Webster,  and  Susan  M.,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Fred  B.  Snyder,  died  several  years  prior  to  the 
time  when  their  father  passed  to  the  life  eternal; 
Sarah  Belle  is  the  wife  of  Edward  C.  Gale,  of 
Minneapolis ; and  Alfred  Fisk  has  succeeded  to 
many  of  the  interests  and  responsibilities  of  his 
father,  being  now  vice  president  of  the  Pillsbury 
Flour  Mills  Company. 

t 

George  A.  Pillsbury.  On  other  pares  of  this 
work,  in  the  memoir  dedicated  to  the  late  Gov.  John 
S.  Pillsbury  is  given  an  epitome  of  the  family  his- 
tory, and  equally  potent  was  the  influence  exerted  by 
his  elder  brother,  whose  name  introduces  this  arti- 
cle and  to  whom  must  needs  be  given,  as  a matter 
of  historical  consistency  and  merited  tribute,  specific 
recognition  in  this  history  of  the  state  for  which  he 
did  so  much  and  which  so  highly  honored  him. 

Hon.  John  S.  Pillsbury.  second  son  of  John  and 
Susan  (Wadleigh)  Pillsbury,  was  born  at  Sutton, 
Merrimac  County,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  29th  of 
August,  1816,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Minneapolis, 
on  the  15th  of  July,  1898.  After  receiving  a thor- 
ough common  school  education  in  his  native  town 
he  began  business  life  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
as  a clerk  in  a grocery  and  fruit  store  at  the  old 
Boylston  Market,  in  the  City  of  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. At  the  end  of  one  year  he  returned  to 
Sutton,  where  he  forthwith  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facturing of  stoves  and  sheet-iron  ware,  in  company 
with  his  cousin,  John  C.  Pillsbury.  In  1840  he  re- 
moved to  the  Town  of  Warner,  in  his  native  county, 
and  there  he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  until  the  spring  of  1848,  when  he 
went  to  Boston  and  accepted  a position  in  a whole- 
sale dry-goods  house.  In  the  following  year,  how- 
ever, he  returned  to  Warner,  where  he  engaged 
in  business  and  where  he  remained  until  1851.  In 
1844  he  had  served  as  postmaster  at  Warner;  in 
1847  he  served  as  selectman  of  the  town ; in  1849  he 
was  both  selectman  and  town  treasurer ; and  in 
1850-51  he  was  representative  to  the  general  court 
of  the  county,  as  well  as  one  of  the  commissioners 
in  charge  of  erecting  the  Merrimac  county  jail,  at 
Concord. 

In  November,  1851,  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  appointed 
purchasing  agent  for  the  Concord  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  in  the  following  month  he  removed  to 
Concord,  the  county  seat.  He  retained  this  office 
until  July,  1875,  and  during  his  able  administration 
his  purchases  amounted  to  more  than  three  million 


1500 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


dollars,  besides  which  he  settled  more  cases  for 
claims  against  the  road  for  personal  injury  than  did 
all  other  officers  combined.  During  a residence  of 
more  than  a quarter  of  a century  in  Concord  Mr. 
Pillsbury  was  called  upon  to  fill  many  positions  of 
honor  and  trust,  and  he  did  much  to  further  the  civic 
and  physical  development  and  progress  of  the  little 
New  England  city.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Concord,  in  1864, 
and  was  its  president  from  1866  until  he  came  to 
Minneapolis,  in  1878,  under  his  regime  the  bank 
becoming,  in  proportion  to  its  capital,  the  strongest 
in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire.  In  1867  he  was 
one  of  the  organizers  and  incorporators  of  the  Na- 
tional Savings  Bank  of  Concord,  and  he  served  as 
its  president  from  the  time  of  incorporation  until 
1874,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  for  many  years 
a member  of  the  city  council  of  Concord,  served  two 
years  as  its  mayor,  and  in  1871-72  he  was  a repre- 
sentative in  the  New  Hampshire  Legislature. 

In  the  spring  of  1878  Mr.  Pillsbury  came  to  Min- 
nesota and  established  his  home  in  Minneapolis, 
where  he  became  associated  with  his  two  sons  and 
his  brother  in  the  extensive  manufacturing  of  flour. 
Due  record  concerning  the  gigantic  enterprise  built 
up  in  this  industrial  line  is  given  in  the  sketch  of 
the  career  of  his  son,  Charles  A.,  now  deceased,  on 
other  pages  of  this  publication.  In  Minneapolis  Mr. 
Pillsbury  won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  classes 
of  citizens  and  endeared  himself  to  all  who  came 
within  the  compass  of  his  more  intimate  personal 
influence.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  and  of  the  city 
council,  of  which  latter  body  he  was  made  presi- 
dent. In  1884,  after  a spirited  campaign  and  with 
a formidable  opponent,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the 
city,  and  his  victory  was  most  decisive,  as  he  was 
elected  by  about  eight  thousand  votes, — a change 
of  more  than  six  thousand  votes  from  the  last  pre- 
ceding city  election.  His  administration  was  char- 
acterized by  devotion  to  detail,  economy  in  expendi- 
ture, and  rigid  control  of  the  unruly  elements.  As 
a loyal,  liberal  and  public-spirited  citizen  he  took  the 
deepest  interest  in  community  affairs,  and  among  the 
civic  positions  which  he  held  may  be  mentioned  the 
following:  President  of  the  Minneapolis  Board  of 
Trade,  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  the  Free  Dis- 
pensary, the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Pillsbury 
& Hurlbut  Elevator  Company;  vice  president  of 
the  Minnesota  Loan  & Trust  Company,  and  director 
and  president  of  the  Northwestern  National  Bank 
and  of  the  Minneapolis  Elevator  Company.  He  was 
also  a trustee  of  the  University  of  Chicago.  In 
1885  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  chairman  of  the  building 
committee  of  the  Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, and  in  the  following  year  he  became  chair- 
man of  the  committee  assigned  to  the  erection  of 
the  First  Baptist  Chuch  of  Minneapolis,  at  that  time 
the  largest  and  most  costly  ecclesiastical  edifice  west 
of  Chicago.  To  this  church  Mr.  Pillsbury  and  his 
family  gave  a beautiful  organ,  which  they  installed 
at  a cost  of  $8,500  and  which  is  still  one  of  the 
largest  and  best  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Pillsbury  has  always  been  a loyal  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  education.  He  was  a member  of 
the  board  of  education  at  Concord,  New  Hampshire, 
and  contributed  liberally  toward  the  endowment  of 
Colby  Academy,  at  New  London,  that  state.  He 
was  also  greatly  interested  in  an  academy  at 
Owatonna,  Minnesota,  and  gave  to  the  institution 
a princely  donation,  by  the  erection  of  a ladies’ 


boarding  hall,  at  a cost  of  $30,000.  In  1888,  by  act 
of  the  Legislature,  the  name  of  this  academy  was 
changed  from  Minnesota  Academy  to  Pillsbury 
Academy,  and  the  institution  thus  stands  as  a monu- 
ment to  his  memory.  In  1889  he  expended  840,000 
for  the  erection  of  a new  building  for  the  academy, 
the  same  containing  recitation  rooms,  offices,  a chem- 
ical laboratory,  a gymnasium  and  baths,  a chapel, 
and  a spacious  auditorium.  Other  benefactions 
made  by  Mr.  Pillsbury  to  this  academy  reached  an 
aggregate  of  about  $150,000.  At  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union,  held  in 
Minneapolis,  in  1888,  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  elected  its 
president.  This  organization  has  its  headquarters 
in  Boston  and  has  charge  of  all  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary work  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  all  of  the 
northern  and  some  of  the  southern  states. 

Mr.  Pillsbury  did  not  permit  time  or  distance  to 
lessen  his  affection  for  his  native  state,  and  in  1890 
he  donated  to  the  City  of  Concord,  New  Hampshire, 
at  a cost  of  $75,000,  a free  hospital,  named  in  honor 
of  his  wife  and  known  as  the  Margaret  Pillsbury 
Hospital;  to  Warner,  in  the  same  county,  he  gave 
a free  public  library,  which  is  known  as  the  Pills- 
bury Free  Library,  and  this  represented  an  expendi- 
ture of  $20,000;  to  Sutton,  his  native  town,  he  gave 
an  imposing  soldiers’  monument. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1841,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Pillsbury  to  Miss  Margaret  S.  Carle- 
ton,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Polly  (Greeley)  Carle- 
ton.  Of  the  three  children  of  this  union  the  only 
daughter  died  in  infancy,  and  the  younger  son,  Fred 
C.,  died  in  1891.  The  elder  son,  Charles  A.,  was 
summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  1899,  and  to  him 
a memoir  is  dedicated  on  other  pages  of  this  work. 

A fitting  paragraph  with  which  to  close  this  tribute 
is  that  gained  by  extracts  taken  from  the  Concord, 
New  Hampshire,  Evening  Monitor  of  July  25,  1890, 
when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pillsbury  were  in  their  old  home 
city  preparing  for  the  erection  of  the  Margaret  Pills- 
bury Hospital,  mentioned  above  : 

“Mr.  Pillsbury,  with  comparative  ease,  might  have 
written  his  personal  check  and  turned  it  over  to  a 
citizens’  committee,  to  found  and  endow  a capacious 
hospital ; but  this  modest  man,  with  a great  warm 
heart,  and  his  lovely  Christian  wife  left  their  sump- 
tuous home  in  Minneapolis  that  they  might  come 
among  their  old  friends  and  neighbors  in  this  state 
and  have  the  pleasure  of  doing,  as  it  were  with  their 
own  hands,  the  great  public  work  they  are  accom- 
plishing. Office  and  fame  have  no  allurements  for 
him.  He  is  one  of  the  few  capitalists  who  are  per- 
fectly satisfied  with  their  wealth.  He  enjoyed  its 
honorable  accumulation ; he  will  now  take  equal 
pleasure  in  its  generous  and  discriminate  expendi- 
ture. He  and  his  wife  are  now  here  with  no  possible 
object  except  to  do  good  and  to  renew  old  friend- 
ships and  associations,  and  to  pay  respects  to  the 
people  who  delight  to  respect  and  honor  them.  We 
seldom  have  such  visitors.  Think  of  it!  A hand- 
some and  happy  married  couple,  so  advanced  in 
years  and  yet  so  remarkably  well  preserved ; so 
wealthy  and  so  unostentatious ; so  distinguished  and 
yet  so  humbly  affable  and  generous ; so  blest  with 
this  world’s  favors  yet  possessed  of  such  excellent 
native  sense ; so  public-spirited  and  beneficent,  so 
charitable,  kind  and  tolerant  toward  all, — they  pre- 
sent, indeed,  a rare  and  touching  sight,  one  to  be 
cherished  in  our  recollections,  beloved  and  welcome 
sojourners  in  our  peaceful  and  beautiful  city.  An 
institution  is  defined  to  be  as  the  lengthened  shadow 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1501 


of  a man.  George  Alfred  Pillsbury  will  have  many 
worthy  shadows;  and  long  after  he  and  his  gracious 
wife  have  gone  from  us,  perhaps  forever,  fevered 
lips  of  invalid  sufferers  will  whisper  prayers  of 
thankfulness  that  will  be  encomiums  on  this  good 
man  and  woman,  more  eloquent  and  touching  than 
any  we  could  pronounce.” 

Charles  A.  Pillsbury.  So  long  as  enduring  time 
shall  echo  back  to  time  that  was,  so  long  shall  the 
State  of  Minnesota  and  the  City  of  Minneapolis  owe 
tribute  and  honor  to  the  name  of  Pillsbury,  for  none 
other  has  been  more  closely,  worthily  or  influen- 
tially identified  with  the  development  and  upbuild- 
ing of  both  city  and  state;  none  has  figured  more 
potently  in  carrying  the  fame  of  the  Minnesota 
metropolis  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  United  States  and  also  into  “far  countries.” 
One  of  the  sterling  and  honored  representatives  of 
this  distinguished  family  in  Minnesota  and  one  who 
marked  the  passing  years  with  large  and  honorable 
achievement  was  the  late  Charles  Alfred  Pillsbury, 
and  historical  consistency  as  well  as  just  merit  ren- 
ders imperative  the  specific  consideration  here  ac- 
corded to  him.  He  was  a son  of  the  late  George 
A.  Pillsbury,  to  whom  a memoir  is  dedicated  on 
other  pages  of  this  work,  as  is  also  given  brief 
record  of  the  career  of  his  uncle,  the  late  Governor 
John  S.  Pillsbury,  so  that  in  the  present  connection 
it  is  unnecessary  to  give  further  data  concerning 
the  family  history. 

Charles  Alfred  Pillsbury  was  foremost  in  giving 
fame  to  the  family  name  in  connection  with  the 
flour-milling  industry  and  in  making  the  name  of 
Minneapolis  equally  noted  as  a center  of  this  in- 
dustry. He  was  for  many  years  recognized  as  the 
leading  miller  of  the  world,  and  his  character  was 
the  positive  of  a noble  and  loyal  nature,  strong  yet 
gentle,  true  to  every  duty  and  responsibility.  Mr. 
Pillsbury  was  born  at  Warner,  Merrimac  County, 
New  Hampshire,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1842,  and 
at  his  home  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  he  was  sum- 
moned to  the  life  eternal  on  the  17th  of  September, 
1899.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town  and  thereafter  en- 
tered Dartmouth  College,  in  which  he  was  grad- 
uated at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  During  his 
college  life  he  taught  school  at  intervals  and  by 
this  means  contributed  materially  to  defraying  the 
expenses  of  his  higher  education.  After  his  grad- 
uation Mr.  Pillsbury  went  to  the  City  of  Montreal, 
Canada,  where  he  remained  six  years  and  was  vari- 
ously employed.  In  1869  he  came  to  Minnesota  and 
established  his  residence  in  Minneapolis,  where  he 
purchased  an  interest  in  a small  flour  mill.  There 
were  at  that  time  perhaps  six  or  more  mills  operat- 
ing at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  and  all  of  them 
utilized  the  old-time  buhr  mill-stones,  with  other 
equipments  of  equally  primitive  order.  Mr.  Pills- 
bury arrived  just  in  time  to  become  a prominent 
figure  in  the  development  and  application  of  a new 
and  wonderful  invention  and  to  participate  in  the 
enormous  growth  of  the  milling  industry  after  the 
opening  of  the  spring-wheat  district  of  Minnesota 
and  the  Dakotas.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  the 
future  metropolis  of  Minnesota  the  railroads  ex- 
tended only  a few  miles  north  and  west  from  this 
section  of  the  state,  but  within  a few  years  the  lines 
were  extended  and  opened  up  large  areas  of  fine 
prairie  land,  making  this  unrivaled  wheat-growing 
region  tributary  to  the  flour  manufactories  at  Min- 


neapolis. About  the  same  time  the  invention  of  the 
self-binding  reaper  reduced  the  cost  of  wheat  pro- 
duction, and  in  the  mills  themselves  many  radical 
innovations  were  introduced  in  the  line  of  mechan- 
ical equipment  and  incidental  accessories.  One  of 
the  most  important  of  these  inventions  was  the 
middlings  purifier,  which  was  originated  in  Min- 
neapolis and  which  Mr.  Pillsbury  at  once  adopted, 
with  great  profit.  In  nearly  a simultaneous  way 
was  introduced  from  abroad  the  steel-roller  process 
of  manufacturing  flour,  and  with  the  aid  of  these 
two  great  inventions  came  a veritable  revolution  in 
the  manufacture  of  flour,  both  in  points  of  quality 
and  cost  of  production.  With  characteristic  energy, 
resourcefulness  and  progressiveness  Mr.  Pillsbury 
kept  pace  with  advances,  and  his  rise  to  prominence 
and  influence  was  rapid  and  substantial,  his  advance 
during  the  ’70s  having  been  especially  marked  and 
assured.  In  1872  he  effected  the  organization  of 
the  firm  of  C.  A.  Pillsbury  & Company,  in  which 
his  associates  were  his  uncle,  the  late  Governor 
John  S.  Pillsbury,  and  his  father,  the  late  George 
A.  Pillsbury.  Somewhat  later  his  younger  brother, 
Fred  C.,  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  and  for  several 
years  a group  of  six  mills  was  operated  by  C.  A. 
Pillsbury  & Company,  but  the  business  expanded  so 
rapidly  that  it  became  imperative  to  procure  facili- 
ties insuring  much  larger  output  capacity.  This  end 
was  effected  by  the  erection  of  the  famous  Pills- 
bury A mill,  which  when  completed  had  a capacity 
of  7,000  barrels  a day.  This  mill  was  at  that  time 
the  largest  in  the  world,  but  through  later  improve- 
ments in  machinery  its  capacity  has  been  more  than 
doubled,  as  it  is  equipped  for  the  turning  out  of 
15,600  barrels  a day. 

During  the  period  of  active  and  wonderful  devel- 
opment in  the  milling  industry,  Mr.  Pillsbury  was 
ever  at  the  forefront,  and  his  initiative  and  execu- 
tive powers  came  into  most  effective  play.  He  re- 
peatedly visited  Europe,  where  he  became  widely 
known,  and  where  he  gained  recognition,  as  did  he 
also  throughout  America,  as  being  the  head  of  the 
largest  flour-producting  concern  in  the  entire  world. 
Besides  making  a practical  and  detailed  study  of 
every  phase  of  the  production  of  wheat,  its  trans- 
portation, and  the  making  and  marketing  of  flour 
and  its  by-products,  he  also  found  time  to  take  a 
large  interest  in  many  other  important  commercial 
enterprises,  as  well  as  to  participate  in  public  affairs 
in  his  home  city  and  state,  his  civic  loyalty  having 
ever  been  of  the  most  insistent  and  broad-minded 
order.  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  frequently  tendered  po- 
litical honors,  but  the  only  office  which  he  consented 
to  hold  during  the  entire  period  of  his  residence  in 
Minneapolis  was  that  of  state  senator,  a position  to 
which  he  was  elected  for  the  legislative  term  be- 
ginning in  1877.  By  successive  elections  he  con- 
tinued the  valued  and  zealous  incumbent  of  this 
office  for  ten  consecutive  years,  and  he  labored 
earnestly  in  the  Senate  to  promote  and  protect  the 
best  interests  of  the  state  and  its  people. 

In  1890  the  firm  of  C.  A.  Pillsbury  & Company 
was  merged  into  the  Pillsbury-Washburn  Flour 
Mills  Company,  and  a large  part  of  the  stock  in 
the  new  corporation  was  purchased  by  an  English 
syndicate.  The  new  company  secured  a controlling 
interest  in  the  entire  water  power  at  St.  Anthony 
Falls.  Mr.  Pillsbury  remained  as  executive  head 
of  the  business,  at  a very  large  salary,  and  retained 
a large  holding  of  the  stock.  During  the  succeed- 
ing years  the  business  showed  remarkable  develop- 


1502 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


ment  and  the  corporation  maintained  the  Pillsbury 
prestige  in  being  the  leading  flour-producing  com- 
pany of  the  whole  world.  After  a few  years,  upon 
the  recommendation  of  Charles  A.  Pillsbury,  the 
enterprising  and  far-sighted  head  of  the  business, 
the  company  instituted  the  further  improvement  of 
its  magnificent  water  power,  by  the  construction  of 
an  auxiliary  dam  a short  distance  below  the  falls. 
By  means  of  this  dam  10,000  additional  horse-power 
was  developed,  and  this  was  the  last  great  construc- 
tion work  completed  under  the  direction  of  the 
honored  subject  of  this  memoir. 

During  the  thirty  years  of  his  active  business  life 
in  Minneapolis  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  probably  the  most 
popular  business  man  of  the  city,  and  this  was  the 
result  alike  of  his  large  contribution  to  the  civic 
and  material  development  and  general  prosperity  of 
the  city  and  to  his  sterling  personal  characteristics. 
He  was  always  in  good  health  and  spirits,  buoyant 
and  optimistic,  tolerant  and  kindly  in  his  judgment, 
easily  accessible  and  generous  to  a fault.  He  placed 
true  estimates  upon  men  and  things,  and  in  his 
manifold  philanthropies  and  benevolences  he  rigor- 
ously avoided  publicity  and  display — one  who  would 
“do  good  by  stealth  and  blush  to  find  it  fame.’’ 
He  identified  himself  with  all  logical  movements 
and  enterprises  advanced  for  the  general  good  of 
the  community  and  was  connected  with  many  local 
organizations  of  social  and  fraternal  order,  as  well 
as  those  of  business  order.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  influential  members  of  the  Minneapolis  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  and  served  as  president  of  the 
same  from  1882  to  1894,  his  political  allegiance 
being  given  to  the  republican  party. 

On  the  12th  of  September,  1866,  Mr.  Pillsbury 
wed  Miss  Mary  A.  Stinson,  of  Dunbarton,  New 
Hampshire,  and  she  was  summoned  to  eternal  rest 
September  26,  1902,  so  that  in  death  they  were  not 
long  divided.  Two  sons,  Charles  S.  and  John  S., 
have  to  a large  extent  assumed,  and  worthily  con- 
trolled, the  business  interests  so  long  maintained  by 
their  honored  father,  since  whose  death  a readjust- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  the  milling  company  has  been 
made,  the  gigantic  enterprise  being  now  conducted 
under  the  title  of  the  Pillsbury  Flour  Mills  Com- 
pany. Of  the  corporation  the  official  corps  is  as 
here  noted:  Albert  C.  Loring,  president;  Charles 

S.  Pillsbury,  and  John  S.  Pillsbury  (II),  vice  presi- 
dents; and  Alfred  F.  Pillsbury  (II),  son  of  Gov. 
John  S,  Pillsbury,  is  secretary  and  treasurer. 

The  family  of  Charles  A.  Pillsbury  has  long  been 
actively  identified  with  Plymouth  Congregational 
Church  in  Minneapolis,  and  as  a memorial  to  their 
parents  the  sons  have  built  and  presented  to  this 
church  the  institution  known  as  Pillsbury  House, 
in  South  Minneapolis,  this  being  the  center  of  the 
settlement  work  of  Plymouth  Church.  All  of  the 
younger  generation  of  the  Pillsbury  family  are  well 
upholding  the  prestige  of  a name  that  has  been 
long  and  prominently  concerned  with  the  history  of 
Minneapolis. 

Arthur  M.  Higgins.  As  an  active  and  successful 
attorney  of  Minneapolis  for  the  past  twenty  years, 
Arthur  M.  Higgins  has  had  a varied  and  broad 
experience  in  his  profession,  and  has  been  promi- 
nent both  in  his  regular  calling  and  in  his  relations 
with  the  community  socially  and  in  civic  affairs. 
He  is  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
Law  School,  and  has  offices  in  the  New  York  Life 
Building. 


Arthur  M.  Higgins  was  born  in  Ellsworth,  Maine, 
June  18,  1867,  and  that  was  also  the  birthplace  of 
his  parents,  Charles  H.  and  Sarah  J.  (Young)  Hig- 
gins. For  generations  seafaring  has  been  almost 
the  natural  vocation  of  a large  portion  of  Maine 
residents,  and  Charles  H.  Higgins  followed  the 
sea  from  the  time  he  was  eighteen  and  became 
master  of  a brigantine  before  he  left.  With  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  with  the 
Eleventh  Regiment  of  Maine  Infantry  as  a cor- 
poral, and  went  through  the  entire  war,  one  of  the 
gallant  defenders  of  the  Union.  With  the  close  of 
the  war  his  home  was  established  at  Flushing  on 
Long  Island,  where  he  formed  business  relations 
with  the  noted  Parsons  Nurseries  of  Long  Island, 
and  represented  that  business  until  coming  West 
in  1884  to  Minneapolis.  In  Minnesota  he  became 
treasurer  of  the  Congregational  Society,  held  that 
office  a number  of  years,  but  finally  returned  to  his 
old  home  in  Maine  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  days. 
His  death  occurred  in  1904.  His  widow  is  now  a 
resident  of  Minnesota.  There  were  six  children 
in  the  family,  the  first  three  being  sons  and  Arthur 
M.  was  the  youngest  of  the  boys. 

Arthur  M.  Higgins  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  at  Flushing,  Long  Island,  and 
reached  the  senior  year  in  the  high  school  class  and 
was  awarded  a scholarship  in  Cornell  University. 
Ill  health  compelled  him  to  leave  high  school  and 
abandon  his  purpose  to  continue  his  education  at 
Cornell,  and  for  the  benefit  of  his  health  he  came 
out  to  Minneapolis.  In  1889  Mr.  Higgins  became 
a student  in  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  that  being  the  second  year  of  the 
department’s  existence.  He  interrupted  his  studies 
and  spent  a year  in  California,  and  then  returned 
to  Minneapolis  and  was  graduated  in  law  with  the 
class  of  1893.  Mr.  Higgins  at  once  took  up  the 
practice  of  law  at  Minneapolis  as  a member  of  the 
firm  of  Bartlett,  Robinson  & Higgins.  A year  later 
Mr.  Higgins  engaged  in  independent  practice,  and 
has  since  had  no  partnership  relations.  For  eight- 
een years  his  offices  have  been  in  the  New  York 
Life  Building,  and  he  controls  a profitable  and  ex- 
tensive general  practice  in  all  the  courts. 

Mr.  Higgins  is.  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  44  of 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  the 
Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Bar 
Association,  and  St.  Paul’s  Episcopal  Church. 
Mrs.  Higgins  was  formerly  Miss  Virginia  Brad- 
ford, daughter  of  the  late  Adolphus  Bradford.  Her 
father  was  the  organizer  of  the  Bradford  Rainwater 
Hat  Company  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  which  is  today 
one  of  the  flourishing  institutions  of  that  city. 
Adolphus  Bradford,  who  died  at  Minnetonka  June 
22,  1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  was  one  of 
the  recognized  pioneers  and  most  influential  citi- 
zens of  Minneapolis,  having  located  in  that  city  in 
1862  and  continued  his  residence  there  nearly  forty 
years.  He  came  to  Minneapolis  from  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and  was  for  a long  time  prominent  in  the 
real  estate  business.  Mr.  Bradford  and  the  late 
Isaac  Atwater,  the  latter  of  whom  was  editor  in 
chief  of  the  Atwater  History  of  Minneapolis  in 
1893,  are  distinguished  as  having  built  the  first 
two  large  and  imposing  residences  in  Minneapolis. 
Mrs.  Bradford  died  in  1902. 

Mrs.  Higgins,  who  was  married  May  16,  1893, 
was  born  in  Minneapolis  and  educated  at  the  Miss 
Burnham’s  School  at  Northampton,  Massachusetts. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1503 


Mr.  Higgins  and  wife  have  two  daughters,  Virginia 
and  Josephine,  both  born  in  Minneapolis.  For 
eighteen  years  Mr.  Higgins  lived  both  winter  and 
summer  at  Lake  Minnetonka,  where  he  owned  a 
fine  summer  home  with  grounds  of  twenty-five 
acres.  This  property  was  recently  sold  to  A.  B. 
Jackson,  and  the  Higgins  family  now  reside  at  2410 
Pillsbury  Avenue,  though  the  summer  season  is 
spent  at  another  location  on  Lake  Minnetonka.  Mr. 
Higgins  outside  of  his  profession  finds  much  recrea- 
tion in  following  the  great  national  pastime  of 
baseball,  and  is  one  of  the  most  regular  attendants 
at  the  games  of  the  association  held  in  Minneapolis. 

Hugh  Howard  Lankester.  The  name  Lankester 
is  associated  with  two  distinct  lines  of  public  serv- 
ice in  St.  Paul.  Hugh  Howard  Lankester  is  general 
agent  of  the  passenger  department  of  the  Chicago, 
St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  & Omaha  Railroad,  and 
though  beginning  as  a minor  clerk  has  put  himself 
at  the  age  of  thirty  among  the  leading  railway  men 
of  Minnesota.  His  father,  Dr.  Howard  L.  Lan- 
kester, has  long  held  a distinguished  place  in  St. 
Paul  as  a physician  and  surgeon,  but  particularly 
through  his  unceasing  war  on  germs  and  contam- 
ination, has  he  made  a splendid  record  as  health 
commissioner. 

Dr.  Howard  L.  Lankester  was  born  at  Southamp- 
ton, England,  February  23,  1846,  a son  of  Robert 
and  Elizabeth  A.  Lankester.  Educated  in  private 
schools  and  graduated  from  Crawford  College, 
Doctor  Lankester  was  a student  in  King's  College 
at  London  and  for  a time  was  a member  of  the 
Third  Royal  Middlesex  Artillery.  Coming  to 
America  in  the  early  ’70s,  in  1878,  he  located 
at  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota,  and  there  began 
practice  as  a physician.  In  1882  he  moved  to  Fisher, 
Minnesota,  and  his  home  has  been  in  St.  Paul  since 
1896.  His  abilities  required  a large  field,  and  in  St. 
Paul  he  has  been  more  than  a private  and  success- 
ful practitioner,  rather  a leader  in  the  larger  things 
of  the  profession,  and  also  in  public  affairs. 

In  1911  Doctor  Lankester  was  appointed  health 
commissioner  at  St.  Paul.  What  he  has  done 
through  this  office  is  interestingly  told  in  the  fol- 
lowing quotations  : 

“Some  men  seem  to  be  born  for  specific  duties 
and  when  the  hour  is  ripe  are  selected  to  perform 
them.  Dr.  Howard  Lankester  has  gone  at  his  work 
as  health  commissioner  of  St.  Paul  as  if  he  had 
been  specially  designed  for  it  and  is  achieving  re- 
sults entirely  in  keeping  with  the  vigor  and  deter- 
mination of  his  spirit  and  his  administration  of  the 
office. 

“When  he  accepted  this  office  early  in  the  current 
year  he  made  a studious  examination  of  its  require- 
ments and  the  legal  provisions  which  governed  it. 
He  soon  discovered  that  there  were  many  outworn 
limitations  in  the  city  ordinances  which  seriously 
hampered  an  efficient  administration  of  the  office, 
and  he  went  to  work  to  have  these  removed.  He 
has  succeeded  to  a considerable  extent  in  securing 
more  authority  for  the  health  office  and  more 
specific  enactments  for  its  government  and  he  has 
been  tireless  and  unyielding  in  his  efforts  to  im- 
prove conditions. 

“He  has  forced  the  elimination  of  the  public 
drinking  cup,  which  was  considered  a menace  to 
the  general  health  of  the  community  and  a fruit- 
ful source  of  contagion;  secured  the  protection  of 
fresh  fruits  and  vegetables  exposed  for  sale  from 


contact  with  flies  and  insects;  brought  about  strict 
regulations  for  barber  shops  and  put  in  force  more 
uniform  and  efficient  methods  of  collecting  garbage. 
So  far  his  work  has  been  excellent  in  character  and 
very  beneficial  in  results,  and  the  people  rejoice  in 
the  fact  that  what  he  has  done  for  the  good  of 
the  city  is  but  a sign  of  what  they  may  expect  from 
the  continuance  of  his  vigor  and  enterprise  in  the 
performance  of  his  official  duties.’’ 

Doctor  Lankester  is  credited  with  being  one  of 
the  pioneers  in  the  elimination  of  the  public  drink- 
ing cup,  and  what  has  been  accomplished  in  St.  Paul 
is  now  firmly  intrenched  in  the  social  customs  of 
many  other  states  and  communities.  He  took  es- 
pecially advanced  ground  in  what  was  known  as  the 
fruit  ordinance,  for  the  protection  of  fruit  stands 
from  dust  and  flies,  and  had  a vigorous  fight  before 
he  could  secure  the  enactment  of  this  measure. 
Doctor  Lankester  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
order,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
belongs  to  the  Ramsey  County  and  the  State  Med- 
ical societies.  To  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Anne 
Polkinghorne  were  born  eight  children,  five  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Tessie  Berry  is  the  wife  of 
Harry  B.  Smith  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin ; Sidney 
Owen  lives  in  St.  Paul. 

Hugh  Howard  Lankester,  second  of  the  surviving 
children  of  Doctor  Lankester,  was  born  at  Fisher’s 
Landing,  Minnesota,  February  24,  1884.  His  early 
education  came  from  the  public  schools,  and  he 
graduated  from  the  Central  High  School  of  St. 
Paul  in  1903.  His  first  position  was  as  stenographer 
with  the  Griffin  Wheel  Company  of  St.  Paul.  Just 
ten  years  ago  he  began  his  career  as  a railroad  man. 
The  first  year  was  spent  as  stenographer  in  the 
transportation  department  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad.  He  was  then  made  assistant  ticket  clerk 
and  stenographer,  and  a year  later  secured  a posi- 
tion in  the  president’s  office  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
as  stenographer.  After  a year  in  the  president’s 
office,  Mr.  Lankester  transferred  his  services  to  the 
Chicago,  Minneapolis  & Omaha  Railway  as  stenog- 
rapher and  ticket  clerk,  at  the  end  of  two  years 
was  advanced  to  chief  clerk,  held  that  place  one 
year,  then  became  traveling  passenger  agent  over 
the  states  of  Minnesota  and  North  Dakota,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  years,  in  April,  1911,  was  promoted 
to  his  present  office  as  general  agent  of  the  pas- 
senger department.  Mr.  Lankester’s  efficiency  needs 
no  comment  further  than  this  record  of  promotion, 
and  it  should  also  be  mentioned  that  he  is  one  of 
the  popular  men  in  railway  service  in  the  North- 
west, and  has  shown  a readiness  at  all  times  to  put 
his  office  at  the  benefit  of  the  traveling  public.  Mr. 
Lankester  is  a Knight  Templar  and  Shriner  Mason, 
belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  also  the  Twin 
City  Society  of  Magicians.  His  recreation  in  its 
most  favorite  form  is  deer  hunting,  and  he  pos- 
sesses several  deer  heads  as  trophies  of  his  skill. 
He  is  also  a member  of  the  St.  Paul  Rod  and  Gun 
Club  and  of  the  Commercial  Club,  and  was  reared 
in  the  Eniscopal  Church.  Mr.  Lankester  was  mar- 
ried June  25,  1912,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  to  Miss 
Elsa  M.  Stoll,  daughter  of  Edward  Stoll,  a whole- 
sale fruit  produce  merchant  of  Louisville. 

Hon.  Edmund  Schofield  Durment  has  been  for 
many  years  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  St.  Paul 
bar,  at  which  he  is  now  practicing  as  senior  member 
of  the  well-known  firm  of  Durment,  Moore  & 
Oppenheimer.  He  has  been  a member  of  the  St. 
Paul  bar  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  almost  from 


1501 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  time  when  he  first  entered  practice  here  has 
occupied  a leading  and  commanding  position  in  his 
profession.  At  an  early  period  in  his  professional 
career  he  was  fortunate  in  securing  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  those  engaged  in  large  affairs,  and 
this  he  has  always  retained.  Not  alone  in  his  own 
profession,  but  in  other  fields,  Mr.  Durment  has 
lived  an  active,  busy  and  useful  life,  intimately  con- 
cerned with  the  growth  and  development  of  his  city 
during  its  emergence  from  a small  community  into 
the  condition  of  a mighty  metropolis. 

Edmund  Schofield  Durment  was  born  in  Brown 
County,  Indiana,  March  19,  i860,  and  is  a son  of 
Rev.  George  W.  and  Henrietta  (Hoggett)  Durment, 
natives  of  Indiana  who  are  both  now  deceased. 
His  father  attended  old  Miami  University,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  medical  department,  was  a physician  by 
profession,  but  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
to  preaching  as  a Methodist  Episcopal  minister, 
while  his  last  active  ten  years  were  spent  in  Mis- 
souri. During  two  years  of  this  time  he  also  prac- 
ticed medicine,  and  then  went  to  Warrensburg,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  was  pastor  for  two  years,  subse- 
quently going  to  Sedalia,  where  he  was  made  pastor 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  As  presiding 
elder  he  resided  three  years  at  Rolla,  Missouri,  and 
three  years  at  Springfield,  that  state,  but  his  health 
finally  failing  him,  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  work. 
He  died  at  Paoli,  Indiana,  in  1878,  when  aged  only 
forty-two  years.  He  was  married  at  Paoli,  the 
birthplace  of  Mrs.  Durment,  and  she  survived  him 
only  until  1880,  dying  at  Paoli,  where  both  parents 
are  interred,  side  by  side,  in  the  city  cemetery. 
There  were  three  children  in  the  family,  namely: 
Sereptha  L.,  who  is  the  widow  of  Charles  Leazer 
and  resides  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado ; Frank 
R.,  who  is  a resident  of  New  Mexico,  and  Edmund 
Schofield. 

Edmund  S.  Durment,  after  attending  the  public 
schools,  went  two  years  to  the  Missouri  School  of 
Mines  at  Rolla,  two  years  to  Drury  College,  Spring- 
field,  Missouri,  and  then  to  Columbian  (now  George 
Washington)  University,  Washington,  D.  C.,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  law  with  the  class  of  1884. 
During  the  next  year  he  was  a special  examiner  in 
Kentucky  for  the  United  States  Pension  Office,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1885  came  to  St.  Paul,  where  for 
his  first  year  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
C.  D.  O’Brien,  his  next  associate  being  Daniel  W. 
Lawler,  with  whom  he  remained  eight  years,  the 
firm  being  known  as  Lawler  & Durment.  Both  of 
these  gentlemen  are  mentioned  in  sketches  of  their 
own  elsewhere  in  this  work.  During  one  or  two 
years  of  the  life  of  this  firm  Horace  E.  Bigelow 
was  connected  therewith  as  junior  member,  but  re- 
signed from  the  association.  Mr.  Lawler  eventu- 
ally became  counsel  for  one  of  the  large  railroads, 
but  Mr.  Durment  continued  to  carry  on  the  business 
of  the  firm,  which  was  known  as  one  of  the  strong- 
est combinations  in  the  city.  Later  the  association 
was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Durment  continued  the  prac- 
tice alone  for  several  years  and  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  Albert  R.  Moore,  and  William  H. 
Oppenheimer  has  since  been  admitted  to  partner- 
ship. While  Mr.  Durment’s  practice  has  been  of  a 
broad,  general  character,  his  talents  are  of  such  a 
nature  that  he  has  been  particularly  successful  in 
handling  certain  kinds  of  legal  business,  and  has 
the  names  of  some  of  the  large  corporations  of  the 
state  on  his  books.  He  serves  as  local  counsel  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  a number  of  western 


roads,  represents  the  American  National  Bank  in 
its  legal  business,  and  is  also  counsel  for  several 
large  insurance  companies.  Mr.  Durment  is  known 
throughout  the  legal  profession  as  an  able  and 
thorough  lawyer,  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held  is  shown  by  his  election  to  the  presidency 
of  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Association,  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  organizers.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  Ramsey  County  Bar  Association,  and  has  been 
its  president.  While  he  is  apt  to  lean  toward  re- 
publicanism, Mr.  Durment  prefers  to  choose  his 
own  candidates,  irrespective  of  party  lines.  He  has 
been  interested  in  politics  to  some  extent,  and  for 
four  years  served  as  a member  of  the  State  Senate 
from  the  Thirty-sixth  Senatorial  District,  in  which 
office  he  never  missed  a session,  and  at  all  times 
took  an  active  and  leading  part  in  the  activities  of 
that  body,  of  which  he  was  known  as  a working 
member.  He  was  a member  of  the  old  state  board 
of  correction  and  charities,  serving  out  an  unex- 
pired term.  Mr.  Durment  is  a life  member  of 
Summit  Lodge  of  Masons,  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  and  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  holds  membership  in  the  Min- 
nesota and  University  Clubs.  For  twenty-five  years 
he  was  a member  of  the  St.  Paul  Commercial  Club, 
but  is  not  a member  at  this  time.  He  is  a member 
and  trustee  of  the  People’s  Church. 

On  September  22,  1887,  Mr.  Durment  was  mar- 
ried, at  St.  Paul,  to  Miss  Rose  Smith,  a native  of 
West  Union,  Iowa,  and  a daughter  of  William  and 
Harriet  (Chamberlain)  Smith,  of  English  origin, 
and  the  only  descendant  born  in  the  United  States. 
To  this  union  there  have  been  born  three  children, 
as  follows : Farrell  Smith,  a graduate  of  the  Cen- 

tral High  School  of  St.  Paul  and  of  the  Girls'  Col- 
lege at  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Ralph  R.  McCartney,  and  resides  at  Cloquet,  Min- 
nesota ; Edmund  Smith,  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  St.  Paul,  St.  John’s  Military  Academy 
(three  years),  St.  Paul's  Academy  (one  year),  and 
Macalester  College,  St.  Paul ; and  Theodore  Smith, 
who  is  still  attending  school.  Mrs.  Durment  is  a 
most  accomplished  woman  of  extensive  attainments 
and  wide  culture,  is  active  in  religious  and  charita- 
ble work,  and  the  beautiful  home  over  which  she 
presides  has  always  been  recognized  as  one  of  the 
attractive  centers  of  social  activity  and  higher  cul- 
ture in  the  community. 

Mr.  Durment  maintains  offices  in  the  Germania 
Building.  Among  his  associates  he  is  not  only 
known  as  an  able,  thorough  and  energetic  lawyer, 
but  as  a high  type  of  all  those  qualities  which  have 
contributed  to  the  traditional  greatness  of  a learned 
and  honored  profession. 

Albin  E.  Bjorklund.  In  November,  1914,  the 
Thirty-seventh  Legislative  District  elected  Albin  E. 
Bjorklund  to  the  lower  house  of  the  Legislature, 
and  he  began  his  duties  as  a Minnesota  lawmaker 
on  January  4,  1915.  Mr.  Bjorklund  is  a young  but 
successful  St.  Paul  attorney,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  about  eight  years  ago  and  along  with  the  work  of 
building  up  a practice  has  been  interested  in  local 
affairs  and  politics  and  is  well  known  both  among 
the  younger  and  older  circles  of  republicans. 

He  was  born  at  St.  Paul  December  16,  1886,  the 
third  son  of  Andrew  and  Emma  (Romvall)  Bjork- 
lund. His  father,  who  died  in  October,  1913,  was 
an  early  settler  in  St.  Paul  and  for  many  years- 
identified  with  business  affairs  there.  The  mother 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1505 


is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  in  the  capital 
city. 

He  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  St.  Paul,  and  after  graduating  from  the  Cleve- 
land High  School  entered  the  St.  Paul  College  of 
Law,  pursued  his  studies  there  regularly  and  in 
1907  was  graduated  LL.  B.  and  admitted  to  the 
Ramsey  County  bar  the  same  year.  Mr.  Bjorklund 
practiced  the  first  half  year  in  Aurora,  Minnesota, 
then  returned  to  St.  Paul,  was  associated  a time 
with  Mr.  A.  J.  Newgren,  and  in  1911  Mr.  O.  H. 
O’Neill,  city  attorney,  appointed  him  assistant  city 
attorney.  He  made  an  excellent  record  in  that  office 
during  the  two  and  a half  years  he  held  it,  and  after 
retiring  from  the  city  hall  took  up  active  private 
practice  in  association  with  O’Brien,  Young  & Stone. 

Mr.  Bjorklund  has  always  affiliated  with  the  re- 
publican party  and  has  served  as  a member  of  the 
republican  county  central  committee.  In  1914  he 
was  nominated  and  elected  a member  of  the  lower 
house  to  represent  the  northerly  part  of  the  thirty- 
seventh  district.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with 
Montgomery  Lodge  No.  258,  A.  F.  & A.  M.  Mr. 
Bjorklund  has  his  offices  in  the  Germania  Life 
Building.  In  November,  1914,  he  married  Miss 
Mabel  C.  Wahlberg  of  St.  Paul.  Her  father  is  an 
old  resident  of  that  city. 

Hon.  J.  A.  A.  Burnquist.  As  present  lieutenant 
governor  of  Minnesota,  Mr.  Burnquist  has  made  a 
name  that  will  always  be  securely  established  in  the 
political  annals  of  his  state.  Mr.  Burnquist  is  thirty- 
five  years  of  age,  and  while  neither  history  nor 
biography  can  be  justified  in  making  predictions  as 
to  the  future,  it  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  the 
achievements  of  his  brilliant  career  have  hardly 
more  than  begun. 

After  serving  two  terms  as  a member  of  the 
Legislature,  Mr.  Burnquist  was  nominated  on  the 
republican  ticket  in  1912  for  the  office  of  lieutenant 
governor,  and  in  the  nominating  campaign  defeated 
D.  M.  Neil  of  Red  Wing  at  the  primaries.  In  June, 
1914,  Mr.  Burnquist  was  nominated  as  running  mate 
to  William  E.  Lee  of  Long  Prairie  for  governor. 
In  the  primaries  Mr.  Burnquist  was  opposed  to 
Elias  Steenerson. 

Governor  Burnquist’s  public  career  has  been  again 
and  again  subjected  to  critical  analysis,  and  for  the 
purposes  of  this  sketch  it  will  be  necessary  only  to 
briefly'  review  the  findings  of  his  critics.  He  was 
elected  in  1908  to  the  Legislature,  and  during  the 
following  session  identified  himself  with  the  passage 
of  several  bills,  but  at  that  time  was  more  con- 
spicuous because  of  his  opposition  to  legislation 
which  he  believed  and  which  the  judgment  of  the 
people  believed  was  inimical  to  the  best  welfare. 
In  1910,  after  his  efficient  record  of  the  first  ses- 
sion, Mr.  Burnquist  had  no  opposition  at  the  pri- 
maries or  in  the  general  election.  After  his  election 
he  was  one  of  the  prominent  candidates  for  speaker 
of  the  house,  but  his  refusal  to  make  any  pledge  as 
to  appointments  or  in  any  way  modify  his  inde- 
pendence, prevented  his  election.  During  the  session 
of  1911  Mr.  Burnquist  was  chairman  of  the  Normal 
School  Committee.  His  name  during  this  session 
was  identified  with  a number  of  important  measures, 
several  of  which  were  of  particular  benefit'  to  the 
City  of  St.  Paul.  Of  his  record  the  most  impartial 
critics  gave  the  following  estimate : “Strong  insur- 
gent leader;  was  a progressive  candidate  for  speaker; 
was  an  uncompromising  progressive  and  never  failed 


to  give  larger  political  opportunities  to  the  people; 
took  a prominent  part  in  every  fundamental  fight  for 
reform ; Mr.  Burnquist  displayed  unusual  ability  and 
courage  in  his  legislative  work  and  made  some  of 
the  best  speeches  of  the  session.”  At  the  special 
session  of  the  Legislature  Mr.  Burnquist  was  on  the 
committee  for  the  drafting  of  a state-wide  primary 
law  and  was  also  active  in  the  support  of  the  meas- 
ures which  would  provide  for  the  non-partisan  se- 
lection of  judges,  and  other  important  reforms. 

It  was  on  his  record  as  a strong  and  independent 
champion  of  reform  measures  in  state  politics  that 
Mr.  Burnquist  was  elected  and  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  lieutenant  governor.  As  lieutenant  gover- 
nor he  was  presiding  officer  of  the  Senate,  and  had 
an  important  authority  owing  to  his  power  in  the 
appointment  of  committees.  A review  of  his  work 
as  lieutenant  governor  shows  that  Mr.  Burnquist 
exercised  remarkable  judgment,  sagacity,  independ- 
ence and  absolute  fairness  in  the  performance  of  his 
official  duties.  In  order  that  the  business  of  the 
Senate  might  be  expedited,  he  secured  a reduction  in 
the  number  of  committees  and  the  membership 
thereof  and  employed  a rare  judgment  in  his  ap- 
pointments, as  a result  of  which  the  business  of  the 
Senate  proceeded  with  unusual  smoothness  and  re- 
sulted in  a larger  and  better  product  of  legislation 
than  has  followed  for  a number  of  sessions.  His 
fair  mindedness  and  desire  to  promote  the  essential 
business  of  the  Senate  enabled  him  in  his  appoint- 
ments to  committees  to  select  the  men  best  fitted  for 
the  special  departments  of  senatorial  work,  without 
regard  to  partisan  or  personal  reasons.  In  the 
selection  of  members  to  committees  entrusted  with 
legislation  of  vital  and  controversial  moment  in  the 
state,  Mr.  Burnquist  showed  unusual  diolomacy  arid 
tact,  and  by  securing  a proper  balance  of  men  whose 
views  were  pronounced  in  opposition  to  as  well  as 
in  favor  of  the  proposed  legislation,  he  gave  each 
side  its  proper  proportion,  and  as  a result  the  work 
on  the  bills  in  committees  showed  the  results  of 
thorough  discussion,  and  put  them  in  a shape  to  be 
intelligently  considered  by  the  Senate  as  a whole. 

Without  entering  into  details  that  would  make 
this  sketch  too  long,  a fair  estimate  of  Mr.  Burn- 
quist’s influence  as  president  of  the  Senate  is  found 
in  the  following  sentences : “That  so  much  was  done 
in  the  senate  was  due  in  large  measure  to  its  or- 
ganization. Mr.  Burnquist  secured  a great  reduction 
in  the  number  of  committees  and  appointed  chair- 
men who  reported  out  the  bills,  and  who  did  not 
permit  them  to  die  in  committees  as  has  often  been 
the  case.  The  work,  therefore,  at  the  end  of  the 
session  was  not  congested.  Usually  several  hun- 
dred bills  die  on  general  orders  and  on  the  calendar, 
but  at  the  end  of  each  session  all  important  bills 
were  disposed  of  and  practically  all  of  the  business 
was  cleaned  up  when  the  senate  adjourned  on  the 
last  night  of  the  session.” 

Joseph  A.  A.  Burnquist,  whose  public  career  has 
thus  been  briefly  reviewed,  was  born  at  Dayton, 
Webster  County,  Iowa,  July  21,  1879.  His  parents 
were  John  A.  and  A.  Louise  Burnquist,  the  former 
a pioneer  of  Webster  County.  After  an  education 
in  the  Dayton  public  schools,  Mr.  Burnquist  con- 
tinued his  studies  in  Carleton  Academy  and  College 
at  Northfield,  Minnesota,  graduating  in  1902  with 
degree  of  A.  B.  He  continued  his  literary  educa- 
tion and  also  his  studies  of  law  in  the  Columbia 
University  of  New  York,  where  he  graduated  in 
1904  as  Master  of  Arts.  It  might  be  noted  that  dur- 


1506 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


ing  his  career  at  Columbia  Mr.  Burnquist  was  mem- 
ber of  the  debating  team  which  won  a decision  in  a 
contest  with  representatives  of  Cornell  University 
in  the  discussion  of  the  subject  of  direct  election 
by  the  people  of  the  United  States  Senate.  Mr. 
Burnquist  studied  law  in  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota, graduating  LL.  B.  in  1905,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  began  active  practice  at  St.  Paul. 
He  quickly  gained  the  initial  honors  of  the  profes- 
sion, and  was  soon  established  with  a profitable 
practice  as  a lawyer. 

January  1,  1906,  Mr.  Burnquist  married  Miss  Mary 
Louise  Cross,  daughter  of  Rev.  Rowland  S.  Cross. 
Mrs.  Burnquist  was  born  at  Anoka,  Minnesota,  and 
graduated  from  Carleton  College  in  1903.  Her 
father  was  for  over  thirty  years  an  active  minister 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Minnesota.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Burnquist  have  the  following  children : 
John  McLean,  Mary  Louise  and  Ruth  Mabel.  Mr. 
Burnquist  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  he  has  many  fraternal  affiliations. 

Albert  M.  Lawton  has  been  an  active  business 
man  of  St.  Paul  for  more  than  thirty  years.  His 
chief  consecutive  enterprise  has  been  in  the  real 
estate,  loan  and  insurance  business,  but  he  has  also 
served  as  a banker  and  has  had  extensive  connections 
with  other  lines  of  business.  His  offices  are  at 
134  East  Fourth  Street. 

Albert  M.  Lawton  was  born  on  a farm  near  Still- 
water, Minnesota,  December  3,  1857,  a son  of  Jona- 
than and  Elizabeth  (Brayton)  Lawton.  The  parents 
were  both  born  in  Massachusetts  and  came  to  Min- 
nesota as  pioneers  in  1855,  locating  on  a farm  near 
Stillwater,  where  Jonathan  Lawton  lived  for  many 
years,  and  conducted  for  a number  of  years  a gen- 
eral store  in  St.  Paul.  The  mother  is  still  living 
on  the  old  homestead,  348  East  Winifred  Street,  St. 
Paul,  and  at  this  writing  in  her  eighty-fifth  year. 

Albert  M.  Lawton  grew  up  in  pioneer  times  and 
pioneer  conditions,  attending  country  schools,  and 
also  had  advantage  of  instruction  in  the  W.  A. 
Faddis  Business  College.  On  leaving  school  he 
spent  several  years  on  a farm  and  with  this  prepara- 
tion came  to  St.  Paul.  In  1883  he  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business,  and  as  a result  of  long  years 
of  residence  is  widely  known  not  only  in  the  capital 
city  but  over  the  state,  and  has  the  complete  con- 
fidence of  his  patrons  and  has  a large  and  pros- 
perous business.  In  1886  Mr.  Lawton  organized  the 
West  Side  Bank  of  St.  Paul,  and  for  six  years  held 
the  office  of  vice  president.  He  now  confines  his 
attention  to  real  estate  and  insurance,  handling  city 
property  and  farm  lands,  loaning  money  on  both  city 
and  country  real  estate. 

Mr.  Lawton  was  married  in  1888  to  Miss  Angelica 
Covell  of  Stillwater,  a daughter  of  John  and  Abigail 
Coveil.  They  have  one  son,  Evan  E.  Lawton.  Be- 
sides the  city  residence  the  family  have  a summer 
home  at  White  Bear  Lake.  Mr.  Lawton  is  promi- 
nent in  Masonry,  having  affiliation  with  Shekinah 
Lodge  No.  17,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  also  a member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters. 

Daniel  Harvey  Evans.  The  field  of  insurance 
has  attracted  many  of  the  ablest  personalities  in 
American  commerce,  and  the  occupancy  of  the 
larger  positions  in  the  business  is  almost  without 
exception  a proof  of  extraordinary  capacity,  energy, 
fidelity  and  integrity.  Daniel  H.  Evans  is  a Min- 
neapolis insurance  man  with  a record,  and  is 


northwestern  manager  of  the  Continental  Casualty 
Company.  For  eighteen  years  he  has  managed  the 
business  of  the  company  which  now  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  having  the  largest  personal  health  and 
accident  business  in  the  Northwest.  There  is  no 
need  of  explanation  to  state  the  relations  of  cause 
and  effect  between  Mr.  Evans’  position  and  this 
business  achievement.  Mr.  Evans  is  a Minnesota 
man  by  birth,  came  from  a pioneer  family  of  Le 
Sueur  and  Blue  Earth  counties,  is  a lawyer  by  pro- 
fession, was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  became  an 
active  figure  in  South  Dakota  politics,  but  his  chief 
business  record  for  thirty  years  has  been  either  in 
the  real  estate  field  or  in  insurance. 

Daniel  Harvey  Evans  was  born  January  30,  1862, 
at  Cleveland,  LeSueur  County,  Minnesota,  a son 
of  David  and  Mary  Evans.  His  father  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  farmers  of  LeSueur  County  and  in  that 
locality  Daniel  H.  spent  his  early  days,  working  on 
the  home  farm  to  develop  his  muscles  and  attending 
public  schools  at  Cambria  and  also  at  Mankato. 
His  literary  education  was  completed  in  the  Man- 
kato Normal  School,  and  he  afterwards  studied 
law  in  South  Dakota.  His  knowledge  of  the  law 
has  proved  of  great  value,  although  it  is  not  known 
that  he  ever  took  a single  fee  for  the  handling  of 
cases  in  court.  In  1882  he  became  identified  with 
the  loan  and  real  estate  business  at  Ipswich,  South 
Dakota,  remained  there  eight  years,  and  after  dis- 
posing of  his  interests  came  to  Minneapolis  in  1890, 
where  for  several  years  he  continued  in  the  loan 
and  real  estate  business. 

In  1897  Mr.  Evans  accepted  the  position  of  north- 
western manager  of  the  Continental  Casualty  Com- 
pany of  Chicago.  Flis  territory  comprises  the  State 
of  Minnesota,  Northern  Wisconsin,  and  North  and 
South  Dakota,  and  his  headquarters  as  manager 
and  general  agent  are  in  the  Andrus  Building  at 
Minneapolis.  The  Continental  Casualty  Company 
issues  policies  covering  the  general  lines  of  accident 
and  health,  liability,  workmen’s  compensation  and 
automobile  insurance.  There  has  recently  been  or- 
ganized the  Continental  Assurance  Company  for  the 
writing  of  life  insurance,  of  which  Mr.  Evans  is  also 
the  general  agent.  His  splendid  success  in  the  insur- 
ance field  is  illustrated  not  only  by  the  standing  of 
his  company  in  having  the  largest  personal  health  and 
accident  business  in  the  Northwest,  but  is  noted  in 
a recent  issue  of  the  Continental  Agents’  Record  in 
which  he  was  mentioned  as  one  of  the  four  prize 
winners  who  qualified  for  the  trip  to  the  Panama- 
Pacific  Exposition.  Th  following  sentences  have 
reference  to  these  prizes  winners  and  Mr.  Evans  in 
particular : “Special  praise  is  due  each  of  these 
prize  winners  for  having  accomplished  what  they 
did  in  a year  that  was  far  from  ideal  from  a busi- 
ness standpoint.  Mr.  Evans,  one  of  the  company’s 
largest  general  agents,  succeeded  in  making  the 
increase  required  on  top  of  an  already  extremely 
large  volume  of  business.” 

Mr.  Evans  is  a republican  in  politics  and  while 
living  in  South  Dakota  took  much  part  in  state  af- 
fairs, though  not  active  politically  since  removing 
to  Minneapolis.  He  is  affiliated  with  Anchor  Lodge 
No.  88,  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  Minneapolis,  with  Minne- 
haha Lodge  No.  165,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  is  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the  Automobile  Club 
of  Minneapolis,  and  for  the  past  ten  years  has  been 
a trustee,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Building  Com- 
mittee, of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Congregational 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1507 


Church.  . On  September  u,  1889,  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  M.  Owens.  Their  three  children  are : 
Ethel  and  Kenneth,  twins,  and  Dorothy,  all  born  in 
Minneapolis. 

Ladislav  Joseph  Pavliceic.  With  the  continued 
increase  of  good  taste  and  the  desire  for  attractive 
surroundings  and  environments  in  all  places  where 
people  live  and  pursue  their  ordinary  activities,  the 
profession  of  decorator  is  reaching  corresponding- 
prestige  and  importance.  One  of  the  best  known 
men  in  this  field  in  St.  Paul  is  L.  J.  Pavlicek  who 
has  been  identified  with  the  city  for  the  past  fifteen 
years,  and  whose  work  is  now  found  in  many  of  the 
finest  homes  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Pavlicek  is  a native  Bohemian,  born  in 
Prague,  November  19,  1867.  His  parents  were 
Vaclav  and  Anna  (Kvapil)  Pavlicek,  both  natives  of 
Bohemia,  where  the  father  followed  the  trade  of 
decorator  all  the  active  years  of  his  life,  and  where 
he  died. 

L.  J.  Pavlicek  had  a common  school  education  and 
from  the  common  schools  entered  a school  of 
mechanics  and  arts  and  was  thoroughly  trained  for 
his  future  vocation,  spending  four  years  there.  At 
Vienna  he  worked  some  time  as  a decorator,  and 
in  1895  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  going  direct 
from  New  York  City  to  Chicago.  During  his  five 
years  in  Chicago  Mr.  Pavlicek  was  employed  with 
several  contractors,  and  finally  was  connected  with 
the  staff  of  decorators  maintained  by  the  great  mer- 
chandise house  of  Marshall  Field. 

On  removing  to  St.  Paul  in  1899  he  continued 
work  at  his  trade  as  an,  individual  until  1905,  and 
then  started  a business  of  his  own,  opening  a large 
stock  of  wall  paper  and  similar  supplies  and  fur- 
nishing a complete  and  expert  service  in  decora- 
tive work  for  domestic  purposes.  His  business  had 
a rapid  growth  from  the  start,  and  his  _ patronage 
was  rapidly  extended  among  the  best  families  of  the 
city,  and  his  service  is  exemplified  in  the  decoration 
of  many  of  the  finest  homes  in  St.  Paul  and  neigh- 
boring towns.  His  store  and  office  is  at  178  West 
Street,  St.  Paul. 

In  1907  Mr.  Pavlicek  married  Miss  Julia  Tomasek, 
who  was  born  in  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin,  a daughter 
of  Charles  and  Agnes  Tomasek.  Most  of  her  youth 
was  spent  in  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin,  where  she  was 
educated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pavlicek  have  an  attractive 
home  at  567  Lincoln  Avenue,  and  it  is  of  the  latest 
design  in  point  of  architecture  and  with  surround- 
ings that  well  illustrate  Mr.  Pavlicek’s  thorough 
taste  and  long  experience.  In  the  fall  of  1914  Mr. 
Pavlicek  returned  from  an  extended  trip  to  Europe, 
where  he  visited  his  old  home  and  many  other  places 
of  interest,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  European 
war  quietly  made  his  way  back  to  America.  He  is 
recognized  as  a thorough  business  man,  and  a good 
reliable  citizen  of  St.  Paul,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
acceptable  members  of  St.  Stanislaus  Catholic 
Church. 

Frederick  Walcott  Northrop.  For  more  than 
forty  years  the  late  Frederick  Walcott  Northrop  was 
a resident  of  St.  Paul.  While  his  name  never  fig- 
ured in  politics  nor  in  connection  with  any  public 
office,  and  his  retiring  nature  kept  him  out  of  social 
organizations,  he  was  none  the  less  a man  of  quiet 
but  effective  citizenship,  performed  his  work  with 
singular  fidelity,  had  the  close  friendship  and  af- 
fection of  those  who  knew  him  intimately,  and  left 


an  honored  name  to  his  descendants.  His  widow 
and  several  of  his  children  now  reside  at  358  Baker 
Street  in  St.  Paul. 

Frederick  Walcott  Northrop  was  born  at  Brook- 
field, Connecticut,  November  13,  1847,  a son  of  For- 
est and  Eliza  (Gregory)  Northrop.  His  father  for 
many  years  kept  a book  and  stationery  store  in 
Brookfield.  Frederick  W.  Northrop  attended  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  also  was  in 
school  at  New  Haven.  His  first  employment  was  in 
a grocery  store,  but  when  still  a very  young  boy 
he  enlisted  for  service  in  a Connecticut  regiment  of 
the  Union  army.  He  was  with  the  infantry  one 
year,  and  though  not  present  at  any  important  en- 
gagements he  was  taken  prisoner  and  was  on  parole 
when  the  war  closed.  He  then  returned  home,  lived 
at  New  Haven  a time,  and  from  there  came  to  St. 
Paul.  For  twenty-eight  years  he  was  in  the  service 
of  D.  D.  Merrill  in  the  book  and  stationery  business, 
as  bookkeeper  and  later  as  cashier.  When  this  firm 
failed  he  remained  out  of  business  for  a year  and  a 
half,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  Smith  & Far- 
well  for  three  years,  until  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved. About  a year  later  he  became  connected 
with  the  Smith  & Borg  Furniture  House,  and  con- 
tinued with  that  firm  four  years  until  failing  health 
compelled  him  to  give  up  his  duties. 

Mr.  Northrop  died  September  21,  1912,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six.  He  was  a member  of  no  secret  fra- 
ternity, and  did  not  even  affiliate  with  the  Grand 
Army.  Outside  of  home  and  business  his  chief  as- 
sociation was  with  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  St. 
Paul,  in  which  he  was  an  active  member  for  more 
than  forty  years.  A characteristic  was  his  fondness 
for  flowers,  and  while  never  interested  in  athletic 
sports  he  found  recreation  and  pleasure  in  long 
walks  through  the  country. 

At  St.  Clair,  Michigan,  August  9,  1869,  Mr.  North- 
rop married  Emily  Oakes,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair, 
a daughter  of  John  Meade  and  Minerva  (Kenyon) 
Oakes.  Her  father  was  a farmer  in  Eastern  Michi- 
gan. To  this  marriage  were  born  six  children,  one 
of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  Charles 
David,  the  oldest,  is  married  and  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business  at  Los  Angeles,  California.  Sarah 
Eliza  is  the  wife  of  George  Exley.  Alice  Emily  is 
unmarried  and  living  at  home  with  her  mother. 
Frederick  Horace  is  married  and  is  night  superin- 
tendent for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & Quincy  Rail- 
way at  St.  Paul.  Mary  Kate  is  a trained  nurse  and 
lives  at  home. 

Henry  J.  Hadlich.  A citizen  who  has  long  been 
connected  with  the  official  life  of  St.  Paul  is  Henry 
J.  Hadlich,  who  between  the  years  1887  and  1912 
held  various  positions  in  the  St.  Paul  postoffice  and 
at  all  times  displayed  a high  order  of  ability  and 
fidelity  to  duty.  Mr.  Hadlich  was  born  at  Leipzic, 
Germany,  July  10,  1871,  the  oldest  son  of  Christian 
M.  and  Nannie  (Lerchner)  Hadlich.  The  parents 
emigrated  from  their  native  land  to  the  United 
States  in  1882  and  took  up  their  residence  in  St. 
Paul,  and  here  the  father  passed  away  in  1893,  while 
the  mother  still  survives  and  makes  her  home  in 
this  city. 

The  early  education  of  Henry  J.  Hadlich  was 
secured  in  the  public  schools  of  Germany,  as  he  was 
eleven  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  the  long  journey  to  the  home  across  the 
waters.  When  he  had  completed  his  training  in  the 
St.  Paul  High  School,  he  secured  a minor  position 


1508 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  the  St.  Paul  postoffice,  and  rapidly  won  promo- 
tion because  of  his  energy,  capacity  and  faithfulness, 
and  for  ten  years  was  clerk  under  Capt.  Henry  A. 
Castle,  for  whom  he  has  always  held  the  warmest 
regard.  When  he  left  the  employ  of  the  Govern- 
ment, with  an  excellent  record,  he  became  identified 
with  the  Theo.  Hamm  Brewing  Company  of  this 
city,  with  which  he  has  since  been  connected. 

Mr.  Hadlich  was  married  in  1902  to  Miss  Minnie 
Trost  of  San  Francisco,  California,  and  three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union:  Walter  H., 
Doris  C.  and  Carl  T.  Mr.  Hadlich  is  a Master 
Mason,  belonging  to  Shekinah  Lodge,  No.  171,  F. 
& A.  M.,  and  also  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  3,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  During  his  long 
residence  in  St.  Paul  he  has  formed  an  extensive 
acquaintance,  and  in  this  numbers  many  warm 
friends. 

Robert  Jordan.  One  of  St.  Paul's  popular  busi- 
ness men  was  the  late  Robert  Jordan,  who  died  Jan- 
uary 27,  1915,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  He  had  been 
a resident  of  this  city  more  than  thirty  years,  and  is 
survived  by  Mrs.  Jordan  and  their  four  children, 
who  reside  at  89  West  Winifred  Street. 

Robert  Jordan  was  born  at  Berlin,  Germany,  Au- 
gust 28,  1864.  He  was  given  the  thorough  advantages 
of  the  German  public  schools  during  his  early  life, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  having  failed  to  secure 
his  acceptance  for  service  in  the  German  navy,  he 
left  the  fatherland  and  came  to  America.  In  Mil- 
waukee he  found  work  in  the  St.  Charles  Hotel  as 
elevator  boy,  and  later  left  Milwaukee  and  went 
out  to  California.  In  1882  he  first  visited  the  City 
of  St.  Paul,  was  employed  for  a time  by  the  Amont 
Brothers,  then  returned  to  Milwaukee,  but  toward 
the  close  of  1882  located  permanently  in  St.  Paul. 
About  1901  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  as 
the  proprietor  of  a popular  cafe  at  20  East  Seventh 
Street,  and  continued  to  do  business  at  that  location 
for  about  ten  years,  until  the  expiration  of  his  lease 
caused  his  removal  to  413  Cedar  Street.  He  was 
proprietor  of  that  place  until  his  death,  and  the 
business  is  now  carried  on  by  his  oldest  son. 

The  late  Mr.  Jordan  was  a member  at  one  time  of 
the  Order  of  Druids.  While  a democrat,  he  was 
Very  independent  and  cast  his  vote  for  the  best  man 
regardless  of  party.  He  attended  the  German  Luth- 
eran Church.  Outside  of  business  he  had  his  chief 
interests  in  his  home.  He  was  fond  of  horses  and 
flowers,  and  was  devoted  to  his  wife  and  children. 
On  June  24,  1890,  at  St.  Paul  he  married  Louise 
Mohr,  a daughter  of  Carl  and  Louise  Mohr.  Mrs. 
Jordan  was  born  in  Germany  and  her  father  was  a 
cooper  by  trade.  Her  father  came  to  America  in 
1882.  and  in  1885  Mrs.  Jordan  and  her  mother  lo- 
cated in  St.  Paul.  To  this  union  were  born  four 
children : Charles  August,  now  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  and  managing  his  father’s  business ; Minnie 
Louise,  aged  nineteen;  Louisa  Alice,  aged  fifteen; 
and  Gertrude  Martha,  aged  eight. 

Peter  Schliemann.  For  more  than  forty  years 
Peter  Schliemann  was  one  of  the  sterling  business 
men  of  St.  Paul.  He  came  to  that  city  when  it  was 
still  young,  and  by  close  attention  to  business  and 
the  exercise  of  unusual  judgment  in  placing  his 
investments  acquired  a competence  before  his  death. 

Peter  Schliemann  was  born  in  Holstein,  Ger- 
many, December  28,  1845,  and'  died  at  his  home 
in  St.  Paul  March  1,  1912.  His  father,  Luetje 


Schliemann,  was  a German  farmer.  The  son  at- 
tended the  public  schools  in  Germany,  and  also  spent 
one  year  in  the  regular  army.  While  in  the  old 
country  he  learned  the  cabinet  maker’s  trade,  and 
after  his  marriage  in  1869  took  passage  on  a vessel 
which  brought  him  from  his  native  land  to  America, 
and  he'  soon  afterwards  reached  St.  Paul.  In  that 
city  he  spent  several  years  working  at  his  trade,  and 
then  with  a better  knowledge  of  American  people 
and  business  methods  engaged  in  merchandising  on 
his  own  account,  operating  a grocery  and  liquor 
house  at  649  Canada  Street  up  to  1890.  In  the  mean- 
time he  had  placed  his  surplus  capital  in  real  estate, 
and  from  1890  until  his  death  spent  most  of  his  time 
in  looking  after  his  own  property  and  the  manage- 
ment of  his  real  estate  interests. 

He  was  a member  of  the  St.  Paul’s  Church,  was 
a republican  in  politics,  and  belonged  to  the  German 
Veteran  Society.  Fie  was  an  honorary  member  of 
the  Concordia  Singing  Society,  and  was  a man  of 
genial  and  popular  character,  with  a host  of  friends 
in  the  city. 

Before  he  left  Germany  in  1869  he  married  Annie 
Yunge.  Of  the  six  children  born  to  that  marriage 
the  two  now  living  are  Annie  and  Clara,  the  former 
the  wife  of  J.  J.  Thomssen,  a St.  Paul  grocer,  and 
the  latter  the  wife  of  P.  Henninger,  who  is  a pro- 
fessional musician  at  St.  Paul  and  a member  of  the 
Minnesota  State  Band.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  in  1885  Mr.  Schliemann  was  married  Novem- 
ber 3,  1886,  to  Miss  Emma  Schaumann  who  was  also 
born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  at 
the  age  of  twenty-six.  She  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated near  Hamburg,  where  her  parents,  Henry  and 
Margaret  Schaumann,  lived,  her  father  having  been 
a watchmaker.  Mrs.  Schliemann  now  occupies  the 
comfortable  residence  which  Mr.  Schliemann  ac- 
quired a number  of  years  ago  at  261  Thirteenth 
Street. 

Charles  Rollin  Fowler.  A leading  member  of 
the  Minnesota  legal  fraternity,  who  has  attained  a 
position  of  eminence  through  the  force  of  his  own 
ability  and  talents,  Charles  Rollin  Fowler  has  also 
displayed  a high  order  of  citizenship,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  has  won  the  con- 
fidence and  admiration  of  the  people  because  of  the 
stand  he  has  taken  upon  questions  of  civic  and  state 
importance.  He  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  having 
been  born  at  the  town  of  Jordan,  September  17, 
1869,  a son  of  Rollin  D.  and  Jane  (Varner)  Fowler. 
His  parents  were  among  the  most  prominent  people 
of  the  locality  during  the  early  days,  when  Minne- 
sota was  still  a territory,  and  his  father  took  a lead- 
ing part  in  those  events  which  shaped  the  common- 
wealth’s early  growth  and  development.  The  Var- 
ner family  came  from  an  old  Quaker  organization 
of  Warren  County,  Ohio,  which  migrated  from  that 
state  to  Minnesota  as  early  as  1853. 

Mr.  Fowler  passed  his  boyhood  at  Jordan,  in  the 
family  of  Henry  Varner,  Esq.,  his  guardian,  but  in 
October,  1886,  came  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools.  In  1889  and  1890  he  lived 
at  Glencoe,  Minnesota,  but  in  the  latter  year  re- 
turned to  Minneapolis,  and  this  city  has  since  been 
his  home  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  1892  and 
1893,  when  he  located  at  Fargo,  North  Dakota.  His 
legal  education  was  secured  in  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  June, 
1892,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1509 


the  general  practice  of  law.  For  a time  Mr.  Fowler 
was  associated  with  Judges  Fred  V.  Brown  and 
W.  A.  Kerr,  but  since  1905  has  been  in  partnership 
with  Judge  Kerr,  under  the  firm  style  of  Kerr  & 
Fowler,  with  offices  in  the  New  York  Life  Building. 
Mr.  Fowler  is  a member  of  the  American  and  Min- 
nesota State  Bar  associations,  and  is  as  highly  re- 
garded among  his  fellow-practitioners  as  he  is 
among  the  people  of  his  adopted  city.  For  a num- 
ber of  years  he  has  been  resident  vice  president  of 
the  American  Surety  Company,  of  New  York. 
From  1886  until  1891  Mr.  Fowler  was  a member 
of  Company  B,  First  Regiment,  Minnesota  Na- 
tional Guard,  in  which  he  took  an  active  part  and 
had  much  valuable  experience.  Mr,  Fowler  believes 
that  every  young  man  should  serve  in  the  National 
Guard.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, the  Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Lodge 
No.  44,  the  Minneapolis  Club,  is  vice  president  of 
the  Minikahda  Club,  and  vice  president  of  the 
Minneapolis  Athletic  Club ; he  is  also  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Automobile  Club,  the  Minneapolis 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association  and  the  Delta  Chi 
fraternity.  He  was  president  of  the  Alumni  Law 
Association  in  1897  and  is  still  a member  of  that 
organization. 

An  active  republican,  Mr.  Fowler  has  attended 
numerous  state,  county  and  city  conventions,  and  in 
1 91 1 was  elected  a member  of  the  State  Legislature, 
being  at  this  time  the  representative  of  the  Fortieth 
District.  As  a legislator  he  has  been  an  active, 
working  member  of  the  distinguished  body  to  which 
he  belongs  and  has  been  steadfast  in  his  champion- 
ship of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  his  constituents. 
As  chairman  of  the  subcommittee  on  elections  in 
the  house,  Mr.  Fowler  took  an  active  part  in  the 
revision  of  the  election  laws  containing  the  second 
choice  -and  non-partisan  features.  He  worked  inde- 
fatigably  to  place  the  judiciary  and  administrative 
offices  beyond  the  influence  of  party  organizations, 
a service  of  incalculable  value  to  his  state.  One  of 
the  most  notable  events  in  Mr.  Fowler’s  life,  and  an 
occurrence  almost  without  parallel  in  the  history  of 
state  legislative  bodies,  was  the  two-day  contest,  in 
1911,  between  Speaker  Dunn  and  Representatives 
Stone  and  Klemmer,  during  which  Mr.  Fowler  pre- 
sided over  the  house.  A man  of  firm  convictions 
and  settled  purpose,  practical  in  his  aims,  whether 
as  attorney,  legislator  or  man,  Mr.  Fowler  has  ad- 
vanced steadily  to  a high  professional  position,  and 
has  been  effective  also  in  the  realization  of  those 
projects  which  are  advanced  by  good  citizens  of 
modern  progressive  tendencies. 

On  November  5,  1895,  Mr.  Fowler  was  married 
at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Carrie  Blair  Jones,  who  was 
born  at  Tiffin  and  educated  there.  She  is  a daughter 
of  Edward  and  Caroline  (Blair)  Jones,  the  former 
of  whom,  now  deceased,  belonged  to  a well-known 
family  of  Northern  Ohio,  as  did  the  latter,  who  still 
survives  and  makes  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fowler.  William  Blair,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Fowler,  was  a member  of  the  well-known  Blair  fam- 
ily of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and  from  the 
latter  state  migrated  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  bring- 
ing his  family  with  him  and  settling  in  the  vicinity 
of  Tiffin,  where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  for 
each  of  his  children.  James  A.  Blair,  of  New 
York,  and  the  late  John  I.  Blair  were  uncles  of 
Mrs.  Fowler. 


Frederick  W hite  is  senior  member  of  the  White 
& Odell  Agency  of  the  Northwestern  Life  Insurance 
Company  of  Minneapolis.  This  agency  is  one  of 
the  strongest  and  most  successful  in  the  Northwest 
and  in  July,  1914,  at  the  conclusion  of  about  six 
years  of  activity  in  this  state,  its  aggregate  of  writ- 
ten insurance  amounted  to  over  fifteen  millions  of 
dollars.  As  a celebration  of  the  passing  of  this 
mark,  the  officers  and  directors  of  the  Northwestern 
National  entertained  the  White  & Odell  Agency 
members  and  workers  with  a complimentary  dinner 
The  members  of  the  White  & Odell  Agency  are 
hrederick  White  and  Clinton  M.  Odell,  and  they 
have  nearly  five_  hundred  agents  under  their  jur- 
isdiction, most  of  whom  are  bank  cashiers. 

Frederick  White  was  born  in  New  York  City 
November  14,  1869.  He  comes  of  an  old  family  of 
Holland  Dutch  and  English  ancestry,  and  one  of  the 
most  _ conspicuous  of  his  ancestors  was  Stephen 
Hopkins,  a signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. Mr.  White  had  a common  school  education, 
and  early  in  life  entered  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  work,  and  for  sixteen  years  was  con- 
nected with  that  great  organization,  either  as  asso- 
ciate state  secretary  or  general  secretary.  The  past 
twelve  years  have  been  devoted  to  life  insurance, 
and  for  six  and  a half  years  he  has  been  state 
agent  for  the  Northwestern  National  Life  Insur- 
ance Company  at  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  White  is  a republican  in  his  usual  political 
actions,  is  a trustee  of  the  Judson  Memorial  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Minneapolis,  and  a director  in  the 
Minneapolis  Y.  M.  C.  A.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club, 
the  Interlachen,  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Com- 
merce Association,  the  Minneapolis  Society  of  Fine 
Arts,  and  the  Rotary  Club.  June  15,  1896,  he  mar- 
ried Caroline  Lung.  Their  three  children  are 
Schuyler,  Julia  and  Catharine. 

Clinton  M.  Odell.  A member  of  the  firm  of 
White  & Odell,  state  agents  for  the  Northwestern 
National  Life  Insurance  Company  in  Minneapolis, 
Clinton  M.  Odell  is  a graduate  lawyer,  but  has 
found  his  principal  field  of  achievement  in  insurance, 
and  his  work  in  that  field  has  brought  him  a large 
reputation  throughout  the  Northwest.  He  is  also 
prominent  as  a citizen,  and  is  president  of  the  Min- 
nesota Game  and  Fish  Protective  League. 

He  was  born  at  Sodus,  New  York,  March  24, 
1878,  and  came  to  Minneapolis  with  his  parents. 
He  graduated  from  the  Central  High  School  in 
1897,  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  entered  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  and  in  1901  graduated 
LL.  B.  While  in  university  he  became  interested 
in  the  college  fraternity  Zeta  Psi,  and  in  1904  was 
made  president  of  the  Western  Association  of  Zeta 
Psi,  which  during  his  administration  purchased  a 
club  house  at  the  university. 

In  January,  1913,  Mr.  Odell  was  elected  president 
of  the  Minnesota  Game  and  Fish  Protective  League, 
an  association  which  has  done  much  to  protect  the 
feathered  and  finny  denizens  of  the  state.  It  has 
a membership  of  more  than  four  hundred  sportsmen 
in  the  City  of  Minneapolis  alone  and  many  others 
all  over  Minnesota.  During  1913  he  served  on  the 
highway  committee  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and 
Commerce  Association,  as  chairman  of  a special 
committee  for  the  classification  and  improvement  of 
the  highways  of  Hennepin  County.  The  plan  of 
the  committee  was  adopted  by  the  association  and 


1510 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


subsequently  by  the  county  commissioners  of  Hen- 
nepin County  and  put  into  effect.  Mr.  Odell  is  a 
member  of  the  General  Alumni  Association  of 
Mninesota,  the  Minneapolis,  Rotary.  University  and 
Automobile  clubs,  and  Ark  Lodge,  No.  176,  A.  F.  & 

A.  M.,  at  Minneapolis. 

Soon  after  leaving  university  Mr.  Odell  became 
interested  in  life  insurance,  and  has  for  several 
years  been  a member  of  the  firm  of  White  & Odell, 
which  now  has  one  of  the  largest  insurance  agencies 
west  of  Chicago,  with  450  local,  general  and  district 
managers,  and  an  annual  production  of  about  four 
million  dollars  of  life  insurance.  The  Northwest- 
ern National  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Minne- 
apolis was  organized  in  1885,  and  is  a mutual  old 
line  company,  conducted  solely  in  the  interests  of 
its  policy  holders  and  without  stockholders.  The 
directors  are  among  the  leading  business  men  and 
financiers  of  the  Northwest,  namely:  E.  W.  Decker, 
president  of  the  Northwestern  National  Bank;  F.  A. 
Chamberlain,  president  of  the  Security  National 
Bank;  T.  B.  Janney,  president  of  the  Farmers  & 
Mechanics  Savings  Bank;  C.  T.  Jaffray,  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank;  A.  A.  Crane,  vice 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank;  J.  A.  Latta, 
vice  president  of  the  Northwestern  National  Bank; 

B.  F.  Nelson,  president  of  the  Hennepin  Paper 
Company ; E.  L.  Carpenter  of  the  Shevlin-Carpenter 
Clarke  Company;  and  John  T.  Baxter,  president  of 
the  Northwestern  National  Life  Insurance  Company. 
At  the  beginning  of  1914  the  company  had  nearly 
thirty  million  dollars  of  insurance  in  force,  and 
total  assets  of  more  than  three  million  six  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Odell  was  married  October  23,  1901,  in  Min- 
neapolis to  Miss  Amy  Hamley,  who  was  -born  in 
New  Zealand  and  educated  in  Minneapolis,  having 
graduated  from  the  Central  High  School  in  the 
same  year  that  Mr.  Odell  graduated  from  univer- 
sity, in  1901.  Their  three  children  were  all  born 
in  Minneapolis : Allan  Gilbert,  Leonard  Clinton  and 
Moana.  Mr.  Odell  owns  a farm  of  105  acres,  10 x/2 
miles  from  Minneapolis  on  the  Minnesota  River, 
where  the  family  reside  during  the  summer  months. 
The  city  residence  is  at  1912  Fremont  Avenue,  South. 

FIon.  Anton  J.  Rocicne.  A lawyer  of  twenty 
years’  experience,  a newspaper  publisher,  and  a 
prominent  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  Anton 
J.  Rockne  is  one  of  the  best  known  figures  in  pro- 
fessional and  political  affairs  at  Zumbrota.  His 
forceful  leadership,  his  skill  as  a lawyer,  and  his 
thorough  integrity  have  brought  him  a deserved 
prominence  in  Minnesota  life. 

Anton  J.  Rockne  was  born  in  Fillmore  County, 
Minnesota,  December  19,  1870.  His  parents, 

Michael  and  Anna  (Amundson)  Rockne  were  both 
natives  of  Norway.  The  paternal  grandfather  was 
Lars  Rockne,  who  came  to  America  and  died  in 
Illinois  during  a cholera  epidemic.  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  Amond  Amundson,  who  for  many 
years  was  a sailor  on  the  high  seas,  but  finally 
brought  his  family  to  America  and  settled  in  Iowa 
in  1846,  about  the  time  that  territory  was  admitted 
to  the  Union.  He  followed  farming  in  Iowa  and 
died  there.  Michael  Rockne  was  born  in  1823  and 
died  January  6,  1914.  His  wife,  who  is  still  living, 
was  born  in  1839,  and  they  were  married  in  1865 
in  Winneshiek  County,  Iowa.  Michael  Rockne  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1841,  settled  in  Illinois,  moved 
to  Iowa,  and  for  seven  or  eight  years  was  a farmer 


near  Yankton,  South  Dakota,  and  in  1866  bought 
a farm  in  Filmore  County,  Minnesota,  and  con- 
tinued as  a successful  agriculturist  until  his  death. 
He  was  a republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  fam- 
ily were  Lutherans.  Of  their  nine  children  six  are 
living. 

Anton  J.  Rockne  was  second  in  the  family,  began 
as  an  ordinary  farm  boy,  trained  in  the  country 
schools,  and  got  his  opening  into  a larger  sphere 
of  action  through  higher  training  in  the  Decorah 
Institute,  after  which  he  taught  school  for  one 
year.  Mr.  Rockne  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Minnesota  in  the  law  department  in  1894,  and 
in  October  of  the  same  year  opened  an  office  for 
practice  at  Zumbrota.  His  practice,  of  a general 
nature,  has  taken  him  into  all  the  courts,  and  in  the 
past  twenty  years  he  has  represented  some  of  the 
most  important  legal  business  in  his  section  of  the 
state. 

After  getting  successfully  established  in  law,  he 
allowed  his  interests  to  be  attracted  into  politics. 
For  a number  of  years  the  republican  party  in  his 
section  has  looked  upon  him  as  a leader,  and  his 
service  as  a legislator  has  made  his  name  well  known 
throughout  the  state.  Mr.  Rockne  served  in  the 
Legislature  as  representative  in  the  sessions  of 
1903,  1905,  1907  and  1909,  and  was  then  elected  to 
the  State  Senate  and  has  served  in  the  sessions  of 
1911  and  1913.  In  1909  he  was  speaker  of  the 
House.  Mr.  Rockne  is  now  a candidate  for  re- 
election  to  the  Senate. 

In  1899  Mr.  Rockne  married  Susie  Albertson. 
Her  father,  Elling  Albertson,  was  an  early  settler 
and  farmer  in  Goodhue  County,  Minnesota,  and 
went  out  as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army,  with  four 
years  of  experience,  without  wounds  or  capture, 
though  a participant  in  many  engagements.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rockne  have  three  children : Melroy,  born 
in  September,  1900;  Eleanor,  born  in  February,  1902; 
and  Ariel,  born  in  1004.  Mr.  Rockne  is  a member 
of  the  English  Lutheran  Church,  and  affiliates  with 
Lodge  No.  845,  B.  P.  O.  E.  at  Red  Wing.  While 
nearly  all  his  time  is  taken  up  with  his  law  practice 
and  his  office  as  Senator,  he  is  also  the  owner  of  the 
Zumbrota  News. 

Trafford  N.  Jayne.  The  personnel  of  the  bar  of 
the  Minnesota  metropolis  is  of  the  highest  type 
in  a generic  sense  and  among  those  who  are  here 
contributing  to  the  dignity  and  prestige  of  the  legal 
profession  a place  of  not  slight  prominence  must 
be  accorded  to  Mr.  Jayne,  who  controls  a substantial 
and  representative  practice,  with  office  headquarters 
at  703  Hennepin  Avenue.  Further  interest  attaches 
to  his  precedence  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  is  a 
native  son  of  Minnesota  and  a member  of  one  of 
the  honored  pioneer  families  of  this  great  com- 
monwealth. 

Trafford  Newton  Jayne  was  born  near  Lewiston, 
Winona  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  3d  of  November, 
1868,  and  is  a son  of  Havens,  Brewster  Jayne  and 
Nellie  Victoria  fPike)  Jayne,  the  former  a native 
of  Long  Island  and  the  latter  of  Maine.  The  latter 
family  was  founded  in  New  England  in  the  colonial 
days  and  the  lineage  of  each  traces  back  to  staunch 
English  origin,  though,  more  remotely  the  Jayne  fam- 
ily is  of  Norman  French  stock,  the  name  having 
originally  been  dejayne  and  the  line  of  descent  be- 
ing traced  back  to  an  officer  of  the  name  who  held 
high  rank  in  the  forces  of  the  great  Norman,  Wil- 
liam the  Conqueror.  During  the  reign  of  Cromwell 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1511 


in  England  representatives  of  the  family  were  found 
arrayed  as  his  supporters,  and  after  the  accession  of 
Charles  II  to  the  English  throne,  in  order  to  dis- 
guise measurably  their  identity,  the  members  of  the 
family  obliterated  the  prefix  “de”  from  their  cog- 
nomen. From  that  time  on  the  name  has  been  used 
in  its  present  abridged  form,  Jayne.  William  Jayne, 
the  progenitor  of  the  American  line,  came  from  Eng- 
land to  the  New  World  in  1676,  and  he  made  settle- 
ment on  Long  Island.  The  old  family  home  in 
England  was  maintained  for  generations  at  Bristol, 
a city  that  to-day  constitutes  a county  in  itself.  In 
the  agnatic  line  Trafford  N.  Jayne  is  a descendant 
also  from  one  of  the  old  and  influential  families  of 
Smithton,  Long  Island.  Elder  William  Brewster, 
the  originator  of  this  branch,  was  born  in  Scrooby, 
England,  in  1560,  and  came  to  New  England  on  the 
historic  “Mayflower,”  his  death  having  occurred 
in  1644.  Jonathan  Brewster,  eldest  son  of  William, 
was  born  in  Scrooby,  England,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica on  the  “Fortune,”  in  1621 ; somewhat  later  he 
was  a resident  of  Duxbury,  Massachusetts,  and 
finally  he  established  his  residence  at  New  London, 
Connecticut.  Nathaniel  Brewster,  grandson  of 
Elder  William  Brewster  and  supposed  to  have  been 
a son  of  Jonathan,  just  mentioned,  died  in  1690. 
The  next  in  direct  line  of  descent  to  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Nathaniel,  the 
names  of  these  three  sons  having  been  Timothy, 
John  and  Daniel.  Of  the  fifth  generation  was  Joseph 
Brewster,  whose  son  Joseph  had  a daughter  named 
Ruth,  this  Ruth  Brewster  becoming,  in  1804,  the 
wife  of  'Ebenezer  Jayne;  they  established  their  home 
at  Smithton,  Long  Island,  and  their  son  Joseph 
Breswter  Jayne,  grandfather  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  article,  was  the  founder  of  the  Min- 
nesota branch  of  the  family,  his  settlement  here 
having  been  made  at  Lewiston,  Winona  County. 

Altogether  worthy  of  reproduction  in  this  con- 
nection are  the  following  extracts  from  a work  en- 
titled “In  Old  New  York,”  the  same  having  been 
prepared  and  published  by  Charles  Bunn  Todd; 
“On  a gentle  elevation  that  slopes  down  to  Se- 
tauket  Harbor  on  the  east,  its  steeple  facing  the  west, 
stands  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Setauket,— a 
church  that  has  as  much  history  connected  with 
it,  and  of  as  interesting  character,  as  any  of  the 
famous  churches  of  New  England.  Its  early  rec- 
ords have  been  lost,  but  we  know  that  it  was 
founded  in  t66o,  five  years  after  the  Independents 
of  Connecticut  had  come  over  and  settled  at  Setau- 
ket. What  is  of  more  general  interest  is  the  fact 
that  its  first  pastor,  Rev.  Nathaniel  Brewster,  a 
grandson  of  the  famous  Elder  Brewster  of  the 
‘Mayflower,’  was  the  first  native  graduate  of  Har- 
vard College.  Mr.  Brewster  died  during  his  pas- 
torate here  and  was  buried,  according  to  the  present 
pastor,  William  Littell,  near  a corner  of  the  church, 
though  nothing  to-day  marks  the  spot.  This  Na- 
thaniel Brewster  was  the  father  or  grandfather  of 
Joseph  Brewster.  The  British,  during  the  Revo- 
lution, destroyed  the  church  and  records  and  tore 
up  the  gravestones,  which  they  used  in  making 
ovens.  Nathaniel  Brewster  married  Sarah,  _ daugh- 
ter of  Roger  Ludlow.  Roger  Ludlow  was’  deputy 
governor  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  and  in- 
fluential in  the  settlement  of  the  colonies.  Timothy 
Brewster  married  Anna  Jayne.  Joseph  Brewster 
married  Ruth  Buswe.  Joseph  Brewster,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried Rebecca  Mills.  Joseph  Brewster  Jayne  married 
Sally  Miranda  Smith.  Joseph  Brewster,  Tr.,  loaned 

Vol.  Ill— 16 


money  to  the  government  during  the  Revolution, 
according  to  ‘New  York  in  the  Revolution.’” 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  ancestral  history  of 
Trafford  N.  Jayne  is  one  of  which  he  may  well  be 
proud,  for  the  record  in  all.  lines  stands  indicative 
of  lofty  patriotism  and  large  and  worthy  achieve- 
ment. 

Havens  Brewster  Jayne  came  with  his  parents  to 
Minnesota  about  the  year  1857,  and  they  became 
pioneer  settlers  near  the  present  City  of  St.  Charles, 
Winona  County.  The  parents  of  his  wife  settled 
near  Lewiston,  that  county,  about  1858,  and  both 
families  were  prominent  and  influential  in  the  civic 
and  industrial  development  and  upbuilding  of  Win- 
ona County.  Havens  B.  Jayne,  who  died  when  his 
son  Trafford  N.  was  four  years  of  age,  was  one 
of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Winona  County  and 
was  a mani  whose  character  and  achievement  gave 
him  inviolable  place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  who  knew  him.  He  died  in  January,  1873,  and 
of  the  two  children  the  younger  is  he  to  whom  this 
sketch  is  dedicated;  the  elder  of  the  two  is  Violet 
D.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Edward  C.  Schmidt, 
holding  the  chair  of  Railway  Engineering  in  the 
University  of  Illinois,  where  Mrs.  Schmidt  was 
dean  of  women  from  1897  to  1904,  in  June  of  which 
latter  year  their  marriage  was  solemnized;  they  re- 
side at  Urbana,  Illinois,  a city  that  vies  with  Cham- 
paign in  claiming  the  university  of  that  state.  Mrs. 
Nellie  Victoria  (Pike)  Jayne  survived  her  honored 
husband. 

Trafford  Newton  Jayne  is  indebted  to  the  district 
schools  for  his  early  educational  training  and  lived 
on  the  old  homestead  farm  near  St.  Charles, 
Winona  County,  until  he  was  three  years  of  age, 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Mankato,  Blue  Earth  County.  In  his  fifth  year  he 
was  again  taken  back  to  St.  Charles,  and  two  years 
later  his  widowed  mother  established  her  home  in 
Winona,  where  he  attended  the  graded  schools  for 
three  years.  The  following  two  years  were  passed 
on  the  old  home  farm,  and  then  young  Jayne  re- 
entered the  Winona  schools,  in  which  he  completed 
the  freshman  course  in  the  high  school  when  but 
thirteen  years  of  age.  At  this  point  in  his  career 
he  left  school  and  began  an  apprenticeship  at 
telegraphy  and  general  railroad-office  work,  at 
Lewiston.  In  a little  less  than  five  months  he  was 
given  a position  as  telegraph  operator  and  after 
working  about  eight  months  in  this  capacity  he  was 
appointed  cashier  in  the  Winona  offices  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railroad.  Though  he 
was  but  fourteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  he  was 
given  a salary  of  sixty-five  dollars  a month.  He 
retained  this  position  only  a short  time,  as  he  was 
offered  more  remunerative  employment  as  telegraph 
operator  and,  ticket  clerk  in  the  same  office  of  the 
company.  This  incumbency  he  retained  ten  months, 
and  he  was  then  appointed  assistant  city  ticket  agent 
at  Winona  for  the  Chicago  & Northwestern  Rail- 
road. About  eight  months  later  he  was  advanced  to 
the  position  of  cashier  in  the  Mankato  office  of  the 
same  company.  His  ability  and  fidelity  were  shown 
by  the  responsibilities  thus  placed  upon  him  while 
he  was  still  a mere  boy,  but  his  practical  experi- 
ence but  tended  to  foster  his  ambition  for  the  ob- 
taining of  a better  education.  This  ambition  was 
one  of  definite  action,  as  is  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  in  1886  he  entered  the  literary  department  of 
the  great  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor, 
where  he  completed  a four  years’  course  in  three 


1512 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


years.  He  was  a member  of  the  class  of  1890.  Mr. 
Jayne,  though  so  thorough  and  appreciative  a student, 
had  none  of  the  elements  of  the  “mollycoddle,”  and 
he  took  a specially  active  part  in  college  athletics. 
In  1889  he  won  the  university  championship  at  lawn 
tennis,  and  shortly  afterward  defeated  in  this  line 
the  champion  of  Ohio,  in  a match  game.  He  was 
also  a member  of  the  baseball  team  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  tennis  as- 
sociation and  vice  president  of  the  Bicycle  Club  of 
the  university.  He  was  also  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Dramatic  Club,  and  editor-in-chief  of  the 
Commencement  Annual, — all  these  preferments  in- 
dicating his  marked  popularity  as  a member  of  the 
student  body  of  his  alma  mater. 

After  leaving  the  university  Mr.  Jayne  returned 
to  Minnesota  and  accepted  a position  as  chief  clerk 
in  the  law  office  of  Williams  & Goodenow,  of  St. 
Paul.  In  the  meanwhile,  and  with  characteristic 
energy  and  determination,  he  carried  forward  his 
study  of  law,  and  in  January,  1890,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  his  native  state.  He  forthwith  began 
his  active  professional  novitiate  in  Minnesota’s  cap- 
ital city,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he 
there  entered  into  a professional  partnership  with 
Cornelius  B.  Palmer,  under  the  firm  name  of  Palmer 
& Jayne.  This  alliance  continued  until  January  x, 
1892,  and  shortly  afterward  Mr.  Jayne  formed  a 
partnership,  in  Minneapolis,  with  Robert  G.  Mor- 
rison, under  the  title  of  Jayne  & Morrison.  This 
association  continued  until  1897  when  Mr.  Jayne 
became  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Jayne  & 
Helliwell,  his  coadjutor  being  Arthur  L.  Helliwell. 
The  partnership  was  dissolved  two  years  later  and 
thereafter  Mr.  Jayne  was  associated  for  less  than 
one  year  with  George  E.  Dickson,  under  the  title 
of  Jayne  & Dickson.  Since  that  time  he  has  con- 
ducted an  individual  law  business  of  general  order, 
and  his  practice  is  essentially  of  representative  or- 
der, special  attention  being  given  to  insurance  law, 
in  which  connection  he  is  attorney  for  two  promi- 
nent casualty  companies.  He  has  served  as  court 
commissioner  of  Hennepin  County,  and  he  holds 
membership  in  the  American  Bar  Association,  the 
Minnesota  State  Bar  Association  and  the  Henne- 
pin County  Bar  Association.  His  political  alle- 
giance is  given  to  the  republican  party  and  as  a citi- 
zen he  is  emphatically  broad-minded  and  progressive, 
with  clear  apprehension  of  and  interest  in  all  that 
touches  the  welfare  of  his  home  city.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  & Com- 
merce Association ; he  takes  a lively  interest  in  relig- 
ious thought  and  activities,  and  from  1892  to  1893,  as 
well  as  from  1907  to  1910,  he  had  the  distinction  of 
being  president  of  the  Minnesota  Christian  Endeavor 
Union,  the  state  organization  of  the  various  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  societies.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
adherents  of  the  Congregational  Church,  their  mem- 
bership being  in  the  Forest  Heights  Congregational 
Church.  In  a fraternal  way  Mr.  Jayne  is  identified 
with  Minnesota  Lodge,  No.  224,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  as  well  as  with  local  organiza- 
tions of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Royal  Arcanum 
and  the  Knights  of  Malta.  He  is  affiliated  also  with 
the  Beta  Theta  Pi  and  Delta  Chi  college  fraternities. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Minnesota  Male  Quartet,  of 
Minneapolis,  and  is  secretary  and  chorusmaster 
of  the  Philharmonic  Club,  his  musical  talent  being 
of'  high  order.  Mr.  Jayne  has  never  abated  his 
interest  in  athletics,  and  through  the  medium  of 
the  same  he  has  found  both  satisfaction  and  health- 


giving recreation.  He  still  holds  the  hand-ball  cham- 
pionship of  Minneapolis,  as  does  he  also  the  Min- 
nesota tennis  championship,  the  Red  River  Valley, 
and  that  of  the  City  of  Minneapolis.  He  is  an  ex- 
pert swimmer,  sprinter  and  baseball  man,  an  en- 
thusiast in  all  of  these  virile  sports,  and  a ten-mile 
jaunt  for  simple  exercise  is  looked  upon  by  him  as 
an  “easy  stunt.” 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1913,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Jayne  to  Miss  Inez  A.  Downing, 
daughter  of  Dr.  William  L.  and  Martha  (Coons) 
Downing,  of  Moulton,  Iowa,  where  her  father  is  a 
representative  physician  and  surgeon.  Mrs.  Jayne 
was  born  at  Unionville,  Missouri,  and  was  afforded 
the  advantages  of  Drake  University,  at  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  in  which  institution  she  was  graduated. 
Thereafter  she  took  post-graduate  work  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois,  and  she  is  a woman  of  dis- 
tinctive culture  as  well  as  gracious  social  attributes. 
She  is  affiliated  with  the  Beta  Xi  Upsilon  and  the 
Alpha  Omicron  Pi  and  Beta  Chi  Upsilon  fraternities. 

Maj.  Christopher  B.  Heffelfinger.  In  the  year 
preceding  that  in  which  Minnesota  was  admitted 
as  one  of  the  sovereign  states  of  the  Union,  Major 
Heffelfinger  arrived  in  the  future  metropolis  of 
the  Northwest.  He  has  since  been  an  influential 
force  in  the  civic  and  material  development  and  up- 
building of  Minneapolis,  was  long  and  prominently 
identified  with  important  business  interests,  and  has 
also  specially  honored  the  state  through  his  dis- 
tinguished services  as  a soldier  and  officer  in  the 
Civil  war.  Now  eighty  years  of  age,  in  1914,  he 
is  living  retired  in  the  city  so  long  his  home,  in 
which  he  is  known  and  honored  for  his  sterling 
character,  for  his  civic  ideals  and  unequivocal 
loyalty,  and  for  the  gallant  military  career  that 
gave  him  enduring  prestige  as  one  of  the  most  gal- 
lant soldiers  sent  forth  by  Minnesota  to  aid  in  the 
preservation  of  the  nation’s  integrity. 

His  grandfather,  Philip  Heffelfinger,  a Pennsyl- 
vanian by  birth,  had  been  a loyal  soldier  of  the 
Continental  line  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
Major  Heffelfinger  was  born  in  Newburg,  Cum- 
berland County,  Pennsylvania,  January  13,  1834,  a 
son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Bistle)  Heffelfinger, 
who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the  old  Keystone  State. 
William  Heffelfinger  was  a citizen  of  high  standing, 
set  in  his  political  views,  belonged  to  the  old 
whig  party,  and  was  a great  admirer- of  Henry  Clay. 

At  the  age  of  six  years  Major  Heffelfinger  was 
placed . in  a private  school,  and  from  the  age  of 
eight  to  fourteen  attended  public  schools,  and  in 
1852,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  severed  his  association 
with  the  work  of  the  home  farm  and  began  an  ap- 
prenticeship in  the  tanning  business.  After  the  ex- 
piration of  his  apprenticeship  in  the  spring  of  1855, 
he  was  admitted  to  partnership  in  the  business,  and 
in  1857  disposed  of  his  interests  for  the  purpose  of 
coming  to  the  West  and  assuming  the  labors  and 
responsibilities  of  a pioneer  in  a new  but  progressive 
community.  He  left  his  old  home  at  Shippensburg, 
Pennsylvania,  April  14,  1857,  made  his  way  via  Chi- 
cago to  the  Mississippi,  embarking  at  Dunleith,  and 
landed. ’on  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  at  St.  Paul; 
thence  by  stage  he  went  to  St.  Anthony,  and  one 
week  later  crossed  the  river  to  Minneapolis,  which 
has  ever  since  been  his  home.  He  soon  found  ample 
scope  for  productive  energy  in  the  new  home,  and 
continued  to  be  identified  with  business  interests  in 
Minnesota  until  1861.  On  January  2,  1861,  he  left 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1513 


for  the  East,  and  went  as  far  as  LaCrosse,  Wis- 
consin, in  a stage  equipped  with  runners  or  bobs. 
While  in  the  East  he  visited  the  national  capital, 
and  is  one  of  the  few  men  still  living  who  stood  and 
listened  to  the  great  inaugural  address  delivered 
by  President  Lincoln  on  the  4th  of  March,  1861. 
After  visiting  his  old  home  he  returned  to  Minne- 
sota, reaching  Minneapolis  April  10th,  and  on  Presi- 
dent Lincoln's  first  call  for  volunteers,  for  a term 
of  three  months,  Major  Heffelfinger  promptly  sub- 
ordinated all  other  considerations  to  the  spirit  and 
practice  of  patriotism  and  loyalty.  He  enrolled  his 
name  on  the  list  of  the  first  volunteers  from  Minne- 
sota on  the  16th  of  April,  1861,  and  on  the  29th  of 
the  same  month  marched  with  his  company  from 
Minneapolis  to  Fort  Snelling,  where  he  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  as  a member  of 
Company  D,  First  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry. 
The  company  was  organized  before  leaving  Minne- 
apolis, but  not  mustered  into  service  until  they  ar- 
rived at  the  fort.  The  company  was  organized  and 
chose  its  officers  by  election,  which  was  generally 
the  rule  at  that  time.  The  officers  elected  were : 
Captain,  H.  R.  Putnam ; first  lieutenant,  George  H. 
Woods;  second  lieutenant,  DeWitt  C.  Smith.  After 
they  had  been  mustered  in  the  captain  appointed  the 
non-commissioned  officers,  consisting  of  five  ser- 
geants and  eight  corporals,  and  C.  B.  Heffelfinger 
was  made  second  sergeant  in  his  company.  On  the 
4th  of  May,  under  the  call  for  250,000  volunteers 
for  a period  of  three  years,  “or  during  the  war,” 
Mr.  Fleffelfinger  with  the  regiment  was  remustered 
for  the  extended  term,  dating  from  April  29th  of 
the  original  muster  of  the  regiment,  making  the 
First  Minnesota  Infantry  the  oldest  three-year  vol- 
unteer regiment  in  the  service.  On  the  20th  of  June 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Washington,  and  on 
reaching  that  city  went  into  camp  on  the  capitol 
grounds,  but  soon  afterwards  was  sent  to  Alexan- 
dria, Virginia,  where  they  remained  until  about  the 
16th.  On  July  21st,  just  thirty-one  days  from  the 
time  the  regiment  left  Fort  Snelling,  it  was  engaged 
in  the  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  in  this  engagement 
Sergeant  Heffelfinger  carried  a musket  and  admir- 
ably acquitted  himself.  On  the  26th  of  November, 
1861,  he  received  his  commission  as  second  lieuten- 
ant, and  a few  days  later  was  left  in  command  of 
his  company,  during  the  winter  and  spring  of  1862 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Berryville  and  Win- 
chester and  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  in  April,  1862. 
Early  in  the  following  month  it  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Williamsburg,  which  was  followed  by  ac- 
tive service  in  the  engagement  at  West  Point,  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  7th  of  May.  At  this  point  Captain 
Smith  joined  the  regiment  and  took  command  of  the 
company.  Lieutenant  Heffelfinger  was  a member 
of  the  detail  that  constructed  what  was  known  as  the 
“Grapevine  Bridge”  over  the  Chickahominy  River, 
and  over  this  structure  the  Second  Division  of  the 
Second  Army  Corps  crossed  to  the  support  of  Couch 
and  Casey  in  the  Battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  May  51st  and 
June  1st.  In  this  battle  Lieutenant  Heffelfinger  took 
active  part,  as  also  in  all  of  the  seven  days  battles 
of  the  peninsula  of  1862,  Peach  Orchard,  Savage 
Station,  where  the  regiment  suffered  severe  losses, 
Glendale,  and  White  Oak  Swamp,  Malvern  Hill  on 
the  1st  of  July  and  the  second  battle  of  Malvern 
Hill  on  the  5th  of  August.  On  the  night  of  June 
30th,  when  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  retreated 
from  its  position  in  front  of  Richmond,  Lieutenant 
Heffelfinger,  in  command  of  a detail  of  his  company 


on  the  advance  picket  line  in  front  of  that  city, 
held  this  position  until  sunrise  next  morning,  when 
the  picket  line  was  attacked  in  force  by  the  enemy 
and  obliged  to  retire  to  Peach  Orchard,  where  the 
lieutenant  and  his  company  joined  their  regiment 
and  took  part  in  the  battle.  The  regiment  took 
part  in  the  battles  at  Vienna,  Virginia,  September 
2d  South  Mountain,  Maryland,  September  15th; 
Antietam,  Maryland,  September  17th.  In  this  bat- 
tle Captain  Smith  was  wounded  and  Lieutenant 
Heffelfinger  again  assumed  command.  Tt  was  also  in 
the  engagement  at  Charlestown,  Virginia,  on  the 
16th  of  October,  and  in  that  at  Fredericksburg, 
December  13  and  14,  1862.  It  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  at  Fredericksburg  on  the  6th  of  May,  1863; 
that  at  Haymarket,  Virginia,  June  25th ; and  the 
historic  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July 
2 and  3,  1863,  at  which  time  he  was  in  command 
of  the  company.  He  was  wounded  in  the  charge 
made  by  the  First  Regiment  on  the  2d,  but  not  dis- 
abled. The  latter  engagements  in  which  Major  Hef- 
felfinger was  present  with  his  regiment  in  Virginia, 
were  those  of  Bristow  Station,  October  14,  1863, 
and  Mine  Run,  the  following  month.  Captain 
Smith,  of  Company  D,  First  Minnesota  Infantry, 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Antietam  and  Major 
Heffelfinger  thereafter  had  the  command  of  the 
company  until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment and  his  mustering  out  of  the  service  on  the 
4th  of  May,  1864,  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota.  On 
the  17th  of  September,  1862,  he  was  promoted  first 
lieutenant  and  he  became  captain  of  his  company  on 
the  3d  of  July,  1863.  He  had  taken  part  in  the 
Chancellorsville  campaign  in  the  spring  of  1863, 
and  in  all  of  his  service  had  acquitted  himself  as  a 
valiant  soldier  and  effective  officer. 

The  major  received  two  slight  wounds  in  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg  and  was  painfully  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  but  not  disabled.  On  the 
3d  of  July,  1863,  he  was  in  command  of  his  com- 
pany on  the  field  at  a point  known  as  the  “high- 
water  mark  of  the  Rebellion”  in  repulse  of  the  fa- 
mous charge  of  the  Confederate  forces  in  command 
of  General  Pickett.  In  this  engagement  the  two 
remaining  captains  of  the  First  Minnesota — Cap- 
tain Messick  and  Captain  Farrell — were  killed,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  battle  the  regiment  was  left  in 
command  of  First  Lieutenant  Heffelfinger,  who  con- 
tinued as  ranking  officer  of  the  command  until  late 
in  the  evening,  when  Captain  Coates  who  was  ab- 
sent from  the  regiment  on  the  3d,  joined  the  regi- 
ment. Late  in  July,  1863,  after  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg the  First  Minnesota  was  ordered  to  New  York, 
at  the  time  of  the  drafting,  and  it  was  assigned  to 
Fort  Green,  Brooklyn.  Two  companies  from  the 
regiment  were  detailed  to  guard  the  Brooklyn  City 
Hall  while  the  drafting  was  in  progress,  and  Cap- 
tain Heffelfinger  commanded  this  detail.  After  the 
completion  of  the  draft  the  regiment  was  relieved 
and  rejoined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  Virginia 
with  which  it  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Bristow 
Station  and  Mine  Run,  as  previously  noted. 

In  February,  1864,  the  First  Minnesota  Infantry 
was  ordered  home  for  the  purpose  of  veteranizing. 
Of  this  period  in  his  military  career  Major  Heffel- 
finger has  written  as  follows : “I  was  on  recruiting 
service  at  Minneapolis,  but  the  record  of  the  First 
Regiment  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  rather  dis- 
couraged recruits  from  enlisting  in  the  regiment. 
They  preferred  to  go  into  the  Minnesota  regiments 
that  were  in  the  Western  Army.  I was  on  recruit- 


1514 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


ing  service  from  the  15th  of  March  to  the  20th  of 
April  and  secured  fifteen  recruits,  who  were  prin- 
cipally from  families  directly  interested  in  the  First 
Regiment.  Other  officers  on  recruiting  service  did 
not  meet  with  any  better  success.  Recruits  who 
were  held  over  and  had  time  to  serve  were  organ- 
ized into  battalions  and  filled  up  two  companies. 
After  I was  mustered  out  I proceeded  to  Washing- 
ton and  received  a commission  in  the  United  States 
Sanitary  Commission,  as  a representative  of  which 
I was  with  the  army  in  front  of  Petersburg  during 
the  months  of  July  and  August,  1864.  I was  present 
at  the  headquarters  of  the  Fifth  Corps  on  the  night 
of  the  explosion  of  the  Burnside  mine.” 

In  March,  1865,  Major  Heffelfinger  received  from 
Governor  Miller  of  Minnesota  commission  as  major 
of'  the  First  Minnesota  Heavy  Artillery,  which  was 
stationed  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  and  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  he  was  in  command  of  the 
regiment.  In  September  he  returned  with  this  com- 
mand to  Minnesota  and  on  the  10th  of  the  following 
month  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  at  Fort 
Snelling. 

After  the  close  of  his  long  and  distinguished  mili- 
tary service  Major  Heffelfinger  returned  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  passed  the  winter.  In  the  spring  of 
1866  he  returned  to  Minneapolis  and  engaged  in 
the  shoe  business,  in  which  he  became  associated 
with  John  S.  Walker,  under  the  firm  of  Walker  & 
Heffelfinger.  In  February,  1870,  the  partnership 
was  dissolved  and  the  major  assumed  full  control 
of  the  business.  In  1873  he  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipals in  the  organization  of  the  North  Star  Boot 
& Shoe  Company,  of  which  he  became  superintend- 
ent, H.  G.  Harrison  having  been  president  and  A.  M. 
Reed  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company.  This 
was  the  pioneer  boot  and  shoe  wholesale  house  of 
Minnesota,  west  of  St,  Paul,  and  in  1875  Major 
Heffelfinger  was  elected  president  of  the  company. 
In  1888  A.  M.  Reed  and  his  son  sold  their  interest  to 
W.  S.  King  and  his  son  Preston.  In  November, 
1891,  the  establishment  of  the  company  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  and  a large  financial  loss  was  en- 
tailed, though  the  concern  quickly  recuperated  and 
resumed  business.  In  April,  1892,  a few  months 
after  this  fire,  Major  Heffelfinger  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  King,  and  in  the  following  year  the 
title  of  the  company  was  changed  to  the  North  Star 
Shoe  Company.  It  maintained  a branch  establish- 
ment at  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  in  addition  to  its 
factory  at  Anoka,  Minnesota,  it  operated  also  a 
factory  at  Faribault,  this  state,  under  the  title  of 
the  Shaft-Pierce  Shoe  Company.  The  corporation 
encountered  heavy  losses  during  the  financial  panic 
of  1907,  and  in  1910  Major  Heffelfinger  permanently 
retired  from  active  business,  after  a career  marked 
by  distinctive  energy,  progressiveness  and  con- 
structive ability. 

In  1896  the  major  erected  a seven-story  building 
at  the  '-orner  of  First  Avenue.  North,  and  Fifth 
Street,  for  the  use  of  the  North  Star  Shoe  Company. 
In  1892  he  had  erected  a building  of  six  stories  on 
the  opposite  corner,  for  the  firm  of  McDonald 
Brothers.  In  1904  was  built  an  addition  to  the 
building  of  the  North  Star  Shoe  Company,  making 
the  structure  a solid  block,  140x162  feet  in  dimen- 
sions and  seven  stories  in  height.  In  1904  he  erected 
also,  for  the  firm  of  Robitshek,  Frank  & Heller,  a 
substantial  five-story  building  on  Fourth  Street, 
and  another  excellent  business  building  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  street.  In  1908-9  he  built  an  addi- 


tion to  the  McDonald  Building,  making  the  build- 
ing 140x150  feet  and  eight  stories  high. 

During  the  long  years  of  his  active  business  career 
in  Minneapolis  Major  Heffelfinger  was  known  as 
one  of  the  city's  most  loyal,  liberal  and  progressive 
citizens.  Prior  to  the  consolidation  of  Minneapolis 
and  St.  Anthony  he  served  as  a member  of  the  city 
council,  1867-70,  and  during  the  last  year  of  this 
period  he  was  vice  president  of  the  council.  He  has 
had,  however,  no  desire  for  public  office  or  for  the 
turbulence  of  so-called  practical  politics,  though  he 
is  a stalwart  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  repub- 
lican party. 

Major  Heffelfinger  has  retained  the  deepest  inter- 
est in  his  old  comrades  in  arms  and  signified  this  by 
his  active  and  influential  affiliation  with  Rawlins 
Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  Minnesota 
Commandery  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal 
Legion  of  the  United  States.  In  1884  Major  Hef- 
felfinger was  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by 
Governor  Hubbard  to  visit  the  battlefield  of  Gettys- 
burg for  the  purpose  of  locating  the  position  of  the 
First  Minnesota  Regiment  on  the  field.  His  asso- 
ciates were  Judge  William  Lochren  and  Major  Ma- 
ginnis.  The  three  commissioners  visited  the  field 
and  located  the  regimental  position  in  June,  1884, 
but  it  was  not  until  1890  that  the  Minnesota  Legis- 
lature made  an  appropriation  ($20,000)  to  erect 
monuments.  Judge  Lochren,  Matthew  Marvin  and 
Major  Heffelfinger  were  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  take  charge  of  this  fund,  with  which  they 
succeeded  in  placing  two  appropriate  monuments 
on  the  battlefield.  The  principal  one  marked  the 
position  where  the  regiment  made  its  charge  on 
July  2d.  This  one  is  regarded  the  finest  regimental 
monument  on  the  field  among  the  many  erected  by 
various  states.  The  other  marks  the  spot  where 
the  regiment  was  engaged  on  July  3d.  In  1897  the 
Legislature  made  an  additional  approbation  of 
$5,000  for  the  purpose  of  dedicating  these  monu- 
ments and  covering  the  incidental  expenses  entailed 
by  the  attendance  of  the  survivors  of  thS  First  Min- 
nesota Regiment  who  had  taken  part  in  the  Gettys- 
burg battle.  Major  Heffelfinger  was  chairman  of 
the  commission,  and  it  has  always  been  a matter  of 
satisfaction  that  he  was  able  to  assist  in  establishing 
the  permanent  memorials.  He  was  chairman  also 
of  the  Colville  Monumental  Commission,  appointed 
by  Governor  Johnson  to  supervise  the  expenditure 
of  an  appropriation  of  $10,000  for  the  erection  of 
two  monuments  or  statues  in  memory  of  Colonel 
Colville,  whose  name  merits  highest  honor  in  the 
history  of  Minnesota.  One  of  these  memorials  was 
placed  in  the  state  capitol  and  the  other  in  the  ceme- 
tery where  the  colonel’s  remains  rest,  at  Cannon 
Falls,  Dakota  County.  Major  Heffelfinger  likewise 
was  one  of  the  seven  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
state  to  assume  charge  of  the  $25,000  appropriated 
by  the  Legislature  of  1913  to  cover  the  expense  of 
transporting  all  Gettysburg  veterans  resident  of  the 
state  to  the  field  of  Gettysburg  on  the  occasion  of 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  that  battle.  Of  this  ap- 
propriation, it  was  found  necessary  to  spend  less 
than  $20,000,  and  the  balance  was  returned  to  the 
state  treasury.  He  was  appointed  a member  of  the 
commission  by  Governor  Johnson  which  had  in 
charge  the  appropriation  of  $4,000  with  which  to 
place  a painting  in  the  state  house  representing  the 
charge  of  the  First  Regiment  at  Gettysburg  July  2, 
1863.  Judge  Lochren  was  the  associate  on  this  com- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1515 


mission.  Major  Heffelfinger  is  also  a member  of 
the  Territorial  Old  Settlers  Association. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1913,  was  solemnized 
the  fiftieth  marriage  anniversary  of  Major  Hef- 
felfinger to  Miss  Mary  Ellen  Totton,  daughter  of 
John  Totton,  of  Dillsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  Mrs. 
Heffelfinger  was  born  at  Dillsburgh  in  New  York 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  has  remained  the  loved 
and  devoted  companion  of  her  husband  during  the 
long  intervening  period  of  more  than  half  a cen- 
tury. They  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  seven  attained  years  of  maturity,  as  follows : 
Alfred  S.,  of  Minneapolis;  W.  Walter,  of  the  Hel- 
felfinger  Agency,  real  estate,  lands  and  insurance, 
with  offices  in  the  McKnight  Building  at  Minne- 
apolis; Frank  T.,  president  of  the  F.  H.  Peavey 
Company,  grain  brokers  in  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce; Mary  Ellen,  at  home;  Fanny,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Harry  Selden,  of  Minneapolis;  Charles  E., 
connected  with  the  Pleffelfinger  Agency;  and  Anna 
Louise,  wife  of  James  Ford  Bell,  a director  and 
vice  president  of  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company. 
Besides  these  children  there  are  eighteen  grand- 
children of  Major  Heffelfinger. 

Daniel  Ferguson  Carmichiel.  A very  able  and 
successful  Minneapolis  lawyer,  Daniel  F.  Carmichiel 
has  been  a resident  of  Minnesota  since  1885  except 
a little  less  than  two  years  spent  in  Texas,  and  has 
stood  in  varied  relations  that  have  made  him  well 
known  to  the  community.  He  is  a man  of  self- 
accomplishment, fearless  and  of  versatile  gifts.  He 
has  won  his  own  way  to  success.  He  entered  the 
practice  of  law  after  a long  apprenticeship  in  the 
railway  service  and  other  lines  of  business.  In 
athletic  sports  in  the  '90s  he  fully  demonstrated  his 
determination  and  stamina  and  was  very  well  known 
throughout  this  state  and  the  Northwest  generally, 
he  having  held  championship  titles  and  established 
records  which  remain  unbroken. 

Daniel  Ferguson  Carmichiel  was  born  at  Moravia, 
New  York,  April  26,  1875,  a son  of  John  A.  and 
Isabella  (McCredie)  Carmichiel.  He  is  in  the  sixth 
generation  from  the  Carmichiel  family  which  lived 
in,  France  and  emigrated  from  that  country  to 
Scotland.  The  McCredie  family  is  of  old  Scotch 
ancestry.  John  A.  Carmichiel  was  born  at  Pem- 
broke in  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  and  his 
wife  was  born  in  the  Province,  of  Quebec.  The  Car- 
michiels  were  pioneer  lumbermen  in  Canada,  and 
the  grandparents  on  both  sides  emigrated  to  that 
country  from  Scotland.  Andrew  McCredie,  the 
maternal  grandfather,  was  a tailor  in  Scotland,  and 
after  moving  to  Canada  engaged  in  farming,  and 
lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and 
two  years.  His  wife  was  also  long  lived,  and  was 
ninety-eight  when  she  died.  Duncan  Carmichiel,  the 
paternal  grandfather,  was  a lumberman  and  con- 
tractor in  Pembroke,  Canada,  and  he  and  his  wife 
died  when  past  sixty  years  of  age.  John  A.  Car- 
michiel and  wife  are  still  living,  their  home  being 
in  Cleburne,  Texas.  About  1874  they  left  Canada, 
lived  in  New  Jersey  for  a short  time  as  farmers, 
then  moved  to  Moravia,  New  York,  where  Daniel 
was  born,  as  one  of  a family  of  seven  children,  all 
of  whom  are  living. 

Daniel  F.  Carmichiel  obtained  most  of  his  educa- 
tion by  study  while  riding  on  street  cars  and  trains 
and  by  night  study  at  home.  The  needs  of  a large 
family  required  him  to  leave  school  permanently 
when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  it  was  at 


this  early  date  that  he  first  expressed  a desire  to 
become  a lawyer  and  attempted  to  secure  employ- 
ment about  a law  office,  but  fate  had  decreed  other- 
wise. His  first  regular  employment  was  as  mes- 
senger boy  and  later  as  clerk  and  timekeeper  in  and 
about  the  shops  of  the  Taylor-Craig  Corporation, 
which  operated  a wood  working  factory  and  con- 
tracting and  building  business  at  St.  Paul.  Later 
he  was  grain  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  the  St. 
Paul  Warehouse  and  Elevator  Company,  at  Ele- 
vator “A”  in  St.  Paul,  which  elevator  has  since  been 
destroyed  by  fire.  On  May  15,  1893,  he  became  yard 
clerk  with  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  at  St. 
Paul,  and  was  subsequently  promoted  to  different 
positions,  as  shop  timekeeper,  car  interchange  bill 
clerk,  material  pricing  and  ledger  clerk,  and  chief 
clerk  in  the  accounting  and  supplies  department, 
and,  having  developed  unusual  executive  ability,  he 
was  finally  appointed  chief  clerk  to  the  auditor  of 
motor  power  accounts  and  supply  department  for 
the  Minnesota  and  Lake  Superior  Division  at  Brain- 
erd.  It  was  while  at  Brainerd  that  Mr.  Carmichiel 
took  up  the  systematic  study  of  law,  and  in  order 
to  have  better  opportunities  for  advancement  in  that 
profession  made  effort  to  secure  his  transfer  to  the 
legal  department  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway. 
His  immediate  superiors,  however,  were  so  well 
satisfied  with  his  services  in  the  position  he  then 
held  that  they  refused  to  permit  the  transfer  which 
he  desired.  Subsequently  he  resigned  to  accept  a 
position  September  15,  1902,  as  general  claim  agent 
with  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis  Railroad  Com- 
pany at  Minneapolis,  and  he  continued  in  that  ca- 
pacity until  November  15,  1905.  In  the  meantime 
his  health  broke  down  because  of  a serious  spinal 
injury  sustained  in  his  athletic  work;  and  the  nerv- 
ous strain  caused  thereby  and  incident  to  continuous 
study  and  hard  work  in  that  injured  condition  finally 
caused  a complete  nervous  collapse,  and  while 
recuperating  he  secured  a position  as  chief  clerk  for 
the  mechanical  superintendent  of  the  Santa  Fe  Rail- 
way in  Texas,  and  remained  there  until  May  1,  1907. 

He  then  resigned,  returned  to  Minneapolis,  and 
having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  by  state  examina- 
tion on  February  8,  1909,  took  up  the  general  prac- 
tice of  law  with  the  late  Albert  E.  Clarke,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Clarke  & Carmichiel,  with  offices  in 
the  Loan  & Trust  Building  at  Minneapolis.  That 
partnership  was  continued  with  mutual  profit  and 
satisfaction  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Clarke  on  Octo- 
ber 9,  1910.  Since  then  Mr.  Carmichiel  has  prac- 
ticed law  alone,  and  has  his  present  office  at  suite 
801  of  the  New  York  Life  Building  at  Minneapolis. 
He  has  conducted  to  a successful  conclusion  many 
very  important  law  suits  involving  large  estates  and 
large  sums  of  money  and  several  of  which  have  at- 
tracted considerable  public  attention  because  of  the 
character  of  the  litigation  and  the  parties  involved. 
He  recently  secured  a decision  of  the  State  Su- 
preme Court  clearing  up  obscure  points  of  law  and 
clearly  establishing  the  rights  of  riparian  owner 
farmers  whose  land  has  been  damaged  by  obstruc- 
tion of  a natural  water  course,  and  this  decision  is 
of  almost  incalculable  value  to  the  farmers  of  this 
state.  His  practice  takes  him  into  various  courts 
throughout  the  state,  and  he  is  generally  known  as 
a fair,  fearless  and  able  attorney.  He  has  made  a 
careful  and  special  study  of  real  estate  law,  and 
the  problems  involved  in  long-time  leases  and  trust 
estates,  and  has  negotiated  many  important  deals 
to  a successful  conclusion. 


1516 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


For  several  years  Mr.  Carmichiel  has  been  quite 
active  in  Minneapolis  politics,  not  in  his  own  in- 
terests, but  always  for  the  public  welfare.  He  is  a 
member  and  a stockholder  and  member  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Minneapolis  Bar  Library  As- 
sociation, and  also  a member  of  the  State  and 
American  Bar  associations.  Fie  has  been  very  ac- 
tive in  bar  association  matters,  serving  on  many 
important  committees  and  doing  much  to  elevate  the 
Standard  of  his  profession  and  to  simplify  court 
procedure  and  practice.  His  fearless  and  frank 
expression  as  a public  speaker  has  been  a strong 
factor  on  many  occasions  in  forming  public  opinion 
on  important  public  questions. 

He  has  always  been  a deep  student  of  philo- 
sophical and  scientific  subjects  and  social  and  civic 
problems.  Mr.  Carmichiel  is  affiliated  with  Min- 
neapolis Lodge  No.  19,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer  of  the 
Universalist  denomination  at  Minneapolis. 

In  his  earlier  days  while  a resident  of  St.  Paul 
Mr.  Carmichiel  was  an  expert  bicycle  rider  and  ice 
skater.  This  led  him  to  competition  on  track  and 
road  race  courses.  He  established  records  on  the 
Minnetonka  Century  course  and  the  Northfield  Cen- 
tury course  before  cycle  paths  were  built,  which 
records  are  still  unbroken.  These  records  were  es- 
tablished under  the  auspices  of  the  Century  Road 
Club  of  America.  On  Decoration  Day  of  May, 
1907,  he  established  a new  record  over  the  New 
London  Road  race  course  at  Duluth.  His  best  per- 
formance on  a bicycle  was  made  November  7,  1897, 
over  the  Northfield  Century  course,  when  after  six 
unsuccessful  attempts,  he  finally  broke  the  one  hun- 
dred mile  road  record  of  7 hours  3 minutes  which 
had  stood  for  five  years.  His  time  for  the  one 
hundred  miles  was  6 hours  and  10  minutes,  and  the 
last  twenty-five  miles  were  ridden  in  the  mud  in  a 
driving  rain.  During  1895,  1896,  1897  he  figured 
prominently  in  all  the  important  bicycle  and  skating 
events  of  the  Twin  Cities  and  at  many  other  places. 
During  the  year  1912  he  drove  an  automobile  from 
Minneapolis  to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

One  of  the  contributing  causes  of  the  complete 
recovery  of  health  by  Mr.  Carmichiel  was  a forty- 
four  day  fast  during  which  he  did  not  partake  of 
any  nourishment  whatsoever,  and  he  attributes  his 
present  unusual  recuperative  powers  and  endurance 
to  this  fast  and  to  the  fact  that  he  limits  him- 
self to  two  meals  or  less  per  day,  is  temperate  in 
his  habits  and  does  not  use  any  tobacco  or  any 
stimulants  or  drugs.  He  favors  prohibition  of  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  all  intoxicating  liquors. 

On  January  20,  1904,  Mr.  Carmichiel  was  married 
at  Minneapolis  to  Miss  Ada  H.  Clarke,  daughter  of 
the  late  Albert  E.  and  Hattie  C.  (Noyes)  Clarke  of 
Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Carmichiel  was  born  at  Fort 
Dodge,  Iowa,  and'  obtained  her  education  in  a 
private  school  at  St.  Paul.  She  is  also  a member 
of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Car- 
michiel have  four  children : Donald  C.,  Stanley  M., 
Albert  E.  and  Evylynn  R.,  all  of  whom  were  born 
at  Minneapolis  with  the  exception  of  Donald,  who 
was  born  at  Cleburne,  Texas.  Mr.  Carmichiel  now 
finds  his  chief  recreation  in  his  home  life  and  in 
swimming,  garden  work,  rowing,  canoeing,  walking, 
skating  and  other  outdoor  activities,  and  at  the  age 
of  forty  he  has  vigorous  health. 


Elias  Rachie.  Success  in  the  exacting  profession 
of  law  carries  with  it  testimony  of  an  assured  tech- 
nical ability,  power  of  practical  application  and  the 
personal  characteristics  that  beget  confidence  and 
respect.  Among  the  many  strong  lawyers  of  Min- 
nesota who  claim  the  state  as  their  place  of  birth 
is  Elias  Rachie,  established  in  the  successful  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  at  Minneapolis  with  offices  at 
729  Plymouth  Building.  He  is  a member  of  one  of 
those  sterling  pioneer  families  of  Scandinavian 
lineage  that  have  played  a most  important  part  in  the 
development  of  the  great  natural  resources  of  Min- 
nesota, and  through  his  own  character  and  achieve- 
ments has  honored  the  name  which  he  bears.  He 
is  known  a ; a man  of  intellectual  and  professional 
attainments,  and  aside  from  his  profession  has  been 
influential  in  public  affairs,  having  served  with  no 
little  distinction  in  the  Legislature. 

Elias  Rachie  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm 
seven  miles  west  of  Granite  Falls  in  Stony  Run, 
Yellow  Medicine  County,  Minnesota,  November  4, 
1875.  He  is  a son  of  Lasse  C.  and  Dorothy  (Mon- 
son)  Rachie,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in 
Norway,  where  they  were  married  and  whence  they 
emigrated  to  America  in  1871.  They  landed  in  the 
City  of  Quebec,  Canada,  having  made  the  voyage  on 
a sailing  vessel  and  taking  seven  weeks  to  cross  the 
Atlantic.  From  Quebec  they  came  to  Wells,  Minne- 
sota, on  the  4th  of  July,  and  here  they  joined  one  of 
Mrs.  Rachie’s  brothers,  who  had  established  his 
home  in  Faribault  County.  Mr.  Rachie  entered  a 
pre-emption  claim  in  Stony  Run  Township,  Yellow 
Medicine  County,  taking  up  his  home  there  in  the 
snring  of  1872,  and  as,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
the  township  did  his  full  share  of  the  work  which 
has  gradually  transformed  that  locality  in  the  past 
forty  years.  He  obtained  a half  section  of  land  and 
developed  it  into  a fine  farm,  a credit  to  the  agri- 
cultural standards  of  the  western  nart  of  the  state. 
He  was  forty-five  years  of  age  and  his  wife  thirty- 
eight  at  the  time  they  came  to  America,  and  they 
continued  on  the  old  farm  until  the  father  passed 
away  in  1897,  known  and  admired  as  a man  of  ster- 
ling character,  indefatigable  industry  and  good  busi- 
ness judgment.  His  widow  survived  him  about  five 
years  and  passed  away  in  1902.  Both  were  sincere 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Of  the  three 
children  who  attained  to  years  of  maturity  the 
youngest  is  Elias.  Within  a single  month  three  of 
the  children  died  on  the  old  homestead,  victims  of  a 
local  epidemic  of  diphtheria,  and  at  ages  of  two, 
six  and  ten  years.  The  eldest  of  the  three  surviv- 
ing children  is  Rev.  Christian  Rachie,  pastor  of  the 
United  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  at  Naples, 
Clark  County,  South  Dakota.  Mons  J.  Rachie  lives 
on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Yellow  Medicine 
County,  a representative  farmer  in  the  county  to  the 
progress  and  upbuilding  of  which  his  father  con- 
tributed in  substantial  measure.  These  two  elder 
sons  were  both  born  before  the  family  came  from 
Norway. 

The  conditions  of  the  pioneer  farm  furnished  the 
environment  for  the  childhood  and  youth  of  Elias 
Rachie.  His  preliminary  education  came  from  the 
district  schools  of  his  native  county,  after  which  he 
continued  a student  in  the  Red  Wing  Seminary  at 
Red  Wing  in  Goodhue  County.  His  record  of 
scholastic  attainments  is  unusual,  since  he  has  re- 
ceived from  the  University  of  Minnesota  four  de- 
grees, and  few  other  students  have  been  similarly 
honored  by  that  institution.  In  1896  he  was,  grad- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1517 


uated  Bachelor  of  Literature  and  after  another  year 
of  post-graduate  work  gained  the  Master  of  Arts 
degree,  in  1901  his  alma  mater  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  Doctor  of  Philosophy,  and  in  1902  he 
was  graduated  in  the  law  department  with  the  de- 
gree Bachelor  of  Laws. 

Before  taking  up  the  vocation  which  now  en- 
grosses his  attention  Mr.  Rachie  gained  no  little  dis- 
tinction as  a teacher.  He  served  two  years  as  super- 
intendent of  the  public  schools  of  tne  Village  of 
Sacred  Heart,  Renville  County,  before  entering  the 
law  department  of  the  University.  After  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  Mr.  Rachie  taught  one  year  in  the 
Lutheran  Normal  School  at  Madison,  county  seat 
of  Lac  qui  Parle  County,  and  in  the  following  sum- 
mer, that  of  1903,  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law 
at  Madison.  Only  a brief  novitiate  was  required, 
since  his  demonstrated  ability  soon  brought  him  a 
satisfactory  clientage.  In  the  fall  of  1904  he  was 
elected  representative  from  Lac  qui  Parle  County 
in  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  shown  repeated 
honors  by  re-election  in  1906,  so  that  his  service  was 
for  two  consecutive  terms.  He  brought  to  the  Leg- 
islature a high  degree  of  civic  loyalty,  excellent 
judgment  and  a broad  conception  of  the  needs  of 
the  state.  He  performed  his  work  on  the  floor  of 
the  House  with  energy  and  spirit,  and  was  equally 
esteemed  in  the  various  committees  to  vjfich  he  was 
assigned. 

In  1907  Mr.  Rachie  established  his  residence  in 
the  City  of  Minneapolis,  but  six  months  later  re- 
moved to  Willmar,  county  seat  of  Kandiyohi  County, 
and  enjoyed  a substantial  law  practice  there  four 
years.  In  October,  1912,  he  returned  to  Minneapolis, 
and  in  this  broader  field  has  fully  maintained  his 
high  standard  of  professional  service  and  success. 
He  looks  after  a general  practice  and  the  interests  of 
a large  clientele  are  -entrusted  to  his  efforts.  Mr. 
Rachie  has  a broad  and  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
law,  is  a well  fortified  counselor,  and  has  shown 
his  powers  as  an  advocate  by  the  winning  of  many 
important  victories  in  cases  which  he  has  tried  be- 
fore courts  and  juries.  In  politics  Mr.  Rachie  gives 
his  allegiance  to  the  republican  party,  and  has  been 
an  effective  worker  for  its  principles  and  policies. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Hennepin  County  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, and  with  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Bethle- 
hem Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  is  a trustee,  and  is 
president  of  its  Men’s  Club. 

On  April  24,  1907,  Mr.  Rachie  married  Miss 
Amanda  Lien,  who  was  born  at  Red  Wing,  Good- 
hue  County,  a daughter  of  Carl  N.  and  Maritn  Lien. 
Mrs.  Lien  still  resides  in  that  city,  Mr.  Lien  having 
passed  away  in  January,  1915.  Mr.  Lien  was  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen,  having  served  as 
county  auditor  of  Goodhue  County  for  eighteen 
years.  Mrs.  Rachie  was  afforded  the  advantages 
not  only  of  the  public  schools  but  also  of  the  ex- 
cellent ladies’  seminary  at  Red  Wing.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rachie  are  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Cyrus  Lien  and  Dorothy  May,  who  were  born  at 
Willmar,  Minnesota ; and  Carl  William,  who  was 
born  in  Minneapolis. 

Col.  Chauncey  Wright  Griggs.  Among  St. 
Paul’s  pioneers  and  business  builders  no  man  had 
more  prominent  associations  than  the  late  Col. 
Chauncey  W.  Griggs,  who  came  to  Minnesota  in 
1856,  made  a brilliant  record  in  the  Civil  war,  in 
which  he  rose  from  captain  of  a company  to  colonel 
of  a regiment,  and  afterwards  became  associated 


with  such  conspicuous  leaders  as  James  J.  Hill  and 
others  in  the  development  of  Northwestern  indus- 
trial transportation  and  general  commercial  inter- 
ests. Colonel  Griggs  founded  the  great  wholesale 
grocery  house  of  Griggs,  Cooper  & Company  of 
St.  Paul,  a business  that  still  engages  the  activities 
of  several  of  his  sons.  After  1887  Colonel  Griggs 
was  chiefly  a factor  in  the  development  of  the  great 
lumber  and  transportation  interests  of  the  North- 
west, particularly  at  Tacoma,  Washington.  It  was 
at  his  home  in  Tacoma  that  Colonel  Griggs  passed 
away  October  29,  1910. 

Chauncey  Wright  Griggs  was  of  an  old  New 
England  family,  and  was  born  at  Tolland,  Connec- 
ticut, December  31,  1832.  His  family  was  of  Scotch- 
English  blood,  and  several  of  the  name  came  to  the 
Colonies,  the  direct  ancestor  of  Colonel  Griggs  lo- 
cating in  Connecticut.  His  grandfather,  Stephen 
Griggs,  was  a Connecticut  farmer  and  prominent 
in  the  Congregational  Church,  a denomination  in 
which  many  of  the  family  were  active.  Chauncey 
Griggs,  father  of  the  Colonel,  was  long  active  in 
public  affairs,  a large  land  owner  in  Connecticut 
and  connected  with  financial  affairs.  He  was  at  one 
time  a member  of  the  Connecticut  Legislature,  a 
judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  and  a captain  of  cav- 
alry during  the  Dod  war.  Chauncey  Griggs  mar- 
ried Miss  Heartie  Dimock,  whose  ancestors  were 
early  settlers  in  the  Colonies,  some  of  whom  were 
officers  in  the  American  Revolution,  and  the  Dimock 
family  in  England  was  prominent  from  the  time  of 
King  Henry  I. 

The  late  Colonel  Griggs  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Connecticut,  began  his  business 
career  at  the  age  of  seventeen  as  clerk  in  an  Ohio 
store,  then  returned  to  the  East  and  took  a course 
in  the  Monson  Academy  of  Massachusetts,  became 
a teacher,  and  in  1851,  after  an  unsuccessful  experi- 
ence in  merchandising  in  Connecticut,  he  located  at 
Detroit  and  found  employment  as  a bookkeeper 
with  a banking  house.  For  a year  or  two  after 
1833  he  was  'n  the  livery  business  and  operated  a 
general  store  in  Ohio,  after  which  he  sold  out  and 
started  with  two  teams  and  a load  of  goods  across 
the  countrv  to  Montezuma,  Iowa.  Somewhat  later 
he  was  again  in  Detroit,  and  associated  with  his 
brother  T.  W.  Griggs  in  the  wholesale  furniture 
business. 

Colonel  Griggs  located  at  St.  Paul  in  1856,  and 
for  several  years  was  engaged  in  contracting,  mer- 
chandising and  real  estate  and  in  the  Northwest  he 
found  the  field  best  suited  to  his  commercial  talent. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war  in  1861  Colonel 
Griges  associated  with  other  influential  men  of  his 
community  undertook  the  recruiting  of  a regiment, 
which  became  the  Third  Minnesota  Infantry  with 
H.  C.  Lester  as  colonel.  Mr.  Griggs  was  mustered 
in  as  captain  of  Company  B.  The  first  dutv  of  the 
command  was  in  guarding  and  pushing  forward 
supplies  through  the  states  of  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee, which  lasted  three  months,  and  in  the  mean- 
time Mr.  Griggs  had  been  promoted  for  gallan- 
try in  the  field  to  major  and  later  to  lieutenant 
colonel.  His  first  great  battle  was  that  of  Mur- 
freesboro in  July.  1862.  The  Confederates  under 
General  Forrest  made  such  a sudden  and  vigorous 
attack  that  they  surrounded  and  captured  an  entire 
Michigan  regiment  and  other  troops,  and  the  first 
effective  check  was  given  by  the  Third  Minnesota. 
Three  times  the  charge  of  the  enemy  was  repulsed 
by  the  Minnesota  troops,  and  when  the  command- 


1518 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


ing  officer  of  the  regiment  decided  to  surrender, 
that  act  was  taken  in  face  of  a determined  protest 
from  Colonel  Griggs  and  others.  In  an  official  re- 
port of' the  surrender  Major  General  Andrews  said: 
“But  it  is  well  known,  that  Lieut.  Col.  C.  W.  Griggs 
and  two  company  commanders  in  that  ballot  voted 
as  they  had  strongly  counseled  throughout  to  fight.” 
As  a result  of  the  surrender  the  enlisted  men  were 
paroled  and  the  officers  spent  three  months  in  the 
rebel  prison  at  Madisonville,  Georgia,  before  being 
exchanged.  The  regimental  officers  who  had  voted 
to  surrender  were  afterwards  dismissed  and  Mr. 
Griggs  was  made  colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  re- 
organized with  many  of  the  former  members  of  the 
regiment,  and  in  1863  went  to  the  front  at  Colum- 
bus, Kentucky,  where  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  a brigade,  consisting  of  his  own  and  three  other 
regiments  and  a battery.  He  was  sent  on  an  expe- 
dition to  Forts  Henry  and  Hindman,  and  succeeded 
in  capturing  a force  of  about  a thousand  Confed- 
erates and  several  million  dollars  worth  of  cotton 
and  salt.  After  that  Colonel  Griggs  was  placed  in 
command  of  a military  district  consisting  of  five 
counties,  and  remained  there  three  or  four  months, 
until  at  his  urgent  request  he  went  to  the  front  at 
Vicksburg.  There  he  led  his  command  in  the  cam- 
paign which  terminated  with  the  fall  of  Vicksburg 
on  July  4,  1863.  The  Vicksburg  campaign  had 
proved  a heavy  drain  upon  his  physical  resources, 
and  in  the  belief  that  with  the  victory  at  Gettys- 
burg and  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  the  war  was  prac- 
tically over,  he  finally  acted  upon  his  surgeon's  ad- 
vice and  resigned. 

Colonel  Griggs  returned  to  Minnesota  to  find  his 
business  interests  seriously  scattered,  and  locating 
at  Chaska,  thirty  miles  west  of  St.  Paul,  he  en- 
gaged in  brickmaking,  dealing  in  wood,  contracting 
Government  supplies,  railroad  building  and  other 
affairs,  and  also  represented  his  county  in  the  State 
Legislature.  On  returning  to  St.  Paul  in  1869  Colo- 
nel Griggs  became  identified  with  the  firm  of  Hill, 
Griggs  & Company,  the  senior  member  of  which 
was  James  J.  Hill,  who  was  then  just  beginning  his 
phenomenal  career  as  an  empire  builder  in  the 
Northwest.  The  business  of  Hill,  Griggs  & Com- 
pany may  be  described  in  general  as  fuel  and  trans- 
portation. They  owned  a line  of  steamers  on  the 
Red  River  of  the  North  and  brought  the  first  coal 
to  the  City  of  St.  Paul.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  Hill 
had  concentrated  his  efforts  on  the  extension  of 
railway  lines  through  the  Northwest,  while  Colonel 
Griggs  fixed  his  interests  mainly  in  the  coal  and 
iron  trade.  In  1875  he  formed  a partnership  with 
R.  W.  Johnson  and  later  with,  Addison  G.  Foster, 
and  founded  the  largest  company  up  to  that  time 
engaged  in  the  transportation  and  fuel  business  in 
the  Northwest.  Later  Colonel  Griggs  organized 
and  operated  the  Lehigh  Coal  and  Iron  Company, 
whose  ore  lands  at  the  head  of  the  Great  Lakes 
were  for  years  one  of  the  main  sources  of  supply 
of  those  commodities. 

Colonel  Griggs  had  organized  in  1882  the  busi- 
ness which  is  now  known  as  Griggs,  Cooper  & 
Company,  a St.  Paul  wholesale  grocery  house  in 
which  his  sons  are  now  officials.  Colonel  Griggs 
was  also  a director  in  both  the  First  National  and 
Second  National  Banks  of  St.  Paul.  In  1887  he 
closed  out  his  St.  Paul  coal  and  iron  business  and 
from  that  time  until  a few  years  before  his  death 
was  one  of  the  chief  factors  in  the  gigantic  lumber 
operations  about  Tacoma,  Washington.  He  organ- 


ized and  founded  the  St.  Paul  & Tacoma  Lumber 
Company,  which  began  operations  on  about  a hun- 
dred thousand  acres  of  timber  land  in  Pierce 
County,  Washington.  This  was  a pioneer  large  or- 
ganization in  the  lumbering  of  the  splendid  timber 
resources  about  Puget  Sound,  and  Colonel  Griggs 
and  his  associates  were  primary  factors  in  intro- 
ducing fir  as  merchantable  lumber.  Of  Colonel 
Griggs’  business  activities  during  his  later  years  a 
sketch  published  in  a Tacoma  paper  about  a year 
before  his  death  gave  the  following  summary : “He 

was  president  of  the  St.  Paul  & Tacoma  Lumber 
Company  from  the  time  of  its  founding  until  a 
year  ago,  when  he  retired  in  favor  of  his  son,  Maj. 
Everett  G.  Griggs,  and  he  still  holds  his  quarter 
interest  in  the  great  plant;  is  chairman  of  its  board 
of  directors,  and  is  in  close  touch  with  all  the  com- 
pany’s more  important  interests.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  the  present  high  standing  of  the  com- 
pany in  the  business  and  civic  life  and  of  its  grades 
of  lumber  in  the  lumber  markets  of  the  world  is 
very  largely  tribute  to  and  direct  result  of  the  per- 
sonality of  Colonel  Griggs  and  his  insistence  upon 
the  strictest  integrity  and  honesty  on  the  part  of 
all  officers  and  employes  in  all  their  business  deal- 
ings. . In  addition  to  the  lumber  business  the  St. 
Paul  & Tacoma  Lumber  Company  does  a large  coal 
and  coke  mining  business  under  the  name  of  the 
Wilkeson  Coal  & Coke  Company.  The  Chehalis  & 
Pacific  Land  Company  is  another  of  Colonel  Griggs’ 
organizations.  He  is  also  the  principal  owner  of 
the  Beaver  Dam  Lumber  Company  of  Cumberland, 
Wisconsin  ; a former  director  in  the  First  and  Sec- 
ond National  Banks  of  St.  Paul;  and  during  his 
active  business  career  was  president  of  the  Fidelity 
Trust  Company  of  Tacoma;  president  of  the  Set- 
tlement Company,  an  organization  perfected  to  han- 
dle the  affairs  of  defunct  banks;  president  of  the 
Dry  Dock  & Foundry  Company  of  Tacoma,  and 
president  of  the  Pacific  Meat  Company  of  Tacoma. 
Colonel  Griggs  has  large  real  estate  holdings  in  the 
Twin  Cities  and  was  at  one  time  an  extensive  in- 
vestor in  Dakota,  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin  farms.” 

In  April,  1859,  Colonel  Griggs  married  Miss  Mar- 
tha Ann  Gallup,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  of 
an  old  New  England  family,  with  ancestors  who 
were  soldiers  in  the  Revolution.  To  their  marriage 
were  born  six  children,  four  sons  and  two1  daugh- 
ters : Chauncey  Milton,  the  oldest,  whose  career  is 

sketched  on  other  pages,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
factors  in  the  Griggs,  Cooper  & Company  whole- 
sale grocery  house  at  St.  Paul ; Theodore  W.,  the 
fourth  son,  is  vice  president  of  the  Griggs,  Cooper 
& Company ; Herbert  Stanton  Griggs,  the  second  son, 
is  a prominent  lawyer  at  Tacoma,  and  general  coun- 
sel for  the  Griggs  interests ; and  Everett  Gallup 
Griggs,  the  third  son,  is  president  of  the  St.  Paul  & 
Tacoma  Lumber  Company.  All  the  sons  are  gradu- 
ates of  Yale  University.  The  two  daughters  are: 
Heartie  Dimock,  wife  of  Dr.  George  C.  Wagner  of 
Tacoma;  and  Anna  Billings,  wife  of  Dr.  B.  T.  Tilton 
of  New  York  City. 

While  most  of  his  life  was  given  to  the  extensive 
business  and  industrial  interests  heretofore  outlined, 
Colonel  Griggs  was  also  a man  who  would  natu- 
rally enjoy  the  honors  and  distinctions  of  public  life. 
He  was  a democrat  in  politics,  though  in  1896  he 
supported  William  McKinley  for  President.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Minnesota  he  was  twice  a mem- 
ber of  the  lower  house  of  the  Legislature  and  three 
times  a member  of  the  State  Senate.  Seven  differ- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1519 


ent  times  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  St.  Paul 
city  council,  and  in  Washington  he  was  democratic 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate,  in  1889  and 
again  in  1893.  He  was  one  of  the  liberal  supporters 
of  his  church,  the  Congregational,  contributed  lib- 
erally to  the  erection  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  Tacoma,  and  he  and  a business  associate 
each  gave  $10,000  toward  the  erection  of  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Building  at  Tacoma. 

(COPY) 

Tacoma,  Washington,  April  16,  1913. 
My  Dear  Everett  and  Ben : 

Your  grandmother,  Martha  Ann  Gallup  Griggs, 
died  yesterday  here  in  your  Uncle  Everett’s  house, 
the  house  which  two  years  ago  was  turned  over  to 
her  and  four  nurses  for  her  last  days.  We  knew 
five  years  ago  that  the  end  was  coming  fast,  as  the 
machinery  of  her  physical  being  had  started  to  fail. 

Decay,  or  rather  paralysis,  had  commenced  its 
work  on  her.  We  first  saw  symptoms  of  it  ten 
years  or  more  ago,  when  she  was  sixty-eight  years 
old.  Her  wonderful  memory  and  mind  began  to 
play  her  false.  She  would  think  she  was  in  one 
place  she  knew  years  before,  when  she  was  really 
somewhere  else,  e.  g.,  when  she  was  with  us  at 
White  Bear  about  1900,  she  thought  Wildwood  was 
Excelsior  all  the  time,  because  when  I was  your 
age,  we  used  to  live  at  Lake  Minnetonka.  And  so 
it  Went  on  until  she  had  to  be  taken  care  of  like 
a child  the  last  few  years.  That  is  nature. 

Some  go  one  way  and  some  another.  "Their 
days  are  three  score  and  ten.”  When  you  get  to 
be  seventy,  you  are  very  lucky  to  be  able  to  live 
at  all — the  average  life  has  been  attained,  and  more. 

Life  is  very  short.  Think  of  your  parents.  We 
feel  that  we  have  hardly  started  in  life,  and  here 
we  are  at  the  threshold  of  the  end,  of  life.  Only 
fifteen  more  years  and  I will  be  where  my  father 
and  mother  both  were  when  they  had  to  give  up 
work  for  good  and  all,  and  it  was  not  so  very  long 
after  that — ten  years — and  both  were  dead  and  gone. 

I want  you  boys  to  know  what  this  woman  ac- 
complished in  her  active  life  of  seventy-eight  years. 

She  was  born  in  Connecticut,  on  Gallup  Farm, 
one  of  the  best  managed  farms  of  that  rocky  coun- 
try, at  Ledyard,  just  north  of  Mystic  and  Ston- 
ington,  from  Puritan  ancestors,  the  hardy  pioneers 
who  had  settled  New  England  in  the  200  years  be- 
fore her  life  began. 

Her  parents  were  robust,  healthy,  industrious,  am- 
bitious people.  She  inherited  the  best  virtues  and 
qualities  of  that  race. 

When  she  was  twenty-three  she  visited  a cousin 
of  her  family’s,  Guerdon  Williams,  at  Detroit, 
Michigan.  He  had  married  into  the  Griggs  family. 
Aunt  Frank,  my  father’s  sister,  was  his  wife.  On 
that  visit  your  grandfather,  afterwards  Colonel 
Griggs,  met  her,  and  before  she  left  to  go  back 
home  to  Connecticut,  she  was  engaged  to  be  mar- 
ried to  him,  and  was  going  to  Minnesota  to  grow 
up  with  him  in  a new  state  just  opened  up;  and 
well  and  wisely  did  he  choose  his  wife.  In  fact, 
he  was  very  lucky,  you  might  say. 

In  1859,  when  she  was  twenty-five  and  he  was 
twenty-seven,  they  were  married  in  old  Ledyard, 
and  went  to  St.  Paul  to  live.  They  had  not  over 
$5,000  capital — just  enough  to  make  a fair  start 
on  in  those  days,  provided  they  managed  with 
economy  and  industrv.  Early  in  ’60  I was  born, 
and  a year  later,  in  ’61,  Bert  was  born. 


Father  was  popular  and  his  friends  wanted  him 
to  raise  a company  of  soldiers  to  ~o  to  the  war. 
But  how  could  he  go?  A young  wife  and  two 
babies  dependent  upon  him.  He  couldn’t  think  of 
it.  But  he  had  to  go  to  the  war,  and  go  at  once, 
because  his  wife,  this  wonderful  Martha  Ann,  in- 
sisted on  his  going.  She  could  and  would  get  along 
somehow.  There  was  the  independence  and  the 
ability  of  a score  of  New  England  ancestors  behind 
her,  and  her  own  training  and  environment  on  that 
old  Gallup  farm,  and  she  knew  she  could  get  along- 
— she  could  take  care  of  two  babies  easily. 

So  he  went  off  to  the  war  the  summer  of  ’61, 
and  she  took  the  babies  and  started  East.  She 
staged  it,  she  laid  up  to  wash  baby  clothes,  she 
took  the  steamboat  a ways,  the  stage  another  piece, 
finally  the  railway  from  some  place  in  Wisconsin 
to  Milwaukee;  then  the  boat  across  the  lake  to 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  then  rail  to  Detroit,  Mich- 
igan, where  she  was  among  the  Griggs,  who  kept 
her  there  a month,  resting  up,  before  she  went  on 
East  by  train  back  to  old  Connecticut,  to  the  old 
Gallup  farm. 

Meantime  your  grandfather,  down  South,  became 
major  of  the  Third  Minnesota  in  December,  1861, 
being  promoted  from  lieutenant.  Then  in  May, 
1862,  was  promoted  to  lieutenant  colonel.  In  July, 
1862,  at  the  first  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee, 
the  Third  Minnesota  was  captured  by  the  Confed- 
erates under  Forre'st,  Colonel  Lester  of  the  Third 
makine  a cowardly  surrender.  This  was  against 
the  bitter  protest  of  your  grandfather  and  other 
officers.  But  they  were  in  the  minority  and  power- 
less. After  going  to  prison  at  Madison,  Georgia, 
for  three  months  and  then  exchanged,  your  grand- 
father came  North,  got  a leave  of  absence  for  a 
month  and  spent  it  at  Gallup  farm,  recuperating. 
Then  he  went  back  to  his  regiment  as  the  colonel 
(Lester  having  been  dismissed  in  disgrace).  He 
served  in  1863  under  Grant  and  was  at  Vicksburg 
when  that  city  was  taken.  He  was  very  sick  then 
from  malarial  fever,  resigned  and  went  home.  The 
picture  you  have  seen  of  him  in  uniform  was  taken 
then,  the  one  in  which  he  is  so  thin  and  in  which  he 
looks  so  much  like  Ben  does  now.  His  hair  was 
black. 

Well,  although  the  war  lasted  for  nearly  two 
years,  Vicksburg  and  Gettysburg  in  July  of  1863 
virtually  settled  it,  and  father  never  went  back  to 
the  war.  He  got  his  family  and  returned  to  Min- 
nesota to  work.  And  for  twenty-five  years  more 
they  lived  in  or  near  St.  Paul  and  raised  there  six 
children  and  made  and  saved  their  fortune.  He 
was  a shrewd  business  man,  and  an  industrious  one, 
and  she  was  able  to  take  care  of  her  family  in  all 
its  little  details  without  asking  him  to  spend  much 
time  in  family  details. 

He  had  a home,  but  he  was  free  to  work,  work 
whenever  and  wherever  he  wished.  She  would  fol- 
low and  not  only  took  care  of  us  but  of  him  also 
in  all  the  ways  which  go  to  make  a home  for  him. 
He  provided  the  funds  and  told  her  what  he  could 
afford,  and  he  had  some  pinching  hard  times.  She 
could  do  what  is  so  difficult,  cut  her  cloth  to  order. 
She  could  cut  expenses  when  she  was  asked  to. 

At  the  end  of  thirty  years  life  in  Minnesota  they 
had  saved  a fortune  of  one  million  dollars  and  raised 
six  children.  Her  ability  had  made  this  possible,  just 
as  much  as  his.  And  through  it  all  we  lived  well. 


1520 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


We  did  not  worry  because  we  did  not  “have  it  all.” 

This  grand  woman  was  the  pillar  of  the  Plymouth 
Congregational  Church,  the  president  of  the  Protes- 
tant Orphan  Asylum,  kept  up  her  oil  painting,  did 
some  in  her  music,  studied  German,  ran  the  house, 
drove  the  horses,  and  if  necessary,  would  fill  the  fur- 
nace, if  the  men  didn’t  get  around  on  time  to  suit 
her;  planned  for  her  children’s  going  to  school,  in- 
sisted on  their  going  to  college,  taking  music  les- 
sons, language  lessons,  and  had  much  more  enthusi- 
asm than  any  of  her  children  for  study  and  research. 

I remember  well  when  she  brought  me  a micro- 
scope and  how  I preferred  to  play  baseball  to 
using  it. 

Took  the  four  youngest  of  her  children  to  Europe 
and  lived  in  Germany  so  as  to  get  for  them  and 
herself  a better  knowledge  of  language,  of  art  and 
of  music.  And  she  lived  within  her  income,  within 
the  amount  stipulated  by  her  husband  as  what  he  was 
able  to  spend  on  such  an  undertaking. 

And  after  all  this,  and  getting  into  a new  and 
beautiful  home  on  Summit  Avenue,  the  one  which 
the  Upham’s  had  afterwards,  right  opposite  the 
Herseys’,  we  find  her  pulling  up  stakes  at  the  age 
of  fifty-four  and  going  again  with  her  husband, 
pioneering  in  a sense,,  way  out  here  to  the  Pacific 
coast  and  rounding  out  her  career  here. 

Did  she  rebel?  No,  she  recognized  that  it  might 
be  for  the  very  best  for  her  children  and  for  her 
family  and  for  herself. 

She  has  finished  her  life  here  in  the  land  of  the 
big  trees  and  the  flowers,  near  to  the  things  she 
loved,  near  to  a great  wonderful  mountain,  and  she 
took  hold  and  for  fifteen  years  here  before  her 
mind  deserted  her,  she  was  the  same  great  power 
for  good  in  the  community  that  she  was  back  in 
Minnesota. 

My  dear  boys,  it’s  doing  good,  it’s  doing  best  in 
one’s  every  day  life  that  counts.  It  counts  more  to 
pay  one’s  bills  and  save  one’s  capital  first.  That  is 
the  foundation  for  every  bit  of  strength  one  has— to 
live  within  one’s  means,  one’s  income,  to  live  with- 
out jealousy,  to  be  reasonably  independent,  to  be 
fair  and  charitable  and  industrious. 

That’s  the  kind  of  life  that  is  inspiring  in  the 
end.  The  socialists  and  the  spendthrifts  and  some 
of  the  muckrakers  and  fakirs  are  trying  to  dis- 
countenance and  belittle  that  kind  of  life  and  make 
the  people  think  and  believe  that  prudence  and 
foresight  and  thriftiness  are  synonymous  with  greed 
and  snobbery  and  trickery 

What  a mass  of  rot  and  wicked  doctrine  has 
been  let  loose  on  the  public  of  late  years ! It’s 
health  and  industry  and  acquisition  of  capital  (not 
destruction  of  capital)  which  has  made  all  progress 
in  this  world,  spiritual  as  well  as  material. 

Here  was  a woman  who  did  her  share,  not  only 
in  the  acquisition  of  her  family’s  capital,  but  in 
helping  others  to  help  themselves.  She  had  no  time 
or  sympathy  for  one  who  wouldn’t  work. 

You  boys  have  a grand  inheritance  from  your 
immediate  grandparents  on  both  sides.  They  were 
producers,  they  were  workers,  and  after  all  it’s  the 
only  kind  of  fife  that  brings  satisfaction. 

I remember  hearing  the  finest  hunting  dog  breeder 
in  this  country,  Old  Watson,  saying  to  a party  who 
was  telling  him  of  all  the  good  points  of  a certain 
young  dog,  how  he’d  point  and  pack,  what  style  he 
had,  how  beautiful  he  was,  etc.,  etc.  “Will  he  run, 
Bobbie?  Will  he  run?”  It’s  just  so  with  man. 


No  matter  so  much  what  his  graces,  his  accom- 
plishments, his  style,  or  even  his  talents  and  abili- 
ties, it’s  after  all — 

“Will  he  work,  Bobbie?  Will  he  work?” 

Much  love  to  you  both. 

FATHER. 

Chauncey  Milton  Griggs.  A business  house  of 
distinctive  prestige  and  long  standing  in  St.  Paul 
with  trade  relations  all  over  the  Northwest  is  the 
wholesale  grocery  firm  of  Griggs,  Cooper  & Com- 
pany, of  which  Chauncey  Milton  Griggs  is  now 
president,  and  at  present  also  president  of  the  Sani- 
tary Food  Manufacturing  Company.  The  name 
Griggs  has  been  identified  with  the  higher  order  of 
mercantile  affairs  in  St.  Paul  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  and  members  of  three  successive  generations 
have  given  their  time  and  services  to  the  development 
of  this  business. 

Chauncey  Milton  Griggs  was  born  at  St.  Paul 
February  19,  i860,  a son  of  Col.  Chauncey  W. 
Griggs,  one  of  St.  Paul’s  oldest  and  best  known 
pioneers  and  merchants.  The  wife  of  Colonel 
Griggs  was  Martha  A.  (Gallup)  Griggs.  Chauncey 
M.  Griggs  was  educated  in  the  grammar  and  high 
schools  of  St.  Paul  and  was  graduated  Bachelor  of 
Arts  from  Yale  College  in  1883.  Immediately  on 
leaving  college  he  returned  to  St.  Paul  and  found 
a place  in  the  firm  of  Yanz,  Griggs  & Howes, 
wholesale  and  manufacturing  grocers.  In  1884  the 
title  of  this  firm  was  changed  to  Griggs  & Howes, 
and  in  1889  to  the  style  of  Griggs,  Cooper  & Com- 
pany. The  business  was  incorporated  in  1900,  and 
at  that  time  Chauncey  M.  Griggs  became  first  vice 
president  of  the  company,  and  has  since  taken  active 
executive  direction  of  the  company  in  the  office  of 
president. 

Mr.  Griggs  is  a member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Minnesota,  the  White  Bear  Yacht, 
Town  and  Country  clubs,  and  his  recreations  are 
the  outdoor  sports.  Mr.  Griggs  was  married  at 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  October,  1885,,  to  Mary 
Chaffee  Wells.  Their  St.  Paul  home  is  at  365  Sum- 
mit Avenue,  and  they  also  have  a summer  residence 
at  Manitou  Island  in  the  White  Bear  Lake.  To  this 
union  were  born  five  sons  and  two  daughters : C. 
Wells,  Milton  W.,  Everett  G.,  Benjamin  G.,  Chaun- 
cey W.,  Mary  W.  and  Elizabeth  T. 

Theodore  Wright  Griggs  was  born  September  3, 
1872,  at  St.  Paul.  He  attended  the  public  schools  in 
St.  Paul,  finishing  the  grade  school  the  summer  of 
1887  and  attended  Carleton  College  (preparatory  de- 
partment), at  Northfield,  Minnesota,  for  one  year, 
1887-88.  He  was  graduated  from  Washington  Col- 
lege, Tacoma,  Washington,  class  of  1890.  For  one 
year  he  worked  as  timekeeper,  street  grading  and 
railroad  construction  and  office  clerk  for  the  St.  Paul 
& Tacoma  Lumber  Company,  Tacoma,  Washington. 
He  then  attended  Dwight  School,  New  York  City,  for 
one  year  and  entered  Sheffield  Scientific  School,  Yale 
University,  in  the  fall  of  1892,  taking  a three  years’ 
course — class  ’95  S. 

He  entered  the  employ  of  Griggs,  Cooper  & Com- 
pany, manufacturing  wholesale  grocers,  St.  Paul,  in 
July,  1895.  He  served  eleven  months  in  the  Spanish- 
American  war  as  first  lieutenant  Company  L,  Fif- 
teenth Minnesota  Volunteers,  acting  brigade  and  di- 
vision quartermaster,  ordnance  officer,  from  two  to 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1521 


six  months;  aid-de-camp,  Third  Brigade,  First  Di- 
vision, Second  Army  Corps,  about  seven  months. 
Shortly  after  the  war  he  returned  to  the  service  of 
Griggs,  Cooper  & Company,  where  he  was  employed 
as  traveling  salesman  for  about  one  year,  after  which 
he  was  made  a department  buyer.  He  was  elected 
secretary  of  Griggs,  Cooper  & Company  (which  was 
established  in  1882)  at  the  time  of  incorporation,  Oc- 
tober 25,  1900,  and  elected  vice  president  January  5, 
1913,  and  elected  vice  president  and  treasurer  of  the 
Sanitary  Food  Manufacturing  Company,  St.  Paul,  at 
its  incorporation,  June,  1913,  of  which  concern  he  is 
at  present  also  general  manager.  He  has  also  held 
different  offices  in  a few  minor  business  corporations 
from  time  to  time. 

Mr.  Griggs  was  a member  of  the  Executive  Board 
of  the  National  Conservation  Congress  held  in  St. 
Paul  the  summer  of  1912.  He  has  served  as  director 
of  the  St.  Paul  Business  League  and  St.  Paul  Asso- 
ciation of  Commerce.  He  is  a member  of  the  St. 
Paul  Commercial-  Club,  the  Midway  Commercial 
Club,  the  National  Chamber  of  Commerce,  member 
and  director  of  the  Town  & Country  Club,  was  vice 
president  of  the  University  Club  of  St.  Paul  for  one 
year,  is  a member  of  the  Minnesota  Club  of  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota  Boat  Club,  St.  Paul,  the  Minnesota  State 
Tennis  Association,  the  St.  Paul  Automobile  Club 
(of  which  he  was  at  one  time  secretary  and  director), 
St.  Paul  Athletic  Club,  the  Roadside  Golf  Club,  the 
Junior  Pioneers,  Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  Spanish 
War  Veterans,  the  American  Legion,  White  Bear 
Yacht  Club  of  White  Bear,  the  Minneapolis  Club, 
the  Lafayette  Club  of  Lake  Minnetonka,  and  a few 
other  business,  social  and  athletic  organizations, 
serving  on  various  committees  from  time  to  time  in 
the  above  clubs.  He  is  a member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

Milton  W.  Griggs.  Representing  the  third  gen- 
eration of  the  Griggs  family  in  the  management  of 
the  well  known  St.  Paul  wholesale  grocery  firm  of 
Griggs,  Cooper  & Company,  Milton  W.  Griggs  is 
one  of  the  city’s  youngest  business  men,  and  is  now 
secretary  of  this  company. 

Milton  W.  Griggs  was  born  in  St.  Paul  Novem- 
ber 15,  1888,  being  the  second  son  of  C.  Milton  and 
Mary  C.  (Wells)  Griggs.  A sketch  of  his  father 
is  found  on  other  pages  of  this  work.  Milton  W. 
Griggs  as  a boy  attended  the  public  schools  in  St. 
Paul,  leaving  at  the  age  of  fourteen  to  enter  St. 
Paul  Academy,  and  after  two  years  there  went 
East  and  for  one  year  was  a student  in  the  exclusive 
preparatory  school  of  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover, 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  Griggs  in  1906  entered  Yale 
University  and  was  graduated  in  1910.  His  father 
had  left  the  same  university  twenty-seven  years  be- 
fore to  enter  the  grocery  business  at  St.  Paul,  and 
the  son  likewise  on  completing  his  college  course 
became  identified  with  Griggs,  Cooper  & Com- 
pany, and  soon  afterwards  was  made  secretary,  his 
present  office. 

Mr.  Griggs  was  married  October  1,  1910,  to  Miss 
Arline  Bayliss,  daughter  of  Charles  E.  Bayliss,  a 
prominent  business  man  of  New  York  City.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children : Arline  Bayliss, 

C.  Milton  Griggs  and  Theodore  B,  Griggs.  Mr. 
Griggs  is  a member  of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon 
college  fraternity,  and  of  the  University  Club  and 
the  White  Bear  Yacht  Club.  His  home  is  at  301 
Laurel  Avenue. 


James  C.  Fifield.  A progressive  citizen  and 
representative  member  of  the  bar  of  the  fair  me- 
tropolis of  Minnesota  is  James  C.  Fifield,  and  the 
versatility  he  has  shown  has  brought  him  into  prom- 
inence not  only  in  his  profession  but  also  in  the  pro- 
motion of  various  material  enterprises  of  broad 
scope  and  importance.  , He  was  associated  with  his 
brother,  the  late  Walter  V.  Fifield,  in  the  organiza- 
tion and  incorporation  of  The  Attorneys’  National 
Clearing  House,  the  headquarters  of  which  are 
maintained  in  Minneapolis,  under  his  personal  super- 
vision. This  organization  has  gained  international 
prestige  through  its  publishing  of  The  Clearing- 
House  Quarterly,  which  was  established  in  1895  and 
which  has  a wide  circulation  throughout  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  as  well  as  in  many  foreign  coun- 
tries. To  this  publication  more  specific  reference 
will  be  made  in  later  paragraphs  of  this  review. 
Mr.  Fifield  has  also  promoted  large  business  and  in- 
dustrial enterprises  in  Mexico  and  Texas,  and  in 
the  midst  of  his  exacting  labors  has  continued  to 
devote  attention  to  and  maintain  high  prestige  in 
his  chosen  profession. 

James  C.  Fifield  was  born  at  Cedar  Falls,  Black- 
hawk  County,  Iowa,  on  the  3d  of  February,  1862, 
and  is  a son  of  Rev.  Lebbeus  B.  and  Emily  (Wal- 
worth) Fifield.  His  father  was  a distinguished 
clergyman  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  one  of 
its  pioneer  representatives  in  both  Iowa  and  Ne- 
braska. Rev.  Lebbeus  B.  Fifield  held  pastoral 
charges  in  turn  at  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  and  Lincoln, 
Nebraska,  in  which  latter  state  he  served  for  a 
number  of  years  as  a member  of  the  board  of 
regents  of  the  University  of  Nebraska.  Later  he 
was  librarian  of  the  historical  library  of  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  in  the  City  of  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, and  in  this  institution  his  . son  James  C.,  of 
this  review,  was  a student  from  1883  to  1887.  In 
the  pioneer  days  in  Iowa  Rev.  Lebbeus  B.  Fifield 
was  editor  of  the  Dubuque  Times,  and  later  he  was 
editor  and  publisher  of  a newspaper  in  Nebraska, 
after  his  retirement  from  active  service  in  the  min- 
istry. In  1887  he  came  with  his  family  to  Min- 
neapolis, Minnesota,  where  he  became  an  honored 
and  well  known  citizen  and  where  he  died  on  the 
7th  of  September,  1906 — his  eightieth  birthday  an- 
niversary. He  was  born  at  Eastport,  Maine,  on 
the  7th  of  September,  1826,  and  was  a member  of  a 
fine  old  family  that  was  founded  in  New  England 
in  the  colonial  era  of  our  national  history.  He  was 
educated  at  Amherst  College,  which  institution  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  prior  to  his  graduation, 
owing  to  impaired  health.  His  physical  condition 
led  him  to  remove  to  the  West  in  the  year  1851, 
when  he  was  about  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and 
he  settled  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in 
editing  an  educational  paper.  He  was  later  ordained 
to  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  Church  and 
finally  his  alma  mater,  Amherst  College,  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  in  recog- 
nition of  his  high  intellectual  attainments  and 
splendid  achievement. 

Mrs.  Emily  (Walworth)  Fifield  survived  her  hon- 
ored husband  and  died  at  Minneapolis,  on  the  8th 
day  of  May,  1914,  about  two  weeks  after  her  ninety- 
fourth  birthday  anniversary.  This  noble  and  ven- 
erable woman  held  the  reverent  affection  of  all  who 
knew  her,  and  her  reminiscences  in  regard  to  the 


1522 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


days  long  past  were  graphic  and  of  absorbing  in- 
terest, as  she  was  a woman  of  fine  intellectuality  and 
broad  experience.  She  was  born  at  Canaan,  New 
Hampshire,  and  her  parents  were  among  the  first 
New  England  immigrants  to  drive  through  from 
that  section  of  the  Union  with  horses  and  carriage 
to  Illinois.  Her  father  built  a carriage  especially 
for  this  long  and  venturesome  overland  journey,  and 
he  drove  the  entire  distance  from  Canaan,  New 
Hampshire,  to  his  destination  in  Southern  Illinois, 
where  he  settled  in  the  early  pioneer  days  and  where 
he  did  well  his  part  in  the  formative  period  of 
development  and  progress.  A short  time  later  the 
family  settled  in  Iowa,  near  the  Town  of  Anamosa. 
The  Indians  were  much  in  evidence  at  the  time, 
and  were  more  or  less  of  a menace,  the  Blackhawk 
Indian  war  having  occurred  about  the  time  of 
the  settlement  of  the  Walworth  family  in  Iowa,  and 
in  her  venerable  years  Mrs.  Fifield  was  wont  to  re- 
late many  interesting  tales  concerning  conditions 
and  incidents  of  the  pioneer  days  in  that  state,  she 
having  been  a young  woman  at  the  time  of  the 
family  removal  to  the  West,  and  her  marriage  to 
Rev.  Lebbeus  B.  Fifield  having  been  solemnized  at 
Auburndale,  Massachusetts.  Her  grandfather,  Capt. 
Charles  Walworth,  was  a patriot  soldier  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  family  was  long 
one  of  prominence  and  influence  in  New  Eng- 
land. James  J.  and  Clark  C.  Walworth,  brothers 
of  Mrs.  Fifield,  were  the  first  persons  m the 
United  States  to  engage  in  the  manufacturing  of 
steam-heating  apparatus.  Fully  sixty  years  ago  they 
founded  this  business  in  the  City  of  Boston,  and 
there  the  enterprise  is  still  continued  under  the 
original  title  of  the  Walworth  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, though  the  founders  of  the  company  long 
since  passed  away. 

Rev.  Lebbeus  B.  and  Emily  (Walworth)  Fifield 
became  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
one  of  the  sons  dying  in  infancy  and  the  other 
children  attaining  to  years  of  maturity.  Two  of  the 
sons  and  the  daughter  are  now  living,  and  James  C., 
of  this  review,  is  the  youngest  of  the  number. 
George  W.  is  a lawyer  by  profession  and  is  now 
living  retired  in  the  State  of  California;  the  only 
daughter,  Dr.  Emily  W.  Fifield,  is  a physician  and 
surgeon  of  distinctive  ability  and  is  engaged  in  the 
successful  practice  of  her  profession  in  Minneapolis. 
Walter  V.  Fifield,  who  was  closely  associated  with 
. his  brother  James  C.  in  the  practice  of  law  and  in 
other  activities,  died  in  Minneapolis  on  the  25th 
of  July,  1911,  and  to  him  a memoir  is  dedicated 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

James  C.  Fifield  was  graduated  in  historic  old 
Phillips  Academy  at  Andover,  Massachusetts,  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1883,  and  he  thereafter 
completed  a full  collegiate  course  in  Johns  Hop- 
kins University,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1887,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He 
simultaneously  gave  attention  to  the  reading  of  law 
and  attended  lectures  in  the  law  school  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Maryland.  After  the  completion  of  his 
university  course,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Min- 
neapolis, where  he  continued  his  law  studies  under 
the  able  preceptorship  of  the  well  known  firm  of 
Shaw  & Cray,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  hav- 
ing been  the  late  Judge  John  M.  Shaw,  and  the 
junior  member  having  been  Judge  Willard  R.  Cray, 
who  is  still  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Min- 
neapolis. Mr.  Fifield  remained  in  the  office  of  this 
firm  about  three  years,  and  was  here  admitted  to 


the  bar  in  February,  1891.  He  forthwith  engaged  in 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  in  association 
with  his  elder  brother — the  late  Walter  V.  Fifield — 
and  they  soon  built  up  a substantial  and  profitable 
law  business.  In  1895  the  two  brothers  established 
the  Attorneys’  National  Clearing  House  and  began 
the  publication  of  the  Clearing  House  Quarterly, 
which  circulates  throughout  the  United  States  and 
the  Canadian  provinces,  and  in  a number  of  foreign 
countries.  The  Quarterly  gives  a directory  of  reli- 
able lawyers  and  bankers  throughout  its  assigned 
territory  of  operations,  and  great  care  is  taken  in 
preparing  the  selected  list  of  representative  attor- 
neys. The  business  has  expanded  to  large  scope  and 
importance.  The  home  office  is  maintained  in  Min- 
neapolis, and  the  New  York  office  at  320  Broadway. 
It  has  representatives  in  all  the  principal  cities  and 
towns  of  the  Union,  as  well  as  in  Canada.  This 
publication  is  issued  every  three  months  as  the  title 
indicates.  Its  functions  and  statements  are  held  at 
all  times  to  be  authoritative,  and  it  constitutes  a 
veritable  clearing  house  of  information  in  its  as- 
signed field. 

When  the  Fifield  brothers  formed  their  original 
professional  alliance  they  gave  the  firm  the  desig- 
nation of  Fifield  & Fifield,  and  later  when  Henry 
J.  Fletcher  came  into  the  firm  the  title  was  changed 
to  Fifield,  Fletcher  & Fifield.  Since  the  death  of 
Walter  V.,  James  C.  Fifield  has  been  associated  in 
practice  with  Albert  C.  Finney,  under  the  title  of 
Fifield  & Finney.  Mr.  Fletcher,  former  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Fifield,  Fletcher  & Fifield,  is  now  a 
member  of  the  faculty  of  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota.  Mr.  Fifield  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Association,  and 
the  Hennepin  County  Bar  Association,  and  he  has 
the  high  esteem  of  his  professional  confreres  in 
Minnesota,  as  well  as  nearly  every  other  state  in  the 
Union — his  acquaintanceship  having  become  un- 
usually wide  through  the  medium  of  the  publica- 
tion issued  under  his  direction,  as  previously  noted 
in  this  context.  He  is  popular  in  business  and  social 
circles  in  his  home  city,  where  he  is  actively  iden- 
tified with  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Comiyierce 
Association,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  and  the 
Minneapolis  Tennis  Club.  The  only  complaint  his 
friends  make  of  him  is  that  he  is  not  seen  at  these 
clubs  often  enough.  He  is  a great  home  lover,  and 
rather  too  retiring  by  nature  to  be  a good  mixer, 
so  that  it  requires  persuasion  to  get  him  away  from 
home  when  business  hours  are  over ; but  he  has  a 
high  sense  of  the  duties  of  citizenship,  and  to  con- 
vince him  that  duty  demands  his  presence  is  all  that 
is  necessary  to  make  sure  of  it. 

Mr.  Fifield  promoted  and  effected  the  organization 
of  the  Tabasco  Plantation  Company,  the  general  of- 
fice of  which  is  maintained  in  Minneapolis.  In 
1905-07  this  corporation  built,  in  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico, 
the  largest  sugar  manufactury  in  that  republic,  and 
Mr.  Fifield  was  secretary  and  general  manager  of 
the  company  during  the  time  when  the  enterprise 
was  being  financed  and  the  plant  erected  and 
equipped. 

Mr.  Fifield  was  associated  with  his  brother  Walter 
and  other  business  men  in  the  promotion  of  an 
important  irrigation  project  in  Texas,  and  the  com- 
pany organized  by  them  obtained  a tract  of  10,000 
acres  of  land  near  Brownsville.  Provisions  were 
made  for  the  pumping  of  water  from  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  many  miles  of  canals  and  irrigation 
ditches  were  constructed.  The  promoting  company 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1523 


finally  sold  the  greater  part  of  the  land  to  another 
corporation,  and  it  was  placed  on  sale  for  farming 
purposes.  The  venture  was  most  successful,  and 
had  much  to  do  with  the  furtherance  of  social  and 
industrial  development  in  that  section  of  the  Lone 
Star  State. 

While  Mr.  Fifield  may  be  counted  among  the  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  Minnesota,  he  has  never 
allowed  the  mere  making  of  money  to  crowd  from 
his  life  things  better  worth  having.  He  takes  time 
to  read,  study,  play,  travel,  and  enjoy  life  as  he 
lives  it.  He  is  fond  of  music  and  pictures  and  the 
beauties  of  nature.  He  is  a natural  student,  and 
seldom  allows  a year  to  pass  during  which  he  has 
not  added  to  his  stock  of  knowledge  along  some 
line  not  directly  bearing  upon  his  business  or  pro- 
fession. He  i^  interested  in  all  the  progressive 
movements  of  the  day,  and  in  the  welfare  of  his 
fellow  man.  He  is  a man  of  varied  interests,  not 
only  by  preference,  but  from  a deep-seated  convic- 
tion that  a diversity  of  interests  adds  to  one’s 
breadth  of  view,  and  deepens  to  the  value  of  life, 
thus  leading  to  better  citizenship. 

One  of  Mr.  Fifield’s  most  pronounced  character- 
istics is  his  thoroughness.  He  gives  himself  abso- 
lutely to  the  task  in  hand,  seeking  information  from 
every  source  at  his  command,  and  always  ready  to 
discard  old  methods  for  something  better.  As  an 
illustration,  his  work  in  the  sugar  business  may  be 
cited.  Although  he  began  it  with  little  knowledge 
or  experience,  his  work  soon  received  high  com- 
mendation from  some  of  the  best  informed  sugar 
men  of  this  country  and  Hawaii.  It  is  this  ability 
to  get  into  the  heart  of  what  he  is  doing,  added 
to  the  application  of  efficiency  methods,  that  en- 
ables him  to  find  time  for  a greater  diversity  of 
pursuits  than  most  business  men  dare  undertake. 

In  the  City  of  Glenwood  Springs,  Colorado,  on 
the  30th  of  October,  1906,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Fifield  to  Effie  W.  Merriman,  who 
was  born  on  a farm  in  Minnesota,  near  Lake  City. 

Mrs.  Fifield  is  a woman  of  distinctive  social 
charm,  and  marked  literary  ability.  For  fifteen 
years  before  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Fifield  she  edited 
The  Housekeeper,  a prominent  domestic  magazine 
published  in  Minneapolis,  and  later  removed  to  New 
York.  This  enterprise  was  initiated  on  a modest 
scale,  and  was  designed  to  appeal  especially  to  the 
sturdy  folk  of  the  so-called  middle  class,  and  under 
Mrs.  Fifield’s  effective  regime  its  circulation  grew 
to  more  than  300,000  copies.  She  is  also  a success- 
ful writer  of  stories  for  children,  and  is  the  author 
of  a number  of  books — her  most  popular  book, 
“Pards,”  being  about  two  newsboys  of  Minneapolis, 
who  watched  the  progress  of  her  story  with  great 
interest.  Most  of  her  books  for  children  were  pub- 
lished by  the  well-known  house  of  Lee  and  Shepard, 
Boston.  Mrs.  Fifield  is  a born  hostess,  and  is  noted 
for  the  originality  of  her  entertainments.  Some 
years  ago,  she  was  so  helpful  in  her  suggestions  to 
social  organizations  wishing  to  raise  money  that 
her  ideas  were  eventually  gathered  into  book  form 
under  the  titles  “Socials”  and  “Modern  Enter- 
tainments”— both  of  which  had  a wide  sale.  She 
has  shown  her  ability  as  a leader  not  only  in  her 
success  in  planning  entertainments  and  carrying 
them  out,  but  also  along  more  serious  lines.  While 
editor  of  The  Housekeeper  she  organized  a club  for 
women  known  as  “The  Progressive  Women  of 
America”  that  enjoyed  great  popularity  as  long  as 
she  directed  its  work.  This  club  had  “circles”  in 


every  state  in  the  Union,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
altruistic  movements  ever  organized.  She  also  or- 
ganized a club  for  young  people  called  “The  Work 
and  Play  Club”  over  which  she  presided  for  many 
years.  This  club  had  members  all  over  the  United 
States,  and  was  most  helpful  to  ambitious  young 
people  whose  onoortunities  were  limited.  These 
two  clubs  brought  Mrs.  Fifield  into  close  personal 
touch-  with  hundreds  of  women  and  young  people, 
and  called  for  an  immense  amount  of  correspond- 
ence for  which  she  did  not  ask  or  receive  remu- 
neration. She  says  it  has  a place  in  her  memory 
as  the  most  satisfactory  work  of  her  busy  life. 

Walter  V.  Fifield.  The  late  Walter  V.  Fifield 
was  closely  associated  with  his  younger  brother, 
James  C.,  in  the  establishing  and  developing  of  the 
extensive  and  unique  enterprise  of  The  Attorneys’ 
National  Clearing  House  and  the  incidental  pub- 
lishing of  The  Clearing  House  Quarterly.  The 
brothers  were  allied  also  in  other  lines  of  normal 
business  enterprise,  as  were  they  also  in  a profes- 
sional way,  and  he  whose  name  initiates  this  review 
was  one  of  the  honored  members  of  the  legal  fra- 
ternity as  well  as  a representative  man  of  affairs  in 
the  Minnesota  metropolis  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  2cth  of  July,  1911.  Concern- 
ing the  family  history  and  the  general  details  of 
the  business  career  of  Walter  V.  Fifield  adequate 
data  are  given  on  other  cages  of  this  publication, 
in  the  brief  review  of  the  life  record  of  his  brother, 
James  C.  Fifield. 

Walter  V.  Fifield  was  born  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  on 
the  25th  of  February,  1856,  and  was  a son  of  Rev. 
Lebbeus  B.  and  Emily  (Walworth)  Fifield,  his 
father  having  been  a representative  and  pioneer 
clergyman  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Iowa 
and  Nebraska  and  both  he  and  his  wife  having  been 
residents  of  Minneapolis  at  the  time  of  their  death, 
adequate  record  concerning  them  being  given  on 
other  pages  in  the  sketch  of  the  career  of  their 
youngest  son,  James  C.  He  whose  name  introduces 
this  brief  memoir  was  afforded  excellent  educa- 
tional advantages  in  his  youth  and  prepared  him- 
self most  carefully  for  the  profession  of  law,  of 
which  he  became  an  able  and  honored  exponent. 
He  became  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  bar 
of  Fillmore  County,  Nebraska,  and  was  engaged  in 
practice  at  Geneva,  the  judicial  center  of  that  county, 
until  1890,  when  he  came  to  Minneapolis,  Minne- 
sota, where  his  parents  and  other  members  of  the 
family  had  established  their  home  several  years 
previously.  Here  he  became  associated  with  his 
youngest  brother  as  senior  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Fifield  & Fifield,  and  concerning  subsequent 
changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  firm  due  mention 
is  made  in  the  review  dedicated  to  his  brother 
James  C.  The  two  brothers  became  the  organizers 
and  founders  of  The  Attorneys’  National  Clearing 
House,  an  admirable  institution  concerning  which 
ample  details  are  given  in  the  sketch  of  James  C. 
Fifield.  After  coming  to  Minneapolis  Mr.  Fifield 
virtually  retired  from  the  practice  of  law,  in  so  far 
as  appearance  in  court  litigations  was  concerned,  as 
he  found  ample  demands  upon  his  time  and  atten- 
tion in  the  handling  of  the  executive  affairs  of  the 
various  business  enterprises  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected and  in  which  he  and  his  brother  were  earnest 
and  mutually  valued  coadjutors.  Mr.  Fifield  was 
essentially  liberal  and  public-spirited  as  a citizen, 
and  he  erected  in  Minneapolis  the  fine  Lowry  Hill 


1524 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


apartment  building,  which  stands  as  an  effective 
monument  to  his  enterprise.  He  was  a republican 
in  his  political  proclivities  and  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  old  Minneapolis  Commercial  Club,  which 
later  was  reorganized  as  the  Minneapolis  Athletic 
Club. 

As  a young  man  Mr.  Fifield  wedded  Miss  Anna 
M.  Richardson,  of  Chicago,  who  died  in  Minneap- 
olis, on  the  23d  of  September,  1908.  Of  the  three 
children  of  this  union  the  eldest  is  Gertrude,  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  Byon  A.  Fulmer,  of  Minneap- 
olis; Albert  W.  is  secretary  and  a director  of  The 
Attorneys’  National  Clearing  House;  and  Walter 
W.  is  attending  high  school  at  the  time  of  this 
writing,  in  1915.  The  two  elder  children  were  born 
at  Geneva,  Nebraska,  and  Walter  W.  after  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Minneapolis.  The  only  daughter  was 
graduated  in  the  high  school  and  thereafter  at- 
tended the  University  of  Minnesota  for  three  years. 
In  the  autumn  of  1910  Mr.  Fifield  contracted  a sec- 
ond marriage,  being  then  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Elizabeth  Wainman,  who  survives  him  and  still  re- 
sides in  Minneapolis. 


Elmer  A.  Orth.  One  of  the  federal  appointments 
which  have  given  much  favor  in  Minnesota  was  the 
selection  of  Elmer  A.  Orth,  for  many  years  one  of 
the  staff  of  employes  in  the  St.  Paul  Postoffice,  to 
the  postmastership  of  North  St.  Paul.  He  took  up 
his  duties  in  that  office  in  1914,  and  is  now  giving 
close  attention  to  the  work  and  has  brought  about  a 
noticeable  improvement  in  the  service  and  efficiency 
of  the  office. 

Elmer  A.  Orth  was  born  at  Grand  Meadow,  Min- 
nesota, November  14,  1884,  a son  of  Helwig  and 
Caroline  (Schroeder)  Orth.  His  father  was  born 
in  Germany  and  his  mother  in  Wisconsin.  The 
former  left  Germany  for  the  United  States  in  the 
year  1869,  landed  in  New  York  City,  went  west  to 
Lansing,  Iowa,  lived  there  for  ten  years  and  was 
engaged  in  the  carpenter  and  cabinet  making  trades. 
From  Iowa  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  was  married 
to  Miss  Schroeder  after  having  purchased  a furni- 
ture business  which  he  conducted  twenty  years  at 
Grand  Meadow.  Helwig  Orth  was  a cabinet  maker 
by  trade,  but  his  most  substantial  occupation  for 
many  years  was  as  a furniture  dealer.  He  is  now 
living  in  the  City  of  North  St.  Paul. 

Elmer  A.  Orth  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Grand  Meadow,  completing  the  two-year 
course  of  the  high  school,  and  for  two  years  was  a 
student  in  the  Central  High  School  at  St.  Paul. 
After  leaving  school  he  became  an  apprentice  at  the 
printing  trade,  and  for  several  years  was  active  as  a 
printer  and  newspaper  man.  He  managed  the  St. 
Paul  Sentinel  at  North  St.  Paul  in  1905-6,  and  proved 
successful  in  editing  this  paper  and  extending  its 
circulation  and  influence.  Returning  to  St.  Paul  he 
entered  the  local  postoffice  under  Postmaster  Flower, 
and  was  in  that  office  from  1906  to  1914,  when 
appointed  to  his  present  duties. 

Mr.  Orth  married  Miss  Rose  Rufenacht,  a daughter 
of  John  Rufenacht.  They  reside  in  North  St.  Paul. 
Mr.  Orth  is  affiliated  with  Fellowship  Lodge  No.  257, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  also  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  having  been  honored  with  the  highest 
chair  in  the  local  Masonic  order. 

Charles  Philip  Nienhauser.  During  his  active 
career  in  St.  Paul  the  late  Charles  Philip  Nienhauser 


acquired  an  enviable  position  in  business  affairs.  He 
had  the  capacity  for  faithful  and  efficient  service,  and 
after  his  period  of  apprenticeship  and  training  in 
merchandising  was  accorded  various  promotions 
until  for  several  years  before  his  death  he  had  held 
the  place  of  department  manager  and  buyer  with 
the  great  wholesale  house  of  Lindeke,  Warner  & 
Sons,  wholesale  dry  goods. 

Charles  Philip  Nienhauser  was  born  in  St.  Paul, 
October  17,  1862,  and  died  when  in  the  prime  of  his 
life,  August  13,  1913.  His  father  was  Charles  Nien- 
hauser, a native  of  Germany,  and  for  a number  of 
years  engaged  in  business  at  St.  Paul  as  an  under- 
taker and  embalmer.  The  mother’s  maiden  name 
was  Rachel  Funk,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, daughter  of  Rev.  Philip  Funk,  a pioneer 
German  missionary  who  was  in  the  service  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Minnesota  in  the 
early  days.  Mr.  Nienhauser’s  father  died  October 
5,  1868,  and  in  August  of  the  succeeding  year  death 
also  claimed  the  mother.  The  family  were  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  The  daughter  is  Caroline, 
wife  of  J.  H.  Woltersdorff,  a St.  Paul  manufacturer 
and  a man  of  prominence  in  civic  affairs.  The  two 
living  brothers  are  F.  A.  Nienhauser  and  Julius  E. 
Nienhauser,  both  of  whom  have  for  many  years 
been  connected  with  St.  Paul  banking  institutions 
in  clerical  and  official  capacities. 

Charles  Philip  Nienhauser,  who  was  the  second 
son,  after  the  death  of  his  parents  was  carefully 
reared  in  the  homes  of  relatives,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  St.  Paul.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  started  out  to  make  his  own  way, 
entering  the  employ  of  Lindeke,  Warner  & Schur- 
meir,  which,  by  subsequent  changes,  is  now  the 
great  dry  goods  house  of  Lindeke,  Warner  & Sons. 
He  entered  the  house  with  no  special  recommenda- 
tion and  without  influential  backing,  worked  along- 
side many  other  minor  employes,  and  his  advance- 
ment was  only  a reward  for  his  steadfast  fidelity  to 
the  interests  of  the  firm  and  a growing  efficiency 
and  capacity  for  responsibility.  Thus  he  finally  rose 
to  the  position  of  department  manager  and  buyer, 
and  his  death  was  greatly  deplored'  by  all  his  busi- 
ness associates  and  subordinates  and  was  felt  as  a 
distinct  loss  to  the  house  which  he  had  served 
practically  from  the  beginning  of  his  career. 

Mr.  Nienhauser  was  married,  October  20,  1886, 
to  Miss  Lillie  P.  Bailey.  There  is  one  son,  Roy 
Bailey  Nienhauser,  now  twenty-seven  years  of  age, 
who  was  educated  in  the  St.  Paul  public  schools 
and  the  University  of  Minnesota,  graduated  from 
the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law  in  1911  with  admission 
to  the  bar  in  June  of  that  year,  and  is  now  an 
officer  of  the  St.  Paul  Insurance  Agency. 

The  late  Mr.  Nienhauser  was  an  independent  re- 
publican, and  never  aspired  for  any  political  office. 
He  was  devoted  to  his  home,  and  several  years 
before  his  death  erected  a beautiful  residence  at 
951  Lincoln  Avenue  in  St.  Paul,  where  Mrs.  Nien- 
hauser now  lives.  Though  a member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  he  was  not  a special  believer  in  lodges 
and  clubs,  and  his  usefulness  in  business  and  to 
society  could  not  be  measured  by  his  relations  with 
public  and  social  affairs.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  a member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  St.  Paul,  although  he  was  reared  as  a Methodist. 

John  Rogers.  In  the  year  that  marked  the  crea- 
tion and  formal  organization  of  the  Territory  of 
Minnesota  the  late  John  Rogers  established  his 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1525 


residence  in  St.  Paul,  which  had  been  designated 
as  the  capital  of  the  new  territory  and  which  was 
at  that  time  a village  of  about  200  inhabitants.  Of 
alert  mentality,  buoyant  and  optimistic  temperament 
and  most  genial  personality,  the  young  Irishman, 
who  was  destined  to  pioneer  honors  and  whose 
character  and  ability  made  him  a resourceful  figure 
in  the  early  development  and  upbuilding  of  the 
capital  city,  entered  fully  into  the  civic  and  business 
activities  of  the  little  village  and  became  one  of  the 
popular  and  influential  citizens  of  the  community  in 
which  his  memory  is  revered  by  all  who  came  within 
the  circle  of  his  benignant  and  kindly  influence,  his 
death  having  occurred  here  in  1902,  at  which  time 
he  was  nearly  seventy-six  years  of  age.  A man 
of  much  intellectual  strength,  of  well  fortified  views 
and  of  impregnable  integrity,  he  marked  the  passing 
years  with  large  and  worthy  achievement,  and  it  is 
but  in  justice  due  that  in  this  history  of  Minnesota 
be  incorporated  a tribute  to  his  memory  and  to  his 
admirable  influence  as  one  of  the  honored  pioneers 
of  the  state. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
on  the  10th  of  March,  1827,  and  he  was  a scion  of 
the  finest  of  Irish  ancestry  long  identified  with  that 
section  of  the  fair  Emerald  Isle.  He  was  a son  of 
Owen  and  Ellen  (Grimes)  Rogers,  who  passed 
their  entire  lives  in  their  native  land,  the  father 
having  been  a prosperous  merchant  and  cattle  buyer 
and  the  mother  the  daughter  of  a representative 
farmer  of  County  Tyrone.  John  Rogers  was  en- 
dowed with  the  mental  caliber  that  enabled  him  to 
profit  fully  from  the  advantages  he  received  in  the 
national  schools  of  Ireland,  and,  in  the  later  years, 
through  self-discipline  and  varied  experience,  he 
amplified  this  preliminary  training  into  a liberal 
education.  As  a youth  he  became  associated  with 
his  father’s  business  enterprises"  and  eventually  he 
engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business  in  an  inde- 
pendent way.  Inspired  by  reports  received  concern- 
ing opportunities  offered  in  the  United  States,  in 
1845,  as  a youth  of  eighteen  years,  Mr.  Rogers 
severed  the  gracious  ties  that  bound  him  to  home 
and  native  land  and  set  forth,  with  all  of  ambition 
and  self-reliance,  to  seek  his  fortunes  in  America. 
He  made  the  voyage  on  a sailing  vessel  of  the  type 
common  to  that  period,  and  disembarked  in  the 
City  of  New  Orleans,  whence,  a short  time  later,  he 
proceeded  by  packet  boat  up  the  Mississippi  River 
to  St.  Louis.  From  that  city  he  went  to  Galena, 
Illinois,  where  he  obtained  employment  as  assistant 
steward  in  a hotel  and  where  he  remained  about 
four  years,  within  which  period  he  gained  compre- 
hensive knowledge  of  the  hotel  business  as  exempli- 
fied in  those  early  days,  when  the  titles  of  tavern 
and  inn  were  more  frequently  applied  than  that  of 
hotel.  In  the  spring  of  1849  Mr-  Rogers  came  to 
St.  Paul,  the  Territory  of  Minnesota  having  been 
organized  under  an  act  of  Congress  approved  on  the 
3d  of  March  of  that  year.  In  the  embryonic  capital 
city  Mr.  Rogers  put  his  previous  experience  to  prac- 
tical use  by  engaging  in  the  hotel  business,  and  for 
many  years  conducted  one  of  the  leading  hostelries 
of  St.  Paul,  where  he  built  and  conducted  the  first 
brick  hotel  in  the  city.  He  became  mot  only  the 
host,  but  also  the  confidential  friend  of  many  of 
the  leading  public  men  of  the  territory,  and  after 
the  admission  of  Minnesota  to  statehood  his  acquaint- 
ance continued  to  be  equally  notable,  so  that  when 
he  was  finally  summoned  from  the  stage  of  life’s 
mortal  endeavors  there  were  not  a few  of  his 


pioneer  contemporaries  who  viewed  his  passing  with 
a deep  sense  of  personal  loss  and  bereavement. 

Mr.  Rogers  entered  heartily  and  with  character- 
istic circumspection  into  the  progressive  spirit  that 
was  in  evidence  in  the  new  territory  and  its  aspiring 
capital  and  became  an  influential  factor  in  public 
affairs  of  a local  order,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that 
he  served  as  a member  of  the  first  village  council 
and  also  as  a member  of  the  school  board.  From 
an  article  that  appeared  in  the  St.  Paul  Pioneer 
Press  in  the  spring  of  1895,  incidental  to  an  interview 
with  Mr.  Rogers,  it  is  possible  to  make  certain 
quotations  that  well  merit  perpetuation  in  more 
accessible  form  than  musty  newspaper  files.  Im- 
portuned by  the  reporter  to  offer  some  information 
concerning  the  “city  council”  of  1850,  Mr.  Rogers 
spoke  as  follows:  "Well,  it  was  not  so  much  of 

an  honor  to  be  a city  father  in  those  days.  In  fact, 
we  were  not  city  fathers  at  all ; we  were  village 
fathers.  It  was  not  until  some  years  later  that  St. 
Paul  was  granted  a charter.  Although  forty-five 
years  have  played  havoc  with  my  memory,  I recol- 
lect that  we  were  lord  high  everything — board  of 
health  and  education,  police  and  fire  departments, 
all  rolled  into  one.  I think  the  village  election  came 
in  April.  I was  down  the  river  at  the  time, 
and  when  I returned  was  duly  installed  as  council- 
man from  the  First  Ward.  There  were  only  two 
wards  then.  My  colleague  from  the  First  was  Lot 
Moffet,  a long,  lank  Missourian,  who  was  also  a 
tavern  keeper.  He  had  his  place  in  a small  frame 
building  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Jackson, 
where  the  First  National  Bank  now  is.  Moffet  was 
a peculiar  fellow,  a Mormon  in  belief.  He  had  only 
one  wife  while  here,  but  probably  no  one  would  have 
objected  if  he  had  had  a dozen.  The  members  from 
the  Second  Ward  were  Charlie  Bazille,  and  a Ger- 
man harnessmaker  whose  name  has  long  since  es- 
caped me.  Bazille  was  a carpenter  by  trade  and  at 
one  time  owned  a great  deal  of  property  here.  He 
gave  the  land  for  the  state  capitol,  with  the  express 
condition,  I believe,  that  if  the  capital  was  ever 
moved  the  property  was  to  revert  to*  his  heirs.  The 
president  of  the  council  was  a man  by  the  name  of 
Bushlot.  He  was  a very  bright  fellow  and  did  well 
for  a number  of  years.  Our  first  meeting  was  held 
in  May,  a month  after  our  election.  It  was  in  a 
law  office  down  on  Third  street.  The  room 
was  poorly  furnished.  Don’t  imagine  for  a moment 
that  there  were  Brussels  carpet,  cushioned  chairs 
and  gilded  chandeliers.  We  sat  in  a circle,  with 
our  feet  on  the  stove  and  cob  pipes  between  our 
teeth.  Yet,  St.  Paul  was  well  governed  then.  If 
there  had  been  any  serious  trouble  that  year  I 
certainly  would  remember  it.  Of  course,  we  did  not 
have  gas  franchises  and  paving  ordinances  to  puzzle 
our  heads  over.  The  worst  thing  of  our  entire  term 
of  office  was  the  care  of  smallpox  patients.  We  had 
a pesthouse  somewhere  and  patrolled  the  city  almost 
daily  on  the  lookout  for  new  cases.  One  of  us  was 
sure  to  be  down  at  the  docks  whenever  a boat  ar- 
rived, to  see  that  passengers  suffering  from  the  dis- 
ease were  cared  for.  We  never  quarantined  a boat, 
and  possibly  that  is  the  reason  the  plague  was  so 
pertinacious. 

“The  council  was  a very  harmonious  body.  We 
were  all  democrats  and  were  never  known  to  dis- 
agree. A deadlock  over  a measure,  or  the  president’s 
veto  were  things  unknown  to  us.  As  a matter  of 
fact,  there  was  absolutely  nothing  to  quarrel  about. 
We  received  no  pay,  and  boodle  was  a word  not 


1526 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


to  be  found  in  our  vocabulary.  Oh,  those  were 
halcyon  days!  Yes,  we  had  seven  or  eight  saloons. 
Their  license  was  only  $25,  so  you  see  the  income 
was  not  so  large  that  we  had  to  lie  awake  nights 
thinking  how  it  might  be  spent.  Taxes  were  small, 
too.  All  the  money  that  came  in  that  year  was  laid 
out  on  the  levee.  Docks  were  built  and  some  dredg- 
ing done.  I remember  that  the  fare  by  boat  to 
Galena  was  only  fifty  cents,  so  close  was  the  com- 
petition. 

“The  Indians  gave  us  little  trouble,  although  we 
had  1,000  of  them.  Once  in  a while  a member  of 
the  tribe  would  get  drunk  and  put  the  whole  com- 
munity in  a furor.  Then  it  was  that  the  council 
merged  itself  into  the  police  department  and  sallied 
forth  to  meet  the  bibulous  redskin.  President 
Bushlot  usually  stood  by  and  cheered  us  on,  in  case 
the  Indian  made  any  show  of  resistance.  You  see, 
we  didn’t  even  have  a village  marshal.  There  was 
i)o  Indian  commissioner,  either,  until  afterward. 
There  were  several  trading  posts.  I remember  Min- 
nedota,  now  called  Mendota,  had  one,  and  there  was 
another  here  in  town.  Each  had  its  interpreter. 

“Our  personal  business  interests  were  more  onerous 
than  that  of  the  village.  I had  a fairly  prosperous 
career  in  the  hotel,  and  afterwards  added  a meat 
market.  I was  the  first  man  in  the  state  to  start 
a market  wagon.  . . . The  postoffice  was  kept 
by  a man  named  Bass,  in  a little  log  house  at  the 
corner  of  Third  and  Jackson  streets.  The  only 
church  was  a Catholic  mission,  down  near  the  river. 
The  priest  was  a Frenchman.  The  first  sewer  was 
put  in  along  Robert  street,  from  Sixth  street  to  the 
river.  Before  that  there  was  a small  swamp,  several 
acres  in  extent,  between  Fifth  and  Seventh  streets. 
During  the  fall  months  we  paddled  out  to  this  mini- 
ature lake  and  shot  ducks.  Where  the  Endicott 
Arcade  now  stands  there  was  a deep  ravine.  It 
extended  across  Jackson  street  and  down  to  the 
flats.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  enough  water  flowed 
between  its  fifty-foot  banks  to  turn  a millwheel. 
But  all  that  has  changed.” 

Fortunate,  indeed,  for  the  purposes  of  this  pub- 
lication, as  a vehicle  for  the  preserving  of  historical 
data,  is  it  that  there  is  possibility  of  incorporating 
such  interesting  reminiscences  as  those  given  in  the 
preceding  paragraphs,  for  the  value  of  the  state- 
ments will  be  cumulative  in  all  the  years  to  come. 

In  connection  with  the  same  interview  the  Pioneer 
Press  offered  the  following  direct  or  reportorial 
statements:  “Mr.  Rogers’  life  during  the  infancy 
of  the  city  was  interesting.  He  came  here  from 
Illinois  in  1849  and  built  a modest  frame  house  on 
Robert  street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  streets. 
After  much  deliberation  he  bought  a lot  next  to  the 
present  site  of  the  German-American  Bank  building. 
The  consideration  was  $250,  a munificent  price,  see- 
ing that  the  property  was  so  far  removed  from  Third 
street,  which  was,  of  course,  the  principal  business 
street  of  the  town.  It  was  Mr.  Rogers’  intention  to 
convert  the  lot  into  a truck  garden.  At  that  time 
there  were  but  few  farms  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city, 
and  almost  all  of  the  food  products  were  brought 
up  the  river  by  boat.  The  owner  of  the  lot  changed 
his  mind,  and  in  1852  put  up  the  three-story  brick 
building,  which  still  occupies  the  site.  It  was  the 
second  brick  building  erected  in  St.  Paul.  The  first 
was  built  on  Hill  street,  by  the  late  H.  M.  Rice, 
and  is  no  longer  standing.  Mr.  Rogers  opened  a 
hotel  and  for  a number  of  years  did  a thriving 
business.” 


In  politics,  as  already  intimated,  Mr.  Rogers  was 
a stanch  supporter  of  the  democratic  party,  and  his 
religious  faith  was  that  of  the  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  was  a zealous  communicant,  as  were  also 
his  first  and  second  wives.  At  Galena,  Illinois,  Mr. 
Rogers  wedded  Miss  Ann  Hartnett,  who  died  within 
a few  years  thereafter.  For  his  second  wife  he 
married  Miss  Adelia  Carney,  of  St.  Paul,  and  she 
was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  April,  1899.  Of 
the  children  of  Mr.  Rogers,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters  survived  him,  as  follows,  all  except  the 
first  named  being  born  to  the  second  union : Mary, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Peter  A.  Whaley,  of  St.  Paul; 
John,  Jr.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  insurance  business 
in  this  city;  Joseph  A.,  who  died  in  1912,  in  St. 
Paul;  Lillian,  who  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  E.  Foley, 
of  this  city;  and  Logan  A.,  Frank  C.,  George  Carney 
and  Harry  P.,  all  of  whom  remain  residents  of  their 
native  city. 

George  Carney  Rogers,  to  whom  the  publishers  are 
indebted  for  the  interesting  data  incorporated  in 
this  memoir,  was  born  in  St.  Paul,  on  the  24th  of 
June,  1877,  and  is  now  one  of  the  representative 
members  of  the  bar  of  his  native  city.  He  was 
graduated  in  both  the  academic  and  law  departments 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  having  received  his 
degree  of  bachelor  of  laws  in  1900.  During  his  six 
years  in  the  university  he  was  a most  active  and 
popular  factor  in  its  athletic  affairs.  He  still  retains 
a vital  interest  in  athletic  sports,  in  which  he  is 
considered  a local  authority. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  associated  with  John  D.  O'Brien 
during  the  first  eight  years  of  his  professional  prac- 
tice, and  since  that  time  has  conducted  an  individual 
law  business,  with  a well  earned  reputation  as  a 
versatile  and  effective  trial  lawyer  and  a counselor 
well  informed  in  the  science  of  jurisprudence.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Ramsey  County  Bar  Association, 
is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  and  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  is  independent  in 
politics  of  local  order  but  a democrat  in  national 
affairs,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants 
of  the  Catholic  Church. 

In  the  City  of  Chicago,  in  1907,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Rogers  to  Miss  Martha  L.  Guye, 
who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Louisiana,  and  who 
was  a daughter  of  John  and  Emma  (Stockfleth) 
Guye,  of  Shreveport,  Louisiana. 

Andrew  A.  D.  Rahn.  Although  a native  of 
Indiana,  Andrew  A.  D.  Rahn  is  by  training  a Min- 
nesotan, having  been  brought  to  this  state  when  a 
small  child.  Flis  career  for  the  greater  part  has 
been  identified  with  the  lumber  industry,  and  his 
opinion  upon  matters  connected  with  the  business 
is  influential  with  his  associates,  who  have  regarded 
him  as  thoroughly  informed  and  have  confidence 
in  the  soundness  of  his  judgment.  He  is  well  known 
in  club  and  fraternal  life  at  Minneapolis,  and  in 
various  ways  has  put  himself  in  the  forward  move- 
ment for  the  benefit  of  that  city. 

He  was  born  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  October  8, 
1877,  a son  of  Carl  and  Elizabeth  (Snelling)  Rahn. 
His  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  at  Val- 
paraiso, and  had  his  home  there  for  a number  of 
years,  though  his  cabinet  shop  and  furniture  factory 
was  situated  at  Chicago,  and  he  traveled  back  and 
forth  between  his  place  of  business  and  home.  He 
was  an  excellent  mechanic,  having  learned  the  trades 
of  carpenter  and  cabinet  maker  in  his  youth.  In 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1527 


1880  he  came  to  Minneapolis  and  engaged  in  the 
contracting  and  building  business,  which  was  con- 
tinued until  his  death  on  February  xi,  1899,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six.  His  widow  survived  him  until 
May  3,  1912.  All  their  seven  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  still  living. 

Andrew  A.  D.  Rahn  received  his  education  in 
Minneapolis,  attending  the  Garfield  and  Adams  grade 
schools  and  the  South  High  School.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  his  school  days  he  became  an  employe 
of  the  Hardwood  Manufacturing  Company  of  Min- 
neapolis, a concern  with  which  he  was  continuously 
identified  for  ten  years,  and  while  there  familiarized 
himself  with  every  detail  of  the  business.  He  then 
opened  an  establishment  of  his  own  at  Princeton, 
Minnesota,  conducted  that  one  year,  and  then  entered 
the  larger  realms  of  the  lumber  industry  as  manager 
of  the  Shoshone  Lumber  Company,  a subsidiary  of 
the  Shevlin-Carpenter  Company,  engaged  in  dealing 
in  timber  on  a large  scale  in  Northern  Idaho.  Mr. 
Rahn  still  retains  an  interest  in  the  Shoshone  Lum- 
ber Company,  and  is  vice  president  of  the  Rainy 
River  Timber  Company,  Lake  of  the  Woods  Cedar 
and  Tie  Company,  and  of  The  Lakes  Company,  Ltd., 
of  Fort  Francis,  Ontario.  The  greater  part  of  his 
attention,  however,  is  devoted  to  the  business  of  the 
Shevlin  interests.  His  offices  are  in  the  First 
National-Soo  Building  at  Minneapolis. 

Primarily  a manufacturer,  Mr.  Rahn  has  developed 
such  aptness  for  affairs  that  he  has  become  a recog- 
nized force  in  civic,  political  and  fraternal  life  in 
the  City  of  Minneapolis.  In  1905  he  was  chosen 
by  state  officials  to  superintend  the  taking  of  the 
census  that  year,  and,  funds  failing,  the  Minneapolis 
Commercial  Club,  through  its  committee  on  public 
affairs,  raised  the  necessary  amount  and  a thorough 
census  was  thus  obtained.  Mr.  Rahn  is  a repub- 
lican, and  in  1903-04  was  secretary  of  the  Hennepin 
County  Central  Committee,  in  which  position  his 
energy  and  capacity  as  an  organizer  won  high  praise 
from  the  party  leaders.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  of  the  Minneapolis  and 
the  Spokane  Club  of  Spokane,  Washington.  In 
Masonry  he  has  taken  the  Scottish  and  York  rites 
and  is  a member  of  Zuhrah  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Minneapolis.  Other  affiliations  are  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  in 
which  he  served  as  a member  of  the  finance  com- 
mittee in  1905-06,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  No.  44,  and  the  D.  O.  K.  K. 

Mr.  Rahn  was  married,  October  27,  1897,  to  Miss 
Anna  Sophia  Anderson  of  Minneapolis.  Their  three 
children  are  Carl  Anderson,  Robert  Loren  and 
Andrew  A.  D.,  Jr.  The  family  home  is  on  Lake 
Minnetonka. 

Luke  B.  Castle.  One  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Stillwater  is  Luke  B.  Castle,  who  has  been  a resident 
in  that  portion  of  Minnesota  nearly  half  a century, 
and  a greater  part  of  the  time  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business.  Mr.  Castle  was  a soldier  of  the 
Union  during  the  last  year  of  the  Civil  war,  is 
well  known  in  Grand  Army  circles,  and  at  various 
times  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  affairs  at 
Stillwater. 

Luke  Bradley  Castle  was  born  January  10.  1844, 
in  Shefford  County,  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada. 
His  parents,  Nathan  Olmsted  and  Rosetta  (Savage) 
Castle,  were  farming  people  in  the  Province  of  Que- 
bec, and  Luke  B.  Castle  grew  up  on  a farm,  receiving 

roi.  ni— 17 


his  education  from  the  district  schools.  In  early 
life  he  learned  the  cooper  trade  in  a woodenware 
factory  at  Quebec,  and  worked  in  that  line  for  three 
years  in  Canada,  Massachusetts  and  Michigan.  In 
1863  he  went  to  Massachusetts,  and  in  1864  came 
west  and  located  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan.  There, 
in  February,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B of  the 
Sixteenth  Michigan  Infantry,  and  saw  active  service 
with  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  in  Virginia  from  the 
Battle  of  the  Wilderness  to  Appomattox.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Grand  Rapids  on  May  4, 
1865.  After  the  war  Mr.  Castle  returned  to  Quebec’ 
but  in  1867  came  out  to  Minnesota  and  located  at 
Stillwater.  There  he  became  identified  with  lumber- 
ing and  logging,  and  was  in  that  business  for  himself 
about  three  years,  from  1871  to  1874.  From  1874 
to  1884  he  was  in  the  sash,  door  and  blind  business, 
but  then  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  insurance  business,  which  has  been  his  principal 
line  of  activity  for  the  past  thirty  years.  He  is  one 
of  the  prominent  men  in  his  line  and  has  acquired 
an  excellent  reputation  and  has  handled  many  of  the 
important  real  estate  transactions  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  Besides  real  estate  and  loans,  he  has  an 
extensive  insurance  business,  representing  many  of 
the  most  reliable  companies.  His  offices  are  at  351 
Myrtle  Street  in  Stillwater.  Among  other  interests 
he  is  a director  of  the  Washington  County  Building 
& Loan  Association. 

Mr.  Castle  served  as  city  assessor  of  Stillwater 
from  1894  to  1898,  and  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner in  1906,  his  term  expiring  in  1911.  He  is  a 
republican,  and  in  Mueller  Post  No.  1,  G.  A.  R., 
has  served  as  commander,  adjutant  and  quarter- 
master. He  has  been  chancellor  commander  and 
prelate  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  for  ten  years,  and 
was  clerk  of  the  camp  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  for  twenty  years.  While  a member  of  no 
particular  church,  he  has  been  liberal  in  his  con- 
tributions to  all  denominations. 

On  May  21,  1872,  at  Stillwater,  Mr.  Castle  married 
Nannie  Gatchell,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Charlotte 
Gatchell.  Robert  Gatchell  served  for  three  years 
in  the  Union  army,  and  for  nine  months  was  a 
prisoner  in  the  notorious  Andersonville  stockade. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Castle  have  become  the  parents  of 
five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Fayette 
B.  Castle  is  now  associated  in  business  with  his 
father.  Shirley  is  the  wife  of  Willis  G.  Brown, 
now  a resident  of  Duluth,  and  of  their  two  children 
Nancy  was  born  in  Minneapolis  and  Barbara  in 
Duluth.  The  son,  Earl  Castle,  died  in  1907  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years. 

H.  M.  Burchard.  For  more  than  thirty  years 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  affairs  at  Winona  and 
throughout  Southwestern  Minnesota  was  the  late 
H.  M.  Burchard,  who  was  a lawyer  by  profession, 
but  during  his  life  in  Minnesota  was  chiefly  dis- 
tinguished for  his  leadership  in  developing  the  ma- 
terial resources  of  his  section  of  the  state. 

H.  M.  Burchard,  who  located  in  Winona  County 
immediately  after  the  war,  having  arrived  in  1866, 
was  born  in  Oneida  County,  New  York,  November 
18,  1825.  He  was  of  a distinguished  New  England 
family  and  ancestry.  His  father,  Ely  Burchard, 
was  a graduate  of  Yale  College  and  prominent  as 
a Presbyterian  minister.  The  founders  of  the 
Burchard  family  in  America  arrived  during  the 
earliest  colonial  period,  and  were  settlers  in  Massa- 
chusetts, Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut.  Three  of 


1528 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Mr.  Burchard’s  ancestors  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  His  grandfather,  a major-general,  was 
in  charge  of  the  New  York  militia  and  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  force  during  several  of  the  Indian 
wars.  As  Indian  commissioner  for  the  State  of 
New  York  he  negotiated  a number  of  Indian 
treaties.  He  also  was  a member  of  the  New  York 
State  Senate  several  terms. 

H.  M.  Burchard  after  graduating  from  the  Ham- 
ilton College  at  Clinton,  New  York,  spent  three 
years  in  the  Harvard  Law  School,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  New  York  state  bar  in  1850.  For  a number 
of  years  he  was  engaged  in  practice  at  Clinton  and 
Utica.  While  there  he  was  for  eight  years  judge 
of  the  Surrogate  Court  of  Oneida  County  at  Utica, 
and  was  also  owner  and  manager  of  a private  bank 
at  Clinton.  He  was  a factor  in  state  politics,  and 
was  closely  associated  with  all  the  state  leaders  in 
the  party  at  that  time.  When  the  Civil  war  came 
on  he  was  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Governor 
Morgan  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  The  descendant 
of  a long  line  of  patriotic  ancestors  who  served 
their  country'  during  the  Revolutionary  and  the 
Indian  wars,  he  was  proud  to  be  commissioned  by 
his  governor  to  raise  a regiment  for  the  Northern 
army,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  receive  the  com- 
mission of  colonel  from  the  State  of  New  York. 
His  ambition  to  serve  in  the  war  was  frustrated  by 
failing  health,  and  for  a long  time  it  was  thought 
he  could  never  renew  his  former  vigor.  His  health 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  resign  his  commission 
in  the  army,  and  he  also  had  to  retire  from  the 
practice  of  law  and  other  active  business.  His 
health  not  improving  and  his  wife’s  health  being  in 
a precarious  condition,  he  came  west  to  recuperate 
and  located  in  Winona,  where  his  brother-in-law, 
Judge  Waterman,  had  already  established  himself. 

In  the  stimulating  climate  of  the  Northwest  Judge 
Burchard  found  renewed  strength,  and  soon  became 
a factor  in  political  affairs  in  Winona  County.  In 
1870  the  county  sent  him  ten  the  State  Legislature. 
At  the  time  of  the  Greeley  campaign  he  severed 
his  connections  with  the  republican  party  and  was 
elected  chairman  of  the  democratic  state  conven- 
tion, and  in  the  same  year  was  elected  to  the 
house  from  Winona  County  and  was  democratic  can- 
didate for  speaker.  Soon  after  his  location  at 
Winona  he  became  associated  with  the  Chicago  and 
Northwestern  Railway  Company,  and  in  1875  was 
appointed  general  land  agent  of  the  Winona  & St. 
Peter  Railroad  land  department.  He  had  charge  of 
all  the  land  grants  and  town  sites  between  Sleepy 
Eye  and  Fort  Pierre  on  the  Dakota  Central,  and 
Tracy  and  Redfield  on  the  Northwestern  system. 
His  home  was  at  Winona  until  1885,  when  the  head- 
quarters of  the  railroad  land  department  were  at 
his  request  removed  from  ■'Winona  to  Marshall. 
Marshall  was  then  the  largest  town  on  the  railroad 
grant,  and  therefore  nearer  the  scene  of  operations. 
Mr.  Burchard  lived  in  Marshall  until  his  death  on 
July  18,  1898.  He  was  buried  in  the  family  burial 
ground  at  Clinton,  Oneida  County,  New  York. 

Besides  his  service  in  the  Minnesota  State  Legis- 
lature he  was  an  active  factor  in  democratic  pol- 
itics until  his  death,  and  for  years  campaigned  in 
the  interests  of  party  success  and  candidates.  Prob- 
ably his  best  service  was  in  behalf  of  the  agricul- 
tural development  of  Minnesota,  a subject  to  which 
his  interest  was  given  from  the  beginning  of  his 
connection  with  the  Northwestern  road.  He  was 
president  of  the  Northwestern  Dairyman's  Asso- 


ciation and  other  farmers’  organizations,  and  spent 
considerable  time  delivering  lectures  throughout  the 
Northwest  on  the  advantage  of  stock  raising  and 
dairying  in  connection  with  the  ordinary  farming 
pursuits.  Much  credit  must  be  given  him  personally 
for  the  settlement  and  development  of  Southwest- 
ern Minnesota  and  Eastern  South  Dakota.  Under 
his  supervision  Scandinavian,  Holland,  Belgian, 
Polish,  German  and  Irish  colonies  were  estab- 
lished, which  are  now  among  the  most  prosperous 
in  the  state.  He  was  especially  identified  with  the 
establishment  of  schools  and  churches,  and  preached 
the  gospel  of  scientific  farming  and  stock  raising 
throughout  this  part  of  the  two  states. 

Mr.  Burchard  was  a member  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  took  an  active  part  in 
that  organization.  On  November  18,  1850,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  H.  Clark.  The  three  children  of 
this  union  still  living  are : James  C.  Burchard  of 
Marshall,  who  succeeded  his  father  as  general  land 
agent  of  the  Winona  & St.  Peter  Railroad;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  B.  Woodbury,  now  living  in  Chicago; 
and  John  'E.  Burchard,  of  St.  Paul. 

John  Ely  Burchard.  A son  of  the  late  H.  M. 
Burchard  of  Winona  and  Marshall,  John  Ely 
Burchard  has  lived  in  Minnesota  nearly  all  his  life, 
having  been  an  infant  when  his  parents  located  at 
Winona  in  18 66.  For  many  years  Mr.  Burchard 
has  been  a resident  of  St.  Paul,  and  prominent  in 
real  estate  affairs  and  in  democratic  politics. 

John  Ely  Burchard  was  born  at  Clinton,  Oneida 
County,  New  York,  January  31,  1864.  His  early 
life  was  spent  in  Winona,  where  he  graduated  from 
high  school  with  the  class  of  1881.  The  next  three 
years  were  spent  in  the  University  of  Michigan  at 
Ann  Arbor,  where  he  gave  most  of  his  attention  to 
the  course  in  political  economy.  On  leaving  col- 
lege he  returned  to  Minnesota  and  at  Marshall  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  continued  in  that  city  for 
two  years.  He  then  bought  an  interest  in  the  Sault 
Ste.  Marie  Democrat  in  Michigan,  and  edited  and 
conducted  that  journal  two  years.  He  returned  to 
Winona  to  become  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Winona 
Daily  Herald,  but  after  a year,  through  the  failure 
of  the  purchasers  to  continue  their  payments  on 
the  Democrat  he  returned  to  Sault  Ste.  Marie  and 
resumed  the  management  of  the  Democrat  and 
edited  it  for  a period  of  four  years.  While  there 
he  was  chairman  of  the  democratic  city  and  county 
committee,  the  congressional  committee,  and  also  a 
member  of  the  Michigan  state  central  committee. 
He  was  appointed  collector  of  customs  by  Governor 
Cleveland  and  acted  in  that  capacity  until  1894, 
when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  Marshall  on  ac- 
count of  his  father’s  health.  He  at  once  resumed 
the  practice  of  law  and  became  a partner  of  Senator 
Seward  and  for  five  years  was  a member  of  the 
firm  Seward  & Burchard.  In  the  meantime  he 
served  three  years  as  city  attorney,  was  acting 
county  attorney,  and  for  three  years  was  mayor  of 
the  City  of  Marshall.  Besides  his  law  practice  Mr. 
Burchard  became  interested  in  various  land  projects 
and  banks,  and  on  account  of  the  growth  of  the 
business  withdrew  from  the  practice  of  law  in  1901 
and  removed  to  St.  Paul,  where  he  became  the 
president  and  attorney  for  a number  of  land  com- 
panies. 

At  the  present  time  Mr.  Burchard’s  extensive 
business  relations  are  indicated  as  follows : He  is 

president  of  the  John  E.  Burchard  Company,  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1529 


Burchard-Hulburt  Investment  Company,  the  South- 
west Land  & Orchard  Company,  the  Elk  Valley 
Land  & Colonization  Company,  and  the  Southern 
Land  Company,  and  is  a director  and  stockholder 
in  various  other  organizations.  He  is  a director 
in  the  Minnesota  Life  Insurance  Company,  and  in 
the  St.  Paul  Institute  of  Art  and  other  civic  organ- 
izations. For  eight  years  he  has  been  a member 
of  the  democratic  state  central  committee,  and  was 
on  the  executive  committee  during  the  campaigns 
of  Governor  Johnson.  Governor  Johnson  appointed 
him  aide-de-camp  with  the  rank  of  colonel  on  his 
staff,  and  he  served  until  the  death  of  the  governor, 
when  he  resigned.  At  the  same  time  he  had  served 
as  chairman  of  the  St.  Paul  and  Ramsey  County 
democratic  committee. 

Mr.  Burchard  married  September  6,  1888,  Miss 
Mary  C.  Hitt  of  Urbana,  Ohio.  They  have  two 
children : Mrs.  L.  J.  Shields  of  St.  Paul,  and 

Henry  McNeil  Burchard,  a pupil  at  the  St.  Paul 
Academy. 

Hon.  Boleslaw  G.  Novak.  A successful  mer- 
chant of  St.  Paul,  Mr.  Novak  has  for  a number  of 
years  been  interested  in  politics,  is  a man  of  high 
standing  as  a citizen,  and  his  influence  and  popu- 
larity led  to  his  election  in  1914  as  a member  of  the 
lower  house  of  the  Legislature.  He  represents  the 
thirty-eighth  district,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  house 
January  5,  1915. 

Boleslaw  G.  Novak  was  born  in  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota, June  9,  1877,  the  oldest  son  of  Anthony  and 
Eunice  Eva  (von  Lenety-Kaszynski)  Novak.  Both 
parents  were  born  in  Germany,  came  to  the  United 
States  when  quite  young  and  after  their  marriage 
settled  in  St.  Paul.  Anthony  Novak  is  a carpenter 
and  builder  by  trade,  and  has  been  identified  with 
St.  Paul  for  nearly  forty  years.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  still  living. 

B.  G.  Novak  acquired  his  early  education  in  St. 
Adelbert  School,  and  St.  Paul  public  schools,  and  his 
first  occupation  after  leaving  school  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  C.  Gotzian  Shoe  Co.,  with  whom  he 
remained  six  years.  After  leaving  the  employ  of 
the  Gotzian  Shoe  Co.  he  worked  for  a time  as 
carpenter  and  builder,  but  in  1906  formed  a partner- 
ship with  his  father  under  the  name  A.  Novak  & 
Son  at  741  Van  Buren  Street,  where  they  established 
a retail  grocery  house.  That  partnership  was  con- 
tinued until  1913,  at  which  time  the  son  bought  his 
father’s  interest  and  has  since  continued  alone  at 
the  same  location.  His  store  is  somewhat  centrally 
located,  and  he  has  built  up  a paying  business. 

February  16,  1914,  Mr.  Novak  married  Miss  Bar- 
bara Schillo  of  St.  Paul,  daughter  of  M.  and  Martha 
Schillo.  Mr.  Novak  resides  at  741  Van  Buren 
Street.  He  is  a member  of  the  St.  Paul  Commercial 
Club,  the  North  Central  Commercial  Qub  and  of  the 
Kosciuscko  Club. 

Hon.  Peter  Van  Hoven.  Forty  years  a resident 
of  Minnesota,  Senator  Van  Hoven  has,  during  the 
greater  part  of  this  time,  been  identified  with  busi- 
ness and  public  affairs  in  St.  Paul,  in  political  mat- 
ters has  acted  on  the  democratic  side,  and  is  present 
representative  of  the  forty-first  senatorial  district 
in  the  State  Senate. 

Peter  Van  Hoven  is  a native  of  Holland,  born  in 
the  City  of  Ost  Eysden,  in  the  Province  of  Limburg, 
March  7,  1855.  He  completed  his  education  in  the 
College  of  Hassel.  Belgium,  and  in  1874  came  to 


America.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  in  the 
live  stock  and  packing  business  in  Minnesota  and 
still  has  important  interests  in  a business  way.  For 
four  years  he  was  a member  of  the  St.  Paul  City 
Council,  and  in  1902  was  appointed  to  the  board  of 
public  works  of  the  city,  was  a member  of  that  body 
for  nine  years,  and  during  the  last  two  years,  be- 
ginning in  1909,  was  its  president.  In  1910  Mr.  Van 
Hoven  was  elected  on  the  democratic  ticket  as  state 
senator  from  what  was  then  the  thirty-fifth  senatorial 
district,  and  in  November,  1914,  was  re-elected  sen- 
ator, the  district  boundaries  having  been  changed  in 
the  meantime  so  that  he  is  now  from  the  thirty-ninth 
district.  He  has  served  on  the  following  committees 
as  a senator : Agriculture,  dairy  products  and  live 
stock,  cities  of  the  first  class,  insurance,  railroads, 
grain  and  warehouses  and  temperance.  His  home 
has  been  in  the  same  section  of  St.  Paul  for  the 
past  thirty-five  years. 

Senator  Van  Hoven  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  the  Loyal"  Order  of  Moose,  the  Knights 
and  Ladies  of  Security,  the  Concordia  Society,  the 
West  End  Commercial  Club  and  the  West  Side  Com- 
mercial Club.  Mrs.  Van  Hoven,  before  her  mar- 
riage, was  Miss  Augusta  Zeigler,  a native  of  Minne- 
sota. They  are  the  parents  of  two  sons  and  two 
daughters : Paul  C.,  an  expert  accountant  employed 
by  the  D.  M.  & N.  Railroad  at  Duluth;  Henry  H.,  a 
graduate  of  the  public  schools  of  St.  Paul;  Helen, 
wife  of  Joseph  Jeutten  of  St.  Paul,  and  Miss  Alma, 
still  at  home. 

Hon.  Winslow  W.  Dunn.  One  of  the  members 
of  the  Ramsey  County  bar,  Winslow  W.  Dunn  is 
especially  well  known  in-  the  city  and  over  the  state 
for  his  legislative  record,  having  been  a member  of 
the  lower  house  or  the  Senate  almost  continuously 
for  the  past  eighteen  years.  He  now  represents  the 
forty-first  district  in  the  State  Senate. 

Winslow  W.  Dunn  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  born 
near  St.  Paul,  August  7,  1862.  He  is  the  second 
son  of  Lucius  C.  Dunn,  who  was  born  in  Maine 
and  came  out  to  the  Northwest  in  the  extremely 
early  year  1849.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Minnesota  and  had  an  active  career  as  a merchant 
and  in  public  affairs.  For  a time  he  was  employed 
in  the  store  of  A.  L.  Larpenteur,  and  afterwards 
engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account  at  White 
Bear  Lake,  where  he  died  in  1877.  He  married 
Arabella  W.  Dean,  a native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
daughter  of  Ebenezer  Dean,  who  was  of  the  same 
state. 

Senator  Dunn  acquired  his  early  education  in 
country  schools  in  this  state,  at  a time  when  public 
school  facilities  were  extremely  limited.  He  took  up 
teaching,  and  for  five  terms  taught  a country  school. 
He  then  came  to  St.  Paul  and  began  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  the  prominent  Minnesota  attor- 
neys, John  B.  and  W.  H.  Sanborn,  and  was  subse- 
quently admitted  to  the  bar  after  examination  before 
the  Supreme  Court.  An  active  republican,  he  was 
elected,  in  1896,  a member  of  the  lower  house  of  the 
Legislature,  serving  through  three  sessions,  and  in 
1902  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  the 
thirty-third  district,  and  by  re-election  has  sat  in 
the  upper  house  to  the  present  time,  having  been  re- 
elected in  1914.  He  has  held  a place  on  the  most 
important  committees  in  the  Legislature,  and  for  a 
time  was  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee. 

Mr.  Dunn  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order 


1530 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


and  with  the  Order  of  the  Junior  Pioneers.  In 
1886  he  married  Miss  Mary  C.  McCoy,  of  Mankato, 
Minnesota.  Their  four  children  are  Herbert  L., 
Winslow  W.,  Jr.,  Dorothy  J.  and  Mary  A.  W. 
Dunn. 

Henry  S.  Olson.  One  of  St.  Paul’s  important 
industries  is  the  Olson-Boettger  Electric  Manu- 
facturing Company,  of  which  Henry  S.  Olson  is 
president  and  treasurer.  This  business  was  started 
December,  1906,  by  H.  C.  Boettger  and  was  con- 
tinued under  his  name  until  July  1,  1907,  when  the 
reorganization  occurred  under  the  present  name,  and 
the  business  is  now  incorporated  with  a capital  stock 
of  $25,000.  The  company  manufactures  a variety 
of  electrical  machinery,  and  also  does  a large  busi- 
ness as  electrical  contractors  and  in  general  motor 
and  electrical  repair  work.  The  office  and  factory 
are  situated  at  200-202  West  Third  Street  in  St. 
Paul. 

Henry  S.  Olson  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  and  was 
born  in  St.  Paul,  March,  1886.  He  is  a young  man 
who  has  largely  made  his  own  way  in  the  world,, 
and  had  an  established  business  position  when  still 
in  his  twenties.  His  education  came  from  the 
public  schools  of  St.  Paul,  including  a high  school 
course,  and  on  leaving  school  his  first  employment 
was  with  the  Osgood-Blodgett  Box  Factory,  and  for 
several  years  he  was  connected  with  large  contracting 
and  machinery  concerns.  Then  in  1907  he  became 
identified  with  the  present  business,  and  became 
president  and  treasurer  of  the  Olson-Boettger  Elec- 
tric Manufacturing  Company,  with  Herbert  Hansch 
as  vice  president. 

In  less  than  ten  years  the  firm  has  established  the 
business  on  a secure  basis  and  has  formed  business 
connections  not  only  throughout  the  twin  cities,  but 
all  over  the  state  and  through  adjoining  states. 

Some  of  the  electrical  installations  made  by  the 
company  are  as  follows : Five  buildings  at  Hast- 

ings State  Asylum ; boys'  dormitory,  State  Agricul- 
tural College,  Crookston,  Minnesota;  State  Normal 
School  buildings,  Minot,  North  Dakota ; Mechanics’ 
Art  and  Shop  buildings ; Home  Economics  Building 
and  Cold  Storage  buildings,  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, St.  Anthony  Park,  Minnesota ; two  buildings 
Home  School  for  Girls,  Sauk  Centre,  Minnesota; 
Glen  Lake  Sanatorium  buildings,  Hennepin  County, 
Glen  Lake,  Minnesota ; High  School  Building  at 
Montevideo,  Minnesota;  High  School  Building  at 
Spencer  and  Boone,  Iowa ; Chemistry  Building,  State 
of  South  Dakota,  Vermillion,  South  Dakota;  Sacred 
Heart  Hospital,  Yankton,  South  Dakota,  and  many 
other  installations  too  numerous  to  mention. 

Mr.  Olson  is  an  active  young  business  man  and 
liberal  and  public  spirit&d  in  his  relations  to  the 
community.  He  married  Miss  Clara  Olsen,  whose 
parents  were  old  residents  of  Geneva,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Olson  is  affiliated  with  Shekinah  Lodge  No. 
171,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Jovian  Order. 

His  home  is  at  454  Roy  Street. 

Herbert  Hansch.  Another  illustration  of  the  re- 
wards to  be  attained  through  perseverance,  industry 
and  energetic  application  of  one’s  abilities  along  a 
chosen  and  well-directed  line  is  found  in  the  career 
of  Herbert  Hansch,  vice  president  of  the  Olson- 
Boettger  Electric  Manufacturing  Company  of  St. 
Paul.  When  Mr.  Hansch  entered  upon  his  career 
he  was  possessed  of  only  a limited  education  and  no 


extraordinary  abilities,  but  set  himself  a high  goal, 
and  through  earnest  effort  has  worked  himself  to  , a 
position  where  he  has  already  realized  many  of  his 
worthy  ambitions. 

Herbert  Hansch  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Ramsey  County,  Minnesota,  November  24,  1888,  and 
is  a son  of  Frederick  and  Emily  (Gehart)  Hansch, 
natives  of  Germany  and  pioneer  farming  people  of 
Ramsey  County.  They  located  in  this  then  un- 
developed section  of  Ramsey  County,  and  with  ster- 
ling German  determination  hewed  a farm  from  the 
wilderness  and  reared  their  nine  children  to  lives 
of  sobriety,  industry  and  usefulness.  They  are  now 
living  in  quiet  retirement,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
comforts  that  their  years  of  honest  toil  brought  to 
them.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hansch  are  faithful  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  the  father  is  a 
stanch  republican  in  his  political  views.  Of  the  nine 
sons  in  the  family,  Ernest,  the  eldest,  died  in  the 
prime  of  life  in  February,  1907.  Those  who  survive 
are  as  follows : Charles,  who  is  at  present  in  Cali- 

fornia; Edward,  who  is  employed  at  his  trade  of  iron 
moulding;  Max  and  Leo,  who  are  operating  the  old 
homestead  farm  at  Gladstone  Postoffice,  in  Ramsey 
County  ; Henry,  sergeant  in  the  United  States  navy 
in  which  lie  enlisted  in  1902  j George,  who  is  success- 
Lilly  engaged  in  the  barber  business  at  Carpenter, 
South  Dakota;  Herbert,  of  this  review;  and  Albert’ 
who  is  connected  with  the  Olson-Boettger  Electric 
Manufacturing  Company. 

Herbert  Hansch  attended  the  district  schools  of 
Ramsey  County  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age, 
at  which  time  he  began  to  earn  his  own  living.  His 
career  was  commenced  as  a railroad  fireman,  but 
after  six  months’  experience  he  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  there  was  no  future  for  him  in  railroading, 
and  aacordingly  he  sought  an  opening  with  a business 
concern.  He  soon  found  employment  with  the  Olson- 
Boettger  Electric  Manufacturing  Company,  at  that 
time  a small  local  concern,  employing  four  men, 
but  found  that  further  education  was  needed,  and 
in  order  to  gain  a thorough  theoretical  knowledge  of 
electrical  and  practical  engineering  he  entered  a night 
school,  and  after  a long  day  spent  in  hard  and 
persistent  toil,  would  apply  himself  diligently  at 
night  to  his  studies.  His  superior  knowledge,  thus 
gained,  made  him  of  much  value  to  his  employers, 
and  this,  combined  with  his  natural  aptitude  and 
conscientious  discharge  of  his  duties,  soon  earned 
him  promotion  until  finally  he  was  placed  in  the 
position  of  superintendent  of  construction.  Owing 
to  the  great  increase  of  the  company’s  business,  it 
was  incorporated  in  1907,  and  September  30,  1909, 
Mr.  Hansch  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  vice 
president,  which  he  still  retains.  The  wonderful 
growth  of  this  concern  has  necessitated  the  employ- 
ment of  twenty-four  men,  and  the  business,  from  be- 
ing a purely  local  concern,  has  branched  out  until 
its  work  is  done  all  over  Minnesota,  Iowa,  North 
and  South  Dakota  and  Montana.  The  Olson-Boettger 
Electric  Manufacturing  Company  handles  electric 
apparatus  and  goods,  wiring,  fixtures,  motors  and 
repairs,  and  does  work  not  alone  for  individuals  and 
corporations,  but  for  the  City  of  St.  Paul,  the  State 
of  Minnesota  and  the  United  States  Government. 
Only  the  best  of  materials  is  used  and  special  work- 
men are  employed  for  each  contract,  no  piece  of  work 
being  too  small  or  too  large  for  the  company  to 
handle.  The  plant  is  situated  at  Nos.  200-202  West 
Third  Street. 

Mr.  Hansch  is  eminently  worthy  of  the  title  “self- 


\r: 


\ 


,<A// 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1531 


made  man,”  for  every  dollar  which  he  possesses  has 
been  fairly  and  honestly  earned  through  hard,  per- 
sistent labor.  He  is  a member  of  Braden  Lodge 
No.  168  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Association  of  Commerce.  He  is 
independent  in  his  political  views,  and  has  found  but 
little  time  to  devote  to  public  affairs.  His  religious 
connection  is  with  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which 
he  was  reared.  Like  all  stirring,  virile  men  he  is 
fond  of  out-door  sports,  and  is  an  enthusiast  in 
regard  to  the  “National  Game.” 

LeRoy  Brown,  M.  D.  Among  the  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  St.  Paul  whose  ability  ranks  them 
among  the  best  representatives  of  the  profession  of 
the  state  is  Dr.  LeRoy  Brown,  who  began  his  prac- 
tice in  Minnesota  nearly  thirty  years  ago,  and  who 
for  a number  of  years  has  been  a specialist  in  dis- 
eases of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  His  career 
since  locating  at  St.  Paul  has  been'  marked  by  ex- 
pert qualifications  and  successful  work,  and  he  has 
also  identified  himself  with  public  affairs,  though 
not  in  an  official  position. 

LeRoy  Brown  was  born  February  24,  1855,  at 
Nankin,  in  Wayne  County,  Michigan,  and  repre- 
sents an  old  family  in  that5  state,  and  one  of  colonial 
antecedents  in  America.  His  father,  Reuben  J. 
Brown,  was  a native  of  New  York,  and  his  grand- 
father was  Joel  Brown,  who  fought  as  a soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  By  virtue  of  his  grandfather’s 
participation  in  that  war  Dr.  Brown  has  member- 
ship in  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.  Dr. 
Brown’s  mother  was  Betsey  Ann  Kingsley,  a native 
of  Vermont,  and  a lineal  descendant  from  John 
Kingsley  who  emigrated  from  England  to  Boston 
in  1630.  It  is  the  same  family  which  in  its  English 
connections  include  Charles  Kingsley,  noted,  author 
and  poet.  Betsey  Ann  Kingsley  came  to  Michigan 
with  her  parents  in  1825,  and  at  the  time  of  her 
death  in  1911  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest 
settler  in  the  state.  Reuben  Brown,  father  of  the 
doctor,  after  locating  in  Michigan,  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Washtenaw  Countv. 

Dr.  Brown  grew  up  in  his  native  town,  attended 
the  common  schools  there,  and  later  the  high  school 
at  Northville.  In  1878  he  was  graduated  from  the 
Michigan  State  Normal  at  Ypsilanti,  and  subse- 
quently entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  which  graduated  him  M.  D. 
in  1885.  After  a year  spent  in  California,  Dr. 
Brown  located  at  Heron  Lake  in  Minnesota  in  1886. 
For  a number  of  years  he  was  in  active  practice 
there,  and  in  the  meantime  had  begun  to  specialize 
in  his  studies  and  to  some  degree  in  his  practice 
on  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  While 
at  Heron  Lake  he  also  served  as  health  officer. 
Since  coming  to  St.  Paul  Dr.  Brown  has  confined 
his  practice  almost  exclusively  to  his  specialties. 

While  never  an  office  seeker,  Dr.  Brown  has 
taken  a keen  interest  in  politics  and  has  served  as 
chairman  of  the  republican  county  committee.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Ramsey  County  Medical  Society, 
of  the  State  Medical  Society,  and  for  fifteen  years 
has  been  on  the  staff  of  the  Free  Dispensary  in  St. 
Paul.  He  is  active  in  Masonic  circles,  has  served 
three  times  as  master  of  Columbian  Lodge  No. 
210,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  at  Heron  Lake,  and  is  a thirty- 
second  degree  Mason.  He  has  passed  all  the  chairs 
in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is 
likewise  affiliated  with  the  Brotherhood  of  Amer- 
ican Yeomen,  being  presiding  officer  of  the  local 


Homestead,  and  with  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of 
America. 

On  June  25,  1887,  Mr.  Brown  married  Miss  Mina 
Allen.  They  were  married  at  Ann  Arbor  and  Mrs. 
Brown  was  a native  of  Hamburg,  Ontario.  Through 
her  father,  John  Allen,  she  was  descended  from 
the  noted  Ethan  Allen,  the  leader  of  the  Green 
Mountain  boys  in  the  Revolution.  Dr.  Brown  and 
wife  became  the  parents  of  three  children : Lucia, 

born  February  28,  1894;  Maria,  born  June  1,  1897; 
and  Marguerite,  born  May  25,  1903.  Mrs.  Brown 
died  at  their  home  in  St.  Paul  May  7,  1909.  Be- 
sides the  place  she  so  worthily  and  nobly  filled  in 
her  home  circle,  she  was  a past  noble  grand  of  the 
Rebekahs,  a past  matron  of  St.  Leger  Chapter  of 
'the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and  belonged  to  the 
Royal  Neighbors  and  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of 
America. 

, Charles  Bradford  Jack.  Forty  years  a resident 
of  Stillwater,  and  during  the  greater  part  of  that 
time  devoted  to  his  profession  as  a lawyer,  Judge 
Jack  is  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  bar  in 
Washington  County,  and  has  also  given  important 
service  to  the  public  as  a judicial  officer.  An  ex- 
cellent lawyer,  possessed  of  high  personal  character, 
a kind  heart  and  strong  sense  of  duty,  he  is  one 
of  the  valuable  citizens  of  the  state. 

Charles  Bradford  Jack  was  born  in  Litchfield, 
Maine,  March  18,  1843,  a son  of  Alden  B.  and  Eliza 
(Williams)  Jack,  also  natives  of  Maine  and  of 
Scotch  and  English  descent.  The  great-grandfather 
Jack  came  to  America  and  settled  in  one  of  the 
New  England  colonies  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Alden  B.  Jack  was  a merchant  throughout 
his  active  career,  served  with  the  Maine  militia,  was 
active  in  democratic  politics,  and  in  religion  a Cal- 
vinist Baptist.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years  in  Litchfield,  Maine.  The  mother  was 
a devoted  Christian  woman,  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist 
faith,  and  died  when  seventy  years  old  at  Litchfield. 
There  were  two  children.  Franklin  K.  Jack,  who  now 
lives  at  Bowdoinham,  Maine,  has  for  many  years 
been  employed  in  the  Internal  Revenue  Department 
of  the  Federal  Government. 

Judge  Jack  has  had  a career  in  which  his  own 
ambition  and  energies  have  been  chiefly  responsible 
for  his  success.  After  attending  the  public  schools 
of  Litchfield  he  prepared  himself  for  the  higher 
object  of  his  ambition,  and  for  several  years  sup- 
ported himself  by  mercantile  pursuits  at  Lewiston, 
Maine.  After  selling  out  his  interests  in  Maine  he 
came  west  and  located  in  Stillwater  as  one  of  the 
early  settlers  in  1873.  Two  years  later,  in  1875, 
Judge  Jack  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the  offices 
of  Castle  & Marsh,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
by  the  District  Court  in  1879.  For  thirty-five  years 
he  has  devoted  himself  conscientiously  and  closely 
to  his  work  as  a lawyer.  Judge  Jack  has  served 
as  judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  at  Stillwater  for 
several  terms,  and  for  the  past  ten  years  has  been 
special  judge.  Both  his  associates  in  the  law  and 
the  general  public  have  come  to  entertain  a thorough 
respect  for  his  ability  and  impartial  conduct  in  the 
judicial  office,  and  in  the  course  of  many  years 
he  has  performed  important  service  that  is  not  to 
be  measured  by  the  ordinary  material  standards. 
For  the  first  three  years  after  his  admission  to  the 
bar  Judge  Jack  practiced  as  a partner  of  F.  H. 
Ervin,  now  a well  known  lawyer  of  St.  Paul. 

Judge  Jack  in  earlier  life  was  a democrat,  but  is 


1532 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


now  a progressive.  He  is  a member  of  the  Wash- 
ington County  Bar  Association,  is  a Royal  Arch 
Mason,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Eastern  Star.  Judge  Jack  was  married  at  Stillwater, 
March  20,  1878,  to  Frances  Getchell,  who  was  born 
in  Maine,  a daughter  of  Robert  and  Charlotte  Getch- 
ell. They  have  two  children,  both  born  in  Stillwater. 
Hazel  Jack  is  now  successfully  practicing  osteopathy 
in  St.  Paul.  Charlotte  is  the  wife  of  Harold  Thomp- 
son of  Stillwater. 

Hon.  James  H.  Hynes.  One  of  the  prominent 
undertakers  of  St.  Paul,  and  now  serving  in  the 
State  Legislature,  James  H.  Hynes,  represents'  a 
family  of  early  settlers  in  Minnesota  and  is  himself 
a native  of  St.  Paul. 

James  H.  Hynes  was  born  in  St.  Paul,  September 
23,  1888,  the  oldest  son  of  Henry  H.  and  Mary 
(O’Donnell)  Hynes.  His  father  was  born  in  Min- 
nesota fifty-five  years  ago,  and  his  mother  is  also 
a native  of  Sibley  County  of  this  state.  Both  the 
Hynes  and  O’Donnell  families  were  among  the  early 
settlers.  Henry  H.  Hynes  is  a farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  has  devoted  the  best  years  of  his  life  to 
that  calling. 

James  H.  Hynes  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  St.  Paul  and  subsequently 
attended  the  Cretin  High  School.  After  leaving 
school  he  was  for  five  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
Waukegan  & Great  Northern  Railroad,  then  was 
with  Joseph  J.  Hurley  for  eighteen  months,  and 
since  1911  has  been  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business. 

Mr.  Hynes  has  for  several  years  taken  an  active 
part  on  the  democratic  side  in  state  politics,  and 
in  1914  was  nominated  and  elected  member  of  the 
Legislature  to  represent  the  thirty-sixth  legislative 
district.  As  a member  of  the  session  of  1915  he  has 
a place  on  several  important  house  committees.  Mr. 
Hynes  is  affiliated  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hiber- 
nians, with  the  Sons  of  the  Oriental  Knight,  with 
the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose  No.  40,  with  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  belongs  to  the  St. 
Paul  Commercial  Club.  On  November  29,  1913.  he 
married  Miss  Eunice  Edwards  of  St.  Paul,  daughter 
of  Charles  Edwards,  a well  known  old  resident  of 
St.  Paul. 

Thomas  McDermott.  Among  the  members  of  the 
St.  Paul  legal  fraternity,  one  who  has  lent  dignity 
and  distinction  to  the  profession  is  Thomas  Mc- 
Dermott, of  the  firm  of  Denegre  & McDermott,  one 
of  the  strong  combinations  in  the  practice  of  general 
and  corporation  law.  His  entire  professional  career 
has  been  passed  in  this  city,  and  although  still  a 
young  man  has  gained  a reputation  that  marks  him 
as  one  of  the  most  capable  of  the  community’s 
legists.  Mr.  McDermott  was  born  at  Stillwater, 
Minnesota.  March  4.  1876,  and  is  a son  of  Philip  and 
Elizabeth  (McGrath)  McDermott. 

Philip  McDermott,  the  pioneer  Minnesota  lumber- 
man, was  a native  of  New  Brunswick,  and  his  wife 
was  born  at  Bangor,  Maine,  of  Scotch  descent,  and 
died  at  Stillwater,  in  1891.  The  father  came  to  that 
citv  as  one  of  its  earliest  residents,  and  through 
a long  and  useful  life  was  a contributor  to  its  ad- 
vancement and  development  in  many  ways.  Coming 
to  this  state  at  a time  when  its  lumber  had  hardly 
been  touched,  he  began  to  grow  with  the  growth  of 
that  industry,  prospered  with  its  prosperity  and 
became  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  it  in  his  time, 


being  largely  connected  with  the  logging  end  of  the 
business.  He  retired  from  active  pursuits  in  1906, 
and  since  that  time  has  resided  quietly  in  his  com- 
fortable home  at  the  scene  of  his  labors  and  of  his 
successes.  Mr.  McDermott  is  a member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  in 
his  religious  views  is  connected  with  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  as  follows : John  A.,  who  is  man- 

ager of  the  United  States  Brewing  Association, 
and  a resident  of  the  City  of  New  York;  James  E., 
who  has  been  a resident  of  Nome,  Alaska,  since 
1895,  and  is  a very  successful  mine  owner  there; 
Lillian  R.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Alexander  Mackey, 
of  Stillwater;  Thomas,  of  this  review;  and  Jeanne, 
who  is  the  wife  of  James  B.  Kennedy,  a resident 
of  Phoenix,  Arizona. 

The  early  education  of  Thomas  McDermott  was 
secured  in  the  graded  schools  of  Stillwater,  follow- 
ing which  he  attended  the  high  school  of  his  native 
place.  He  next  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  after 
some  preparation  entered  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota, where  he  was  given  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
sciences  in  1896.  During  1897  Mr.  McDermott  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Terre  Haute, 
Indiana,  but  after  one  year  so  engaged  decided 
that  he  preferred  the  law  to  the  marts  of  commerce, 
and  accordingly  again  took  up  the  study  of  the 
profession,  in  the  offices  of  How  & Butler,  at  St. 
Paul.  In  order  to  prepare  himself  for  his  calling, 
he  entered  the  state  university  and  took  night 
courses,  and  graduated  from  the  law  department  with 
the  class  of  1900,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  that 
same  year.  In  1901  Mr.  McDermott  was  appointed 
clerk  in  the  city  attorney’s  office,  and  in  1902  was 
promoted  to  assistant  city  attorney,  under  James  E. 
Markham.  He  entered  private  practice  in  1903, 
and  during  the  next  nine  years  built  up  an  excellent 
business,  attracted  to  him  by  his  marked  ability, 
his  fine  attainments  and  his  comprehensive  knowl- 
edge in  several  branches  of  his  calling.  In  1912 
Mr.  McDermott  formed  a partnership  with  Senator 
J.  D.  Denegre,  under  the  firm  style  of  Denegre  & 
McDermott. 

Among  the  large  firms  whose  names  are  on  the 
books  of  this  prominent  general  and  corporation 
law  firm  may  be  mentioned  the  Consumers  Power 
Company,  the  Patterson  Street  Lighting  Company, 
the  Pullman  Company,  the  O’Donnell  Shoe  Com- 
pany, the  East  St.  Paul  and  Commercial  State  Banks 
and  numerous  other  large  corporations.  Mr.  Mc- 
Dermott is  a director  of  the  Commercial  State  Bank 
and  secretary  and  director  of  several  other  indus- 
trial enterprises,  in  which  offices  he  has  displayed 
the  possession  of  business  abilities  in  proportion 
with  his  legal  talents.  He  is  a valued  member  of 
the  Ramsey  County  Bar  Association,  the  Minnesota 
State  Bar  Association  and  the  American  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, and  belongs  to  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  He  is 
well  known  in  club  circles  of  St.  Paul,  and  belongs 
to  the  various  prominent  social  organizations,  includ- 
ing the  Minnesota  Club,  the  Town  and  Country 
Club,  the  University  Club  and  the  White  Bear  Yacht 
Club.  Mr.  McDermott  finds  but  little  time  for  vaca- 
tions or  recreation,  but  when  he  can  lay  aside  for  a 
time  the  arduous  duties  of  his  constantly  growing 
practice,  he  delights  in  a game  of  curling,  at  which 
he  has  gained  considerable  international  reputation. 
His  profession,  however,  is  his  chief  interest  arid 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1533 


pleasure,  and  his  devotion  to  it  has  placed  him  in 
an  enviable  position  among  Minnesota  attorneys. 

Rev.  Thomas  J.  Gibbons.  As  pastor  of  St.  Luke's 
Catholic  Church  of  St.  Paul,  Father  Gibbons  is  at 
the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  parishes  in  the  state, 
and  has  been  identified  with  the  work  of  the  church, 
either  in  schools  or  in  the  ministry  for  thirty  years. 

Thomas  J.  Gibbons  is  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  at  Mount  Carmel,  September  4,  1861,  a son  of 
Thomas  and  Anne  (Reynolds)  Gibbons.  Father 
Gibbons  acquired  his  primary  education  in  Mount 
Carmel,  and  in  1879  completed  his  literary  course 
at  St.  Vincent’s  College  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pennsylvania.  In  1880  he  entered  the  Grand  Sem- 
inary, Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  finished  his 
ecclesiastical  training.  Fie  was  called  home  for  the 
opening  of  St.  Thomas  College,  Merriam  Park,  and 
after  three  weeks  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood 
on  November  5,  1885,  being  the  first  priest  ordained 
in  St.  Thomas  College.  For  3F2  years  he  was 
assistant  pastor  of  the  cathedral  and  then  became 
pastor  of  St.  Patrick’s  Church  of  St.  Paul.  At  the 
end  of  five  years  Father  Gibbons  was  appointed  to 
St.  Mary’s  parish,  and  held  that  office  from  1903 
to  1910.  That  year  was  the  beginning  of  his  duties 
as  pastor  of  St.  Luke’s  Church,  Victoria  Street. 
The  church  was  organized  in  1888.  and  has  a mem- 
bership of  about  6,000.  Father  Gibbons  is  pastor  and 
is  assisted  by  Rev.  John  P.  Cleary  and  Rev.  William 
J.  Flarrington. 

Albert  Fred  Woods.  The  dean  of  the  Minnesota 
State  Agricultural  College  and  director  of  the  Ex- 
periment Station  is  not  only  a capable  educational 
executive  and  administrator,  as  demonstrated  by  his 
work  in  supervising  and  strengthening  the  vital 
relations  of  the  Agricultural  College  with  its  stu- 
dents and  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  the 
state  at  large,  but  is  also  a scientist  whose  name  is 
well  known  in  the  world  of  scholarship,  particularly 
as  a plant  physiologist  and  pathologist. 

Albert  Fred  Woods  was  born  at  Belvidere,  Illinois. 
December  25,  1866,  a son  of  Fred  Moffet  and  Eliza 
Olivia  (Eddy)  Woods.  The  family  removed  from 
Illinois  to  Nebraska,  where  Mr.  Woods  was  gradu- 
ated B.  Sc.  from  the  University  of  Nebraska  in 
1890,  and  received  his  master’s  degree  at  the  same 
institution  in  1892,  and  the  honorary  degree,  D.  Agr., 
in  1913.  In  the  University  of  Nebraska  he  was 
retained  as  assistant  botanist  from  1890  to  1893,  and 
assistant  chief  and  first  assistant  pathologist,  division 
of  vegetable  physiology  and  pathology,  from  1893 
to  1900.  From  igoo  to  1910  Mr.  Woods  was  patholo- 
gist and  physiologist  and  assistant  chief  of  the  bureau 
of  plant  industry,  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture.  On  February  1,  1910,  he  began  his 
services  as  dean  of  the  Minnesota  State  Agricultural 
College  and  director  of  the  Experiment  Station,  and 
in  that  capacity  has  not  only  come  into  personal 
relations  with  the  many  citizens  who  have  passed 
through  the  halls  of  the  college  in  the  past  five 
years  and  with  thousands  of  the  practical  agricul- 
turists of  the  state,  but  has  exerted  his  influence  and 
employed  his  experience  in  many  other  ways  that 
directly  and  indirectly  benefit  the  state. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Woods  has  come  into  a large 
share  of  the  honors  paid  to  scientific  accomplishment. 
He  was  United  States  delegate  to  the  International 
Institute  of  Agriculture  of  Rome  in  1905,  and  in  the 
same  year  was  delegate  to  the  International  Botani- 


cal Congress  at  Vienna.  He  is  a fellow  of  the 
American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science,  of  the  Botanical  Society  of  America,  of  the 
Botanical  Society  of  Germany,  the  Society  of 
Morphology  and  Physiology,  the  Botanical  Society 
of  Washington,  and  the  Washington  Academy  of 
Sciences.  He  is  a member  of  the  Cosmos  Club  of 
Washington.  Among  his  contributions  as  an  author 
may  be  mentioned  reports  on  Flora  of  Nebraska, 
1894;  numerous  reports  and  articles  in  publications 
of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  scientific  jour- 
nals. Mr.  Woods  resides  at  St.  Anthony  Park.  On 
June  1,  1898,  he  married  Bertha  Gerneaux  Davis. 
Mrs.  Woods,  who  was  born  at  Penn  Yan,  New  York, 
April  18,  1873,  a daughter  of  Charles  W.  and  Harriet 
(Winton)  Davis,  is  well  known  as  a magazine  writer, 
a contributor  of  poems  and  short  stories  to  various 
Sunday  school  and  religious  publications  and  also  to 
Scribners’  and  Cosmopolitan  magazines,  and  is 
author  of  a book  of  verse  published  in  1903. 

Carl  C.  Van  Dyke,  M.  C.  Member  of  the  Sixty- 
fourth  Congress  from  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Dis- 
trict, Carl  C.  Van  Dyke  is  a native  of  Minnesota, 
and  prior  to  his  election  to  Congress  had  become 
well  known  in  the  legal  profession  and  also  in 
Government  service.  Mr.  Van  Dyke  resides  at  St. 
Paul,  and  has  his  law  offices  in  the  Germania  Life 
Building. 

Carl  C.  Van  Dyke  was  born  at  Alexandria,  Min- 
nesota, February  18,  1881,  a son  of  Chester  B.  and 
Christine  (Solum)  Van  Dyke,  the  father  born  in 
Bradford  County,  New  York,  and  the  mother  in 
Norway.  They  came  as  early  settlers  to  Minnesota, 
locating  at  Alexandria,  where  his  father  for  many 
years  was  engaged  in  merchandising  and  continued 
in  active  business  up  to  within  a short  time  of  his 
death. 

Congressman  Van  Dyke  had  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  at  Alexandria,  finishing 
at  the  high  school,  and  then  teaching  for  several 
terms.  During  the  Spanish-American  war  he  en- 
listed in  a St.  Paul  Company,  and  following  his 
discharge  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  government, 
and  was  in  the  railway  mail  service  up  to  1911. 
While  in  that  work  he  read  law,  and  for  three 
years  beginning  with  1911  represented  the  Govern- 
ment employees  at  Washington. 

Mr.  Van  Dyke  first  entered  the  political  field  as 
a candidate  for  the  nomination  to  Congress  in  1912 
on  the  democratic  ticket.  He  was  defeated,  but  in 
1914  was  nominated  and  was  elected  by  a hand- 
some majority  to  represent  the  Fourth  Congres- 
sional District.  His  opponent  at  the  election  was 
Frederick  C.  Stevens. 

Mr.  Van  Dyke  was  married  in  1900  to  Miss 
Myrtle  Lampman  of  Alexandria.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  children : M.  Aleye  and  Mildred  A. 
His  home  is  at  617  South  Smith  Avenue,  St.  Paul. 

Rev.  Frederick  Augustus  Schmidt,  D.  D.  After 
long  and  distinguished  service  as  a scholar,  educator 
and  churchman,  Doctor  Schmidt  is  now  living  quietly 
retired  in  St.  Paul,  where  he  enjoys  the  comforts  of 
an  attractive  home  at  2095  Scudder  Avenue  and  that 
otium  cum  dignitate  which  has  always  been  one 
of  the  coveted  rewards  of  a well  spent  existence. 
Doctor  Schmidt  is  professor  emeritus  of  the  Sem- 
inary of  the  LTnited  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church 
at  St.  Anthony  Park.  Ramsey  County,  with  which 
he  was  long  identified  as  an  active  professor. 


1534 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Frederick  Augustus  Schmidt  was  born  in  Leuten- 
berg,  Germany,  January  3,  1837.  a son  of  Martin  and 
Helena  (Wirth)  Schmidt.  Four  years  later  the 
family  came  to  America  and  located  m St.  Louis, 
where  Doctor  Schmidt  received  his  early  education 
in  select  schools,  and  was  graduated  from  Concordia 
College  of  St.  Louis  in  1854,  and  from  Concordia 
Seminary  in  1857.  His  degree  doctor  of  divinity 
came  from  ihe  Capital  University  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  in  1883.  For  a time  Doctor  Schmidt  had 
charge  of  the  church  at  Eden,  in  Erie  County,  New 
York,  and  from  1857  to  1859  was  pastor  of  the 
German  congregation  in  that  place.  He  was  then 
called  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  to  become  pastor 
of  St.  Peter’s  English  Lutheran  Church,  and  fulfilled 
the  office  of  pastor  there  until  1861,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war.  He  then  came  north,  and  from  1861  to 
1871  was  professor  in  Luther  College  at  Decorah, 
Iowa.  Doctor  Schmidt  held  the  chair  of  professor 
of  theology  in  the  Concordia  Seminary  at  St.  Louis 
from  1872  to  1876,  in  a seminary  at  Madison,  Wis- 
consin, from  1876  to  1886,  and  during  the  following 
four  years  was  instructor  of  theology  in  the  Lutheran 
Seminary  at  Northfield,  Minnesota.  In  1890  he  was 
assigned  to  the  theological  department  of  the  United 
Norwegian  Lutheran  Seminary,  now  of  St.  Anthony 
Park,  and  continued  to  be  actively  associated  with 
that  institution  until  his  retirement  as  professor 
emeritus. 

Doctor  Schmidt  was  married,  December  8,  1858 
to  Caroline  Sophia  Allwardt.  of  Cattaraugus  County, 
New  York.  Doctor  Schmidt’s  own  honored  life  has 
been  further  honored  by  his  sons  and  daughters. 
His  son,  Paul  Gerhard,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis 
in  1876,  is  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
and  since  1907  has  been  identified  with  St.  Olaf 
College  at  Northfield  as  secretary  and  treasurer  and 
for  a time  as  acting  president.  Another  son,  August 
M.,  is  now  located  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  while 
Herman  is  a resident  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  Edward 
W.  is  president  of  Hauge  Seminary,  Red  Wing, 
Minnesota.  Otto  is  pastor  of  a church  at  Decorah, 
Iowa,  and  Carl  H.  of  Minneapolis  is  a physician  and 
surgeon.  The  other  children  are  Bertha  M.,  of 
Northfield,  who  married  Prof.  O.  Lee,  and  Clara, 
at  home,  who  married  A.  Johnson. 

Doctor  Schmidt  has  traveled  extensively  and  for 
many  years  was  a popular  speaker  and  lecturer,  and 
has  command  over  both  the  spoken  and  written 
languages  of  German,  English  and  Norwegian.  He 
has  written  many  articles  and  pamphlets  on  religious 
subjects,  and  during  1865-66  was  editor  of  the 
Lutheran  Watchman,  was  editor  of  Altes  Und  Neues 
from  1880  to  1885,  and  from  1882  to  1888  was  editor 
of  the  Lutherske  Vidnesbyrd. 

Nelson  Peter  Falic.  The  heavy  mortality  that  is 
now  rapidly  thinning  the  ranks  of  those  veterans  who 
served  in  the  Civil  war  recently  took  away  one  of 
St.  Paul's  sterling  business  men  and  citizens  in  the 
person  of  Nelson  Peter  Falk,  who  died  February 

27.  1915-  He  was  a Minnesota  pioneer,  and  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  and  homesteaders  while  Min- 
nesota was  still  a territory. 

Nelson  Peter  Falk  was  born  in  Sweden,  February 

28,  1836,  and  his  death  occurred  the  day  preceding 
his  seventy-ninth  birthday.  His  mother  died  at  his 
birth,  and  during  the  seventeen  years  spent  in  the 
old  country  he  lived  on  a farm  and  received  an 
education  in  the  public  schools.  After  coming  to 
America  he  attended  English  schools  for  a short 


time,  and  on  reaching  Minnesota  located  a homestead 
at  Carver,  about  forty  miles  from  St.  Paul.  He  was 
living  in  that  locality  when  the  war  broke  out.  He 
enlisted  at  Fort  Snelling  in  Company  H of  the 
Fourth  Minnesota  Infantry,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Patch  and  Colonel  Sanborn.  He  participated 
in  one  of  the  great  campaigns  down  the  Mississippi 
Valley  during  the  first  year  of  the  war,  and  at  the 
Battle  of  Shiloh  was  wounded,  and  soon  afterwards 
discharged  because  of  a permanent  injury  which  kept 
him  lame  the  rest  of  his  life.  After  the  war  he 
located  in  St.  Paul,  and  for  about  forty  years,  until 
his  retirement,  was  connected  with  the  wholesale 
clothing  manufacturing  business.  That  was  his  life 
work,  and  he  finally  gave  up  business  in  1907.  Dur- 
ing the  last  twenty-five  years  he  had  been  one  of 
the  trusted  men  of  the  Guitterman  Bros.  Company 
and  had  the  supervision  of  the  establishment  of 
factories  for  the  manufacture  of  clothing,  miners’ 
outfits,  overalls,  sheep-lined  coats  and  other  wearing 
apparel. 

The  late  Mr.  Falk  was  a member  of  Garfield  Post 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  His  only  other 
fraternal  association  was  with  the.  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen.  He  worshiped  in  the  First 
Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
founders,  and  in  politics  was  a very  strong  repub- 
lican and  always  interested  in  politics,  though  never 
an  aspirant  for  office.  He  was  attentive  to  business, 
performed  well  whatever  he  undertook,  but  other- 
wise was  a man  of  unassuming  and  rather  quiet 
disposition.  He  was  very  fond  of  good  books  and 
reading,  and  when  not  at  business  could  usually  be 
found  in  the  pleasure  of  his  home  circle.  Failing 
eyesight  had  caused  him  to  give  up  business  about 
seven  years  before  his  death.  He  was  laid  to  rest 
in  Oakland  Cemetery. 

Immediately  after  the  war  Mr.  Falk  married  Mary 
Anderson.  She  was  born  in  Sweden,  where  her 
parents  died,  and  she  came  as  a young  girl  to  Minne- 
sota and  lived  with  an  aunt  named  Anderson  at 
Carver  until  her  marriage.  Of  the  four  children  of 
their  union  one  is  now  deceased,  and  those  living 
are : Anna,  unmarried,  St.  Paul ; Charles,  who  is 
employed  by  the  Guitterman  Bros.,  and  is  married 
and  has  three  sons,  Charles  Henry,  aged  seventeen; 
Richard,  aged  fourteen,  and  Willard,  aged  eleven ; 
and  Catherine,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Gorham,  resid- 
ing at  809  Goodrich  Avenue  ir  St.  Paul.  Mr. 
Gorham  is  connected  with  the  Northwestern  Fuel 
Company  and  well  known  in  business  and  social 
circles,  being  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  the  Commercial  Club  and  the 
Minnesota  Club.  Mrs.  Gorham  has  one  daughter, 
Catherine  Jennette,  born  September  21,  1914. 

James  Phillip  Murnane.  Among  those  who 
help  perform  the  work  of  any  community  with  a 
quiet  efficiency  which  is  as  valuable  as  it  is  incon- 
spicuous, special  credit  must  be  given  to  the  late 
James  Phillip  Murnane,  who  had  grown  up  in  St. 
Paul  when  it  was  a pioneer  city,  and  who  died 
there  December  31,  1913,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six. 

James  Phillip  Murnane  was  born  in  Willimantic, 
Connecticut,  March  18,  1857,  a son  of  Timothy 
Murnane.  His  father  was  a farmer  at  Wave.rly, 
Minnesota,  locating  in  this  state  soon  after  the  birth 
of  his  son  James  P.  At  the  time  of  the  Indian  out- 
break during  the  Civil  war  he  removed  to  Minne- 
apolis, subsequently  enlisted  for  service  in  a Minne- 
sota regiment,  and  was  killed  while  a Union  soldier. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1535 


James  P.  Murnane  grew  lip  in  Minneapolis,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  attended  a business 
college  in  St.  Paul,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
entered  the  employ  of  Foley  Bros.  & Kelly.  He 
showed  industry  and  willingness  to  serve,  and  was 
given  increasing  responsibilities  with  that  house 
until  1885,  when  he  was  made  manager  of  the  city 
department.  That  position  he  held  consecutively 
nearly  thirty  years,  and  practically  died  at  his  post. 
He  was  a hard  worker,  was  intent  upon  his  business, 
and  it  was  this  devotion  to  duty  which  undoubtedly 
took  him  away  while  still  in  the  prime  of  years. 

Mr.  Murnane  was  a member  of  the  Union  Pio- 
neers’ Association,  and  of  St.  John’s  Catholic  Church, 
and  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  His  first 
wife  was  Mary  Ryan,  and  she  became  the  mother 
of  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  The 
daughter  is  Mrs.  W.  E.  Ball,  Mr.  Ball  being  air 
brake  inspector  for  the  Soo  Railway  at  St.  Paul. 
John  J.,  the  oldest  son,  now  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  succeeded  his  father  in  the  position  of  the 
city  department  of  Foley  Bros.  & Kelly.  John  is 
married  and  has  one  child,  John,  Jr.,  now  two 
years  of  age.  The  second  son  is  Raymond  J.,  aged 
twenty-four.  Stephen  is  yard  clerk  for  the  Soo 
Railway.  Phillip  is  a clerk  in  the  house  of  Foley 
Bros.  & Kelly.  Stanley,  aged  sixteen,  has  just  com- 
pleted a business  course  and  has  taken  up  employ- 
ment with  the  Great  Northern  Railway.  On  August 
31,  1909,  the  late  Mr.  Murnane  married  Mary  Jane 
Wallace,  who  was  born  in  London,  England,  and 
came  to  Minnesota  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  Her  par- 
ents were  William  and  Mary  Wallace,  her  father 
having  followed  farming  in  Wisconsin  and  Minne- 
sota. Mrs.  Murnane  since  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band has  lived  at  228  Maria  Avenue  in  St.  Paul. 

William  J.  Regan.  One  of  the  older  bankers  of 
St.  Paul,  William  J.  Regan’s  appointment  in  1911 
to  the  position  of  state  bank  examiner  brought  to 
that  department  of  state  service  one  of  the  most 
capable  men  who  could  be  secured.  He  has  spent 
twenty  years  in  banking  in  Minnesota,  and  through- 
out this  time  his  interests  have  been  identified 
with  the  banking  and  financial  interests  of  the 
state.  His  long  experience  in  banking  and  his  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  enable  him  to  conduct  the  busi- 
ness of  examiner  in  an  efficient  manner  and  with 
satisfaction  to  himself  and  the  people.  Mr.  Regan 
has  his  headquarters  in  the  state  capitol.  He  is 
still  vice  president  of  the  Commercial  State  Bank 
of  St.  Paul. 

William  J.  Regan  was  born  in  1872,  a son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Flanagan)  Regan,  both  of  whom 
are  now  deceased.  His  early  education  was  acquired 
in  Montreal,  Canada,  and  afterwards  in  the  high 
school  at  St.  Paul.  Soon  after  leaving  school  he 
found  employment  in  the  Merchants  National  Bank 
of  St.  Paul,  and  from  a minor  position  his  inter- 
ests have  been  growing  and  his  influence  increas- 
ing, and  besides  the  work  and  offices  mentioned 
above  he  is  a director  in  the  Forest  Lake  State 
Bank,  the  First  State  Bank  of  Champlin,  and 
director  and  vice  president  of  the  First  State  Bank 
of  Dayton,  in  Hennepin  County,  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Regan  was  married  in  1897  to  Miss  Helen 
Duffy  of  St.  Paul,  a daughter  of  James  Duffy,  a 
well-known  old  resident  of  the  capital  city  and  for 
many  years  identified  with  its  business  affairs.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Regan  have  three  children : William, 

Loretta  and  George.  The  family  reside  in  a com- 


fortable residence  on  Fairmount  Avenue,  St.  Paul. 
Mr.  Regan  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  and  in  politics  as  a republican  takes  a lively 
part  in  public  affairs. 

Myron  D.  Taylor.  Now  holding  the  office  of 
Supreme  Court  Commissioner,  with  offices  in  the 
capitol  building  at  St.  Paul,  Myron  Taylor  has  for 
many  years  been  prominent  as  a Minnesota  lawyer, 
and  was  elevated  from  the  district  bench  to  his  pres- 
ent position.  Judge  Taylor  is  a native  of  Maine, 
and  was  brought  to  Minnesota  by  his  parents  in 
September,  1858.  He  was  a pioneer,  and  his  own 
career  has  reflected  honor  on  that  sterling  class  of 
first  settlers. 

Judge  Myron  Taylor  was  born  in  Byron,  Maine, 
December  30,  1855,  the  oldest  son  of  M.  A.  and 
Sarah  J.  (Barnard)  Taylor.  His  father,  who  was 
born  April  13,  1830,  spent  his  boyhood  in  Maine, 
and  acquired  most  of  his  education  at  Roxbury,  in 
that  state.  He  came  out  to  Minnesota  as  a pioneer 
in  1857,  and  lived  in  the  state  about  thirty  years. 
In  addition  to  his  pursuits  as  a farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  he  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  sur- 
vey of  Government  land.  In  1859  he  located  in 
Albion,  Wright  County,  and  about  2j4  years  later 
moved  to  the  Town  of  Melrose,  in  Stearns  County, 
where  he  resided  until  1878.  He  served  in  1895  in 
the  Minnesota  Legislature,  having  been  elected  on 
the  republican  ticket,  and  did  some  important  work 
on  several  committees.  He  is  still  living  at  his  child- 
hood home,  in  his  native  State  of  Maine.  His  wife 
died  while  visiting  at  Minneapolis  in  1892. 

Myron  Taylor  grew  up  on  a frontier  farm,  and 
the  environment  of  those  early  days  had  much  in- 
fluence on  his  character  and  undoubtedly  gave  him 
much  strength  and  virility  for  his  professional 
career.  As  a boy  he  attended  country  schools. 
From  the  farm  he  finally  entered  the  State  Uni- 
versity, and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1878. 
Next  came  two  years  of  school  teaching  at  Hen- 
derson, where  he  devoted  all  his  leisure  time  to 
the  study  of  law.  He  then  entered  the  law  office 
of  S.  & O.  Kipp  of  Henderson,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  March,  1881. 

Judge  Taylor  has  had  an  active  career  during 
nearly  thirty-five  years  of  membership  in  the  Min- 
nesota bar,  and  has  handled  a large  volume  of  pri- 
vate litigation  in  addition  to  his  official  responsibil- 
ities. He  began  practice  at  St.  Cloud,  which  is  still 
his  home,  and  held  the  office  of  city  attorney  for 
twelve  years.  President  McKinley  appointed  him 
register  of  the  United  States  Land  Office  at  St. 
Cloud,  and  he  was  in  that  position  eight  years.  In 
1906  came  his  elevation  to  the  bench  when  elected 
judge  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  District.  At  the  end 
of  six  years  he  was  re-elected  in  1912,  but  soon 
after  assuming  office  for  his  second  term  he  was 
appointed  in  1913  Supreme  Court  commissioner  for 
the  term  of  six  years.  This  office  requires  him  to 
be  in  St.  Paul,  where  he  and  his  family  are  residing 
temporarily. 

Judge  Taylor  has  long  been  regarded  as  a leader 
in  the  republican  party  of  Minnesota.  He  fre- 
quently attends  conventions,  both  state  and  national, 
and  was  an  alternate  delegate  to  the  national  con- 
vention in  1888  that  nominated  Benjamin  Harrison. 
He  has  also  served  as  a member  of  the  republican 
state  central  committee.  Fraternally  much  of  his 
interest  has  been  taken  up  with  Masonic  work,  and 


1536 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


lie  is  affiliated  with  North  Star  Lodge  No.  23,  A.  F. 
& A.  M. ; St.  Cloud  Chapter  No.  46,  R.  A.  M. ; 
Nazarene  Commandery  No.  24,  K.  T. ; and  Osman 
Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  belongs  to  the 
lodges  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  at  St.  Cloud. 

In  1883  Judge  Taylor  married  Miss  Anna  Frank 
of  Henderson,  Minnesota,  daughter  of  Benedict 
Frank,  an  old  resident  and  respected  citizen  of  that 
place.  They  have  two  daughters,  Zama  M.  and 
Louisa  F.,  and  lost  one  son,  Ralph,  in  infancy. 

Joseph  Malcome  Hackney.  Whether  considered 
as  a progressive  business  man,  a faithful  and  con- 
scientious public  servant  or  a stirring  and  helpful 
citizen,  Joseph  Malcome  Hackney  must  be  accounted 
one  of  the  leading  and  forceful  men  of  St..  Paul, 
whose  well-directed  energies  have  resulted  in  the 
building  up  of  a vigorous  commercial  enterprise, 
the  passage  of  much  useful  state  legislation  and 
the  securing  of  municipal  and  civic  reforms  which 
have  contributed  materially  to  the  public  weal.  Still 
a young  man,  he  has  accomplished  achievements 
which  many  men  would  deem  satisfactory  if  gained 
after  a lifetime  of  effort,  and  if  the  past  may  be 
taken  as  a criterion  of  the  future  greater  and  higher 
honor's  await  him. 

Mr.  Hackney  is  one  of  Minnesota's  native  sons, 
having  been  born  near  the  Village  of  Antrim,  in 
Watonwan  County,  July  8,  1874,  a son  of  William 
and  Catherine  (Bradley)  Hackney.  His  father  was 
born  in  Dundee,  Scotland,  and  as  a young  man  left 
his  native  land  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
arriving  in  1855  and  locating  at  Antrim,  Minnesota. 
He  has  been  a farmer  by  vocation  and  is  living  in 
the  peaceful  pursuits  of  the  soil,  in  which  he  has 
won  prosperity  through  the  exercise  of  native  thrift 
and  industry,  while  at  the  same  time  he  has  gained 
the  esteem  and  regard  of  his  fellow-men  through 
his  Christian,  life  and  character.  He  has  been  con- 
tent to  devote  himself  to  his  rural  labors  and  has 
never  sought  public  office,  although  he  has  exercised 
a strong  influence  among  his  neighbors.  Both  he 
and  his  devoted  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  movements  of 
which  they  take  an  active  and  helpful  part.  Mrs. 
Hackney  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Brad- 
ley, and  was  born  in  Canada,  her  father  being  Irish 
and  her  mother  a native  of  Germany. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Joseph  Malcome 
Hackney  were  passed  on  the  old  homestead  place 
in  Watonwan  County,  where  he  was  reared  to 
habits  of  industry  and  honesty  and  carefully  trained 
in  the  various  departments  of  agricultural  work. 
He  secured  his  primary  educational  training  in  the 
district  schools,  but  it  was  not  his  intention  to  de- 
vote his  energies  to  agricultural  work,  and  with  a 
view  to  securing  a good  education  matriculated  at 
the  Hamline  University  and  subsequently  in  the 
law  department  of  the  State  University  of  Minne- 
sota. Not  long  after  completing  his  studies,  he 
located  in  St.  Paul,  where  he  gained  recognition  of 
his  abilities  and  soon  became  widely  and  favorably 
known,  and  in  1900  identified  himself  with  the 
Hackney  Land  Credit  Company,  this  being  one  of 
the  most  substantial  real  estate  concerns  in  the  city, 
engaged  in  the  buying  and  selling  of  farm  lands, 
mortgage  loans  and  manufacturing  enterprises.  His 
reputation  in  business  circles  is  of  the  highest  char- 
acter, but  it  is  probably  as  a politician  and  legis- 
lator that  he  has  been  most  prominently  before  the 


public.  His  first  public  office  was  as  member  of 
the  St.  Paul  City  Council  from  the  Tenth  Ward,  an 
office  in  which  his  activities  commended  him  to  the 
people,  and  in  1907  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  this  being  followed  by  re-elections  in  1909 
and  1911,  the  last-named  being  entirely  without  op- 
position. As  a legislator  he  was  courageous  in  his 
support  of  his  constituents’  rights  and  interests, 
and  through  his  energy  and  ability  was  able  to  se- 
cure the  passage  of  some  much-needed  legislation. 
His  political  record  has  been  free  from  the  faintest 
stain  or  blemish. 

Mr.  Hackney  has  been  stirringly  identified  with 
the  St.  Paul  Business  Men’s  League  and  the  Com- 
mercial Club,  organizations  which  have  for  their 
object  the  betterment  and  progress  of  civic  and 
business  conditions.  He  has  retained  his  interest 
in  the  affairs  of  his  alma  mater,  and  is  one  of  the 
trustees  of  Hamline  University.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men and  the  Masons,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  has 
attained  to  the  thirty-second  degree.  With  Mrs. 
Hackney,  he  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

On  June  18,  1902,  Mr.  Hackney  was  united  in 
marriage,  at  St.  Paul,  with  Miss  Jennie  Evelyn 
Hill,  daughter  of  L.  J.  and  Rosetta  (Schultes)  Hill, 
and  a close  connection  of  the  late  David  B.  Hill, 
of  New  York.  L.  J.  Hill  is  a veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  having  served  in  that  struggle  under1  Gen.  U. 
S.  Grant.  Mrs.  Hackney  is  a lady  of  culture  and 
refinement,  and  a graduate  of  the  Hancock  public 
school  of  St.  Paul,  the  Central  High  School  and 
Hamline  University.  Two  children  have  come  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hackney,  namely : Marion  M.,  born 

August  28,  1906;  and  Joseph  M.,  Jr.,  born  May  7, 
1908. 

Gen.  Fred  B.  Wood.  For  the  past  ten  years  adju- 
tant general  of  the  Minnesota  National  Guard,  Fred 
B.  Wood  has  been  actively  identified  with  that 
organization  more  than  thirty  years,  and  is  an  old 
resident  of  Minnesota,  to  which  state  he  came  when 
a boy.  Mr.  Wood  is  widely  known  both  in  military 
and  social  circles,  and  one  of  the  most  popular  men 
at  the  capital. 

Fred  B.  Wood  was  born  June  14,  1866,  at  Ames, 
Montgomery  County,  New  York,  and  when  eleven 
years  of  age  was  brought  to  Minnesota  by  his  par- 
ents in  1877.  The  family  located  in  Austin,  in 
Mower  County,  where  General  Wood  was  graduated 
from  the  high  school  in  1886.  For  many  years  he 
was  successfully  identified  with  the  real  estate  and 
insurance  business,  and  for  ten  years  of  that  time 
was  deputy  register  of  deeds  of  Mower  County. 

His  active  interest  in  militia  matters  began  when 
he  was  still  under  age.  On  May  8,  1884,  he  became 
a private  in  Company  G of  the  Second  Infantry, 
Minnesota  National  Guard,  was  promoted  corporal 
in  1885 ; sergeant  in  1886 ; right  general  guide,  Sec- 
ond Infantry,  1887;  transferred  back  to  Company  G 
February  14,  1888,  and  appointed  first  sergeant;  be- 
came regimental  sergeant  major,  Second  Infantry, 
April  19,  1890;  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant 
Company  G,  Second  Infantry,  January  26,  1891;  be- 
came captain  June  7,  1893,  and  served  as  captain  of 
Company  G of  the  Twelfth  Minnesota  Infantry, 
volunteers,  during  the  Spanish-American  war,  from 
April  29,  i8cj8,  to  November  5,  1898.  After  the  war 
he  was  commissioned  major  of  Second  Infantry Jn 
May,  1899,  and  on  January  28,  1905,  was  promoted 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1537 


to  adjutant  general,  Minnesota  National  Guard,  with 
the  rank  of  brigadier  general.  General  Wood  is  a 
democrat  and  is  married  and  resides  in  St.  Paul. 

I 

Charles  W.  Odell,  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Willmar,  has  had  a number  of  years  of 
experience  with  the  uncompromising  and  accuracy- 
compelling  methods  of  monetary  science  as  revealed 
behind  the  counters  of  Minnesota  institutions.  As 
are  all  successful  and  reliable  financiers,  he  is 
methodical  in  his  habits  and  practical  in  his  ambi- 
tions. In  his  early  life  he  was  taught  the  value  of 
industry  and  economy,  traits  which  have  served 
to  make  him  a conservative  and  practical  banker. 
His  success  lias  been  purely  the  outcome  of  his 
individual  efforts,  for  his  career  was  started  with- 
out the  assistance  of  any  aiding  influences,  and 
the  position  which  he  has  gained  should  prove  of 
encouragement  to  youths  placed  in  similar  circum- 
stances. 

Charles  W.  Odell  was  born  in  Sweden,  January  9, 
1862,  and  his  parents  passed  their  entire  lives  in 
their  native  land.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children,  of  whom  a daughter  still  resides  in 
Sweden ; Peter  is  an  agriculturist  in  that  country ; 
and  August  lives  in  Stearns  County,  Minnesota,  and 
carries  on  farming.  Charles  W.  Odell  was  given 
only  ordinary  educational  advantages  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  land,  and  when  still  a mere  lad  was 
taught  to  be  self-reliant  and  self-supporting.  Seek- 
ing the  broader  opportunities  offered  by  America  to 
the  poor  youths  of  other  lands,  when  but  seventeen 
years  of  age,  in  1879,  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  where  he  first  took  up  his  residence  in  Kan- 
diyohi County,  Minnesota.  Strong,  willing  and 
ambitious,  he  secured  employment  as  a farm  hand, 
and  continued  for  a number  of  years  to  be  engaged 
in  this  kind  of  work.  Following  this  he  came  to 
Willmar,  where  he  became  chief  of  police  of  the 
city,  and  succeeded  so  well  as  an  officer  that  he 
was  elected  sheriff  of  Kandiyohi  County.  In  the 
twelve  years  that  he  served  in  that  capacity  he  made 
a record  for  faithful  performance  of  duty  and  re- 
straint of  lawlessness  that  has  not  been  surpassed. 
While  serving  in  that  capacity,  in  1902,  Mr.  Odell 
became  the  organizer  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Willmar,  which  he  entered  as  its  first  cashier, 
a position  which  he  has  continued  to  hold  to  the 
present  time.  He  is  a heavy  stockholder  in  the 
bank,  and  his  wide  acquaintance  with  the  farmers 
and  business  men  of  the  county  makes  him  a val- 
uable adjunct  to  its  success.  He  was  made  super- 
visor of  census  in  1910  for  Congressional  District 
No.  7.  He  is  a promoter  of  conservative  and  stable 
interests,  and  as  a citizen  and  banker  maintains 
standards  in  keeping  with  the  best  welfare  of  the 
community.  His  personal  success,  from  a material 
standpoint,  has  been  very  satisfactory,  for  he  has 
large  holdings  in  city  property  and  country  farms. 
A sturdy  and  active  republican,  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate  from  1911  to  1913,  but 
would  not  allow  his  name  to  be  used  for  a renom- 
ination. Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Blue 
Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the  Masonic  Order,  and 
with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  With 
his  family  he  is  identified  with  the  Christian  Science 
Church. 

In  1886  Mr.  Odell  married  Martha  Fladebo,  and 
they  have  four  children : Etta,  Ella,  Albert  and 
George. 


Harrison  L.  Schmitt.  In  the  field  of  general 
law  one  of  the  most  eminent  figures  of  the  South- 
ern Minnesota  bar  is  Harrison  L.  Schmitt,  who, 
during  twenty-two  years  of  practice  at  Mankato  has 
been  a faithful  conserver  of  all  the  interests  con- 
fided to  his  care  and  fine  judgment,  and  whose 
career  is  worthy  of  a lasting  place  in  the  history 
of  the  bar.  He  has  attracted  such  attention  by  his 
abilities  that  he  has  obtained  an  assured  position 
among  the  best  of  his  fellow  practitioners,  a posi- 
tion which  is  evidenced  by  his  incumbency  of  the 
office  of  president  of  both  the  Blue  Earth  County 
Bar  Association  and  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  As- 
sociation. 

Mr.  Schmitt  was  born  at  Waverly,  Iowa,  October 
15,  1866,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Maria  C.  (Lipp) 
Schmitt,  and  a grandson  of  Christian  Schmitt,  of 
Alsace-Lorraine,  who  came  to  the  United  States  dur- 
ing the  ’50s  and  located  near  Kasson,  Dodge  County, 
Minnesota,  where  he  died.  John  Schmitt,  the  father 
of  Harrison  L.  Schmitt,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
in  1831,  and  there  resided  until  1864,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Iowa.  Because  of  his  vocation  he  did  not 
serve  in  the  Civil  war,  but  one  of  his  brothers, 
George,  donned  the  blue  uniform  of  the  Union  and 
met  a soldier’s  death  on  the  battlefield.  John 
Schmitt  received  a good  education  in  his  youth 
and  early  adopted  the  faith  of  the  German  Evangel- 
ical Church,  eventually  entering  its  ministry,  in 
which  he  continued  to  labor  throughout  his  life. 
He  was  a devout  and  zealous  man,  held  some  of 
the  best  churches  in  Minnesota,  to  which  state  he 
came  in  1877  or  1878,  and  eventually  died  in  harness 
at  Waseca,  in  1889.  He  was  a republican  in  politics. 
John  Schmitt  was  married  near  New  Ulm,  Minne- 
sota, to  Maria  C.  Lipp,  who  was  born  at  Hohen- 
staufen,  Germany,  in  1843,  daughter  of  Ulrich  Lipp, 
who  was  a shepherd  in  Germany,  but  on  coming  to 
the  United  States  became  a farmer,  first  in  Wiscon- 
sin, and  later  at  New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  whence  he 
removed  by  ox  team,  and  where  he  died.  Mrs. 
Schmitt,  who  still  survives  her  husband,  has  been 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  as  follows : George 

W.,  the  owner  of  a farm  at  Stanley,  Wisconsin, 
who  has  the  chair  of  German  and  French  at  Lake 
Forest  LIniversity,  Illinois ; Harrison  L.,  of  this  re- 
view; Mary,  who  married  Mr.  Kienholtz  and  resides 
on  a farm  at  Stanley,  Wisconsin;  Dr.  Aaron  F.,  a 
practicing  physician  and  surgeon  of  Mankato ; Dr. 
Samuel  C.,  a medical  practitioner  of  Minneapolis ; 
John  W.,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Harrison 
L.,  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  at  this  time  county 
attorney  of  Blue  Earth  County;  and  Lillian,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Bailey,  assistant  superintendent  of 
schools  of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania. 

After  graduating  from  the  Mankato  High  School, 
in  1888,  Harrison  L.  Schmitt,  in  order  to  secure 
the  means  to  further  prosecute  his  studies,  adopted 
the  vocation  of  schoolteacher,  and  for  four  years 
had  various  charges  in  the  country.  He  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Northwestern  University  Law 
School,  Chicago,  in  1893,  and  being  admitted  to  the 
bar  commenced  practice  at  Mankato  in  July  of  the 
same  year.  For  a number  of  years  he  continued 
alone,  then  admitting  to  partnership  S.  B.  Wilson, 
with  whom  he  continued  for  two  years.  In  1898  this 
association  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Schmitt  entered 
into  partnership  with  his  brother,  John  W.,  the  firm 
now  being  known  as  H.  L.  and  J.  W.  Schmitt  and 
occupying  offices  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Building.  Mr. 
Schmitt  carries  on  a general  practice  in  all  the 


1538 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


courts,  lias  probably  the  largest  practice  in  Man- 
kato, and  has  been  identified  with  the  leading  cases 
that  have  been  tried  before  the  courts  here.  On 
April  i,  1915,  Mr.  Schmitt  associated  himself  in 
the  general  practice  of  the  law  with  the  firm  of 
Kerr,  Fowler  & Furber  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Kerr,  Fowler,  Schmitt  & 
Furber.  As  before  stated,  Mr.  Schmitt  is  president 
of  the  county  and  state  bar  associations,  and  also 
holds  membership  in  the  American  Bar  Association, 
standing  high  both  personally  and  professionally 
among  his  fellow  attorneys.  Fie  is  a republican,  but 
not  a politician,  although  he  gives  his  support  will- 
ingly to  good  and  beneficial  movements.  Fraternallj' 
he  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  225,  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  With  his  family  Mr.  Schmitt 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Schmitt  was  married  August  13,  1895,  to  Miss 
Esther  M.  Grannis,  daughter  of  Samuel  H.  Grannis, 
of  Mankato,  Minnesota,  a prosperous  grain  dealer. 

( 

Andrew  Bjorsell.  An  example  of  success  gained 
with  honor,  of  perseverance  and  courage  in  the  face 
of  discouragements,  and  of  stable,  sterling  citizen- 
ship under  all  conditions,  is  found  in  the  career  of 
Andrew  Bjorsell,  proprietor  of  the  Willmar  Sash 
and  Door  Factory  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Willmar  Tractor  and  Manufacturing  Company. 
Having  come  to  this  country  when  a lad  of  eighteen 
years,  he  worked  his  way  alone  to  a position  of 
prosperity,  only  to  see  his  fortunes  swept  away, 
but  instead  of  allowing  this  to  discourage  him,  he 
went  to  work  again  with  added  vigor  and  energy  and 
has  succeeded  in  the  attainment  of  a prosperous 
and  important  business. 

Andrew  Bjorsell  was  born  in  Biterna  Parish, 
Skarabergs  Lan,  Sweden,  March  24,  1861,  and  is  a 
son  of  Johanes  Svenson  and  Johanna  Johnson, 
natives  of  Sweden,  where  the  family  has  resided  for 
many  generations.  Johanes  Svenson  was  born  in 
1818,  and  his  entire  career  was  passed  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  his  native  land,  where  he  died  in 
1876.  An  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
he  held  several  offices  therein  at  various  times,  and 
was  known  as  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his 
community,  his  fellow  citizens  electing  him  to  sev- 
eral public  positions.  As  a business  man  he  made 
the  most  of  his  opportunities,  and  was  successful 
in  raising  his  family  in  comfort.  Mrs.  Svenson, 
who  was  born  in  1820,  died  in  her  native  land  in 
1897.  Of  their  seven  children,  five  grew  to  maturity : 
Swan  Fleckten,  who  is  now  deceased;  G.  J.  Bjone- 
berg,  who  is  a retired  farmer  of  Willmar;  Carl, 
who  is  a resident  of  Anoka,  Minnesota ; Andrew,  of 
this  notice;  and  Clara,  who  is  the  wife  of  August 
Anderson,  a farmer  of  Sweden. 

The  public  schools  of  his  native  land  furnished 
Andrew  Bjorsell  with  his  educational  training,  and 
there  also  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  On 
coming  to  the  United  States,  in  1879,  he  secured 
employment  on  a farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Willmar, 
but  after  two  years  went  to  Dakota,  where  he  took 
up  a pre-emption  and  subsequently  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile lines.  The  latter,  however,  he  soon  gave  up 
and  again  took  up  farming,  but  this  was  an  unfor- 
tunate move,  for  conditions  were  far  from  right, 
and  Mr.  Bjorsell  lost  all  that  his  years  of  labor  had 
won  for  him.  Desiring  to  try  his  fortune  in  a new 
field,  he  went  to  the  State  of  Washington,  where  he 
secured  employment  at  his  trade  of  carpenter,  and 
after  four  years  of  hard  work  managed  to  gather 


together  some  small  capital,  with  which  he  returned 
to  Willmar  in  1904.  Here  he  engaged  in  contracting, 
and  continued  successfully  therein  until  1914,  when 
he  retired  from  that  business,  his  interests  in  the 
sash  and  door  business,  in  which  he  had  engaged 
in  the  meantime,  having  grown  to  such  propor- 
tions as  to  demand  his  almost  exclusive  attention. 
This  business  is  now  known  as  the  Willmar  Sash 
and  Door  Factory,  and  is  enjoying  a large  and  con- 
stantly-growing patronage  under  Mr.  Bjorsell’s  able 
management.  In  addition  he  is  interested  in  the 
Willmar  Tractor  and  Manufacturing  Company,  of 
which  he  is  secretary  and  treasurer,  "and  which  also 
does  a large  business,  its  machinery,  and  particularly 
its  tractors,  being  shipped  all  over  the  West,  where 
there  is  a steady  demand.  In  all  his  business  oper- 
ations Mr.  Bjorsell  has  been  directed  by  a high 
sense  of  honor,  and  for  this  reason  his  reputation 
among  those  with  whom  he  has  had  dealings  is 
high.  _ He  is  a member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  In  politics  he  is  inclined  to  be  independ- 
ent, but  political  matters  have  found  but  little  place 
in  a life  that  has  been  so  steadily  and  sturdily 
devoted  to  business  affairs.  He  is,  however,  a 
good  citizen,  and  one  who  may  be  relied  upon  to 
serve  the  best  interests  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Bjorsell  was  married  to  Miss  Selma  M.  John- 
son, of  Sweden,  and  to  this  union  there  has  been 
born  one  daughter : Miss  Blanche  Viola,  a grad- 
uate of  the  Willmar  High  School,  the  St.  Paul 
Business  College,  and  the  Nichols  Expert  College, 
and  a young  lady  of  much  business  ability,  whose 
services  in  the  office  of  her  father’s  company  have 
done  much  to  promote  its  growth  and  development. 

Hon.  Einar  C.  Wellin.  The  career  of  Hon. 
Einar  C.  Wellin  has  been  one  remarkable  in  a num- 
ber of  ways.  He  was  a lad  of  sixteen  years  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  was  without  finan- 
cial resources  or  influential  friends,  but  he  pos- 
sessed the  push,  ability  and  ambition  necessary  to 
start  him  on  his  way  to  fortune,  and  has  since  ad- 
vanced steadily,  being  one  of  the  most  successful 
merchants  at  Willmar.  That  he  has  established 
himself  in  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  he  is  serving  in  his  fourth 
term  as  mayor,  a capacity  in  which  he  has  made 
a name  as  a man  who  accomplishes  things. 

Einar  C.  Wellin  was  born  in  Norway,  March  27. 
1870.  and  is  a son  of  Christopher  and  Margaret 
(Plalberg)  Wellin,  both  natives  of  that  country, 
where  they  still  reside,  the  father  being  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age  and  the  mother  sixty-eight.  The 
father,  who  during  his  active  years  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  won  through  his  industry  and 
close  application  a satisfying  competence,  and  is 
now  living  a retired  life.  He  has  taken  some  active 
interest  in  civic  affairs  in  his  native  land,  serving 
in  various  local  offices,  including  that  which  cor- 
responds with  what  would  be  county  commissioner 
in  this  country.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  faithful 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Of  the  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  Christopher  and  Margaret  Wellin, 
eight  are  still  living,  and  all  are  making  their  home 
in  Norway  with  the  exception  of  Einar  C. 

Einar  C.  Wellin  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Norway,  and  there  grew  to  young 
manhood,  receiving  the  best  of  home  training.  Be- 
lieving that  opportunities  for  advancement  and  the 
acquirement  of  fortune  were  better  in  the  United 
States,  in  1886,  when  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  he 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1539 


left  the  parental  roof  and  emigrated  to  this  country, 
coming  at  once  to  Willmar,  Minnesota,  where  he 
soon  obtained  a position  as  clerk  in  a general  store. 
He  continued  to  be  thus  employed  for  eleven  years, 
in  the  meantime  carefully  saving  his  earnings,  and 
in  1897  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account, 
when,  in  partnership  with  Peter  C.  Peterson,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  general  store  business  in  a modest  way. 
Customers  were  soon  attracted  to  this  enterprise 
by  reason  of  the  courtesy  and  obliging  nature  of  its 
proprietors  and  the  absolute  reliability  of  the  goods 
offered,  and  thus  was  started  what  has  since  de- 
veloped into  the  leading  department  store  of  Will- 
mar.  Mr.  Wellin  has  labored  industriously  and 
well,  and  it  has  been  for  this  reason  that  he  has 
won  business  success,  and  not  because  of  any  for- 
tuitous circumstance  or  happy  chance.  In  business 
circles  he  bears  a high  reputation,  as  is  evidenced 
by  his  nine  years  in  the  capacity  of  president  of  the 
Commercial  Club.  All  public-spirited  enterprises 
have  the  benefit  of  his  hearty  support  and  co- 
operation, and  Willmar  has  no  more  enthusiastic 
“booster.” 

A democrat  in  his  political  views,  Mr.  Wellin 
was  elected  mayor  of  Willmar  in  1911,  and  is  now 
serving  in  his  fourth  term  in  that  capacity,  having 
given  the  city  an  administration  which  has  been 
characterized  by  the  promotion  and  carrying  through 
of  various  movements  for  the  public  and  business 
welfare.  Fraternally  Mayor  Wellin  is  affiliated  with 
the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, of  which  he  is  past  master,  and  belongs  also 
to  Lodge  No.  952,  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  He  is  unmarried. 

Walter  J.  Smith.  Treasurer  of  the  State  of 
Minnesota,  Walter  J.  Smith  has  behind  his  record 
as  a state  official  a long  and  successful  experience 
as  a banker  and  business  man,  and  while  his  name 
is  now  pretty  well  known  in  every  section  of  Min- 
nesota, in  the  great  mining  district  of  the  North  it 
has  been  one  of  particular  prominence  both  in  bank- 
ing and  public  affairs. 

Walter  J.  Smith  was  born  at  Eureka,  Greenwood 
County,  Kansas,  October  5,  1870,  a son  of  E.  How- 
ard and  Louise  M.  (Wood)  Smith.  In  1871  the 
family  moved  to  Bellevue,  Ohio,  where  Walter  J. 
Smith  grew  up  and  attended  the  public  schools.  A 
course  in  a business  college  at  Cleveland  supple- 
mented his  early  training,  and  for  about  twenty 
years  he  has  been  rising  in  prominence  as  a banker. 
He  held  a minor  position  with  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Bellevue,  and  in  1893  came  to  Minnesota 
and  took  the  place  of  assistant  cashier  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Tower.  That  community  also 
honored  him  with  the  office  of  city  treasurer  in 
1896.  After  a year  spent  in  Texas,  Mr.  Smith  was 
deputy  collector  of  customs  at  Harding  for  two 
years,  and  in  1900  became  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Eveleth  in  Northern  Minnesota. 
Since  then  his  financial  position  and  connections 
have  expanded  until  he  is  now  president  of  the 
Miners  National  Bank  of  Eveleth,  a director  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Gilbert  and  in  the  State 
Bank  of  Aurora.  His  progressive  business  record 
requires  no  further  comment,  and  it  should  be  noted 
that  his  public  spirit  has  been  equally  manifest  in 
both  his  home  community  and  in  state  affairs. 

Mr.  Smith  on  reaching  majority  allied  himself 
with  the  republican  party,  and  has  exercised  an  in- 
fluential leadership  in  every  community  that  has 


been  his  home.  Besides  the  offices  already  men- 
tioned, he  served  as  mayor  of  Eveleth  in  1908,  1909 
and  1910,  and  was  a member  of  the  school  board 
from  1903  to  1910.  While  to  a certain  degree  his 
name  represented  the  northern  section  of  the  state 
on  the  republican  state  ticket  in  1910,  he  drew 
support  from  all  parts  of  the  state,  and  since  taking 
up  his  official  duties  as  state  treasurer  at  St.  Paul 
has  employed  his  experience  and  skill  as  a banker 
in  instituting  many  changes  for  the  better  in  the 
handling  of  the  state  finances. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  July  15,  1895,  to  Miss 
Lillian  M.  Maclnnis,  daughter  of  Neil  Maclnnis 
of  Tower.  Her  father  was  at  one  time  a member 
of  the  State  Legislature  and  also  chairman  of  the 
board  of  county  commissioners  of  St.  Louis  County. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  one  daughter,  Marcella 
L.  Mr.  Smith  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  and  has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Masons. 

In  1914  he  was  re-elected  state  treasurer,  receiving 
173,198  votes. 

Sigurdt  B.  Qvale.  When  he  arrived  in  this  coun- 
try at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  in  1878,  Sigurdt 
B.  Qvale  was  a poor  Norwegian  emigrant  boy, 
without  friends  or  means,  his  only  assets  being  an 
earnest  ambition,  a sterling  integrity,  and  a willing- 
ness to  perform  any  task  set  before  him.  During 
the  early  years  of  his  life  in  Wisconsin  and  Minne- 
sota, he  had  innumerable  difficulties  to  overcome, 
but  he  kept  sturdily  at  it,  accepting  such  honorable 
employment  as  came  his  way,  and  finally,  when  he 
secured  a foothold,  began  to  rise  in  fortune  and 
continued  to  prosper  until  today  he  is  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  Kandiyohi  County  and  a 
man  of  influence  and  importance  throughout  the 
surrounding  country  adjacent  to  Willmar,  which 
city  he  makes  his  headquarters.  His  career  should 
prove  encouraging  to  the  youth  of  any  land  who 
enters  life  supposedly  handicapped  by  the  lack  of 
influence  or  finances. 

Sigurdt  B.  Qvale  was  born  in  Norway,  December 
18,  1868,  and  is  a son  of  O.  G.  and  Gurine  (Tenne- 
son)  Qvale,  natives  of  Haugesund,  Norway.  His 
grandfather,  Gauth  Qvale,  passed  his  entire  life  in 
Norway,  where  he  was  the  owner  of  the  Custom 
House  at  Haugesund,  was  a well-to-do  shipowner, 
and  was  also  engaged  extensively  in  farming.  O.  G. 
Qvale,  on  arriving  at  man’s  estate,  followed  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  father,  and  as  an  agriculturist  and 
owner  of  vessels  acquired  a comfortable  income. 
He  died  at  sea  in  the  wreck  of  one  of  his  ships,  in 
May,  1875.  Mr.  Qvale  was  a member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  and  was  a prominent  man  of  his  com- 
munity, being  a member  of  the  board  of  concilia- 
tion and  of  the  board  of  equalization,  and  also  serv- 
ing in  the  capacity  of  overseer  of  the  poor.  He 
was  married  in  1857  to  Gurine  Tenneson,  who  was 
born  February  17,  1832,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  of  whom  four  are  living: 
Judge  G.  E.,  judge  of  the  District  Court  for  the 
counties  of  Meeker,  Kandiyohi,  Swift,  Renville,  Yel- 
low Medicine,  Chippewa  and  Lac  qui  Parle ; Alex- 
ander, who  is  residing  on  a farm  near  Willmar ; 
Sigurdt  B.,  of  this  notice;  and  Bertha  K„  who  owns 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Kandiyohi  County,  and  is 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Olson,  who  is  "the  proprietor  of  a 
confectionery  store  at  Bird  Island,  Minnesota.  In 


1540 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


October,  1878,  the  mother  of  these  children  came 
with  her  family  to  the  United  States,  and  first  set- 
tled at  Hudson,  Wisconsin,  but  later  moved  to  Min- 
nesota, and  in  her  declining  years  made  her  home 
with  her  son,  Judge  Qvale,  at  Willmar,  where  she 
passed  away  February  6,  1913. 

Sigurdt  B.  Qvale  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when 
he  came  to  America,  and  prior  to  this  time  had 
received  educational  training  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  land,  this  later  being  supplemented 
by  attendance  at  the  Washington  School,  Minne- 
apolis, which  was  located  on  the  present  site  of  the 
courthouse.  For  one  year  he  was  employed  as  a 
hand  on  a farm  near  Fludson,  Wisconsin,  and  he 
then  secured  a position  as  clerk  in  a grocery  at  Hud- 
son, remaining  1 J/2  years  in  that  capacity.  Mr. 
Qvale  next  went  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  worked 
at  odd  jobs  offered  him  until  becoming  office  boy 
for  the  law  firm  of  Ueland,  Shores  & Holt.  After 
a period  thus  spent  he  first  came  to  Willmar  and  for 
1 y2  years  worked  in  a law  office  here,  following 
which  he  went  to  Benson,  and  was  employed  in  the 
collection  office  of  M.  L.  Sherwood.  Mr.  Qvale  then 
returned  to  Willmar  and  became  employed  with  a 
general  merchandise  concern,  thus  continuing  until 
he  felt  himself  ready  to  enter  business  on  his  own 
account,  when  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  firm, 
which  became  Dale,  Royse  & Qvale.  His  next  ven- 
ture was  in  the  same  business  at  Madison,  Minne- 
sota, under  the  firm  style  of  Qvale  & Swams,  but 
after  three  or  four  years  he  again  returned  to  Will- 
mar  and  entered  upon  a career  which  brought  him 
to  a foremost  place  among  Minnesota  business  men. 
In  partnership  with  a Mr.  Tallman  he  entered  the 
lumber  business,  and  this  industry  grew  and  de- 
veloped phenomenally,  having  lumber  yards  at  vari- 
ous places  in  Minnesota  and  North  Dakota.  Mr. 
Qvale  became  vice  president  and  secretary  of  the 
Farmers  Lumber  Company,  the  Tallman  Investment 
Company  and  the  Dakota  Development  Company, 
and  in  all  these  ventures  attained  great  success. 
From  the  year  1905  until  1912  the  Tallman  Com- 
pany organized  forty-two  banks  throughout  the  Da- 
kotas and  Montana,  and  Mr.  Qvale  acted  in  the 
capacity  of  vice  president  and  secretary  of  each  of 
these  institutions,  organizing  them  personally.  He 
retired  from  the  greater  number  of  these  in  1912, 
selling  his  interests  and  settling  at  Willmar,  where 
he  is  acting  as  vice  president  of  the  Bank  of  Will- 
mar in  addition  to  looking  after  his  extensive  finan- 
cial interests,  and  is  also  interested  in  the  lumber 
business  at  Willmar  with  Mr.  H.  S.  Peterson. 
Throughout  his  career,  Mr.  Qvale’s  affairs  having 
been  handled  with  such  integrity  and  so  high  an 
order  of  business  fidelity  that  he  has  earned  an 
enviable  reputation  in  business  circles  throughout 
this  and  other  states. 

Mr.  Qvale  was  married  October  18,  1899,  to  Miss 
Mayme  Nockels,  daughter  of  Jacob  Nockels,  of 
Iowa,  who  later  settled  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and 
was  there  engaged  for  some  years  in  a general  mer- 
chandise business.  To  this  union  there  has  come 
one  son:  Richard,  born  December  8,  1910.  Mrs. 

Qvale  is  a member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and 
has  taken  an  interest  in  religious  work  at  Willmar, 
where  she  also  has  numerous  friends  in  social 
circles. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Qvale  is  affiliated  with  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  Knights  Templar 
of  Masonry,  in  which  he  has  served  as  junior  war- 
den, and  with  Lodge  No.  952,  of  the  Benevolent  and 


Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  has  for  a number  of 
years  been  one  of  the  influential  members  of  the 
republican  party  at  Willmar,  having  served  two  years 
as  a member  of  the  republican  county  committee,  of 
which  he  was  chairman  in  1914,  and  two  years’  as 
a member  of  the  congressional  committee.  In  the 
spring  of  1902  he  was  elected  alderman  from  his 
ward,  but  in  1903  resigned  that  office  to  take  up  the 
reins  of  office  in  the  mayoralty  chair,  to  which  he 
had  been  sent  by  a large  majority.  He  continued 
to  act  in  the  capacity  of  chief  executive  for  four 
successive  terms,  giving  Willmar  a clean,  efficient 
and  business-like  administration,  in  which  were  in- 
stituted numerous  needed  reforms.  At  the  time  of 
his  retirement  the  citizens  of  Willmar,  as  a mark 
of  appreciation  of  his  services,  presented  him  with  a 
handsome  gold-headed  cane.  Mr.  Qvale  today  is 
one  of  his  community’s  representative  business  cit- 
izens, and  is  appreciated  by  his  fellowmen  for  his 
many  stable  and  reliable  traits  of  character,  for  his 
unceasing  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  his  com- 
munity, and  for  the  example  which  he  offers  of 
ability,  perseverance  and  ultimate  success. 

David  N.  Tallman.  In  business  and  financial 
circles  throughout  Kandiyohi  and  the  surrounding 
counties  there  is  probably  no  name  better  known 
than  that  of  David  N.  Tallman,  of  Willmar. 
Although  he  cannot  be  said  to  have  been  a pioneer 
banker  of  Minnesota,  few  men  have  been  more 
closely  or  extensively  connected  with  banking  af- 
fairs. Amply  fitted  by  nature  and  training  for  the 
manipulation  of  large  interests,  his  success  is  in  no 
small  degree  due  to  the  fact  that  he  does  not  de- 
spise small  things.  His  investments  in  land  and 
other  large  enterprises  are  made  with  the  same  judi- 
cious care,  and  are  equally  successful  with  his  other 
undertakings.  Some  idea  of  the  extent  of  his  con- 
nections may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that  he  is  at 
the  head  of  the  Tallman  Investment  Company,  a 
$250,000  concern,  and  of  the  Northern  Town  and 
Land  Company,  with  capital  and  surplus  of  $200,000, 
while  as  a banker  he  is  president  of  fourteen  mone- 
tary institutions,  a director  in  many  large  corpo- 
rations, and  a man  whose  advice  is  frequently  sought 
in  the  conduct  of  important  enterprises. 

Mr.  Tallman  was  born  at  Millbrook,  New  York, 
January  22,  1872,  and  is  a son  of  David  S.  and 
Angeline  (Hall)  Tallman.  The  family,  originally 
from  England,  has  been  well  and  favorably  known 
in  New  York  for  a number  of  generations,  and  the 
old  homestead  is  located  at  Millbrook,  where  Akin 
Tallman,  the  grandfather  of  David  N„  was  born. 
There  also,  in  1830,  was  born  David  S.  Tallman,  who 
in  spite  of  his  eighty-five  years  is  still  hale  and 
hearty.  During  his  active  career,  and  up  to  his  re- 
tirement some  twenty  years  ago,  Mr.  Tallman  was 
engaged  in  extensive  and  successful  agricultural 
operations,  and  also  owned  a large  string  of  trot- 
ting horses,  at  one  time  having  as  many  as  seventy 
in  his  stable.  Among  these  was  the  famous  “Man- 
hattan,” which  died  on  Mr.  Tallman’s  farm.  Mr. 
Tallman  is  one  of  the  oldest  Masons  in  the  United 
States,  having  joined  that  fraternal  body  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  A republican  in  his  polit- 
ical views,  he  has  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part 
in  the  government  of  his  community,  serving  as 
superintendent  of  his  township  for  a long  period  and 
as  superintendent  of  the  poor  farm  for  six  years. 
Mr.  Tallman  married  Angeline  Hall,  who  was  born 
in  1831,  at  Millbrook,  daughter  of  William  Hall, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1541 


also  a native  of  that  place,  who  was  for  years  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Like  her  husband,  Mrs.  Tail- 
man  still  survives,  in  hale  and  hearty  old  age.  They 
have  been  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living:  Akin  S.,  private  secretary  to  Con- 
gressman Platt  of  New  York,  at  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
Isaac,  who  is  the  foreman  of  his  father’s  large 
homestead  at  Millbrook,  New  York;  Elizabeth,  who 
is  single  and  resides  at  home  with  her  parents; 
and  David  N. 

David  N.  Tallman  received  excellent  educational 
advantages  in  his  youth,  first  attending  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  locality,  subsequently  tak- 
ing a course  at  Seymour  Smith  Academy,  Pine 
Plains,  New  York,  and  completing  his  training  in 
Union  University,  Schenectady,  New  York,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1893,  with  the  degree  of 
civil  engineer.  At  that  time  Mr.  Tallman  came  to 
the  West  as  a civil  engineer  and  for  a time  worked 
in  that  capacity  for  the  Great  Northern  Railroad, 
becoming  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  superin- 
tendent at  West  Superior,  Wisconsin.  Coming  to 
Willmar  in  1894,  he  began  work  in  the  Kandiyohi 
County  Bank,  but  after  a short  experience  there 
turned  his  attention  and  abilities  to  the  building 
up  of  the  local  telephone  company,  a venture  in 
which  he  was  most  successful,  extending  the  toll 
lines  1,500  miles  and  establishing  twenty-six  ex- 
changes. At  the  time  of  his  completion  of  this 
work  Mr.  Tallman  began  dealing  in  Canadian  and 
other  lands,  and  entered  upon  a campaign  of  town 
building  in  which  he  founded  over  100  towns  in 
various  parts  of  North  Dakota  on  land  which  he 
purchased.  In  the  larger  of  these  communities  he 
placed  banks,  of  which  he  made  himself  the  active 
directing  head,  and  at  one  time  acted  in  this  capacity 
in  forty-one  flourishing  monetary  concerns.  He  is 
still  president  of  fourteen  banks  in  North  Dakota, 
and  a director  of  three  large  financial  institutions 
in  Minnesota.  Mr.  Tallman  was  also  the  founder 
of  the  Tallman  Investment  Company  and  the  North- 
ern Town  and  Land  Company,  before  mentioned, 
and  in  the  shaping  of  their  policies  has  shown 
himself  a wonderfully  capable  man  of  affairs.  No 
man  of  his  locality  has  more  thoroughly  appre- 
ciated the  responsibilities  which  great  wealth  im- 
poses upon  the  citizen.  In  all  of  the  large  enter- 
prises which  have  interested  the  people  of  Willmar 
and  Kandiyohi  County  and  have  tended  toward  the 
locality’s  advantage,  Mr.  Tallman  has  taken  a deep 
interest,  and  at  the  same  time  has  been  a liberal 
contributor  toward  such  projects.  In  the  matter  of 
his  religious  and  political  creeds,  Mr.  Tallman  has 
followed  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  being  a devout 
member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  and  an 
ardent  republican.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  con- 
vention that  nominated  William  McKinley  for  the 
presidency,  and  at  various  times  has  rendered  val- 
uable service  to  his  party.  Notwithstanding  his 
extensive  business  interests,  he  finds  leisure  to  de- 
vote to  the  obligations  of  social  life,  where  his 
affability  and  courtesy  render  him  a general  favorite. 
His  fraternal  connections  include  membership  in  the 
Beta  Theta  Pi  fraternity,  and  Lodge  No.  952,  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Mr.  Tallman  was  married  in  1894  to  Miss  Clara 
Larson,  daughter  of  Andrew  Larson,  who  came  to 
Willmar  in  1869  and  established  himself  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business.  Subsequently  he  turned 
his  attention  to  banking,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
president  of  the  Kandiyohi  County  Bank,  of  Will- 


mar. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tallman  there  have  been 
born  five  daughters : Helen,  who  is  preparing  for 
Vassar  College,  at  the  Baldwin  School,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Esther  Jane,  a graduate  of  the  Willmar  High 
School,  class  of  1915;  Gertrude  Mae,  who  is  attend- 
ing the  graded  schools;  and  Margaret  A.  and  Mar- 
gie M.,  twins,  who  are  also  graded  school  pupils. 
Mrs.  Tallman  and  her  daughters  are  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church.  Mrs.  Tallman  is  possessed 
of  superior  intellectual  powers  and  a warm  and 
kindly  heart,  and  no  philanthropic  or  public  work 
in  which  women  have  been  prominent  has  failed  to 
attract  her  interest  and  support. 

Russell  P.  Spicer.  Among  the  citizens  of  Kan- 
diyohi County  who  are  known  throughout  this  part 
of  Minnesota  by  reason  of  their  success  and  prom- 
inence in  business  and  financial  circles,  one  who  is 
worthy  of  mention  is  Russell  P.  Spicer,  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Willmar  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Spicer  Land  Company. ' 

Mr.  Spicer  was  born  at  Willmar,  Kandiyohi 
County,  Minnesota,  February  26,  1876,  and  is  a son 
of  John  M.  and  Eliza  Frances  (Demming)  Spicer. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Spicer,  was  born  in 
Switzerland,  and  was  brought  to  the  United  States 
when  but  two  months  old,  the  family  locating  first 
in  Maryland  and  then  moving  to  Southern  Penn- 
sylvania. In  later  years  the  grandfather  went  to 
Illinois,  where  he  passed  his  last  years  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  there  passed  away.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  Russell  P.  Spicer  was  George  L. 
Demming,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  removed  from 
that  country  to  Vermont,  and  then  came  to  Minne- 
sota, being  engaged  in  a general  merchandise  busi- 
ness at  Belle  Plaine  for  many  years.  Still  later  he 
moved  to  Atwater,  Minnesota,  and  there  his  death 
occurred. 

John  M.  Spicer  was  born  at  Chambersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, December  9,  1841,  and  in  1868  came  to 
Minnesota,  settling  at  Belle  Plaine,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  a general  merchandise  business  for  sev- 
eral years.  While  there  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  Frances  Demming,  who  was  born  in  Middle- 
boro,  Vermont,  in  1851,  and  in  the  fall  of  1870  they 
came  to  Willmar.  In  the  following  summer  Mr. 
Spicer  engaged  in  mercantile  lines  here  in  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Andrew  Larson,  an  association  which 
continued  until  1883,  when  Mr.  Spicer  disposed  of 
his  interests  to  enter  the  banking  and  real  estate 
business  at  Willmar.  He  became  the  organizer  of 
the  Central  Land  Company,  which  continued  in 
business  here  for  a number  of  years,  this  being  a 
large  and  important  firm  and  handling  extensive 
tracts  of  land  all  over  the  state.  Mr.  Spicer,  a man 
of  fine  business  attainments,  has  been  successful  in 
each  of  his  several  ventures,  and  at  this  time  is 
living  in  comfortable  retirement  at  Willmar.  Mr. 
Spicer  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
his  fraternal  connections  are  with  the  Masons  and 
the  Odd  Fellows,  in  both  of  which  orders  he  has 
numerous  friends.  Politically  a democrat,  he  has 
been  chiefly  active  in  politics  in  assisting  his  friends, 
although  he  has  also  served  as  a delegate  to  national 
conventions  of  his  party  and  as  national  committee- 
man. He  is  highly  esteemed  for  what  he  has  accom- 
plished during  a long  and  active  career  and  for 
the  honorable  and  straightforward  manner  in  which 
his  dealings  have  been  prosecuted.  Mrs.  Spicer  died 
in  1909,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  having  been 
the  mother  of  eight  children:  Mrs.  John  Greulich, 


1542 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  wife  of  a retired  broker  of  Ossining,  New  York; 
Mrs.  Carl  L.  Wallace,  the  wife  of  a well-known 
attorney  of  Minneapolis,  and  state  senator;  Mason 
W.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at 
Minneapolis;  Russell  P.,  of  this  review;  Jessie  I., 
who  is  single  and  resides  with  her  father ; Mrs.  M. 
P.  Kelsey,  whose  husband  is  connected  with  the 
Public  Ledger  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania;  Ray- 
mond D.,  vice  president  of  the  firm  of  Stephens  & 
Co.,  investments,  of  San  Diego,  California;  and 
Eunice  M.,  who  is  attending  the  Baldwin  School, 
at  Bryn  Mawr,  Pennsylvania. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of  Willmar, 
Russell  P.  Spicer  became  a student  in  the  Shat- 
tuck  School,  at  Faribault,  Minnesota,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1893,  then  entering  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  where  he  received  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Science  in  1897.  He  at  once  re- 
turned to  Willmar  and  entered  upon  his  business 
career  as  the  proprietor  of  a retail  implement  estab- 
lishment, but  after  two  years  entered  the  Spicer 
Land  Company,  which  was  organized  in  1899,  with  a 
capital  of  $300,000,  and  which  holds  and  deals  in  local 
land  acquired  by  John  M.  Spicer  during  early  days. 
In  1902  Mr.  Spicer  became  the  organizer  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  which  has  a capital  of  $50,000,  sur- 
plus and  undivided  profits  of  $35,000,  and  aver- 
age deposits  of  $450,000,  and  of  which  he  has  con- 
tinued as  president  to  the  present  time.  From 
the  time  he  left  college  halls  Mr.  Spicer  has  been  a 
hard  and  energetic  worker,  and  it  has  been  through 
his  energy  and  enterprise  that  he  has  won  so  high 
a place  in  financial  and  realty  circles.  He  is  a man 
of  excellent  business  ability,  holding  the  confidence 
of  his  associates,  and  is  known  also  as  a pro- 
gressive and  public-spirited  citizen  who  lends  an 
active  support  and  co-operation  to  every  movement 
for  the  general  good. 

Mr.  Spicer  was  married  in  1903  to  Miss  Margaret 
M.  Moore,  daughter  of  G.  A.  Moore,  who  was  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  in  Minneapolis, 
and  to  this  union  there  have  come  three  children : 
Mary  Margaret,  born  in  1904 ; Elizabeth,  born  in 
1908;  and  John  Mason,  born  in  1912.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Spicer  are  consistent  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  well  known  in  Masonry,  having 
passed  through  the  chairs  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and 
Royal  Arch  Chapter,  and  being  a member  of  the 
Consistory  and  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
He  is  also  connected  with  Lodge  No.  952  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Politically 
Mr.  Spicer  is  a democrat,  but  his  close  devotion  to 
his  business  interests  has  left  him  little  time  to  take 
more  than  a good  citizen's  activity  in  political  affairs. 

Andrew  A.  Anderson.  Starting  upon  his  inde- 
pendent career  when  still  a youth,  and  with  few 
advantages  save  a public  school  education,  Andrew 
A.  Anderson  has  worked  his  way  to  a position  of 
prominence  and  substantiality  among  the  business 
men  of  Willmar,  and  as  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Anderson  Land  Company  enjoys  an 
excellent  reputation  in  commercial  and  realty  circles 
of  the  city.  He  was  born  in  Faribault  County, 
Minnesota,  November  25,  1877,  and  is  a son  of 
Amund  and  Carrie  (Dale)  Anderson,  natives  of 
Norway. 

Amund  Anderson  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
land  of  his  birth,  where  he  resided  until  he  had 
accumulated  enough  to  get  married  and  emigrate  to 
the  United  States.  In  the  spring  of  1877  he  located 


on  a farm  in  Faribault  County,  Minnesota,  which 
he  rented,  and  there  he  resided  for  about  five  years, 
continuing  to  be  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  next  moved  to  a property  in  Watonwan  County, 
Minnesota,  on  which  he  has  made  his  home  for 
thirty-three  years.  When  he  located  on  this  land 
it  was  as  Nature  had  left  it,  and  the  first  few  years 
of  his  residence  here  were  hard  ones,  crowded 
with  the  most  difficult  labor  and  discouraging  cir- 
cumstances. His  sturdy  effort  and  indomitable  per- 
severance soon  gained  him  a foothold,  however, 
and  as  the  years  passed  he  was  successful  in  the 
developing  of  his  land  and  the  making  of  modern 
improvements.  He  now  has  160  acres  of  finely  cul- 
tivated property,  for  which  he  refused  $150  an  acre 
in  1914.  Here  he  has  a good  set  of  buildings  and 
machinery  and  appliances  of  the  most  modern  kind, 
and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  his  community.  He  is  a republican  in  his  polit- 
ical views,  but  not  a politician,  and  his  religious 
belief  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which 
also  belong  his  wife  and  his  mother,  the  latter  of 
whom  lives  with  them  and  is  past  ninety  years  of 
age.  Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Amund  and 
Carrie  Anderson,  six  survive : Andrew  A.,  of  this 
review;  Henry,  who  resides  on  his  father’s  farm; 
Robert,  who  holds  a position  in  the  business  of  his 
brother,  Andrew  A.;  Dena  C.,  who  is  a clerk  in  a 
mercantile  establishment  at  Willmar;  Albert  S.,  who 
is  employed  in  the  First  National  Bank,  Willmar; 
and  Julius  P.,  who  resides  at  home  and  is  engaged 
in  assisting  his  father  in  farming. 

Andrew  A,  Anderson  was  a babe  when  taken  to 
Watonwan  County,  and  there  secured  his  education 
in  the  graded  schools,  which  he  attended  until 
reaching  the  eighth  grade.  Leaving  school  at  that 
time,  he  entered  upon  his  own  career  as  a salesman 
of  nursery  stock  on  the  road,  and  continued  to  be 
thus  engaged  for  four  years.  In  1902  Mr.  Ander- 
son came  to  Willmar  and  took  a position  with  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Valley  Land  Company,  for 
which  concern  he  worked  two  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  decided  to  go  into  business  on 
his  own  account,  and  accordingly  organized  what 
became  known  as  the  Anderson  Land  Company  by 
buying  out  an  old-established  concern  called  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Valley  Land  Company,  and 
buying  out  their  interests  at  Willmar,  Minnesota. 
The  stock  of  the  present  company,  which  deals  in 
large  landed  interests,  principally  in  the  vicinity  of 
Willmar,  is  $25,000,  and  the  business  is  conducted 
under  the  direct  and  capable  supervision  of  Mr. 
Anderson,  in  the  capacities  of  general  manager  and 
president. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  September  2,  1903,  to 
Miss  Pactra  Pederson,  who  was  born  in  Norway, 
in  1877,  and  to  this  union  there  has  come  one  son : 
Kern  Arthur  Perry,  born  July  6,  1907.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Anderson  are  members  of  the  Synod  Church, 
Willmar.  In  politics  a republican,  he  has  taken  a 
keen  interest  in  the  affairs  of  Willmar,  and  has  as- 
sisted in  its  civic  growth  and  development  and 
served  as  alderman  for  four  years.  His  career  has 
been  an  eminently  successful  and  satisfying  one. 
and  has  at  all  times  been  characterized  by  a devo- 
tion to  high  business  ideals  and  fidelity  to  engage- 
ments. 

Gaylord  F.  Westcott.  A native  of  Minnesota 
and  a scion  of  the  third  generation  of  the  West- 
cott family  in  this  state,  with  whose  history  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1543 


name  became  identified  in  the  pioneer  days,  Gaylord 
F.  Westcott  has  achieved  a position  of  prominence 
in  connection  with  the  business  and  civic  affairs  of 
his  native  county,  where  he  holds  the  position  of 
cashier  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  at  Hayfield. 
It  is  mainly  due  to  his  effective  policies  and  per- 
sonal popularity  that  the  business  of  this  Dodge 
County  institution  has  been  developed  to  most  sub- 
stantial conditions  and  he  is  known  as  one  of  the 
influential  business  men  and  loyal  citizens  of  the 
county  in  which  his  grandparents  established  their 
residence  more  than  half  a century  ago. 

Mr.  Westcott  was  born  in  the  Village  of  Dodge 
Center,  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  30th  of 
September,  1875,  and  is  a son  of  Chester  R.  and 
Rosalia  E.  (Felt)  Westcott,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Otsego  County,  New  York,  in  1842, 
and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Jackson,  Michigan,  in  1844,  their  marriage  having 
been  solemnized  at  Lake  City,  Wabash  County,  Min- 
nesota, in  1866.  Chester  R.  Westcott  was  about 
fourteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family 
removal  from  the  old  Empire  State  to  the  Terri- 
tory of  Minnesota,  in  1856,  about  two  years  before 
the  admission  of  the  state  to  the  LTnion.  He  is 
a son  of  Rev.  Erastus  and  Mary  Ann  (Rockwell) 
Westcott,  who  came  to  the  West  from  Otsego 
County,  New  York,  where  the  family  were  neigh- 
bors of  the  distinguished  author,  James  Fenitnore 
Cooper.  Rev.  Erastus  Westcott  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  clergymen  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Minne- 
sota, and  was  pastor  of  the  first  church  of  this  de- 
nomination organized  at  Rochester,  Olmsted  County. 
He  was  a man  of  fine  intellectual  gifts  and  utmost 
consecration  of  his  calling,  his  angle  of  influence 
having  been  wide  in  the  early  days  of  Minnesota 
history.  In  the  Baptist  Church  at  Rochester  is  a 
fine  memorial  window  dedicated  to  him,  and  a 
memorial  tablet  is  also  found  at  Pillsbury  Acad- 
emy, in  Owatonna,  an  institution  in  the  founding  and 
development  of  which  he  was  influential.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  continued  their  residence  in  Min- 
nesota until  their  death,  and  their  names  merit  high 
place  on  the  roll  of  the  noble  pioneer  citizens  of 
this  favored  commonwealth. 

Chester  R.  Westcott  was  reared  to  manhood  under 
the  conditions  and  influences  of  the  pioneer  epoch 
in  the  history  of  Minnesota,  and  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age  at  the  time  of  establishing  his 
residence  in  Dodge  County.  He  became  one  of 
the  successful  farmers  and  prominent  citizens  of 
Concord  Township,  where  he  continued  his  labors 
until  he  answered  the  call  of  patriotism  and  ten- 
dered his  services  in  defense  of  the  LTnion.  In 
1863  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  H,  Second 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  with  this  gal- 
lant command  he  continued  in  active  service  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  many  en- 
gagements, including  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
and  having  been  with  General  Sherman  on  the  ever- 
memorable  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  He 
has  never  abated  his  interest  in  his  old  comrades 
of  the  Civil  war  and  signifies  the  same  through 
his  affiliation  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. After  the  war  Mr.  Westcott  continued  to 
give  his  supervision  to  his  farm  until  1873.  when 
he  established  his  residence  in  the  Village  of  Dodge 
Center,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  for  the  ensuing  four  years.  He  then  be- 
came one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  South  Dakota, 
where  he  developed  a large  landed  estate  and  con- 

Vol.  Ill— 1 8 


tinued  to  be  actively  identified  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  a quarter  of  a century.  He  is  now  living 
retired,  having  won  a substantial  competency  dur- 
ing his  many  years  of  earnest  and  well-directed 
endeavor,  and  he  and  his  wife  reside  in  an  attractive 
home  at  Long  Beach,  California.  Mr.  Westcott  be- 
came one  of  the  influential  citizens  of  South  Da- 
kota at  the  time  when  it  was  still  a part  of  Dakota 
Territory,  and  he  was  a delegate  to  its  state  con- 
stitutional convention  of  1889,  besides  having  rep- 
resented his  district  as  senator  in  the  first  State 
Legislature.  He  has  given  unswerving  allegiance 
to  the  republican  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he 
held  the  office  of  deacon  for  a number  of  years. 
Aaron  B.  Felt,  father  of  Mrs.  Westcott,  was  born 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  as  a young  man  re- 
moved to  Jackson,  Michigan,  where  he  married  and 
where  he  followed  the  work  of  his  trade,  that  of 
iron  founder.  He  came  to  Minnesota  in  an  early 
day,  and  here  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  residue 
of  their  lives.  Gaylord  F.  Westcott  was  the  third 
in  order  of  birth  of  the  family  of  five  children; 
Nellie  is  the  wife  of  John  D.  McKee,  a prosperous 
farmer  near  Warren,  Columbia  County,  Oregon; 
Miss  Minnie  remains  at  the  parental  home;  George 
R.  is  a civil  engineer  by  profession  and  is  now 
a resident  of  St.  Louis,  in  the  employ  of  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific  Railroad  Company ; and  Ruth  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Aaron  G.  Johnson,  a member  of  the 
faculty  of  the  medical  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota. 

Gaylord  F.  Westcott  was  about  four  years  old 
at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  to  South  Da- 
kota, where  he  was  reared  to  adult  age  in  Deuel 
County.  He  there  attended  the  public  schools  until 
he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  where 
he  put  his  scholastic  acquirements  to  practical  test 
by  becoming  a youthful  representative  of  the  ped- 
agogic profession.  He  was  a successful  teacher 
in  the  schools  of  South  Dakota  for  a period  of 
five  years,  and  the  discipline  enabled  him  to  broaden 
and  solidify  his  own  education.  He  next  turned 
his  attention  to  the  retail  lumber  business,  at  Good- 
win and  Brookings,  that  state,  and  he  was  suc- 
cessful in  this  field  of  enterprise.  In  1902  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  state  and  county,  and  at  Dodge 
Center  assumed  charge  of  the  lumber  yards  of 
Laird  Norton,  a position  which  he  retained  three 
years.  He  then,  in  1906,  formed  a partnership  with 
Frank  J.  Carpenter  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness at  Hayfield,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his 
residence.  In  1908  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  lumber 
business  to  accept  the  office  of  cashier  of  the  Farmers 
State  Bank,  to  the  affairs  of  which  he  has  since 
given  close  and  effective  attention,  with  the  result 
that  the  growth  of  the  institution  has  been  of  most 
substantial  and  gratifying  order,  and  it  has  proved  a 
valuable  adjunct  to  the  business  activities  of  iDodge 
County.  The  bank  bases  its  operations  on  a capital 
stock  of  $13,000,  maintains  a surplus  fund  of  $3,000, 
with  undivided  profits  of  equal  amount,  and  its 
deposits  aggregate  fully  $240,000. 

Mr.  Westcott  is  a renublican.  Though  he  has  had 
no  desire  for  public  office,  he  Jaas  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  village  board  of  Hayfield.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Hayfield  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder  and  also  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  School.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  local  lodge  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  in  which  he  has  held  various  official  posi- 


1544 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


tions,  and  he  holds  membership  also  in  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
in  which  latter  he  has  held  the  office  of  clerk  of 
the  local  camp  since  1909. 

In  1903  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  West- 
cott  to  Miss  Jessie  M.  Leonard,  daughter  of  Bart- 
ley and  Carrie  (Sterling)  Leonard,  who  removed  to 
South  Dakota  from  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin,  in  which 
latter  state  Mr.  Leonard  had  been  actively  iden- 
tified with  lumbering  operations.  He  became  a suc- 
cessful farmer  in  South  Dakota,  where  he  died 
when  comparatively  a young  man,  his  widow  still 
maintaining  her  home  in  that  state.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Westcott  have  three  children,  Leonard  R.,  Berdene 
R.  and  Douglas  G. 

Michael  Klein.  Men  pursue  and  meet  success 
in  many  lines  of  business,  some  largely  through 
chance  and  others  through  natural  adaptability,  but 
in  every  line  the  greatest  factor  is  personal  energy. 
Experience  must  be  gained  in  order  to  secure  a wide 
enough  outlook,  and  it  is  that  quality  which  makes 
potent  educational  acquirements  and  gives  force  also 
when  they  are  lacking.  Minnesota  and  the  great 
Northwest  have  had  many  virile  men  of  energy, 
otherwise  its  wonderful  development  would  not  have 
taken  place,  and  many  of  this  class  now  are  residents 
of  St.  Paul,  where  their  activities  add  to  the  general 
upbuilding  of  local  commerce  and  at  the  same  time 
are  so  important  that  they  reach  over  a far  wider 
territory.  Such  a man  and  citizen  of  St.  Paul  is 
Michael  Klein,  who  is  president  of  the  Michigan 
Farm,  Land  and  Investment  Company,  a concern 
doing  business  over  Michigan,  Minnesota  and 
Dakota. 

Michael  Klein  was  born  at  Rochester,  Minnesota, 
October  23,  1868,  one  of  three  sons  born  to  his 
parents,  who  were  John  and  Lavina  (Schmidt) 
Klein.  John  Klein  came  to  Minnesota  in  its  early 
days  and  proved  a man  of  considerable  business 
initiative.  He  engaged  in  farming  and  also  followed 
his  trade  of  wagonmaking,  manufacturing  both  the 
heavy  wagons  necessary  for  transportation  in  that 
section  at  the  time,  as  well  as  the  lighter  vehicles 
which  were  largely  used  before  the  advent  of  the 
automobile.  Later  in  life  he  embarked  in  a mercan- 
tile business  in  which  he  continued  until  the  time  of 
his  death. 

Michael  Klein,  with  his  brothers,  attended  the 
public  schools,  but  later  he  had  additional  advantages 
in  a private  school  and  prepared  for  the  profession 
of  teaching.  One  year  in  that  confining  occupation 
sufficed  and  he  then  went  into  his  father’s  shop  and 
learned  the  trade  of  wagonmaker  and  followed  the 
same  at  St.  Paul  until,  in  1900,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Union  Pacific  Land  Company,  and  in 
this  capacity  remained  several  years,  with  his  head- 
quarters in  Northern  Dakota.  In  the  meantime  he 
was  also  connected  for  three  years  with  the  Wayne 
Land  Company  of  St.  Paul.  Several  business  oppor- 
tunities opened  up  and  for  five  years  he  had  charge 
of  the  wagon  shops  of  the  Peoples  Ice  Company. 
His  successful  dealings  in  land  under  the  ownership 
of  the  corporations  above  referred  to  had  given  Mr. 
Klein  justifiable  confidence  in  his  own  judgment  and 
after  a sufficient  period  of  investigation  and  con- 
servation of  personal  resources,  in  1911  he  organized 
the  Michigan  Farm,  Land  and  Investment  Company, 
under  which  name  it  was  incorporated  in  1912,  with 
a capitalization  of  $100,000.  Since  organization  Mr. 
Klein  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  company  as  its 


president,  the  other  officers  being:  Anton  E.  Kraker, 
of  Montrose,  Minnesota,  vice  president,  and  Harry 
Kelley,  of  Gloster,  Minnesota,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. The  company  maintains  its  office  at  No.  342 
Endicott  Building,  St.  Paul.  Its  business  is  the 
handling  of  Michigan  farm  lands  and  Minnesota 
and  Dakota  improved  and  unimproved  lands.  In 
this,  more  than  in  many  business  enterprises,  the 
personal  factor  is  paramount,  Mr.  Klein’s  many 
years  of  experience  in  the  business  making  his 
judgment  almost  infallible  as  to  the  future  of  the 
properties  in  which  the  company  is  interested.  He 
is  a man  of  genial  presence,  and  among  his  very 
wide  acquaintance  is  able  to  reckon  the  majority 
as  friends. 

Mr.  Klein  was  married  in  1895  to  Miss  Mary 
Pfaefer,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  they  have  two 
children:  Julius  and  Michael.  The  family  residence 
is  located  at  No.  281  La  Fayette  Street,  St.  Paul. 
In  all  the  busy  life  of  this  city,  business,  political 
and  social,  Mr.  Klein  is  interested  as  his  inclinations 
lead,  and  he  belongs  to  three  of  the  well  known 
fraternal  organizations  of  the  country,  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World,  the  Sons  of  Hermann  and  the  Mac- 
cabees. 

Hon.  G.  E.  Qvale,  district  judge  of  the  Twelfth 
Judicial  District,  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Meeker,  Kandiyohi,  Swift,  Renville,  Yellow  Med- 
icine, Chippewa  and  Lac  qui  Parle,  since  1897,  was 
born  at  Haugesund,  Norway,  September  24,  i860, 
and  is  a son  of  O.  G.  and  Gurine  (Tenneson)  Qvale, 
natives  of  Norway.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  October,  1878,  and  has  resided  at  Willmar  since 
July,  1880.  In  September,  1899,  Judge  Qvale  was 
married  to  Miss  Jennie  Jerguson,  who  was  born 
under  the  English  flag,  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Two 
children  have  come  to  Judge  and  Mrs.  Qvale : 
Arthur  Maurice,  born  May  7,  1901 ; and  Florence, 
born  May  23,  1905. 

R os coe  Percy  Ward.  No  name  is  more  prom- 
inently and  honorably  associated  with  the  history  of 
the  development  and  progress  of  Waseca  County, 
Minnesota,  during  the  past  two  decades,  than  that 
of  Roscoe  Percy  Ward,  who  has  borne  a conspicuous 
part  in  the  substantial  advancement  of  the  com- 
munity through  his  connection  with  its  large  and 
varied  industrial  and  financial  interests.  In  past 
ages  the  history  of  this  country  was  the  record 
of  wars  and  conquests ; today  it  is  the  record  of 
activity  and  achievements  in  the  fields  of  com- 
merce and  trade,  industry  and  banking,  and  those 
whose  names  are  foremost  in  its  annals  are  those 
who  are  the  leaders  in  business  and  financial  life. 
Roscoe  Percy  Ward  is  one  of  the  strong  and  in- 
fluential men  whose  force  of  character  has  made 
him  a leader  among  his  fellows.  Keen  perception, 
great  foresight,  tireless  industry,  genius  for  organ- 
ization, executive  power  and  an  unwavering  integ- 
rity— these  have  been  his  chief  characteristics,  and 
while  advancing  individual  success  he  has  also 
largely  promoted  the  material  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  has  spent  his  entire  life. 

Mr.  Ward  is  a native  son  of  the  City  of  Waseca, 
and  was  born  January  5,  1872,  a son  of  the  Hon. 
William  Grosvenor  and  Ella  C.  (Trowbridge) 
Ward.  The  father  was  born  at  Booneville,  New 
York,  December  26,  1827,  and  there  received  his 
early  education  in  the  graded  and  high  schools, 
and  at  an  early  age  was  graduated  from  Boone- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1545 


ville  Academy,  where  he  earned  his  tuition  by  assist- 
ing the  younger  pupils  with  their  studies.  He  was 
but  seventeen  years  when  he  embarked  upon  his 
career  as  an  engineer,  his  first  position  being  that 
of  assistant  in  the  Black  River  Canal  project,  and 
from  that  time  forward  his  promotion  was  rapid, 
and  he  rose  to  chief  engineer  and  subsequently  to 
roadmaster  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad. 

In  1857  Mr.  Ward  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law,  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  with  the  firm 
of  Wood  & Blake.  He  was  soon  admitted  to  the 
bar,  but  practiced  only  long  enough  to  try  one  case, 
when  the  Civil  war  broke  out  and  he  received  an 
appointment  as  quartermaster  in  the  Thirty-fourth 
Regiment,  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  with 
which  he  went  to  the  front.  Following  his  military 
experience,  for  three  years  he  held  the  office  of 
postmaster  at  Madison,  and  in  1865  became  chief 
engineer  in  the  construction  of  the  Winona  & St. 
Peter  Railroad,  which  was  completed  in  1868.  While 
his  private  business  and  financial  interests  were 
large  and  their  handling  onerous,  Mr.  Ward  was 
no  less  active  in  public  affairs  and  was  constantly 
the  recipient  of  some  office  in  which  his  fellow 
citizens  had  reason  to  trust  his  fidelity  and  ability. 
He  was  thrice  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  as 
state  senator,  and  in  1880  was  the  candidate  of 
the  republican  party  for  Congress,  but,  because  of 
political  conditions  at  the  time,  met  with  defeat. 
Prominent  in  business,  politics  and  civic  affairs,  he 
was  also  well  known  socially,  and  when  he  died, 
September  21,  1892,  was  mourned  by  a wide  circle 
of  warm  and  appreciative  friends.  Mr.  Ward  was 
married  in  1852  to  Miss-  Martha  E.  Dodge,  who 
died  at  Jefferson,  in  1865,  leaving  two  children: 
Clarence  T.  and  Annie  S.  Mr.  Ward’s  second  union 
occurred  in  1867,  when  he  was  united  with  Miss 
Ella  C.  Trowbridge,  youngest  daughter  of  the 
founder  of  Waseca.  They  became  the  parents  of 
four  children,  namely : Martha  F.,  Roscoe  Percy, 

Florence  Trowbridge  and  Earl  W. 

Roscoe  Percy  Ward  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Waseca  and  was  graduated  from  the  high  school 
in  1889,  at  which  time  he  entered  the  academic 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  At  the 
time  of  the  death  of  his  father,  however,  in  1892, 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  university  studies  un- 
completed in  order  to  return  to  his  home  and  look 
after  the  elder  man’s  large  business  interests.  In 
connection  with  the  handling  of  the  estate  he  came 
in  contact  with  the  leading  business  men  of  Waseca, 
and  in  July,  1897,  became  cashier  of  the  Peoples 
State  Bank,  now  the  Farmers  National  Bank,  of 
which  he  was  made  president  in  1906,,  a position 
which  he  still  retains.  The  homestead  farm,  which 
came  to  him  as  a part  of  his  share  of  the  estate, 
was  originally  an  entire  section  of  land,  located  just 
west  of  Waseca,  but  Mr.  Ward  has  sold  240  acres 
of  this  property  to  the  state  for  agricultural  experi- 
ment purposes.  In  1905  Mr.  Ward  became  asso- 
ciated with  E.  A.  Konantz,  of  St.  Paul,  in  a lum- 
ber business,  and  at  this  time  is  extensively  inter- 
ested in  the  lumber  industry,  being  vice  president 
of  the  North  American  Lumber  Company,  with 
head  offices  at  Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  Canada ; vice 
president  of  the  Citizens  Lumber  Company,  with 
headquarters  at  Lethbridge,  Alberta,  Canada,  and 
treasurer  of  the  Prince  Rupert  Lumber  Company, 
with  headquarters  at  Winnipeg.  He  is  also  vice 
president  of  the  National  Bank  of  Palvuse,  Wash- 
ington, and  has  various  other  interests,  financial 
and  business,  through  the  Northwest  and  into  Can- 


ada. For  a number  of  years  Mr.  Ward  has  served 
as  alderman  for  his  ward,  and  has  also  been  pres- 
ident of  the  Waseca  City  Council  for  several  terms. 
His  interest  in  the  advance  of  education  has  been 
shown  by  his  membership  on  the  state  school  board 
at  Owatonna.  Fraternally  Mr.  Ward  belongs  to  the 
Sigma  Chi  college  fraternity,  and  socially  he  is 
connected  with  the  Interlachen  Country  Club, 
Minneapolis,  also  holding  membership  in  the  Com- 
mercial Club,  of  Waseca. 

Mr.  Ward  was  married  August  10,  1893,  to  Miss 
Daisy  M.  Cole,  daughter  of  Emerson  Cole,  of  Min- 
neapolis, deceased,  who  was  for  many  years  a well- 
known  lumber  dealer  of  that  city.  One  child  has 
been  born  to  this  union : Emerson,  a graduate  of 

Shattuck  College,  Faribault,  Minnesota,  who  is  now 
attending  Dartmouth  College,  Hanover,  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

Jacob  A.  Heymann.  Cashier  of  the  Caledonia 
State  Bank,  Jacob  A.  Heymann  is  the  son  of  an 
early  settler  in  Houston  County,  and  has  had  an 
active  and  progressive  career  in  business  affairs, 
first  in  merchandising  and  later  in  banking,  and 
has  also  identified  himself  in  a public-spirited  man- 
ner with  local  affairs. 

Jacob  A.  Heymann  was  born  in  Houston  County, 
on  a farm,  May  8,  1871,  a son  of  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Mathusa)  Heymann.  The  paternal  grand- 
father was  Peter  Heymann  and  the  maternal  grand- 
father John  Mathusa,  both  of  whom  spent  their  lives 
in  Germany.  His  parents  were  born  in  Luxem- 
bourg. The  father  was  born  March  17,  1832,  and 
died  November  18,  1913,  and  the  mother  was  born 
in  1840  and  died  in  May,  1901.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Chicago,  having  come  to  the  United  States 
prior  to  the  Civil  war,  and  spent  most  of  the  years 
during  the  war  in  Chicago.  John  Heymann  was  a 
truck  gardener,  a vocation  he  had  learned  in  the 
old  country,  and  in  1864  moved  out  to  Minnesota 
and  settled  in  Houston  County.  Though  with  noth- 
ing to  start  on,  in  time  he  was  a fairly  prosperous 
man,  and  kept  a home  and  provided  well  for  his 
children  until  they  were  grown.  For  some  years 
he  rented  land  in  Houston  County,  and  _ finally 
bought  a place  in  Sheldon  Township,  but  in  1903 
sold  this  farm  and  thereafter  lived  retired  with  his 
son  in  Caledonia.  There  were  seven  children,  and 
the  five  now  living  are:  John,  who  is  a stone- 

mason and  plasterer  in  Remsen,  Iowa;  Dominick, 
a rural  mail  carrier  at  Caledonia;  Matt,  who  lives 
in  Oyens,  Iowa;  Jacob  A.;  and  Mrs.  Charles  Kuster 
of  Oyens,  Iowa.  The  parents  were  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  the  father  was  a democrat 
and  at  one  time  clerk  of  the  school  board. 

Jacob  A.  Heymann  acquired  his  education  by 
attending  the  rural  schools  of  Houston  County,  and 
in  1891  finished  a business  course  in  the  normal 
school  at  Lemars,  Iowa.  His  first  twenty-one  years 
were  spent  on  a farm,  after  which  he  took  a posi- 
tion as  clerk  in  the  Sprague  Bros.’  general  store  in 
Caledonia,  and  was  employed  by  that  well-known 
firm  for  seven  years.  This  was  the  apprentice- 
ship which  started  him  on  a career  of  independ- 
ence, and  for  the  following  fourteen  years  he  was 
a leading  merchant  under  the  firm  name  of  Bouquet 
& Heymann.  With  the  organization  of  the  Cale- 
donia State  Bank  on  January  6,  1913,  Mr.  Heymann 
accepted  the  post  of  cashier,  and  has  since  been 
actively  identified  with  the  executive  management 
of  that  substantial  institution.  The  bank  has  a cap- 
ital of  $25,000,  surplus  of  $5,000,  and  its  deposits 


1546 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


aggregate  about  $130,000.  Among  other  interests 
Mr.  Heymann  is  also  owner  of  a farm  of  120  acres, 
but  devotes  practically  all  his  business  attention  to 
the  bank. 

In  1900  Mr.  Heymann  married  Mary  C.  Bouquet,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Bouquet,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  and  for  many  years  a general  mer- 
chant in  Houston  County.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heymann,  and  one  is  still 
living,  Bernedette  Heymann,  aged  thirteen.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
Mr.  Heymann  served  as  the  first  grand  knight  in 
the  local  order  of  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  is  also 
affiliated  with  the  order  of  Foresters  and  with 
St.  Peter’s  German  Aid  Society.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican,  served  for  a number  of  years  on  the 
Caledonia  City  Council,  and  has  also  been  a mem- 
ber and  is  still  clerk  of  the  board  of  education. 

Elling  K.  Roverud.  For  a quarter  of  a century 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Caledonia  Journal, 
Elling  K.  Roverud  is  a well-known  newspaper  man 
who  has  also  taken  a prominent  part  in  politics  in 
Minnesota,  served  for  a number  of  years  in  the 
State  Senate,  and  is  an  example  of  a poor  boy  who 
has  won  his  way  to  a leading  position  in  affairs. 

Elling  K.  Roverud  was  born  in  Norway,  Novem- 
ber 2,  1852,  a son  of  Knute  H.  and  Guri  (Stromsod) 
Roverud.  His  father  was  born  in  1821  and  died 
in  1892,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  1818  and  died 
in  1885.  They  were  married  in  Norway,  came  to 
Minnesota  in  1867,  locating  on  a farm,  and  the 
father  bought  a homestead  in  1868  and  lived  there 
until  his  death.  His  prominent  characteristic  was 
his  great  energy,  and  that  enabled  him  to  gain  a 
substantial  degree  of  prosperity  and  to  provide  well 
for  his  family.  Though  his  was  a quiet  disposi- 
tion, he  asserted  an  effective  influence  in  local  af- 
fairs, and  was  well  known  in  the  republican  party 
of  his  home  county.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  There  were  ten  children  in 
the  family,  and  the  five  now  living  are : Martha 

Kinstad  of  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin;  Elling  K. ; Marie 
Sandager;  John  K.,  and  Oline  Ramberg,  all  of  Cal- 
mar,  Iowa. 

Elling  K.  Roverud  after  attending  the  common 
schools  had  to  acquire  education  largely  through 
means  supplied  by  his  own  efforts.  In  1876  he  grad- 
uated from  the  Winona  Normal  School,  and  after 
that  taught  for  several  terms.  In  1878  he  finished 
the  normal  course  in  the  Lutheran  College  at  De- 
corah, Iowa,  and  when  his  diploma  was  given  him 
he  was  entirely  without  money  and  had  hardly 
enough  clothes  to  keep  up  a respectable  appearance. 
He  then  taught  school  for  about  a year,  and  in 
1880  was  elected  to  his  first  important  public  office, 
as  county  auditor.  After  four  years  in  this  office 
came  his  appointment  as  clerk  of  courts,  in  which 
he  served  over  a year,  and  then  for  two  years  was 
again  county  auditor.  From  1883  to  1890  Mr.  Rove- 
rud was  in  the  hardware  business  at  Caledonia.  In 
1890  he  bought  the  Caledonia  Journal,  and  has  been 
its  editor  and  proprietor  ever  since.  It  is  one  of 
the  flourishing  newspapers  of  Houston  County,  and 
has  a large  circulation  throughout  that  section  of 
the  state.  The  plant  is  well  equipped,  and  besides 
the  publication  of  the  Caledonia  Journal  does  a 
large  amount  of  job  printing. 

In  1894  Mr.  Roverud  was  elected  a member  of  the 
State  Senate,  and  gave  eight  years  of  active  service 
as  one  of  the  law  makers  at  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Roverud 


has  taken  an  active  part  in  two  national  conventions 
of  the  republican  party,  having  been  elected  by 
the  republicans  of  the  First  Congressional  District 
as  a delegate  to  the  national  convention  in  1900  at 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  by  the  republicans 
of  the  State  of  Minnesota  as  a delegate  at  large  to 
the  national  convention  in  Chicago  in  1912. 

On  November  12,  1879,  Mr.  Roverud  married 
Martha  K.  Blexrud,  a daughter  of  Knute  Blexrud, 
who  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and  farmers  in 
Houston  County.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born 
seven  children : Gena  C.,  who  for  the  past  six  or 

eight  years  has  been  a teacher  in  the  Stillwater  public 
schools;  Hannah,  who  lives  at  home;  Ella  N.,  who 
has  for  several  years  been  a teacher  in  the  St.  Paul 
schools ; Mrs.  C.  E.  Daniels,  a graduate  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota  and  now  living  at  Lehigh, 
Iowa;  Katherine,  a graduate  of  Stout  Institute  at 
Menominee,  Wisconsin;  Adelia,  who  is  a stenog- 
rapher for  the  firm  of  Duxbury  & Duxbury  at 
Caledonia;  and  Elmore  K.,  a boy  fourteen  years  of 
age  and  now  attending  high  school.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  Mr. 
Roverud  has  been  secretary  of  the  Norwegian  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church  for  over  twenty  years. 

Tip  A.  Beddow.  Throughout  his  residence  at 
Caledonia,  since  1899,  Mr.  Beddow  has  been  known 
as  a banker,  having  served  as  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  one  of  the  solid  and  well  managed 
financial  institutions  of  Houston  County.  This  bank 
originated  as  the  Houston  County  State  Bank,  but 
since  1894  has  been  operating  under  a national  char- 
ter. With  a capital  of  $25,000,  it  has  a surplus  of 
$15,000,  and  its  average  deposits  run  about  the 
figure  $300,000. 

Tip  A.  Beddow  was  born  at  Elkport,  Clayton 
County,  Iowa,  October  8,  1858,  a son  of  Jacob  R. 
and  Mary  E.  (Danner)  Beddow.  Both  his  parents 
were  born  in  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  in  the  same  year, 
1834.  His  mother  died  in  1884  and  his  father  in 
1894,  and  they  were  married  in  Elkport,  Iowa. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  Fielding  Beddow,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  Iowa,  and  died  soon  after  his  removal  to  that 
state.  The  Beddow  family  is  of  English  descent.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  William  Danner,  was  a native 
of  Ohio.  Jacob  R.  Beddow  was  an  infant  when 
his  parents  moved  out  to  Iowa.  One  of  his  brothers, 
Michael  T.,  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  Jacob 
R.  Beddow  began  his  career  without  any  capital 
whatever,  and  had  only  his  character  and  his  recog- 
nized energy  to  start  him  in  the  world.  He  and  two 
associates  borrowed  $3,000  to  buy  a mill  at  Elkport, 
and  the  mill  was  burned  at  the  end  of  one  month, 
after  which  he  borrowed  more  money,  and  in  time 
became  one  of  the  very  prosperous  citizens.  For 
many  years  he  was  known  in  that  community  as  a 
miller  and  merchant.  He  was  also  active  in  repub- 
lican politics,  having  served  as  county  chairman, 
and  was  one  of  the  local  leaders  in  the  Adventist 
Church,  holding  several  offices.  Fraternally  he  was 
affiliated  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  Workmen.  He 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  and 
the  son,  Will  E.,  who  was  a banker  at  Waukon, 
Iowa,  died  in  1910. 

Mr.  T.  A.  Beddow  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  also  attended  the 
Epworth  Seminary  at  Epworth,  Iowa.  His  first 
business  experience  was  in  his  father’s  mill,  and  he 
soon  bought  the  interests  of  his  uncle,  and  for  a 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1547 


number  of  years  conducted  a mill,  and  in  that  time 
acquired  varied  financial  interests.  Mr.  Beddow 
moved  to  Caledonia  in  1899,  and  has  since  been 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank. 

In  1888  he  married  Monta  Bolsinger,  who  was 
born  at  Colesburg,  Iowa.  They  have  two  children : 
Lisle  J„  now  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Caledonia,;  and  Dale  A.,  attending  school. 
Mr.  Beddow  is  a member  of  the  Adventist  Church, 
and  in  .Masonry  has  taken  the  Royal  Arch  chapter 
degrees  and  is  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite 
Mason.  Politically  he  is  a republican  and  has  been 
honored  witih  the  office  of  mayor  of  Caledonia. 

William  A.  Deters.  Now  serving  as  county  at- 
torney of  Houston  County,  William  A.  Deters  has 
been  known  to  the  people  of  this  county  in  two 
professional  relations,  having  been  a successful  physi- 
cian for  ten  years,  after  which  he  turned  his  attention 
to  a more  congenial  profession,  the  law,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  able  and  influential  members 
of  the  bar  at  Caledonia. 

William  A.  Deters  was  born  in  Allamakee  County, 
Iowa,  May  27,  1874,  a son  of  J.  H.  and  Frederica 
( Wiemerslage)  Deters.  Both  parents  were  natives 
of  Westphalia,  Germany,  the  paternal  grandfather 
having  been  H.  J.  Deters  and  the  maternal  grand- 
father George  Wiemerslage.  The  father  was  born 
in  1837  and  is  still  living,  while  the  mother,  who 
was  born  in  1834,  died  November  26,  1910.  J.  H. 
Deters  came  to  the  United  States  in  i860,  and  in  the 
following  year  was  married  at  Eitzen,  Minnesota. 
His  first  settlement  in  this  country  was  in  DuPage 
County,  Illinois,  but  in  1865  he  established  a home 
on  a farm  in  Iowa,  and  still  lives  there.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Evangelical  Church,  a demo- 
crat in  politics,  and  has  served  his  community  as 
town  assessor  and  town  clerk.  There  were  six 
children  in  the  family:  Mrs.  Mary  Miners,  wife  of 
a farmer  at  Eitzen,  Minnesota;  Mrs.  Anna  Myer, 
a widow  living  at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota ; B.  H. 
Deters,  who  is  superintendent  in  Minnesota  for  the 
Equitable  Life  Insurance  Company,  with  headquarters 
at  St.  Paul;  William  A.;  Mrs.  Augusta  Myer,  wife 
of  a farmer  at  Union  City,  Iowa;  and  Mrs.  Razenna 
Bisping,  of  Union  City,  Iowa. 

William  A.  Deters  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  Decorah  Institute  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  but  left 
shortly  before  completing  his  course.  In  1900  he  was 
graduated  in  medicine  from  the  State  University  of 
Iowa  and  was  in  active  practice  for  ten  years,  two 
years  at  Pipestone,  Minnesota,  three  years  at  Ma- 
zeppa,  and  five  years  at  Eitzen,  all  in  this  state. 
In  the  meantime  Doctor  Deters  had  taken  up  the 
study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1911, 
and  has  since  been  in  practice  at  Caledonia.  In 
1912  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  attorney, 
and*  has  since  divided  his  time  between  his  office 
and  his  growing  practice  as  a lawyer. 

Mr.  Deters  was  married,  in  1910,  to  Miss  Emma 
Degener  of  Goodhue  County,  Minnesota.  Their 
three  children  are  Ernestina,  Ulysses  D.,  and  Wil- 
liam Arvid,  the  oldest  being  three  and  a half  years 
and  the  youngest  five  months.  Mrs.  Deters  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  Mr. 
Deters  fraternal  associations  are  with  the  Masonic 
Order,  in  which  he  has  taken  the  Royal  Arch  chapter 
degrees,  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  Politically 
he  is  a republican. 


Jacob  F.  Tourtellotte,  M.  D.  A large  and  dis- 
tinctive service  was  that  contributed  by  the  late 
Doctor  Tourtellotte  to  the  State  of  Minnesota.  He 
came  to  the  Northwest  a few  years  after  the  Civil 
war,  m which  he  had  served  with  the  rank  of  naval 
surgeon,  and  for  forty  years  his  character  and 
achie\  ements  fully  earned  the  high  honors  which 
were  paid  to  him  as  a man  and  citizen.  Ill  health 
compelled  him  to  abandon  a profession  in  which 
he  had  shown  conspicuous  ability,  and  he  was  after- 
wards known  as  a man  of  affairs,  was  for  many 
years  a banker  at  Winona,  and  for  twenty  years 
was  a resident  of  Minneapolis,  where  he  died  at  his 
beautiful  home  September  n,  1912,  in  the  fullness 
of  years  and  well  earned  honors. 

Jacob  Francis  Tourtellotte  was  born  at  Thompson, 
M indham,  Connecticut,  December  26,  1835.  His 
family,  of  French  origin,  was  founded  in  America 
m colonial  times.  He  was  one  of  four  brothers,  all 
of  whom  reached  distinction.  One  of  them,  Gen. 
John  E.  Tourtellotte,  was  brevetted  brigadier  general 
at  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  and  at  his  death  gave 
half  of  his  fortune  to  Dr.  Jacob.  The  other  brothers 
were  Dr.  Augustus,  who  gave  one-third  of  his  for- 
tune to  Dr.  Jacob  F.,  and  Monroe  L.,  who  married 
and  had  children.  Of  the  four  brothers  two  were 
married  and  two  remained  bachelors.  All  four  were 
capitalists  and  made  a success  in  life. 

The  late  Doctor  Tourtellotte  was  reared  in  a home 
of  culture  and  high  ideals,  and  in  early  life  mani- 
fested those  tendencies  which  were  translated  into 
practical  action  during  his  maturity.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  in  the  Normal 
School  at  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts,  and  his  first 
important  service  was  as  a teacher.  He  was  prin- 
cipal  of  public  schools  at  Dudley  and  Oxford, 
Massachusetts,  and  for  one  year  was  in  public 
school  work  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  In  the  meantime 
his  ambition  was  directed  to  the  medical  profession, 
and  he  finally  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  of  New  York,  now  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  Columbia  University,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated M.  D.  in  1861.  His  readiness  for  the  duties  of 
his  profession  corresponded  with  the  beginning  of 
the  Civil  war,  and  immediately  after  graduation  he 
volunteered  his  service  to  the  Union  army.  He  was 
assigned  to  duty  as  a naval  surgeon  and  exemplified 
a conspicuous  devotion  to  duty  and  a thorough  skill' 
in  a work  which  was  not  less  important  than  that 
of  the  man  of  arms.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  on 
three  different  vessels,  and  was  in  service  throughout 
practically  all  the  war.  He  continued  with  the  navy- 
after  the  war  as  surgeon  on  the  Nyack,  and  for 
three  years  was  with  that  vessel  at  Valparaiso,  Chili. 
His  continued  usefulness  and  his  life  itself  were 
threatened  by  organic  heart  trouble,  emphasized  byr 
his  increase  in  weight.  Under  these  conditions  he 
resigned  from  the  naval  service,  and  as  soon  as 
possible  rejoined  his  wife,  who  had  remained  in  the 
City  of  New  York  and  in  Thompson,  Connecticut, 
on  account  of  the  illness  of  her  mother. 

Doctor  Tourtellotte  was  married,  June  26,  1865. 
to  Miss  Harriet  Arnold,  who  was  born  at  Thomp- 
son, Connecticut,  also  the  place  of  his  birth,  a 
daughter  of  William  S.  Arnold,  a wealthy  cotton 
manufacturer  and  honored  citizen  of  Connecticut. 
Mr.  Arnold,  before  the  war,  was  one  of  the  leading 
abolitionists  and  a liberal  contributor  to  the  anti- 
slavery propaganda.  He  led  the  movement  for  the 
erection  of  a statue  to  William  Loyd  Garrison  on 


1548 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Commonwealth  Avenue  in  Boston.  His  name  should 
also  be  mentioned  on  account  of  his  important 
connection  with  the  development  and  progress  of 
Minnesota,  where  he  was  associated  with  his  friend, 
later  Sir  William  Van  Horn,  in  the  building  of  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Railroad.  When  Mrs.  Tour- 
tellotte  was  fifteen  years  of  age  she  entered  a co- 
educational boarding  school  at  Dudley,  Massachu- 
setts, and  while  there  became  acquainted  with  Doctor 
Tourtellotte.  They  were  married  soon  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 
facts  that  deserve  mention  in  this  article  was  the 
abiding  love  which  glorified  and  idealized  their 
companionship  through  a period  of  nearly  half  a 
century.  To  their  union  were  born  two  children: 
Harriet  Lucina  Mary,  who  died  in  1870  at  the  age 
of  one  year,  and  Frances  Harriet,  who  was  born  in 
1874  and  died  in  1884. 

After  Doctor  Tourtellotte’s  return  to  New  York 
his  medical  advisers  assured  him  that  his  condition 
was  such  that  he  could  hope  to  live  but  a short 
time  if  he  remained  in  the  climate  of  the  eastern 
states.  All  the  physicians  whom  he  consulted  spoke 
of  Minnesota,  but  if  the  altitude  was  not  high  enough 
he  must  go  on  where  it  was  higher;  so  he  decided 
on  Winona,  Minnesota,  as  he  had  a brother  living 
near  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin.  Accordingly,  in  the 
spring  of  1870,  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Tourtellotte  re- 
moved to  Minnesota  and  located  at  Winona.  Doctor 
Tourtellotte  brought  to  the  state  considerable  means 
of  his  own  and  also  the  sum  of  $20,000  given  to  Mrs. 
Tourtellotte  at  her  marriage.  With  these  resources 
he  established  a private  bank  at  Winona,  and  was 
successfully  identified  with  banking  there  for  twenty 
years.  He  was  a man  of  excellent  judgment  in 
financial  matters,  and  his  fortune  was  greatly  in- 
creased by  his  judicious  investments  in  Minnesota 
real  estate.  His  banking  career  was  one  of  real 
service.  It  is  said  that  he  never  lost  a dollar 
through  his  loans  and  investments,  and  his  friends 
and  patrons  profited  as  much  as  he  did  himself 
through  his  keen  judgment  and  careful  handling  of 
financial  matters.  He  never  dispossessed  a man 
of  his  home,  and  throughout  his  life  his  ideal  seemed 
to  be  to  give  every  assistance  possible  to  others 
consistent  with  sound  business  policy.  He  was 
known  and  honored  as  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  and  influential  citizens  of  Winona,  and  con- 
tributed generously  to  the  development  and  upbuild- 
ing of  that  city. 

During  the  years  of  his  early  residence  in  Winona 
his  investigations  of  real  estate  kept  him  much  in 
the  open  air,  and  his  health  was  greatly  improved. 
However,  throughout  the  rest  of  his  life  he  found 
it  necessary  to  observe  the  most  careful  and 
punctilious  habits,  with  a rigid  diet  and  constant 
self-denial.  He  thus  prolonged  his  life  and  service 
to  a ripe  old  age,  and  refuted  the  predictions  of 
the  best  medical  authorities.  While  his  health  did 
not  allow  him  to  follow  his  chosen  profession,  he 
found  many  other  avenues  of  usefulness,  and  was 
not  only  one  of  Minnesota’s  productive  workers,  but 
throughout  his  career  enjoyed  the  good  will  and 
sympathy  of  his  fellowmen. 

Doctor  and  Mrs.  Tourtellotte  remained  in  Winona 
until  1892.  After  the  death  of  her  father  Mrs. 
Tourtellotte  desired  a home  in  a larger  city,  with 
broader  social  advantages.  No  residence  property 
meeting  their  tastes  could  be  found  in  St.  Paul,  and 
they  consequently  came  to  Minneapolis,  where  they 


were  fortunate  in  securing  the  beautiful  residence 
still  occupied  by  Mrs.  Tourtellotte,  on  West  Fif- 
teenth Street,  facing  Loring  Park.  Fortunate  as  he 
was  in  his  business  career  and  in  the  work  which 
he  was  able  to  do  as  a man  of  affars,  Doctor  Tour- 
tellotte was  even  more  fortunate  in  the  marriage 
companionship  which  began  in  his  youth  and  endured 
until  the  twilight  of  age.  For  many  years  his 
strength  would  not  permit  him  to  enjoy  the  attract- 
ive society  of  friends  and  the  general  mingling  with 
business  associates  and  other  companions,  and  his 
dependence  upon  his  thoughtful  and  loving  wife  was 
repaid  with  a care  and  ministration  and  sympathy 
that  can  find  no  proper  expression  in  conventional 
language.  After  removing  to  Minneapolis  Doctor 
Tourtellotte  made  a number  of  judicious  invest- 
ments in  local  real  estate,  and  these  properties  have 
since  become  valuable,  were  improved  by  the  building 
of  stores  and  offices  and  other  buildings,  and  still 
furnish  a large  income  to  Mrs.  Tourtellotte. 

For  a number  of  years  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Tour- 
tellotte cherished  a desire  to  use  a portion  of  their 
fortune  for  the  benefit  of  their  little  home  city  of 
Thompson,  Connecticut.  Their  plans  finally  took 
shape  in  a decision  to  erect  a high  school  building. 
Owing  to  the  feeble  condition  of  her  husband,  Mrs. 
Tourtellotte  made  the  journey  back  to  Connecticut 
and  selected  the  site  and  made  other  arrangements 
by  herself.  The  Tourtellotte  Memorial  High  School 
was  completed  at  Thompson  in  1909,  and  stands  on 
a commanding  elevation  which  affords  a fine  view 
over  the  attractive  valley  and  also  the  mills  erected 
and  long  operated  by  Mrs.  Tourtellotte’s  father. 
The  building  is  a model  in  architecture  and  has 
many  notable  provisions  for  effective  use  as  an  in- 
stitution of  popular  education.  The  children  of  the 
mill  operatives  are  given  admirable  opportunity  to 
fit  themselves  for  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of 
life,  and  provision  has  also  been  made  to  afford  those 
advantages  which  represent  the  higher  ideals  of 
human  existence.  The  chief  feature  of  the  building 
is  the  memorial  room,  which  is  open  to  the  public 
on  the  first  Sunday  of  each  month  and  has  proved 
a valuable  educational  and  entertaining  influence. 
This  memorial  room  has  been  made  into  an  art 
gallery,  and  also  includes  many  family  heirlooms 
from  both  the  Tourtellotte  and  Arnold  families. 
The  little  village  thus  possesses  many  of  the  ad- 
vantages found  in  the  larger  art  and  educational 
centers  of  New  England.  The  Village  of  Thomp- 
son is  the  place  of  summer  homes  for  many  promi- 
nent and  influential  Boston  and  New  York  families, 
and  one  of  the  most  picturesque  and  beautiful  towns 
in  all  New  England.  The  late  Doctor  Tourtellotte 
was  a man  of  notable  character  and  versatile  attain- 
ments of  mind  and  heart.  By  nature  he  was  modest 
and  retiring,  was  broad  minded  and  absolutely  free 
from  intolerance,  and  his  entire  career  was  one  of 
the  loftiest  integrity  and  honor.  Out  of  his  .own 
affliction  he  knew  how  to  succor  others  in  distress,, 
and  his  countless  benevolences  can  never  be  told. 
A single  instance  that  reflects  his  general  attitude 
of  philanthropy  was  in  bestowing  what  amounted  to 
a virtual  pension  upon  an  old  lady  who  had  been  a 
friend  of  his  mother,  and  this  pension  has  been 
continued  by  Mrs.  Tourtellotte  after  the  death  of 
her  husband.  Politically  Doctor  Tourtellotte  was 
a republican,  and  was  a man  of  deep  religious  con- 
victions and  active  as  a member  of  the  old  Baptist 
Church  in  Thompson,  Connecticut,  the  church  of  his 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


parents,  and  which  he  remembered  from  year  to 
year  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in 
the  beautiful  Sylvan  Cemetery  at  Winona,  beside 
his  two  children.  He  was  the  last  of  his  immediate 
family,  and  his  own  character  and  services  height- 
ened the  appreciation  in  which  the  name  has  been 
held  for  several  generations.  Mrs.  Tourtellotte,  since 
the  death  of  her  husband,  has  planned  a worthy 
memorial  to  his  life,  which  is  to  be  a home  for  the 
deaconess  nurses  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  building  will  cover  half  a block  of  land,  and 
will  be  a model  institution  of  its  kind.  Mrs.  Tour- 
tellotte worked  hand  in  hand  with  her  husband 
throughout  the  years  of  his  life,  and  the  value  of 
what  he  did  was  vastly  increased  by  her  own  share 
in  their  mutual  activities.  She  is  a woman  of  great 
culture,  has  always  been  a social  leader,  and  has 
radiated  from  her  home  and  from  herself  those 
influences  and  practical  actions  which  furnish  the 
best  values  of  human  life. 

Charles  L.  Metcalf.  By  the  election  of  Novem- 
ber, 1914,  the  people  of  Houston  County  set  the 
seal  of  their  approval  upon  the  administration  of 
Charles  L.  Metcalf  as  clerk  of  the  District  Court 
by  reelecting  him  to  that  office,  in  which  he  has 
served  since  1910.  Mr.  Metcalf  is  a printer  and 
newspaper  man,  and  has  spent  most  of  his  active 
career  either  in  that  profession  or  in  public  affairs. 
He  represents  families  that  were  among  the  first 
to  locate  in  the  pioneer  district  of  Houston  County 
more  than  sixty  years  ago. 

Charles  L.  Metcalf  was  born  on  a farm  in  Houston 
County,  one  mile  south  of  Caledonia,  August  5, 
1872,  a son  of  Charles  W.  and  Sarah  (Stewart) 
Metcalf.  Both  parents  were  born  in  Connecticut, 
the  father  in  1829  and  the  mother  in  1840.  The 
father  died  December  1,  1908,  and  the  mother  on 
July  20,  1881.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Edwin 
Stewart,  came  out  to  Houston  County,  Minnesota, 
in  1853,  and  was  one  of  the  very  first  to  locate  in 
this  then  unsettled  region.  Charles  W.  Metcalf 
moved  out  to  Minnesota  in  the  spring  of  1854, 
joining  the  small  advance  guard  of  pioneers,  and 
located  on  a farm,  where  he  reared  his  family.  In 
1883  he  moved  into  Caledonia,  and  lived  there  the 
rest  of  his  life.  Charles  W.  Metcalf  had  the  dis- 
tinction of  owning  and  operating  the  first  steam 
threshing  outfit  in  Houston  County.  He  was  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  his  wife  attended  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  There  were  four 
children.  Lewis  B.  died  August  3,  1914,  aged  fifty- 
seven  years.  The  daughter,  Fannie,  is  now  Mrs. 
Chattelle,  and  lives  at  Caledonia,  where  her  husband 
is  an  electrician.  The  other  living  daughter  is  Mrs. 
Flora  Andrews,  also  of  Caledonia,  and  Mr.  Andrews 
is  a mail  carrier. 

Charles  L.  Metcalf  received  his  education  at  Cale- 
donia in  the  public  schools,  but  got  a more  practical 
training  as  an  apprentice  in  a printing  office.  For 
several  years  he  was  with  P.  J.  Smalley,  editor  of 
the  Caledonia  Argus,  and  worked  at  different  places 
in  his  trade  as  a printer.  In  September,  1907,  he 
moved  to  Spring  Grove,  and  for  three  years  and  two 
months  and  ten  days  was  manager  of  the  Spring 
Grove  Herald.  In  1910  Mr.  Metcalf  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  clerk  of  the  District  Court,  and  in  1914 
received  a re-election  with  no  opposition.  Politically 
he  is  a republican,  and  has  also  served  as  village 
clerk,  and  has  been  more  or  less  actively  identified 
with  public  affairs  since  reaching  his  majority.  He 


1549 

now  gives  all  his  time  to  his  duties  as  clerk  of  the 
District  Court. 

On  December  21,  1898,  Mr.  Metcalf  married  Hattie 
Belle  Vance,  a daughter  of  W.  A.  Vance,  who  was  a 
native  of  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metcalf  have  one 
son,  Charles  Vance  Metcalf,  born  December  1,  1900. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metcalf  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  passed  through  the  chairs  of  the 
Blue  Lodge,  and  is  a member  of  the  Royal  Arch 
Chapter;  also  with  the  Woodmen  of  America,  the 
Order  of  Yeomen  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

Olaus  K.  Dahle.  Probably  no  man  in  Houston 
County  is  better  known  than  Olaus  K.  Dahle,  lawyer, 
author,  and  for  many  years  a county  official.  He  has 
spent  nearly  all  his  life  in  this  county,  and  his  father 
was  one  of  its  first  pioneers. 

Olaus  K.  Dahle  was  born  in  Wilmington  Town- 
• ship,  Houston  County,  Minnesota,  January  9,  1865,  a 
son  of  Knud  A.  and  Margit  (Roble)  Dahle.  Both 
parents  were  natives  of  Norway,  the  father  born  in 
1829  and  died  in  August,  1900,  and  the  mother  born 
in  1826  and  died  in  1897.  They  were  married  in 
Detroit,  Michigan,  in  1852.  Knud  A.  Dahle  was  the 
son  of  a Norwegian  who  served  for  seven  years  in 
the  national  army,  and  through  most  of  this  time 
was  in  active  warfare.  He  died  a few  years  after 
coming  home  from  the  war,  having  lost  his  health 
by  the  severe  service.  His  widow  was  left  with  a 
family  of  eight  children,  and  with  no  means  of 
support.  She  did  a noble  part  by  them  and  reared 
them  to  self-supporting  age  by  her  own  efforts. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  Knud  A.  Dahle  walked  all 
the  way  to  Christiania,  and  spent  five  years  of  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  carpenter  trade  without  pay.  He 
borrowed  the  money  needed  to  cross  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Lffiited  States,  and  his  wife  also  worked  as  a 
domestic  in  order  to  get  money  to  come  to  the  New 
World.  Knud  A.  Dahle  arrived  in  the  United  States 
in  1851,  and,  being  a carpenter  by  trade,  spent  a 
year  in  employment  at  Detroit  and  worked  for  some 
time  in  Chicago.  He  came  to  Houston  County, 
Minnesota,  in  1854,  homesteaded  a claim,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  men  to  occupy  land  in  Wilmington 
Township.  The  summer  of  1854  was  spent  in  work 
as  a carpenter  at  the  Village  of  St.  Anthony,  before 
Minneapolis  was  founded,  after  which  he  returned 
to  his  farm  and  set  himself  to  the  heavy  task  of 
the  pioneer.  He  was  a man  of  remarkable  industry 
and  in  time  had  accumulated  nine  forties  of  land. 
Every  dollar  he  made  represented  his  individual 
efforts  and  management.  His  home  was  on  the  old 
farm  until  the  last  six  years  of  his  life,  when  he 
sold  out  and  lived  retired  in  Spring  Grove.  He 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a republican.  He 
was  a man  of  fine  habits  and  highly  esteemed  for 
his  character  and  honesty.  In  spite  of  obvious  dis- 
advantages during  his  youth,  he  was  well  read  and 
always  kept  in  touch  with  the  affairs  of  the  world. 

Olaus  K.  Dahle  grew  up  in  Houston  County,  was 
educated  in  the  Caledonia  public  schools,  subse- 
quently took  a course  in  the  Winona  Normal  School, 
and  in  1894  graduated  in  law  from  the  state  univer- 
sity. Soon  after  reaching  his  majority  he  began 
an  active  part  in  local  affairs,  and  in  1888  was  elected 
register  of  deeds  of  Houston  County,  and  the  four 
years  of  service  in  that  office  gave  him  the  means 
needed  to  put  him  through  law  school.  In  1895  Mr. 


1550 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Dahle  began  active  practice  at  Caledonia,  and  has 
since  been  admitted  to  practice  in  all  the  courts 
of  the  state  and  has  enjoyed  a large  general  practice 
in  addition  to  the  other  duties  which  have  made 
demands  on  his  time.  His  first  year  was  spent  as 
partner  of  the  late  Judge  James  O’Brien  at  Cale- 
donia. For  five  years  he  held  the  chair  of  editor  of 
the  Spring  Grove  Herald.  In  1900  Mr.  Dahle  was 
elected  county  attorney,  at  which  time  he  returned 
to  Caledonia,  and  for  twelve  years  held  that  office 
consecutively.  After  two  years  of  intermission  he 
was  again  elected  county  attorney  in  November, 
1914,  for  the  regular  four  year  term.  When  this  term 
is  completed  Mr.  Dahle  will  have  served  twenty 
years  as  a public  official.  In  1897  he  was  assistant 
clerk  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  in  the 
session  of  1899  was  first  assistant  clerk.  He  was 
president  of  the  Caledonia  Commercial  Club  for 
several  years. 

On  October  5,  1887,  Mr.  Dahle  married  Julia 
Dorothea  Qualy  of  Houston  County,  who  died  June 
11,  1888.  On  June  2,  1896,  he  married  Oline  N. 
Onsgard  of  Spring  Grove.  To  their  union  have 
been  born  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely : Ken- 
neth, Norris  and  Mervin,  all  attending  high  school; 
Obert  and  Oscar,  in  the  grade  schools ; and  Margit 
and  Norman,  young  children.  The  family  are  all 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Dahle  was 
master  of  Caledonia  Lodge  of  the  Masons  in  1905, 
and  also  is  a member  of  the  Scottish  Rite.  Politically 
he  is  a republican.  Mr.  Dahle  has  considerable  ability 
as  a writer  and  linguist,  being  a fluent  speaker  of  the 
Norwegian,  German  and  English  languages.  Among 
other  writings  he  has  contributed  a history  of  Nor- 
wegian pioneer  settlers  to  a periodical  published  at 
Minneapolis.  Mr.  Dahle  is  at  present  the  president 
and  a director  of  the  Onsgard  State  Bank  of  Spring 
Grove. 

Robert  S.  Davis.  One,  of  Minnesota’s  oldest 
bankers  is  Robert  S.  Davis  of  Stillwater,  now 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  city, 
and  for  nearly  forty  years  identified  in  one  capacity 
or  another  with  financial  affairs.  His  has  been  a 
clean  record,  made  without  ostentation.  The  influ- 
ence which  in  the  course  of  all  these  years  he  has 
exerted  in  business  affairs  in  his  section  of  Minne- 
sota cannot  be  measured  by  the  ordinary  standards 
of  achievement. 

Robert  S.  Davis  was  born  at  Augusta,  Maine,  May 
19,  1855,  a son  of  James  S.  and  Emily  (Sawtelle) 
Davis.  His  father,  a native  of  Barnstable.  Massa- 
chusetts, while  the  mother  was  a native  of  England, 
was  a shipbuilder  by  trade,  and  in  the  early  part  of 
his  career  had  to  do  with  the  building  of  a number 
of  ships  engaged  in  the  coastwise  trade  along  the 
Atlantic  coast.  Soon  after  the  discovery  of  gold 
on  the  Pacific  coast  he  made  a trip  to  California, 
going  across  the  plains,  and  spent  several  years  in 
the  West,  after  which  he  returned  to  Maine  and 
continued  to  follow  his  vocation  as  a shipwright  for 
several  years.  When  his  son,  Robert  S.,  was  a 
child  he  brought  the  family  to  Minnesota  Territory, 
locating  as  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Stillwater, 
and  became  identified  with  the  lumbering  industry 
and  worked  as  a millwright  and  in  various  other 
lines.  He  was  a stanch  democrat  in  politics,  and 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  county 
assessor  in  Stillwater,  while  in  Maine  he  had  held 
the  rank  of  colonel  in  a militia  regiment.  His  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  His  wife 


died  at  Stillwater  one  year  later,  also  aged  sixty- 
six.  There  were  seven  children,  and  Robert  S.  is 
one  of  the  three  still  living.  His  sister,  Mary  E., 
is  the  widow  of  Francis  E.  Joy  of  Stillwater,  while 
Horace  W.  Davis  lives  in  Wycliff,  British  Columbia. 

Robert  S.  Davis  grew  up  in  Stillwater,  had  some 
education  in  the  grade  and  high  schools  of  that  city, 
and  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  found  employment 
as  an  assistant  to  the  bookkeeper  in  the  firm  of 
Staples,  Doe  & Hersey.  He  served  three  years,  from 
bookkeeper  to  cashier,  and  in  1876,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  became  identified  with  banking,  which 
has  been  his  permanent  profession  ever  since.  Enter- 
ing the  service  of  the  Lumberman’s  National  Bank, 
he  continued  to  be  associated  with  that  institution 
twenty-one  years.  When  he  first  became  connected 
with  the  Lumberman's  Bank  its  cashier  was  Henry 
W.  Cannon,  who  subsequently  made  a name  in 
financial  affairs  as  United  States  comptroller  of 
currency  under  President  Arthur.  On  the  resigna- 
tion of  Mr.  Cannon  from  his  position  as  cashier,  in 
1884,  Mr.  Davis  succeeded  to  that  office  and  con- 
tinued his  work  in  that  capacity  until  1896.  Soon 
afterwards  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Stillwater,  and  for  seventeen  years 
has  been  actively  identified  with  the  affairs  of  this, 
the  oldest  and  strongest  bank  of  Stillwater.  In 
1912  he  was  elected  vice  president,  and  in  June, 
1913,  was  elected  president. 

Outside  of  his  career  as  a banker  Mr.  Davis  has 
been  much  identified  with  public  affairs  in  various 
lines.  He  was  a member  of  the  First  Regiment  of 
Minnesota  National  Guards  and  served  as  lieutenant 
from  1883  until  1890,  when  he  resigned.  He  has 
served  as  president  of  the  water  board  in  Stillwater, 
as  a member  of  the  school  board,  and  was  secretary 
of  the  Stillwater  Light  and  Gas  Company.  Inde- 
pendent in  politics,  he  has  never  sought  any  office 
depending  upon  the  vote  of  the  people.  Fraternally 
his  relations  are  with  Knights  Templar  Masonry, 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  his 
church  is  the  First  Presbyterian. 

On  October  19,  1878,  Mr.  Davis  married  Miss  Mira 
E.  Brown,  daughter  of  Edward  S.  and  Hannah  E. 
(Colburn)  Brown.  Her  father  was  a pioneer  saw- 
mill operator  and  lumberman  in  the  Northwest,  and 
built  the  first  sawmill  built  on  the  Puget  Sound. 
Mrs.  Davis  was  born  in  Minneapolis.  They  have 
two  children,  both  natives  of  Stillwater : Emily  B. 
is  the  wife  of  Guy  Arthur  Perry  of  Stillwater,  and 
Jed  H.  Davis  is  bookkeeper  for  the  Consolidated 
Lumber  Company  of  Stillwater. 

Oscar  H.  Schroeder.  Now  president  of  the  Chase 
State  Bank  of  Faribault,  Oscar  H.  Schroeder,  twenty 
years  ago,  was  a teacher  in  public  schools  and  is 
one  of  Minnesota’s  native  sons  who  have  made 
rapid  progress,  and  from  small  beginnings  have 
reached  influential  and  independent  positions  in  the 
state. 

Oscar  H.  Schroeder  was  born  in  Blue  Earth 
County,  Minnesota,  May  3.  1872,  a son  of  Martin 
Schroeder,  who  was  born  in  1835  in  Germany  and 
died  at  Windom,  Cottonwood  County,  Minnesota, 
in  1880.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  coming  to  America, 
he  settled  near  Winona,  Minnesota,  removed  to 
Blue  Earth  County,  and  as  a pioneer  assisted  in 
tlie  organization  of  Lyra  Township  in  that  county. 
He  became  prominent  in  local  civic  affairs,  and  held 
most  of  the  town  offices.  He  was  a substantial 


Warn 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1551 


farmer,  and  later  in  life  moved  to  Cottonwood 
County.  Martin  Schroeder  married  Henrietta  Mei- 
lecke,  a native  of  Germany,  her  parents  having 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  near  Winona  as 
pioneer  farmers.  The  children  of  Martin  and 
Henrietta  Schroeder  were : William  M.,  who  died 
in  Mankato,  Minnesota,  in  1898,  having  been  a 
traveling  salesman;  August  M.,  who  is  clerk  of 
the  court  at  Jackson,  Minnesota;  Carl  G.,  a travel- 
ing salesman  with  residence  in  St.  Paul ; Louis  E., 
of  Windom ; Oscar  H. ; Ottilia,  who  lives  with  her 
mother  at  Windom;  Clara,  also  at  home  in  Windom; 
Bertha,  wife  of  Robert  Zuel  of  Windom,  a traveling 
salesman  and  farm  owner;  and  Ida,  who  lives  at 
Windom  with  her  mother. 

Oscar  H.  Schroeder  was  reared  on  a farm  in 
Blue  Earth  County,  attended  the  public  schools, 
graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1892,  and  for 
two  years  was  employed  as  a teacher  in  Blue  Earth 
and  Cottonwood  counties.  His  preliminary  experi- 
ence as  a banker  was  at  Minnesota  Lake  in  Faribault 
County,  where  he  was  employed  for  fourteen  years 
as  cashier  of  the  bank,  until  1910.  Going  to  St. 
Paul,  Mr.  Schroeder  handled  farm  mortgages  for 
three  years,  and  in  1913  bought  the  Chase  State 
Bank  at  Faribault,  of  which  he  has  since  been 
president.  This  bank  was  established  in  1905,  with 
a capitalization  of  $25,000,  which  Mr.  Schroeder  in- 
creased to  $50,000.  The  surplus  at  the  present  time 
is  $10,000,  and  it  is  one  of  the  stable  financial  insti- 
tutions of  Rice  County.  The  bank  is  situated  at 
the  corner  of  Third  Street  and  First  Avenue. 

Mr.  Schroeder  is  a member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  and  is  affiliated  with  Faribault  Lodge  No.  9, 

A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Tyrian  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; Faribault 
Commandery,  K.  T. ; Zurah  Temple  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  Faribault  Lodge  No.  1166, 

B.  P.  O.  E.  Throughout  his  residence  at  Minnesota 
Lake  Mr.  Schroeder  was  honored  with  the  respon- 
sibility of  village  treasurer,  and  under  Governor 
Johnson’s  administration  served  as  a member  of  the 
state  board  of  equalization. 

Mr.  Schroeder  has  recently  completed  a modern 
home  at  Highland  Park  in  Faribault,  at  808  Fourth 
Avenue.  At  Edgerton,  Minnesota,  he  married  Miss 
Amy  Woodworth,  and  their  children  are:  Glen  M.. 
in  the  Faribault  High  School ; Ruth,  also  in  the 
high  school ; Leslie  and  Oscar,  both  attending  the 
grade  schools,  and  Carl  and  Robert. 

Morgan  R.  Hussey.  As  a building  contractor 
Morgan  R.  Hussey  has  a record  of  practical  achieve- 
ments hardly  second  to  any  in  Northern  Minnesota. 
He  learned  his  business  as  a practical  workman,  and 
even  today,  if  need  be,  can  take  his  place  alongside 
his  employes  and  has  the  ability  to  do  as  well  as  to 
direct. 

Morgan  R.  Hussey  was  born  in  Detroit,  Minnesota, 
February  22,  1878,  and  the  same  year  his  parents, 
Richard  E.  and  Elizabeth  (Middleton)  Hussey,  re- 
moved to  Crookston,  where  he  grew  up  and  received 
his  early  training.  After  an  education  in  the  public 
schools,  he  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  brick- 
layer’s trade  and  also  as  a cement  worker,  and  has 
an  expert  knowledge  of  both  lines  of  constructive 
industry.  After  a varied  employment  as  journeyman 
for  others  he  began  independent  contracting  in  1907. 

Mr.  Hussey  constructed  the  Hussey  Building  at 
Crookston,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  installed 
the  heating  plant  at  the  State  Agricultural  Farm  and 
also  the  sewer  system  on  the  Agricultural  Farm  at 


Crookston,  put  up  the  Clysdall  Building,  and  has 
laid  and  constructed  many  miles  of  sidewalks, 
sewers  and  other  public  improvements.  In  1913  he 
completed  as  contractor  the  Armory  Building  for 
Company  I of  the  Third  Regiment  of  Minnesota 
National  Guards,  a building  which  will  long  be  a 
memorial  to  his  own  work  as  well  as  that  of  the 
architect,  Mr.  Keck.  The  building  cost  $34,000, 
and  is  constructed  of  brick  with  pressed  brick 
front. 

As  a public  spirited  citizen  Mr.  Hussey  served  as 
alderman  of  Crookston  beginning  with  1900,  and 
in  1914  received  another  election  to  the  office  for  four 
years  more.  He  is  a member  of  the  Commercial 
Club  and  can  usually  be  found  where  the  citizens 
of  Crookston  are  associated  for  mutual  benefit  and 
improvement. 

In  1905  Mr.  Hussey  married  Mary  Wetter  of 
Grafton,  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Hussey  died  May  5,  1914, 
leaving  one  son,  Everett  M. 

Nathan  John  Nelson.  The  First  State  Bank  of 
East  Grand  Forks,  of  which  Nathan  J.  Nelson  was 
the  organizer  and  has  since  been  the  active  cashier, 
was  established  in  1906,  with  a capital  stock  of  $25,- 
000,  at  which  figure  the  capital  has  been  retained. 
The  bank  occupies  perhaps  the  most  conspicuous 
building  in  East  Grand  Forks,  a two-story  brick 
building,  with  the  bank  on  the  main  floor,  offices  in 
the  second  story,  and  the  local  newspaper  in  the  base- 
ment. For  a country  bank  the  growth  of  this  insti- 
tution has  been  one  that  has  been  usually  gratifying 
through  the  promoters  and  officers.  Besides  the  capi- 
tal stock  of  $25,000  the  bank,  at  the  close  of  business 
in  1914,  had  a surplus  of  $7,000,  undivided  profits  of 
over  $7,000,  and  its  stability  and  responsibility  are 
indicated  by  the  fact  that  while  the  law  requires 
about  $22,000  in  reserve,  an  amount  exceeding  that 
sum  by  more  than  $10,000  dollars  is  held  by  the  bank. 
The  chief  item  indicating  the  growth  of  the  bank 
and  the  confidence  reposed  in  its  officers  is  deposits, 
which  amount  to  upwards  of  $350,000.  Few  banks 
in  Minnesota  in  towns  of  this  size  can  show  a larger 
volume  of  resources  than  the  First  State  Bank  of 
East  Grand  Forks.  Besides  a general  banking  busi- 
ness there  are  also  departments  for  the  handling  of 
real  estate  and  insurance. 

Nathan  John  Nelson,  the  cashier,  is  one  of  the 
well  known  bankers,  both  of  Minnesota  and  of  North 
Dakota.  The  president  of  the  First  State  Bank  is 

C.  J.  Lofgren;  Frank  J.  Zejdlik  and  H.  A.  Bronson 
are  vice  presidents.  Nathan  J.  Nelson  was  born  in 
Goodhue  County,  Minnesota.  March  15,  1867,  a son 
of  Peter  M.  and  Nellie  (Swenson)  Nelson.  His 
father  came  to  America  from  Sweden  in  1863,  and 
was  a farmer  and  also  a building  contractor. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  and  has  to  his  credit  one  year 
of  teaching.  Like  many  successful  men  he  began  at 
the  bottom,  and  with  increasing  experience  found 
himself  entrusted  with  large  responsibilities..  For  a 
time  he  was  clerk  in  a general  store,  and  then  was 
a traveling  salesman  with  the  McCormick  Harvesting 
Machine  Company  from  1891  to  1902.  After  that  he 
was  a representative  of  the  Moline  Plow  Company 
until  1906,  and  in  that  year  organized  the  First  State 
Bank  of  East  Grand  Forks.  His  interests  as  a banker 
are  well  known  and  important  in  other  localities. 
He  is  vice  president  of  the  First  State  Bank  of 
Humboldt,  Minnesota,  and  is  president  of  the  First 


1552 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


State  Banks  at  Bowesmont,  Backoo  and  Manvel, 
North  Dakota. 

Mr.  Nelson  has  always  shown  a disposition  to 
exert  himself  wherever  possible  or  wherever  needed 
in  behalf  of  home  enterprise.  For  a number  of  years 
he  has  served  as  a member  of  the  East  Grand  Forks 
School  Board  and  for  six  years  as  alderman. 

On  March  15,  1894,  he  married  Bertha  L.  Langford, 
of  Dodge  County,  Minnesota.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren: Winifred  and  Walter  Langford. 

William  Owen  McNelly.  Since  his  graduation 
from  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  beginning 
practice  in  McLeod  County  eight  years  ago,  William 
O.  McNelly  has  given  an  excellent  account  of  himself, 
both  in  his  profession  and  as  an  enterprising  citizen. 
He  is  now  serving  as  county  attorney,  and  has  a 
large  and  profitable  private  practice,  with  home  and 
offices  at  Hutchinson. 

He  represents  some  of  the  early  names  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Minnesota.  He  was  born  on 
Portland  Prairie,  in  Houston  County,  Minnesota, 
June  4,  1881,  a son  of  William  E.  and  Nannie 
(Wright)  McNelly.  His  father,  who  was  born  at 
Portland  Prairie,  in  Houston  County,  in  1858,  was 
the  son  of  John  McNelly,  an  immigrant  from  Ire- 
land who  located  in  that  section  of  Minnesota  in 
1856,  took  up  a homestead  and  was  one  of  the  very 
few  pioneers  who  blazed  the  way  for  civilization. 
He  became  a prominent  man,  served  three  terms  in 
the  lower  house  of  the  State  Legislature  and  two 
terms  as  senator,  and  was  at  one  time  a member  of 
the  state  board  of  equalization.  He  was  active  in 
the  republican  interests.  William  McNelly  has  for 
many  years  been  prominent  in  the  citizenship  of 
Houston  County,  owns  a splendid  farm  of  150  acres 
in  Houston  County,  besides  520  acres  of  land  in 
other  sections  of  the  state,  is  a director  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Caledonia,  Minnesota,  and  was 
formerly  president  of  the  Farmers’  Creamery  Com- 
pany at  Wilmington.  He  is  likewise  a republican, 
has  held  several  township  offices  and  is  now  asses- 
sor. Nannie  (Wright)  McNelly  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1857,  and  was  brought  to  Portland  Prairie 
in  i860.  Her  father  was  Charles  Wright,  who 
married  Samantha  Metcalf.  Charles  Wright  died 
in  1898.  The  first  Wright  ancestor  came  to  America 
as  one  of  the  passengers  in  the  historic  Mayflower. 
William  E.  McNelly  and  wife  had  four  children: 
William  O. ; Chester  L.,  now  thirty-one  years  of 
age,  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  a 
resident  of  McIntosh,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Flor- 
ence Hibbert  has  one  child;  Mary,  aged  twenty-nine, 
is  the  wife  of  George  Briggs  of  St.  Paul,  and  has 
two  children ; Charles,  the  youngest,  now  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age,  is  a successful  farmer  at  Buehl, 
Idaho.  Nannie  Wright  McNelly  died  in  1890.  In 
1892  William  E.  McNelly  married  Jessie  Radcliffe 
of  Mount  Hope,  Iowa,  and  of  this  marriage  two 
children  were  bom,  Frank  R.  and  Irving  B.,  both 
residing  at  Caledonia,  Minnesota. 

William  O.  McNelly  spent  his  early  life  on  the 
old  homestead  farm,  attended  the  County  Normal 
School  at  Waukon,  Iowa,  and  his  first  occupation 
was  as  a teacher,  being  in  charge  of  his  first 
school  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  He  then  entered  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  completed  his  law  course, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1906.  He  began 
practice  in  1907  and  has  been  a resident  of  Hutchin- 
son since  1909.  He  served  three  years  as  city 
attorney,  and  in  1912  was  elected  to  his  present 


office  as  county  attorney.  Mr.  McNelly  is  a repub- 
lican, and  is  one  of  the  five  members  of  the  Legisla- 
tive Committee  of  the  State  Association  of  County 
Attorneys.  He  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge,  and,  like  the  other  members  of  his 
family,  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  McNelly  married  Mary  Arneson  of  Hutch- 
inson, whose  father,  John  Arneson,  belonged  to  a 
family  that  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ren- 
ville County.  Mr.  McNelly 's  maternal  grandmother 
Shumway  was  descended  from  one  of  the  earliest 
families  in  North  Carolina.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McNelly 
have  two  children:  Evelyn,  aged  four,  and  Marian, 
one  year  old. 

Karenius  Movold.  One  of  the  large  firms  dealing 
in  sureties  representing  the  real  estate  and  agricul- 
tural resources  of  the  Northwest  is  the  Northwestern 
Mortgage  Security  Company  of  Fargo,  North  Da- 
kota, which  has  a branch  office  managed  by  Mr.  K. 
Movold  at  Fosston,  Minnesota.  Mr.  Movold  is  a 
Minnesota  farmer  of  many  years’  practical  experience 
and  that  experience,  united  with  a sound  business 
judgment,  has  well  qualified  him  for  the  responsi- 
bilities of  handling  real  estate  and  farm  loans  for 
the  large  company  which  he  represents  in  Fosston 
and  vicinity. 

Karenius  Movold  is  a native  of  Norway,  in  which 
country  he  was  born  August  29,  1863,  a son  of 
Tobias  and  Marit  Movold.  In  1868  the  family 
emigrated  to  America,  and  located  on  a farm  in 
Ottertail  County,  Minnesota,  from  which  part  of  the 
state  they  removed  to  Polk  County  in  1883.  Kare- 
nius was  five  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  this 
country  and  all  his  education  came  from  the  district 
schools  and  from  the  opportunities  which  he  made 
for  himself  in  the  way  of  study  in  the  intervals 
of  regular  work  on  a farm.  Trained  as  a farmer, 
he  has  for  a number  of  years  been  actively  identified 
with  that  business  in  Polk  County,  and  now  has  an 
excellent  place  of  160  acres  near  Fosston.  He  is  a 
resident  of  Fosston,  and  gives  most  of  his  time  and 
attention  to  managing  the  local  interests  of  the 
Northwestern  Mortgage  Security  Company. 

Mr.  Movold  is  a valuable  citizen  as  well  as  business 
man,  and  has  served  three  terms  as  mayor  of  Foss- 
ton, having  been  last  elected  in  1915.  For  a number 
of  years  he  also  held  the  position  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  On  December  25,  1887,  he  married  Edith 
Hilligoss  of  Fosston.  Their  six  children  are:  Wil- 
liam T.,  a farmer  in  Canada;  Elmer,  who  is  a 
Canadian  merchant;  Clifford  C.,  engaged  in  farming 
in  Montana ; Ralph,  a student  in  the  Minnesota  Agri- 
cultural College ; Leo  and  Milton  C.,  both  of  whom 
are  still  carrying  on  their  studies. 

Pro-Cathedral  of  St.  Mary.  One  of  the  most 
notable  recent  events  in  the  progress  of  the  Catholic 
Church  in  the  Northwest  was  the  completion  of  the 
magnificent  Pro-Cathedral  of  St.  Mary  in  Minne- 
apolis, May  31,  1914.  It  was  the  culminating  advance 
in  the  long  history  of  the  Immaculate  Conception 
parish,  and  a brief  history  of  that  parish  may 
properly  find  record  in  these  pages. 

Prior  to  about  1868  the  Catholic  population  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river,  in  that  district  which  had 
as  early  as  1852  received  the  name  Minneapolis, 
while  the  central  part  of  the  city  east  of  the  river 
was  called  St.  Anthony  until  about  1872,  had  at- 
tended worship  in  the  Church  of  St.  Anthony  of 
Padua,  Eighth  Avenue  and  Main  Street  Northeast. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1553 


This  was  the  first  parish  in  what  is  now  Minne- 
apolis, and  was  founded  in  1849.  The  distance  from 
the  west  side  settlement  to  the  Church  of  St.  Anthony 
was  considerable,  and  with  a view  to  establishing  a 
new  parish  on  the  west  side,  Rev.  J.  McDermott, 
pastor  of  the  Church  of  St.  Anthony,  had  bought, 
on  December  28,  1866,  two  lots  at  the  corner  of 
Third  Street  and  Third  Avenue  North.  On  one 
of  these  lots  a small  frame  structure  had  been  built 
by  Father  Tissot,  who  succeeded  Father  McDermott. 
This  was  used  as  a school  and  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  from  St.  Anthony 
parish. 

Such  was  the  condition  up  to  the  arrival  of  Rev. 
James  McGolrick,  who  had  been  ordained  in  Dublin, 
Ireland,  June  11,  1867,  and  was  to  be  the  first  resident 
pastor  of  the  new  parish.  Immediately  after  his 
ordination  he  came  to  St.  Paul,  and  was  soon 
assigned  to  Minneapolis  to  minister  to  the  needs 
of  the  Catholic  population  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  To  provide  a place  of  worship,  he  built  an 
addition  to  the  rear  of  the  little  school,  a rough 
frame  structure,  fitted  out  with  an  altar,  rude 
benches  and  furnishings  of  the  simplest  kind.  This 
was  the  first  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. 

With  the  development  of  the  water  power,  the 
establishment  of  the  lumber  and  milling  industries, 
settlers  flocked  to  find  homes  west  of  the  river, 
and  among  them  were  many  Catholics.  Father  Mc- 
Golrick soon  found  himself  confronted  with  the 
problem  of  making  room  for  the  added  worshipers. 
In  the  summer  of  1871  the  corner  stone  of  the 
structure  which  stands  at  Third  Street  and  Third 
Avenue  North  was  laid.  Mass  was  celebrated  Decem- 
ber 8,  1872,  and  the  church  was  dedicated  January 
1,  1873.  The  Rev.  John  Ireland,  now  archbishop 
of  St.  Paul,  blessed  the  church  and  preached  the 
sermon.  The  new  church  was  an  edifice  of  which 
the  Catholics  of  that  day  had  reason  to  be  proud. 
It  was  an  imposing  structure,  considering  the  size 
of  Minneapolis.  The  fact  that  it  served  until  the 
present  time  shows  how  spacious  it  must  have  seemed 
to  the  Minneapolis  of  more  than  forty  years  ago. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Father  McGolrick  there 
were  many  changes  and  improvements.  In  1878  the 
Catholic  Benevolent  Society  and  the  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul  Society  were  organized.  In  1882  there  arose  a 
new  educational  institution  in  the  parish,  Floly 
Angels  Academy,  which  also  served  as  a residence 
for  the  sisters  teaching  in  the  parish  school.  In 
1885  was  begun  the  building  of  an  orphan  asylum 
for  orphan  boys  of  the  diocese,  costing  $30,000. 
After  twenty-two  years  of  devoted  service  to  the 
parish  of  Immaculate  Conception,  Father  McGol- 
rick was  called  to  preside  over  the  newly  established 
diocese  of  Duluth,  being  consecrated  bishop  on 
December  27,  1889. 

With  the  departure  of  Father  McGolrick  there 
closed  the  first  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  Church 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  Much  credit  should 
be  given  to  the  pioneer  Catholics  who  had  founded 
and  supported  that  great  church,  the  second  estab- 
lished by  the  Catholic  people  in  Minneapolis.  There 
are  names  closely  associated  with  the  early  history 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception  parish  that  cannot 
be  overlooked  in  any  history  of  Minneapolis. 
Anthony  Kelly,  Angus  McDougall,  Thomas  Gaffney, 
Daniel  Sullivan,  P.  N.  Tobin,  Terence  Connolly, 
Thomas  Gavin,  M.  W.  Nash,  Thomas  Quinn,  Henry 
Prendergast,  Timothy  Corbett,  Roger  Vail  and  many 


others  were  a credit  to  the  community  in  the  de- 
velopment of  which  they  played  an  important  part. 

Rev.  James  C.  Byrne  succeeded  Bishop  McGolrick 
as  the  second  resident  pastor.  He  had  received  his 
early  education  in  the  parish  school,  had  served  as 
altar  boy  for  the  priest  whom  he  succeeded,  after- 
wards went  to  Rome  and  was  ordained  in  the 
eternal  city  on  February  18,  1883.  His  pastorate  in 
the  Immaculate  Conception  parish  continued  only 
two  years,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  presidency 
of  the  College  of  St.  Thomas.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  James  J.  Keane,  now  archbishop  of  Dubuque. 
Father  Keane  was  a native  of  Illinois,  completed 
his  education  in  the  Grand  Seminary  at  Montreal, 
and  was  ordained  priest  in  December,  1882.  He 
became  president  of  the  College  of  St.  Thomas  in 
1888,  and  in  1892  entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor 
of  Immaculate  Conception  parish,  where  he  remained 
for  ten  years,  until  his  consecration  as  third  bishop 
of  the  diocese  of  Cheyenne,  Wyoming.  It  was  dur- 
ing the  pastorate  of  Father  Keane  that  the  idea 
of  a new  and  larger  church  on  a different  site  had 
its  beginning,  and  before  he  left  the  parish  he 
selected  and  purchased  a site  for  the  proposed 
church.  This  site  was  subsequently  deemed  un- 
suitable and  was  sold. 

Rev.  Thomas  E.  Cullen  succeeded  Bishop  Keane 
in  the  pastorate  of  the  Immaculate  Conception 
Church.  Father  Cullen  was  born  in  Charlottetown, 
Prince  Edward  Island,  September  20,  1874.  He 
completed  his  ecclesiastical  studies  at  St.  Paul 
Seminary  and  was  ordained  by  Archbishop  Ireland 
November  8,  1901.  About  a year  later  he  took  up 
the  pastorate  of  Immaculate  Conception  Church. 
Soon  afterwards  the  Immaculate  Conception  Church 
was  declared  a pro-cathedral,  with  Father  Cullen 
as  rector.  Under  Father  Cullen  the  project  for  a 
new  church  proceeded  to  develop  rapidly.  On 
Christmas  Day,  1903,  Archbishop  Ireland  announced 
the  plan  for  a new  edifice.  It  was  a large  under- 
taking, requiring  great  expenditure  of  money,  but 
these  requirements  were  pressing,  since  thousands 
worshiped  in  the  church,  and  the  building  was 
entirely  inadequate.  In  1903,  on  Christmas  Day, 
L.  S.  Donaldson,  a member  of  the  congregation, 
presented  the  parish  with  the  site  on  which  the 
pro-cathedral  now  stands.  This  land  was  valued 
at  $45,000.  Soon  afterwards  it  was  announced  that 
the  Catholics  in  Hennepin  County  would  not  be 
called  upon  to  contribute  to  the  building  of  the  new 
cathedral  of  St.  Paul,  but  would  instead  be  asked 
to  contribute  for  the  building  of  the  pro-cathedral. 

On  August  7,  1907.  ground  was  broken  for  the 
foundation  by  Archbishop  Ireland  and  members  of 
the  building  committee,  and  on  May  31,  1908,  oc- 
curred the  impressive  ceremony  of  the  corner  stone 
laying.  Dignity  was  given  to  this  occasion  by  the 
presence  of  the  apostolic  delegate,  Most  Rev. 
Diomede  Falconio,  three  archbishops,  several  bishops 
and  hundreds  of  clergy. 

Thus,  ten  years  from  the  purchase  of  the  site, 
and  six  years  after  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone, 
the  informal  opening  of  the  Pro-Cathedral  of  St. 
Mary,  at  Hennepin  Avenue  and  Sixteenth  Street, 
was  celebrated  by  solemn  high  mass  on  Sunday 
morning.  May  31.  1914.  This  was  the  sixth  anni- 
versary of  the  corner  stone  laying,  and  the  splendid 
edifice  represented  a cost  of  $800,000.  Father  Cullen, 
rector  of  the  pro-cathedral,  was  the  celebrant,  and 
the  sermon  was  preached  by  Archbishop  John  Ire- 
land. In  general  dimensions  the  length  of  the 


1554 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


pro-cathedral  is  274  feet,  with  a width  of  145  feet. 
It  is  said  that  none  of  the  Old  World  cathedrals 
equals  in  magnificent  expanse  the  wide  nave  of  the 
pro-cathedral,  which  is  eighty-two  feet,  exceeding 
the  nave  of  St.  Peter’s  by  two  feet.  Five  doors  give 
access  to  a vestibule  100  feet  in  width,  over  which 
is  the  spacious  choir  loft.  The  auditorium  accom- 
modates 2,500  persons.  At  the  rear  is  the  large 
chapel  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  on  each  side  of 
which  are  the  chapels  of  St.  Joseph  and  the 
Founders  Chapel.  The  front  towers  rise  to  a 
height  of  1 17  feet  and  the  dome  is  surmounted  by  a 
large  bronze  cross,  the  top  of  which  is  200  feet 
above  the  main  floor.  The  chief  building  material 
is  the  same  type  of  granite  found  in  the  new  post- 
office  at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  and  the 
Wisconsin  State  Capitol,  with  reenforcement  of 
heavy  steel  frame. 

George  Dion.  As  compared  with  many  of  the 
biographies  in  this  work  of  men  who  have,  in  the 
business  world,  attained  to  great  eminence  and 
secured  for  themselves  high  reputations,  as  well 
as  material  wealth,  George  Dion  is  practically  a 
beginner  in  the  field.  Yet  of  none  of  the  men  of 
his  generation  can  it  be  said  that  the  foundation 
for  what  of  success,  of  popularity  and  of  reputation 
the  future  has  in  store,  has  been  more  firmly,  per- 
severingly  and  with  greater  wisdom  laid  than  in 
his  case. 

George  Dion,  the  president  of  the  Puritan  Laun- 
dry Company  of  Duluth,  Minnesota,  was  born  at 
Ashland,  Wisconsin,  December  14,  1873,  and  is  a 
son  of  Theophile  and  Mary  (Blanchet)  Dion.  The 
family  is  of  French  extraction,  and  was  founded 
in  America  by  Joseph  Dion,  who  emigrated  from  his 
native  land  to  Canada  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
Quebec,  where  he  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his 
career  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Theophile  Dion  was 
born  in  1838,  near  Quebec,  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm,  and  for  a number  of  years  was  engaged  in 
general  work.  Fie  came  to  Duluth  as  a pioneer 
business  man,  and  still  resides  in  this  city,  being 
now  retired  from  active  pursuits.  Mrs.  Dion,  who 
also  survives,  was  born  not  far  from  her  husband. 

George  Dion  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Duluth,  whence  he  was  brought  as  a lad,  and 
showed  himself  of  an  industrious  and  ambitious 
nature,  when,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  he  spent 
his  vacation  in  working  in  a cigar  factory,  while 
other  youths  of  his  age  were  passing  their  time  in 
play.  Fie  then  returned  to  school,  and  in  the  vaca- 
tion of  the  following  year  worked  in  the  old  St. 
Louis  Flotel,  and  when  he  completed  his  schooling, 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  began  sailing  on  the 
Great  Lakes  under  Capt.  W.  S.  Inman,  a vocation 
which  he  followed  off  and  on  for  some  time  there- 
after. Following  this  he  was  employed  in  the  old 
Lyceum  Theater  for  two  years,  and  was  then  en- 
gaged by  the  Peerless  Laundry  for  six  years,  this 
being  followed  by  a like  period  with  the  Troy 
Laundry.  His  next  venture  was  with  the  large 
retail  furniture  establishment  of  French  & Bassett, 
of  this  city,  with  which  he  remained  three  years,  and 
he  was  then  employed  for  a short  period  by  the 
Develda  Drug  Company.  Mr.  Dion  was  then  put 
in  charge  of  the  warehouse  of  the  A.  Booth  Packing 
Company,  and  after  one  year  took  charge  of  the 
freezing  plant  of  the  same  concern,  this  being  fol- 
lowed by  three  years  on  the  road  for  the  same 
concern.  In  1909  he  was  employed  as  traveling 


salesman  by  the  Duluth-Superior  Milling  Company, 
a position  which  he  held  for  four  years,  Covering- 
Northern  Minnesota.  On  January  1,  1913,  having 
decided  to  become  the  master  of  his  own  business, 
Mr.  Dion  founded  the  Puritan  Laundry,  at  Nos. 
22-24  Lake  Avenue  North,  and  from  that  time  to 
the  present  has  been  the  directing  head  of  this 
concern,  which  is  now  enjoying  a large  and  con- 
stantly growing  business.  In  the  management  of 
his  business  affairs  Mr.  Dion  has  shown  himself 
a man  of  excellent  judgment  and  executive  ability, 
and  his  broad  experience  in  various  lines  of 
endeavor  has  been  of  much  value  to  him. 

Mr.  Dion  was  married  December  12,  1900,  to 
Miss  Martha  G.  Irvine,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
B.  Irvine,  of  Hamilton,  Ontario,  Canada.  Mr.  Irvine, 
in  his  younger  years,  followed  the  vocation  of  sailor, 
but  during  the  last  eighteen  years  of  his  life  was  a 
lighthouse  keeper.  Mrs.  Irvine  still  survives  her 
husband  and  resides  at  Duluth.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dion : J.  Irvine  and 
May  Margaret,  who  are  attending  school ; and 
Thomas  Gore,  George  Robert  and  Martha  Jane,  all 
living  at  home,  at  the  Dion  residence,  No.  1428 
East  Third  Street.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dion  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  is 
an  independent  democrat  in  his  political  views,  and 
fraternally  is  connected  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Foresters  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 
both  of  Duluth,  and  Lodge  No.  381,  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of  Hancock,  Michigan. 

George  H.  Slocum.  There  are  many  points  that 
make  specially  interesting  a consideration  of  the 
personal  career  and  family  history  of  Mr.  Slocum, 
who  has  passed  the  major  part  of  his  life  in  Dodge 
County,  Minnesota,  who  is  a scion  of  a well  known 
pioneer  family  of  this  state,  who  is  secretary  and 
historian  of  the  Old  Settlers’  Association  of  Dodge 
County,  and  who  has  a broad  and  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  history  of  this  section  of  Minnesota.  He  is  a 
man  of  marked  literary  discrimination  and  as  a 
writer  has  not  only  been  identified  with  newspaper 
work,  but  has  also  written  a valuable  history  of 
Dodge  County,  besides  being  assistant  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  another  history  of  the  same  county.  He 
is  one  of  the  honored  and  influential  citizens  of 
Mantorville,  where  he  has  long  controlled  a sub- 
stantial business  as  a contractor  for  painting  and 
decorating,  the  while  he  has  shown  unfaltering 
interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  and  ad- 
vancement of  the  state  that  has  been  his  home  for 
more  than  half  a century. 

Mr.  Slocum  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  26th  of  June,  1851,  and  is  a son  of 
Henry  Gardner  Slocum  and  Ruby  (Tabor)  Slocum. 
His  father  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Vermont, 
in  1812,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  Crawford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1817,  her  death  having 
occurred  in  1863  and  her  husband  having  survived 
her  by  nearly  twenty  years,  as  he  was  summoned  to 
eternal  rest  in  1881.  Samuel  Slocum,  grandfather 
of  him  whose  name  initiates  this  article,  was  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  whence  he  removed  to  Vermont, 
the  Slocum  family,  of  English  lineage,  having  been 
founded  in  America  in  the  early  colonial  epoch  of 
our  national  history.  Samuel  Slocum  was  a first 
cousin  of  Commodore  Perry,  the  hero  of  the  great 
battle  on  Lake  Erie  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  Mr. 
Slocum  served  under  the  commodore  in  this  second 
conflict  with  England.  Samuel  Slocum  married 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1555 


Mary  Sherman,  who  was  a cousin  of  Gen.  William 
T.  Sherman  and  of  Hon.  John  Sherman,  distin- 
guished as  a member  of  the  United  States  Senate. 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Tabor,  maternal  grandparents 
of  George  H.  Slocum,  were  natives  of  Manchester, 
England,  whence  they  immigrated  to  the  United 
States  about  the  opening  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
settling  in  Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives. 

Henry  Gardner  Slocum  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  old  Green  Mountain  State,  and  in  1832, 
shortly  before  attaining  to  his  legal  majority,  he 
removed  to  Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania,  where 
his  marriage  was  solemnized  in  1846.  He  gave  his 
attention  principally  to  the  raising  and  selling  of 
horses  during  the  period  of  his  independent  career 
in  the  East,  and  finally  he  set  forth  with  his  family 
for  the  West.  They  proceeded  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  thence  by  boat  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  from  which 
city  they  continued  their  journey,  with  team  and 
wagon,  to  Chicago.  On  the  4th  of  August,  1864, 
they  arrived  at  Mantorville,  the  present  judicial 
center  of  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  in  which  state 
Mr.  Slocum  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
wife  died  in  1863.  They  are  survived  by  three 
children,  Gertrude,  Effie  and  George  H.,  and  the 
deceased  children  were  Eugene,  Fritz  Edward,  Sher- 
man and  Clarence  Manley.  Henry  G.  Slocum  was 
a communicant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
and  his  wife  was  a birthright  and  lifelong  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  commonly  designated  as 
Quakers.  Mr.  Slocum  was  a stalwart  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party  from  the  time 
of  its  organization  until  his  death,  was  an  earnest 
abolitionist  during  the  climacteric  period  leading 
up  to  the  Civil  war,  and  was  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Henry  G.  Slocum  was  one  of  the  pioneer  operators 
of  stage  lines  in  Minnesota  and  he  gained  a wide 
circle  of  acquaintances,  a veritable  host  of  friends, 
during  the  early  years  of  his  residence  in  this  state. 
For  eight  years  he  ran  a stage  line  between  Mantor- 
ville and  Red  Wing,  for  four  years  operated  between 
Red  Wing  and  Oronoco,  and  for  eleven  years  he 
ran  a daily  stage  between  Mendota  and  Red  Wing. 
He  was  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Southern 
Minnesota,  and  when,  at  a venerable  age,  he  passed 
away,  his  death  was  deeply  mourned,  as  he  had 
ever  been  known  for  his  kindliness  and  generosity 
and  for  his  impregnable  integrity  in  all  of  the 
relations  of  life. 

George  H.  Slocum  was  a lad  of  thirteen  years  at 
the  time  of  establishing  the  family  home  at  Mantor- 
ville, Dodge  County,  where  he  was  reared  to  maturity 
and  duly  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the 
village  schools.  As  a youth  he  went  to  the  City 
of  Minneapolis,  where  he  served  an  apprenticeship 
to  the  printer’s  trade,  though  he  did  not  long  con- 
tinue his  allegiance  in  a practical  way  to  the  “art 
preservative  of  all  arts.”  On  the  contrary  he  learned 
the  trade  of  painter  and  decorator,  and  with  this 
line  of  enterprise  he  has  been  long  and  successfully 
identified,  being  a leading  contractor  for  such  work 
in  Mantorville  and  its  surrounding  territory.  For 
twenty-one  years  he  has  been  an  editorial  writer 
for  the  Dodge  County  Republican,  and  he  has  also 
done  most  excellent  work  along  historical  lines,  as 
previously  noted  in  this  context.  He  takes,  and 
with  all  of  consistency,  a very  lively  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  Old  Settlers’  Association  of  Dodge 
County,  of  which  he  is  secretary  and  historian,  and 


he  has  spared  no  pains  or  time  in  collecting  and 
placing  in  proper  form  data  concerning  the  pioneer 
days  and  later  history  of  his  home  county  and  other 
sections  of  Southern  Minnesota. 

The  principles  and  policies  of  the  republican  party 
have  found  an  uncompromising  advocate  in  Mr. 
Slocum,  whose  editorial  utterances  and  personal  in- 
fluence have  done  much  to  further  its  cause  in  a 
local  way.  He  is  now  serving  as  county  coroner, 
but  has  never  been  imbued  with  ambition  for  public 
office.  Mr.  Slocum  is  an  appreciative  and  honored 
member  of  Mantorville  Lodge  No.  11,  Ancient,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  is  secretary,  and 
he  is  a communicant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  His  unqualified  popularity  has  not  proved 
adequate  to  deflect  him  from  the  ranks  of  eligible 
bachelors  up  to  the  present  time. 

Oliver  C.  Wyman.  Among  those  who  have  stood 
as  successful  types  of  the  world’s  productive  workers 
is  Oliver  Cromwell  Wyman,  who  has  been  actively 
identified  with  business  activities  in  the  City  of 
Minneapolis  for  the  past  forty  years  and  who 
has  made  a deep  and  benignant  impress  upon  the 
civic  and  industrial  history  of  the  Minnesota 
metropolis.  He  has  proved  thoroughly  appreciative 
of  all  that  represents  the  higher  values  of  human 
existence,  has  been  a positive  and  influential  figure 
in  the  commercial  world,  has  realized  the  responsi- 
bilities which  success  imposes,  and  has  ordered  his 
course  on  a lofty  plane  of  integrity  and  honor. 
Progressive  and  broad-minded  in  both  private  and 
public  affairs,  he  has  proved  a most  valuable  citizen 
and  is  fully  entitled  to  the  unqualified  confidence 
and  esteem  in  which  he  is  uniformly  held.  He  has 
been  one  of  the  builders  of  the  greater  Minneapolis, 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  extensive  wholesale  dry 
goods  house  of  Wyman,  Partridge  & Company,  rep- 
resenting one  of  the  foremost  commercial  enter- 
prises of  the  Northwest,  and  its  trade  territory  ex- 
tends from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Pacific  Coast, 
giving  the  house  rank  with  the  foremost  wholesale 
dry  goods  establishments  of  the  LTnited  States.  And 
he  has  other  important  capitalistic  interests,  not  the 
least  of  which  are  involved  through  his  association 
with  the  Northwestern  National  Bank,  of  which  he 
has  been  a director  for  more  than  a score  of  years 
and  of  whose  directorate  he  is  now  chairman.  Mr. 
Wyman  has  won  success  of  large  and  worthy  order 
and  has  been  in  a significant  sense  the  artificer  of 
his  own  fortunes.  He  is  today  one  of  the  pioneer 
business  men  and  influential  citizens  of  the  North- 
west, and  there  is  all  of  consistency  in  according 
him  specific  recognition  in  this  history  of  Minnesota. 

Frank  H.  Clay,  M.  D.  A representative  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  of  the  younger  generation  in  his 
native  state,  Doctor  Clay  is  engaged  in  successful 
practice  in  the  attractive  little  city  of  St.  Charles, 
Winona  County,  where  he  is  serving  also  as  health 
officer. 

Dr.  Frank  Homer  Clay  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Minneapolis,  on  the  15th  of  June.  1884.  and  is  a son 
of  Homer  and  Rebecca  (Ray)  Clay,  both  likewise 
natives  of  Minnesota,  where  the  former  was  born 
in  1850  and  the  latter  in  1851 — dates  that  indicate 
that  the  respective  families  were  founded  in  this 
state 'while  it  was  still  under  territorial  government. 
The  parents  now  reside  in  Minneapolis,  where  the 
father  is  connected  with  the  Washburn  Flour  Mill 


1556 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Company,  in  a semi-executive  capacity.  Homer  Clay 
is  a son  of  Francis  A.  Clay,  who  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Maine,  and  who  became  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Winona  County,  Minnesota.  He  later 
removed  to  Parker’s  Lake,  Hennepin  County,  where 
he  entered  claim  to  government  land  and  eventually 
developed  a fine  farm,  he  and  his  wife  having  been 
numbered  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  Lake 
Minnetonka  District.  Francis  A.  Clay  was  a vener- 
able pioneer  citizen  of  Plennepin  County  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  the  winter  of  1913,  at  which  time 
he  was  eighty-six  years  of  age.  Moses  Ray,  maternal 
grandfather  of  Doctor  Clay,  was  born  in  Ireland 
and  was  a boy  at  the  time  of  the  family  immigration 
to  the  United  States,  settlement  being  made  first 
in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  Moses  Ray  likewise 
became  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  Minnesota, 
where  he  obtained  government  land  and  developed  a 
valuable  farm,  his  death  having  occurred  in  Minne- 
apolis, in  1913,  and  his  old  homestead  farm  being 
now  owned  by  his  son-in-law,  Homer  Clay.  The 
father  of  Doctor  Clay  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Hennepin  County  and  was  long  identified  with  the 
agricultural  industry,  though  he  has  acquired  a sub- 
stantial fortune  largely  through  his  real  estate  hold- 
ings. He  is  a democrat  in  politics,  is  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Of  the  four  children  the  doctor  is  the  eldest 
of  the  three  now  living : Bert  is  on  a ranch  in  the 
State  of  Montana,  and  Lyman  is  a member  of  the 
class  of  1915  in  the  department  of  dentistry  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota. 

Doctor  Clay  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Minneapolis  until  his  graduation  in  the  South  High 
School,  in  1903,  and  in  1907  he  was  graduated  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor 
of  arts.  In  the  medical  department  of  the  university 
he  completed  the  prescribed  curriculum  and  was 
graduated  in  1910,  with  the  degree  of  doctor  of 
medicine.  During  his  senior  year  he  served  as  night 
surgeon  in  connection  with  the  police  department 
of  the  Minnesota  metropolis,  and  after  his  gradua- 
tion he  served  one  year  as  an  interne,  where  he 
gained  valuable  clinical  and  laboratory  experience. 

In  1911  Doctor  Clay  established  his  residence  at 
Winona,  where  he  engaged  in  practice  in  partnership 
with  Dr.  Edward  S.  Muer,  this  alliance  continuing 
two  years.  In  1913  he  removed  to  St.  Charles, 
where  he  has  since  been  associated  in  practice  with 
Doctor  Bear,  under  the  firm  name  of  Doctors  Bear 
and  Clay,  and  he  has  so  thoroughly  proved  his 
technical  ability  and  gained  such  distinctive  personal 
popularity  that  he  controls  an  excellent  general 
practice  and  has  proved  a valued  accession  to  the 
ranks  of  his  profession  in  Winona  County.  The 
doctor  holds  membership  in  the  Winona  County 
Medical  Society  and  the  Minnesota  State  Medical 
Society,  is  now  serving  as  health  officer  of  St. 
Charles,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  both  the  York  and 
Scottish  Rite  bodies  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  both 
he  and  his  wife  holding  membership  in  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 

The  year  1910  recorded  the  marriage  of  Doctor 
Clay  to  Miss  Alice  B.  Leland,  of  Minneapolis,  and 
they  have  twin  sons,  Leland  and  Lyman. 

Robert  D.  Sprague.  Since  pioneer  times,  for  a 
period  of  sixty  years,  probably  no  family  has  been 
more  conspicuous  in  the  business  life  of  Houston 
County  than  the  Spragues.  A son  of  the  pioneer 


merchant  and  well  known  banker  of  Caledonia, 
Robert  D.  Sprague,  is  now  serving  as  cashier  of  the 
Sprague  State  Bank,  an  institution  in  which  his 
father  was  prominent  in  founding,  and  has  many 
financial  interests  in  this  section  of  the  state. 

Robert  D.  Sprague  was  born  in  Caledonia,  April 
29,  1872.  His  father,  the  late  Ara  D.  Sprague,  was 
born  at  Richfield  Springs,  New  York,  in  1824,  and 
died  January  u,  1909.  The  grandfather  was  Asa 
W.  Sprague,  who  spent  his  life  in  New  York  State. 
The  late  Ara  D.  Sprague  came  to  Minnesota  in 
1854,  and  arrived  in  this  state  with  nothing  except 
character  and  industry  as  collateral.  He  was  even 
in  debt  to  some  extent,  but  became  one  of  the 
wealthiest  and  most  influential  citizens  and  showed 
remarkable  ability  in  business  affairs.  At  Caledonia, 
where  he  located,  he  opened  the  first  stock  of  mer- 
chandise, and  was  a merchant  there  for  a number 
of  years.  In  1875  he  became  associated  with  Mr. 
Easton  in  the  banking  business,  and  was  best  known 
as  a banker  from  that  time  until  his  death,  forty-five 
years  later.  He  had  large  landed  interests  in  the 
state,  and  along  with  his  wealth  left  the  heritage  of 
an  honored  name.  He  was  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  Order,  was  a republican  in  politics,  and 
with  his  wife  worshiped  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
faith.  Ara  D.  Sprague  was  married  at  Caledonia, 
Minnesota,  to  Elmira  Williams.  She  was  born  in 
Illinois  in  1838  and  is  still  living.  Her  father,  Robert 
S.  Williams,  spent  a number  of  years  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania.  He  studied  and  practiced  medicine 
for  some  time,  was  also  a minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  later  in  life  followed  farming. 
There  were  four  children  in  the  family,  including 
Robert  D.  The  others  are : Mrs.  Charles  Latham, 

who  lives  in  Caledonia  and  whose  husband  is  a 
traveling  salesman ; Arthur  D.  is  a resident  at  Devils 
Lake,  North  Dakota,  and  is  now  vice  president 
of  the  Sprague  State  Bank;  E.  A.  Sprague  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Sprague  State  Bank  at  Caledonia. 

Robert  D.  Sprague  grew  up  in  Caledonia,  attended 
the  local  schools,  and  later  was  a student  in  Carleton 
College  at  Northfield.  He  left  college  and  returned 
to  Caledonia  to  take  up  active  work  as  a banker, 
beginning  as  bookkeeper,  and  since  1897  has  held 
the  post  of  cashier.  The  Sprague  State  Bank  is 
one  of  the  soundest  institutions  in  Southern  Minne- 
sota. It  has  a capital  of  $25,000,  surplus  of  $5,000, 
and  divided  profits  of  $5,000,  while  its  deposits 
aggregate  $600,000. 

Mr.  Sprague  was  married,  in  1898,  to  Grace  Far- 
rington, a daughter  of  E.  V.  Farrington  of  Preston. 
Minnesota.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Robert  Eugene  being  in  school,  while  Alice  Janet 
Grace  is  still  in  infancy.  Mr.  Sprague  and  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Politically 
a republican,  he  has  served  on  the  city  council  and 
as  mayor  of  Caledonia,  and  while  essentially  a busi- 
ness man,  has  always  shown  marked  public  spirit 
in  his  relations  with  the  community. 

Charles  Johnson.  The  present  county  attorney 
of  Kandiyohi  County,  Charles  Johnson,  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Minnesota  bar  since  1898,  and  during 
this  time  has  advanced  to  a recognized  position 
among  the  strong  and  forceful  lawyers  of  the  state. 
He  has  resided  all  his  life  in  Kandiyohi  County, 
and  that  his  standing  is  high  among  his  fellow 
citizens  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  has  never 
been  defeated  for  an  office  for  which  he  has  desired 
to  be  a candidate. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1557 


Mr.  Johnson  was  born  on  his  father’s  homestead 
place  in  Kandiyohi  County,  January  io,  1869,  and 
is  a son  of  O.  L.  and  Anna  (Nelson)  Johnson, 
natives  of  Sweden,  where  they  were  married.  The 
father,  born  in  1827,  was  married  in  1859,  the 
mother  having  been  born  in  1836,  and  in  1865  they 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  settling  first  in 
Goodhue  County,  Minnesota,  but  two  years  later 
coming  to  Kandiyohi  County,  where  they  passed  the 
remaining  years  of  their  lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John- 
son were  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely:  N. 

O.,  who  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  Kandi- 
yohi County;  Oscar,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
place ; Charles,  of  this  notice ; Mrs.  P.  M.  Lindkren, 
the  wife  of  an  agriculturist  of  Kandiyohi  County; 
Annette,  who  is  single  and  resides  with  her  brother 
on  the  old  homestead ; and  Mrs.  Arthur  Monson, 
of  Minneapolis,  the  wife  of  a stationary  engineer. 

After  completing  his  primary  studies  in  the  coun- 
try schools  of  Kandiyohi  County,  Charles  Johnson 
enrolled  as  a student  at  Willmar  Seminary  and  was 
graduated  therefrom  in  1889.  Later  he  entered 
Gustavus  Adolphus  College,  where  he  completed  a 
full  course  of  study  in  1895,  and  then  entered  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
being  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1898  with 
his  degree.  In  that  same  year  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  and  began  practice,  being  for  five  years  in 
partnership  with  Samuel  Olson,  but  since  that  time 
has  continued  alone,  and  now  maintains  offices  in 
the  Willmar  Block.  Mr.  Johnson’s  practice  is  broad 
and  general  in  its  character,  and  has  steadily  grown 
to  large  proportions,  one  of  the  large  concerns  on 
his  books  being  the  Bank  of  Willmar,  of  which  he 
is  attorney.  He  is  admitted  to  practice  in  all  the 
courts,  and  is  a member  of  the  leading  organizations 
of  his  profession,  in  which  he  is  recognized  generally 
as  a thorough,  learned  and  painstaking  lawyer. 

Politically  a republican,  Mr.  Johnson  has  long 
taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  began 
his  career  as  a public  servant  in  the  capacity  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  1900  became  the  candi- 
date of  his  party  for  the  office  of  county  attorney 
of  Kandiyohi  County.  He  was  duly  elected,  and 
received  the  reelection  in  1902,  when  he  retired  from 
office  and  did  not  again  become  a candidate  until 
1914,  when  he  was  again  elected  to  the  same  posi- 
tion, in  which  he  is  making  an  enviable  record. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  a member  of  the  city  library  board, 
and  in  various  ways  has  labored  for  the  civic 
welfare.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  past  chancellor 
commander.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  has  continued  to  be  one  of  its 
consistent  members. 

Alton  Crosby.  Prominent  among  the  enterpris- 
ing and  progressive  men  who  have  aided  in  the 
development  and  growth  of  Willmar  during  the 
past  forty  years  is  found  Alton  Crosby,  who  served 
in  the  capacity  of  postmaster  of  this  thriving  Min- 
nesota city  from  January  15,  1907,  to  May  20,  1915, 
and  who  for  thirty-seven  years  has  been  identified 
with  the  Willmar  Republican  Gazette.  Mr.  Crosby’s 
rise  in  the  world  from  the  time  when  he  came  as 
an  untried  youth,  grateful  for  any  honorable  em- 
ployment, to  the  present,  when  he  is  rated  among 
the  city’s  most  substantial  men.  has  been  brought 
about  through  his  own  merit  and  ability  to  grasp 
opportunities.  He  was  fortunate  in  coming  to  Will- 
mar at  a time  when  it  was  entering  upon  an  era  of 


growth  and  progress.  His  record,  both  in  public 
and  private  life,  has  been  an  honorable  one,  and  he 
is  justly  entitled  to  the  title  of  representative  self- 
made  man. 

Mr.  Crosby  was  born  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 
.October  26,  1858,  and  is  a son  of  Lewis  and  Olive 
(Hinckley)  Crosby  and  a member  of  a family 
prominent  in  the  old  Bay  State  for  a number  of 
generations.  The  name  was  brought  to  the  Ameri- 
can continent  by  Simon  Crosby,  who  came  here  from 
England  as  early  as  1632,  settled  in  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay  Colony,  and,  being  well  educated  and  a 
member  of  a prominent  old  English  family,  became 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  little  settlement. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Harvard  College. 
His  son  was  Thomas  Crosby,  a noted  minister, 
and  the  latter  was  the  father  of  Jesse  Crosby,  who 
was  born  at  Brewster,  Massachusetts,  and  spent  his 
life  there  following  the  sea.  Lewis  Crosby,  the  son 
of  Jesse  Crosby,  and  grandfather  of  Alton  Crosby, 
was  born  at  Centerville,  Massachusetts,  and  passed 
his  life  there. 

Lewis  Crosby,  father  of  Alton,  was  born  in  1817 
in  Massachusetts,  and  early  became  a sailor  on  the 
Atlantic  and  continued  to  spend  his  entire  life  as  a 
sea  captain,  dying  in  his  native  state  in  1873.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  rendered  the  Federal  Government 
valuable  service  in  the  capacity  of  commander  of  a 
government  transport.  Mr.  Crosby  was  a republi- 
can in  politics,  a Congregationalist  in  religious  belief 
and  active  in  his  church,  and  a charter  member  of 
Hyannis  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  Hyannis,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  was  married  in  his  native  state  to 
Olive  Hinckley,  daughter  of  Abraham  Hinckley. 
The  maternal  grandfather  was  born  at  Barnstable, 
Barnstable  County,  Massachusetts,  served  as  a 
soldier  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  owned  and 
operated  the  old  salt  works,  and  died  at  Barnstable 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven  years.  Six 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crosby,  of 
whom  three  are  still  living:  Louisa,  who  is  still 
single  and  makes  her  residence  at  the  old  family 
home  in  Massachusetts;  Herbert  M.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  general  merchandise  business  and  is  a 
well  known  citizen  of  Los  Angeles,  California ; 
and  Alton,  of  this  notice. 

The  common  schools  of  his  native  state  furnished 
Alton  Crosby  with  his  educational  training,  and 
when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  in  1876,  he  came 
to  the  West  in  search  of  his  fortune.  Arriving  at 
Willmar,  Minnesota,  in  that  year,  he  first  secured 
a position  as  clerk  in  a store,  but  later  was  forced 
to  seek  other  employment,  and  gladly  accepted  what- 
ever work  of  an  honorable  character  was  entrusted 
to  him.  In  1878  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of 
printer  in  the  office  of  the  Republican  Gazette,  a 
publication  which  had  been  established  in  1871,  and 
hy  1880  had  saved  enough  from  his  earnings  to 
purchase  a one-half  interest  in  this  newspaper.  In 
1888  he  bought  out  his  partner’s  interest,  and  since 
that  year  has  been  the  sole  owner,  editor  and 
publisher.  Mr.  Crosby  is  producing  a weekly  pub- 
lication, the  policy  of  which  makes  it  a republican 
organ,  and  which  now  has  a circulation  of  2,300.  He 
is  giving  his  subscribers  excellent  value  for  their 
money,  endeavoring  in  every  way  to  secure  reliable, 
interesting  and  authentic  news  and  to  place  it  before 
them  in  an  attractive  manner.  That  the  Republican 
Gazette  js  considered  a good  advertising  medium  is 
demonstrated  by  the  manner  in  which  the  merchants 
of  Willmar  are  supporting  it.  Mr.  Crosby  is  pos- 


1558 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


sessed  of  a trenchant  pen,  and  at  all  times  it  has 
been  at  the  command  of  those  men  and  movements 
which  have  assisted  Willmar  to  better  things.  In 
connection  with  his  newspaper  establishment,  he 
conducts  a modern  job  printing  business,  where  he 
is  at  all  times  ready  to  turn  out  work  of  the  highest 
character.  Mr.  Crosby’s  contributions  toi  the  up- 
building of  Willmar  include  a large  opera  house, 
recently  erected,  which  would  be  a credit  to  any 
community,  and  where  high  class  attractions  are 
to  be  offered  to  the  amusement-loving  people  of  the 
city. 

In  1884  Mr.  Crosby  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Gertrude  Baldwin,  daughter  of  William  Bald- 
win, a native  of  New  York  who  settled  in  Scott 
County,  Minnesota,  in  1857.  For  many  years  he  was 
engaged  in  the  milling  business,  and  for  a long  time 
conducted  an  enterprise  at  Belle  Plaine,  where  Mrs. 
Crosby  was  born  in  December,  1864.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Crosby  there  have  been  born  two  children : 
Walter,  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
and  a member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon,  who  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  the  publication  of  the 
Republican  Gazette,  and  Olive,  a graduate  of  the 
Willmar  High  School.  Mrs.  Crosby  and  the  two 
children  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and, 
while  he  is  not  a member  thereof,  Mr.  Crosby  serves 
as  vestryman.  He  is  somewhat  interested  in  fra- 
ternal matters,  belonging  to  the  local  lodges  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the  Wood- 
men of  the  World,  and  in  each  has  numerous  friends. 
A stalwart  republican  in  his  political  views,  he  has 
been  interested  in  politics  more  as  a good  citizen 
than  as  a seeker  for  political  preferment,  his  only 
office  of  consequence  being  that  of  postmaster,  to 
which  he  was  appointed  January  15,  1907,  and  in 
which  he  has  since  made  an  enviable  record  for 
conscientious  service  and  achievements  accomplished. 

Hon.  Trygve  O.  Gilbert.  The  career  of  Hon. 
Trygve  O.  Gilbert,  judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  is 
strongly  entrenched  in  the  history  of  the  jurispru- 
dence of  Kandiyohi  County.  The  City  of  Willmar, 
which  witnessed  the  beginning  of  his  professional 
career  in  1904,  offered  a promising  field  for  the 
young  man  of  twenty-six  years,  and  the  citizens 
who  have  watched  his  advancement  have  never  had 
cause  to  regret  the  faith  they  placed  in  his  energy, 
enthusiasm  and  ability.  He  has  grown  into  its 
opportunities,  has  fashioned  his  resources  to  its 
needs,  and  has  reflected  sincerity,  genuine  worth 
and  dignity  upon  a profession  for  which  he  is  singu- 
larly and  eminently  equipped. 

Trygve  O.  Gilbert  was  born  on  his  father’s  home- 
stead farm,  not  far  from  Christiania,  the  capital 
city  of  Norway,  August  17,  1878,  and  is  a son  of 
Ole  and  Martha  (Klinkenberg)  Gilbertson.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  Gilbert  Ligeren,  who 
passed  his  entire  life  in  Norway  as  a farmer,  while 
his  maternal  grandfather  was  Tobias  Klinkenberg, 
who  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  never 
left  his  native  land.  Ole  Gilbertson  was  born  in 
Norway  in  1843,  and  was  there  married  in  1866  to 
Martha  Klinkenberg,  who  was  born  in  the  same  year 
as  her  husband.  Coming  to  the  United  States  in 
1884,  the  family  settled  on  a farm  in  Nobles  County, 
but  in  1896  the  father  purchased  a farm  in  the 
vicinity  of  Willmar,  in  Kandiyohi  County,  a,nd  there 
continued  . successful  operations  until  he  sold  his 
property,  in  1907,  and  retired.  Plis  death  occurred 


at  Tacoma,  Washington,  in  1914,  while  Mrs.  Gil- 
bertson still  survives.  Mr.  Gilbertson  was  a con- 
sistent member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  throughout 
his  life  and  took  an  active  and  helpful  part  in  its 
work.  In  early  life  in  America  he  was  a supporter 
of  the  republican  party,  but  in  later  years  became 
a stanch  adherent  of  prohibition  principles  and  cast 
his  vote  for  that  party’s  candidates.  There  were 
eight  children  in  the  family,  as  follows : Mrs.  Ed- 

ward Riley,  of  Ellsworth.  Minnesota,  the  wife  of  a 
railroad  man;  Mrs.  William  McGarry,  of  St.  Paul, 
whose  husband  is  also  a railroad  man ; Mrs.  C.  A. 
Grimlund,  the  wife  of  a railroad  man  of  Willmar ; 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Fitzgerald,  the  wife  of  a Watertown, 
South  Dakota,  railroader ; Mrs.  Christian  Svenson, 
wife  of  a carpenter  of  Minneapolis;  G.  O.,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  at  Roy,  Washington;  Judge 
Trygve  O.,  of  this  review,  and  Prof.  A.  N.,  who 
is  instructor  in  anthropology  at  the  University  of 
Minnesota. 

Trygve  O.  Gilbert  was  six  years  of  age  when  the 
family  emigrated  to  the  LTnited  States,  and  his  early 
educational  training  was  secured  in  the  public  schools 
of  Nobles  County.  Later  he  enjoyed  the  privileges 
of  attendance  at  Augsburg  (Minnesota)  Seminary, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  the  fall  of  1898,  receiving 
the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts,  and  having  earned 
the  honor  of  being  valedictorian  of  his  class.  In 
the  fall  of  1901  he  began  his  legal  studies  in  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and 
was  graduated  therefrom  with  his  degree  of  bachelor 
of  laws,  in  June,  1904,  shortly  after  which  he  took 
up  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Willmar.  Un- 
usual ability,  great  natural  resource  and  firm  belief 
in  the  best  tenets  of  his  profession  soon  made  him  a 
factor  to  be  reckoned  with,  and  in  the  course  of  his 
professional  life  many  of  the  most  important  cases 
in  this  part  of  the  state  have  received  his  support. 
Mr.  Gilbert  became  esteemed  for  his  many  excellent 
qualities,  for  the  thorough  knowledge  which  he 
possessed  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  law,  and  for 
a public-spiritedness  which  ever  prompted  , a sane 
and  practical  interest  in  those  measures  which  tend 
for  stability  and  good  government,  and  in  1910, 
when  a vacancy  occurred  upon  the  bench,  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Eberhart  as  judge  of  the 
Probate  Court,  taking  his  position  on  April  2d.  The 
excellent  manner  in  which  he  discharged  the  duties 
of  his  dignified  office  recommend  him  to  the  people 
as  an  able  and  impartial  jurist,  and  he  has  since 
been  reelected  to  the  probate  bench  on  three  suc- 
cessive occasions.  In  politics  Judge  Gilbert  has  al- 
ways been  a stalwart  republican,,  and  has  been 
prominent  in  the  ranks  of  his  party,  having,  served 
as  chairman  of  the  republican  county  committee  of 
Kandiyohi  County  for  six  years.  He  is  well  and 
favorably  known”  not  only  in  his  profession,  but 
among  business  men  generally,  and  is  making  one 
of  the  most  energetic  and  progressive  presidents  the 
Willmar  Commercial  Club  has  known.  Aside  from 
the  organizations  of  his  profession,  of  which  he  is  a 
valued  member,  Judge  Gilbert  belongs  to  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen  and  Lodge  No.  952, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  has 
a wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  in  .which  he  numbers 
many  warm  and  appreciative  friends,  attracted  to 
him  by  his  genial  and  courteous  personality. 

On  January  22,  1900, . Judge  Gilbert  was  united  in 
marriage,  at  Willmar,  with  Miss  Clara  Emelia  John- 
son, an  attractive  and  popular  young  woman  oLthis 
city,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been  born  two 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1559 


children : Harold  Eugene,  who  was  born  August 
17,  1901,  and  Floyd  Oliver,  who  was  born  September 
22,  1904.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  both  have 
taken  an  active  interest  in  its  work. 

James  D.  Shearer.  The  legal  profession  in  the 
Minnesota  metropolis  has  a representative  member 
in  the  person  of  Mr.  Shearer  who  has  been  engaged 
in  practice  in  Minneapolis  for  the  past  thirty  years 
and  whose  labors  have  identified  him  with  many  im- 
portant litigations  in  the  various  courts  and  given 
him  definite  prestige  as  an  effective  advocate,  besides 
which  he  has  represented  Hennepin  County  as  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature. 

Of  patrician  Scottish  lineage,  James  Duncan 
Shearer  was  born  in  the  City  of  Janesville,  judicial 
center  of  Rock  County,  Wisconsin,  and  the  date  of 
his  nativity  was  March  25,  1862.  He  is  a son  of 
Robert  Bruce  Shearer  and  Eliza  Campbell  (Mc- 
Dougall)  Shearer,  both  representatives  of  distin- 
guished old  Scottish  families,  the  genealogy  on  the 
paternal  side  being  traced  in  direct  line  to  the  great 
patriot  of  Scotland,  Robert  Bruce,  and  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  review  having  been  a second 
cousin  of  the  last  Duke  of  Argyle  and  a grand- 
daughter of  Dr.  John  Lawson,  who  was  a dis- 
tinguished physician  of  the  City  of  Edinburgh  and 
who  numbered  among  his  clients  Sir  Walter  Scott, 
in  whose  home  he  was  retained  as  family  physician. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Shearer  is  now  (1915)  ninety-two 
years  of  age,  while  the  mother  is  deceased. 

When  James  D.  Shearer  was  three  years  of  age 
his  parents  removed  from  Wisconsin  to  the  State 
of  Iowa,  where  the  father  became  a prosperous 
farmer  and  a citizen  influential  in  his  community. 
James  D.,  the  youngest  of  the  six  children,  found 
his  childhood  and  youth  compassed  by  the  invigorat- 
ing influences  of  the  home  farm,  and  his  early 
educational  advantages  were  those  afforded  in  the 
district  schools.  After  due  preliminary  discipline 
he  entered  the  Iowa  State  Agricultural  College,  at 
Ames,  wherf  he  continued  his  studies  for  five  years 
and  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1879.  Up  to  that  time  he  was  the  youngest  student 
that  had  been  graduated  in  this  institution,  as  he 
was  but  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  received 
therefrom  his  degree  of  bachelor  of  science.  After 
leaving  college  Mr.  Shearer  turned  his  attention  to 
the  pedagogic  profession,  of  which  he  became  a 
successful  and  popular  representative,  as  a teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  during  a period  of 
several  years.  The  work  of  a teacher  did  not  offer 
attractions  or  inducements  sufficient  to  satisfy  his 
ambition,  however,  and  in  1883  he  resigned  his  posi- 
tion in  a school  in  his  home  state  and  came  to  Min- 
nesota, having  been  twenty-one  years  of  age  at 
the  time.  He  established  .his  residence  in  Minne- 
apolis and  soon  afterward  began  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  and  under  the  able  preceptorship  of 
Judge  Bagg.  On  the  17th  of  October,  1884,  Mr. 
Shearer  was  admitted  to  the  Minnesota  bar  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  state.  During  the  long  inter- 
vening years  he  has  applied  himself  with  all  of 
diligence  and  marked  ability  to  the  practice  ofjhis 
profession,  and  Minneapolis  has  been  his  residence 
and  the  stage  of  his  activities  from  the  initiation 
of  his  practice  to  the  present  time.  He  has  not  found 
it  expedient  to  specialize  in  any  one  department  of 
law,  but  has  pursued  a general  practice,  which  has 

Vol.  Ill— 19 


involved  his  appearance  in  many  important  litiga- 
tions and  as  counsel  for  representative  clientage. 
For  several  years  Air.  Shearer  was  a member  of  the 
law  firm  of  Belden,  Jamison  & Shearer,  but  has 
recently  associated  with  him  Air.  Lee  B.  Byard, 
sharing  with  Judges  Brooks  and  Jamison  a well 
appointed  suite  of  offices  in  the  Minnesota  Loan  & 
Trust  Building. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  1907,  Air.  Shearer  was 
appointed  receiver  of  the  Alinnesota  Title  Insurance 
& Trust  Company,  and  the  incidental  duties  of  set- 
tling up  the  affairs  of  this  corporation  demanded 
much  of  his  time  and  attention  for  a number  of 
years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Shearer  has  ever  accorded  un- 
faltering allegiance  to  the  republican  party  and  he 
has  been  and  continues  an  effective  advocate  of  its 
basic  principles  and  policies,  his  well  fortified  con- 
victions preventing  any  heretical  political  deflections 
on  his  part.  In  1903  he  was  elected  a representative 
of  Hennepin  County  in  the  lower  house  of  the  State 
Legislature,  and  he  served  one  term  with  character- 
istic ability  and  civic  loyalty.  He  has  had  no  definite 
ambition  for  public  office,  however,  as  he  holds  that 
his  profession  is  worthy  of  his  undivided  allegiance. 
Air.  Shearer  is  a member  of  the  Alinneapolis  Bar 
Association,  and  is  also  identified  with  the  following 
named  and  representative  civic  organizations  in  his 
home  . city : The  Alinneapolis  Club,  Minneapolis 
Athletic  _ Club,  the  Alinneapolis  Civic  & Commerce 
Association  and  the  Six  O'Clock  Club. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  1888,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Shearer  to  Aliss  Emma  Evans, 
of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and  they  have  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  as  follows : Hermione,  David, 
Jonathan  and  Alan. 

Charles  F.  Spencer.  The  energetic  and  progres- 
sive owner  and  editor  of  the  Willmar  Weekly 
Journal,  at  Willmar,  Alinnesota,  Charles  F.  Spencer, 
has  been  connected  in  one  or  another  capacity  with 
the  printing  and  newspaper  business  since  his  thir- 
teenth year.  During  this  time  he  has  worked  his 
way  steadily  upward  from  a humble  capacity  to  the 
ownership  of  a prosperous  newspaper  and  to  the 
proprietorship  of  a job  printing  business  which 
attracts  its  customers  from  not  only  the  immediate 
locality  of  its  situation,  but  from  distant  states. 
His  success  has  been  self  attained,  for  he  started 
upon  his  career  with  no  other  advantages  than  a 
worthy  ambition  and  commendable  determination. 
These  formed  the  medium  through  which  his  abili- 
ties were  allowed  to  be  brought  into  play. 

Air.  Spencer  was  born  in  Scott  County,  Alinnesota, 
December  20,  1862,  and  is  a son  of  Richard  M.  and 
Alary  (Smith)  Spencer.  His  father,  born  in  1817, 
in  Kentucky,  was  married  there  and  in  1847  came 
to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  For  a number  of  years  he 
was  a'  steamboat  captain  and  also  dealt  in  invest- 
ments. thus  accumulating  a vast  property,  but  the 
greater  part  of  this  was  swept  away  in  the  great 
financial  panic  of  1853.  Among  his  properties  was 
an  entire  city  block  in  St.  Paul,  which  was  appro- 
priated by  the  city,  but  a number  of  years  later  his 
heirs  sued  and  recovered  a part  in  damages.  Mr. 
Spencer  was  also  engaged  in  the  wholesale  grocery 
business,  but  it  is  probable  that  his  financial  mis- 
fortunes hastened  his  demise,  for  he  passed  away  in 
1866,  when  but  forty-nine  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  Church,  a re- 


1560 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


publican  in  his  political  views,  and  a member  of  the 
Masons  and  the  Odd  Fellows.  Mrs.  Spencer,  who 
was  born  in  1828,  died  in  1890,  having  been  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living, 
Charles  F.  having  been  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 

Charles  F.  Spencer  was  but  four  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  father’s  death,  and  the  mother,  being 
unable  to  keep  her  children  all  with  her,  he  was 
placed  in  the  home  of  a family  at  Montevideo, 
Minnesota.  At  that  place  he  received  a public  school 
education,  and  when  thirteen  years  of  age  began 
work  in  a printing  office  there.  That  the  youth  was 
of  stable  character  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he 
remained  with  his  first  employer  for  ten  years. 
Mr.  Spencer’s  first  newspaper  venture  was  as  the 
proprietor  of  the  Montevideo  Commercial,  which  he 
conducted  until  1891,  and  |ollowing  this  had  various 
experiences  in  newspaper  work  and  job  printing 
until  coming  to  Willmar  in  1900.  Here  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  as  the  proprietor  of  a 
printing  establishment,  and  in  July,  1904,  founded 
the  Willmar  Weekly  Journal,  which  he  has  since 
conducted  with  much  success.  He  has  built  up  a 
circulation  of  1,000  subscribers,  and  his  readers  are 
receiving  full  value  for  their  money  in  a clean,  inter- 
esting and  reliable  newspaper,  the  editor  of  which 
endeavors  to  give  them  all  the  news,  presented  in 
an  attractive  form.  Mr.  Spencer  is  possessed  of  no 
mean  literary  ability  and  his  editorials  are  terse, 
cogent  and  to  the  point.  As  an  advertising  medium, 
the  Journal  is  considered  an  excellent  means  of 
bringing  reliable  merchants  in  touch  with  the  best 
and  most  representative  patronage.  Through  the 
columns  of  his  paper  Mr.  Spencer  has  exerted  a 
force  for  progress  and  advancement  in  the  com- 
munity, and  at  no  time  has  he  spared  himself  when 
civic  or  business  betterment  has  been  the  reason  for 
a movement.  The  high  class  of  his  job_  work  has 
attracted  to  him  customers  from  outside  states, 
particularly  in  the  line  of  printing  for  manufacturers 
and  bankers. 

Mr.  Spencer  was  married  February  4,  1889,  to 
Miss  Lida  M.  Timmons,  who  was  born  at  Centralia, 
Illinois,  August  21,  1865,  and  is  a daughter  of  I.  W. 
Timmons,  of  Winona,  Minnesota,  for  forty  years 
a leading  medical  practitioner  of  that  place,  where 
he  died  in  1914,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Two 
sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer : 
Horace  Franklin,  twenty-one  years  of  age,  assisting 
his  father  in  the  publishing  of  the  Journal,  and 
Dana  Timmons,  born  March  14,  1902.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Spencer  and  their  sons  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Mr.  Spencer  has  passed  through  the 
chairs  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
is  a member  of  the  Degree  of  Honor  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  for  the  past  ten  years 
has  been  recorder  of  the  local  lodge  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  an  independent  republican. 

Henry  J.  Ramsett.  One  of  the  best  known  and 
most  efficient  of  Kandiyohi  County’s  officials  is 
Henry  J.  Ramsett,  who  for  more  than  a quarter 
of  a century  has  been  clerk  of  the  District  Court. 
First  elected  to  this  office  in  1889,  he  has  steadily 
retained  his  position  through  his  courteous,  prompt 
and  methodical  dispatch  of  the  business  which  has 
come  before  him. 

Mr.  Ramsett  was  born  at  Bad  Axe,  Wisconsin, 
May  16,  1859,  and  is  a son  of  Sever  K.  and  Bertha 
(Johnson)  Ramsett.  Sever  K.  Ramsett  was  born 


in  Norway,  of  well-to-do  parents,  and  as  a young 
man,  in  1847,  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
at  Black  Earth,  Wisconsin,  where  he  became  the 
proprietor  of  a wagon  factory.  In  1856  he  removed 
to  Bad  Axe,  Wisconsin.  Bertha  Johnson  had  come 
to  that  state  several  years  previously,  and  there 
they  spent  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives.  He 
was  a man  of  industry,  ability  and  perseverence, 
and  through  years  of  faithful  effort  was  successful 
in  the  accumulation  of  a comfortable  competence. 
Both  he  and  Mrs.  Ramsett  died  at  Bad  Axe.  They 
were  members  of  the  Norwegian  Synod,  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  Mr.  Ramsett  was  particularly 
active  in  religious  work  and  was  trustee  of  the 
church  for  a long  period  of  years.  There  were 
eight  children  in  the  family,  of  whom  six  are  still 
living,  and  Henry  J.  was  the'  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

Henry  J.  Ramsett  enjoyed  ordinary  advantages 
in  the  educational  way  in  his  youth,  attending  the 
graded  schools  of  Viroqua,  Wisconsin,  and  grad- 
uating from  the  high  school  at  that  place.  He  se- 
cured some  business  experience  in  his  father’s  es- 
tablishment, but  when  he  entered  upon  his  own 
career  did  so  as  an  educator,  teaching  for  a time  in 
the  schools  of  Kandiyohi  County,  Minnesota.  Reali- 
zing the  need  of  further  training,  Mr.  Ramsett  then 
entered  a commercial  school  at  St.  Paul,  from  which 
he  was  duly  graduated  and  then  secured  a position 
with  the  St.  P.,  M.  & M.  Railway  at  St.  Paul.  He 
also  was  employed  for  a time  by  the  firm  of  P.  H. 
Kelley  & Company,  and  when  he  resigned  that 
position  returned  to  Kandiyohi  County,  where  he 
became  a bookkeeper,  having  some  experience  in 
the  same  line  at  Atwater  and  New  London,  Minne- 
sota. Mr.  Ramsett  was  one  of  the  first  editors  of 
the  New  London  Review.  He  at  once  displayed  a 
marked  aptitude  for  public  service,  and  his  first 
term  was  so  satisfactory  that  he  was  chosen  to  suc- 
ceed himself  in  this  important  office  and  has  con- 
tinued to'  do  so  to  the  present.  His  record  is  that 
of  a conscientious  court  officer  with  a high  apprecia-, 
tion  of  the  responsibilities  and  importance  of  the 
duties  with  which  he  has  been  entrusted.  Always  a 
stalwart  republican,  he  has  displayed  fealty  to  party, 
faithful  adherence  to  and  energetic  promotion  of 
republicanism,  loyalty  to  political  friends,  untiring 
personal  effort,  straightforward  fidelity  to  the  ful- 
fillment of  every  trust  and  engagement,  capable  and 
well-directed  administration  of  all  the  affairs  of 
his  office  and  devotion  of  all  his  abilities  in  the 
service  of  the  people.  While  he  is  best  known  and 
will  probably  be  best  remembered  for  his  service 
in  the  office  of  district  clerk,  he  has  also  shown  his 
marked  ability  in  other  offices,  having  served  as 
assistant  under  five  postmasters  of  Willmar,  as  vil- 
lage recorder  for  years,  as  alderman  for  two  years, 
as  city  treasurer  for  one  term  and  as  deputy  county 
auditor  of  Kandiyohi  County.  He  also  was  for  some 
years  a justice  of  the  peace.  For  six  years,  Mr.  Ram- 
sett was  secretary  of  the  Clerks  Association  of 
Minnesota,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow-members  by  election  to  the  presi- 
dency of  this  organization,  and  continues  to  act  in 
that  capacity.  Mr.  Ramsett  is  well  known  in  frater- 
nal circles,  and  is  a Mason  of  high  degree,  belong- 
ing, to  the  blue  lodge,  Royal  Arch  chapter,  Knights 
Templar  and  Osman  Temple  of  the  Nobles  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine.  Mr.  Ramsett  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  has  made  his 
own  success  mean  success  for  his  friends,  for  the 
struggles  they  have  shared  with  him  he  has  re- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1561 


warded  by  making  them  participants  in  his  own 
prosperity. 

Mr.  Ramsett  was  married  at  New  London,  to 
Miss  Ella  Wright,  who  was  born  December  14,  1865, 
in  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  daughter  of  Eber  and 
Barbara  (Shank)  Wright.  To  this  union  there  have 
been  born  three  children,  as  follows : Grace  Alma, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Harold  B.  Lidstone,  a traveling 
salesman  of  Willmar;  Miss  Bertha  Elizabeth,  who 
resides  at  home  and  is  a teacher  in  the  graded 
schools  of  Willmar;  and  Harold  Earl,  who  is  a 
stenographer. 

Joseph  F.  Mushel.  In  the  thriving  Village  of 
Foley,  Mr.  Mushel,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
J.  F.  & B.  H.  Mushel,  in  which  he  is  associated  with 
his  brother  in  the  conducting  of  an  important  enter- 
prise, under  the  title  of  the  Benton  County  Abstract 
Company.  This  concern  has  authoritative  abstracts 
of  titles  to  real  estate  throughout  Benton  County 
and  affords  facilities  of  such  order  that  the  busi- 
ness is  one  of  substantial  and  profitable  order,  be- 
sides which  its  operations  conserve  and  safeguard 
the  best  interests  of  investors  and  of  the  people  of 
the  county  in  general.  This  firm  has  perfected  the 
only  set  of  abstract  books  and  records  in  the  county 
and  the  two  brothers  are  known  as  progressive  and 
reliable  young  business  men  of  Benton  County, 
their  present  enterprise  having  been  established  in 
1905. 

Joseph  Francis  Mushel  was  born  in  Alberta  Town- 
ship, Benton  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  13th  of 
August,  1886,  and  is  a son  of  Stanley  and  Johanna 
Mushel,  who  came  from  Germany  to  the  United 
States  in  1868,  and  who  established  their  home  in 
Benton  County,  Minnesota,  in  1878.  The  father 
here  became  a substantial  and  prosperous  farmer 
and  he  and  his  wife  now  reside  in  the  village  of 
Foley,  where  he  is  living  retired,  after  many  years 
of  earnest  and  worthy  endeavor.  Stanley  Mushel 
is  a staunch  democrat  in  politics  and  while  residing 
on  his  farm  he  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Alberta  Township.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  zealous  communicants  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Joseph  F.  Mushel  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  and  his  first 
practical  experience  was  gained  in  connection  with 
the  work  of  the  home  farm.  After  leaving  school 
he  became  bookkeeper  in  a general  store  and  later 
was  appointed  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Foley.  From  this  post  he  was  called  to  that 
of  assistant  cashier  of  the  Foreston  State  Bank,  at 
Foreston,  Millelacs  County,  and  thereafter  he  served 
one  year  as  deputy  county  auditor  of  Benton  County. 
In  1911  he  became  associated  with  his  brother,  Ben- 
jamin H.,  in  the  purchase  of  the  business  of  the 
Benton  County  Abstract  Company,  and  to  the  same 
he  has  since  given  close  attention,  though  he  has 
had  the  distinction  of  serving  as  register  of  deeds 
of  his  native  county,  a position  to  which  he  was 
first  elected  in  1912,  and  to  which  he  was  re-elected 
in  1914,  for  a second  term  of  two  years.  In  this  im- 
portant office  he  is  giving  a most  effective  and  care- 
ful administration,  and  his  incidental  experience 
specially  fortifies  him  for  the  handling  of  his  private 
business  as  one  of  the  two  principles  in  the  Benton 
County  Abstract  Company.  Further  evidence  of  the 
personal  popularity  of  Mr.  Mushel  is  that  afforded 
by  his  having  been  called  upon  to  serve  two  years 
as  clerk  of  the  Village  of  Foley.  He  is  an  active 
worker  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  the  democratic 


party  and  is  one  of  its  influential  representatives  in 
Benton  County.  He  and  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily are  communicants  of  St.  John's  Catholic  church 
at  Foley,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Columbus  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks.  Both  he  and  his  brother,  Benjamin  H.,  are 
numbered  among  the  eligible  young  bachelors  of 
their  native  county. 

Benjamin  Henry  Mushel,  the  able  coadjutor  of 
his  brother  in  the  abstract  business,  was  born  on  the 
home  farm  on  the  23d  of  March,  1889,  and  his  edu- 
cational advantages  were  those  of  the  public  schools 
and  a commercial  college.  After  serving  three  years 
as  clerk  in  a general  store  he  became  assistant 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Foley,  and  of 
this  position  he  continued  the  incumbent  until  he 
became  associated  with  his  brother  in  the  purchase 
of  the  abstract  business,  to  which  he  now  gives  the 
major  part  of  his  time  and  attention.  He  is  a staunch 
democrat,  is  a communicant  of  St.  John’s  Church  at 
Foley,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Olaus  E.  Burtness.  Houston  County  has  had 
the  services  of  Olaus  E.  Burtness  in  the  office  of 
county  treasurer  for  eighteen  years.  That  is  an 
exceptional  record  both  as  to  the  length  of  service 
and  the  efficiency  of  his  administration.  Continued 
proof  of  his  popularity  and  a testimonial  to  his  work 
was  given  at  the  last  election,  when  the  citizens 
returned  him  to  office  by  a large  majority.  Thorough 
honesty  and  competent  management  and  a genial 
treatment  of  all  citizens  have  been  characteristic  of 
the  treasurer’s  office  since  Mr.  Burtness  first  took 
charge. 

Olaus  E.  Burtness  was  born  on  a farm  in  Houston 
County,  Minnesota,  April  28,  1872,  and  through  his 
family  he  is  identified  with  the  pioneer  history  of 
this  state.  His  parents  were  Elling  H.  and  Christ 
(Myhre)  Burtness,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Norway.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Ole  Myhre, 
came  to  the  United  States  about  1849,  and  was  one 
of  the  earliest  of  the  pioneers  to  settle  in  Houston 
County,  where  he  followed  farming  the  rest  of  his 
life.  Mr.  Burtness’  mother  was  born  in  1845  and 
died  in  August,  1913.  She  was  married  in  Houston 
County.  Elling  H.  Burtness,  a son  of  Helge,  who 
emigrated  to  Wisconsin  in  1865,  was  born  in  Norway 
in  1837  and  died  at  the  old  homestead  in  Wilmington, 
Minnesota,  in  February,  1913.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1861.  and  in  1863  settled  on  a farm  in 
Houston  County,  Minnesota,  and  was  a farmer 
throughout  his  career.  He  was  a man  of  quiet 
unassuming  manner,  and  devoted  himself  to  the 
interests  of  farm  and  home.  Politically  he  was  a 
republican  and  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
There  were  fourteen  children  in  the  family,  and  ten 
are  still  living. 

Olaus  E.  Burtness,  the  fifth  among  the  children, 
was  educated  in  the  country  schools,  and  spent  two 
years  in  the  Brackenridge  School  at  Decorah,  Iowa. 
All  his  early  experiences  were  with  farming,  but  in 
1895  he  engaged  in  the  operation  of  a country  store, 
and  continued  along  that  line  for  five  years,  until 
elected  county  treasurer  for  the  first  time  in  1900. 
He  is  a man  whose  prosperity  and  success  have  been 
won  through  his  individual  efforts.  For  four  years 
he  was  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Caledonia  and  is  a director  and  stockholder  in  that 
institution. 


1562 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Mr.  Burtness  since  casting  his  first  vote  has  been 
active  in  republican  politics.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  On  October 
26,  1899,  Mr.  Burtness  married  Clara  Kinstad  of 
La  Crosse,  Wisconsin.  It  was  while  she  was  teaching 
school  in  Houston  County  that  she  met  her  husband. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Charlotte 
being  eleven  years  of  age  and  Martha  six. 

William  N.  M.  Crawford.  The  practice  of  Mr. 
Crawford  In  the  Minneapolis  bar,  of  which  he  has 
been  a member  since  1903,  has  to  a large  degree  been 
specialized  along  insurance  and  real  estate  law, 
though  in  the  past  ten  years  his  services  have  been 
retained  in  a large  amount  of  general  litigation.  His 
standing  as  a successful  lawyer  is  too  well  known 
in  Hennepin”  County  to  require  further  comment. 
Mr.  Crawford  represents  one  of  the  pioneer  families 
of  Minnesota,  and  its  earlier  members  did  their  full 
share  in  developing  and  establishing  civilized  condi- 
tions on  the  northwestern  border. 

William  Noble  Miles  Crawford  was  born  April 
20,  1872,  at  Becker,  in  Sherburne  County,  which 
was  the  home  and  original  point  of  settlement  for 
his  grandparents  when  they  pioneered  to  Minnesota 
Territory.  Mr.  Crawford’s  parents  were  Joseph  M. 
and  Mary  J.  (McAllister)  Crawford.  His  father 
was  born  in  New  York  City  and  his  mother  in 
Whiting,  Addison  County,  Vermont,  but  were  mar- 
ried in  Sherburne  County,  Minnesota.  The  mother 
came  to  this  state  when  about  twenty  years  of  age, 
some  sisters  having  preceded  her  to  Sherburne 
County  in  1854.  Joseph  M.  Crawford  came  here 
with  his  parents,  Noble  R.  and  Lucinda  (Smith) 
Crawford,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Monmouth, 
New  Jersey-  They  settled  at  Becker  in  1856,  and 
took  up  a quarter  section  of  Government  land. 
They  were  attracted  to  that  section  of  Minnesota 
owing  to  the  fertile  meadows  bordering  the  Elk 
River.  The  grandmother  Crawford  is  credited  with 
the  distinction  of  having  named  the  locality  in  which 
they  settled,  and  which  at  that  time  had  only  a few 
other  families,  with  the  title  Pleasant  Valley,  but 
a number  of  years  ago  the  village  was  named  Becker 
in  honor  of  the  Hon.  George  L.  Becker,  who  had 
surveyed  the  railroad  through  that  community.  The 
grandparents  Crawford  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives 
at  old  Pleasant  Valley,  the  grandfather  passing 
away  in  1888  and  the  grandmother  in  1892,  and  the 
old  farm  was  their  burial  place.  Joseph  M.  Crawford 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  1897  at  Big  Lake,  in 
Sherburne  County,  a locality  about  eight  miles  distant 
from  the  old  homestead.  In  the.  year  mentioned 
occurred  his  removal  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  now 
resides,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  followed 
the  business  of  stationary  engineer.  There  were 
three  children  in  the  family,  two  boys  and  a girl, 
of  whom  Verona  died  in  infancy,  while  J.  Frank, 
who  was  a boy  of  splendid  physical  proportions  and 
with  the  promise  of  a useful  career,  was  drowned 
in  1898  at  the  age  of  fifteen  while  swimming  with 
other  boys  near  the  Stone  Arch  Bridge  near  Min- 
neapolis. 

William  N.  M.  Crawford  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Monticello,  in  Wright  County, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1894,  and  in  the 
following  fall  entering  the  academic  department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota.  Mr.  Crawford  was 
graduated  in  law  at  the  university  with  the  degree 
LL.  B.  in  1900,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  June  7, 


i9or.  Between  that  time  and  1903  he  was  employed 
in  the  life  insurance  business  by  the  Metropolitan 
Life  Insurance  Company  of  Minneapolis.  Since  1903 
he  has  engaged  in  practice  and  has  practiced  alone 
practically  all  the  time.  Mr.  Crawford  represents 
the  Minnesota  Farmers  Mutual  Insurance  Company 
in  looking  after  their  assessments  and  law  business, 
and  at  the  present  writing  has  a number  of  cases  in 
court  for  this  corporation  client.  He  is  the  owner 
of  some  city  property,  does  some  business  in  real 
estate  as  a buyer  and  seller,  but  his  operations  in  this 
field  are  not  so  extensive  now  as  formerly. 

Mr.  Crawford  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
Athletic  Club,  of  the  Calhoun  Commercial  Club,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, and  as  one  of  the  active  republicans  of  his 
part  of  the  state  was  in  1910  an  unsuccessful  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  county  attorney  of  Hennepin 
County. 

On  September  25,  1901,  Mr.  Crawford  married 
Miss  Jennie  G.  Gronnerud  of  Chicago,  but  she  was 
born  in  Fredrikshald,  Norway,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  her  parents  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Her 
parents,  both  deceased,  were  Soren  and  Marie  Gron- 
nerud. Mrs.  Crawford  was  educated  at  Marshall, 
Wisconsin. 

John  E.  Kasner.  Succeeding  his  honored  father 
in  the  office  of  county  auditor  of  Benton  County, 
Mr.  Kasner  is  giving  a most  effective  administration 
and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  this  important 
position,  the  while  his  circle  of  friends  in  his  native 
county  is  limited  only  by  that  of  his  acquaintances, 
as  he  is  a young  man  of  sterling  character  and  has 
accounted  well  for  himself  in  connection  with  the 
practical  responsibilities  of  life. 

John  Edward  Kasner  was  born  on  his  father's 
homestead  farm  in  Alberta  Township,  Benton 
County,  Minnesota,  and  the  date  of  his  nativity  was 
January  17,  1890.  He  is  a son  of  Anthony  E.  and 
Mary  (Schloss)  Kasner,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
West  Prussia,  in  one  of  the  provinces  formerly  a 
part  of  Poland.  Anthony  Kasner  came  to  America 
in  1870  and  as  a man  of  excellent  intellectual  at- 
tainments he  was  for  some  time  a successful  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Minnesota,  besides  which 
he  served  six  years  as  county  superintendent  of  the 
schools  of  Benton  County.  Here  he  gained  invio- 
lable place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  county  and  he  became  prominent  and 
influential  in  civic  affairs  in  this  county,  where,  as  a 
staunch  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  democratic 
party,  he  was  elected  county  auditor,  of  which  office 
he  continued  the  incumbent  fourteen  years,  his  death 
having  occurred  on  the  12th  of  July,  1910,  and  his 
widow  being  still  a resident  of  Foley,  both  having 
been  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  they  early  became  zealous  communicants. 

John  E.  Kasner  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools 
of  Sauk  Rapids  and  Foley  for  his  early  educational 
discipline  and  when  a lad  of  but  fourteen  years  he 
began  to  give  to  his  father  clerical  assistance  in  the 
office  of  county  auditor.  After  having  served  most 
effectively  as  deputy  county  auditor  he  was  naturally 
looked  upon  as  an  eligible  candidate  for  the  office 
which  had  been  long  and  efficiently  held  by  his 
father,  and  in  1912  he  was  elected  county  auditor  by 
a gratifying  majority,  the  best  voucher  for  the  ex- 
cellence of  his  administration  having  been  that  af- 
forded in  his  re-election  in  1914.  Mr.  Kasner  has 
from  the  time  of  attaining  to  his  legal  majority  been 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1563 


arrayed  in  the  ranks  of  the  democratic  party,  and  he 
is  a stalwart  advocate  of  its  principles  and  policies. 
In  their  home  village  of  Foley  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  communicants  of  St.  John's  Church,  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters  and  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  of  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1912,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Kasner  to  Miss  Estelle  Willing,  of 
Foley,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Lucille  Mary. 

Charles  A.  Dorival.  For  the  past  five  years,  the 
probate  interests  of  Houston  County  have  been 
under  the  capable  administration  and  care  of  Charles 
A.  Dorival,  who  is  one  of  the  most  popular  officials 
at  the  county  seat.  Judge  Dorival  has  brought  to 
his  present  duties  the  experience  of  a well  trained 
lawyer,  and  also  a broad  sympathy  and  understand- 
ing and  an  extreme  carefulness  in  handling  the  im- 
portant interests  intrusted  to  his  charge. 

Charles  A.  Dorival  was  born  in  Houston  County 
at  Caledonia,  February  18,  1880.  He  is  a son  of  N. 
E.  and  Ellen  (Eaton)  Dorival.  His  grandfather, 
John  Dorival,  was  born  on  the  Island  of  San  Domin- 
go, was  brought  to  the  United  States  when  an  infant, 
and  lived  in  New  York  State  until  his  death.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Eber  Eaton,  was  born  in  New 
York  State  and  was  a pioneer  settler  in  Houston 
County,  Minnesota,  in  1854.  He  followed  farming, 
and  died  in  Houston  County.  In  the  early  days  he 
had  gone  out  to  California  as  a gold  seeker.  The 
Eaton  family  has  been  in  America  for  many  gen- 
erations, having  come  originally  from  England,  and 
some  of  its  members  participated  as  soldiers  on  the 
American  side  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  N.  E. 
Dorival,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1835 
and  died  in  1900,  came  to  Houston  County  in  i860, 
locating  on  a farm,  and  had  a long  and  active  career 
in  public  affairs.  The  first  winter  he  spent  in  Minne- 
sota he  served  as  an  assistant  clerk  in  the  house  of 
representatives.  In  1866  he  was  elected  county  audi- 
tor, serving  two  terms,  after  that  was  register  of 
deeds,  and  for  a number  of  years  was  a justice  of 
the  peace.  During  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was 
engaged  in  the  machinery  and  insurance  business. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  lodge  and  chap- 
ter of  Masonry,  serving  as  secretary  of  his  lodge  for 
a number  of  years,  while  in  politics  he  was  one  of 
the  best  known  democrats  in  Houston  County,  and 
was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  classes  of  citizens. 
Judge  Dorival's  mother  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1846,  and  is  still  living.  She  was  married 
in  Houston  County,  and  became  the  mother  of  six 
children : Mrs.  Mary  Belding,  whose  husband  is  a 
Caledonia  merchant;  Edward,  who  is  a station 
agent  at  Prosper,  Minnesota;  John,  who  lives  in 
Caledonia ; Gurth,  proprietor  of  the  Gem  Theater 
at  Caledonia;  Judge  Dorival;  and  Grace,  who  lives 
at  home. 

Judge  Dorival  grew  up  in  Caledonia,  was  grad- 
uated in  1898  from  the  high  school,  and  took  up  the 
study  of  law  under  Capt.  W.  H.  Harries,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1903.  He  was  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession  until  taking  up  his  duties 
as  probate  judge.  In  1909  Governor  Johnson  ap- 
pointed him  to  the  office  of  probate  judge,  and 
since  then  he  has  been  three  times  elected.  A special 
evidence  of  his  high  standing  in  local  citizenship 
is  afforded  by  the  fact  that  he  was  elected  as  a demo- 
crat in  a strongly  republican  county  and  by  a gen- 


erous majority.  He  gives  practically  all  his  time  to 
his  office.  Judge  Dorival  is  unmarried.  He  is  a 
Mason  and  has  affiliations  with  the  lodge  at  Cale- 
donia, of  which  he  is  master  and  with  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  of  Masonry. 

George  N.  Blexrud.  In  November,  1914,  the  peo- 
ple of  Houston  County  returned  to  the  office  of 
sheriff  a citizen  whose  fitness  for  such  responsibility 
and  honor  is  unquestioned,  and  exceptional.  Sheriff 
Blexrud  has  been  a resident  of  Houston  County 
all  his  life,  has  been  a practical  and  successful 
farmer,  and  has  always  been  noted  for  his  honesty 
and  efficiency  in  every  undertaking  with  which  his 
name  has  been  connected.  He  has  served  in  the 
office  of  sheriff  for  a number  of  years,  and  the  gen- 
eral opinion  is  that  no  other  man  is  better  qualified 
for  his  responsibilities  and  that  no  other  citizen 
could  beat  him  when  he  was  a candidate  for  the 
place. 

The  Blexrud  family  have  been  identified  with 
Houston  County  since  the  earliest  years  of  white 
settlement  in  this  section  of  Minnesota.  George  N. 
Blexrud  was  born  at  Spring  Grove  in  Houston 
County,  October  20,  1857.  His  father,  Nels  O. 
Blexrud,  was  born  in  Norway  in  1826,  a son  of 
Ole  Blexrud,  brought  his  family  to  the  United 
States  in  1850,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
Houston  County.  Nels  O.  Blexrud  lived  in  Wis- 
consin from  1850  until  his  removal  to  Minnesota  in 
1853,  and  acquired  a homestead  in  this  country  and 
remained  a farmer  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  serving 
as  an  officer  for  a number  of  years,  and  in  politics 
was  a republican.  Nels  O.  Blexrud  was  married  in 
Rock  County,  Wisconsin,  to  Anna  Olson,  who  was 
born  in  Norway  in  1824,  and  both  of  whose  parents 
died  while  crossing  the  ocean  and  were  buried  at 
sea.  She  died  in  1898.  There  were  eight  children 
in  the  family,  and  six  are  still  living.  They  are 
mentioned  briefly  as  follows:  Mrs.  O.  B.  Nelson, 
whose  husband  is  in  the  hardware  business  at 
Spring  Grove;  John,  a farmer  in  Wilmington  Town- 
ship of  Houston  County ; George  N. ; Mrs.  Crogen, 
deceased ; Mrs.  J.  C.  Hallum,  deceased ; Mrs.  Henry 
Theis,  the  wife  of  a butter  manufacturer  at  Easton, 
Minnesota ; Andrew,  engaged  in  farming  in  Bur- 
leigh County,  North  Dakota;  C.  M.,  who  occupies 
the  old  homestead  at  Spring  Grove. 

George  N.  Blexrud  grew  up  in  the  vicinity  of 
Spring  Grove  and  was  educated  in  that  town.  His 
business  career  has  been  that  of  a farmer,  and  he 
still  owns  a fine  estate  in  the  county  and  has  been 
unusually  successful  in  managing  the  resources  of 
the  soil.  He  has  always  been  popular  with  his  fel- 
low citizens,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  began 
directing  considerable  attention  to  public  affairs.  In 
1893  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff,  and 
served  by  re-election  until  1901.  After  that  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm  and  continued  its  management 
for  twelve  years.  In  1912  came  another  election  to 
the  office  in  which  his  competency  has  been  so  well 
demonstrated,  and  in  1914  he  was  elected  for  the 
term  in  which  he  is  still  engaged. 

Mr.  Blexrud  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
belones  to  the  Sons  of  Norway,  and  in  politics  is  a 
republican.  His  last  election  to  office  was  by  a very 
handsome  majority.  In  1881  he  married  Lizzie 
Johnson,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Houston 
County.  Their  five  children  are:  Nelson  A.,  who 
was  born  May  15.  1882,  was  educated  in  the  Cale- 


1564 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


donia  High  School,  was  a farmer  with  his  father 
and  later  in  the  creamery  business,  and  also  clerk 
in  a store,  and  is  now  his  father’s  deputy  in  the 
sheriff’s  office;  T.  M.  Blexrud  is  a salesman  for  a 
Minneapolis  house;  Mrs.  Walter  Smith  is  the  wife 
of  a hardware  merchant  at  Dysart,  Iowa ; Ove  lives 
on  the  farm ; and  Odin  is  in  the  mercantile  business 
at  Caledonia. 

William  H.  Lord.  Benton  County  has  among  its 
substantial  and  ably  managed  financial  institutions 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Foley,  and  the  efficient 
and  popular  cashier  is  he  whose  name  introduces 
this  paragraph. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Foley  was  organized 
in  August,  1905,  and  was  incorporated  with  a capital 
stock  of  $25,000.  Its  original  executive  corps  was 
as  here  noted:  John  Foley,  president;  Charles 

Keith,  vice  president;  and  John  F.  Hall,  cashier.  The 
bank  owns  and  occupies  its  own  building,  which  is 
essentially  modern  in  architecture  and  appointments. 
It  is  a two-story  brick  structure,  and  the  second 
floor  is  fitted  for  office  purposes.  The  bank  utilized 
the  ground  floor  and  basement,  in  the  latter  of  which 
are  located  the  well  equipped  storage  vaults,  boxes 
in  which  are  rented,  thus  affording  to  the  com- 
munity exceptional  facilities  that  are  usually  to  be 
found  only  in  cities  of  very  appreciable  population. 
The  bank  still  bases  its  operations  on  a capital 
stock  of  $25,000  and  its  surplus  and  undivided 
profits  now  aggregate  $17,000.  Its  total  assets  are 
nearly  $350,000;  its  time  deposits  aggregate  $166,000, 
and  its  individual  deposits  $103,000,  as  shown  in  the 
last  report  rendered  prior  to  the  compilation  of  this 
article.  The  bank  building  is  valued  at  $9,300  and  is 
one  of  the  most  attractive  and  substantial  of  its 
kind  in  Benton  County.  The  present  official  corps 
of  this  excellent  institution  are  here  designated : 
John  F.  Hall,  president;  John  E.  Doheny,  vice  presi- 
dent ; and  William  H.  Lord,  cashier. 

William  H.  Lord  takes  due  pride  and  satisfaction 
in  reverting  to  the  Badger  State  as  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  and  his  loyalty  to  this  favored  common- 
wealth has  ever  been  unflagging,  though  not  ex- 
celled by  his  interest  in  the  State  of  Minnesota, 
which  has  represented  his  home  for  nearly  a score 
of  years.  Mr.  Lord  was  born  on  a farm  near  Rich- 
land Center,  Richmond  County,  Wisconsin,  on  the 
14th  of  November,  1871,  and  is  a son  of  Edward  and 
Anna  (Killoy)  Lord,  the  father  having  been  one  of 
the  industrious  and  substantial  farmers  of  that 
county.  Mr.  Lord  attended  the  public  schools  until 
he  had  virtually  completed  the  curriculum  of  the 
high  school,  and  thereafter  he  learned  the  art  of 
telegraphy,  to  which  he  devoted  his  attention  for 
ten  years,  having  been  an  operator  for  different 
railroads  and  at  different  places  in  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota.  For  a time  thereafter  he  was  book- 
keeper in  a general  store,  and  in  1898  he  came  to 
Benton  County  and  established  his  home  at  Foley, 
where  he  has  been  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  since  1907.  He  served  four  years  as  village 
recorder,  is  a democrat  in  politics  and  is  one  of  the 
progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the  vigor- 
ous and  thriving  little  city  in  which  he  maintains  his 
home.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus and  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  both  he  and  his  wife 
being  communicants  of  the  Catholic  Church  and 
zealous  members  of  the  parish  of  St.  John’s  Church 
at  Foley,  of  which  he  is  a trustee. 


In  1901  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Lord 
to  Miss  Mary  Hall,  daughter  of  William  Hall,  a 
native  of  Almonte,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  the  three 
children  of  this  union  are  Loyala,  Ellen  and  John 
Foley. 

Hon.  Francis  A.  Duxbury.  In  the  scope  and 
volume  of  professional  activities  the  actual  and 
acknowledged  leadership  in  the  Houston  County  bar 
is  held  by  Francis  A.  Duxbury,  who  has  been  in  ac- 
tive practice  for  the  past  twenty  years,  and  is  now 
serving  his  second  term  as  a member  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Senate.  Senator  Duxbury's  family  were 
pioneers  in  Minnesota,  his  early  life  was  spent  on 
a farm,  and  for  a number  of  years  while  looking  for- 
ward to  and  preparing  for  the  legal  profession  he 
paid  his  way  by  successful  work  as  a school  teacher. 

Francis  A.  Duxbury  was  born  in  Fillmore  County, 
Minnesota,  April  11,  1862,  a son  of  Richard  and  Mi- 
randa M.  (Barnes)  Duxbury.  The  father  was  born 
in  England  November  14,  1833,  and  died  November 
20,  1907,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  Wisconsin 
March  19,  1841,  and  died  in  May,  1896.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  William  Duxbury,  brought  his 
family  from  England  to  the  United  States  in  1848, 
lived  for  a time  in  Massachusetts,  and  thence  moved 
to  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  a farmer,  and  where 
he  spent  his  last  days.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Moses  Barnes,  was  a native  of  Massachusetts  and 
moved  out  to  Fillmore  County,  Minnesota,  in  1853. 
and  was  one  of  the  very  earliest  to  locate  in  that 
vicinity,  and  served  as  the  first  postmaster  at  Big 
Spring,  and  late  in  life  moved  to  Marshall,  where  he 
died.  Richard  Duxbury  and  wife  were  married  at 
Harmony,  Minnesota,  in  1859.  From  1848  to  1857 
he  had  lived  at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  and  in  the 
State  of  Wisconsin,  and  on  coming  to  Minnesota  in 
the  latter  year  settled  on  a farm  and  was  active  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  he  retired.  He  was  one 
of  the  Minnesota  volunteers  during  the  Civil  war, 
serving  in  the  Second  Minnesota  Light  Artillery 
under  Major  Hotchkiss  for  one  year.  Fie  was  a re- 
publican, held  several  township  offices,  and  was  a 
man  of  marked  intelligence  and  especially  well 
versed  in  English  history.  His  church  connection 
was  with  the  Episcopal  denomination,  while  his  wife 
was  reared  a Baptist.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  among  whom  Senator  Duxbury  was  second, 
and  the  six  others  still  living  are : Mrs.  A.  H.  Dan- 
iels, wife  of  a farmer  at  Pine  City,  Minnesota;  L. 
N.  Duxbury,  a farmer  in  Fillmore  County;  W.  R. 
Duxbury,  a St.  Paul  attorney ; Mrs.  F.  M.  McGowen, 
whose  husband  is  a real  estate  man  in  California ; 
F.  R.  Duxbury,  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
at  Pine  City;  and  Leslie,  who  lives  in  Duluth. 

Senator  Duxbury  completed  his  early  education  in 
the  Preston  High  School,  and  while  teaching  for  ten 
years  kept  up  his  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1895.  In  the  same  year  he  began  his  prac- 
tice at  Caledonia,  and  for  ten  years  was  associated 
with  his  brother,  W.  R.  Duxbury.  For  several 
years  Senator  Duxbury  has  enjoyed  the  largest  prac- 
tice of  any  member  of  the  Houston  County  bar. 

For  a number  of  years  he  has  been  active  in  re- 
publican politics,  and  in  1910  was  elected  to  his  first 
term  in  the  state  senate,  and  was  returned  by  a sub- 
stantial majority  in  1914.  Senator  Duxbury  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Caledonia  State  Bank,  and  has  large  land 
interests  in  this  state.  He  has  done  much  useful 
civic  work,  and  among  other  local  positions  has  been 
a member  of  the  school  board.  Senator  Duxbury  is 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1565 


a past  master  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  past  high 
priest  of  the  Royal  Arch  chapter,  and  is  also  affi- 
liated with  the  Scottish  Rite  and  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
Other  fraternities  are  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  in  which  he  has  served  as  a member  of 
the  law  committee,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

On  October  18,  1884,  Senator  Duxbury  married 
Susan  A.  Addison,  daughter  of  John  Addison.  John 
Addison  settled  in  Fillmore  County,  Minnesota,  in 
1855,  and  was  one  of  the  early  farmers  of  that  sec- 
tion. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duxbury  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons.  Lloyd  L.,  who  was  born  April  19,  1886,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota  and  the 
Harvard  Law  School,  and  is  now  in  active  practice 
with  his  father.  The  son,  Leland  S.,  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1888,  is  also  a graduate  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota  and  the  Harvard  Law  School,  and  is  now 
practicing  law  at  Duluth,  Minnesota. 

Nehemiah  P.  Clarke.  The  death  of  N.  P.  Clarke 
at  his  home  in  St.  Cloud,  June  29,  1912,  removed  from 
active  life  in  Minnesota  one  of  her  distinguished 
and  useful  citizens,  a man  of  forceful  character, 
untiring  industry  and  great  success.  This  success 
involved  tremendous  outlays  of  bodily  as  well  as 
mental  energy.  In  practically  every  phase  the  story 
of  his  career  reads  like  a romance. 

Born  in  Hubbardston,  Massachusetts,  April  8, 
1836,  Nehemiah  Parker  Clarke  was  a son  of  Dr. 
Shepherd  and  Mary  Ann  (Dickinson)  Clarke,  of 
Petersham,  Massachusetts.  His  parents  were  mar- 
ried in  January,  1825,  at.  Petersham.  Both  died  in 
Hubbardston,  the  father  on  September  24,  1852,  and 
the  mother  in  April,  1876.  Nehemiah  P.  Clarke, 
after  his  father’s  death,  went  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  sold  books  for  a New  York  firm.  He  returned 
to  Massachusetts  in  1854,  called  home  by  the  death 
of  his  only  brother,  John  F.  Clarke,  and  shortly 
afterwards,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  turned  his  face 
to  the  far  off  West.  His  first  stopping  place  was 
Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  stayed  one  year  in  a 
large  wholesale  grocery  store.  Next,  at  Fond  du 
Lac,  Wisconsin,  he  spent  one  year  in  a hardware 
concern,  thus  getting  in  touch  with  western  business 
methods. 

When  twenty  years  of  age,  or  in  1856,  Mr.  Clarke 
set  out  for  St.  Cloud,  where  he  established  first  a 
hardware  store,  then  a general  store  and  later  built 
up  a general  business,  that  at  one  time  included  the 
largest  lumbering  interests  in  Minnesota — -govern- 
ment contracts,  banking  and  milling,  real  estate  hold- 
ings and  many  lesser  enterprises. 

Notwithstanding  his  wonderful  faculty  for  select- 
ing lieutenants  of  push  similar  to  his  own,  Mr. 
Clarke,  in  his  earlier  days,  was  possessed  with  the 
idea  that  if  he  was  not  personally  on  the  ground 
some  one  would  make  a blunder.  The  result  was 
that  he  was  continually  on  the  go  and  a busier  man 
certainly  rarely  could  be  found.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  to  employ  ox  teams  and  wagons  in  the 
transportation  business  from  St.  Cloud.  Likewise 
he  was  the  first  contractor  who  ever  drove  beef 
on  the  hoof  from  the  southwestern  country  to  the 
Government  posts  of  the  Northwest.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  and  his  party  left  with  eighty  yoke  of  oxen 
and  went  from  St.  Cloud  to  Fort  Lincoln  and  later 
to  Bismarck  and  to  the  Black  Hills.  It  was  in 
such  strenuous  pioneer  lines  of  effort  that  he  use- 
fully and  profitably  expended  his  wonderful  energies. 


During  all  this  time  Mr.  Clarke  was  accumulating 
parcels  of  land  adjacent  to  St.  Cloud.  No  matter 
how  busy  he  was  with  other  things  he  always  found 
time  to  promote  the  agricultural  interests  of  Min- 
nesota. He  was  long  identified  prominently  with  the 
State  Agricultural  Society  and  was  its  president  in 
1885.  It  will  be  seen  by  the  table  in  Chapter  19  of 
this  history  that  during  the  year  of  his  presidency 
the  receipts  of  the  state  fair  exceeded  the  aggregate 
of  those  for  the  four  years  preceding.  He  was 
mainly  responsible  for  the  presentation  of  the  present 
state  fair  grounds  by  Ramsey  County  to  the  com- 
monwealth. He  then  went  before  the  Legislature 
and  succeeded  in  getting  an  appropriation  of  $150,- 
000  to  equip  the  grounds.  When  the  buildings  were 
finished  it  was  discovered  that  there  was  a shortage 
of  something  like  $110,000.  Mr.  Clarke  drew  his 
personal  check  for  the  difference  and  carried  the 
indebtedness  until  the  Legislature  reimbursed  him. 

Mr.  Clarke  was  always  interested  and  active  in 
politics  on  behalf  of  the  republican  party,  whose 
principles  he  earnestly  supported.  He  was  never  an 
office  seeker  nor  an  office  holder,  but  always  found 
time  amid  his  multifarious  employments  to  espouse 
the  cause  of  men  he  thought  worthiest  to  be  nom- 
inated and  elected  to  important  positions.  He  thus 
wielded  an  important  influence  in  shaping  the  policies 
and  destinies  of  the  party  in  the  state  for  more  than 
forty  years.  He  was  helpful  and  wise  in  all  matters 
of  local  enterprise — a sagacious  counsellor  and  liberal 
contributor. 

With  him  the  introduction  of  choice  live  stock 
was  a passion.  Fie  was  willing  to  spend  any  sum 
within  his  command  to  further  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion and  he  figured  the  State  Fair  and  production 
of  improved  live  stock  as  among  the  very  first 
essentials  in  educating  the  farmer.  Though  he  loved 
the  din  of  strife  for  the  sake  of  winning,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  he  began  the  importation  of  Clydesdale 
horses  with  a view  of  furnishing  pure  bred  horses, 
of  the  most  valuable  varieties,  for  actual  service  in 
farming  and  transportation,  then  much  needed  here. 
His  greatest  triumph  with  the  Clydesdales  was 
achieved  at  the  Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago, 
1893,  and  Minnesota  profited  by  his  success  there. 
His  choice  of  all  cattle  was  the  Shorthorn,  and  his 
success  as  a breeder  of  the  “red,  white  and  roan" 
can  only  be  properly  gauged  by  a study  of  the 
premium  herds  which  have  contained  one,  two  or 
more  animals  bred  at  Meadow  Lawn.  Late  in  his 
more  active  career  Mr.  Clarke  thought  that  the 
shaggy-coated  Galloway  would  be  a valuable  improv- 
ing agent  in  Minnesota  and  immediately  he  set  about 
importing  the  best  that  Scotland  would  sell  him. 
Mr.  Clarke  closed  out  all  his  horses  and  cattle  a 
few  years  ago,  when  he  found  that  ill  health  was 
steadily  wearing  him  down.  The  stories  of  these 
transfers,  as  well  as  the  names  of  the  winners  which 
made  the  Meadow  Lawn  Clydesdales,  Shorthorns  and 
Galloways  famous,  are  familiar  to  all  who  keep 
advised  of  such  affairs. 

Mr.  Clarke  was  a member  of  the  Minnesota  Ter- 
ritorial Pioneers’  Association  and  of  the  Old  Set- 
tlers’ Association  of  Stearns  County.  In  religion 
he  was  a Unitarian  and  the  son  of  New  England 
exponents  of  that  faith.  Mr.  Clarke  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  Unity  Church  at  St.  Cloud,  and  actively 
connected  with  its  work  and  support.  Though  a 
man  of  great  business  activity,  he  was  devoted  to 
his  home  and  family.  He  was  married  at  Roxbury, 


1566 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Massachusetts,  September  12,  i860,  to  Caroline  E. 
Field.  There  are  three  children : Charlotte  E.,  Mary 
Ann  and  Ellen  C.  Ellen  married  C.  F.  de  Golyer, 
who  died  in  Florida,  December  6,  1895.  Mrs.  de 
Golyer  now  resides  at  Evanston,  Illinois.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Clarke  had  more  than  a half  century  of  married 
companionship,  and  she  is  still  living  at  the  home 
in  St.  Cloud. 

The  late  Mr.  Clarke  was  active  in  many  spheres. 
He  had  strong  friends  throughout  Minnesota  in  all 
the  higher  business,  professional,  political  and 
philanthropic  circles.  His  never-failing  efforts  in 
behalf  of  education  and  the  agricultural  prosperity 
of  Minnesota  must  stand  as  an  enduring  monument 
to  him.  When  the  great  panic  of  1893  struck  the 
commerce  of  the  country  like  a cyclone,  Mr.  Clarke’s 
payroll  in  the  lumber  mills  exceeded  half  a million 
dollars  a month.  Money  could  not  be  had,  lumber 
could  not  be  sold,  and  he  was  shorn  of  substan- 
tially everything  in  the  lumber  line  that  would  bring 
a dollar.  Later  he  re-established  himself,  to  a great 
extent,  through  his  agricultural  and  live  stock  inter- 
ests. He  was  benevolent  at  wholesale.  A thousand 
acts  of  gentle  kindness,  such  as  the  casual  observer 
would  not  suspect,  must  be  credited  to  him,  but  the 
world  will  never  know  of  them  in  detail.  He  was 
a public  benefactor  in  his  state  and  a staunch  friend 
in  need. 

Peter  A.  Hoffman.  In  the  election  of  November, 
1914,  Mr.  Hoffman  was  chosen  as  the  incumbent  for 
the  fourth  consecutive  term  of  the  important  office 
of  county  auditor  of  Dakota  County,  and  the  special 
excellence  of  his  administration  is  the  more  gratify- 
ing to  note  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  his  father  had 
previously  served  six  consecutive  years  in  the  same 
official  position  and  made  in  the  same  a record  that 
challenged  the  best  efforts  of  the  son. 

At  Hastings,  judicial  center  of  Dakota  County, 
Peter  Albert  Hoffman  was  born  on  the  30th  of  June, 
1879,  and  he  is  a son  of  Michael  and  Susan  (Kohler) 
Hoffman,  both  natives  of  Germany.  Michael  Hoff- 
man was  born  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Luxemburg, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  he  was  a 
youth  at  the  time  of  his  immigration  to  the  United 
States.  He  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Da- 
kota County,  Minnesota,  and  after  devoting  many 
years  to  agricultural  pursuits  he  established  his  resi- 
dence in  Hastings,  the  county  seat,  where  he  still 
maintains  his  home.  He  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  civic  and  material  development 
and  upbuilding  of  this  fine  little  city,  to  which  he  re- 
moved from  his  farm  upon  being  elected  county 
auditor  in  1895.  He  retained  this  office  until  1901, 
and  his  administration  has  passed  on  to  record  as 
one  of  the  best  given  to  this  department  of  the 
county  government  in  the  history  of  Dakota  County. 
Mr.  Hoffman  is  a stalwart  in  the  camp  of  the  re- 
publican party,  has  long  been  a zealous  worker  in 
behalf  of  its  cause  and  political  disaffection  shown 
within  recent  years  has  not  caused  him  to  lose  faith 
in  the  basic  principles  of  the  party.  Since  his  re- 
tirement from  office  he  has  been  representative  at 
Hastings  for  the  Gund  Brewing  Company,  of  La 
Crosse,  Wisconsin.  His  wife  died  in  1900  and  of 
the  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  of  those  now  liv- 
ing; Katherine  remains  with  her  father  in  the 
pleasant  family  home  in  Hastings;  Jacob  is  a resi- 
dent of  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota;  Louise  is  the 
wife  of  Patrick  F.  Wajsh,  of  Burnsville,  Dakota 


County,  Minnesota;  Edward  is  a resident  of  Minne- 
apolis; and  Charles,  Madeline,  Benjamin  and  Marie 
remain  at  the  paternal  home. 

After  duly  availing  himself  of  the  advantages  of 
the  public  schools  of  Hastings  Peter  A.  Hoffman 
became  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  county  auditor, 
under  the  administration  of  his  father,  and  finally, 
upon  the  resignation  of  James  A.  Jelley,  on  the  23d 
of  February,  1903,  he  was  appointed  to  fill  out  the 
latter’s  unexpired  term  as  auditor.  At  the  ensuing 
regular  election,  in  1904,  his  special  eligibility  was 
recognized  and  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
auditor,  as  candidate  on  the  republican  ticket.  By 
successive  reelections,  which  have  emphatically 
testified  to  the  efficiency  and  acceptability  of  his 
administration,  he  has  since  continued  the  valued 
incumbent  of  this  responsible  county  office,  his  fourth 
term  having  been  initiated  after  his  election  in  the 
autumn  of  1914.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  he  warmly 
supports  the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  though 
as  a public  official  he  is  signally  free  from  partisan 
bias,  and  in  a fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters, the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  is  a communicant 
of  the  Catholic  Church. 

In  the  year  1900  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Hoffman  to  Miss  Maude  Barnum,  who  was 
born  and  reared  at  Hastings  and  whose  parents, 
Charles  L.  and  Emily  (Behrman)  Barnum,  both  now 
deceased,  were  honored  residents  of  Dakota  County 
for  many  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  have  two 
children — Harold  Jacob,  born  in  August,  1901,  and 
Peter,  born  in  August,  1903. 

John  D.  MacPhee.  One  of  the  men  who  have 
been  most  prominent  in  the  past  thirty-six  years  in 
the  agricultural  development  and  enterprise  of  the 
Red  River  Valley  of  the  North  is  John  D.  MacPhee 
of  Crookston.  Mr.  MacPhee  has  developed  the 
agricultural  resources  of  many  thousands  of  acres 
in  this  section  of  Minnesota,  and  still  has  large 
interests  and  is  also  a prominent  figure  in  the  civic 
affairs  of  Polk  County. 

J.  D.  MacPhee  was  born  May  14,  1855,  on  a farm 
near  Paisley,  Bruce  County,  Ontario,  Canada.  His 
parents  were  John  and  Hester  (Galbraith)  Mac- 
Phee, who  emigrated  from  the  highlands  of  Scot- 
land about  the  year  1848.  After  growing  up  on  an 
Ontario  timber  farm  Mr.  MacPhee  came  to  the 
Minnesota  Red  River  Valley  in  the  spring  of  1879, 
and  has  resided  in  the  valley  since  that  time,  most 
of  the  time  being  connected  with  the  Keystone 
Farm  Company  and  the  Lockhart  Farm  Company  as 
foreman  and  manager.  In  1902,  when  these  large 
farms  were  sold  and  divided  into  smaller  farms, 
Mr.  MacPhee  became  a resident  of  the  City  of 
Crookston,  where  he  has  served  as  mayor  two  terms, 
and  was  the  first  mayor  under  the  new  home  rule 
charter.  In  1912  he  was  elected  for  a term  of  four 
years  as  a county  commissioner  of  Polk  County. 
He  is  known  in  fraternal  orders,  being  a member 
of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  Lodge  No.  342,  of  Crookston,  which  he 
served  as  exalted  ruler  for  two  terms,  and  was 
district  deputy  G.  E.  R.  for  Minnesota  North  under 
J.  U.  Sammis,  grand  exalted  ruler. 

In  1888  Mr.  MacPhee  was  married  to  Susan 
Cheney,  of  Euclid,  Minnesota,  but  a native  of  Belle- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1567 


vue,  Iowa.  They  have  an  adopted  daughter.  Lucy 
C.  MacPhee. 

Lewellington  D.  Peck,  M.  D.  The  position  of 
Doctor  Peck  in  Hastings  is  that  of  the  successful 
physician  and  surgeon,  a man  of  broad  interests  and 
views  and  high  standing  in  his  profession,  and 
already  possessed  of  an  individual  success  which 
enabled  him  to  serve  increasingly  the  interests  and 
welfare  of  the  community. 

Lewellington  D.  Peck  was  born  at  Rochester, 
Minnesota,  August  22,  1877,  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Emma  (Rose)  Peck.  His  father  was  a native  of 
Wisconsin,  and  his  mother  of  Rochester,  Minne- 
sota. The  father  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  Rochester,  and 
four  years  before  his  death  retired  and  spent 
his  last  days  in  Rochester.  He  left  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  that  vicinity,  and  also  owned  residence 
property  in  Rochester.  He  was  a man  of  thorough 
integrity  and  long  occupied  a position  of  influence 
in  that  vicinity.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  has 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  Hazel,  in  Herbert, 
Saskatchewan,  Canada.  There  are  five  children : 
Percy,  who  died  in  the  winter  of  1913  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five;  Dr.  L.  D.;  Ralph,  who  is  a merchant 
at  Bainville,  Montana;  Hazel,  wife  of  John  Chris- 
tianson of  Herbert,  Saskatchewan ; and  Anna,  a 
student  in  the  University  of  Minnesota. 

Doctor  Peck  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Rochester,  and  after  leaving  high  school  became 
a student  in  the  literary  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota  and  in,  1898  entered  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Minneapolis,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  medicine  and  surgery  with  the 
class  of  1902.  His  practice  began  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  at  Hastings,  and  in  twelve  years  he  has 
risen  to  a point  where  he  is  regarded  by  the  com- 
munity and  his  associates  as  one  of  the  ablest  and 
most  popular  members  of  the  medical  fraternity. 
Doctor  Peck  is  a member  of  the  Ramsey  County 
Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, served  for  twelve  years  as  county  physician  of 
Dakota  County,  and  is  local  surgeon  for  the  Mil- 
waukee & St.  Paul  Railroad.  He  is  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Commercial  Club  at  Hastings,  belongs  to 
the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the'  Catholic  Church.  Politically  he  is 
a republican,  but  practically  all  his  time  is  given 
to  his  professional  interests,  and  he  has  never 
served  in  any  formal  political  office. 

Doctor 'Peck  was  married  in  1904,  at  Hastings,  to 
Miss  Catherine  M.  Fasbender.  She  was  born  in 
Hastings,  a daughter  of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Frei- 
muth)  Fasbender.  They  were  pioneer  residents  of 
Dakota  County,  and  Mrs.  Peck  for  several  years 
before  her  marriage  was  a popular  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  Hastings.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  children : Llewellyn  Peck,  born  May  18,  1895, 
and  Catherine  Bernice,  born  July  12,  1907.  Mrs. 
Peck  is  an  active  member  of  the  Community  and 
Women’s  clubs. 

Melvin  G.  Peters.  The  thriving  little  city  of 
Mantorville,  judicial  center  of  Dodge  County,  claims 
its  full  quota  of  energetic,  reliable  and  progressive 
business  men,  and  among  the  number  is  found  Mr. 
Peters,  who  has  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the 
most  venerable  of  those  still  engaged  in  active 
business  in  this  place  and  who  is  entitled  to  be 
designated  as  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  citizens 


of  Dodge  County,  where  he  has  maintained  his  home 
for  half  a century  and  where  his  circle  of  friends 
is  coincident  with  that  of  his  acquaintances. 

Mr.  Peters  claims  the  fine  old  Buckeye  State  as 
the  place  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in  Lorain 
County,  Ohio,  on  the  1st  of  July,  1838,  and  is  a son 
of  William  and  Eliza  (Terrill)  Peters,  who  passed 
the  closing  years  of  their  lives  in  the  State  of 
Wisconsin.  In  his  native  county  Mr.  Peters  was 
reared  to  the  age  of  eight  years  and  the  family  then 
removed  to  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  was 
afforded  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools 
during  the  ensuing  eight  years.  In  1854  his  parents 
removed  to  Green  Lake  County,  Wisconsin,  and  he 
was  a lad  of  sixteen  years  at  this  time,  so  that  he 
did  not  deny  himself  further  privileges  for  education, 
as  he  continued  his  studies  in  the  pioneer  schools 
of  the  Badger  State,  where  he  continued  to  be 
identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  until  1864.  In 
the  year  last  mentioned  Mr.  Peters  came  to  Dodge 
County,  Minnesota,  and  established  his  residence  in 
Concord  Township,  where  he  developed  a fine  farm 
and  aided  materially  in  the  industrial  and  civic 
progress  and  upbuilding  of  the  county.  He  still 
owns  a valuable  landed  estate  of  2,225  acres  and  is 
one  of  the  substantial  capitalists  of  the  county  that 
has  long  represented  his  home.  His  life  has  been 
guided  and  guarded  by  the  highest  principles  of 
integrity  and  honor  and  his  success  has  been  won 
by  earnest  and  honest  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment. 

Mr.  Peters  continued  to  reside  on  his  homestead 
farm  until  1880,  when  he  was  elected  register  of 
deeds,  a preferment  which  necessitated  his  removal 
to  Mantorville,  the  county  seat,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  Mr. 
Peters  purchased  the  hardware  business  of  Charles 
Wells,  and  he  has  since  given  his  personal  super- 
vision to  this  enterprise,  which  has  become  one  of 
substantial  scope  and  representative  order  under  his 
effective  management.  His  establishment  is  well 
equipped  in  all  departments  and  fair  and  honorable 
dealings  have  conserved  the  success  of  his  business, 
no  citizen  having  in  more  unqualified  degree  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  local  public.  Besides 
his  business  building  Mr.  Peters  owns  the  attractive 
and  thoroughly  modern  residence  which  was  erected 
by  him  at  Mantorville  in  the  year  1904  and  the  home 
is  known  for  its  gracious  hospitality. 

In  politics  Mr.  Peters  is  a stalwart  and  well  forti- 
fied advocate  of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party, 
to  which  he  has  given  allegiance  from  the  time  of 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  with  a faith  that  is 
shown  in  good  works  and  kindly  deeds  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  has  served, 
and  with  characteristic  loyalty,  as  a member  of  the 
city  council  of  Mantorville,  and  in  a recent  election 
he  exerted  much  influence  in  bringing  about  the 
abolishment  of  all  saloons  in  this  attractive  little 
city. 

In  i860  Mr.  Peters  wedded  Eliza  A.  Ells,  and  she 
passed  the  closing  years  of  her  life  in  Dodge  County, 
having  come  to  Minnesota  with  her  husband  within 
a few  years  after  their  marriage.  She  was  survived 
by  two  children,  Inez,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  F. 
Morris,  postmaster  of  Mantorville,  and  Cyril,  who 
died  in  his  twenty-first  year.  In  1880  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Peters  to  Elizabeth  M.  Moore 
of  Concord,  Dodge  County,  and  she  was  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal  in  June,  1910,  leaving  no  children. 


1568 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Since  her  death  the  family  home  has  had  as  its 
chatelaine  Mr.  Peters’  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Morris, 
and  she  and  her  husband  are  prominent  and  popular 
factors  in  the  social  activities  of  their  home  city. 

Gustavus  Adolphus  College.  In  the  year  1862 
there  was  originated  a movement,  growing  out  of 
the  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Swedish  people  of 
Minnesota  and  adjoining  states  to  provide  a higher 
and  Christian  education  for  their  young  people,  to 
found  an  institution  which  should  include  in  its 
curriculum  a thorough,  liberal  education,  based 
upon  and  permeated  by  the  principles  of  Christianity 
as  confessed  by  the  Lutheran  Church.  It  was  little 
thought,  when  the  temporary  elementary  school  was 
first  organized  at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  by  Rev. 
E.  Norelius,  D.  D.,  that  this  was  to  grow  into  one 
of  the  leading  institutions  of  the  Northwest,  not 
alone  a college  of  learning  which  was  to  send  forth 
its  graduates  to  the  highest  positions  in  the  various 
walks  of  life,  but  a powerful  moral  force  which 
would  exert  a wonderful  influence  in  the  advance- 
ment of  religion  and  morality,  as  well  as  in  the 
fostering  of  good  citizenship. 

Gustavus  Adolphus  College  was  incorporated  in 
1875  and  located  at  St.  Peter,  but  prior  to  that,  in 
1863,  the  Minnesota  Conference  had  established  an 
academy  with  a corps  of  teachers  and  moved  the 
school  to  East  Union  Congregation,  Carver,  Min- 
nesota. Before  1890  the  students  were  sent  to 
Augustana  College,  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  to  finish 
their  courses  and  graduate  with  the  degree  of 
bachelor  of  arts,  but  since  that  year  the  college 
has  finished  courses  and  graduated  annually.  The 
college  is  supported  by  the  Minnesota  Conference 
of  the  Augustana  Synod  of  North  America,  and  the 
general  movement  is  vested  in  a board  of  directors 
elected  by  the  said  conference.  The  aim  of  the 
institution  is  to  provide  a college  of  liberal  arts,  a 
preparatory  department,  a school  of  commerce,  and 
a school  of  music,  all  courses  to  be  open  to  both 
sexes.  The  immediate  government  of  the  college 
is  vested  in  the  faculty,  the  permanently  elected 
teachers  of  the  college  constituting  its  voting  mem- 
bers. The  faculty  lays  down  such  rules  as  are 
deemed  necessary  for  the  inner  government  of  the 
institution,  draws  up  the  courses  of  study  in  all 
classes  and  departments,  and  presents  them  to  the 
board  of  directors  for  ratification. 

The  college  is  charmingly  located  in  the  City  of 
St.  Peter,  on  the  Chicago  & Northwestern  and  the 
Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  & Omaha  railways, 
seventy-five  miles  southwest  from  the  twin  cities, 
St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis.  The  city  is  pleasantly 
located  in  the  broad  valley  of  the  Minnesota  River, 
has  a population  of  about  4,000,  is  exceptionally  salu- 
brious and  is  supplied  with  an  excellent  system  of 
waterworks,  electric  lights,  a modern  telephone  ex- 
change. and  other  up-to-date  improvements,  thus 
combining  the  advantages  of  some  of  the  larger 
cities  with  the  good  order,  freedom  and  sociability 
of  the  smaller  communities. 

Rev.  Oscar  J.  Johnson,  president  of  Luther  College, 
Wahoo,  Nebraska,  was  elected  president  of  Gustavus 
Adolphus  College  in  February,  1913,  and  entered 
upon  his  new  duties  on  July  13th  of  the  same  year. 
The  other  administrative  officers  are : J.  A.  Edquist, 
registrar;  Conrad  Peterson,  secretary  of  faculty; 
Edith  Knock,  librarian,  and  Ernest  Hallander,  jani- 
tor. The  board  of  directors  of  the  college  are  as 
follows:  Rev.  C.  E.  Benson,  Stillwater;  Rev.  A.  T. 


Lundholm,  St.  James;  O.  N.  Johnson,  Gibbon;  Prof. 
A.  A.  Stomberg,  University  of  Minnesota,  president 
of  the  board,  Minneapolis;  Rev.  C.  Swenson,  New 
London ; Rev.  O.  A.  Elmquist,  Minneapolis ; Hon. 
C.  J.  Swendsen,  Minneapolis ; Prof.  P.  M.  Mag- 
nusson,  Ph.  D.,  State  Normal  School,  St.  Cloud; 
Rev.  C.  E.  Cesander,  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota; 
Rev.  C.  Solomonson,  Minneapolis;  Victor  E.  Law- 
son,  Willmar;  Senator  H.  N.  Benson,  St.  Peter. 

From  the  college  quarterly,  the  Gustavus  Adol- 
phus College  Bulletin,  of  November,  1912,  we  are 
allowed  to  copy  the  following:  “Since  celebrating 

our  semi-centennial  Jubilee  Festival  last  May,  Mr. 
James  J.  Hill  has  come  forth  with  the  proposition 
that  he  will  donate  to  Gustavus  Adolphus  College 
$50,000  for  a permanent  endowment  of  $250,000  to 
be  raised  bv  May,  1914.  Before  this  promise  was 
given  uy  Mr.  Hill,  Col.  C.  A.  Smith  had  offered 
$50,000  towards  a similar  endowment  of  $250,000  to 
be  raised  by  New  Year,  1914.  Colonel  Smith  has 
again  started  the  ball  rolling  for  dear  Gustavus 
Adolphus.  It  is  indeed ' not  the  first  time  he  has 
befriended  the  college.  $100,000  is  not  all  that  we 
have  towards  this  $250,000  endowment  fund.  We 
have  already  received  through  various  channels  some 
$30,000  in  cash  money,  which  is  invested  in  first 
mortgages  on  farm  lands  bringing  in  revenues.  Thus 
we  have  over  one-half  of  the  total  amount  demanded 
by  the  above-named  donators.  Hitherto  the  college  has 
depended  for  financial  support  mainly  on  the  yearly 
benefactions  that  have  come  from  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Churches  of  Minnesota  and  surrounding 
states.  But  the  college  is  growing  in  importance 
and  the  demands  made  upon  her  require  a larger 
and  a more  permanent  income,  so  that  the  staff 
of  teachers  can  be  strengthened  and  more  perma- 
nently retained  and  the  laboratories  and  library 
enlarged. 

“Gustavus  Adolphus  College  has  proven  a great 
factor  to  build  up  church  and  state  in  the  Northwest 
and  especially  so.  among  the  Swedish  people,  and 
has  made  a splendid  history;  but  her  function  for 
the  future  is  still  greater.  The  present  generation 
and  the  coming  generations  will  use  and  need  the 
denominational  college  more  than  ever  before.  The 
state  universities  and  higher  state  schools  are  flooded 
with  students,  and  besides  cannot  equal  smaller 
colleges  in  personal  attention  and  development  of 
character,  which  ought  to  be  a primary  object  of 
education.” 

Later,  the  students’  paper,  College  Breezes,  re- 
marked as  follows:  “Mayor  Dick  of  St.  Peter 
vouched  for  the  deep  interest  of  St.  Peter  in  its 
college  and  lauded  the  work  of  the  G.  A.  alumni. 
He  congratulated  the  leaders  in  the  endowment  work, 
upon  the  splendid  results  of  their  great  campaign.” 
It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  to  add  that  the  fund  was 
easily  collected,  and  that  the  $250,000  necessary  was 
far  exceeded.  In  this  connection  the  following 
interesting  letter  was  received : “State  of  Minne- 

sota, Executive  Department,  St.  Paul.  May  9,  1914. 
Adolph  O.  Eberhart,  Governor.  Editor-in-Chief, 
College  Breezes,  Gustavus  Adolphus  College,  St. 
Peter,  Minnesota.  My  dear  Friend : Just  a word 
of  greeting  to  the  friends  and  members  of  the 
Alumni  Association  throughout  the  state.  This  has 
been  a memorable  year  in  the  history  of  our  college. 
The  establishment  of  an  endowment  fund  will  not 
only  permanently  secure  the  college  from  a financial 
standpoint,  but  will  add  hosts  of  friends  and  sup- 
porters to  our  college  everywhere.  While  I have 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1569 


assisted  in  securing  the  larger  contributions,  I expect 
to  do  a great  deal  more  hereafter.  Had  I exhausted 
my  efforts  earlier  we  would  not  have  been  able  to 
secure  the  generous  response  from  smaller  con- 
tributors throughout  the  state.  The  committee  in 
charge  of  these  subscriptions  is  entitled  to  most 
hearty  congratulations  for  its  efficient  work.  I have 
already  made  plans  for  securing  additional  sums 
in  larger  amounts  and  feel  sure  that  I shall  be 
successful.  I hope  the  members  of  the  Alumni 
Association  will  assist  in  every  way  possible,  because 
the  greatest  strength  of  any  educational  association 
is  the  loyal  and  active  support  of  its  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation. Very  Sincerely  Yours,  A.  O.  Eberhart. 
Governor.” 

Rev.  Jacob  Uhler,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  vice  president 
of  Gustavus  Adolphus  College,  was  born  at  Stocker- 
town,  Northampton  County,  Pennsylvania.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  years  he  entered  the  normal  school  at 
Kutztown,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  prepared  for  col- 
lege, and  when  eighteen  years  old  taught  his  first 
term  of  school  at  Martin’s  Creek,  Pennsylvania.  The 
following  year  he  entered  Lafayette  College,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1877.  During 
his  senior  year  at  college  and  the  year  following 
his  graduation,  he  taught  classics  and  mathematics 
at  the  college  preparatory  school  of  Easton,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  1878  entered  the  Lutheran  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  pursued 
a course  of  three  years  in  theology,  and  during  that 
time  received  two  calls  to  professorship,  one  from 
Gustavus  Adolphus  College  and  the  other  from  the 
Keystone  State  Normal  School,  the  latter  being 
accepted.  There  he  filled  the  chair  of  higher 
mathematics  and  preached  to  500  students  every 
Sunday.  After  a year  the  call  to  Gustavus  Adolphus 
College  was  repeated,  and  this  time  with  success, 
for  Doctor  Uhler  accepted  and  has  been  active  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  here  ever  since.  A man 
of  deep  and  comprehensive  learning,  he  possesses 
peculiar  attributes  which  fit  him  eminently  for  the 
work  of  an  educator. 

Rev.  Oscar  J.  Johnson,  B.  D.,  was  born  at  Cle- 
burne, Kansas,  October  8,  1870.  He  attended 
Bethany  College,  Lindsborg,  Kansas,  and  took  his 
college  and  seminary  course  at  Augustana  College, 
Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where  he  was  graduated  from 
the  seminary  in  1899.  His  first  charge  was  McKees- 
port, Pennsylvania,  where  he  stayed  three  years. 
He  left  this  charge  to  take  up  work  as  an  educator. 
In  1901  he  accepted  the  position  of  president  of 
Luther  College,  Wahoo,  Nebraska.  He  had  charge 
of  this  college  for  twelve  years,  during  which  time 
the  attendance  was  more  than  doubled  at  the  college, 
and  funds  for  buildings  amounting  to  over  $40,000 
■were  raised  by  him.  During  his  stay  at  Wahoo  he 
also  had  charge  of  the  local  church. 

In  1913  he  was  tendered  a call  by  the  Minnesota 
Conference  to  the  presidency  of  Gustavus  Adolphus 
College  and  accepted  same,  assuming  his  duties  in 
July,  1913.  He  at  once  enlisted  in  the  endowment 
fund  campaign  and  in  May,  1914,  the  goal  was 
reached  when  an  endowment  of  $265,000  was  on 
hand.  During  his  administration  some  important 
changes  have  been  made.  A number  of  new  teachers 
have  been  secured  and  further  additions  are  con- 
templated. 

The  college  has  many  prominent  alumni,  among 
which  should  be  mentioned  Ex-Gov.  Adolph  Eber- 
hart, who  has  been  governor  of  Minnesota  two 
terms;  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Johnson,  minister  of  public 


. works,  Winnipeg,  Canada ; Dr.  P.  A.  Mattson,  presi- 
dent Minnesota  Conference,  and  others.  A great 
number  have  gone  into  the  ministry  and  are  today 
numbered  among  the  pioneers  in  the  Lutheran  mis- 
sionary work  of  the  Northwest. 

The  college  has  a bright  future  before  it  and  its 
mission  in  the  future  will  be  greater  than  it  has 
been  in  the  past.  No  institution  has  been  estab- 
lished which  will  quite  take  the  place  of  the 
denominational  college.  We  need  this  type  of  col- 
lege for  the  sake  of  efficient  leadership  in  the  church, 
for  the  sake  of  the  home  and  social  life  of  our 
people  and  for  the  sake  of  the  great  cause  of  educa- 
tion in  America. 

Maj.  Silas  Howell  Towler.  As  generation  suc- 
ceeds generation  in  American  history  there  will  be 
an  ever  increasing  interest  in  and  respect  paid  to 
those  men  and  boys  who  in  the  flush  of  youth  gave 
their  services  to  the  cause  of  a united  nation.  Now, 
after  a lapse  of  half  a century,  the  survivors  of  that 
impressive  conflict  are  more  than  ever  objects  of 
patriotic  regard  and  affection. 

For  many  years  S.  H.  Towler  of  Minneapolis  has 
been  a prominent  figure  in  the  various  patriotic 
organizations  of  the  state,  while  in  civil  life  his 
relations  with  business  in  his  home  city  have  brought 
him  substantial  success.  His  career  is  one  of  more 
than  casual  interest. 

An  Ohio  man  by  birth,  and  in  1901  honored  with 
the  office  of  president  of  the  Ohio  Association  of 
Minneapolis,  Mr.  Towler  was  born,  January  3, 
1846,  at  Xenia,  a town  with  which  his  family  was 
identified  as  pioneers.  His  is  old  and  substantial 
American  stock,  Christopher  Towler  having  come  to 
America  about  1700  and  became  a planter  and  slave- 
holder in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  James  Towler,  the 
grandfather,  having  been  convinced  of  the  iniquity 
of  human  slavery  and  understanding  its  blighting 
influence  on  industry,  sold  his  Virginia  plantation, 
freed  his  slaves,  and  in  1804  moved  to  Ohio,  only 
three  years  after  it  became  a state  and  when  its 
population  was  still  concentrated  in  the  counties 
bordering  the  Ohio  River.  He  built  the  first  hewed 
log  house  in  the  Town  of  Xenia,  and  was  a man  of 
unusual  influence  and  activities  in  that  community. 
He  was  a lay  preacher  in  the  Protestant  Methodist 
Church  and  the  first  postmaster  of  Xenia. 

Even  more  noteworthy  as.  a man  of  character  and 
usefulness  was  Mr.  Towler’s  ■ father.  Dr.  Thomas 
Sturrock  Towler,  who  was  five  years  old  when  the 
family  left  Petersburg,  Virginia,  and  came  to  the 
Ohio  frontier.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  acted  as 
a guide  to  soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  early 
studies  were  pursued  under  James  P.  Espy,  widely 
known  in  his  time  as  “the  Storm  King,”  and  later 
studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Daniel  Drake  and  began 
practice  at  Cincinnati.  The  chief  interest  in  his 
career  centers  in  his  intense  anti-slavery  activities. 
He  used  his  influence  and  voice  so  earnestly  that  on 
one  occasion  a party  of  Kentuckians  threatened  to 
tar  and  feather  him,  though  without  effect  on  his 
subsequent  course.  In  Green  County,  Ohio,  he 
organized  the  free  soil  party  and  led  it  to  victory 
at  the  polls.  The  organization  of  the  republican 
party  found  him  allied  with  its  cause,  and  he  re- 
mained true  to  its  principles  until  his  death  in 
1874  at  a good  old  age.  During  the  war  he  was  com- 
missioned surgeon  of  dragoons  in  the  state  troops. 
His  service  as  an  educator  and  scholar  was  also 


1570 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


remarkable,  considering  his  activities  in  other  direc- 
tions. He  established  at  Xenia  a school  for  the 
advanced  education  of  youth  and  later  a ladies’ 
seminary.  Among  his  students  he  was  affection- 
ately known  as  “Old  Moral  Basis.”  His  report  on 
his  explorations  of  the  geological  formations  in 
Green  County  was  incorporated  in  the  state  geolo- 
gist’s reports.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
temperance  movements,  and  was  instrumental  in 
securing  the  passage  of  a law  in  the  Legislature 
granting  local  option  to  the  Town  of  Fulton,  later 
merged  in  the  larger  city  of  Cincinnati.  This  was 
probably  the  first  local  option  act  in  America,  and 
its  successful  working  led  the  way  in  such  legisla- 
tion. Doctor  Towler  married  Jane  White  Howell, 
who  was  connected  with  some  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  prominent  Ohio  families  of  the  time.  She  was 
a woman  of  noble  character  and  a devout  Christian. 
Jane  White  Howell,  according  to  recent  genealogi- 
cal researches,  is  found  to  have  been  a descendant  of 
Edward  Howell,  the  first  of  the  Howell  family  in 
America.  Edward  Howell  was  made  a freeman  of 
Boston,  March  14,  1639,  and  had  a grant  of  500  acres 
at  Lynn.  Later  he  removed  to  Long  Island  and  was 
magistrate,  and  a member  of  the  Colonial  Legislature. 
His  coat  of  arms  was  carved  in  the  capital  at  Albany, 
commemorating  the  fact  that  he  was  the  first  Eng- 
lish settler  in  the  now  State  of  New  York.  Her 
mother’s  father,  Maj.  Jacob  Arnold,  of  Morristown, 
New  Jersey,  was  the  owner  of  General  Washington’s 
headquarters  while  at  Morristown,  and  was  major 
in  the  light  cavalry  attached  to  Washington’s 
headquarters. 

With  such  antecedents  it  was  only  natural  that 
the  early  life  of  Silas  H.  Towler  was  encompassed 
with  the  best  of  influences.  In  part  he  is  a product 
of  an  old-time  log  schoolhouse,  which  he  attended 
up  to  his  eleventh  year,  but  most  of  his  education 
was  acquired  at  home,  where  he  was  instructed  by 
his  parents  and  came  into  contact  with  many  promi- 
nent men  of  the  time  and  locality.  Afterward  he 
attended  graded  schools  and  high  school  one  year. 

In  the  spring  of  1862,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and 
with  the  consent  of  his  father,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H of  the  Eighty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry 
for  three  months.  Volunteers  were  called  to  resist 
the  invasion  by  General  Morgan,  and  his  company 
responded  and  went  to  Frankfort,  Kentucky.  While 
there  Mr.  Towler  was  stricken  with  typhoid  fever, 
but  in  less  than  four  weeks  had  recovered  and 
rejoined  his  regiment  and  went  with  it  to  Covington 
to  repel  Kirby  Smith’s  threatened  attack  on  Cincin- 
nati. After  his  discharge  and  two  months  spent  at 
home  he  was  the  first  recruit  enlisted  for  the  Twenty- 
second  Battery  of  the  Ohio  Volunteer  Light  Artil- 
lery. This  time  his  father  was  opposed  to  his  enlist- 
ment, and  it  was  by  a subterfuge  that  he  secured  his 
father’s  signature  to  blank  forms  of  consent.  He 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  first  squad  of  recruits, 
and  was  able  to  hold  them  together  during  the 
winter  with  only  two  desertions.  In  the  spring, 
enough  recruits  having  been  obtained  to  man  four 
guns,  the  battery  was  ordered  to  West  Virginia. 
Their  services  not  being  required,  they  returned  to 
Camp  Chase,  but  were  soon  ordered  to  Parkersburg, 
West  Virginia,  and  being  joined  by  other  troops, 
proceeded  to  the  Potomac  to  assist  in  harassing  Lee 
on  his  retreat  from  Gettysburg.  But  they  arrived 
only  in  time  to  see  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy 
crossing  the  river.  Mr.  Towler  was  then  ordered 


to  take  one  gun  on  board  the  steamer  Emma  Graham 
and  proceed  to  a fording  place  on  the  Ohio  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Little  Hocking  River.  Arriving  there- 
he  was  put  in  command  of  a large  number  of 
farmers  congregated  to  repel  Morgan.  As  the  in- 
vader did  not  come  that  way,  Mr.  Towler,  with  two 
guns,  and  supported  by  a company  of  the  Eighty- 
eighth  Ohio,  patroled  the  Ohio  until  news  came  of 
the  Confederate  leader’s  capture.  On  his  return  to 
Camp  Thomas,  near  Columbus,  the  battery,  which 
up  to  that  time  had  not  been  officially  organized,  was 
formally  mustered  into  the  United  States  service. 
Mr.  Towler  was  only  a private  soldier,  but  from  the 
fact  that  he  had  command  of  two  guns  was  called 
sergeant.  After  the  muster  in  the  battery  was 
ordered  to  Camp  Nelson,  near  Nicholsville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  attached  to  a brigade  under  the  command 
of  John  De  Courcey,  colonel  of  the  Sixteenth  Ohio 
Infantry.  The  battery  assisted  in  the  capture  of 
Cumberland  Gap,  and  was  then  stationed  at  the  Gap 
as  part  of  the  garrison.  In  January,  1864,  Mr. 
Towler  was  ordered  to  accompany  the  captain  of 
the  battery,  Henry  M.  Neil,  to  Ohio  on  recruiting 
duty.  During  their  absence  Captain  Neil  resigned, 
and  Mr.  Towler  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant 
and  later  to  first  lieutenant  of  the  battery.  After 
rejoining  the  battery  he  was  detailed  as  adjutant  of 
the  artillery  battalion  formed  from  the  independent 
batteries  manning  the  forts.  Later,  being  placed  in 
command  of  his  old  battery,  he  was  ordered  to  take 
it  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  Not  long  after  reaching 
that  post,  as  a result  of  scanty  rations  and  improper 
diet,  he  suffered  from  acute  dysentery,  and  only  his 
strong  constitution  pulled  him  through,  since  the 
surgeon  had  pronounced  his  case  hopeless.  While 
with  the  garrison  at  Knoxville,  Lieutenant  Towler 
was  detailed  on  boards  of  survey  to  inspect  and  pass 
upon  the  serviceablenesg  of  ordnance,  quartermaster 
and  commissary  stores,  and  to  sit  as  a member  of 
the  general  court  martial  of  the  district  of  East 
Tennessee.  He  remained  on  the  latter  detail  until 
July,  1865,  when  the  battery  was  ordered  to  Camp 
Chase,  Ohio,  for  muster  out. 

His  return  home  found  him  still  a young  man 
under  age,  and  his  first  move  was  to  take  a course 
of  instruction  in  a business  college.  His  active 
career  began  in  the  grocery  trade,  and  strict  atten- 
tion to  duty  and  thorough  honesty  won  him  the 
confidence  of  his  employers  and  eventually  brought 
him  success.  The  grocery  business  was  his  regular 
line  until  1889,  both  in  wholesale  and  retail,  for  a 
time  being  a member  of  the  firm  of  E.  E.  Shedd  & 
Company  of  Columbus. 

In  1884  Mr.  Towler  came  to  Minneapolis,  being 
under  contract  with  Murray,  Warner  & Company, 
wholesale  grocery.  Since  1889  Mr.  Towler  has  been 
engaged  in  the  laundry  business.  He  acquired  the 
Minneapolis  Steam  Laundry,  which  was  the  first 
laundry  of  the  kind  established  in  this  city.  After 
a fire  which  destroyed  the  plant  on  June  24,  1912, 
Mr.  Towler  bought  out  the  Art  Laundry  and  con- 
solidated the  two  establishments  under  the  name 
Minneapolis  Art  Laundries. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Towler  has  devoted  himself 
unselfishly  to  the  interests  and  welfare  of  the  old 
soldiers,  and  there  is  no  one  more  entitled  to  their 
respect  and  esteem.  His  standing  is  shown  by 
numerous  honors  paid  him  by  his  old  comrades. 
For  twelve  years,  from  1897  to  1909,  he  was  on  ffhe 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Minnesota  Soldiers’  Home, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1571 


and  was  president  of  the  board  from  1899  to  1909. 
A companion  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal 
Legion,  he  has  served  as  junior  and  senior  vice 
commander  of  the  Minnesota  Commandery  and  as 
commander  in  1913,  being  the  only  member  ever 
promoted  directly  from  senior  vice  to  commander. 
Mr.  Towler  was  adjutant  general  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  in  1901-02,  was  junior  vice 
commander  in  chief  in  1905-06,  and  chief  of  staff  in 
1909-10.  He  is  a member  of  John  A.  Rawlins  Post 
No.  126.  His  military  service  was  in  three  different 
armies,  Army  of  West  Virginia,  Army  of  the  Ohio 
and  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  he  is  therefore 
entitled  to  wear  the  badges  and  colors  of  all  of 
them. 

Mr.  Towler  is  a member  of  the  National . Geo- 
graphic Society;  was  one  of  the  committee  for  the 
celebration  of  one  hundred  years’  peace  between 
LTnited  States  and  Great  Britain;  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Gettysburg  Peace  Monument  Association ; 
and  a charter  member  of  the  Appomattox  Memorial 
Association.  He  is  also  one  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  the  Children’s  Home  Society  of  Minnesota. 

He  is  one  of  Minnesota’s  prominent  Masons. 
He  is  a life  member  of  Magnolia  Lodge  No.  20, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  being  worshipful 
master  in  1874;  is  a member  of  Ark  Chapter,  R.  A. 
M. ; has  been  commander  of  Minneapolis  Mounted 
Commandery,  K.  T.,  and  is  now  grand  junior  warden 
of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Minnesota  Knights 
Templar;  and  affiliated  with  Zuhrah  Temple  of  the 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  Minneapolis.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  Park  Avenue  Congregational 
Church,  being  a member  of  its  board  of  trustees 
and  formerly  its  chairman.  For  a number  of  years 
Mr.  Towler  has  been  president  of  the  Portland 
Avenue  Improvement  Association,  which  was  in- 
corporated in  May,  1884,  and  is  the  oldest  in  the 
City  of  Minneapolis  organized  for  local  improve- 
ments. 

November  21,  1871,  Mr.  Towler  married  Miss 
Mary  J.  Lonnis.  Eight  of  their  nine  children  are 
living:  Dora  A.  died  in  1909;  Mertie  L.  is  the  wife 
of  Rev.  John  G.  Briggs,  of  Owatonna,  Minnesota; 
Mary  Belle,  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota and  of  Columbia  University  in  the  class  of  1912, 
is  now  teacher  of  household  art  in  the  Central  High 
School  in  Minneapolis ; Lucy  is  the  wife  of  S.  H. 
Plummer,  assistant  cashier  of  the  Northwestern 
National  Bank  of  Minneapolis;  Edna  E.  is  a teacher 
in  the  city  public  schools ; Robert  S.,  connected  with 
the  Commercial  National  Bank  of  Minneapolis; 
David  K.  is  a civil  engineer ; George  H.  and  Henry 
L.  are  both  associated  with  their  father  in  the 
laundry  business. 

Olaf  Ramstad.  The  Citizens  Bank  of  Thief 
River  Falls,  which  was  organized  in  October,  1903, 
by  Olaf  Ramstad,  has  been  a growing  institution  for 
twelve  years,  has  been  a useful  factor  in  the  business 
relations  of  this  section  of  Minnesota,  and  through 
its  substantial  character  and  the  personnel  of  its 
chief  officers  and  directors  has  merited  the  thorough 
confidence  which  it  enjoys.  When  organized  the 
capital  stock  of  the  bank  was  $20,000.  At  the  present 
time  it  has  a capital  stock  of  $50,000,  with  surplus 
of  $2,500,  but  the  chief  index  of  its  growth  and 
standing  in  the  community  is  the  item  representing 
deposits,  which  aggregate  $400,000.  This  bank  pays 
4 per  cent  on  savings  deposits,  and  5 per  cent  on 


time  certificates  of  deposit.  Mr.  Olaf  Ramstad  is 
president,  with  T.  L.  Melgaard  as  cashier,  with 
Louis  Hanson  as  vice  president,  and  Charles  W. 
Vorechek  as  assistant  cashier.  This  bank  has  re- 
cently added  to  Thief  River  Falls  its  most  conspicu- 
ous and  handsome  business  structure,  a new  concrete 
block,  1 15  by  75  feet,  two  stories,  furnishing  banking 
quarters  34  by  75  feet,  and  also  space  for  store  rooms 
and  with  offices  and  auditorium  on  the  second  floor. 
*^r;  Rarnstad  and  Mr.  Melgaard  put  up  this  notable 
building,  and  it  is  furnished  in  all  the  most  modern 
equipment.  The  bank  offices  are  especially  modern, 
with  marble  and  mahogany  trimmings,  and  one  of 
the  modern  features  of  the  bank  is  its  safety 
deposit  vaults  with  individual  boxes  for  the  cus- 
tomers. 

Olaf  Ramstad,  whose  success  as  a business  man 
and  banker  is  well  understood  from  the  fact  that 
he  is  president  of  this  institution,  is  an  example 
of  a Norwegian  boy  who  came  to  this  country  with- 
out friends  and  without  resources  and  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  to  influence  and  position.  He  was 
born  in  Norway,  August  11,  1862,  a sc*i  of  Sylvester 
and  Marit  Ramstad.  His  father  was  a farmer. 

The  son  received  some  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Norway,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  started  out 
alone  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  New  World.  He 
arrived  in  the  Red  River  Valley  of  Minnesota  with 
only  enough  money  to  supply  his  immediate  neces- 
sities, and  in  the  vicinity  of  Ada  spent  two  years 
on  a farm.  Two  seasons  he  spent  in  buying  grain, 
and  then  for  twelve  years  was  engaged  in  general 
merchandising.  Mr.  Ramstad  came  to  Thief  River 
Falls  in  1902,  and  for  a short  time  bought  and 
shipped  horses.  He  took  the  lead  in  organizing  the 
Citizens  State  Bank  in  1903,  and  served  as  one  of  its 
board  of  directors  until  elected  president  in  January, 
1905-  He  is  also  president  of  the  Citizens  Security 
Company,  and  does  considerable  business  in  real 
estate,  live  stock  and  other  dealings. 

Mr.  Ramstad  was  honored  with  a place  on  the 
city  council  in  1908-09  and  is  president  of  the  Ceme- 
tery Commission.  He  is  a member  of  the  Commer- 
cial Club,  is  treasurer  of  the  United  Lutheran 
Church  and  takes  an  earnest  and  effective  part  in  all 
local  affairs. 

In  April,  1897,  at  Ada,  Minnesota,  Mr.  Ramstad 
married  Emily  Larson.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  daughters.  Ila  is  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Reynolds 
of  Eugene,  Oregon.  Charlotte  is  the  wife  of  Oscar 
Sponhim,  who  is  cashier  of  the  Peoples  Bank  at 
Thief  River  Falls. 

Thomas  P.  Moran.  For  a quarter  of  a century 
the  representative  citizen  of  Hastings  whose  name 
introduces  this  review  has  held  the  office  of  judge 
of  probate  of  Dakota  County,  and  further  than  this 
statement  there  is  needed  no  testimonial  to  the  un- 
qualified confidence  and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
in  this  favored  Minnesota  County.  His  administra- 
tion of  the  affairs  of  the  Probate  Court  has  been 
marked  by  scrupulous  and  characteristic  care  and 
discrimination,  and  the  records  of  the  office  have 
become  of  model  order  under  his  regime.  Further 
interest  attaches  to  his  career  by  reason  of  the  fact 
that  he  is  a native  of  Dakota  County  and  a scion 
of  a sterling  pioneer  family  that  settled' in  Minnesota 
in  the  pioneer  days. 

Judge  Thomas  Paul  Moran  was  born  in  Rose- 
mount  Township,  Dakota  County,  Minnesota,  on  the 
31st  of  July.  1856,  about  two  years  prior  to  the 


1572 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


admission  of  the  state  to  the  Union.  He  is  a son 
of  Patrick  and  Katherine  (Sheridan)  Moran,  both 
natives  of  fine  old  County  Mayo,  Ireland.  Patrick 
Moran  immigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
in  New  York  City  in  the  early  ’50s,  and  shortly 
afterward  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Katherine  Sheridan.  About  one  year  later  the  young 
couple  came  to  the  West,  and  after  residing  two 
years  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  they  came  to  Minnesota, 
in  the  autumn  of  1854.  Patrick  Moran  entered 
claim  to  a tract  of  Government  land  in  Rosemount 
Township,  Dakota  County,  where  he  set  to  himself 
the  herculean  task  of  reclaiming  a farm  from  the 
wilderness.  He  and  his  wife  lived  up  to  the  full 
tension  of  pioneer  hardships  and  toil,  and  with  the 
passing  years  definite  prosperity  attended  their  ef- 
forts. Their  old  homestead  was  developed  into  a 
productive  farm  and  there  they  continued  to  reside 
until  1873,  when  they  sold  the  property  and  pur- 
chased a large  farm  in  Empire  Township,  about 
midway  between  the  villages  of  Farmington  arid 
Rosemount.  There  Patrick  Moran  continued  his 
operations  as  »one  of  the  extensive  and  representa- 
tive farmers  of  this  section  of  the  state  until  his 
death,  in  1904,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  He  was  a man  of  unassuming  worth  of 
character,  generous  and  kindly  in  all  of  the  relations 
of  life,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  held  the  affectionate 
regard  of  all  who  came  within  the  sphere  of  their 
gracious  influence,  both  having  been  devout  com- 
municants of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  Mr.  Moran 
having  been  a stanch  democrat  in  his  political  pro- 
clivities. The  names  of  both  merit  enduring  place 
on  the  roster  of  the  honored  pioneers  who  did 
their  part  in  furthering  the  civic  and  industrial 
development  and  upbuilding  of  Dakota  County.  Mrs. 
Moran  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  1902, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  This  worthy  couple 
became  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  all  of  whom 
attained  to  years  of  maturity  before  the  death  of 
the  devoted  parents : Austin  met  his  death  in  1900 

in  a railroad  wreck  in  the  State  of  Montana;  Eliza- 
beth, who  likewise  died  in  the  year  1900,  was  the 
wife  of  John  J.  Sweeney,  of  St.  Paul;  Michael  is 
a resident  of  St.  Paul ; Thomas  P.,  of  this  review, 
was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Patrick  PI.  McCarthy,  of  Hancock  County,  Minne- 
sota; John  J.  is  a prosperous  farmer  of  Lakeville 
Township,  Dakota  County;  Katherine  is  the  wife 
of  William  J.  Gibbons,  of  Farmington,  this  county; 
Agnes  is  the  wife  of  Michael  Corcoran,  of  Rose- 
mount Township ; Nellie  is  the  wife  of  William 
Kelly,  of  Lebanon  Township;  Matilda  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Burns,  of  Mendota  Township ; Henry 
P.  is  a resident  of  the  City  of  St.  Paul;  Emma  is 
the  wife  of  John  Farrell,  of  that  city.  All  of  the 
children  are  earnest  communicants  of  the  Catholic 
Church  and  all  have  honored  through  their  char- 
acter and  services  the  family  name. 

Judge  Moran  found  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  compassed  by  the  invigorating  influences  of 
the  pioneer  farm,  and  his  early  educational  advan- 
tages were  those  afforded  in  the  district  schools  of 
his  native  county.  Finally  he  engaged  in  farming 
in  an  independent  way,  and  „he  continued  to  be 
numbered  among  the  substantial  and  successful  agri- 
culturists and*  stock  growers  of  Dakota  County  until 
1882  and  then  moved  to  Rosemount,  in  the  same 
county,  where  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business  for 
eight  years.  In  1890  he  was  elected  judge  of  the 
Probate  Court,  an  office  of  which,  by  successive  re- 


elections, he  has  continued  the  efficient  and  valued 
incumbent  during  the  intervening  period  of  nearly 
twenty-five  years.  No  citizen  of  Dakota  County  has 
more  secure  place  in  popular  esteem,  and  in  his 
official  position  he  is  invariably  earnest  and  zealous 
in  his  efforts  to  bring  about  adjustment  of  all  estates 
without  recourse  to  litigation.  Many  persons  have 
entered  his  offices  filled  with  resentment  toward 
other  claimants,  often  kinsfolk  of  immediate  order, 
and  through  the  kindly  counsel  and  effective  efforts 
of  Judge  Moran  the  estates  in  question  have  been 
amicably  and  equitably  settled  and  good  will  restored 
among  the  contesting  persons.  The  judge  is  known 
for  his  tolerance  and  consideration  in  all  of  the 
relations  of  life  and  his  sincerity  and  his  integrity 
of  purpose  gain  and  retain  to  him  the  implicit 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact, 
so  that  he  is  specially  well  qualified  for  the  im- 
portant and  exacting  office  of  which  he  has  been 
long  in  tenure. 

Judge  Moran  is  unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to 
the  democratic  party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
most  zealous  communicants  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Mrs.  Moran  having  in  former  years  been  a member 
of  the  church  choir  and  being  still  active  in  church 
work.  The  judge  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters, 
and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  in  which 
last  mentioned  he  has  been  a trustee  of  his  lodge 
for  the  past  fifteen  years. 

At  Hastings,  on  the  5th  of  June,  1900,  was 
solemnized  the  marriage  of  Judge  Moran  to  Miss 
Gertrude  Fahy,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  this 
city  and  who  is  a daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
(King)  Fahy,  honored  pioneers  of  Dakota  County. 
Mr.  Fahy  is  deceased  and  his  widow  now  resides  in 
the  home  of  one  of  her  daughters,  in  the  City  of 
Minneapolis.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Moran  have  four 
children,  whose  names  and  respective  dates  of  birth 
are  here  noted : Katherine  Sheridan,  September  12, 

1901;  Mary  Lucille,  September  17,  1902;  Grace  Mil- 
dred, March  18,  1907 ; and  Paul,  January  8,  1912. 

William  Henry  Gemmell,  the  general  manager 
of  the  Minnesota  & International  Railway  Company, 
a subsidiary  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  System, 
was  born  at  Ottawa,  Canada,  November  25,  1866, 
a son  of  John  James  and  Harriet  Amelia  (Garvey) 
Gemmell.  His  father  was  a member  of  the  legal 
profession  and  a barrister.  Mr.  Gemmell  acquired 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  and  Col- 
legiate Institute  of  Ottawa,  and  some  time  after 
coming  to  Minnesota  was  graduated  from  the  law 
department  of  the  University — in  1895. 

His  first  employment  was  with  the  Canadian  Gov- 
ernment in  the  postoffice  department.  He  began 
railroading  at  Montreal  on  the  Canadian  Pacific  in 
1887,  and  in  1889  came  to  St.  Paul  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  passenger  and  freight  departments 
of  the  St.  P.,  M.  & M.  Railway  (now  Great 
Northern)  until  the  spring  of  1890.  After  that  he 
was  with  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and 
Omaha  Railway  Company  in  the  legal  and  general 
manager’s  departments,  until  August,  1896.  Since 
then  his  work  has  been  with  the  Northern  Pacific, 
first  as  secretary  to  the  president,  Edwin  W.  Winter. 
In  1897  he  was  made  assistant  secretary  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  System,  and  on  February  1,  1900, 
when  the  Northern  Pacific  acquired  by  purchase 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1573 


the  Brainerd  and  Northern  Railway,  now  the  Min- 
nesota & International  Railway,  he  was  made  general 
manager  of  that  line,  with  headquarters  at  Brainerd. 

Mr.  Gemmell  is  a member  of  the  University  Club 
of  St.  Paul  and  has  a wide  acquaintance  over  the 
state,  and  with  railway  men  all  over  the  Northwest. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  thirty-second 
degree  of  Scottish  Rite  Masonry,  with  the  Red 
Cross  of  Constantine  at  Duluth,  and  with  the  Temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Brainerd  Chamber  of  Commerce,  in  politics  is  a 
republican,  and  a member  and  vestryman  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Brainerd. 

At  St.  Paul,  on  May  io,  1898,  Mr.  Gemmell  married 
Lavinia  Austin  Lamb.  They  are  the  parents  of 
three  children — Kathleen  Beatrice,  John  Henry  and 
Robert  Wadsworth. 

Jacob  Hiniker.  The  Hastings  Malting  Company, 
of  which  Jacob  Hiniker  is  president  and  principal 
owner,  is  a business  not  only  of  substantial  present 
proportions,'  but  one  which  has  a splendid  business 
record  of  nearly  thirty  years  behind  it,  and  repre- 
sents the  sterling  integrity  and  commercial  energies 
of  several  prominent  men  past  and  present  in  Hast- 
ings. The  company  was  organized  in  1885  by  Louis 
Niedere,  the  father-in-law  of  the  now  president. 
The  company  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  malt, 
which  is  sold  to  brewers  all  over  the  United  States. 
They  have  an  elevator  with  a capacity  of  150,000 
bushels,  and  aside  from  the  manufacture  of  barley 
malt  this  is  the  largest  wholesale  and  retail  concern 
dealing  in  grain,  coal,  feed  and  flour  in  Hastings. 
The  company  is  incorporated  for  $50,000,  and  all  the 
stock  is  owned  among  local  people.  From  fifteen  to 
twenty  men  are  given  steady  employment,  and  thus 
the  industry  is  one  of  large  benefit  to  the  community. 
It  is  one  of  the  leading  grain  and  elevator  concerns 
in  Dakota  County,  and  the  only  establishment  for 
the  manufacture  of  barley  malt. 

Jacob  Hiniker,  the  president,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Minnesota,  September  2,  1863,  a son 
of  Peter  and  Theresa  (Brockman)  Hiniker.  The 
parents  were  natives  of  Germany,  and  the  father 
has  a particular  place  in  Minnesota  history  as  one 
of  the  pioneers  in  Washington  County,  where  he 
located  during  the  early  ’50s,  a number  of  years 
before  Minnesota  became  a state.  He  underwent  all 
the  trials  and  vicissitudes  of  existence  on  the  North- 
western frontier,  was  a man  of  courage,  steadfast 
industry,  and  eventually  brought  under  cultivation 
400  acres  of  some  of  the  best  soil  and  farming  land 
of  Washington  County.  He  retired  from  active  life 
in  1887,  and  lived  quietly  at  Hastings  until  his  death 
in  1907,  when  eighty-six  years  of  age.  His  individual 
achievements  and  relations  with  the  community  were 
such  as  to  entitle  him  to  the  high  respect  paid  his 
memory.  He  and  his  family  were  stanch  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  mother  died  in  1902 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  She  was  a woman  of  the 
true  pioneer  type,  and  while  helping  to  establish  a 
home  in  the  early  days,  also  proved  a devoted 
mother  to  her  family,  and  her  children  revere  her 
memory.  On  the  ten  children  five  died  in  early 
life,  and  those  surviving  are:  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
John  Conzenius,  a prominent  farmer  of  Dakota 
County;  Jacob;  Mary,  wife  of  Nicholas  Conzenius, 
a brother  of  John  above  mentioned,  and  residents 
of  Hastings;  Joseph,  a leading  farmer  at  Marshon 
in  Dakota  County;  and  Peter,  a Hastings  merchant. 

Jacob  Hiniker  has  been  a hard  worker  all  his 


life,  and  with  a thorough  business  ability  gained  a 
position  as  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  Dakota 
County.  He  received  his  education  while  living  on 
the  old  homestead  in  the  district  schools  of  Wash- 
ington County,  and  was  graduated  at  the  Minne- 
apolis Business  College.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five 
he  bought  an  elevator  at  Etter  in  Dakota  County, 
and  during  the  next  three  years  laid  the  foundation 
tor  his  thorough  knowledge  and  experience  in  the 
grain  business. 

On  October  17,  1893,  at  Hastings,  Mr.  Hiniker 
married  Miss  Catherine  Niedere,  daughter  of  Louis 
and  Mary  (Schaefer)  Niedere.  Mr.  Niedere  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Dakota  County,  founded 
a home  and  gained  a competence  as  a farmer,  and  in 
1884  moved  to  Hastings  and  in  the  following  year 
organized  the  Hastings  Malting  Company,  which 
under  his  own  management  and  that  of  his  son-in- 
law  has  become  one  of  the  leading  business  insti- 
tutions in  the  county.  After  his  marriage  Jacob 
Hiniker  became  a stockholder  and  took  the  position 
of  general  manager  of  the  malting  company,  and 
eventually  succeeded  to  the  presidency  on  the  death 
of  Mr.  Niedere.  For  thirty  years  or  more  he  has 
had  close  relations  with  the  grain  raising  and 
business  interests  of  Dakota  County,  and  his  success 
is  the  result  of  long  experience  and  a thorough 
integrity. 

Mr.  Hiniker  is  a democrat,  but  exercises  inde- 
pendence in  his  support  of  the  best  man  for  office. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  his  wife  is  active  in  the  Women’s  Club. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  of  whom 
were  born  at  Hastings:  Marie,  born  July  9,  1900; 

Cecilia,  born  June  10,  1903;  James,  who  was  the 
family’s  best  Christmas  gift,  born  December  25, 
1910;  and  Mildred,  born  June  20,  1913. 

Oric  O.  Whited.  The  unintelligibility  of  the 
scheme  of  human  existence  is  emphasized  when 
there  comes  through  pitiable  accident  the  death  of 
so  strong,  worthy  and  useful  a citizen  as  was  the 
late  Oric  O.  Whited,  who  died  in  Minneapolis  on  the 
6th  of  August,  1912,  as  the  result  of  hydrophobia, 
caused  from  a bite  on  the  face  by  a pet  coach  dog, 
the  injury  having  been  received  on  the  7th  of  the 
preceding  month. 

A Minneapolis  newspaper  on  the  day  of  Mr. 
Whited’s  death  said:  “After  a courageous  fight  for 
life  lasting  forty-eight  hours,  Oric  O.  Whited,  fifty- 
eight  years  old,  twenty-two  years  resident  of  Minne- 
apolis, died  of  hydrophobia  at  1 :4s  A.  M.  today,  at 
his  home,  1206  Fifth  street  Southeast.  Four  physi- 
cians pitted  the  skill  of  medical  science  in  vain 
against  the  advance  of  the  disease.  Death  ensued, 
notwithstanding  Mr.  Whited  had  just  finished  the 
intensive  Pasteur  treatment  for  hydrophobia,  at  the 
University  of  Minnesota.  Cause  of  death  was  given 
as  exhaustion  resulting  from  the  continuous 
paroxysms  of  the  throat  and  respiratory  muscles. 
Mr.  Whited  was  bitten  by  a pet  coach  dog.  July 
7th,  while  in  the  boathouse  at  his  new  summer  home. 
Eagle  Island,  Lake  Minnetonka.  The  dog  inflicted 
slight  wounds  in  the  nose  and  face  and  a short  time 
afterward  the  animal  was  pronounced  mad.  It  died 
a few  days  later  of  a well  developed  case  of  rabies. 
Mr.  Whited  began  treatment  at  the  Pasteur  insti- 
tute and  took  the  short  course  of  three  weeks.  He 
took  the  last  injection  about  a week  before  his  death. 
Mr.  Whited  drove  in  from  the  lake  Friday  and  the 
next  day  feared  he  had  taken  cold.  He  found  he 


1574 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


could  not  swallow  food  next  day  and  could  not 
eat  or  drink  Sunday.  Dr.  S.  Marx  White  was  called, 
and  Dr.  J.  W.  Bell,  Dr.  F.  H.  Poppe  and  Dr.  Mc- 
Daniel were  brought  into  consultation.  As  the 
patient  grew  worse  every  known  means  of  con- 
trolling the  paroxysms  of  the  throat  by  sedatives 
was  brought  into  play.  The  convulsions  began  Sun- 
day noon  and  by  five  P.  M.  they  had  become  almost 
continuous.  Delirium  and  semi-conscious  condition 
followed  through  Sunday.  At  eleven  A.  M.  Monday 
the  patient’s  condition  improved  and  the  physicians 
hoped  they  had  won  their  fight.  At  eleven  P.  M. 
Mr.  Whited  seemed  to  feel  that  the  fight  was  over, 
and  he  said  to  his  sons,  'In  my  father’s  house — * — ’ 
and  was  not  able  to  finish  the  quotation.” 

The  changes  and  chances  of  this  mortal  life  thus 
brought  death  to  one  who  had  played  a man’s  part 
and  who  had  been  true  and  loyal  in  all  of  the 
relations  of  life.  Rather  should  he  be  remembered 
for  the  man  he  was  and  for  what  he  wrought  than 
for  the  untoward  fate  that  cut  him  down  in  the 
very  flower  of  his  strong  and  earnest  manhood. 
Mr.  Whited  was  born  at  Fitchville,  Huron  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  20th  of  January,  1854,  and  was  a son 
of  John  and  Clarissa  (Crane)  Whited,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York  and 
the  latter  in  Connecticut,  both  families  having  been 
founded  in  America  in  the  colonial  era  of  our 
national  history.  Mr.  Whited  acquired  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  old  Buckeye 
State  and  when  ten  years  old  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  immigration  to  Minnesota,  in  1864. 
The  family  made  the  entire  trip  from  Fitchville, 
Ohio,  to  Southeastern  Minnesota  with  a team  and 
an  old-time  “prairie  schooner”  or  covered  wagon. 
Settlement  was  made  on  a tract  of  Government  land 
to  which  the  father  entered  claim,  and  this  embryonic 
farm,  now  a valuable  property,  is  situated  about  ten 
miles  distant  from  Rochester,  county  seat  of  Olmsted 
County.  There  the  parents  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  and  their  names  merit  place  on  the  roster 
of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  Minnesota. 

In  Minnesota  Oric  Whited  found  or  made  for 
himself  the  opportunities  which  he  converted  into  a 
liberal  education.  It  is  said  that  he  learned  the 
German  language  while  working  in  the  fields  behind 
a yoke  of  oxen.  After  reaching  manhood  he  put 
himself  through  the  Spencerian  Business  College  at 
Milwaukee,  and  in  1872  was  graduated  from  the 
Minnesota  State  Normal  School  at  Winona.  As  a 
teacher  he  did  some  successful  work  in  Olmsted 
County  and  was  finally  chosen  county  superintendent 
of  schools  in  that  county.  His  early  business  career 
was  chiefly  in  banking,  and  for  some  years  he  con- 
ducted a bank  at  Cando  in  North  Dakota,  where 
he  lived  until  1890  and  then  sold  out  and  came  to 
Minneapolis.  In  the  meantime  he  had  taken  up 
the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1884,  though  he  made  no  effort  to  practice  except 
in  cases  that  were  of  particular  interest  to  him. 
For  six  years  his  services  were  employed  as  con- 
fidential secretary  and  traveling  attorney  by  the  late 
Frank  H.  Peavey,  one  of  the  substantial  capitalists 
of  Minneapolis.  After  locating  in  Minneapolis  in 
1890  Mr.  Whited  was  chiefly  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business,  and  became  extensively  concerned 
with  the  buying  and  selling  of  lands  in  Minnesota 
and  Wisconsin.  It  was  his  steady  ambition  all  his 
life  to  make  himself  in  the  highest  degree  useful  and 
efficient,  and  in  line  with  these  desires  he  went  to 
Chicago  in  1898  and  was  graduated  from  the  Kent 


College  of  Law  and  followed  that  with  a course 
in  the  University  of  Chicago,  graduating  bachelor 
of  philosophy.  However,  the  practice  of  law  was 
always  secondary  to  his  general  business  affairs, 
and  for  a number  of  years  preceding  his  death  he 
was  one  of  the  strong  men  in  Minneapolis  in  the 
real  estate  field.  He  possessed  superior  judgment 
and  marked  business  ability,  achieved  large  and 
worthy  success,  and  with  his  business  character 
combined  a genial  personality  and  an  inflexible 
integrity  of  character  that  gave  him  inviolable  place 
in  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  A short  time  before  his  death 
Mr.  Whited  purchased  Eagle  Island  in  Lake  Minne- 
tonka-, and  was  giving  much  time  and  finding  much 
interest  in  developing  this  property  into  a fine  sum- 
mer home. 

The  late  Mr.  Whited  was  a republican  in  politics 
and  thoroughly  progressive  and  public  spirited  as  a 
citizen.  He  was  prominently  associated  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  had  the  distinction  of  re- 
ceiving, in  October,  1905,  the  thirty-third'and  highest 
degree  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite.  This 
degree  is  given  only  to  a designated  number  in 
each  consistory,  a vacancy  being  caused  only  by 
a death  in  the  ranks  of  those  who  have  received 
the  degree.  The  funeral  of  Mr.  Whited  was  con- 
ducted under  Masonic  auspices.  Assisting  in  the 
ceremony  was  the  Rev.  Frank  Doran  of  Winona, 
who  had  befriended  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whited  through- 
out their  married  life,  and  had  also  conducted  the 
funeral  of  the  latter,  who  died  in  June,  1904.  Mr. 
Whited  was  married,  September  4,  1875,  to  Miss 
Clara  A.  Stevens,  a native  of  Ohio.  Three  sons 
were  born  to  their  marriage : Bernard  B.,  the  oldest, 
died  at  the  age  of  fourteen;  Oric  O.,  Jr.,  who  was 
born  in  Polk  County,  Minnesota,  in  1884,  is  now 
carrying  on  the  business  his  father  started.  The 
youngest  son,  Ciro  N.,  aged  twenty-one,  is  a student 
in  the  City  of  Boston  and  preparing  for  a course 
in  the  law  department  of  Harvard  University.  This 
son  was  born  at  Hamline,  in  Ramsey  County. 

In  conclusion  it  will  be  appropriate  to  quote  what 
has  been  said  in  appreciation  and  estimate  of  Mr. 
Whited  in  another  publication.  “Teacher,  lawyer, 
banker  and  land  dealer,  and  in  all  respects  a most 
estimable  citizen,  he  was  a resident  of  Minneapolis 
for  twenty-two  years,  and  they  were  the  last  and 
most  useful  years  of  his  life.  He  tried  his  hand  in 
several  different  lines  of  business  in  turn,  and  won 
a gratifying  success  in  each.  But  he  was  neither 
unsteady  nor  an  experimenter.  He  was  a man  of 
quick  and  keen  vision  and  prompt  to  act  when  an 
opportunity  presented  itself.  He  also  had  the 
ability  to  make  the  most  of  each  chance  as.it  came 
and  use  it  as  a stepping  stone  to  something  better. 
His  life  was  productive  for  himself  and  at  the  same 
time  very  useful  to  the  community,  and  the  tragical 
nature  of  his  death,  at  the  early  age  of  fifty-eight, 
gave  the  people  of  the  whole  city  a great  shock  and 
was  universally  lamented.” 

He  was  a real  man,  the  best  of  husbands,  a 
better  father  could  not  be  found ; and  his  ambition 
was  to  so  live  and  act  that  his  sons  would  have  a 
bright  and  shining  example  for  them  to  follow. 
To  the  limited  judgment  of  mortals,  death  came  to 
him  too  soon,  and  yet  many  would  be  satisfied  with 
an  abbreviation  of  their  years  could  they  leave  behind 
them  a record  of  so  much  that  was  worthy  and 
honorable  as  did  Oric  O.  Whited. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1575 


William  J.  Lau.  Prominent  among  those  men 
whose  dynamic  energy  and  initiative  and  construc- 
tive ability  have  given  them  marked  influence  and 
priority  in  connection  with  the  lumber  industry  in 
the  Northwest  stands  William  John  Lau,  of  Minne- 
apolis, who  is  president  of  the  Rainy  River  Tirhber 
Company  and  general  auditor  for  each  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  and  important  corporations,  as  well 
as  for  their  associated  retail  companies : Shevlin- 
Carpenter  Company,  Crookston  Lumber  Company, 
Niehols-Chisolm  Lumber  Company,  Shevlin-Mathieu 
Lumber  Company,  J.  Neils  Lumber  Company, 
Namakan  Lumber  Company,  International  Boom 
Company,  Rainy  River  Lumber  Company,  Limited, 
Shevlin-Clarke  Company,  Limited,  and  the  Libby 
Lumber  Company  of  Libby,  Montana.  In  the  Min- 
nesota metropolis  Mr.  Lau  maintains  his  office 
headquarters  at  909-11  First  National-Soo  Building. 

William  John  Lau  was  born  at  Thiensville,  Ozau- 
kee County,  Wisconsin,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1866,  and 
is  a son  of  Charles  F.  and  Elizabeth  (Jochem)  Lau, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Germany  and  the 
latter  of  whom  was  born  on  shipboard  at  the  time 
when  her  parents  were  en  route  across  the  Atlantic 
from  Germany  to  America,  so  that  the  subject  of 
this  review  is  of  staunch  German  lineage  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides.  Charles  F.  Lau 
was  reared  to  adult  age  in  his  native  land,  where  he 
acquired  his  early  education,  and  he  was  eighteen 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
immigration  to  the  United  States.  The  family  home 
was  established  in  Wisconsin  and  there  Charles  F. 
proved  the  effectiveness  of  the  excellent  educational 
advantages  he  had  received  in  his  fatherland,  for  he 
became  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  Badger  State.  Fie  attained  no 
little  prominence  as  a representative  of  the  pedagogic 
profession,  having  served  in  later  years  as  principal 
of  the  public  schools  of  Thiensville  and  as  principal 
of  the  high  school  at  Cedarburg,  likewise  in  Ozaukee 
County.  The  old  homestead  at  Cedarburg  is  still 
owned  by  the  family  and  is  now  occupied  by  the  son, 
Otto.  As  a young  man  Charles  F.  Lau  assisted  his 
father  in  the  reclamation  and  development  of  the  old 
home  farm  on  Cedar  Lake,  and  there  his  parents 
passed  the  closing  years  of  their  lives,  as  did  also 
he  himself,  his  death  having  occurred  in  August, 
1909,  at  which  time  he  was  seventy-two  years  of  age, 
his  loved  wife,  who  had  been  a true  companion  and 
helpmeet,  having  been  summoned  to  the  life  eternal 
in  1902  and  both  having  been  honored  representatives 
of  the  sturdy  German  pioneer  element  in  Wisconsin. 
Of  the  children  two  died  in  infancy,  and  of  the  six 
surviving  the  eldest  is  William  J.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  he  having  been  the  second  in  order 
of  birth;  Charles  A.  resides  at  Tacoma,  Washington, 
and  is  actively  identified  with  lumbering  operations 
in  that  state;  Mrs.  Thomas  A.  Boerner  is  a resident 
of  Port  Washington,  Wisconsin,  and  with  her  sister, 
Miss  Mariej  maintains  her  home;  Otto  resides  on  the 
old  homestead  farm,  as  previously  noted ; and  Arnold 
is  principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Wichita,  Kansas. 
All  of  the  children  were  born  and  reared  in  Wiscon- 
sin and  Arnold  is  a graduate  of  the  University  of 
Wisconsin.  The  father  was  a republican  in  politics 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  zealous  communicants 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

William  J.  Lau  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Cedarburg,  Wisconsin,  until  he  had  attained  to  the 
age  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  severed  the  home  ties 
Vol.  in— 20 


and  set  forth  to  investigate  his  chances  for  making 
his  way  in  the  world.  A timber  cruiser  and  mil- 
lionaire pine-timber  owner,  Charles  F.  Ruggles,  of 
Manistee,  Michigan,  visited  Cedarburg,  Wisconsin, 
and  signified  his  desire  to  enlist  the  services  of  an 
ambitious  young  man  of  fair  education.  Fie  asked  a 
few  questions  of  young  Lau  and  put  to  the  latter  a 
few  problems  for  solution,  with  the  result  that  he 
prevailed  upon  the  lad’s  father  to  permit  William  J. 
to  accompany  him  on  his  tour  of  timber  investigation 
in  Minnesota.  Thus  Mr.  Lau  gained  wide  and  varied 
experience  in  determining  values  and  timber  re- 
sources in  Minnesota  and  other  sections  of  the 
Northwest  while  he  was  still  a youth,  and  he  re- 
mained in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Ruggles  and  his 
associates  for  a number  of  years,  with  headquarters 
at  Manistee,  Michigan,  the  original  members  of  the 
firm  having  been  Mr.  Ruggles  and  Edward  Buckley, 
but  the  business  having  eventually  expanded  greatly 
and  come  into  the  control  of  the  corporations  known 
as  the  Buckley  & Douglas  Lumber  Company  and  the 
Manistee  & Northeastern  Railroad  Company.  Mr. 
Lau  became  secretary  and  treasurer  of  this  railroad 
company  and  also  secretary  of  the  Buckley  & Douglas 
Lumber  Company,  manufacturers  of  sawmills 
and  salt  blocks.  Mr.  Lau  continued  to  be  thus 
prominently  associated  with  the  important  interests 
noted  for  a period  of  nearly  fifteen  years  and  his 
retirement  came  as  the  result  of  certain  incidental 
dissensions  among  the  interested  principals.  Fie  has 
since  expressed  regret  that  he  had  ignored  these 
minor  difficulties,  which  eventually  were  adjusted, 
as  he  found  his  association  most  agreeable  and  profit- 
able during  the  long  years  of  his  service  as  an 
executive  and  valued  employe. 

Mr.  Lau  severed  his  connection  with  the  Michigan 
companies  in  1896  and  thereafter  passed  several 
months  in  investigating  conditions  in  the  South  and 
other  sections  of  the  Union.  In  1897  he  came  to 
Minneapolis,  where  he  associated  himself  with  the 
Shevlin  and  Carpenter  lumber  interests.  In  1902 
he  passed  nearly  the  entire  year  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
with  headquarters  in  the  City  of  Seattle,  Washing- 
ton. There  he  was  associated  with  John  F.  Ran- 
ning  in  establishing  a retail  lumber  yard  and  busi- 
ness, under  the  title  of  the  Ranning  Lumber 
Company,  of  which  he  is  president,  and  which  is 
still  conducting  a prosperous  business.  In  1903 
Mr.  Lau  returned  to  Minneapolis,  and  in  the  early 
part  of  the  following  year  he  became  a stockholder 
of  the  Electric  Machinery  Company,  manufacturers 
of  dynamos  and  other  electric  machinery.  He  later 
sold  his  interest  in  this  company,  of  which  he  was 
secretary  and  treasurer,  and  again  identified  himself 
with  the  extensive  Shevlin  lumbering  interests,  to 
which  he  has  since  given  much  of  his  time  and  at- 
tention, as  auditor  of  the  various  companies  noted 
in  the  opening  paragraph  of  the  article. 

Mr.  Lau  has  varied  capitalistic  interests  of  im- 
portant order.  He  is  president  of  the  Rainy  River 
Timber  Company  and  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  Cedar 
and  Tie  Company,  at  Baudette,  Beltrami  County, 
Minnesota,  near  the  Canadian  border,  is  president 
also  of  the  Security  State  Bank  of  Baudette  and  the 
Lakes  Timber  Company,  Limited,  of  Port  Frances, 
Province  of  Ontario,  and  is  president  of  the  Bau- 
dette Provision  Company,  Baudette,  Minnesota.  His 
banking  interests  are  further  represented  in  his 
presidencv  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Williams,  is 
vice  president  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Champlin, 


1576 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Minnesota,  also  a director  in  the  First  State  Bank 
of  Dayton,  Minnesota,  and  the  First  State  Bank  of 
Libby,  Montana. 

At  Manistee,  Michigan,  Mr.  Lau  became  affiliated 
with  the  lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  from 
which  he  received  a dimit  upon  his  removal  from 
that  city,  but  he  has  not  become  actively  affiliated 
with  any  other  lodge.  At  Manistee  he  held  mem- 
bership also  in  the  lodges  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  Knights_  of  Pythias. 
In  Minneapolis  he  holds  membership  in  the  Min- 
neapolis Athletic  and  Automobile  clubs;  the  Minne- 
apolis Civic  and  Commerce  Association  and  the 
Minneapolis  Art  Society.  He  finds  his  chief  rec- 
reation in  the  use  of  the  automobile,  and  in  1913 
he  made  a motor  tour  from  Minneapolis  to  the  State 
of  Massachusetts.  His  residence  is  at  1917  James 
Avenue  South  and  is  known  for  its  unostentatious 
hospitality,  with  Mrs.  Lau  as  a gracious  and  pop- 
ular chatelaine. 

On  the  21  st  of  October,  1897.  at  Manistee,  Mich- 
igan, was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Lau  to 
Miss  Julia  Baur,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that 
city,  where  her  parents  were  honored  pioneers  and 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  their  death, 
her  father,  Joseph  Baur,  having  there  been  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  and  real  estate  business 
for  many  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lau  have  two  sons, 
both  natives  of  Minneapolis.  Joseph  Frederick  was 
born  in  1904  and  William  Joseph  in  1908. 

Clyde  M.  Cooper.  Though  he  is  a native  of  the 
Wolverine  State  Mr.  Cooper  has  resided  in  Dodge 
County,  Minnesota,  from  the  time  of  his  infancy,  his 
father  having  here  established  a home  prior  to  the 
birth  of  Clyde  M.,  who  is  the  only  child,  and  having 
been  one  of  the  influential  and  honored  pioneer  citi- 
zens of  the  county  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
whose  name  initiates  this  paragraph  is  one  of  the 
representative  business  men  of  Dodge  Center, _ where 
he  is  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  an  institu- 
tion that  was  organized  mainly  through  the  efforts 
of  his  father.  He  has  at  all  times  held  secure 
place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  county 
in  which  he  was  reared  and  with  whose  civic,  and 
business  interests  he  is  closely  and  loyally  identified. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  born  in  the  Village  of  School- 
craft, Kalamazoo  County,  Michigan,  on  the  18th 
of  July,  1874,  and  is  a scion  of  honored  pioneer 
families  of  that  state,  where  both  his  paternal  and 
maternal  grandparents  settled  in  an  early  day,  upon 
their  removal  from  the  State  of  New  York.  Mr. 
Cooper  is  the  only  child  of  Jesse  W.  and  Jennie  A. 
(Griffith)  Cooper,  both  natives  of  the  old  Empire 
State  and  both  children  at  the  time  of  the  removal 
of  the  respective  families  to  Michigan,  where  they 
were  reared  and  educated  and  where  their  marriage 
was  solemnized.  The  parents  of  both  continued  to 
reside  in  Michigan  until  their  death,  and  it  may 
consistently  be  recorded  in  this  connection  that  Jesse 
Cooper's  father  was  Justin  A.  Cooper  and  that  the 
father  of  his  wife  was  Thor  A.  Griffith.  Jesse  W. 
Copper  was  born  in  the  year  1850  and  was  a resident 
of  Dodge  Center,  Minnesota,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1912,  his  widow  still  maintaining  her 
home  in  this  village,  and  her  birth  having  occurred 
in  the  year  1852. 

Jesse  Cooper  came  to  Dodge  County,  Minnesota, 
in  the  year  1873,  and  here  he  purchased  a tract  of 
land  near  West  Concord,  where  he  developed  one 


of  the  fine  farms  of  the  county  and  where  he  con- 
tinued to  be  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  the  long  period  of  twenty-five  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  he  removed  to  the  Village  of 
West  Concord,  where  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  and  also  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of 
grain.  He  was  a business  man  of  marked  ability 
and  his  indefatigable  industry  and  enterprising  poli- 
cies brought  to  him  a generous  measure  of  success. 
He  served  three  terms  as  register  of  deeds  of 
Dodge  County,  and  during  this  period,  as  a matter 
of  course,  he  maintained  his  residence  at  Mantor- 
ville, the  judicial  center  of  the  county.  Upon  his 
retirement  from  office  he  removed  to  Dodge  Center, 
where  he  effected  the  organization  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  president  from  the 
time  of  its  incorporation  until  his  death.  He  aided 
definitely  and  worthily  in  the  social  and  material 
development  and  progress  of  Dodge  County  and 
his  character  and  services  gave  to  him  inviolable 
vantage-place  in  the  confidence  and  regard  of  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  a stalwart  republican  and 
was  a leader  in  political  activities  in  Dodge  County. 
He  was  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  passed  the  various  official 
chairs,  and  he  attended  and  gave  liberal  support  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  widow 
has  long  been  a devoted  member. 

Clyde  M.  Cooper  was  born  while  his  mother  was 
at  the  home  of  her  parents,  in  Schoolcraft,  Michi- 
gan, and  has  been  a resident  of  Dodge  County  from 
the  time  he  was  an  infant  of  a few  weeks.  He 
passed  the  days  of  his  childhood  and  early  youth 
on  the  old  homestead  farm,  near  West  Concord, 
and  early  began  to  lend  his  aid  in  its  work,  the 
while  he  duly  availed  himself  of  the  advantages 
of  the  district  school  near  his  home.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  years  he  learned  the  art  of  telegraphy, 
and  for  seven  years  he  was  employed  as  a telegraph 
operator,  principally  in  the  service  of  the  Chicago 
Great  Western  Railroad.  He  resigned  his  position  in 
this  line  of  work  to  become  assistant  to  his  father 
in  the  office  of  register  of  deeds  of  Dodge  County, 
and  after  his  father’s  retirement  from  the  office 
of  register  Mr.  Cooper  served  one  term  as  clerk 
of  the  District  Court  at  Mantorville. 

In  1903  he  was  made  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Dodge  Center,  and  of  this  office  he  has  since 
been  the  efficient  and  popular  incumbent,  the  while 
he  has  followed  closely  in  an  administrative  way 
the  conservative  policies  instituted  by  his  father,  who 
was  president  of  the  bank  from  its  organization  until 
his  death,  as  previously  stated  in  this  context.  The 
institution  bases  its  operations  on  a capital  stock  of 
$25,000,  maintains  a surplus  fund  of  $2,500,  and  its 
average  deposits  are  about  $180,000,  figures  that 
indicate  fully  its  popularity  and  the  efficiency  of  its 
executive  control.  Mr.  Cooper  is  unfaltering  in  his 
allegiance  to  the  republican  party,  is  liberal  and 
enterprising  as  a citizen,  and  in  a fraternal  way  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he 
is  past  chancellor  of  the  lodge  at  Dodge  Center, 
and  also  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  of  Dodge  Center. 

In  the  year  1902  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Cooper  to  Miss  Alice  Sebring,  of  Mantorville, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Jesse  M.  and  Rebecca 
B.  Mrs.  Cooper  is  a popular  figure  in  the  social 
activities  of  her  home  village  and  is  a zealous 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1577 


John  C.  Brainerd.  The  thriving  and  attractive 
Village  of  Blooming  Prairie,  Steele  County,  claims 
as  one  of  its  most  honored  and  influential  citizens  the 
sterling  pioneer  whose  name  initiates  this  paragraph 
and  who  was  here  engaged  in  the  banking  business 
for  nearly  forty  years.  He  was  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  this  place  until  January  i, 
1915,  was  for  twenty  years  station  agent  at  Blooming 
Prairie  for  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St.  Paul 
Railroad,  was  here  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
for  twenty-eight  years,  and  his  high  standing  in 
popular  confidence  and  approbation  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  he  has  served  as  a representative  of  Steele 
County  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Mr.  Brainerd  was  born  at  Sodus  Bay,  Lake  On- 
tario, Wayne  County,  New  York,  October  2,  1844, 
a son  of  John  C.  and  Mary  (Pease)  Brainerd, 
both  natives  of  Connecticut,  where  the  former  was 
born  in  1810,  and  the  latter,  at  Haddam,  Middlesex 
County,  in  1811,  the  American  progenitors  of  the 
Brainerd  family  having  settled  at  Haddam  upon 
their  immigration  from  England  in  colonial  days. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Brainerd  removed  to  the  State 
of  New  York  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  the 
vicinity  of  Rochester,  in  Monroe  County.  They  were 
married  January  18,  1832.  In  1854  John  C.  Brainerd 
came  with  his  family  to  the  West  and  numbered 
himself  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Dodge  County, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  reclaimed  a productive  farm. 
He  continued  his  residence  in  Wisconsin  for  a long 
period  of  years,  as  a citizen  of  industry  and  sterling 
character,  and  finally  he  came  to  Minnesota,  both  he 
and  his  wife  passing  the  closing  years  of  their  life 
at  Redwood  Falls,  Redwood  County,  this  state, 
where  Mrs.  Brainerd  died  in  1901  and  her  husband 
in  the  following  year,  so  that  in  death  their  long 
and  devoted  companionship  was  not  long  severed. 

John  C.  Brainerd  was  a lad  of  ten  years  at  the 
time  of  the  family  removal  to  Wisconsin,  and  he  was 
reared  to  adult  age  on  the  pioneer  farm  in  Dodge 
County,  in  the  meanwhile  duly  availing  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  of  the 
locality  and  period,  and  supplementing  this  discipline 
by  a course  of  study  in  the  Genesee  Wesleyan 
Seminary  at  Lima,  New  York.  He  continued  his 
studies  until  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
upon  attaining  his  legal  majority  put  his  scholastic 
attainments  to  practical  use  by  entering  the  pedagogic 
profession,  as  a representative  of  which  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Genesee 
Cornty,  New  York,  for  a period  of  two  years  and 
in  Wisconsin  for  three  years.  In  1869  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St.  Paul 
Railroad  Company,  and  was  assigned  to  the  position 
of  station  agent  at  Blooming  Prairie,  Minnesota,  on 
the  1st  of  April,  1871.  He  held  this  preferment 
for  a score  of  years,  as  previously  noted,  and  within 
this  period  of  earnest  co-operation  in  supporting 
the  measures  and  enterprises  which  effected  the 
development  and  upbuilding  of  a prosperous  village. 
From  1872  until  1900  he  was  also  engaged  here  in 
the  retail  lumber  business,  and  in  1878  he  identified 
himself  with  practical  financial  operations  by  the 
purchase  of  the  private  bank  that  had  here  been 
established  in  1876  by  the  firm  of  Whitten  & Haley. 
Under  his  able  and  conservative  management  the 
business  expanded  in  scope  and  importance,  and  in 
May.  1003,  it  was  found  expedient  to  reorganize  the 
institution  as  the  First  National  Bank  of  Blooming 
Prairie,  under  which  title  it  was  incorporated  with 
a capital  stock  of  $25,000  and  with  Mr.  Brainerd  as 


president.  He  served  continuously  in  that  office  in 
the  private  bank,  and  thus  was  at  the  head  of  the 
strong  and  popular  institution  for  nearly  forty 
years,  with  a record  that  inures  to  his  lasting  credit 
and  honor  and  that  incidentally  has  borne  potent 
influence  in  the  furtherance  of  the  general  prosperity 
of  the  community. 

Broad-minded,  loyal  and  liberal  as  a citizen  Mr. 
Brainerd  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  as  a member 
of  the  village  council  and  the  school  board,  and  in 
1894-95  he  was  given  further  opportunity  for  ef- 
fective work  in  behalf  of  the  public  as  representative 
of  Steele  County  in  the  lower  house  of  the  State 
Legislature.  He  has  not  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to 
the  republican  party,  and  is  a firm  and  uncom- 
promising advocate  of  the  basic  principles  for  which 
it  has  ever  stood  sponsor.  He  is  affiliated  with 
Prairie  Lodge,  No.  123,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  he  and 
his  family  have  a wide  circle  of  friends  in  the 
county  which  has  been  his  home  for  many  years. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1870,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Brainerd  and  Miss  Melissa  Burn- 
ham, who  was  born  and  reared  in  Dodge  County, 
Wisconsin,  where  her  father,  the  late  Miles  Burn- 
ham, was  a pioneer  settler  and  representative  farmer. 
In  conclusion  is  entered  brief  record  concerning  the 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brainerd : George  S.,  a 

leading  merchant  of  Blooming  Prairie ; Laura  M., 
the  wife  of  Henry  W.  Hurlburt,  of  Austin,  Mower 
County,  where  her  husband  was  until  recently  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business,  his  interest  in  which 
he  sold  in  the  spring  of  1914;  Ben  A.,  one  of  the 
progressive  merchants  of  Blooming  Prairie;  Rena 
C.,  who  remains  at  the  parental  home ; and  Mark 
C.,  who  is  engaged  in  business  at  Blooming  Prairie 
as  a buyer  and  shipper  of  live  stock. 

Hovey  C.  Clarke.  The  lumber  industry  of  the 
Northwest  has  been  the  principal  field  for  the  enter- 
prise of  Hovey  C.  Clarke,  for  nearly  thirty  years 
now  a resident  of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Clarke  comes 
of  a fine  old  family  of  Michigan,  where  his  father 
was  a prominent  engineer  and  railroad  man,  and 
the  son  served  his  apprenticeship  in  business  affairs 
in  railroading.  Since  coming  to  Minnesota  he  has 
been  connected  with  a number  of  the  largest  cor- 
porations in  the  handling  of  timber  lands  and  lumber 
production. 

Hovey  Charles  Clarke  was  born  at  Flint,  Genesee 
County,  Michigan,  May  7,  1859.  a son  of  George 
Thomas  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Ducbury)  Clarke.  His 
father  was  a civil  engineer  and  in  his  day  a 
prominent  railroad  builder.  He  was  chief  engineer 
at  one  time  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railway  sys- 
tem, and  after  that  of  the  Flint  & Pere  Marquette 
and  the  Toledo  & Ann  Arbor  railroads.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  served  in  the  Union  army. 

Hovev  C.  Clarke  was  educated  at  Flint  and  in 
the  high  school  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  entered  the 
University  of  Michigan,  but  soon  left  to  enter  into 
practical  competition  with  business  life.  In  April, 
1876.  a short  time  before  his  seventeenth  birthday,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  & West  Michi- 
gan Railroad  Company,  now  part  of  the  Pere  Mar- 
quette Svstem.  He  was  with  that  company  until 
1886,  and  then  became  identified  with  lumbering. 

On  coming  to  Minneapolis  in  1886  Mr.  Clarke 
became  one  of  the  incorporators  and  stockholders  of 
the  Hall  & Ducev  Lumber  Company,  which  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Shevlin-Carpenter  Company.  _ The 
latter  is  now  one  of  the  big  lumber  companies  of 


1578 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  Northwest,  with  general  offices  at  Minneapolis. 
Mr.  Clarke  is  treasurer  of  the  company,  and  is  also 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Crookston  Lumber 
Company  and  the  St.  Hilaire  Lumber  Company ; is 
vice  president  of  the  J.  Neils  Lumber  Company  and 
of  the  Shevlin-Clarke  Co.,  Ltd.  He  is  also  one 
of  the  business  factors  in  the  Nichols-Chisolm  Lum- 
ber Company,  the  Shevlin-Clarke,  Ltd.,  and  other 
lumber  and  timber  corporations.  Mention  of  these 
connections  is  sufficient  to  indicate  his  prominence 
as  one  of  the  leading  factors  in  the  lumber  industry 
of  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Clarke  is  chairman  of  the  executive  committee 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Minneapolis  and  of 
the  Minneapolis  Trust  Company.  He  is  a trustee 
of  the  Northwestern  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company 
of  Milwaukee ; is  chairman  of  the  advisory  commit- 
tee of  the  Underwriters  at  Lloyds  of  Minneapolis, 
and  is  a director  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of 
the  United  States  of  America.  In  business  affairs 
his  name  and  associations  are  American  rather  than 
local  in  the  extent  of  his  activities.  He  is  likewise 
well  known  in  club  and  social  life,  is  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Club,  Minikahda  Club,  Lafayette 
Club,  and  an  honorary  member  of  John  Rawlins 
Post,  G.  A.  R.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
Lafayette  Club  since  1894  and  is  a director  of  the 
Minneapolis  Symphony  Orchestra  Association.  He 
is  president  of  the  Heron  Lake  Lodge,  an  organiza- 
tion of  sportsmen,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Chicago 
Club  at  Chicago,  the  Spokane  Club  at  Spokane,  and 
belongs  to  various  clubs  and  social  bodies  in  other 
cities.  In  politics  he  is  a republican,  but  not  a 
politician.  He  takes  much  interest  in  public  affairs 
and  the  business  prosperity  of  Minneapolis.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  St.  Mark’s  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  Minneapolis.  On  June  9,  1886, 
Mr.  Clarke  married  Miss  Margaret  L.  Rice  of  De- 
troit, Michigan. 

Jacob  Leuthold,  Jr.  A scion  of  Swiss  ancestry, 
Mr.  Leuthold  is  a representative  of  a family  whose 
name  has  been  identified  with  the  history  of  Minne- 
sota for  nearly  sixty  years,  and  he  is  one  of  the  influ- 
ential business  men  and  progressive  citizens  of  Dodge 
County.  His  father  was  influential  in  the  early 
activities  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  this 
section  of  the  state,  where  he  established  his  resi- 
dence about  two  years  prior  to  the  admission  of 
Minnesota  Territory  to  the  Union,  and  where  he 
still  maintains  his  home,  at  the  venerable  age  of 
eighty-four  years,  this  anniversary  of  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  October,  1914.  He  whose  name 
initiates  this  review  is  one  of  the  substantial  business 
men  of  his  native  state  and  his  executive  ability  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  he  is  at  the  head  of  a chain 
of  fifteen  mercantile  establishments,  in  this  and 
adjoining  states,  besides  having  other  large  and 
important  interests.  He  resides  in  the  attractive 
Village  of  Kasson,  Dodge  County,  and  here  his  home 
stands  as  one  of  the  finest  residence  properties  in 
the  entire  county,  the  house  having  been  erected  by 
him  in  1906  and  being  essentially  modern  in  archi- 
tectural design  and  general  facilities  and  appoint- 
ments. 

Jacob  Leuthold,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Mower  County. 
Minnesota,  on  the  gth  of  May,  1858,  and  is  a son  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Schultz)  Leuthold,  both  natives 
of  Switzerland,  where  the  former  was  born  on  the 
t st  of  October,  1830,  and  the  latter  on  the  10th 
of  August,  1837,  her  death  having  occurred  on  the 


1 2th  of  April,  1910.  The  marriage  of  the  parents 
was  solemnized  in  Mower  County,  where  Jacob 
Leuthold,  Sr.,  established  his  residence  in  1856. 
He  took  up  a tract  of  Government  land  and  instituted 
the  reclamation  of  a farm,  but  he  soon  found  it 
expedient  to  withdraw  from  his  farm  and  turn  his 
attention  to  mercantile  pursuits.  He  was  first  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  grocery  business  but  finally 
developed  his  enterprise  into  a general  merchandise 
business,  his  store  at  Kasson  having  been  established 
in  1865.  He  won  distinctive  success  in  this  field  of 
enterprise,  as  his  effective  supplying  of  the  demands 
of  his  customers  and  his  inviolable  integrity  and 
honor  gained  and  retained  to  him  the  implicit  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact. Now  venerable  in  years,  he  can  look  back  with 
satisfaction  on  a career  of  signal  usefulness  and 
can  remember  that  he  has  done  his  share  in  further- 
ing the  march  of  development  and  progress  in  the 
state  of  which  he  is  a sterling  pioneer.  He  is 
independent  in  politics,  is  affiliated  with  the  Kasson 
Lodge  of  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and 
is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  as  was  also 
his  wife,  whose  death  entailed  the  supreme  loss  and 
bereavement  that  he  has  been  called  upon  to  bear 
in  connection  with  the  “changes  and  chances  of  this 
mortal  life.”  Mrs.  Leuthold  was  a datighter  of 
Samuel  Schultz,  who  immigrated  from  Switzerland 
with  his  family  and  likewise  became  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Mower  County,  Minnesota,  where 
he  developed  a farm  from  the  wilds,  the  closing 
period  of  his  life  having  been  passed  in  the  Village 
of  Kasson.  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Schultz)  Leuthold 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children : Mrs.  Carolina 
Huelster  resides  in  California;  Jacob,  Jr.,  of  this 
review,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  John  is 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in  the  City 
of  St.  Paul ; Henry  is  associated  with  his  brothers 
in  the  control  of  the  several  mercantile  establish- 
ments, as  are  also  Charles  and  Rudolph ; Mrs.  Anna 
Heintz  is  a resident  of  California. 

Jacob  Leuthold.  Jr.,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
review,  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public 
schools  of  Kasson,  and  in  1876,  when  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  he  became  actively  associated  with 
his  father’s  mercantile  business.  His  career  since 
that  time  has  been  one  marked  by  consecutive 
progress  and  increasing  success,  the  extensive  busi- 
ness of  the  chain  of  fifteen  mercantile  establishments, 
in  Minnesota,  North  and  South  Dakota,  Iowa  and 
Wisconsin,  being  effectively  controlled  by  the  firm 
of  Leuthold  Brothers,  of  which  he  is  the  executive 
head,  even  as  he  has  been  the  moving  spirit  in  the 
development  of  the  splendid  enterprise.  His  inde- 
pendent operations  as  a merchant  at  Kasson  were 
instituted  on  the  15th  of  August,  1879,  and  he  has 
since  continued  to  hold  precedence  as  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  this  place,  the  thriving  little 
city  being  his  place  of  residence  and  the  one  in 
which  his  loyal  interests  and  progressive  public  spirit 
have  been  most  effectively  exemplified.  All  of  his 
brothers  are  interested  with  him  in  the  conducting  of 
the  various  mercantile  establishments,  and  in  the 
development  of  the  same  he  has  shown  great  initia- 
tive and  constructive  ability,  the  while  his  fair  and 
honorab'e  policies  have  never  been  permitted  to 
waver  for  the  sake  of  seeming  expediency  or  any 
other  cause. 

Mr.  Leuthold  has  not  been  hedged  in  by  the  de- 
mands of  his  personal  business  affairs,  but  has  shown 
himself  distinctively  liberal  in  the  supporting  of 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1579 


enterprises  and  measures  that  have  tended  to  further 
the  social  and  material  welfare  of  the  community, 
the  while  increasing  temporal  success  has  enabled 
him  to  lend  his  support  to  other  lines  of  normal 
and  benignant  business  enterprise.  He  is  president 
of  the  National  Bank  of  Dodge  County  at  Kasson ; 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Hayfield  and  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Mantorville,  all  in  Dodge  County; 
and  is  likewise  chief  executive  of  the  First  Inter- 
national Bank  of  Noonan,  North  Dakota,  and  the 
Elwood  Lumber  & Timber  Co.,  Seattle,  Washing- 
ton. In  politics  Mr.  Leuthold  accords  a stanch 
allegiance  to  the  republican  party,  and  he  has  given 
many  years  of  effective  service  as  a member  of  the 
village’  council  of  Kasson,  besides  which  he  held 
for  a number  of  terms  the  office  of  mayor  of  the 
town.  He  clings  to  the  religious  faith  in  which  he 
was  reared  and  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
as  was  also  his  wife,  who  was  summoned  to  the  life 
eternal  in  March,  1908.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  lo- 
cal organization  of  the  Ancient,  bree  and  Accepted 
Masons  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1880,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Leuthold  to  Miss  Martha  Nelson, 
who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin.  Two 
children  were  born  to  his  marriage,  namely:  Ralph 
N.,  who  is  a partner  in  his  father’s  store  at  Kasson, 
and'  Carlos,  who  is  a student  in  the  Kasson  High 
School. 

Such  an  energetic  and  productive  career  as  that 
of  Mr.  Leuthold  offers  both  lesson  and  incentive, 
and  his  character  and  worthy  success  have  naturally 
given  him  place  as  one  of  the  honored  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  the  county  that  has  long  been  his 
home  and  in  which  his  circle  of  friends  is  limited 
only  by  that  of  his  acquaintances. 

Oscar  B.  Strand.  A young  attorney  who  has 
successfully  combined  the  practice  of  law  with  activi- 
ties in  the  commercial  field,  Mr.  Strand  has  estab- 
lished himself  securely  in  the  community  of  Kenyon 
in  Goodhue  County,  where  his  influence  counts  as 
that  of  a progressive  leader.  Mr.  Strand  possesses 
youth,  ambition  and  energy,  together  with  a broad 
sense  of  responsibility  of  the  individual  to  the 
community,  and  has  a large  career  of  usefulness 
before  him. 

Oscar  B.  Strand  was  born  in  Goodhue  County, 
Minnesota,  December  30,  1887.  His  parents  were 
Ole  A.  and  Bertha  (Lysne)  Strand,  both  natives 
of  Norway,  the  father  born  in  1845  and  the  mother 
in  1848.  The  father  died  September  20,  1905,  and 
the  mother  is  still  living.  They  were  married  in 
Goodhue  County  in  1868.  Ole  A.  Strand  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  eight  years, 
and  the  family  were  pioneers  in  Goodhue  county, 
and  farmers  who  helped  to  develop  the  country  from 
the  wilderness.  The  late  Ole  A.  Strand  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  a republican 
in  politics,  and  as  a young  man  saw  service  in  the 
Civil  war  from  1862  until  the  close  of  the  conflict. 
He  was  a member  of  Company  G in  the  Seventh 
Minnesota  Infantry.  Although  his  career  began  m 
very  modest  circumstances,  his  work,  both  in  busi- 
ness and  as  a citizen  has  constituted  him  one  of 
the  substantial  men  of  his  community.  He  took 
considerable  part  in  local  politics  and  was  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  his  township.  There 
were  in  the  family  eleven  children,  of  whom  Oscar 
was  the  ninth,  and  the  six  now  living  are  mentioned 


briefly  as  follows  : Matilda,  unmarried ; Alfred,  who 

lives  on  the  home  farm;  Anna,  wife  of  P.  A.  Hen- 
ning, Jr.,  of  Zumbrota;  Selma,  wife  of  Dr.  L.  M. 
Woodbury  of  Zumbrota;  and  Karl,  a Minneapolis 
dentist. 

Oscar  B.  Strand  grew  up  in  Mineola  Township  of 
Goodhue  County,  attended  the  common  school  there, 
the  high  school  at  Zumbrota,  and  in  1909  graduated 
in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota. His  first  year  was  spent  in  practical  experience 
at  Minneapolis,  with  an  office  in  the  Temple  Court, 
and  since  September.  1910,  his  home  and  center  of 
business  has  been  at  Kenyon.  Mr.  Strand  has 
acquired  a good  practice  as  a lawyer,  and  also 
handles  considerable  real  estate,  chiefly  local  im- 
proved farm  lands.  Mr.  Strand  is  unmarried,  has 
affiliations  with  the  Masonic  Lodge,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World 
and  Faribault  Lodge  No.  1166,  B.  P.  O.  E.  His 
politics  is  republican. 

George  E.  Brett.  The  oldest  active  merchant  in 
Mankato  is  George  E.  Brett,  head  of  George  E. 
Brett,  Incorporated,  operating  a large  and  distinctive 
dry  goods  store  which  is  the  most  popular  estab- 
lishment in  the  retail  shopping  district,  and  also 
prominent  as  a banker  and  man  of  enterprise  in 
all  local  affairs.  Mr.  Brett  has  been  in  business  at 
Mankato  upwards  of  fifty  years.  His  first  store 
was  a small  frame  two-story  building,  now  at  the 
foot  of  Jackson  Street,  and  the  three-story  solid 
brick  structure,  66  by  157  feet,  which  has  furnished 
space  for  his  business  during  the  past  twenty  years, 
the  company  recently  purchased.  At  the  present 
time  only  two  floors  and  the  basement  of  this  build- 
ing are  devoted  to  the  Brett  mercantile  establish- 
ment, but  the  growing  demands  of  the  business  are 
such  that  eventually  the  entire  building  will  be  in 
use.  The  store  has  a patronage  not  only  through- 
out the  City  of  Mankato,  but  has  customers  in 
almost  every  town  in  Southern  Minnesota. 

George  E.  Brett  was  born  at  Strong,  Franklin 
County,  Maine,  November  23,  1845,  a son  of  Cyrus 
H.  and  Mary  (Hunter)  Brett.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  village,  and  com- 
ing west  to  Winona,  Minnesota,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, found  a place  as  clerk  in  a dry  goods  store. 
He  spent  two  years  there,  and  then  for  2H  years 
managed  a branch  store  at  Faribault,  and  following 
that  for  two  years  had  charge  of  a branch  store  at 
Mankato.  This  brought  him  to  the  city  of  his  present 
residence  more  than  forty  years  ago,  and  he  eventual- 
ly purchased  a business  of  his  own  and  put  in  a stock 
costing  about  $3,000.  The  firm  was  Brett  & Soule, 
afterwards  Brett,  Walker  & Soule.  After  Mr. 
Walker  retired  Mr.  Brett  bought  the  interests  of 
Mr.  Soule  and  continued  the  business  under  his 
individual  ownership  until  1895,  when  it  was  incor- 
porated as  George  E.  Brett  (Incorporated),  with 
capital  stock  of  $30,000.  At  that  time  Mr.  Brett 
occupied  space  in  the  large  three-story  brick  build- 
ing recently  erected  by  John  IT.  Ray,  a Mankato 
banker,  but  now  a resident  of  Minneapolis.  This 
building  is  located  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Front 
and  Jackson  streets. 

In  1873  Mr.  Brett  married  Lizzie  E.  Maxfield,  of 
St.  Paul,  a daughter  of  James  T.  Maxfield,  who  for 
some  years  was  mayor  of  that  city.  Mrs.  Brett  was 
born  in  Goshen,  Indiana,  in  1853,  and  her  father 
was  in  business  in  that  town  until  removing  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  St.  Paul.  Of 


1580 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  three  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brett  the 
two  now  living  are:  James  Edwin,  who  for  the 

past  twenty  years  has  been  actively  associated  with 
his  father  in  managing  the  store;  and  Mary  Brett, 
wife  of  Wilbur  M.  Taylor,  who  is  also  associated 
with  Mr.  Brett.  These  two  young  men  are  both 
aggressive  merchants  and  have  much  to  do  with 
the  latter-day  success  and  progress  of  George  E. 
Brett,  Incorporated. 

Mr.  Brett  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
affiliates  with  Lodge  No.  12,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  the 
Royal  Arch  Chapter  No.  8,  Knights  Templar  Com- 
mandery  No.  4,  the  Osman  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  St.  Paul,  and  also  with  Mankato  Elks 
Lodge  No.  225  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  the 
same  place.  In  politics  he  is  republican  and  has 
served  as  an  alderman  and  president  of  the  Com- 
mercial Club.  He  is  one  of  the  leaders  in  all  organ- 
ized movements  among  local  citizens  and  business 
men,  and  there  is  no  man  in  Mankato  who  responds 
more  readily  to  the  demands  upon  an  individual 
for  time  and  energy  in  helping  the  city  as  a whole. 
Mr.  Brett  is  president  of  the  Mankato  Savings 
Bank,  is  a director  in  the  First  National  Bank, 
and  has  various  other  interests  in  his  home  city. 
His  chief  interest,  however,  is  with  the  store  which 
he  has  made  the  largest  business  of  its  kind  in 
Mankato,  and  one  of  the  largest  in  Southern  Minne- 
sota. Mr.  Brett’s  second  son  was  Frank  Everett 
Brett,  who  was  born  in  Mankato,  was  educated  in 
the  city  high  schools,  went  to  Arizona  to  en- 
gage in  real  estate  business,  though  failing  health 
would  not  permit  that,  and  he  died  in  Yuma,  Ari- 
zona, in  1909.  Outside  of  Minnesota,  Mr.  Brett  is 
owner  of  considerable  land  in  Texas  and  Arizona. 

Jesse  L.  Herring.  The  present  efficient  and  popu- 
lar auditor  of  Faribault  County  is  a representative  of 
a family  whose  name  has  been  identified  with  the 
history  of  this  county  for  more  than  half  a century, 
and  the  patronymic  has  stood  exponent  of  the  ut- 
most civic  loyalty  and  progressiveness,  its  representa- 
tives having  done  well  their  part  in  connection  with 
the  development  and  upbuilding  of  this  favored  sec- 
tion of  the  Gopher  State.  There  is  ample  reason  to 
believe  that  the  FI  erring  family  was  founded  in 
America  prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  the 
original  progenitors  having  immigrated  from  Hol- 
land and  having  established  their  residence  in 
Pennsylvania.  As  a soldier  from  that  historic  old 
commonwealth  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Herring  took  part  in  infantry  engagements  in  the 
War  of  1812,  incidental  to  the  maneuvers  of  the 
naval  forces  of  Commodore  Perry  on  Lake  Erie. 
The  history  of  the  Keystone  State,  denotes  that  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Herring  family  in  various  genera- 
tions have  there  been  prominent  in  civic  and  indus- 
trial affairs  and  the  family  escutcheon  is  without,  stain 
or  blot,  a fact  that  may  well  be  viewed  with  satisfac- 
tion by  its  contemporary  scions. 

Jesse  Lincoln  Herring,  county  auditor  of  Faribault 
County,  was  born  in  Houston  County,  Minnesota,  on 
the  14th  of  October,  i860,  and  is  a son  of  William  A. 
and  Rebecca  Elizabeth  (Bailey)  Herring,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Clarion  County,  Pennsylvania, 
February  18,  1837,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was.  born 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  February  20,  1836.  William 
A.  Herring  and  Miss  Rebecca  Elizabeth  Bailey, 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Margaret  ( Pennebecker) 
Bailey,  were  united  in  matrimony  on  March  11,  1858, 
at  Caledonia,  Houston  County,  Minnesota,  and  they 


were  residents  of  Houston  County  at  the  inception 
of  the  Civil  war.  In  1863  Mr.  Herring  entered  claim 
to  a Government  homestead  in  Lura  Township,  Fari- 
bault County,  but  in  the  same  year  he  subordinated 
his  personal  ambitions  to  the  call  of  patriotism  and 
enlisted  in  Company  K,  Eleventh  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  with  which  he  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war  as  a loyal  and  valiant  soldier  of  the 
Union. 

After  being  mustered  out  William  A.  Herring 
returned  to  Minnesota  and  established  his  home  on 
his  farm  in  Lura  Township,  Faribault  County, 
and  he  had  developed  the  same  in  excellent  order 
before  he  was  summoned  from  the  stage  of  life’s 
mortal  endeavors,  his  death  having  occurred  on  the 
old  homestead  in  the  year  1879.  His  wife  survived 
him  by  more  than  thirty  years  and  passed  the  closing- 
period  of  her  life  at  North  Yakima,  Washington, 
where  she  died  in  1910,  at  a venerable  age. 

Reared  to  adult  age  on  the  old  homestead  farm, 
Jesse  L.  Herring  was  eighteen  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  father’s  death,  and  his  experience  had 
been  such  that  he  was  well  qualified  for  assuming 
the  management  of  the  farm,  to  the  work  and  affairs 
of  which  he  continued  to  devote  his  attention  until 
he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  thirty  years.  In  the 
meanwhile  he  had  made  good  use  of  the  advantages 
afforded  in  the  public  schools  of  his  home  county, 
and  at  the  age  noted  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
in  the  Village  of  Easton,  Faribault  County,  where 
he  continued  in  this  line  of  business  until  1903, 
in  the  meanwhile  having  taken  a course  in  the 
Minneapolis  School  of  Pharmacy.  He  also  learned 
the  jeweler’s  trade,  and  after  retiring  from  the  drug 
business  he  conducted  a jewelry  store  at  Easton  for 
three  years — until  the  time  of  his  election  to  the 
office  of  county  auditor,  in  1906.  In  connection  with 
the  development  of  the  optical  department  of  this 
business  he  completed  a course  in  the  Illinois  School 
of  Optics,  in  Chicago,  and  received  therefrom  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Optics. 

Incidental  to  his  assumption  of  the  office  of  county 
auditor  Mr.  Herring  removed  to  Blue  Earth,  the 
county  seat,  where  he  has  since  continued  in  tenure 
of  this  responsible  position  the  efficiency  of  his 
administration  and  the  popular  estimate  placed  upon 
the  same  having  been  shown  in  his  re-election  in  the 
autumn  of  1914,  for  a fourth  term  of  four  years. 
He  was  first  elected  on  the  republican  ticket,  but  in 
the  last  election  his  name  appeared  on  the  non- 
partisan ticket.  This  is  not  his  only  experience  in 
public  office,  for  he  was  elected  pathmaster  of  Lura 
Township,  this  county,  when  but  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  one  year  later  was  elected  a member 
of  the  township  board,  besides  which  he  later  served 
as  a member  of  the  village  council  of  Easton,  where 
also  he  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion. Mr.  Herring-  is  a member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Parker  College,  at  Winnebago,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  he  being  at  the  present  time  a trustee 
of  the  church  at  Blue  Earth. 

In  the  Masonic  fraternity  Mr.  Herring  is  affiliated 
with  Blue  Earth  City  Lodge,  No.  57,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  and  Zion  Chapter,  No.  68, 
Royal  Arch  Masons.  He  is  past  grand  of  Win- 
nebago Lodge,  No.  30,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  is  representative  of  the  same 
of  Rebekah.  He  holds  membership  also  in  the 
in  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state,  besides  being  affi- 
liated with  the  adjunct  organization,  the  Daughters 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1581 


Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Knights  of  Py- 
thias, the  Mystic  Workers,  and  the  Brotherhood  of 
American  Yeomen,  and  is  an  active  and  valued 
member  of  the  Blue  Earth  Commercial  Club. 

At  Easton,  in  the  year  1886,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Herring  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Rath, 
daughter  of  the  late  Carl  and  Sophia  Rath,  who 
was  a prominent  farmer  of  this  county.  In  con- 
clusion is  entered  brief  record  concerning  the  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herring:  William  E.,  who 
was  graduated  in  the  department  of  mining-en- 
gineering in  the  University  of  Minnesota,  is  now 
engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  Blue  Earth ; Elvira 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Walter  W.  Hulce,  cashier  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Eagle  Lake  of  Eagle  Lake,  Blue 
Earth  County;  Clara  died  in  infancy;  Marion  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  months,  and  Grace  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years ; T.  Esther  is  a member  of  the  class  of 
1915  in  the  Blue  Earth  High  School;  and  Earl  Rath 
is  attending  the  public  schools. 

Philip  B.  Winston.  A noble  and  valiant  soul 
was  that  which  had  indwelling  in  the  person  of  the 
late  Philip  Bickerton  Winston,  who  for  a full  quarter 
of  a century  was  numbered  among  the  substantial 
business  men  and  representative  citizens  of  Minne- 
apolis, and  who  marked  the  vanishing  years  with 
large  and  worthy  accomplishment.  Of  patrician 
birth  and  training,  he  was  a scion  of  fine  old  colonial 
ancestry  in  Virginia,  that  cradle  of  much  of  our 
national  history,  and  he  had  the  courtly  bearing,  the 
gentleness  and  the  consideration  that  mark  the  true 
type  of  the  southern  gentleman  of  the  old  regime. 
He  was  a gallant  soldier  of  the  Confederacy  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  in  the  “piping  times”  of  peace  he 
ever  manifested  the  same  loyalty  to  principle  and 
conviction  that  prompted  him  to  go  forth  in  defense 
of  the  cause  and  institutions  in  which  he  believed. 
Through  his  well  ordered  endeavors  he  became  one 
of  the  substantial  business  men  of  the  Minnesota 
metropolis,  and  as  a citizen  none  could  be  more 
liberal  and  public-spirited.  He  served  with  marked 
distinction  as  mayor  of  Minneapolis  and  was  for  a 
long  period  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  Minnesota 
ranks  of  the  democratic  party.  In  all  his  life  he 
fully  exemplified  the  truth  of  the  statement  that 
“The  bravest  are  the  tenderest;  the  loving  are  the 
daring.”  He  loved  his  fellow  men,  was  ever  kindly 
and  tolerant  in  his  judgment,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  cares  and  exactions  of  a significantly  active  and 
successful  business  career,  he  “remembered  those 
who  were  forgotten”  and  strove  always  to  succor 
and  relieve  all  who  were  in  affliction  or  distress  or 
in  need  of  friendly  counsel.  Such  men  are  not  soon 
forgotten,  and  Mr.  Winston’s  memory  shall  long  be 
cherished  in  the  city  and  state  of  his  adoption. 

Philip  Bickerton  Winston  was  born  at  Hanover 
Court  House,  now  known  simply  as  Hanover,  the 
judicial  center  of  Hanover  County,  Virginia,  and 
the  date  of  his  nativity  was  August  12,  1845. 
was  a son  of  William  Overton  Winston  and  Sarah 
Anne  (Gregory)  Winston,  both  likewise  natives  ot 
the  historic  Old  Dominion,  where  the  respective  fam- 
ilies, of  English  lineage,  were  founded  in  the  col- 
onial era.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Winston  were  folk  ot 
distinctive  culture  and  he  was  afforded  the  advan- 
tages of  a home  whose  every  influence  was  benig- 
nant, the  while  his  early  education  was  acquired  in 
public  schools. 

When  the  Civil  war  was  precipitated  upon  a 
divided  nation  Mr.  Winston  was  naturally  loyal  to 


the  institutions  and  customs  under  the  influence  of 
which  he  had  been  reared,  and,  like  other  young 
Virginians,  he  ardently  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
Confederacy.  In  1862,  when  but  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  enlisted  in  a Virginia  regiment,  and  not- 
withstanding his  youth  he  soon  won  promotion  to  a 
place  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Thomas  L.  Rosser, 
after  the  battle  of  Appomattox.  He  continued  in 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  made  a splen- 
did record  as  a gallant  young  soldier  of  the  Con- 
federacy. After  the  war  he  devoted  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits  until  1872,  when  he  came  to 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  in  which  state  his  first  serv- 
ice was  in  connection  with  a government  survey. 
In  1875,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Fendall  G., 
he  organized  the  firm  of  Winston  Brothers,  and  they 
engaged  in  general  railroad  contracting.  The  firm 
soon  gained  recognition  and  for  the  quarter  of  a 
century  of  its  existence  its  reputation  remained  in- 
violable. Winston  Brothers  constructed  thousands 
of  miles  of  railroad  in  the  Northwest  and  every 
contract  was  fulfilled  with  scrupulous  care  and 
marked  ability,  the  while  the  brothers  found  satis- 
faction also  in  that  they  were  incidentally  furthering 
the  development  and  progress  of  this  part  of  our 
great  national  domain. 

Philip  B.  Winston  ever  kept  pace  with  the  march 
of  progress  and  stood  at  all  times  exponent  of  the 
most  enlightened  public  spirit.  As  success  attended 
his  efforts  as  a business  man  he  found  his  opportu- 
nities broadened  and  began  to  give  more  attention  to 
public  affairs,  especially  in  his  zealous  advocacy  of 
the  cause  of  the  democratic  party.  In  the  arena  of 
constructive  and  progressive  political  action  he  mani- 
fested the  same  characteristics  that  had  conserved 
his  success  as  a man  of  business.  For  many  years 
he  was  a most  influential  figure  in  Minnesota  pol- 
itics, as  a leader  in  the  councils  and  general  activi- 
ties of  the  democratic  party.  Many  offices  of  public 
order  were  tendered  him  and  after  according  most 
effective  service  as  a member  of  the  legislature,  he 
was,  in  1890,  elected  mayor  of  Minneapolis.  He  gave 
a most  circumspect  and  progressive  administration 
of  municipal  affairs,  and  his  regime  as  mayor  inured 
greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the  city  and  its  people.  It 
is  known  that  on  at  least  two  occasions  after  his 
retirement  from  the  mayoralty  he  was  deemed  by 
his  party  associates  so  strong  a candidate  for  popu- 
lar support  that  he  was  urged  to  accept  nomination 
for  representative  in  Congress.  The  keen  percep- 
tion of  the  true  business  man  led  him  to  refuse  these 
overtures,  his  judgment  being  that  the  prosperous 
conditions  of  the  period  rendered  it  inexpedient  for 
him  to  accept  any  tender  of  political  preferment. 
He  preferred  rather  to  devote  himself  fully  and  un- 
selfishly to  the  duty  which  he  ever  considered  that 
he  owed  to  his  family,  in  giving  strict  attention  to 
his  interests  and  theirs.  So  unwavering  was  his 
fealty  to  his  political  belief  that  all  factions  recog- 
nized its  merit  and  had  he  lived  he  would  undoubt- 
edly have  been  selected  by  the  party  managers  as 
the  democratic  candidate  for  governor  of  Minne- 
sota. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Winston  occurred  in  Augustana 
Hospital  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  on  the  1st  of 
July,  1901.  He  and  his  brother,  Fendall  G.,  had 
gone  to  the  Western  metropolis  on  a business  trip 
and  while  on  the  train  he  was  overcome  by  the  heat, 
which  superinduced  irregularity  of  heart  action,  and 
he  lived  only  a short  time  after  his  arrival  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  had  been  promptly  taken  to  the  hos- 


1582 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


pital  mentioned.  A Minneapolis  paper  spoke  as  fol- 
lows concerning  the  death  of  this  noble  and 
honored  citizen : “When  the  information  concerning 
his  death  reached  Minneapolis  it  was  received  with 
uniform  regret.  The  people  of  the  city,  irrespective 
of  class,  condition,  creed  or  political  belief,  gave 
vent  to  expressions  of  sincere  sorrow.  Possessed  of 
a personality  that  endeared  him  to  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact,  kindly  disposed  to  those  not  so 
fortunate  as  himself  in  a financial  sense;  gifted 
with  an  inclination  to  aid’in  a material  manner  those 
who  strove  to  gain  advancement  for  themselves, 
Philip  B.  Winston  by  his  acts  and  words  and  public 
life  attained  to  a high  place  in  the  hearts  of  the 
residents  of  Minneapolis.  This  was  exemplified 
when  information  came  concerning  his  death.  Ten- 
der words  were  spoken  and  tears  shed  by  those  who, 
on  their  own  statements,  were  comparative  strangers 
to  Mr.  Winston  but  who  remembered  the  man  and 
recalled  that  he  had  in  times  previous  to  his  death 
aided  them  in  the  hour  of  need.  Mayor  Ames 
took  official  recognition  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Winston 
and  ordered  the  flag  on  the  city  hall  to  be  displayed 
at  half-mast,  to  mark  the  passing  away  of  a former 
chief  executive  of  the  city.  As  youth  and  man,  the 
life  of  Philip  B.  Winston  was  marked  with  effort. 
During  his  career  he  was  a farmer,  a soldier,  a busi- 
ness man  and  a politician.  He  achieved  success  in 
whatever  he  undertook.”  In  the  foregoing  quota- 
tion slight  paraphrase  is  indulged,  to  make  the  state- 
ments consonant  with  the  general  tone  and  spirit  of 
this  brief  memoir. 

On.  the  20th  of  March,  1876,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Winston  to  Miss  Katherine  D. 
Stevens,  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  John  H. 
Stevens,  one  of  the  first  and  most  influential  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Winston  died 
July  2,  1911.  Their  two  children  are  Philip  B.,  Jr., 
who  is  a representative  citizen  of  Minneapolis ; and 
Nellie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  S.  Pillsbury,  vice 
president  of  the  great  Pillsbury  Flour  Milling  Com- 
pany of  Minneapolis. 

Charles  A.  Houston,  M.  D.  The  medical  pro- 
fession of  Hubbard  County  includes  among  its  able 
members,  and  particularly  in  the  field  of  surgery, 
Charles  A.  Houston,  M.  D„  who  since  1905  has  been 
engaged  in  practice  at  Park  Rapids.  A native  son 
of  Minnesota,  his  entire  life  has  been  passed  within 
the  borders  of  the  state,  and  in  the  several  communi- 
ties in  which  he  has  made  his  home  he  has  estab- 
lished an  excellent  reputation  as  a reliable  and  de- 
pendable citizen  and  a useful  member  of  society. 

Doctor  Houston  was  born  in  Dodge  County,  Min- 
nesota, August  13,  1876,  and  is  a son  of  Daniel  Mc- 
Clure and  Amanda  (Maxon)  Houston.  He  is  a 
member  of  a family  which  came  to  America  from 
Scotland  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  settling  in 
Vermont,  and  from  which  ancestors  Gen.  Sam 
Houston,  the  hero  of  Texas,  also  descended.  Daniel 
McClure  Houston  was  born  February  9,  1847,  in 
the  State  of  Vermont,  and  came  to  the  West  as  a 
young  man,  settling  first  in  Wisconsin  and  moving 
later  to  Southern  Minnesota.  At  the  time  of  the 
Indian  outbreak  he  was  forced  to  move  from  the 
southern  part  of  the  state,  and  accordingly  located 
in  Dodge  County,  where  he  became  a pioneer  home- 
steader and  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  extensive 
agricultural  operations.  He  is  now  retired  from  ac- 
tive life,  his  home  being  at  Kasson,  in  Dodge  County. 
Mr.  Houston  married  Amanda  Maxon,  a native  of 


Wisconsin,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  four 
children,  namely:  Harry  W.,  who  resides  at  Kas- 
son and  is  engaged  in  operating  the  old  homestead ; 
Dr.  Charles  A.,  of  this  notice;  Laura,  who  is  the 
wife  of  F.  J.  Hallin,  who  is  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  at  Cambridge,  Minnesota;  and  John  D.,  of 
Brewer,  Wisconsin,  engaged  in  farming. 

The  early  education  of  Charles  A.  Houston  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  Kasson,  where  he 
was  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1897.  Fie  had 
been  reared  amid  agricultural  surroundings  and  to 
farming  pursuits,  but  had  early  decided  upon  a pro- 
fessional career,  and  after  leaving  high  school  en- 
tered the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1901, 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  did 
not,  however,  give  up  his  books  at  that  time,  for  he 
has  continued  to  be  a zealous  and  assiduous  stu- 
dent, and  in  addition  to  attending  lectures  and  sub- 
scribing for  the  leading  journals  of  his  profession, 
has  done  post-graduate  work,  attending  a summer 
course  in  New  York  in  1914  for  this  purpose.  Doc- 
tor Plouston  spent  the  year  from  1901  until  1902  as 
interne  in  the  Asbury  Hospital  at  Minneapolis,  and 
then  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Grand  Marais,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Minne- 
sota, on  Lake  Superior,  remaining  there  three  years, 
and  during  a part  of  that  time  served  as  coroner  of 
Cook  County.  In  1905  he  came  to  Park  Rapids  and 
established  himself  in  practice,  and  here  he  has  built 
up  an  excellent  business,  particularly  in  the  line  of 
surgery,  in  which  he  has  gained  a wide  reputation. 
His  offices  are  maintained  in  the  First  National 
Bank  Building,  where  he  has  a large  and  valuable 
medical  library.  Doctor  Houston  is  a member  of 
the  Upper  Mississippi  Medical  Society  and  the 
American  Medical  Association,  and  since  coming  to 
Park  Rapids  has  served  several  years  in  the  capac- 
ity of  health  officer.  An  enthusiastic  member  of 
the  Commercial  Club,  he  was  a member  of  the  board 
of  directors  of  that  organization  in  1914,  and  has 
done  everything  in  his  power  to  advance  the  in- 
terests of  his  adopted  community.  Fraternally,  he 
is  affiliated  with  Shell  Lodge  No.  184,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the 
Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen.  He  is  a re- 
publican, but  has  not  been  a seeker  for  political 
preferment. 

In  1903,  while  a resident  of  Kasson,  Doctor 
Houston  was  married  to.  Miss  Josephine  I.  Fair- 
child,  daughter  of  E.  E.  Fairchild,  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank,  now  deceased.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union,  namely:  David 
Fairchild,  born  October  30,  1905 ; Donald  McClure, 
born  May  7,  1908;  and  Charles  Edward,  born  June 
28,  1912. 

Benjamin  Drake,  Sr.  One  of  the  pioneers  of 
Hennepin  County  was  the  late  Benjamin  Drake,  Sr., 
who  arrived  at  the  Town  of  St.  Anthony  in  1856,  and 
employed  his  skill  as  a printer  in  assisting  to  get 
out  the  first  edition  of  the  Minneapolis  Tribune. 
Later  he  became  a homesteader  on  land  near  Holly- 
wood, and  still  later  located  at  Maple  Plains,  was 
long  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  that  community/and 
died  at  the  old  home  June  9,  1906,  when  sixty-nine 
years  of  age. 

Benjamin  Drake,  Sr.,  was  born  near  Muncy, 
Pennsylvania,  December  17,  1836.  His  father,  Rev. 
George  C.  Drake,  was  an  Episcopal  minister  at 
Muncy.  The  local  schools  of  Muncy  supplied  him 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1583 


with  a limited  amount  of  book  learning,  but  his 
equipment  as  an  intelligent  and  broadly  informed 
man  for  which  he  was  given  recognition  during  his 
life  in  Minnesota  was  due  to  that  splendid  school 
of  instruction,  a printing  office.  His  apprenticeship 
was  passed  in  the  office  of  the  Muncy  Luminary, 
and  he  was  already  an  expert  compositor  and 
printer  when  he  arrived  at  St.  Anthony  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years.  Mr.  Drake  was  one  of  the  last 
three  surviving  charter  members  of  the  State  Typo- 
graphical Union.  When  about  twenty-two  years  of 
age  he  took  up  government  land  in  Cochrane  Town- 
ship, Hennepin  County,  and  after  1872  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business,  giving  up  his  work 
as  a printer.  His  commercial  experience  began  at 
Long  Lake  with  D.  A.  Lydiard,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Lydiard  & Drake.  After  about  eight  years  the 
firm  was  dissolved.  The  late  D.  A.  Lydiard  was  one 
of  the  prominent  men  in  Hennepin  County.  About 
1880  Mr.  Drake  moved  about  five  miles  west  to 
Maple  Plain,  and  there  continued  general  mer- 
chandising on  his  own  account  until  1886,  when  he 
sold  out  and  resumed  farming,  a vocation  continued 
by  him  until  1896.  After  that  his  life  was  led  along 
the  quiet  lines  of  a retired  farmer.  His  locality 
honored  him  with  several  offices,  and  for  a number 
of  years  he  was  a justice  of  the  peace. 

Benjamin  Drake,  Sr.,  was  married  at  Long  Lake, 
April  28,  1876,  to  Miss  Emma  C.  Brown,  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Eliza  Jane  (Lydiard)  Brown,  both 
of  whom  came  from  Meaghers  Grant  in  Nova  Scotia. 
Andrew  Brown  and  wife  were  pioneers  of  Minne- 
sota, and  Mrs.  Brown  died  at  Long  Lake,  while 
Mr.  Brown  died  at  Maple  Plain  in  1896.  He  was  a 
farmer  who  was  numbered  among  the  pioneers,  and 
took  up  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  Govern- 
ment land  at  Long  Lake,  cleared  it  and  placed  it  in 
cultivation  and  was  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
that  community.  Mrs.  Drake  was  born  in  Nova 
Scotia,  came  with  her  parents  to  Long  Lake  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years,  and  grew  up  in  that  community 
which  is  fifteen  miles  west  of  Minneapolis.  Ben- 
iamin Drake,  Sr.,  and  wife  had  three  children:  Shir- 
ley H.,  who  was  born  at  Long  Lake  March  21,  1877, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  land  and  general  invest- 
ment business  at  Minneapolis,  being  president  of  the 
Hennepin  County  Abstract  Company;  Benjamin 
Drake,  Jr.,  a Minneapolis  lawyer,  whose  sketch  is 
found  in  the  following  paragraphs ; and  Judson  V., 
who  was  born  March  ix,  1888,  at  Maple  Plain  and 
died  there  February  14,  1902.  Mrs.  Benjamin  Drake, 
Sr.,  now  lives  in  Minneapolis. 

The  late  Mr.  Drake  as  a pioneer  was  familiar  with 
and  a student  of  early  Minneapolis  history.  He  has 
apparently  well  substantiated  his  claim  that  his 
cousin,  George  D.  Bowman,  gave  the  name  to  the 
City  of  Minneapolis,  and  about  six  years  before  his 
death,  under  date  of  January  21,  1900,  and  writing 
from  Maple  Plain,  Mr.  Drake  prepared  a brief 
article  on  this  subject,  which  is  herewith  reproduced. 

Naming  Minneapolis.  “What’s  in  a name?” 
Whether  much  or  little  depends,  according  to  Dis- 
raeli the  elder,  on  the  felicity  of  its  application  or 
the  expressiveness  of  its  coinage.  Evidently  he  him- 
self felt  no  slight  degree  of  elation  as  he  records 
the  fact  that  he  was  the  happy  instrument  of  trans- 
ferring from  the  German  to  the  English  language 
that  “patriotic  neologism — The  Father-land.”  What 
wonder  then  that  there  should  be  rival  claimants  to 
the  honor  of  naming  Minneapolis.  And  that  it  is 


easy  for  credit  of  this  kind  to  alight  on  undeserving 
heads  is  admirably  illustrated  in  the  old  history  of 
Hennepin  County  issued  in  1881  on  page  374,  where 
speaking  of  Charles  Hoag,  it  is  stated  that  “to  him 
is  due  the  name' Minneapolis,  which  has  been  in- 
correctly  ascribed  to  Mr.  George  D.  Bowman,  editor 
ot  the  St.  Anthony  Express,  in  consequence  of  the 
prominent  position  he  took  with  his  paper  among  its 
advocates.”  That  the  name,  whether  good  or  bad, 
was  coined  by  Bowman,  I have  not  a particle  of 
doubt.  More  than  forty  years  ago  he  told  me  the 
story,  and  it  ran  about  thus:  Many  names  had  been 

suggested  for  the  embryo  city,  but  none  seemed  to 
meet  popular  approval.  Bowman  was  distantly  re- 
lated to  the  wife  of  Orange  Walker,  the  pioneer 
lumberman  of  the  St.  Croix,  who  lived  at  Marine 
Mills.  After  becoming  identified  with  the  St.  An- 
thony Express,  he  concluded  to  make  the  Walker 
family  a visit  and  he  made  the  journey  to  Marine  on 
horseback.  In  order  to  while  away  the  tediousness 
of  the  trip  he  went  through  the  mental  process  of 
conjuring  up  a name  for  the  coming  city.  Of  course 
many  suggested  themselves  that  were  unsatisfactory, 
but  at  length,  in  making  combinations  with  the  Greek 
word  “polis”  he  happened  to  think  of  joining  it  with 
the  Indian  name  of  the  Falls,  which  he  said  was 
“Minneha"  signifying  “tumbling  water.”  Here  was 
Minnehapolis’ — appropriate  and  expressive  enough, 
but  lacking-^  euphony.  This  could  be  remedied  by 
a silent  h but  the  meeting  to  which  it  was  sub- 
mitted by  Mr.  Hoag  at  Bowman’s  request  wisely 
gave  the  “h”  an  orthographical  kick,  and  adopted 
the  name  as  we  have  it  today.  The  combination  oc- 
curred to  him  near  the  Halfway  House  on  the  old 
stage  route  between  St.  Paul  and  Stillwater,  which 
many  old  settlers  will  still  remember.  On  his  return 
from  Marine  he,  being  an  East  sider,  gave  it  to  Mr. 
Hoag,  who  submitted  to  the  meeting,  while  Bowman 
by  arrangement,  advocated  its  adoption  in  the 
Express. 

Along  the  '70s  my  friend  A.  J.  Underwood  was 
riding  on  the  cars  with  Mr.  Hoag,  when  the  latter 
claimed  the  honor  of  naming  the  city.  Mr.  Lender- 
wood  told  him  he  had  always  understood  that  Bow- 
man had  named  it.  Mr.  Hoag’s  reply  was  that 
“George  Bowman  didn’t  even  understand  the  ety- 
mology of  the  word.”  In  this  he  was  mistaken,  for 
Bowman  in  that  line  was  better  authority  than  Mr. 
Hoag  himself.  In  early  days  Colonel  Stevens  in  his 
public  addresses  gave  Bowman  credit  for  the  coin- 
age, and  he  doubtless  knew  all  about  its  inside 
history.  Mr.  Hoag  was  selected  to  present  it  to 
the  meeting  for  two  reasons : First,  Bowman  thought 
that  it  was  more  likely  to  be  adopted  if  presented  by 
a citizen  of  the  town  to  be  named.  Secondly,  it  gave 
him  an  opportunity,  with  better  grace,  to  speak  ap- 
provingly of  it  in  the  paper  which  he  was  then 
editing.  Benjamin  Drake. 

Maple  Plain,  January  21,  1900. 

Shirley  H.  Drake.  In  the  real  estate  circles  of 
Minneapolis  Mr.  Drake  is  well  and  prominently 
known,  although  he  confines  his  attention  solely  to 
the  handling  of  properties  owned  and  controlled  by 
himself.  He  has  a valuable  landed  estate  in  his  na- 
tive commonwealth,  and  since  establishing  his  home 
in  Minneapolis  has  built  up  a prosperous  business 
in  the  placing  of  his  various  properties  on  the  mar- 
ket and  in  the  making  of  judicious  realty  invest- 
ments, both  city  and  country. 

Mr.  Drake  was  born  at  Long  Lake,  Hennepin 


1584 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


County,  Minnesota,  on  the  21st  of  March,  1876,  and 
his  early  educational  discipline  was  received  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  Village  of  Maple  Plain,  this 
county.  He  remained  with  his  parents  on  the  fine 
old  homestead  farm  in  Independence  Township, 
Hennepin  County,  until  he  had  attained  his  legal  ma- 
jority, and  for  seven  years  thereafter  was  engaged 
in  a general  mercantile  business  at  Long  Lake.  His 
store  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1904,  and  he  then  re- 
turned to  the  parental  home,  where  he  considered 
ways  and  means  and  formed  plans  for  further  pro- 
ductive enterprise.  Llis  father  was  the  owner  of  a 
large  landed  estate,  and  at  his  advice  the  son  pur- 
chased of  him  a tract  of  360  acres,  his  intention 
being  to  give  personal  supervision  to  the  manage- 
ment of  this  farm.  But  after  two  years  of  success- 
ful farming,  the  death  of  his  father  occurring  in 
the  meantime,  he  removed  to  Minneapolis,  this  being 
. in  1907,  although  he  still  retains  in  his  possession 
the  greater  part  of  the  land  he  had  purchased  from 
his  father,  besides  having  a large  amount  of  other 
valuable  realty  in  his  native  county.  He  was  the 
first  president  of  the  Hennepin  County  Abstract 
Company,  an  office  which  he  held  in  1911-12,  and  he 
is  still  an  interested  principal  in  this  corporation.  In 
politics  he  accords  allegiance  to  the  republican  party. 
He  has  offices  in  the  Lumber  Exchange  Building, 
Minneapolis,  and  his  home  is  at  2912  Third  Avenue, 
South. 

On  the  12th  of  November,  1907,  Mr.  Drake  was 
married  to  Miss  Edna  Ashley,  of  Maple  Plain, 
Hennepin  County.  She  was  born  in  Kent  County, 
Michigan,  and  her  educational  training  was  acquired 
in  the  schools  of  South  Dakota  and  Minnesota.  Mrs. 
Drake  is  a daughter  of  Charles  and  Minerva 
(Knapp)  Ashley,  who  now  reside  in  Minneapolis, 
where  they  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  anni- 
versary on  the  28th  of  October,  1908,  their  marriage 
having  been  solemnized  on  the  day  prior  to  the 
birth  of  Theodore  Roosevelt.  Both  were  born  in 
the  state  of  New  York,  and  their  marriage  took 
place  in  Kent  County,  Michigan.  Mr.  Ashley,  who 
is  now  living  retired,  devoted  the  major  part  of  his 
active  life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Drake  have  two  children,  Judson  Ashley  and  Shir- 
ley Jane. 

Benjamin  Drake,  Jr.  A son  of  one  of  the  noted 
pioneers  of  Hennepin  County,  Benjamin  Drake,  Jr., 
is  now  practicing  law  with  success  in  Minneapolis, 
and  for  several  years  has  been  one  of  the  most  in- 
fluential leaders  in  the  progressive-republican  party 
of  the  state. 

Born  at  the  old  homestead  at  Maple  Plain,  Henne- 
pin County,  Minnesota,  twenty-one  miles  west  of 
Minneapolis,  May  5,  1880,  Benjamin  Drake,  Jr.,  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  locality, 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1898  at  the  East  Side 
High  School  of  Minneapolis,  and  about  that  time 
enlisted  as  a private  in  the  Fifteenth  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry  for  service  in  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  His  company  got  no  further  south 
than  Augusta,  Georgia,  and  his  return  to  Minneapolis 
was  followed  by  his  entrance  into  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  where  he  graduated  Bachelor  of  Arts  in 
1903,  and  in  1905  took  the  degree  LL.  B.  from  the 
law  department  of  the  university.  Since  the  latter 
year  Mr.  Drake  has  been  engaged  in  practice  with 
offices  in  the  Lumber  Exchange,  and  he  and  Sampson 
R.  Child  share  offices,  though  they  are  not  partners. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Bar  As- 


sociation and  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Association, 
and  has  excellent  connections  both  in  the  law  and  in 
public  affairs. 

Mr.  Drake  became  well  known  over  the  state  at 
large  as  manager  in  Minnesota  for  Mr.  LaFollette 
during  Ins  campaign  for  the  presidential  nomination 
in  1912.  Mr.  Drake  is  a member  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  Minnesota  Progressive  Republi- 
can League,  and  has  held  that  office  for  several 
years.  Not  an  office  seeker  himself,  it  has  been  his 
efforts  to  promote  progressive  qualities  and  the  wel- 
fare of  his  party  without  selfish  consideration.  Mr. 
Drake  is  attorney  for  the  Equity  Co-Operative  Ex- 
change of  St.  Paul.  He  is  a member  of  the  First 
Unitarian  Church  of  Minneapolis. 

On  December  28,  1910,  Mr.  Drake  married  Miss 
Martha  B.  Cross  of  Minneapolis,  which  is  her  na- 
tive city.  She  graduated  from  the  North  Side  High 
School  and  finished  her  education  in  the  St.  Cloud 
Normal.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Drake,  Benjamin  Drake,  Jr.,  born  at  Minne- 
apolis September  22,  1912;  and  Elizabeth,  born  No- 
vember. 19,  1914.  Mr.  Drake  and  family  reside  at 
4001  Colfax  Avenue,  South. 

Jacob  Bredwad  Nelsen.  Than  the  lives  of  those 
who  have  risen  from  the  ranks  and  by  continuous 
hard  work  and  unswerving  integrity  have  overcome 
obstacles  and  reached  positions  of  independence, 
there  is  nothing  more  interesting,  more  elevating 
or  more  encouraging.  The  sternest  opposition,  bit- 
ter trials,  difficulties  apparently  insurmountable,  sink 
into  mere  shadows  before  energy,  self-reliance  and 
earnest  perseverance ; success  may  long  elude,  but 
it  is  bound  to  come  in  time  to  those  who  per- 
sistently and  perseveringly  strive.  These  facts  will 
be  proven  in  the  career  of  Jacob  Bredwad  Nelsen, 
owner  and  manager  of  the  J.  B.  Nelsen  Construction 
Company,  of  North  Mankato,  Minnesota,  who  ar- 
rived in  this  country  some  thirty  years  ago  with  $8 
as  his  sole  monetary  capital,  who  today  is  one  of 
the  substantial  business  men  in  his  line  of  his  part 
of  the  state. 

Mr.  Nelsen  was  born  near  the  City  of  Copen- 
hagen, Denmark,  April  14,  1863,  and  was  given 
ordinary  advantages  in  the  public  schools.  In  his 
native  land  he  could  see  naught  ahead  of  him  save 
many  years  of  hard  labor,  with  but  little  success 
to  be  achieved,  and  so  he  turned  his  face  toward 
America,  the  opportunities  of  which  country  he 
had  heard  so  much.  He  was  but  twenty-one  years 
of  age  when  he  landed  at  New  York,  and  part  of 
his  small  capital  was  spent  in  making  his  way  to 
Mankato,  Minnesota,  where  he  had  been  informed 
he  would  find  a number  of  his  countrymen.  Strong 
and  capable,  and  willing  to  put  his  hand  to  any  kind 
of  honorable  work,  he  soon  found  employment  as 
a hod-carrier,  and  thus  entered  upon  a career  in 
which  he  was  to  make  rapid  headway.  As  his  ability 
and  intelligence  made  themselves  felt  by  his  em- 
ployer, he  was  advanced  from  position  to  position, 
he  in  this  way  learning  every  detail  of  the  work 
in  which  he  was  to  engage,  and  finally,  in  1894,  he 
branched  out  into  business  on  his  own  account, 
when  he  founded  the  J.  B.  Nelsen  Construction 
Company.  This  company  now  does  all  kinds  of 
building  construction  work,  remodels  store  fronts 
and  repairs  all  kinds  of  buildings,  employing  a 
force  of  from  150  to  250  men  and  thus  affording 
lucrative  employment  to  the  bread-winners  of  many 
families.  Distance  does  not  matter  to  this  com- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1585 


pany,  which  will  accept  contracts  anywhere,  and 
many  public  and  private  buildings  have  been  erected 
in  North  and  South  Dakota  and  Iowa,  as  well  as 
all  over  the  State  of  Minnesota.  Nearly  all  of  the 
most  prominent  buildings  in  Mankato  have  been 
constructed  by  this  company,  the  operations  of  which 
during  its  twenty  years  of  business  aggregate  well 
over  $3,000,000.  Mr.  Nelsen  owns  his  own  stone 
quarry,  where  he  has  every  modern  appliance  and 
equipment  for  the  work,  and  no  building  is  too  large 
for  him  to  accept  as  a contract.  Among  his  impor- 
tant structures  may  be  mentioned  the  Carnegie 
Library,  First  National  Bank,  Mother  House,  Luth- 
eran Seminary,  high  school,  Grand  Theater,  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church,  Model  Normal  School, _ Im- 
manuel Hospital,  Richards  Block  (rebuilt),  National 
Citizens  Bank,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  Building,  all  at 
Mankato;  courthouse  at  Brookings,  South  Dakota; 
courthouse  at  Windom,  Minnesota;  courthouse  at 
Fairmount,  Minnesota;  Carpenter  Hotel,  Sioux 
Falls,  South  Dakota;  six-story  Trust  and  Savings 
Bank,  Aberdeen,  South  Dakota;  Iron  Exchange 
Building,  Brainerd,  Minnesota;  Agricultural  College, 
Brookings,  South  Dakota;  wholesale  grocery  build- 
ing, Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  and  several  of  the 
state  buildings  at  St.  Peter  and  Rochester  asylums. 

Mr.  Nelsen’s  absolute  integrity  has  made  his  name 
an  honored  one  in  business  circles  all  over  this 
and  other  states.  The  poor  emigrant  youth  with 
little  but  ambition  to  aid  him,  and  no  friends  to 
help  him  over  the  rough  places,  has  developed  into 
a man  of  influence  and  power,  yet  he  labors  as 
sturdily  and  faithfully,  and  puts  the  same  quality 
into  his  work  as  he  did  during  the  days  when  his 
daily  wage  meant  his  daily  living.  His  commodious 
offices  are  located  at  the  corner  of  Belgrade  Avenue 
and  Center  Street,  where  he  has  a well-stocked 
yard  of  building  materials  and  cement,  for  which 
he  has  an  extensive  trade,  and  also  operates  a 
modern  planing  mill.  A large  office  is  also  kept  on 
this  corner,  where  a corps  of  assistants  handle  the 
routine  matter  of  the  concern.  As  is  natural,  Mr. 
Nelsen  is  widely  known  to  the  trade,  and  is  a_  mem- 
ber of  the  Builders’  Exchange  of  Minneapolis  and 
the  Minnesota  State  Builders’  Association,  of  which 
he  is  one  of  the  vice  presidents.  He  has  various 
business  connections,  being  a director  of  the  Bank 
of  Commerce  of  Mankato,  the  Shakon  Fish  and 
Canning  Company,  of  Shakon,  Alaska,  and  others, 
and  vice  president  of  the  Bankers  and  Merchants 
Insurance  Company  of  Minneapolis. 

Politically  a republican,  Mr.  Nelsen  has  taken 
some  active  part  in  civic  affairs  in  Mankato.  He 
served  seven  years  as  mayor  M the  city,  and  is 
now  in  his  fourth  term  as  president  of  the  council, 
and  for  eleven  years  was  a member  of  the  school 
board,  being  president  thereof  for  two  terms.  His 
official  services  have  been  characterized  by  the  same 
fidelity  to  duty  and  conscientious  devotion  to  detail 
that  have  marked  his  business  life,  and  in  every  way 
he  has  given  of  his  best  in  advancing  Mankato’s 
interests.  Fraternally  he  is  a prominent  Odd  Fel- 
low and  a thirty-second  degree  Mason,  belonging  to 
the  lodge,  chapter,  commandery,  council  and 
Mystic  Shrine,  and  in  each  of  these  orders  has  hosts 
of  warm  and  appreciative  friends.  He  resides  in 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  residences  in  the  city, 
situated  in  North  Mankato  and  built  after  his  own 
design. 

On  December  26,  1889,  Mr.  Nelsen  was  married 


at  Mankato  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Nelsen,  daughter  of 
Hans  Nelsen,  a native  of  Denmark,  and  five  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  , union : Lucile,  who 
married  Henry  Robel,  who  is  Mr.  Nelsen’s  assistant 
and  figures  all  his  contracts ; Engrel,  who  will  grad- 
uate from  the  Mankato  High  School  this  spring; 
Lillian,  who  is  attending  the  Art  Institute,  St.  Paul ; 
Edwald,  who  resides  with  his  parents  and  is  seven- 
teen years  of  age;  and  Jennes,  who  is  still  attend- 
ing the  Mankato  public  schools.  The  family  is  affil- 
iated with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
its  members  have  been  active  in  religious  and  char- 
itable work. 

John  P.  Nash,  Sr.  The  history  of  the  late  John 
P.  Nash,  Sr.,  belongs  to  the  past  of  Minneapolis, 
rather  than  the  present,  for  thirty  years  have  passed 
since  his  death.  He  was  cut  off  in  the  bloom  of 
young  manhood,  before  he  had  been  able  to  develop 
into  his  full  power  and  usefulness,  yet  he  left  behind 
descendants  who  have  won  substantial  places  in  the 
city’s  busy  life  and  who  have  exemplified  in  their 
characters  the  sterling  traits  which  this  early  citizen 
possessed.  Mr.  Nash  was  born  at  Lawrenceville, 
Pennsylvania,  July  x,  1855,  and  was  a son  of  those 
sturdy  Minnesota  pioneers,  John  and  Ann  (Casey) 
Nash,  who  came  to  Minnesota  during  the  ’fifties  and 
settled  at  Minneapolis,  only  to  be  driven  out,  with 
others,  by  the  Indians.  Subsequently  they  walked  to 
Litchfield,  Minnesota,  where  they  took  up  160  acres 
of  land  from  the  Government,  but  after  the  Indian 
disturbance  abated  they  returned  to  Minneapolis 
and  established  a boarding  house  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Union  Depot.  When  the  village  began  to 
take  on  a citified  appearance  they  disposed  of  their 
property  to  the  Manitoba  Railroad,  in  1881,  although 
the  father  had  died  the  year  previously.  The  mother 
survived  until  1889. 

John  P.  Nash,  Sr.,  was  still  a young  lad  when  the 
family  came  to  Minneapolis,  and  here  he  attended 
the  primitive  pioneer  schools.  His  education  was 
slight,  but  he  had  as  schoolmates  some  men  who  have 
since  risen  to  high  positions  in  the  world.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  parish,  and 
early  joined  the  band  which  bore  that  name,  the  first 
musical  organization  in  the  city.  An  early  democrat 
in  politics,  he  at  one  time  was  a candidate  for 
the  office  of  county  commissioner,  but  met  with  de- 
feat. Mr.  Nash  had  charge  of  the  registry  department 
at  the  postoffice  at  the  time  of  his  death,  December 
13,  1883,  when  aged  but  twenty-eight  years,  five 
months  and  twelve  days.  Mr.  Nash  married  Miss 
Annie  E.  Jones,  who  died  March  7,  1912,  aged  fifty- 
three  years.  She  was  one  of  the  original  members  of 
St.  Charles  parish,  and  a pioneer  in  the  charitable  and 
church  work  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Minneapolis. 
The  daughter  of  John  Jones,  she  was  born  in  1859, 
at  Brooklyn,  New  York,'  and  as  a child  moved  with 
her  parents  to  Cooperstown,  New  York.  In  1875 
she  came  to  Minneapolis  to  visit  her  uncle,  the  late 
Michael  Hoy,  a Minneapolis  pioneer  and  former 
chief  of  police  here,  and  soon  after  her  arrival  was 
married  to  John  P.  Nash.  In  1884  the  family  moved 
to  No.  828  Seventh  Street,  South,  where  Mrs.  Nash 
continued  to  reside  for  twenty-eight  years,  becoming 
widely  known  and  greatly  beloved  because  of  her 
church  and  charitable  work,  with  which  she  became 
connected  when  she  came  to  Minneapolis  and  con- 
tinued to  be  engaged  in  up  to  the  time  of  her  death. 
Mrs.  Nash  is  survived  by  two  sons:  John  P.,  and 
William  M.,  each  of  whom  has  separate  mention  in 


I 586 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


this  work ; and  two  sisters  and  two  brothers : Mrs. 
Eugenia  A.  Shelley,  of  Minneapolis ; Miss  Katherine 
E.  Jones,  of  Cooperstown,  New  York;  and  John  and 
Christopher  Jones  of  that  place. 

John  P.  Nash,  Jr.,  has  been  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  bar  for  a period  of  eleven  years,  and 
at  present  is  connected  with  the  strong  iegal  com- 
bination of  John  P.  Nash  and  William  M.  Nash. 
As  a member  of  the  Minnesota  State  Legislature 
Mr.  Nash  became  well  and  favorably  known  to  the 
people  as  the  author  of  much  important  and  helpful 
legislation,  particularly  the  State  Weights  and  Meas- 
ures Bill,  which  became  a law  in  1911. 

Mr.  Nash  was  born  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis, 
April  15,  1881,  and  is  a son  of  the  late  John  P.  and 
Annie  E.  (Jones)  Nash,  pioneers  of  this  city, 
extended  mention  of  whom  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  work.  The  father  died  December  13,  1883, 
while  the  mother  died  March  7,  1912,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  four  children,  two  daughters  who 
died  in  infancy,  John  P.,  and  William  M.,  whose 
life  record  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  After 
completing  the  curriculum  of  the  old  Washington 
School,  which  stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  court- 
house, Mr.  Nash  became  a student  in  Central  High 
School,  from  which  he  was  graduated.  Later  he 
graduated  from  the  Minneapolis  Academy,  and  then 
for  four  years  studied  under  the  able  preceptorship 
of  Judge  John  H.  Steele,  now  one  of  the  district 
judges  here,  in  the  meantime  attending  night  law 
classes  at  the  University  of  Minnesota.  After  suc- 
cessfully passing  the  state  bar  examination,  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  November  10,  1903,  and  im- 
mediately opened  an  office  at  Minneapolis,  where 
he  was  for  some  time  associated  with  his  brother, 
under  the  firm  style  of  J.  P.  & W.  M.  Nash. 
In  1908  William  M.  Nash  became  assistant  county 
attorney  under  the  late  J.  J.  Smith  and  sub- 
sequently  served  in  the  same  capacity  under  James 
Robertson,  the  present  county  attorney,  until  1912. 
In  the  meantime,  in  January,  1910,  John  P.  Nash 
formed  a partnership  with  George  W.  Armstrong, 
under  the  firm  style  of  Armstrong  & Nash,  and 
this  combination  maintained  offices  in  the  New  York 
Life  Building  until  January  1,  1915,  when  the  part- 
nership was  dissolved,  Mr.  Armstrong  becoming 
county  prosecutor  in  the  office  of  the  county  attor- 
ney of  Hennepin  County. 

As  a member  of  the  Hennepin  County  Republican 
Campaign  Committee  Mr.  Nash  managed  a number 
of  political  campaigns.  He  was  but  twenty-nine 
years  of  age  when  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  from  the  Forty-first  District  of  Min- 
nesota, comprising  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  wards  of 
Minneapolis,  and  attended  the  regular  sessions  of 
1911  and  the  special  session  of  1912.  In  all  Mr.  Nash 
introduced  twenty-eight  bills  of  his  own  authorship, 
all  tending  to  remedy  some  faults  in  legislation  or 
to  introduce  reforms,  but  the  achievement  of  which 
he  is  most  justly  proud  was  the  authorship  of  the 
State  Weights  and  Measures  Bill  of  Minnesota, 
which  was  signed  by  Governor  Eberhart,  April  15, 
iqit,  and  came  as  a thirtieth  birthday  present  to  Mr. 
Nash.  He  is  also  interested  in  various  other  enter- 
prises outside  of  his  profession,  and  is  a working 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  As- 
sociation. Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  being  a life  member 
of  Minneapolis  Lodge  No.  44  and  chairman  of  its 
house  committee,  also  to  Hennepin  Council,  Knights 


of  Columbus.  His  religious  connection  is  with  St. 
Charles  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Nash  was  married  November  22,  1904,  to  Miss 
Margie  M.  Dougherty,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  E.  Dougherty,  pioneers  of  Minneapolis.  Mrs. 
Nash  was  born  and  educated  in  this  city  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  South  Side  High  School. 

William  M.  Nash.  Like  many  members  of  the 
bar  of  Minnesota,  William  M.  Nash  is  a native  of 
Minneapolis.  In  this  city  his  entire  career  has  been 
spent. 

Mr.  Nash  was  born  September  4,  1883,  and  is  a 
son  of  the  late  John  P.  and  Annie  'E.  (Jones)  Nash, 
pioneers  of  Minneapolis,  a sketch  of  whose  career 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  father 
died  December  13,  1883,  when  William  M.  was  but 
three  months  old,  but  the  mother  survived  until 
March  7,  1912.  Two  daughters  died  in  infancy,  while 
Mr.  Nash's  brother,  John  P.  Nash,  is  a practicing 
attorney  of  Minneapolis  and  has  his  life  record  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  The  primary  education 
of  William  M.  Nash  was  secured  in  the  public 
schools  of  Minneapolis,  following  which  he  entered 
the  Central  High  School,  being  graduated  therefrom 
in  1900.  He  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Judge  John  H.  Steele,  now  judge  of  the  District 
Court,  and  after  some  preparation  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  February  10,  1904.  At  that 
time  he  began  practice  with  his  former  preceptor, 
with  whom  he  continued  until  Judge  Steele  ascended 
the  bench  of  the  District  Court,  and  Mr.  Nash  then 
formed  a partnership  with  his  brother,  under  the 
firm  style  of  J.  P.  & W.  M.  Nash.  This  combination 
continued  until  August  1,  1908,  when  the  partner- 
ship was  dissolved,  William  M.  Nash  becoming 
assistant  county  attorney  under  the  late  A1  J.  Smith, 
with  whom  he  continued  until  Mr.  Smith’s  death, 
November  3,  1910.  He  then  served  under  Mr. 
Smith’s  successor,  John  M.  Rees,  who  was  appointed 
by  the  court  to  serve  the  three  months  of  unex- 
pired term,  and  later  acted  in  the  same  capacity 
under  the  county  attorney,  James  Robertson,  until 
September  1,  1912,  his  complete  services  in  that 
office  covering  a period  of  four  years  and  one  month. 
Since  his  retirement,  Mr.  Nash  has  been  engaged  in 
general  practice,  with  offices  in  the  New  York  Life 
Building.  Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership 
existing  between  his  brother,  John  P.  Nash,  and 
George  W.  Armstrong,  on  January  1,  1915,  he  again 
became  associated  with  his  brother  under  the  firm 
name  of  John  P.  Nash  and  William  M.  Nash.  He 
belongs  to  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association,  is  a life  member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Minneapolis  Lodge  No.  44, 
and  also  holds  membership  in  Hennepin  Council, 
Knights  of  Columbus.  Politically  a republican,  he 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  his  party,  and  for 
years  has  been  a member  of  the  republican  cam- 
paign committee. 

Mr.  Nash  is  unmarried  and  resides  at  No.  828 
Seventh  Street  South.  He  is  a member  of  St. 
Charles  congregation  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

» 

John  C.  Wise,  Sr.  The  name  of  Wise  has  been 
identified  with  Minnesota  journalism  fifty-five  years. 
One  of  the  oldest  papers  in  the  state  is  the  Mankato 
Review,  which  has  been  continuously  under  the  man- 
agement and  ownership  of  members  of  this  family 
since  it  was  established  in  1869. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1587 


The  late  John  C.  Wise,  Sr.,  who  had  several 
interesting  associations  with  pioneer  newspaper  his- 
tory in  the  Northwest,  was  born  in  Maryland,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1834,  and  died  November  17,  1900.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  state  September  9,  1857, 
to  Amanda  Flory,  who  was  born  in  1836  and  died 
January  ir,  1885.  John  C.  Wise  was  a son  of  Rich- 
ard Wise,  a contractor,  who  died  at  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one.  His  son  learned 
the  printing  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Congressional 
Record  at  Washington,  and  a printing  office  was  his 
university,  and  he  was  in  the  business  from  the  age 
of  thirteen  until  his  death.  He  had  the  distinction 
of  establishing  the  first  paper  printed  at  the  head 
of  Lake  Superior,  setting  up  a small  plant  at  Supe- 
rior, Wisconsin,  in  1855.  Selling  out  in  1858,  he 
went  east,  but  in  1859  came  to  Mankato,  in  Minne- 
sota Territory,  and  started  the  Mankato  Record. 
He  sold  that  paper  in  1868,  but  on  May  25,  1869, 
brought  out  the  first  issue  of  the  Weekly  Review, 
beginning  a business  with  which  he  was  identified 
until  his  death  and  which  is  now  continued  by  his 
sons.  Mr.  Wise,  Sr.,  was  active  in  city  affairs,  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and  for  five  years  held  the 
office  of  postmaster,  during  the  two  terms  of  Pres- 
ident Cleveland.  He  was  a charter  member  of 
Mankato  Lodge  of  Masons,  held  the  Knight  Tem- 
plar degrees,  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Of  their  seven  children,  five  are  living: 
Charles  E.,  Mrs.  Katherine  Weaver,  John  C.,  Jr., 
Miss  Helen  E.  and  Miss  Flory,  all  of  Mankato. 

Charles  E.  Wise  was  born  in  Mankato,  Minnesota, 
October  23,  i860,  and  while  attending  the  local  pub- 
lic schools  began  carrying  papers  for  his  father. 
That  was  his  introduction  to  the  business  with  which 
he  has  been  identified  almost  ever  since.  After  his 
graduation  from  the  high  school  in  1877  he  remained 
in  the  printing  office  several  months,  then  found 
work  as  clerk  in  the  county  auditor's  office  under 
J.  J.  Thompson,  and  in  1881  had  a different  kind  of 
experience  with  W.  T.  Mills,  a wholesale  produce 
merchant.  August  15,  1881,  he  went  to  El  Paso, 
Texas,  and  spent  about  two  years  in  the  customs 
service  under  Col.  Abner  Tibbits,  collector  of  that 
port.  Resigning  in  July,  1883,  he  became  an  active 
partner  with  his  father  in  the  publication  of  the 
Mankato  Review.  Since  the  death  of  the  elder 
Wise  he  and  his  brother  John  have  continued  to 
publish  the  daily  and  weekly  Review  under  the  firm 
name,  J.  C.  Wise  & Sons,  and  also  maintain  a job 
printing  and  book  binding  department. 

Mr.  Charles  Wise  is  a democrat  and,  while  never 
holding  an  elective  position,  has  been  appointed  to 
several  places.  He  was  assistant  postmaster  under 
his  father  in  188^-86.  under  P.  IT.  Carney  in  1888-90, 
under  W.  W.  P.  McConnell  in  1890-91,  and  again 
under  his  father,  1894  to  1898.  He  is  a director  of  the 
National  Citizens  Bank  and  the  Savings  and  Build- 
ing Association.  Fie  has  been  a member  of  the 
library  board  a number  of  years,  having  held  the 
offices  of  secretary,  vice  president  and  president,  and 
was  a member  of  the  charter  commission  which 
brought  about  the  commission  form  of  government 
for  Mankato.  In  1908  he  was  president  of  the 
North  Star  Daily  Press  Association.  Fraternally  he 
is  past  exalted  ruler  in  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225, 
B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  is  a member  of  Blue  Earth  Lodge 
No.  30,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  Council  No.  1520,  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  Mankato  Lodge  No.  12,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  At  one  time  he  was  president  and  sec- 
retary of  the  Mankato  Gun  Club,  but  an  accident 


in  1904,  when  a target  thrown  from  a trap  put  out 
an  eye,  caused  him  to  give  up  his  active  part  in 
the  sport.  He  attends  the  Episcopal  Church,  in 
which  his  wife  and  children  are  members.  On 
September  26,  1893,  he  married  Miss  Minnie  Lee, 
daughter  of  Nathan  P.  Lee,  formerly  of  Sparta, 
Wisconsin,  and  later  of  Mankato.  Mrs.  Wise  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society  and 
is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Clio  Club. 
The  children  are:  Charles  E.,  Jr.,  born  July  18, 
1894;  Katherine,  born  March  21,  1896;  Elizabeth, 
born  May  30,  1900,  died  July  2,  1901 ; and  Mar- 
garet, born  January  30,  1903. 

John  C.  Wise,  Jr.,  who  like  his  brother  has  been 
identified  with  the  printing  and  newspaper  business 
practically  ever  since  boyhood,  was  born  at  Man- 
kato, April  14,  1866.  From  the  grammar  and  high 
schools  he  entered  the  Mankato  Normal,  and  since 
then  has  given  his  time  and  energy  almost  unremit- 
tingly to  the  publishing  business.  The  Review  now 
has  a large  circulation,  and  while  its  influence  has 
long  been  recognized,  it  is  also  the  central  feature  of 
a very  substantial  business  in  a commercial  sense. 

John  C.  Wise,  Jr.,  is  unmarried,  is  affiliated  with 
the  lodge,  chapter  and  commandery  of  Masonry  and 
with  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  is  past 
exalted  ruler  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  a past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  a member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  Eagles 
Lodge,  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  He  is 
a democrat  and  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
Mr.  Wise  is  serving  as  resident  director  of  the  Man- 
kato Normal,  being  a member  of  the  State  Normal 
School  Board  for  the  past  twelve  years. 

Nicholas  Meyer.  In  point  of  continuous  service 
one  of  the  oldest  if  not  the  oldest  probate  judge  in 
Minnesota  is  Nicholas  Meyer  of  Scott  County.  His 
first  election  to  that  office  came  in  the  fall  of  1879, 
more  than  thirty-five  years  ago,  and  at  every  re- 
curring election  the  people  have  shown  their  ap- 
proval of  his  capable  and  painstaking  administra- 
tion by  keeping  him  in  the  office.  For  the  benefit  of 
the  people  of  Scott  County  his  experience  has  again 
and  again  been  capitalized  in  abler  and  more  efficient 
service,  and  his  popularity  has  grown  with  the 
course  of  years. 

Nicholas  Meyer  is  a native  of  Germany,  born 
November  4.  1847.  His  parents  were  Mathias  and 
Catherine  (Fries)  Meyer,  both  natives  of  Germany. 
His  father  was  born  in  1797  and  died  in  1866,  and 
the  mother  also  died  in  Germany.  The  father  com- 
bined farming  with  brick  manufacturing.  The 
family  were  Catholics,  and  there  were  ten  children 
in  all. 

Judge  Meyer  was  liberally  educated  in  his  native 
land,  attended  some  of  the  higher  schools  at  Treves. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  in  the  same  year  that 
his  father  died,  in  1866,  he  left  Germany  and  came 
to  America.  For  about  two  years  he  lived_  in  New 
York  Citv  and  supported  himself  by  clerking  in  a 
store.  Then  with  exceedingly  modest  capital  he 
came  out  to  Minnesota  in  1867  and  spent  the  fol- 
lowing winter  in  Stearns  County,  and  in  1868  arrived 
in  Shakopee,  which  city  has  been  his  home  for  up- 
wards of  half  a century.  For  a number  of  years 
he  was  a popular  and  successful  teacher  in  Stearns 
and  Scott  counties.  He  also  possesses  the  char- 
acteristic talent  for  music,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  amateur  and  professional 
musicians  at  Shakopee. 


1588 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


In  1869  Mr.  Meyer  married  Julia  Klinkhammer  of 
Scott  County.  At  her  death  in  1879  she  left  four 
children,  Mrs.  Margaret  Ross  of  St.  Paul;  Mrs. 
Catherine  Pink  of  Shakopee;  Mrs.  Anna  Buergens, 
living  on  a farm  near  Shakopee;  Mrs.  Mary 
Schwartz,  of  St.  Paul.  In  1881  Judge  Meyer  mar- 
ried Katie  Theis  of  Scott  County.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  ten  children,  as  follows:  Nicholas 
M.,  employed  in  a printing  office  in  St.  Paul ; Mrs. 
Chaon  of  Gerry,  South  Dakota ; Gertrude,  at  home ; 
Tillie  C.,  a stenographer  in  Minneapolis ; Clara,  a 
milliner  in  South  Dakota ; Mathias,  a printer  at  St. 
Paul ; Anton  C.,  is  in  the  service  of  the  railway 
company  with  headquarters  at  St.  Paul ; Barbara, 
Sadie  and  Isabelle,  all  living  at  home  in  Shakopee. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  and 
Judge  Meyer  has  long  been  active  in  church  affairs, 
has  served  as  secretary  of  the  local  parish  for  thirty- 
five  years,  and  was  church  organist  for  forty-five 
years.  Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  democratic 
party  and  for  a number  of  years  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  and  city  clerk. 

Charles  Henry  Norred,  M.  D.  Known  and 
honored  as  a man  of  fine  professional  attainments 
and  achievements,  and  one  whose  influence  has  been 
potent  in  the  conservation  of  general  health  and  in 
the  advancement  of  sanitary  and  other  agencies 
tending  to  maintain  the  physical  well  being  of  the 
community,  Dr.  Norred  has  long  been  one  of  the 
prominent  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  State  of 
Minnesota.  Special  distinction  is  also  due  him  for 
his  effective  and  loyal  service,  principally  along  the 
line  of  his  profession,  as  a soldier  and  surgeon  in  the 
Civil  war.  His  life  has  been  one  of  signal  devotion 
to  his  exacting  profession,  and  his  character  is  the 
positive  expression  of  a strong  and  noble  nature,  so 
that  he  has  held  unqualified  popular  esteem  both  as 
a physician  and  as  a citizen.  He  is  still  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  with  offices  at  804 
Andrus  Building,  Minneapolis,  and  with  residence 
in  the  Rogers  Hotel. 

Dr.  Charles  Henry  Norred  claims  the  historic  Old 
Dominion  Commonwealth  as  his  birthplace,  and  his 
ancestors,  of  English  lineage,  were  among  the 
colonial  settlers  in  that  state.  He  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County,  Virginia,  January  19,  1842,  the 
son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Dowdell)  Norred, 
the  former  born  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  and 
the  latter  in  Loudoun  County,  Virginia.  The  latter 
years  of  their  lives  were  spent  in  the  State  of 
Illinois.  When  Doctor  Norred  was  a child  his 
parents  moved  from  Virginia  to  Sangamon  County, 
Illinois,  and  there  near  Springfield,  capital  of  the 
state,  William  Norred  made  himself  no  unimportant 
factor  as  a farmer,  lumberman  and  miller.  While 
he  inherited  no  landed  estate,  by  his  hard-working 
industry  he  accomplished  much  that  was  worthy 
and  distinctive  as  a business  man. 

As  a boy  Dr.  Norred,  while  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  locality  and 
period,  early  became  associated  with  his  father’s 
varied  activities.  He  not  infrequently  took  one  end 
of  the  cross-cut  saw,  with  his  father  at  the  other 
end,  which  from  early  morning  till  late  afternoon 
they  manipulated  back  and  forth  across  the  logs  in 
the  timber.  As  a result  of  this  experience  he  ac- 
quired a practical  knowledge  of  farming,  stock  rais- 
ing. lumbering,  engineering  and  milling. 

While  he  was  a boy  growing  up  in  Sangamon 
County  the  greatest  character  of  American  history 


was  practicing  law  in  the  City  of  Springfield.  Prob- 
ably the  most  powerful  and  abiding  influence  in  the 
development  of  Dr.  Norred's  character  came  from 
that  rugged  and  simple  lawyer.  His  father  had  oc- 
casion to  consult  on  legal  matters  Abraham  Lincoln, 
and  Dr.  Norred  recalls  a number  of  incidents  con- 
cerning that  great  statesman,  who  at  that  time  was 
almost  unknown  outside  the  State  of  Illinois,  but 
whose  noble  character  and  deep  human  sympathy 
were  already  well  understood  by  his  widening  circle 
of  friends  and  followers.  When  Dr.  Norred  was  a 
boy  Lincoln  took  him  upon  his  knee  and  gave  him 
kindly  counsel  and  advice  as  to  his  future  life.  Lin- 
coln's integrity,  ability  and  marvelous  simplicity  of 
character  made  a lasting  impression  on  the  lad,  and 
influenced  and  moulded  to  a great  extent  his  political 
views.  In  the  campaign  of  i860,  when  Lincoln  first 
appeared  as  the  republican  candidate  for  the  presi- 
dency, young  Norred,  who  cast  his  first  nresidential 
vote  in  that  year,  was  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the 
"Wide-Awakes,”  an  organization  in  which  he  ardent- 
ly aided  in  supporting  the  cause  of  Lincoln,  the  man 
and  friend  whose  memory  he  has  ever  revered. 

On  leaving  the  common  schools  Dr.  Norred  en- 
tered the  Illinois  State  University,  then  at  Spring- 
field,  and  in  preparation  for  his  chosen  profession 
his  studies  were  during  i860  carried  on  under  the 
preceptorship  of  Dr.  Robert  S.  Lord,  of  Springfield. 
Later  he  continued  in  Pope’s  Medical  College,  in  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  is  one  of  the  body  of  alumni 
of  that  school.  However,  he  soon  subordinated  all 
other  interests  to  the  dictates  of  patriotism  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out.  Records  in  the  adjutant  gen- 
eral's office  of  Illinois  shows  that  on  July  25,  1862, 
at  Dawson,  Sangamon  County,  Dr.  Norred  enlisted 
for  a term  of  three  years  and  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  as  a private  in  Company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry.  The 
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry  was 
mustered  in  in  1862  at  Camp  Butler,  and  under  the 
direction  of  the  post  surgeon,  Doctor  Norred,  estab- 
lished a temporary  hospital,  in  which  he  cared  for 
the  sick  recruits  of  his  regiment.  On  the  formal 
mustering  of  the  regiment,  though  he  had  been  re- 
peatedly tendered  a line  office,  the  doctor  was  re- 
tained with  the  medical  department,  his  technical 
knowledge  making  him  specially  valuable  in  this 
service.  On  November  8,  1862,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  from  Camp  Butler  to  Alton,  Illinois,  and 
thence  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  at  which  point  it 
arrived  November  20th,  being  assigned  to  the  First 
Brigade,  First  Division  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps, 
commanded  by  Gen.  William  T.  Sherman.  With  this 
corps  the  regiment  took  part  in  the  Dresden  expedi- 
tion, and  the  command  then  returned  to  Memphis, 
about  the  middle  of  December.  Shortly  afterwards 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  College  Hill.  Mississippi, 
to  assist  General  Grant  in  his  first  overland  expedi- 
tion against  Vicksburg. 

Some  years  ago  Doctor  Norred  recalled  some  of 
his  individual  experiences  as  a soldier,  and  the  fol- 
lowing condensation  of  that  article  will  afford  an 
appropriate  record  concerning  this  epoch  of  his 
career : “While  we  were  at  College  Hill,  Holly 
Springs  was  captured  by  the  Confederates.  Our 
regiment  was  accordingly  ordered  to  Holly  Springs, 
later  to  LaGrange,  Tennessee,  and  finally  to  Jackson 
that  State,  General  R.  P.  Buckland  commanding  our 
brigade,  and  General  John  E.  Smith  commanding  our 
division.  The  regiment  remained  at  Jackson  until 
the  latter  part  of  February,  1863,  and  was  then 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1589 


ordered  to  Memphis  and  was  assigned  outpost  duty. 
Here  I was  transferred  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment to  that  of  the  army  and  was  ordered  to  report 
to  the  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  ‘Floating  Hospital 
Nashville’  for  duty  in  his  department.  I proceeded 
to  this  hospital,  then  at  Memphis,  and  thence,  as  a 
part  of  the  hospital  corps,  to  Vicksburg.  When  I 
arrived  at  that  hospital  I was  asked  by  the  surgeon 
in  charge,  ‘What  can  you  do?’  I answered,  ‘I  will 
obey  orders  and  try  to  do  anything.’  The  first  thing 
handed  me  was  a slop  bucket  and  a scrub  brush.  I 
think  I did  satisfactory  work,  and  the  next  thing 
was  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  nurse ; the  next  was 
ward  master,  and  nursing  twenty  men  at  night.  They 
finally  found  out  that  I was  an  undergraduate  medi- 
cal student  and  I was  then  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
surgery.  The  floating  hospital  Nashville  was  of  the 
capacity  of  700  beds,  and  was  kept  as  near  Vicksburg 
as  was  consistent  with  safety  being  maintained  as  a 
receiving  boat  for  the  sick  and  wounded.  Our  labors 
at  that  time  were  certainly  very  strenuous.  In  1863 
I was  attacked  with  congestive  fever,  malignant 
malarial  fever,  was  very  ill  and  was  finally  sent  north 
to  the  United  States  general  hospital  at  Jefferson 
Barracks,  Missouri,  where  I made  a very  slow  re- 
covery. As  soon  as  I had  sufficiently  recovered  to 
go  on  duty  I was  retained  in  the  medical  department 
and  placed  in  charge  of  a dispensary,  in  the  mean- 
time assisting  in  all  kinds  of  surgery  and  everything 
else  that  was  to  be  done.  While  in  this  capacity  I 
infected  my  right  hand  with  gangrene,  while  remov- 
ing the  poison  from  the  side  of  a soldier,  and  from 
the  effects  of  this  I have  never  recovered.  I was 
very  ill  for  a long  time  and  as  a result  of  the  gan- 
grene I had  general  lymphangitis. 

“On  March  11,  1865,  while  at  Jefferson  Barracks, 
I was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
from  which  I was  discharged  by  reason  of  disability. 
Going  before  the  Illinois  State  Examining  Board  at 
Springfield,  I passed  a successful  examination  for 
an  assistant  surgeon.  I was  made  senior  assistant 
surgeon  with  rank  of  captain  of  cavalry,  taking  rank 
from  April  3,  1865,  and  was  immediately  sent  to 
Eastport,  Mississippi,  where  I was  mustered  into  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  medical  department  of  the 
Seventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  which  was  with  the  Second 
Brigade,  Fifth  Division  Cavalry  Corps,  Military 
Division  of  Mississippi.  In  1863,  September,  I think, 
I had  a very  severe  relapse  of  malarial  fever,  and 
while  unconscious,  near  Decatur,  Alabama,  was  sent 
to  the  Cumberland  Hospital,  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
where  I was  still  confined  at  the  time  when  my 
regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service.  On  the  18th 
of  December  of  the  same  year  I was  mustered  out 
of  service  at  Springfield,  Illinois.  One  of  the  most 
remarkable  things  within  my  knowledge  was  that 
of  a private  doing  for  nearly  three  years  the  work 
of  an  assistant  surgeon,  with  the  pay  of  thirteen 
dollars  a month.  I was  thus  constantly  kindling  my 
fires  on  the  edge  of  the  battle  field,  and  in  the  most 
dangerous  branch  of  the  service,  but  I felt  I was 
endowed  by  nature  with  special  talents  in  my  profes- 
sion. I was  certainly  consecrated  to  the  profession 
of  my  choice ; was  honest,  sincere,  observing,  and 
a very  hard  worker — making  the  best  of  every 
opportunity  given.  Today  I feel  I am  indebted  to  the 
above  named  conditions  and  circumstances  for  the 
remarkable  success  that  has  so  uniformly  blessed 
mY  professional  life  for  the  past  fifty  years,  since 
which  time  I have  been  a benediction  to  thousands 
of  hearts  and  homes.” 


The  concluding  sentences  of  the  above  quotation 
indicate  with  significance  the  high  ideals  and  deep 
human  sympathy  that  have  animated  Doctor  Norred 
during  the  long  years  of  earnest  and  self-abnegating 
labor  in  his  chosen  profession,  which  he  has  dignified 
and  honored  by  his  character  and  services. 

To  supplement  the  experience  and  training  of  his 
service  as  an  army  surgeon,  Doctor  Norred  com- 
pleted a course  of  study  in  the  Pennsylvania  School 
of  Anatomy  and  Surgery,  where  he  was  graduated, 
and  in  1886  was  given  the  degree  doctor  of  medicine 
by  the  historic  old  Jefferson  Medical  College  in 
Philadelphia.  After  the  war  Doctor  Norred  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Dawson,  Sanga- 
mon County,  Illinois,  and  for  a time  was  a practi- 
tioner at  Middletown,  that  state,  going  later  to  Lin- 
coln, Illinois,  which  continued  to  be  the  state  of 
his  professional  activities  until  1882.  In  the  latter 
year  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  in  1885  established 
himself  in  general  practice  in  the  City  of  Minne- 
apolis. Here  as  elsewhere  the  doctor  has  controlled 
a large  and  representative  practice  and  has  gained 
the  affectionate  regard  and  implicit  confidence  of 
the  many  families  which  he  has  ministered  with  all 
his  ability  and  zeal. 

His  has  been  a life  of  kindly,  capable  service  to 
the  community  and  to  hundreds  of  individuals.  How- 
ever, most  of  the  best  work  of  the  physician  does 
not  flaunt  itself  before  the  public  gaze,  but  is 
wrought  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow  man.  Beyond 
this  conscientious  and  careful  work  which  Doctor 
Norred  has  rendered,  and  of  which  there  can  be  no 
adequate  record,  he  has  also  been  conspicuous  as  a 
leader  in  the  public  health  movement,  and  nowhere 
was  this  leadership  better  illustrated  than  during 
1900,  when  Minneapolis  was  swept  with  an  epidemic 
of  smallpox,  beginning  in  the  spring  of  that  year. 
The  health  department  seemed  unable  to  handle  the 
situation.  At  the  instance  of  many  leading  physicians 
and  other  citizens  of  the  city  and  at  the  unanimous 
request  of  the  board  of  health,  Doctor  Norred  was 
asked  to  take  the  position  of  special  quarantine 
officer.  The  responsibilities  of  this  post  were  such 
that  for  about  six  months  he  was  almost  an  absolute 
dictator  in  the  city.  The  state  board  of  health  was 
threatening  to  quarantine  the  entire;  city,  and  all 
local  officials,  including  the  mayor  and  the  health 
board,  were  exerting  constant  pressure  upon  the 
special  quarantine  officer  for  the  efficient  handling 
of  the  dangerous  situation.  During  that  six  months 
heTiad  the  mayor  and  the  entire  police  force  under 
his  control,  as  well  as  the  chief  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment, and  with  power  to  burn  or  to  buy  any  prop- 
erty within  the  danger  zone  of  the  epidemic.  After 
a little  more  than  six  months,  during  which  time 
he  had  quarantined  about  400  cases,  Doctor  Norred 
was  able  to  present  the  city  with  a clean  bill  of 
health.  However,  this  did  not  end  the  matter  with 
him.  His  experience  had  brought  out  many  defects 
in  schemes  and  methods  for  handling  any  contagious 
disease.  At  the  beginning  of  his  service  as  special 
quarantine  officer  he  found  one  little  filthy  pest 
house,  with  a capacity  of  sixteen  beds,  as  the  only 
building  which  could  be  used  as  a quarantine  hospital. 
Many  of  the  patients  had  to  be  allowed  to  remain 
in  their  homes,  thus  endangering  their  families  and 
neighbors.  Furthermore,  there  was  no  suitable  place 
to  which  the  patients  could  be  taken  who  would  be 
willing  to  pay  for  their  board  and  nursing,  and  who 
were  very  unwilling:  to  be  considered  charity  or  city 
patients,  and  the  idea  of  becoming  an  inmate  of  a 


1590 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


city  pest  house,  notably  wretched  in  its  condition, 
was  very  repugnant  to  people  of  refinement  and  of 
self-supporting  circumstances.  As  soon  as  he  had 
become  conscious  of  the  extraordinary  necessities  of 
a large  city  in  the  grip  of  contagion,  he  sought  to 
give  expression  to  this  necessity  in  practical  action 
and  in  such  provisions  as  would  afford  the  city 
adecpiate  means  to  cope  with  that  or  any  subsequent 
epidemic.  He  was  the  leader  in  a movement  which 
had  the  cooperation  of  hundreds  of  public  spirited 
men  and  women  in  the  city,  and  as  a result  of  the 
campaign  he  was  able  to  present  to  Minneapolis  what 
was  known  as  the  “Cottage  Quarantine  Hospital,” 
one  of  the  most  complete  of  its  size  and  character 
in  the  Northwest.  This  was  built  from  contributions 
by  citizens  of  Minneapolis  to  the  amount  of  about 
$30,000.  Actively  cooperating  with  him  in  this  cam- 
paign were  the  organized  bodv  of  the  public  school 
teachers,  of  the  Commercial  Club,  and  many  indi- 
viduals. It  was  with  a great  deal  of  commendable 
pride  that  Doctor  Norred  was  able  to  present,  on 
January  26,  1901,  this  hospital  to  the  city,  and  in  his 
presentation  address  Doctor  Norred,  after  describing 
the  history  of  the  movement  and  describing  the 
buildings  in  the  quarantine  hospital,  concluded  the 
address  with  the  following  paragraph : “Thus  Min- 

neapolis has  a complete,  first  class,  properly  equipped, 
hygienically  constructed  quarantine  hospital  adequate 
for  all  requirements,  and  also  hospitals  of  proper 
size  and  character  for  quarantining  diphtheria  and 
scarlet  fever,  now  being  constructed  on  the  citv 
hospital  grounds  as  a result  of  this  movement.  With 
vaccination,  isolation  and  disinfection  thoroughly 
and  vigorously  applied  at  the  outset  with  every  case 
of  smallpox,  and  with  a new  modern  quarantine 
hospital  at  her  service,  there  is  no  reason  why  the 
city's  fair  face  cannot  be  kept  clean,  her  commercial 
interests  conserved  and  her  citizens  protected.” 

For  a number  of  years  Doctor  Norred  was  con- 
sulting surgeon  to  and  examining  surgeon  for  the 
Minnesota  State  Soldiers’  Home,  in  which  noble  in- 
stitution he  finally  became  resident  surgeon  and 
sanitary  officer.  In  that  capacity  he  effected  many 
improvements  in  the  service  of  the  hospital  and  in 
the  general  sanitary  conditions  of  the  institution, 
which  he  brought  to  the  highest  standard  of  sanita- 
tion that  it  has  ever  known.  In  other  ways  he  has 
shown  his  deep  interest  in  old  comrades  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  was  at  one  time  medical  director  of  the 
Department  of  Minnesota,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  organi- 
zation he  has  local  affiliation  with  John  A.  Rawlins 
Post  No.  126  in  Minneapolis.  When  he  became  a 
candidate  for  the  post  of  member  of  the  Board  of 
United  States  Pension  Examining  Surgeons  at  Min- 
neapolis in  1889,  Doctor  Norred  was  able  to  present 
many  letters  of  commendation  and  support  from 
very  prominent  and  influential  sources.  Among  them 
were  recommendations  from  Dr.  John  F.  Randolph, 
surgeon  United  States  army  who  had  charge  of 
Jefferson  Barracks  at  the  time  Doctor  Norred  was 
there,  and  also  Gen.  Edward  Hatch,  at  whose  com- 
mand Doctor  Norred  had  served  during  the  war. 
Other  letters  came  from  a former  president  of  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society;  from  Hon.  Richard 
J.  Oglesby,  at  that  time  governor  of  Illinois ; and 
from  Hon.  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  who  was  later  governor 
of  Illinois.  Further  endorsement  was  given  by  a 
recommendation  signed  by  representative  citizens  of 
Minnesota,  and  a similar  testimonial  marked  the 
doctor’s  appointment  as  surgeon  of  the  Minnesota 
Soldiers’  Home.  He  served  with  characteristic 


ability  as  a member  of  the  board  of  pension  ex- 
aminers under  the  administration  of  President  Har- 
rison, and  was  further  distinguished  by  being  chosen 
president  of  Board  No.  1 United  States  Examining 
Surgeons  for  Pensions  in  Minneapolis,  an  office 
which  he  still  holds.  He  served  for  some  time  as 
consulting  surgeon  of  the  Minneapolis  City  Hospital, 
and  has  long  enjoyed  a high  reputation  as  a skillful 
surgeon. 

Doctor  Norred,  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  the 
great  emancipator,  has  been  unswerving  in  his  alle- 
giance to  the  republican  party.  For  a number  of  years 
after  the  war  he  was  influential  in  oarty  councils  in 
the  State  of  Illinois.  He  is  well  known  in  the 
Hennepin  County  Medical  Society,  the  Minnesota 
State  Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  He  has  completed  the  circle  of  York 
and  Scottish  Rite  Masonry ; in  the  latter  he  has 
received  the  thirty-second  degree.  He  is  a member 
of  Zuhrah  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
and  in  the  York  Rite  has  his  maximum  affiliation 
with  Zion  Commandery  of  Knight  Templars  in 
Minneapolis.  He  is  a member  of  Wesley  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Minneapolis.  Doctor  Norred 
has  resided  for  many  years  in  the  Rogers  Hotel,  in 
which  he  is  house  surgeon,  and  is  also  surgeon  to 
the  Andrews  Hotel.  Minnesota  and  its  medical 
profession  have  been  honored  by  the  life  and  serv- 
ices of  Doctor  Norred,  whose  character,  ability  and 
achievements  are  only  suggested,  not  fully  described, 
in  these  paragraphs.  His  services  in  the  great  con- 
flict by  which  the  integrity  of  the  nation  was  pre- 
served are  also  properly  distinguished  in  his  asso- 
ciation with  the  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the 
LTnited  States,  in  which  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
Minnesota  Commandery. 

On  November  16,  1865,  at  the  residence  of  Joseph 
A.  Dalbey,  near  Elkhart  City,  Logan  County,  Illinois. 
Doctor  Norred  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Sedate  Dal- 
bey. To  them  were  born  two  children,  Charles  Elmer 
and  William  A.,  both  of  whom  are  deceased,  as  is 
also  the  wife  and  mother. 

It  is  only  proper  to  conclude  this  article  by 
emphasizing  the  points  already  noted  in  a general 
way  establishing  the  eminent  position  of  Doctor 
Norred  as  a sanitarian.  Preventive  medicine,  as  a 
science  and  in  a broad  application  to  social  com- 
munities, is  comparatively  new.  Only  recently  some 
of  the  great  universities  have  contrived  degrees 
which  might  properly  recognize  individual  attain- 
ments in  this  important  field  of  human  welfare  work. 
The  older  doctors,  with  few  exceptions,  devoted 
themselves  to  curative  medicine.  It  is  only  giving 
credit  where  credit  is  due  to  recognize  _ Doctor 
Norred  as  a pioneer  of  preventive  medicine,  one 
whose  practice  was  far  in  advance  of  his  time. 
Even  when  in  the  army,  and  during  his  twenty-five 
vears  practice  in  Illinois,  he  undertook  to  impress 
his  clients  and  communities  with  the  truth  that 
preventive  medicine  was  better  than  curative.  Many 
years  asro  he  had  patients  who  paid  him  for  sanitary 
supervision  of  their  homes  and  premises,  and  that 
service  was  fully  as  important  as  curing  after  his 
clients  got  sick.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  put  into 
practice  the  old  oriental  rule  that  a doctor  should 
be  paid  only  as  long  as  his  patients  were  kept  well. 

Rudolph  A.  and  William  C.  Bierbauer.  _ Tn  the 
Citv  of  Mankato  the  pioneer  brewing  establishment 
and  one  that  has  existed  for  at  least  fifty  years 
was  founded  by  the  late  William  Bierbauer  and  a 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1591 


brother  and  is  now  owned  by  the  Bierbauer  family 
estate,  with  the  sons  as  active  managers,  including 
Rudolph  A.  and  William  C.,  both  of  whom  are 
among  the  young  and  aggressive  business  men  of 
the  city. 

The  late  William  Bierbauer  was  born  in  Germany, 
February  26,  1826,  and  died  at  Mankato,  November 
30,  1893.  He  was  a member  of  one  of  the  substantial 
German  families,  and  like  many  of  the  students 
became  a sharer  in  the  new  and  advanced  political 
theories  of  the  ’40s  and  was  drawn  into  participation 
with  the  revolutionary  troubles  which  culminated  in 
1848.  He  was  one  of  the  many  Germans  who  in 
consequence  of  these  political  troubles  emigrated  to 
America,  and  in  1855  he  located  as  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  Mankato.  Here  he  and  his  brother 
Jacob  started  the  first  brewery,  a modest  establish- 
ment, but  carried  on  with  growing  success,  until 
it  has  now  expanded  into  one  of  the  largest  brew- 
eries of  Minnesota.  William  Bierbauer  in  the  old 
country  had  acquired  some  experience  in  the  brew- 
ing trade,  and  was  also  a cooper.  William  Bier- 
bauer was  married  at  Mankato  in  1856, _ the  year 
after  his  arrival  in  that  community,  to  Miss  Louisa 
Dornberg,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  January  7> 
1836,  and  died  November  9,  1912.  William  Bier- 
bauer was  a democrat  in  politics,  and  served  as  one 
of  the  early  members  of  the  city  council  of  Mankato. 
He  was  always  noted  as  an  aggressive  business  man. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  raised  a company  for  active 
service  in  the  South,  but  instead  was  placed  in 
command  as  captain  of  the  company  and  sent  to 
New  Ulm  to  serve  during  the  Indian  troubles. 
William  and  Louisa  Bierbauer  were  the  parents 
of  six  children : Albert  G.,  a member  of  the  brewing 
firm;  Bruno  W.,  a physician  at  Brooklyn,  New  York; 
Rudolph  A.;  William  C. ; Adelaide  M.  and  Ella  A., 
both  unmarried  and  living  at  home. 

Rudolph  A.  Bierbauer  was  born  in  Mankato, 
April  26,.  1868,  and  was  educated  in  the  Mankato 
public  schools,  and  as  soon  as  his  education  was 
completed  he  was  taken  into  the  brewery  and  given 
a thorough  instruction  in  the  brewing  art  and  the 
general  business,  and  has  been  identified  with  its 
management  for  about  thirty  years.  In  December, 
1897,  at  Cincinnati,  Mr.  Bierbauer  married  Olga  L. 
Heimbach. 

William  C.  Bierbauer,  the  younger  of  these  two 
brothers,  was  born  at  Mankato,  February  24,  1870, 
was  graduated  from  the  Mankato  High  School  in 
1887  and  is  still  unmarried,  having  been  connected 
with  the  brewery  since  he  left  school. 

The  Bierbauer  Brewery  was  originally  a very 
small  institution  conducted  with  meager  capital, 
but  with  an  output  that  had  a standard  of  excellence 
which  popularized  it  with  a growing  trade.  At  the 
present  time  it  has  an  annual  capacity  of  10,000 
barrels,  and  nearly  all  the  product  is  sold  and  con- 
sumed in  Mankato  and  adjoining  counties.  The 
business  is  now  incorporated  with  a capital  stock  of 
$150,000,  and  is  entirely  owned  by  the  surviving 
members  of  the  family.  Rudolph  A.  Bierbauer  and 
his  brother.  Albert  G.,  are  both  charter  members 
of  the  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225  of  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  All  the  sons  are  in- 
dependent in  politics.  They  have  a large  business 
and  devote  practically  a"  their  time  and  attention 
to  its  management 

Robert  M.  Dodds.  There  is  a pleasing  consistency 
in  the  fact  that  the  chief  importer  and  breeder  of 

Vol.  Ill— 21  • 


Airedale  dogs  in  the  Northwest  is  a Scotchman. 
Dr.  Robert  M.  Dodds  is  a Scotchman  by  birth  and 
training,  with  an  ancestry  that  for  several  genera- 
tions has  been  identified  with  one  of  the  primary 
industries  of  the  land  of  the  hills  and  heather, 
sheep  herding,  and  Doctor  Dodds  holds  a degree 
of  doctor  of  veterinary  surgery  from  one  of  the 
Scotch  schools.  He  has  had  an  interesting  life, 
spent  in  many  parts  of  the  world,  has  been  a resi- 
dent of  Minnesota  more  than  thirty-five  years,  and 
while  earlier  years  were  taken  up  with  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  since  1898  he  has  given  more  and 
more  attention  to  his  industry  as  an  imported  and 
breeder  of  Airedale  dogs,  which  has  now  become 
an  important  business  and  has  served  to  advertise 
Mankato  all  over  the  Northwest. 

Robert  M.  Dodds  was  born  in  Scotland,  October 
21,  1852,  a son  of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Laidlay) 
Dodds.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  Robert 
and  Marian  (Dickman)  Dodds,  who  were  shepherds 
in  Scotland,  and  the  maternal  grandparents  were 
James  and  Janet  (Purves)  Laidlay,  Scotch  farmers. 
Robert  Dodds,  the  father,  was  born  in  Scotland  in 
June,  1808,  spent  his  life  in  his  native  land  and  was 
a land  steward  and  overseer,  and  died  in  1898.  His 
wife  was  born  in  1812  and  died  in  1864,  and  they 
were  married  in  August,  1834.  Of  their  ten  children 
only  two  are  living,  both  widely  separated,  not  only 
from  native  land,  but  from  each  other,  the  brother 
of  Doctor  Dodds,  James  Dodds,  being  a resident 
and  in  the  sheep  business  at  Melbourne,  Australia. 
The  Dodds  family  held  to  the  strict  Presbyterian 
doctrines  of  Scotch  people. 

Robert  M.  Dodds  attended  school  at  Kelso,  Scot- 
land, also  a night  school,  and  was  trained  in  the 
arts  of  veterinary  surgery  in  that  country.  He  had 
left  the  care  of  his  parents  at  the  age  of  twelve, 
and  since  then  has  been  self-suppprting  and  has  gone 
through  a great  variety  of  interesting  and  sometimes 
difficult  experience.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1878  and  located  at  Northfield,  Minnesota,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  veterinary  surgery 
until  1895.  In  that  year  he  moved  to  Mankato, 
and  has  since  relaxed  his  professional  interest  in 
favor  of  the  management  of  what  are  known  as  the 
Gopher  Kennels.  Doctor  Dodd^  was  the  first  one  to 
engage  in  the  introduction  of  the  Airedale  terriers 
into  the  Northwest,  and , now  has  a reputation  as 
the  largest  and  best  known  of  such  importers  and 
breeders.  He  has  brought  to  this  country  some  of 
the  most  famous  prize  winning  animals  of  the  Aire- 
dale breed  and  on  the  basis  of  this  imported  stock 
has  shown  his  own  individuality  and  skill  as  a 
breeder  in  producing  many  animals  that  can  only 
rank  as  superior  to  anything  in  that  special  stock 
anywhere.  No  one  breed  of  dogs  has  enjoyed  a 
more  rapid  increase  in  popular  esteem  and  favor 
than  the  Airedales.  They  have  qualities  that  make 
them  useful  not  only  to  sportsmen,  but  also  as  trust- 
worthy watch  dogs  and  house  companions,  and  com- 
bine a fidelity  and  kindliness  with  a fearlessness  and 
aggressiveness  that  on  occasions  make  them  exceed- 
ingly formidable.  Doctor  Dodds  now  ships  his  stock 
all  over  the  country,  including  Alaska  and  Canada. 

In  1880  Doctor  Dodds  married  Sophia  Simpson 
of  Northfield,  Minnesota.  _ Of  their  eight  children, 
seven  are  living.  Robert  is  a veterinary  surgeon  at 
Lake  Crystal,  Minnesota ; Alice  married  Arthur 
Eugene  Rayner  of  Seattle,  Washington:  John  is  a 
civil  engineer,  now  assistant  in  the  Agricultural 
Co'lege  at  Ames,  Iowa;  Lewis  T.  is  a veterinary 


1592 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


surgeon  and  serving  as  city  veterinarian  of  Man- 
kato, a graduate  of  the  McKillip  Veterinary  College 
of  Chicago,  and  has  been  in  practice  at  Mankato 
since  1909,  and  one  of  the  most  skillful  men  in  his 
line  in  the  state;  Everett  is  an  architect  practicing 
his  profession  in  Omaha;  Elizabeth  is  a teacher  in 
the  public  schools  at  St.  Cloud;  and  Clarence  is 
now  a student  in  Carleton  College  at  Northfield. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  Doctor  Dodds  is  affiliated  with  the 
Order  of  Good  Samaritans  and  in  politics  is  a 
republican. 

Frederick  W.  Zollman  has  been  identified  with 
the  Minnesota  bar  nearly  thirty  years,  and  his  varied 
practice  has  taken  him  into  all  the  courts  of  the  state 
and  into  many  important  cases  contested  before  them. 
He  has  seen  official  service,  is  now  serving  his  third 
term  on  the  charter  commission  of  the  City  of  St. 
Paul,  and  prior  to  1897  was  quite  prominent  in 
republican  politics. 

A native  son  of  Minnesota,  Frederick  W.  Zollman 
was  born  near  LeSueur  Center,  Minnesota,  June  1, 
i860,  the  oldest  son  of  Frederick  W.  and  Barbara 
Zollman.  His  father,  a native  of  Germany,  came 
to  the  United  States  when  a young  man,  landing  in 
New  York  City  and  spending  some  time  in  Ohio, 
after  which  he  came  to  Minnesota  as  a pioneer,  and 
for  some  years  was  a farmer  near  LeSueur  Center. 
The  family  moved  to  St.  Paul  in  1864,  where  the 
father  followed  the  business  of  a contractor  until 
his  death  in  1905. 

Mr.  Zollman  attended  the  common  schools  of  St. 
Paul  and  for  four  years  was  a student  at  North- 
western College  of  Naperville,  Illinois.  His  pre- 
ceptor in  the  study  of  law  was  John  H.  Ives,  a 
prominent  lawyer.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar 
in  1885,  Mr.  Zollman  spent  some  time  in  the  office 
of  Mr.  Ives,  but  for  many  years  has  been  in  active 
practice.  From  1897  to  1901  he  served  as  assistant 
county  attorney  of  Ramsey  County  and  now  has  his 
offices  in  the  Merchants  National  Bank  Building. 

In  1887  Mr.  Zollman  married  Miss  Elizabeth  F. 
Ives  of  Prescott,  Wisconsin.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  children,  William  Ives  and  John  Harris. 

Mr.  Zollman  takes  much  interest  in  Masonic  affairs, 
and  has  affiliations  with  Ancient  Landmark  Lodge 
No.  5,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter, 
with  Damascus  Commandery  of  the  Knights  Tem- 
plar, and  with  Osman  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
A republican,  his  interests  and  activities  have  been 
chiefly  in  behalf  of  his  friends.  For  ten  years  he 
was  a member  of  the  republican  committee.  He 
stands  high  as  a lawyer. 

Daniel  R.  Barber.  Among  the  sterling  and  hon- 
ored pioneers  who  wielded  a large  influence  in  con- 
nection with  the  civic  and  industrial  development 
of  Minneapolis,  a position  of  special  prominence 
was  that  of  the  late  Daniel  R.  Barber,  who  died 
at  his  home  in  this  city  April  17,  1886,  and  who 
from  1855  until  his  death  had  been  interested  in 
real  estate,  merchandising  and  the  milling  industry. 

Representing  a family  that  was  founded  in  New 
England  in  Colonial  days,  Daniel  R.  Barber  pos- 
sessed the  best  traditions  and  characteristics  asso- 
ciated with  the  sons  of  New  England.  His  ancestry 
included  men  of  thorough  patriotism  and  construct- 
ive achievements.  Several  of  the  name  had  fought 
in  the  various  Colonial  wars  and  also  in  the  Rev- 
olution. 


Daniel  R.  Barber  was  born  at  Benson,  Rutland 
County,  Vermont,  February  14,  1817,  and  was  sixty- 
nine  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
parents  were  Roswell  and  Amelia  (Munson)  Bar- 
ber, both  of  stanch  English  origin.  They  both  lived 
in  Vermont  until  their  death. 

Daniel  R.  Barber  had  the  average  conditions  and 
influences  of  a New  England  boy,  but  received  a 
better  education  than  the  average  at  that  period. 
He  graduated  from  Castleton  College  and  then, 
studied  law,  but  on  account  of  trouble  with  his  eyes 
gave  up  the  law  and  went  into  merchandising,  his 
father  assisting  him  to  buy  out  the  general  store 
in  his  native  village  of  Benson.  For  the  following 
ten  years  he  gave  close  attention  to  its  management, 
and  on  selling  out  had  a considerable  capital  to 
bring  with  him  when  he  sought  a newer  and  broader 
field  in  the  developing  Northwest.  In  1855  he  made 
a prospecting  trip  through  the  Northwest,  and 
selected  as  his  future  home  the  village  at  St. 
Anthony  Falls,  where  he  was  much  impressed,  as 
a New  Englander  would  naturally  be,  with  the  pos- 
sibilities of  the  great  water  power  and  the  pros- 
pects of  a splendid  city  at  that  locality.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  moved  to  Minneapolis,  and  became 
one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  real  estate  business,  being 
associated  with  Carlos  Wilcox,  another  young  man 
from  the  Green  Mountain  State.  They  tied  up 
most  of  their  capital  in  local  real  estate,  but  the 
panic  of  1857  reduced  real  estate  activity  to  a min- 
imum, and  it  was  impossible  to  realize  without 
heavy  loss  on  any  of  their  investments.  While 
waiting  for  the  springs  of  enterprise  to  rise  and 
flow  again,  Mr.  Barber  cultivated  some  of  the 
tracts  of  land  which  he  owned  near  the  village  of 
Minneapolis,  and  also  again  turned  his  attention  to 
general  merchandising.  Eventually  prosperity  re- 
turned to  the  Northwest,  and  he  realized  on  the 
faith  which  had  prompted  him  to  a generous  in- 
vestment of  his  capital  in  this  city.  In  1861  Mr. 
Barber  was  elected  one  of  the  county  commissioners, 
and  in  the  same  year  was  appointed  assessor,  an 
office  he  held  in  the  town  and  city  for  eleven  years. 

The  late  Mr.  Barber  was  one  of  the  men  who 
early  perceived  the  tremendous  opportunities  pre- 
sented by  an  inexhaustible  water  power  and  the 
rapidly  developing  grain  areas  of  the  Northwest. 
He  had  closely  watched  and  studied  the  develop- 
ment of  the  flour  milling  business,  and  finally  with- 
drew much  of  the  capital  invested  in  other  enter- 
prises in  order  to  devote  and  concentrate  his  energies 
on  the  industry  which  more  than  anything  else  has 
made  Minneapolis  famous  throughout  the  world. 
In  1871  Mr.  Barber  bought  the  Cataract  Flouring 
Mill,  the  pioneer  mill  at  the  falls.  Even  for  that 
day  he  found  it  antiquated  and  inefficient.  His 
first  step  was  to  remove  all  the  old  machinery  and 
introduce  the  newest  and  most  approved  appliances 
and  methods  known  to  the  industry.  Then  for  sev- 
eral years,  in  association  with  his  son-in-law,  J. 
Welles  Gardner,  he  operated  the  mill  to  its  utmost 
capacity  and  upon  a profitable  basis.  Mr.  Gardner 
died  in  1876,  and  Mr.  Barber’s  son,  Edwin  R.,  was 
then  admitted  to  partnership.  The  son  is  now 
president  and  treasurer  of  the  Barber  Milling  Com- 
pany of  Minneapolis.  The  joint  management  of 
the  mill  by  father  and  son  continued  until  the  death 
of  Daniel  R.  Barber  in  1886.  From  the  time  he 
acquired  the  old  Cataract  Mill  he  had  an  ambition 
to  turn  out  the  best  possible  products,  and  the  suc- 
cess of  the  business  was  largely  a result  of  this 


s' fa  % f\  C\ 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1593 


care  and  progressiveness.  The  products  of  the  Cat- 
aract Mills  were  sold  all  over  the  country,  and  the 
business  at  first  conducted  as  D.  R.  Barber  & Son 
was  finally  incorporated  as  the  Barber  Milling  Com- 
pany. Since  this  is  the  successor  of  the  old  Cat- 
aract Mill,  it  may  lay  just  claim  to  the  distinction 
of  being  the  oldest  of  the  many  flouring  milling  con- 
cerns of  Minneapolis.  The  old  Cataract  Mill  has 
undergone  frequent  changes  in  its  mechanical  equip- 
ment in  order  to  keep  the  plant  up  to  the  mosr 
approved  standard. 

The  late  Daniel  R.  Barber  was  a man  of  unas- 
suming worth  of  character,  somewhat  reserved,  but 
imbued  with  deep  human  tolerance  and  sympathy 
and  commanding  the  unqualified  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  his  business  associates  and  all  others  who 
had  appreciation  of  his  integrity  and  nobility.  He 
was  conservative  in  all  things,  his  judgment  was 
mature  and  authoritative,  his  influence  was  given 
to  the  furtherance  of  high  civic  ideals,  and  he  con- 
tributed much  to  the  social  and  material  develop- 
ment and  progress  of  the  city  which  for  more  than 
thirty  years  was  his  home.  An  earnest,  sincere, 
direct  and  stainless  life  record  was  that  of  Daniel 
R.  Barber.  Though  a republican,  he  showed  no 
aspirations  for  public  office  or  for  the  turmoil  of 
practical  politics.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Plymouth  Congregational  Church. 

In  February,  1845,  Daniel  R.  Barber  married  Miss 
Ellen  L.  Bottum  of  Orwell,  Vermont.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  children : Julia  B.,  who  was 
first  the  wife  of  J.  Welles  Gardner,  who  died  in 
1876,  and  in  1888  she  married  Maj.  John  Bigelow 
of  Minneapolis.  She  died  September  3,  1911.  Edwin 
R.  is  president  of  the  Barber  Milling  Company. 
Mrs.  Daniel  R.  Barber  died  January  3,  1903. 

Edwin  Roswell  Barber.  President  of  the  Bar- 
ber Milling  Company,  with  the  management  of 
which  he  became  associated  with  his  father,  the 
late  Daniel  R.  Barber,  nearly  forty  years  ago,  Edwin 
R.  Barber  was  born  at  Benson,  Rutland  County, 
Vermont,  November  22,  1852.  He  was  four  years 
of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  St.  Anthony  Falls, 
and  his  early  education  came  from  the  public  schools 
and  from  the  University  of  Minnesota,  leaving  col- 
lege before  graduation.  Mr.  Barber  was  old  enough 
to  appreciate  the  early  pioneer  surroundings  of  St. 
Anthony  Falls,  and  recalls  the  fact  that  as  a boy 
he  shot  partridges  where  the  West  Hotel  now  stands, 
and  remembers  when  the  site  of  the  Milwaukee 
depot  was  practically  a bog.  After  a course  in  a 
business  college  Mr.  Barber  had  some  practical  ex- 
perience in  business  in  the  office  of  Gardner,  Pills- 
bury  & Crocker  in  one  of  the  mills  now  operated 
by  the  Washburn-Crosby  Company,  then  entered  the 
office  of  Gardner  & Barber,  the  latter  his  father, 
this  being  the  firm  engaged  in  the  operation  of  the 
old  pioneer  Cataract  Mill. 

Mr.  Barber  became  identified  with  the  Cataract 
Mill  on  May  1,  1871,  the  same  year  that  his  father 
had  bought  the  plant  and  from  pne  responsibility 
to  another  has  risen  to  president  of  the  business. 
The  old  Cataract  Mill  was  founded  in  1859,  and  the 
Barber  Milling  Company  therefore  has  a contin- 
uous history  of  sixty-five  years.  The  business  was 
incorporated  under  its  present  title  in  1896.  This 
name  is  now  known  all  over  the  Northwest,  and 
the  products  of  the  mill  are  sold  in  almost  every 
country  of  the  world. 

Mr.  Barber  is  a republican,  but  is  more  interested 


in  the  real  public  welfare  and  in  good  government 
than  in  party  successes.  As  to  his  connection  with 
civic  affairs  a recent  publication  said : “Mr.  Bar- 

ber is  modest  about  what  he  has  done  to  aid  m 
building  up  and  improving  the  city  of  his  home. 
But  it  is  only  just  to  him  to  record  that  he  was 
one  of  the  liberal  contributors  for  the  purchase 
of  the  site  of  the  old  Chamber  of  Commerce 
Building  and  the  post  office  site,  and  one  of  the 
most ..  effective  promoters  of  the  Minneapolis  In- 
dustrial Exposition  and  the  erection  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  building,  Westminster 
Presbyterian  Church  and  the  Lake  Street  Bridge. 
In  connection  with  the  enterprise  last  named  he 
joined  with  others  in  paying  the  interest  on  the 
bonds  issued  for  the  construction  of  the  bridge  for 
three  years  in  advance,  Hennepin  County  at  the 
time  having  insufficient  resources  to  assume  any 
more  interest-bearing  obligations.  His  public  spirit 
in  these  undertakings  is  expressive  of  his  real 
character  and  clearly  indicates  the  value  of  his 
citizenship.” 

Mr.  Barber  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  of  the  Minneapolis,  the  Minikahda, 
Lafayette  and  Automobile  clubs,  and  of  the  Minne- 
apolis Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  has  many  times 
worked  in  the  spirit  of  friendly  co-operation  and 
interest  with  movements  undertaken  for  the  ben- 
efit of  his  city.  On  October  1,  1873,  Mr.  Barber 
married  Miss  Hattie  S.  Sidle,  daughter  of  Henry 
G.  Sidle,  a Minneapolis  banker  whose  career  is 
sketched  elsewhere.  Their  children  are : Henry  S., 
secretary  of  the  Barber  Milling  Company;  Kath- 
arine S. ; Edwin  Roswell,  Jr„  cashier  of  the  Bar- 
ber Milling  Company,  and  Nellie  L.,  who  was  born 
in  1882  and  died  December  28,  1888. 

Henry  Godfrey  Sidle.  The  First  National  Bank 
of  Minneapolis  is  a great  bank,  with  prestige,  age, 
influence  and  solid  integrity.  It  is  a fine  monument 
to  the  business  power  of  the  city,  and  is  also  a mon- 
ument to  those  sagacious  and  enterprising  men  who 
founded  the  original  institution  more  than  half  a 
century  ago,  and  who  for  many  years  were  primarily 
concerned  with  the  active  direction  and  manage- 
ment of  the  bank’s  interests  and  resources.  The 
history  of  this  bank  will  always  be  closely  associated 
with  the  name  Sidle,  primarily  with  the  late  Jacob 
K.  Sidle,  and  also  with  his  brother,  Henry  G.  Sidle, 
who  succeeded  the  former  as  president  when  Jacob 
died  in  1888.  The  Sidle  family  has  since  pioneer 
times  had  many  important  relations  with  the  City 
of  Minneapolis. 

The  late  Henry  Godfrey  Sidle  was  born  in  York, 
Pennsylvania,  July  22,  1822,  and  died  in  Minneapolis, 
August  29,  1898.  He  was  the  youngest  of  three 
sons  born  to  Henry  and  Susanna  H.  (Kootz)  Sidle, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Ger- 
man ancestry.  The  great-grandfather,  Godfrey 
Sidle,  for  whom  the  late  Minneapolis  banker  was 
named,  was  a native  of  Hamburg,  Germany,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  the  early  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  The  grandfather  saw  active 
service  with  the  American  army  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  The  Sidles  were,  as  a rule,  hotel  and 
store  people,  and  of  that  hard  working  and  thrifty 
class  who  did  so  much  for  the  development  of 
American  resources  in  the  early  days,  and  who 
in  many  cases  established  fortunes  for  their  descend- 
ants. Henry  Sidle,  the  father,  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith,  but  afterwards  became  a merchant  and 


1594 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


hotel  proprietor,  and  in  those  pursuits  trained  his 
two  sons,  Jacob  and  Henry  G.,  and  with  advancing 
age  finally  turned  over  the  store  in  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  them,  and  they  conducted  it  together  for 
about  seventeen  years. 

Henry  G.  Sidle  had  the  advantages  given  to 
sons  of  thrifty  families  in  the  public  schools  of 
York,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  was  taken  into 
the  store  and  in  a short  time  had  mastered  mer- 
cantile details.  He  was  one  of  the  clerks  in  the 
business  for  eleven  years,  and  the  father  then 
turned  the  concern  over  to  the  two  sons,  who  man- 
aged it  jointly.  They  had  a large  and  prosperous 
trade,  and  enjoyed  to  the  full  extent  the  confidence 
of  the  community  where  they  had  grown  up.  In 
the  meantime  both  brothers  had  been  looking  abroad 
for  larger  opportunities,  and  in  1857  Jacob  K.  Sidle 
made  a tour  of  the  West  and  determined  that  Ihe 
little  City  of  Minneapolis  possessed  the  possibilities 
of  growth  and  development  best  suited  to  his  own 
purposes.  Associated  with  him  in  his  enterprise 
was  Peter  Wolford,  a wealthy  capitalist  of  York 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Under  the  firm  name  of  Sidle, 
Wolford  & Co.  they  opened  a private  banking 
house  at  Minneapolis,  and  as  soon  as  the  Nicollet 
House  was  completed  the  firm  took  an  office  on  the 
ground  floor  of  the  building.  Their  bank  fronted 
Washington  Avenue. 

In  the  meantime,  while  the  private  banking  firm 
were  getting  established  and  building  up  a business 
based  on  integrity  and  confidence,  Henry  G.  Sidle 
continued  to  conduct  the  store  at  York,  though  from 
the  first  he  had  a financial  interest  in  the  banking 
house  at  Minneapolis.  In  1858  he  paid  a visit  to 
Minneapolis,  and  while  favorably  impressed,  decided 
that  the  time  had  not  yet  come  to  relinquish  a pros- 
perous business  until  the  new  enterprise  had  dem- 
onstrated all  that  was  expected  of  it.  This  dem- 
onstration was  not  long  in  coming,  and  in  1863  the 
business  in  Pennsylvania  was  sold  and  Henry  G. 
Sidle  joined  his  brother  Jacob  in  Minneapolis  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  banking  firm.  About 
that  time  the  private  firm  of  Sidle,  Wolford  & Co. 
was  dissolved,  Mr.  Wolford  turning  his  attention 
to  other  lines,  while  the  Sidle  brothers  organized  a 
bank  under  a state  charter,  named  the  Minneapolis 
Bank,  with  capital  stock  of  $50,000.  Under  state 
charter  this  bank  had  the  authority  to  issue  circulat- 
ing notes,  and  also  carry  on  the  regular  banking 
functions  of  deposit,  discount  and  circulation.  Jacob 
Sidle  was  president  and  Henry  G.  was  cashier. 
Soon  afterward  the  national  banking  system  was 
extended  over  the  United  States,  one  of  the  features 
of  which  taxed  the  circulating  notes  of  state  banks 
out  of  existence.  Owing  to  the  changed  conditions 
resulting  from  this  measure,  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Minneapolis  was  organized  in  1865,  and  was 
the  second  bank  northwest  of  Chicago  to  come 
under  the  new  national  banking  law.  The  business 
of  the  Minneapolis  Bank  was  then  transferred  to 
the  new  institution.  It  was  really  only  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  old  bank  under  a new  name,  with 
the  same  capital,  officers  and  business.  As  to  the 
continued  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  its  suc- 
cessive increases  of  stock,  first  to  $100,000,  then  to 
$400,000,  later  to  $600,000,  and  finally,  in  1879,  to 
$1,000,000  of  capital.  Few  banks  in  the  West  have 
enjoyed  such  a tremendous  growth,  and  the  affairs 
of  none  have  been  managed  with  more  consummate 
ability  and  with  a better  adjustment  between  con- 


servatism and  a helpful  co-operation  with  legitimate 
business  interests.  The  Sidle  brothers,  as  the  lead- 
ing factors  in  the  bank,  strictly  adhered  to  a policy 
of  never  speculating  or  engaging  in  outside  opera- 
tions except  for  the  investment  of  surplus  capital. 
After  the  death  of  Jacob  K.  Sidle,  who  had  been 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  since  organ- 
ization until  1888,  the  board  of  directors  unan- 
imously chose  Henry  G.  Sidle  as  president,  and  he 
continued  to  occupy  that  high  position  in  Minnesota 
finance  until  shortly  before  his  death. 

John  E.  Regan.  In  the  course  of  half  a dozen 
years  John  E.  Regan  has  built  up  a good  practice 
as  a lawyer  at  Mankato,  and  is  well  known  as  one 
of  the  vigorous  young  leaders  in  local  affairs  and  in 
the  democratic  party.  In  early  manhood  he  was  a 
telegraph  operator,  and  while  handling  the  key 
determined  to  fit  himself  for  another  profession,  and 
began  studying  law  at  night.  Mr.  Regan  represents 
some  of  the  old  and  prominent  names  in  the  frontier 
and  pioneer  life  of  the  Northwest. 

John  E.  Regan  was  born  at  Mendota,  Minnesota, 
’October  18,  1883.  He  is  the  son  of  Timothy  and 
Ellen  (Kennedy)  Regan.  The  Regan  family  in 
America  dates  back  before  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  some  of  its  members  participated  in  that  strug- 
gle for  independence.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
William  Regan,  was  reared  in  Massachusetts,  moved 
with  his  wife  and  seven  children  to  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, and  in  one  of  the  terrible  scourges  of  cholera 
which  visited  that  city  his  entire  family  was  swept 
away  with  the  exception  of  himself  and  his  son 
Timothy.  He  afterwards  moved  out  to  Mendota, 
Minnesota,  and  then  to  Butte,  Montana,  and  became 
one  of  the  wealthy  men  in  'that  mining  district. 
He  died  in  Montana.  The  mother’s  family,  the 
Kennedys,  is  one  of  those  that  find  mention  in  some 
of  the  earliest  annals  of  Minnesota.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  John  Kennedy,  who  was  born  in  Ireland, 
came  to  Minnesota  during  the  decade  of  the  ’40s, 
about  ten  years  before  Minnesota  Territory  was 
transformed  into  a state.  His  settlement  was  near 
Pine  Bend  at  the  old  town  which  is  usually  regarded 
as  the  first  center  of  population  and  settlement  in 
Minnesota  and  which  has  long  since  passed  out  of 
local  geography.  Several  members  of  the  Kennedy 
family  came  from  Ireland,  some  of  them  settling 
in  Maine,  some  in  New  York,  while  John  Kennedy, 
with  three  brothers,  located  in  Minnesota.  He  took 
up  a homestead  from  the  Government  and  was  still 
its  owner  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  Kennedy 
family  lived  in  Minnesota  during  the  times  of 
Indian  troubles,  and  were  exposed  to  many  of  the 
early  Indian  raids. 

Timothy  Regan  was  born  at  Quincy,  Massachu- 
setts, in  August,  1847,  and  died  in  1884.  His  wife 
was  born  in  Rich  Valley,  Minnesota,  in  1852,  and 
is  now  living  at  St.  Paul.  They  were  married  at 
Mendota,  January  25,  1875,  and  of  their  two  children 
the  son  William  is  now  living  in  St.  Paul.  Both 
parents  were  Catholics,  and  Timothy  Regan  was  a 
democrat.  He  served  as  deputy  sheriff  in  Dakota 
County  one  term.  He  had  an  interesting  experience 
as  a soldier  in  the  Northwest.  August  31,  1864, 
b°  enlisted  at  Fort  Snelling  and  was  sent  to  the  old 
Benton  Barracks  in  Company  G of  the  Fortieth 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  continued  in  service  till  the 
close  of  the  war.  Among  other  engagements  he  was 
at  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and  also 
was  present  on  March  27,  1865,  at  the  capture  of 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1595 


Spanish  Fort  on  Mobile  Bay.  He  was  once  wounded 
during  the  war.  When  his  command  was  mustered 
out  he  was  not  yet  satisfied  with  his  military  career, 
and  in  1869  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  for  five 
years,  being  in  Company  F of  the  Twentieth  United 
States  Infantry.  He  was  discharged  from  service 
in  1874  at  old  Fort  Pembina  in  Dakota  Territory, 
close  up  to  the  Canadian  line.  He  then  came  to 
Minnesota  and  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at 
Mendota  until  his  death. 

John  E.  Regan  spent  most  of  his  youth  in  Men- 
dota, attended  the  public  schools  there,  but  after 
completing  the  fifth  grade  went  to  St.  Paul  and 
spent  one  year  in  the  Cretin  High  School  of  that 
city.  He  learned  telegraphy,  and  then  spent  six 
years  as  a telegraph  operator  in  different  offices. 
While  in  that  work  he  spent  one  year  of  night  study 
at  law,  and  then  entered  the  St.  Paul  College  of 
Law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1908.  Mr. 
Regan  practiced  for  one  year  at  Balaton,  Minnesota, 
and  then  moved  to  Mankato  in  November,  1909. 
But  his  time  is  more  and  more  engaged  for  his 
professional  services. 

In  1908  Mr.  Regan  married  Mary  J.  Martin, 
daughter  of  John  Martin  of  Marshall,  Minnesota. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children.  John  and 
• Robert  are  both  in  school  and  the  daughter  is  Mary 
Patricia.  Mrs.  Regan  is  a descendant  on  her  father’s 
side  from  Edmund  Burke,  the  great  Irish  states- 
man. Her  mother  was  a native  of  Holland,  and 
her  maternal  grandfather  was  a burgomaster  in 
one  of  the  Dutch  cities. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Regan  are  both  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus. 

Since  casting  his  first  vote  he  has  been  active  in 

democratic  politics  and  has  served  as  secretary  of 

the  county  committee  and  also,  as  a delegate  to 

numerous  conventions. 

Frank  W.  Bates.  Among  the  officials  of  Man- 
kato who,  through  efficient  service  and  close  devo- 
tion to  the  duties  of  office  are  contributing  to  the 
city’s  welfare,  is  found  Frank  W.  Bates,  who  is 
serving  in  the  capacity  of  city  clerk.  Mr.  Bates  was 
born  at  Clayton,  Faribault  County,  Minnesota,  April 
26,  1873,  and  is  a son  of  George  B.  and  Mary  M. 
(Hu'.bert)  Bates. 

George  B.  Bates  was  born  at  Goshen,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1838,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  as  a 
farmer.  He  was  still  a young  man  when  he  came 
West,  locating  in  Faribault  County,  Minnesota, 
where  he  took  up  land  and  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  In  1883  he  gave  up  farming  operations 
and  moved  to  Wells,.  Minnesota,  where  he  became 
identified  with  railroad  work,  and  so  continued  until 
1900,  and  since  that  year  has  lived  in  quiet  retire- 
ment, his  many  years  of  faithful  and  industrious 
labor  having  gained  for  him  a satisfying  competence. 
Mr.  Bates  is  a republican  in  politics,  but  has  not 
taken  a particularly  active  part  in  public  affairs. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Baptist  Church, 
to  which  Mrs.  Bates  also  belongs.  Mr.  Bates  was 
married  in  Hardin  County,  Iowa,  in  1845,  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Hulbert,  who  was  born  in  1845,  at  Mead- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  have  had  four  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living : Mrs.  J.  W.  Foster,  wife 

of  a stock  buyer  of  Bricelyn,  Minnesota;  Mrs.  W.  B. 
Chittenden,  who  lives  with  her  daughter  at  Wyom- 
ing, Minnesota;  Frank  W.,  of  this  review;  and  R. 
W.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  dry  cleaning  business  at 
Mankato. 


Frank  W.  Bates  received  his  education  in  the 
graded  and  high  schools  at  Wells,  following  his 
graduation  from  the  latter  of  which  he  entered  a 
business  college,  thus  fitting  himself  for  a commer- 
cial career.  He  subsequently  took  up  accounting,  at 
which  he  worked  in  various  offices  until  1911,  when 
he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  Municipal  Court,  and 
was  subsequently  elected  city  clerk  of  Mankato, 
which  office  he  still  holds.  In  1914  Mr.  Bates 
became  a candidate  for  the  office  of  clerk  of  the 
District  Court  and  made  a strong  race,  but  was 
defeated  by  the  narrow  margin  of  less  than  one 
hundred  votes.  Mr.  Bates  has  now  become  thor- 
oughly identified  with  and  a potent  factor  in  the 
republican  party  councils  in  Mankato.  If  fealty  to 
party,  loyalty  to  political  friends,  unwavering  integ- 
rity in  the  fulfillment  of  every  trust,  untiring  per- 
sonal effort,  and  a wise  and  efficient  administration 
of  all  the  affairs  of  his  office  constitute  any  just 
foundation  of  merit,  then  the  political  future  of 
Mr.  Bates  should  hold  much  in  store  for  him. 

Mr.  Bates  is  widely  known  in  fraternal  circles. 
He  is  present  exalted  ruler  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks;  has  passed'  through  the 
chairs  of  the  Royal  Arcanum ; has  passed  through 
the  chairs  of  the  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  Masonry,  and 
is  at  present  secretary  of  the  former ; is  a member 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  is 
worthy  patron  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
of  which  .Mrs.  Bates  is  also  a member.  They  are 
faithful  members  and  liberal  supporters  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

On  June  16,  1903,  Mr.  Bates  was  married  to  Miss 
Myrtle  Stillings,  of  Windom,  Minnesota,  and  they 
have  three  children:  Lowell,  born  in  1904;  Donald, 
born  in  1910;  and  Helen,  born  in  1913. 

Hon.  Henry  Moll.  In  the  person  of  Judge  Henry 
Moll,  who  has  served  so  long  and  so  ably  on  the 
probate  bench,  is  linked  the  St.  Peter  of  the  past 
and  the  present.  He  has  given  his  strength,  mind, 
heart  and  soul  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  community 
from  the  period  of  his  early  manhood,  has  assisted 
in  laying  its  material  foundation  broad  and  deep, 
and  at  the  same  time  has  given  his  best  efforts 
toward  the  establishment  of  an  honest  public  ad- 
ministration. His  eminence  as  a judge  is  not  based 
on  celebrated  cases,  but  has  grown  out  of  the  long 
judicial  service  in  which  his  character  and  methods 
have  become  positive  features  of  the  court  over 
which  he  presides. 

Born  February  13,  1848,  at  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, Judge  Moll  is  a son  of  Emanuel  and 
Henrietta  (Miller)  Moll,  the  former  a native  of 
Switzerland  and  the  latter  of  Germany.  The  father 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1846  and  located  at 
Philade’phia,  where  he  found  employment  at  his 
trade  of  harness-making,  but  after  five  years  re- 
moved to  Mount  Eaton.  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  continued  to  follow  his  vocation  for  nine 
years.  Coming  to  Ottawa,  Minnesota,  in  i860,  Mr. 
Moll  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
in  which  he  engaged  until  1871,  and  at  that  time 
located  permanently  at  St.  Peter,  where  for  ten 
years  he  was  engaged  in  following  his  trade,  and 
then  retired  from  active  life  and  lived  quietly  until 
his  death  in  1892,  Mrs.  Moll  following  him  to  the 
grave  in  1893.  Mr.  Moll  was  a man  of  quiet,  retiring 
disposition,  and  a reputable  and  honorable  citizen 
in  every  sense,  and  he  and  Mrs.  Moll  were  long 
devout  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Of  their 
four  children,  Judge  Moll  is  the  only  survivor. 


1596 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Henry  Moll  secured  a meagre  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  various  localities  in  which  his 
parents  made  their  home,  and  on  coming  to  St. 
Peter  entered  upon  his  business  career  as  a clerk 
with  F.  A.  Donahowen,  in  the  dry  goods  business. 
After  five  years  of  experience  he  formed  a partner- 
ship with  C.  R.  Davis  and  for  one  year  conducted 
a grocery  store  under  the  firm  style  of  Davis  & 
Moll.  When  this  was  discontinued,  Mr.  Moll  was 
employed  by  A.  G.  Miller  & Company  in  the  hard- 
ware and  agricultural  implement  business  for  five 
years,  succeeding  which  he  joined  his  father  in  the 
harness  and  saddlery  business  until  1881,  when  the 
establishment  was  sold.  In  that  same  year  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Nicollet  County,  an  office  which  he 
held  from  1881  until  1887,  when  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  book  and  stationery  business,  continuing 
therein  with  some  success  for  eighteen  years.  In 
1892  Mr.  Moll  became  the  republican  party’s  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  mayor  of  St.  Peter,  to  which 
he  was  elected,  and  his  administration  of  two  years 
was  marked  by  much  progress  and  many  civic  re- 
forms. In  1902  he  received  the  appointment  from 
Judge  Van  Zant  as  judge  of  the  Probate  Court, 
an  office  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1902  and  which 
he  still  continues  to  fill  with  the  greatest  ability. 

Judge  Moll  has  long  been  connected  with  enter- 
prises and  movements  calculated  to  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  his  adopted  city.  With  the  late  Governor 
Johnson,  who  was  his  personal  friend,  Judge  Moll 
organized  the  Nicollet  Agricultural  Society,  and  for 
seventeen  years  they  were  associated  in  promoting 
county  fairs  with  the  best  exhibits  of  their  kind  in 
the  state,  with  the  exception  of  the  state  fair. 
Governor  Johnson  reposed  much  confidence  in  Judge 
Moll's  judgment  and  frequently  consulted  him  upon 
matters  of  importance  bearing  upon  his  city  and 
county.  During  the  past  twenty-five  years  the  judge 
has  been  president  of  Woodlawn  Cemetery,  to  the 
management  and  interests  of  which  he  has  given 
his  close  thought  and  conscientious  energies.  For 
a number  of  years  he  was  one  of  the  standard 
bearers  of  the  republican  party  in  Nicollet  County, 
took  an  active  part  in  all  campaigns  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  republican  county  committee  for  several 
years,  but  at  the  present  time  is  a non-partisan. 
He  was  interested  in  the  election  of  W.  D.  Wash- 
burn when  he  was  made  senator  by  the  vote  of  the 
people,  always  having  a great  admiration  for  the 
senator,  whom  he  deemed  eminently  worthy  to  be 
entrusted  with  the  responsibilities  of  high  office. 
Fraternally  Judge  Moll  is  connected  with  St.  Peter 
Lodge  No.  54,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  the 
oldest  living  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  St.  Peter,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  for 
a period  of  thirty  years,  and  is  now  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

On  June  12,  T873,  Judge  Moll  was  married  to  Miss 
Isabel!  A.  Dunning,  a daughter  of  Samuel  Dunning 
and  a descendant  of  Paris  C.  Dunning,  of  Gosport, 
Owen  County,  Indiana,  one  of  the  Hoosier  State’s 
silvery-tongued  orators  and  leading  attorneys.  One 
child  has  been  born  to  this  union : Clare  Dunning 
Moll,  born  January  28,  1878,  and  now  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  St.  Peter. 

John  C.  Noj:.  As  an  active  member  of  the  Man- 
kato bar  during  the  greater  part  of  the  past  forty- 
one  years,  John  C.  Noe  wields  an  influence  that 


only  men  of  more  than  ordinary  strength  of  char- 
acter and  power  can  exercise  in  such  a stirring 
community.  He  came  to  this  city  from  the  East, 
casting  in  his  hopes  and  ambitions  with  those  of 
a growing  locality,  and  has  lived  to  see  it  grow 
and  develop  in  importance,  and  to  share  in  the 
prosperity  which  has  come  to  it. 

Mr.  Noe  was  born  at  Newburgh,  Orange  County, 
New  York,  May  2,  1844,  and  is  a son  of  Albert 
and  Phoebe  Ann  (Marsh)  Noe.  The  family  origi- 
nated in  France  and  its  members  were  Huguenots, 
and  October  22,  1685,  when  Louis  XVI  revoked 
the  edict  of  Nantes,  they  fled  with  others  to  Eng- 
land, from  whence  they  made  their  way  to  the 
shores  of  America.  John  Clark  Noe,  the  grand- 
father of  John  C.  Noe,  was  a resident  of  Rahway, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  throughout  his  life.  On  his  farm  was 
born  his  son,  Albert  Noe,  who  in  early  life  adopted 
the  vocation  of  his  father,  but  later  moved  to 
Newburgh,  Orange  County,  New  York,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  grocery  business,  in  which  he 
won  a full  measure  of  success,  by  reason  of  his 
business  ability  and  straightforward  policies.  A 
republican  in  his  political  views,  he  took  an  active 
part  in  the  movements  of  his  party,  and  attained 
a high  position  in  his  community,  being  frequently 
called  upon  to  act  in  official  positions  and  serving  as 
supervisor  and  assessor  of  his  township,  and  as 
United  States  revenue  assessor.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  did  not  participate  actively  as  a soldier, 
but  was  a strong  Union  man,  and  in  numerous  ways 
assisted  the  cause  of  the  North.  Fraternally,  Mr. 
Noe  was  identified  with  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  his  religious  connection  was  with  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Noe  was  married 
at  Newburgh,  New  York,  to  Miss  Phoebe  Ann 
Marsh,  who  was  born  at  that  place,  a daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Johanna  Marsh,  natives  of  England. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noe, 
of  whom  two  are  living:  John  C.,  of  this  review, 

and  Emma,  who  is  now  living  at  Westfield,  New 
Jersey. 

John  C.  Noe  received  his  early  education  at  New- 
burgh (New  York)  Academy,  after  leaving  which 
he  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  his  chosen 
profession,  and  for  several  years  read  law  in  the 
office  of  a relative.  Admitted  to  the  bar  about 
1865,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  he  returned  to 
Newburgh  and  established  himself  in  practice,  but 
after  about  four  or  five  years  decided  to  move 
West,  and  accordingly  made  his  way  to  Winona, 
Minnesota,  where  he  remained  about  six  months. 
At  the  end  of  that  period  Mr.  Noe  came  to  Mankato, 
and  this  city  has  continued  to  be  his  home  and 
field  of  labor  to  the  present  time.  For  a number 
of  years  Mr.  Noe  did  a large  loan  business  for 
eastern  clients,  but  at  this  time  devotes  himself 
to  an  office  practice  and  probate  business.  Mr. 
„ Noe  has  an  excellent  record  for  success  won  with 
honor  and  without  animosity,  and  in  the  ranl«  of 
his  professional  brethren  in  the  various  organiza- 
tions of  his  calling  to  which  he  belongs  he  is  held 
in  the  highest  regard. 

Mr.  Noe  was  married  June  23,  1868,  to  Miss  Anna 
Chandler,  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  County,  New  York. 
In  1912  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noe  made  a trip  to  California, 
intending  to  make  that  state  their  future  home, 
but  after  a short  stay  in  the  Golden  _ State  they 
returned  to  Mankato,  satisfied  that  this  was  the 
place  in  which  they  should  spend  the  balance  of 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1597 


their  lives.  In  the  month  of  March,  1915,  Mrs. 
Noe  departed  this  life  after  an  illness  of  upwards 
of  thirty  years.  Mr.  Noe  is  a republican  in  politics, 
but  his  public  labors  have  been  confined  to  positions 
of  appointment  only,  having  never  come  before  the 
public  as  a candidate  for  any  office. 

Hon.  Franklin  F.  Ellsworth.  In  November, 
1914,  the  citizens  of  the  district  comprising  Mankato 
elected  to  Congress  a prominent  young  lawyer  of 
Mankato,  Franklin  F.  Ellsworth.  Mr.  Ellsworth 
becomes  one  of  the  members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  but  has  had  a long  and  varied  ex- 
perience in  politics,  and  gives  every  promise  of 
great  usefulness,  both  during  the  immediate  term 
and  in  the  coming  years,  when  his  powers  shall 
have  fully  matured. 

Franklin  F.  Ellsworth  was  born  in  Watonwan 
County,  Minnesota,  July  10,  1879,  being  a son  of 
Clinton  and  Louisa  (Manning)  Ellsworth.  His 
father  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine  in  1848, 
a son  of  Charles  Ellsworth,  who  came  from  Frank- 
lin County,  Maine,  to  Monticello,  Wisconsin,  and 
died  there.  The  mother  was  born  in  Canada  in  1856, 
a daughter  of  Nelson  H.  Manning,  who  was  born  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  located  in  Minnesota 
prior  to  the  Civil  war.  He  served  as  a first  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Cleveland  Guards,  being  subsequently 
transferred  to  Company  K of  the  Seventh  Minnesota 
Infantry,  and  was  in  the  Union  army  almost  from 
the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  war.  Later  he 
became  a member  of  the  State  Legislature,  being 
elected  from  Cottonwood  County.  Congressman 
Ellsworth’s  parents  were'  married  at  St.  James, 
Minnesota,  and  still  live  in  that  city.  The  father 
came  to  Minnesota  in  1871,  settling  at  St.  James, 
where  he  is  now  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  and  for  fifteen  years  has  been  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business.  He  has  had  an  active 
career,  having  served  in  Company  K of  the  Forty- 
sixth  Wisconsin  Infantry  in  the  closing  months  of 
the  Civil  war,  and  afterwards  for  about  twenty-six 
years  as  a railway  engineer.  He  is  a member  of  the 
lodge,  chapter  and  Knight  Templar  commandery 
of  Masonry,  having  served  as  master  and  high 
priest,  and  is  active  in  the  Grand  Army  Post.  In 
politics  a republican,  he  served  as  mayor  of  St. 
James  and  also  as  president  of  the  school  board, 
and  his  church  is  the  Presbyterian.  There  were 
two  children  : Franklin  F.  and  Stanley  F. 

Franklin  F.  Ellsworth  received  his  early  education 
in  the  St.  James  public  schools,  graduating  from 
high  school  in  1897,  took  the  freshman  and  sopho- 
more years  in  the.  University  of  Minnesota,  and  in 
1901  was  graduated  in  law.  He  began  his  practice 
at  St.  James,  where  he  continued  until  November, 
1910.  Since  then  his  home  has  been  in  Mankato. 
His  partner  at  Mankato  is  William  F.  Hughes, 
and  they  practice  under  the  name  of  Hughes  & 
Ellsworth  and  have  a large  general  clientage. 

On  July  27,  1902,  Mr.  Ellsworth  married  Lurline 
Mae  Bader  of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Ellsworth  is  affili- 
ated with  the  Masonic  order  in  Libanus  Lodge  No. 
96,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; with  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225, 
B.  P.  O.  E.;  is  a past  master  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  LTnited  Workmen;  a past  consul  of  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World,  having  affiliation  with  Blue  Earth 
Camp  No.  730;  is  a member  of  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles ; is  a past  chancellor  in  Mankato  Lodge 
No.  36,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  in  1909-1910  was 
past  grand  chancellor  of  the  State  of  Minnesota. 


He  is  also  a member  of  the  St.  James  and  Mankato 
Commercial  Clubs,  and  his  college  fraternity  was 
the  Phi  Gamma  Delta. 

A republican,  Mr.  Ellsworth  has  become  especially 
well  known  in  the  political  field  and  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  ablest  debaters  and  most  forceful  orators 
in  the  state.  He  served  as  county  attorney  of 
Watonwan  County,  and  city  attorney  of  St.  James, 
holding  each  office  for  two  terms.  His  first  political 
speech  was  made  in  1898  at  New  Ulm,  when  Com- 
pany H,  with  which  he  had  served  during  the 
Spanish-American  war,  was  mustered  out.  For  the 
past  fourteen  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  every 
state  campaign.  He  announced  his  candidacy  for 
Congress  in  October,  1909,  being  opposed  by  the 
late  C.  C.  Dinehart,  who  at  that  time  was  state 
treasurer.  Mr.  Dinehart’s  death  occurred  in  June, 
after  which  Albert  L.  Ward,  of  Fairmont,  became 
a candidate  and  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Ellsworth  by 
265  votes.  In  the  general  election  of  1910  Mr. 
Ellsworth  was  defeated  by  W.  S.  Hammond,  the 
present  governor  of  the  state.  In  1912  Mr.  Ellsworth 
received  the  nomination  for  Congress  a second  time, 
but  was  again  defeated  by  Mr.  Hammond.  In  1914 
he  again  became  a candidate,  his  rival  for  the 
nomination  being  Hon.  Julius  E.  Haycroft,  then  a 
state  senator  of  Madelia.  He  won  the  primary 
contest,  and  in  the  general  election  contested  the 
field  with  Gene  A.  Flittie,  the  democratic  nominee, 
and  defeated  him  by  8,128  votes,  and  is  now  serving 
his  first  time  in  the  Sixty-fourth  Congress.  For  two 
seasons  he  delivered  lectures  for  the  Wright  Bureau 
of  St.  Louis  and  has  appeared  on  platforms  in 
North  and  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin. 

Merrill  C.  Tifft.  In  the  general  field  of  law,  as 
also  in  his  specialty  of  insurance  law,  one  of  the 
prominent  practitioners  at  the  bar  of  Minnesota  is 
Merrill  C.  Tifft,  who  since  1906  has  been  engaged 
in  practice  in  Minneapolis.  He  has  fairly  earned 
his  position  in  the  law,  since  he  has  for  many 
years  been  not  only  an  earnest  student  of  its  gen- 
eral principles,  but  also  for  his  persistent  and  well- 
rewarded  research  into  the  details  of  his  specialty. 
During  more  than  a quarter  of  a century  of  prac- 
tice he  has  been  a faithful  conserver  of  all  the  inter- 
ests confided  to  his  care  and  fine  judgment,  and  his 
entire  professional  career  has  been  one  that  has 
earned  him  the  highest  commendation  by  his  fel- 
low members  of  the  bar. 

An  Illinoisan  by  nativity,  Merrill  C.  Tifft  was 
born  in  Sycamore,  April  23,  1865,  a son  of  Samuel 
L.  and  Charlotte  A.  (Selts)  Tifft.  The  father,  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire,  came  to  Illinois  as  a 
young  man  in  1842  and  took  up  government  land 
in  DeKalb  County,  establishing  himself  on  a farm 
of  120  acres  when  but  eighteen  years  of  age.  He 
was  a man  of  industry  and  enterprise,  and  his  ener- 
getic operations  resulted  in  the  accumulation  of 
large  tracts  of  land,  so  that  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  owned  200  acres  in  DeKalb  County,  600 
acres  in  McLeod  County,  Minnesota,  and  160  acres 
in  North  Dakota,  it  always  being  his  ambition  to 
give  a good  farm  to  each  of  his  children.  There 
were  -five  sons  and  three  daughters  in  his  family, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  grow  to  maturity:  John  S. 
and  Libby  M.,  who  are  now  deceased;  Alberto  P., 
who  resides  in  Alberta,  Canada;  Hattie,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  H.  J.  Zierke,  of  Hutchinson,  Minnesota ; 
Merrill  C.  and  his  twin  brother,  Cyril  M.,  the  latter 


1598 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


a resident  of  Glencoe,  Minnesota;  Mrs.  Marcia  L. 
Rebstock,  who  is  now  deceased;  and  Wallace  L.,  of 
Glencoe,  all  the  children  having  been  born  in  Illi- 
nois. Mrs.  Tifft,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  went  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in 
young  womanhood,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Tifft  in 
the  present  City  of  Sycamore. 

The  earlier  steps  of  Merrill  C.  Tifft’s  education 
were  taken  in  the  public  schools  of  Hutchinson, 
Minnesota,  where  he  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  in  the  class  of  1885,  and  after  making  con- 
siderable progress  through  private  readings  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
wherq  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws 
in  1888.  In  that  year  he  entered  practice  in  Glen- 
coe, Minnesota,  where  he  remained  until  1902,  and 
while  residing  there  was  elected  judge  of  probate  of 
McLeod  County,  an  office  which  he  held  for  twelve 
years.  At  that  time  he  was  the  youngest  judge  of 
probate  in  the  state,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
twin  brother,  Cyril  M.,  who  has  occupied  the  bench 
for  twelve  years.  Politically  a democrat,  Mr.  Tifft 
served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  education  of 
Glencoe  and  as  a member  of  the  Stevens  Seminary 
Board  of  Trustees.  Mr.  Tifft  left  Glencoe  in  1902 
and  went  tc  Long  Prairie,  Minnesota,  where  he  re- 
mained in  practice  for  four  years,  and  while  there 
became  the  organizer  of  the  Peoples  National  Bank, 
of  which  he  continued  as  president  until  January  1, 
1914.  In  1906  Mr.  Tifft  came  to  Minneapolis,  and 
has  here  continued  in  practice  until  the  present  time. 
He  is  known  as  an  attorney  of  broad  legal  informa- 
tion engaged  in  the  successful  handling  of  involved 
and  important  litigation,  and,  although  engaged  in  a 
general  practice,  has  become  particularly  successful 
in  insurance  law.  His  offices  are  located  at  Nos. 
829-32  Plymouth  Building.  Since  coming  to  this 
city  he  has  served  3L2  years  as  deputy  insurance 
commissioner.  In  January,  1915,  the  Mercantile 
State  Bank  of  Minneapolis  opened  its  doors  to  busi- 
ness, and  Mr.  Tifft  was  one  of  its  organizers  and 
is  its  vice  president  and  its  general  counsel.  He  is 
connected  fraternally  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  and 
chapter  at  Glencoe,  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  of  which  latter  he  served  for  three  years 
as  grand  master.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  and  with  his  family  is 
connected  with  the  Hennepin  Avenue  Method.ist 
Episcopal  Church. 

On  June  9,  1901,  Mr.  Tifft  was  married  at  Glencoe, 
Minnesota,  to  Miss  Grace  M.  Pryor,  daughter  of 
William  and  Minerva  (Shadinger)  Pryor,  of  Casfle 
Rock,  Rice  County,  Minnesota,  where  she  was  born, 
but  her  education  was  secured  in  the  public  schools 
of  Glencoe.  Mr.  Pryor  died  at  Hawley,  Minnesota, 
and  Mrs.  Pryor  at  Glencoe.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tifft,  namely : Ethel  M. 
and  Elda  L.,  born  at  Glencoe;  Merrill  C.,  Jr.,  born 
at  Long  Prairie;  and  Marjorie ,H.  and  Kermyt  W., 
at  Minneapolis. 

Anton  J.  Mayer.  The  citizens  of  Scott  County 
are  generally  agreed  that  the  affairs  of  the  county 
auditor’s  office  were  never  in  better  hands  than  in 
those  of  the  present  incumbent,  Anton  J.  Mayer, 
who  had  a long  preparation  for  his  present  duties 
as  deputy  and  has  been  regularly  elected  to  the 
office  since  1910.  He  has  spent  all  his  life  in  and 
about  Shakopee,  and  represents  a family  of  very 
early  settlers  in  this  locality  of  Minnesota. 


Anton  J.  Mayer  was  born  in  Shakopee,  May  17, 
1874,  a son  of  Mathias  and  Margaret  (Klinkhammer) 
Mayer.  His  grandfather  was  Lambert  Mayer,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  with  his  children  when 
quite  an  old  man.  He  was  born  in  1799  and  died 
in  1880.  By  profession  he  was  a school  teacher. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Klinkhammer, 
was  a stone  mason  by  trade  and  many  years  ago 
assisted  to  build  the  large  Catholic  Church  at 
Shakopee.  Mathias  Mayer  was  born  at  Wuenchrin- 
gen,  Kreis  Saarburg,  Germany,  in  1833,  and  died 
April  17,  1910.  His  wife  was  born  in  Germany  in 
1843,  and  died  May  14,  1881.  They  were  married 
at  Shakopee  in  i860.  Mathias  Mayer  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1857  and  in  the  same  year  located 
at  Shakopee,  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Scott 
County.  His  work  was  that  of  school  teacher  until 
1863,  in  which  year  he  was  made  deputy  auditor 
of  the  county,  and  after  that  served  as  auditor  and 
clerk  of  court  for  sixteen  years  in  the  former  office 
and  four  years  in  the  latter,  and  had  also  been 
deputy  auditor  for  a number  of  years.  Thus  for 
a large  portion  of  the  existence  of  Scott  County 
as  an  organized  civil  division  the  office  of  auditor 
has  been  entrusted  to  a member  of  the  Mayer  family. 
He  was  one  of  the  prominent  leaders  in  the  demo- 
cratic party,  and  also  acquired  some  extensive  finan- 
cial interests.  He  and  his  family  were  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church  and  for  forty  years  he  sang 
in  the  church  choir.  He  and  his  wife  had  ten 
children,  and  the  seven  still  living  are : Amelia, 

wife  of  G.  Kohler,  a harness  maker  at  Morris, 
Minnesota ; Julia,  wife  of  Frank  Thompson,  who  is 
in  a wholesale  house  at  Salem,  Oregon;  Veronica, 
of  Los  Angeles,  California;  Anton  J. ; Mary  M., 
also  living  in  Los  Angeles ; Joseph  G.,  a stove 
moulder  at  Shakopee;  and  William  A.,  a harness 
maker  at  Portland,  Oregon. 

Anton  J.  Mayer  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  in  early  youth  took  up  the 
trade  of  harness  maker.  While  learning  his  trade 
he  acquired  further  advantages  of  education,  and 
for  three  years  was  engaged  in  teaching  school.  In 
1903  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  father  in  the 
courthouse,  and  for  five  years  was  deputy  county 
auditor.  He  was  elected  as  the  principal  of  that 
office  in  1910,  and  since  his  first  election  has  en- 
countered no  opposition  for  the  office.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1914. 

On  June  10,  1902,  Mr.  Mayer  married  Louisa  R. 
Schmied  of  Shakopee.  She  was  born  in  Anoka 
County,  Minnesota,  November  17,  1883.  They  have 
two  children.  Alphonse  J.,  jporn  March  31;  1903 ; 
and  Florence  E„  born  December  2,  1006.  The  family 
are  regular  communicants  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Mr.  Mayer  is  on  the  auditing  board  of  St.  John’s 
Society,  is  a member  of  the  St.  John’s  Benevolent 
Society,  has  served  as  trustee  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters.  Politically  he  has  been  active  in  the 
democratic  party  since  reaching  his  majority.  He 
concentrates  all  his  time  and  energy  upon  the  routine 
management  of  his  office  and  takes  just  pride  in 
the  efficient  manner  in  which  he  has  performed  his 
duties. 

Charles  G.  Bowdish.  A native  son  of  Minnesota 
and  intensely  loyal  to  this  great  northwestern  com- 
monwealth. Charles  G.  Bowdish  has  had  a career 
in  which  his  own  ambition  and  industry  have  been 
the  primary  factors  in  his  advancement.  He  is  now 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1599 


editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Tribune  at  Shakopee, 
and  is  also  court  reporter  for  his  district. 

Charles  G.  Bowdish  was  born  in  Hutchinson,  Min- 
nesota, March  21,  1870,  a son  of  Rev.  William  M. 
and  Mary  (Washburn)  Bowdish.  Both  his  father 
and  grandfather  were  ministers  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  His  father  was  born  in  Oneida 
County,  New  York,  in  1843  and  died  in  1886,  while 
the  mother  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1845  and 
died  in  1874.  The  father  came  to  Minnesota  in  1862, 
becoming  one  of  the  pioneer  missionaries  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Anoka  County.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Anoka.  In  the  early  days  he  filled  the  pulpit 
in  many  localities  of  the  state,  and  was  distinguished 
both  for  his  ministerial  work  and  as  a successful 
educator.  In  1866  he  became  .superintendent  of 
schools  at  Glencoe  and  was  at  one  time  superin- 
tendent of  the  county  schools  in  Wabasha  County. 
He  took  a prominent  interest  in  Masonic  affairs, 
affiliated  with  the  lodge  and  Knight  Templar  com- 
mandery;  was  master  of  the  lodge  at  Zumbrota  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  was  also  a noble  grand 
in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a republican.  Of  his  five  children 
only  two  are  now  living,  the  daughter,  Ella,  being 
the  wife  of  Ralph  Crawford,  a stock  buyer  at 
Chatfield,  Minnesota. 

Charles  G.  Bowdish  was  graduated  from  the  Chat- 
field  High  School  in  1887.  Later  he  spent  two  years 
as  a student  in  the  Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul. 
He  paid  his  own  expenses  for  his  higher  education 
and  in  early  youth  learned  the  printing  trade  as  a 
compositor,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  began 
teaching.  He  was  employed  one  year  in  the  city 
schools  of  Chatfield  before  entering  university.  At 
St.  Paul  he  spent  a year  as  superintendent  of  the 
night  school.  In  1890  Mr.  Bowdish  removed  to 
Shakopee  and  the  following  three  years  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  city  schools.  He  then  became  connected 
with  the  Shakopee  Argus,  and  was  its  editor  for 
seven  years.  In  1900  he  bought  the  Shakopee 
Tribune,  and  has  successfully  managed  this  paper 
for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and  has  built  its  circula- 
tion up  to  nearly  a thousand,  and  besides  the  regular 
issue  of  the  paper  maintains  a well  equipped  job 
printing  plant.  Besides  looking  after  the  newspaper 
he  has  since  1905  filled  the  office  of  court  reporter 
for  five  counties.  He  is  thus  one  of  the  busy  men 
in  his  section  of  the  state  and  has  always  done  well 
in  whatever  position  the  fortunes  of  life  have  placed 
him. 

On  November  24,  1892,  Mr.  Bowdish  married  Clara 
M.  Wilder  of  Shakopee.  They  have  two  children, 
Boyd  and  Beulah,  one  of  them  sixteen  and  the 
other  fifteen  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Bowdish  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  while  Mr.  Bowdish 
was  reared  in  the  church  of  his  father  and  grand- 
father. He  is  affiliated  with  Shakopee  Lodge  No.  44, 
A.  F.  & A.  M. ; with  Minnesota  Chapter  No.  1, 
R.  A.  M.,  at  St.  Paul,  and  with  the  Royal  and  Select 
Master's.  In  his  lodge  he  is  past  warden  and  past 
senior  deacon.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 

Rev.  Alon  Plut.  One  of  the  devoted  priests  of 
the  Catholic  Church  in  Minnesota  is  Rev.  Alon 
Plut,  who  first  became  identified  with  his  parish 
at  Shakopee  nearly  forty  years  ago,  and  is  now 
pastor  of  St.  Mark’s  Church  of  that  city. 

Father  Plut  was  born  in  Austria,  June  21,  1841, 
received  his  early  education  in  literature  and  theology 
in  that  country,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  came 


to  the  United  States,  being  ordained  to  the  priest- 
hood immediately  after  his  arrival.  His  first  church 
was  at  Stillwater,  Minnesota,  where  he  remained 
eighteen  months,  and  for  a like  period  was  at  New 
Prague.  Then  followed  eight  years  of  successful 
ministry  at  Winona,  and  in  1876  he  came  to  Shako- 
pee. He  organized  the  St.  Matthew's  congregation 
at  St.  Paul,  after  having  spent  ten  years  in  the 
church  at  Shakopee,  but  three  years  later  his  health 
failed  and  he  had  to  give  up  the  active  work  of  the 
ministry.  For  about  two  years  he  traveled  in 
Europe,  and  in  1900  returned  to  Shakopee  and  has 
been  the  devoted  pastor  of  that  parish  for  the  past 
fifteen  years. 

Father  Plut  has  been  unusually  successful  in  build- 
ing up  the  various  interests  of  his  parish,  and  is  now 
at  the  head  of  a large  and  prosperous  congregation, 
and  he  also  has  a parochial  school  with  150  pupils. 
All  his  time  is  devoted  to  his  church  and  its  people, 
and  so  far  as  he  interests  himself  in  politics  it  is 
as  an  independent  voter. 

Lewis  P.  Hunt  and  Frank  W.  Hunt  are 
the  business  men  who  have  had  most  to  do  with 
the  development  of  the  Free  Press  Printing  Com- 
pany of  Mankato,  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
successful  establishments  of  its  kind  in  Minnesota. 
The  company,  besides  publishing  the  daily  and  week- 
ly issues  of  the  Free  Press,  a journal  whose  circula- 
tion and  influential  leadership  are  recognized  facts 
in  Minnesota  journalism,  does  a large  business  as 
manufacturing  printers  and  lithographers. 

Lewis  P.  Hunt,  who  for  thirty  years  was  identified 
with  the  management  of  the  Mankato  Free  Press, 
is  now  living  retired  in  the  State  of  Washington, 
but  has  many  associations  and  interests  in  Minne- 
sota, and  is  well  known  over  this  state.  He  bought 
an  interest  in  the  Weekly  Free  Press  in  1881,  and 
in  1887  established  the  daily.  He  was  a capable 
newspaper  man  and  successful  in  business.  After 
selling  his  interests  in  the  Free  Press  Printing 
Company  in  1904  he  moved  out  to  Seattle  in  the 
following  year,  and  has  since  occupied  himself  to 
some  extent  with  interests  in  the  Alaska  canning 
and  fishing  industry.  While  in  Minnesota  he  took 
a prominent  park  in  republican  politics,  attended 
four  national  conventions  of  the  party,  and  at 
Mankato  served  as  postmaster  from  1883  to  1885 
and  was  again  appointed  by  McKinley,  holding  the 
office  five  years,  until  resigning  to  take  charge  of 
business  matters  on  the  coast.  He  was  an  executive 
officer  in  the  Chicago  World’s  Fair.  The  state 
had  appropriated  $75,000  for  a Minnesota  building 
at  the  fair,  and  Mr.  Hunt  undertook  the  heavy  task 
of  raising  money  for  an  adequate  exhibit.  He 
visited  every  county  in  the  state  except  one,  collect- 
ing $97,000,  which  was  expended  for  the  handsome 
exhibits  from  the  state.  He  has  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  many  years, 
and  at  one  time  was  grand  chancellor  commander 
of  Minnesota  in  the  order. 

Lewis  P.  Hunt  was  married  in  Iowa-,  September  6, 
1874,  to  Miss  Lizbeth  Putnam,  who  died  in  1912. 
She  was  a very  accomplished  woman,  was  descended 
from  the  New  England  Putnams,  and  was  active  in 
various  movements  in  her  home  state.  She  had 
charge  of  the  campaign  by  which  the  fund  was 
raised,  by  school  children,  through  small  subscrip- 
tions from  all  over  the  state,  for  the  erection  of  the 
Hiawatha  statue  at  Minnehaha  Falls. 

Frank  W.  Hunt,  who  has  been  president  of  the 


1600 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


company  since  1903,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence 
County,  New  York,  September  24,  1856,  a son  of 
Nathan  F.  and  Caroline  (Gates)  Hunt.  Back  in 
colonial  times  four  English  brothers  named  Hunt 
came  to  America  and  established  themselves  in 
different  localities.  This  branch  has  lived  in  Ver- 
mont for  several  generations,  where  Nathan  F. 
Hunt  was  born  in  1811.  He  died  in  New  York 
State  in  1889.  He  was  married  in  the  latter  state 
in  1839  to  Caroline  Gates,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  in  1815  and  died  in  1893.  A wagon  maker 
and  contractor,  Nathan  Hunt  moved  out  to  the 
State  of  Iowa  in  1865,  his  plant  having  been  burned 
in  his  home  state  in  1863,  bringing  a loss  of  every 
dollar  of  property  he  possessed.  At  Independence, 
Iowa,  he  started  life  anew,  did  work  in  a wagon 
shop  for  a time,  afterwards  moved  to  a farm,  which 
he  sold  in  1873  and  returned  to  New  York  and 
spent  the  rest  of  his  years  in  Jefferson  County. 
He  was  a Universalist  in  religion,  and  in  politics 
a-  democrat.  Of  a family  of  fifteen  children,  twelve 
reached  maturity,  and  seven  are  living.  Those  be- 
side the  brothers  above  named  are : Eliza  Sampson, 

a widow,  living  in  Carthage,  New  York;  Mrs. 
Harriett  Ackerman,  a widow,  living  in  Massachu- 
setts ; Mrs.  Sevilla  Wilcox,  a widow,  living  at 
Cartbage,  New  York;  Edwin  D.,  tvho  is  now  sixty- 
eight,  and  retired  in  Iowa;  and  Bion  F.,  a farmer 
in  New  York  State. 

Frank  W.  Hunt  had  an  education  from  the  com- 
mon schools,  but  owing  to  an  affliction  of  the  eyes 
had  to  be  sparing  in  his  application  to  books,  and  is 
more  a practical  man  than  a student.  He  had  con- 
siderable experience  in  early  life  as  a farmer,  and 
for  a time  engaged  in  the  business  of  importing 
horses  from  Canada.  In  1887  he  moved  to  Mankato, 
where  he  became  associated  with  his  brother  Lewis 
in  the  Free  Press,  becoming  assistant  business  man- 
ager and  dividing  his  time  between  office  and  road 
work.  The  business  was  then  in  its  infancy,  with 
only  half  a dozen  persons  in  the  office  force.  In 
1887  the  daily  paper  was  established,  and  soon 
afterward  the  Mankato  Register  was  bought  from 
W.  R.  Geddes  and  consolidated  with  the  Free  Press. 
In  March,  1902,  a syndicate  of  the  Hunt  brothers, 
with  Michael  D.  Fritz  and  J.  W.  True,  bought  the 
entire  business,  and  in  1908  the  company  acquired 
the  large  building  in  which  the  plant  and  offices 
are  now  located.  The  Daily  Free  Press  now  has  a 
circulation  of  4,500,  while  the  job  printing  and 
lithographing  departments  comprise  an  important 
business  in  themselves.  Printing  and  illustrative 
work  from  this  office  are  distributed  over  half  a 
dozen  states,  and  five  men  are  constantly  traveling 
over  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  both  Dakotas  and 
Montana.  In  1904  Frank  W.  Hunt  succeeded  his 
brother  as  president  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Hunt  is  a director  of  the  Citizens  Fire  Asso- 
ciation. Plis  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  in  politics  is  a republican.  He  was 
married,  in  1877,  to  Miss  Nellie  L.  Morse.  She 
was  born  at  Wilna,  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
was  educated  in  a seminary  at  Antwerp,  of  that 
state,  and  since  girlhood  has  been  very  active  in 
the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Since  1900  she  has  "been  district  corre- 
sponding secretary  of  the  society.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Hunt  have  three  daughters,  Bertha  B.,  Marion  and 
Beulah,  the  two  youngest  being  married. 

John  Wesley  Andrews,  M.  D.  In  the  nearly 
forty  years  of  his  active  practice  in  Southern  Min- 
nesota, Doctor  Amlrews  has  made  a distinguished 
name,  especially  in  the  field  of  surgery.  His  skill 
in  surgery  has  come  to  be  recognized  in  probably 
every  section  of  the  state,  and  in  the  opinion  of 
people  best  qualified  to  judge  Doctor  Andrews  has 
no  superior  in  his  section  of  Minnesota  as  a skillful 
and  scientific  operator.  He  is  also  a well  known 
man  of  affairs,  and  is  at  the  present  time  a member 
of  the  State  Senate  from  the  Mankato  District. 

John  Wesley  Andrews  was  born  in  Lawrence 
County,  Illinois,  April  6,  1849,  a son  of  John  R.  and 
Delilah  (Armstrong)  Andrews.  His  father  was 
born  in  Indiana  in  1813  and  died  in  1894,  and  his 
mother  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1818  and  died  in 
1882.  The  parents  were  married  in  Illinois.  His 
father  was  a farmer  and  a local  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  After  living  in  Illinois 
a number  ot  years  he  moved  out  to  Minnesota  in 
1856  and  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  at  St. 
Peter.  He  homesteaded  a claim  in  Lesueur  County, 
lived  there  for  a number  of  years,  but  died  in 
Mankato.  His  wife  died  on  the  old  homestead  near 
Lake  Washington.  Both  were  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  the  father  was 
a republican  and  held  such  local  offices  as  member 
of  the  school  board  and  town  clerk.  He  was  liberally 
educated,  and  was  noted  for  his  eloquence  as  a 
public  speaker. 

Doctor  Andrews,  who  was  the  fourth  in  a family 
of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living, 
received  his  education  at  St.  Peter  and  in  the 
Mankato  Normal  School,  subsequently  attending  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor  and  the  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  where  he  graduated 
M.  D.  in  1877.  Several  years  later  he  went  to  New 
York  City  and  received  a diploma  from  the  Bellevue 
Hospital  Medical  College  in  1880,  and  his  unusual 
natural  ability  and  attainments  have  been  constantly 
supplemented  by  association  with  noted  physicians 
and  surgeons  and  by  post-graduate  work.  Doctor 
Andrews  spent  one  year  in  Europe  as  a student  in 
several  of  the  noted  continental  medical  centers. 

In  the  year  of  his  graduation  from  Rush  Medical 
College  he  took  active  practice  at  Marshall,  Minne- 
sota, lived  there  five  years,  and  since  1882  has  had 
his  home  and  offices  in  Mankato.  His  fellow  physi- 
cians credit  him  with  having  the  largest  and  most 
valuable  practice  in  Mankato,  but  his  practice  is  not 
confined  to  that  one  locality,  in  fact  extending  all 
over  Southern  Minnesota.  Surgery  is  his  specialty, 
and  he  is  surgeon  for  both  the  hospitals  in  Mankato. 

In  1878  Doctor  Andrews  married  Miss  Jennie 
French  of  Wellsville,  New  York.  Their  only  son, 
Roy  N.  Andrews,  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Minnesota  in  the  medical  department  in  1908  and 
is  now  in  active  practice  with  his  father. 

Doctor  Andrews  since  early  manhood  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  almost  continually  has  served  in  some  official 
position.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  president 
of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  at  one  time  was  a 
delegate  to  the  general  conference  at  Los  Angeles. 
Fraternally  he  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason  and 
member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  passed  all  the 
chairs  in  the  blue  lodge.  He  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Doctor 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1601 


Andrews  is  a member  of  the  Medical  Society  of 
Southern  Minnesota,  the  State  Medical  Society,  the 
Western  Surgical  Association  and  the  American 
Medical  Association.  He  has  been  president  of  both 
the  county  and  state  medical  societies,  and  is  on 
the  lecture  bureau  of  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation and  a fellow  of  the  American  College  of 
Surgeons.  For  a number  of  years  his  interest  in 
and  participation  in  politics  has  made  him  well 
known  in  public  affairs.  He  served  as  alderman  one 
term  and  one  term  as  mayor  of  Mankato,  was  for 
two  terms  chairman  of  the  county  central  com- 
mittee, and  in  November,  1914,  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate.  He  is  4 stockholder  and  director  in 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Mankato,  and  president 
of  the  board  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

David  Chauncey  Shepard.  There  is  still  living 
in  St.  Paul  the  man  who  broke  the  ground  for 
Minnesota’s  first  railroad  more  than  half  a century 
ago.  During  his  active  career  in  the  field  of  rail- 
way construction,  David  Chauncey  Shepard  set  rec- 
ords for  energy,  efficiency  and  speed  which  have 
long  been  unbroken,  and  probably  no  other  one 
man  has  directly  supervised  the  laying  of  more 
miles  of  railway  trackage  in  America. 

David  Chauncey  Shepard  was  born  near  Geneseo, 
New  York,  February  20,  1828,  a son  of  David  and 
Dolly  Olmsted  (Foote)  Shepard.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  district  schools,  attended  the 
Temple  Hill  Academy  at  Geneseo  and  the  Brock- 
port  Collegiate  Institute  at  Brockport,  New  York, 
and  did  his  first  professional  work  as  civil  engineer 
in  1847,  when  appointed  a member  of  the  engineer 
corps  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  Genesee 
Valley  Canal  by  Governor  Young  of  New  York.  He 
resigned  in  1851  to  engage  in  surveys  for  the  Roches- 
ter & Genesee  Valley  Railroad,  now  a part  of  the 
Erie  System;  spent  the  summer  of  1851  on  the  Erie 
Canal,  and  was  in  the  state  engineer’s  office  at 
Rochester  until  1852.  He  had  charge  of  the  con- 
struction of  the  Canandaigua  & Niagara  Falls  Rail- 
road, and  was  engaged  in  various  surveys  and  rail- 
road work  during  1852-53.  From  1853  to  1856  he 
was  chief  engineer  of  the  Atlantic  and  Great  West- 
ern Railway,  now  part  of  the  Erie  System.  He  was 
chief  engineer  of  the  Milwaukee  & Beloit  Railroad 
from  1856  to  1857,  and  became  chief  engineer  of  the 
Minnesota  & Pacific  in  1858.  From  1859  to  1862 
he  was  a wheat  shipper,  and  from  1863  to  1870  was 
chief  engineer  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St. 
Paul  Railway  in  Minnesota.  Until  his  retirement 
from  business  in  1894  he  was  a member  of  the 
Northwestern  Construction  Company,  railway  con- 
tractors, and  for  many  years  its  general  manager. 

The  story  of  how  he  broke  the  ground  for  Minne- 
sota’s first  railroad  and  of  his  remarkable  achieve- 
ments as  a railway  builder  was  told  in  a magazine 
article  some  years  ago  by  W.  P.  Kirkwood.  Since 
his  work  has  so  much  significance  historically  in 
connection  with  the  industrial  development  of  the 
Northwest,  the  greater  part  of  this  article  is  quoted 
from  Mr.  Kirkwood’s  own  words : 

“The  cry  of  a railroad,  or  for  railroads,  in  Minne- 
sota had  been  long,  loud  and  insistent.  In  1857, 
just  fifty  years  ago,  the  man  who  broke  ground  for 
Minnesota’s  first  railroad  had  made  surveys  for  a 
railroad  across  the  territory  from  Stillwater  by  way 
of  St.  Paul  and  St.  Anthony  to  Big  Stone  Lake, 
and  northward  from  St.  Anthony  to  Crow  Wing, 
and  other  surveys  had  been  made  in  the  southern 


part  of  the  territory.  Furthermore,  there  had  been 
a bitter  debate  in  the  Territorial  Legislature,  and 
out  of  it,  in  the  spring  of  1858,  as  to  whether  the 
territory  should  lend  its  credit  to  the  extent  of 
$5,000,000  for  railroad  construction.  The  question 
had  been  submitted  to  the  people,  and  by  an  over- 
whelming vote,  on  April  15,  the  people  had  declared 
for  the  loan. 

“Yet  with  all  this  agitation  just  preceding  the 
event,  and  with  the  enthusiasm  of  the  public  for 
railroads,  when  ground  was  actually  broken  on  what 
is  now  the  Great  Northern  track  between  St.  Paul 
and  Minneapolis,  nothing  was  done  to  celebrate 
the  occasion  beyond  the  opening  of  a bottle  of 
champagne ; no  brass  bands  paraded,  no  spellbinder 
proclaimed  the  day  as  of  unusual  significance,  no 
poet  sang  the  shovel  and  the  man  who  that  day 
began  the  enactment  of  a great  railroad  transpor- 
tation epic  of  the  Northwest. 

“The  young  man  who  actually  drove  the  shovel 
through  the  sod  for  the  first  railroad  in  Minnesota 
and  the  Northwest,  and  who  saw  enough  signifi- 
cance in  the  event  to  warrant  the  breaking  of  a 
bottle  of  champaigne  in  its  honor  was  Mr.  D.  C. 
Shepard,  now  living  a life  of  retirement  worthily 
won  in  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Shepard  was  chief  engineer 
of  the  newly  surveyed  land,  then  known  as  the 
Minnesota  & Pacific;  accompanying  him  were  Mr. 
A.  H.  Linton,  special  representative  of  Mr.  Selah 
of  Cleveland,  who  had  the  construction  contract, 
and  Mr.  Dunbar,  now  deceased,  who  was  to  have 
charge  of  the  field  work.  The  three  men  drove  to 
a point  directly  south  of  the  site  of  the  present 
Calvary  Cemetery,  between  the  Como  Interurban 
Trolley  Line  and  the  Great  Northern  four-track, 
Twin  City  line,  near  Lake  Como.  Finding  a spot 
that  was  favorable  for  grading  operations  under 
the  wheelbarrow  system  of  the  day,  the  three  men 
poured  a libation  to  the  success  of  the  venture.  Mr. 
Shepard  then  took  the  shovel  and  broke  ground,  and 
the  trio  returned  to  town.  Simple  as  the  ceremony 
was,  so  simple  that  even  the  day  of  the  month  is 
unrecorded  and  forgotten,  it  was  the  commence- 
ment of  more  than  8,000  miles  of  railroad  that  now 
gridiron  the  state,  making  Minnesota  the  focus  of 
traffic  between  the  far  West  and  the  busy  East. 

“If  the  event  was  epoch-making  for  the  state,  it 
was  also  epoch-making  for  the  chief  actor,  Mr. 
Shepard,  who,  lifting  the  first  shovelful  of  earth 
for  a railroad  in  Minnesota  that  day  in  May,  1858, 
began  a railroad-building  career  that  has  never  been 
equalled  and  that  had  won  for  him  at  the  time 
of  his  retirement  in  1894  the  title  of  ‘The  World’s 
Greatest  Railroad  Builder.’  Up  to  that  time,  1894, 
he  had  built  as  a contractor,  aided  and  unaided, 
7,026  miles  of  iron  and  steel  highways,  6,666  miles 
of  which  were  in  the  Northwest,  and  had  built  many 
of  them  at  a pace  and  in  a manner  to  awaken  the 
astonishment  of  the  railroad  world.  The  record  by 
states  is:  Ohio,  40  miles;  Indiana,  42;  Illinois,  217; 
Iowa,  859;  Missouri,  61;  Nebraska,  43;  Wisconsin, 
236;  Minnesota,  1,452;  South  Dakota,  950;  North 
Dakota,  984;  Montana,  898;  Idaho,  80;  Washing- 
ton, 439;  Canada,  725. 

“The  total  includes  such  roads  as  the  Northern 
Pacific  from  the  point  west  of  Duluth  to  Fargo ; the 
Canadian  Pacific  from  a point  just  west  of  Winnipeg 
to  Calgary;  the  Great  Northern  from  Minot,  North 
Dakota,  to  Puget  Sound  and  up  and  down  the 
sound;  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & Northern,  now 
a part  of  the  general  Burlington  system;  the  Chi- 


1602 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


cago  Great  Western;  the  Cleveland,  Lorain  & Wheel- 
ing, and  other  lines. 

"The  great  achievements  of  Mr.  Shepard  as  a 
railroad  contractor,  however,  lay  not  so  much  in 
the  amount  of  his  work  as  in  the  speed  with  which 
he  and  those  associated  with  him  did  it.  Two  bril- 
liant examples  of  this  were  in  the  construction 
of  the  Canadian  Pacific  from  Oak  Lake,  Manitoba, 
to  Calgary,  675  miles,  and  of  the  Great  Northern, 
then  the  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  & Manitoba,  from 
Minot  to  Helena,  643  miles. 

“In  1882,  in  association  with  R.  B.  Langdon  of 
Minneapolis  under  the  firm  name  of  Langdon  & 
Shepard,  Mr.  Shepard  commenced  work  on  the  Can- 
adian Pacific  from  Oak  Lake  to  Calgary.  In  fifteen 
months  the  675  miles  of  track  were  completed,  a 
then  unheard  of  speed  in  railroad  building,  and 
accomplished  in  the  face  of  tremendous  obstacles. 
Ten  million  cubic  yards  of  earth  had  to  be  removed, 
and  all  the  timber  and  piling  use  as  bridges,  cul- 
verts and  other  structures  in  the  roadbed  had  to  be 
hauled  ahead  from  the  end  of  the  track  and  placed 
in  the  work  before  track  could  be  laid.  In  a single 
day  in  the  course  of  this  contract  6 miles  and  600 
feet  of  track  were  laid.” 

While  the  rapidity  with  which  work  on  the  Cana- 
dian Pacific  was  done  occasioned  wide  comment  at 
the  time,  it  was  to  be  far  surpassed  in  1887,  when 
Mr.  Shepard,  in  association  with  the  Messrs.  Win- 
ston of  Minneapolis,  under  the  firm  name  of  Shepard 
& Winston,  built  the  Great  Northern  line  from 
Minot  to  Helena.  In  all,  the  firm  built  1,175  miles 
of  railroad  that  year,  including  the  643  miles  alluded 
to.  The  track-laying  on  this  643  miles  commenced 
April  1 and  was  completed  on  November  18,  an 
average  rate  for  each  working  day  of  3 % miles. 
Five  hundred  miles  of  the  work  were  graded  and 
bridged  ahead  of  the  track  layers  by  September  1, 
an  average  of  100  miles  a month.  From  the  mouth 
of  the  Milk  River  to  Great  Falls,  200  miles,  the  grad- 
ing progressed  at  the  rate  of  seven  miles  a day. 
In  the  whole  work  9,700,000  cubic  yards  of  earth, 
15,000  cubic  yards  of  loose  rock  and  17,500  cubic 
yards  of  solid  rock  were  removed.  Nine  million 
feet  of  timber  and  390,000  lineal  feet  of  piling  were 
hauled  ahead  of  the  track  and  placed  in  the  work. 
On  July  16,  7 miles,  1,040  feet  of  track  were  laid, 
leaving  the  record  made  on  the  Canadian  Pacific 
far  behind.  But  even  the  new  record  was  to  be 
outdone.  On  August  8,  8 miles  and  60  feet  of  track 
were  put  down  without  any  increase  in  the  regular 
force,  all  materials  being  transported  by  teams  from 
trains  near  the  end  of  the  track  on  the  day,  and 
the  rails  being  laid  continuously  from  the  end  of 
the  track  as  taken  there  by  iron  cars.  This  was 
frenzied  railroad  building,  but  the  frenzy  was  only 
that  of  intense  activity,  working  with  the  utmost 
precision,  guided  by  the  sound  judgment  and  clear 
vision  of  a master  mind.  Under  the  guidance  of 
this  mind,  an  army  of  nearly  9.000  men  and  3,500 
teams  went  marching  across  the  prairie,  leaving  a 
completed  steel  highway  behind  it. 

“The  personality  of  this  man  has  been  largely 
overlooked.  His  achievements  have  overshadowed 
him.  Of  course,  his  dominant  trait  is  energy.  This 
may  be  seen  to  this  day  in  the  look  of  the  eye, 
the  carriage  of  the  head,  and  the  quick,  eager, 
restless  movements  of  the  hands,  though  Mr.  Shep- 
ard is  now  well  to  four  score  years  of  age.  His 
energy,  however,  is  of  the  mind  rather  than  of 
the  body,  and  one  can  easily  imagine  that  in  the 


days  when  he  was  driving  great  enterprises  for- 
ward his  mind  often  drove  his  body  almost  to 
the  breaking  point.  Foresight,  sound  judgment,  clear 
vision  and  accurate  penetration  have  gone  hand  in 
hand  with  energy. 

"At  the  early  age  of  thirty,  in  the  winter  of  1857- 
58,  before  a foot  of  ground  had  been  moved  for 
a railroad  in  the  Northwest  he  was  talking  of  the 
great  future  before  the  Red  River  Valley  as  a 
wheat  country,  of  the  construction  of  a railroad  to 
the  Pacific  to  connect  with  lines  he  had  surveyed 
in  the  summer  of  1857,  and  of  extensions  into  the 
fertile  Valley  of  Saskatchewan — all  prophecies  now 
realized,  and  pushed  to  early  realization  by  his  own 
force  of  mind  and  will. 

“In  all  his  railroad  building  Mr.  Shepard  lost 
money  but  once,  and  that  contract  was  undertaken 
deliberately  with  the  foreknowledge  of  the  out- 
come. Likewise  he  has  never  been  engaged  in  seri- 
ous litigation.  His  prompt  and  sound  decision  is 
notable,  and  no  doubt  is  largely  responsible  for  his 
brilliant  successes.  While  superintendent  of  the 
Minnesota  and  Iowa  lines  of  the  Milwaukee  & St. 
Paul  road,  prior  to  1871,  he  was  one  day  west- 
ward bound  from  Winona,  when  the  train  came  to 
a sudden  halt.  A great  boulder  of  many  tons’ 
weight  had  rolled  from  a bluff  and  blocked  the 
track.  The  conductor  appealed  to  Mr.  Shepard. 
‘Go  around  it,’  was  the  prompt  order  he  received. 
The  order  was  carried  out,  the  track  was  shifted, 
and  in  less  than  three  hours  the  train  was  on  its 
way.  In  the  building  of  the  Milwaukee  & St.  Paul 
line  southward  from  Minneapolis  a serious  problem 
arose  as  to  how  to  cross  the  Minnesota  River  at 
Fort  Snelling.  A high  bridge  from  the  fort  bluff 
was  proposed.  But  high  bridges  were  costly  then 
as  they  are  now,  and  had  other  disadvantages,  and 
Mr.  Shepard  offered  a plan  for  an  1, ioo-foot  tun- 
nel under  the  fort  as  a solution  of  the  difficulty. 
This  still  seemed  too  costly  to  the  builders  of  the 
road,  and  as  a compromise  the  present  route  around 
the  bluff  was  taken.  Mr.  Shepard  insists  to  this 
day  that  his  plan  was  the  only  right  one. 

“Mr.  Shepard  is  blunt,  but  his  very  bluntness  has 
made  friends  for  him.  An  Iowa  editor  once  said 
in  his  paper:  ‘Shepard  is  a pretty  good  “boy”; 

we  like  him  for  his  bluntness.’  Others,  many  others, 
have  been  warm  friends  of  the  railroad  builder. 
When  he  came  to  leave  Minneapolis  to  become  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  company  that  had  the  con- 
tract to  build  the  Northern  Pacific  road  across  the 
state  a great  reception  was  given  in  his  honor 
in  the  only  opera  house  that  Minneanolis  then 
boasted.  This  was  followed  by  a supper  at  the 
Nicollet  House  at  which  500  of  the  Twin  Cities’ 
best  people  sat  down.  The  employes  of  the  Mil- 
waukee Road,  when  he  left,  gave  him  an  elaborate 
silver  service. 

“With  all  his  tireless  activity,  one  of  the  things 
which  probably  enabled  Mr.  Shepard  to  maintain 
the  pace  he  early  set  himself  was  a delightful  home 
life,  given  to  his  family,  to  pleasure  in  works  of 
art,  and  to  reading.  Much  of  his  time  was  spent 
with  books  and  magazines  of  the  more  solid  sort. 
Having  lived  the  life  of  a pioneer  empire  builder, 
Mr.  Shepard  still  exercises  the  influence  that  be- 
longs to  a serene  old  age,  surrounded  with  the 
fruits  of  thrift  and  great  industry  and  unspoiled 
by  success,  one  of  the  best  examples  of  that  striking 
class  of  men  who  made  the  Northwest  what  it  is 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1603 


in  less  than  half  a century  from  the  breaking  of 
the  ground  for  the  first  railroad.” 

Mr.  Shepard  was  married  December  24,  1850,  and 
several  of  his  posterity  have  also  become  prominent 
as  railroad  builders  and  business  men  in  the  North- 
west. 

Frank  P.  Shepard.  A son  of  David  Chauncey 
Shepard,  the  pioneer  railway  builder  in  the  North- 
west, whose  career  and  its  achievements  have  been 
described  on  other  pages,  Frank  P.  Shepard  followed 
in  the  footsteps  of  his  father.  He  died  at  his  St. 
Paul  home,  and  at  that  time  was  engaged  in  double 
tracking  the  Pacific  Coast  Extension  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railroad. 

Frank  P.  Shepard  was  born  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
October  30,  1853,  and  spent  the  greater  part.  of  his 
life  there.  After  he  acquired  his  education  he 
became  identified  with  the  great  work  which  his 
father  was  then  carrying  on  as  a railroad  con- 
tractor. He  was  for  a number  of  years  associated 
with  his  father  and  with  Alvin  W.  Krech  and  Peter 
Siems  until  the  principals  of  that  business  retired. 
He  then  became  associated  with  the  firm  of  Morris 
& Shepard,  railroad  contractors. 

Frank  P.  Shepard  married  Miss  Anna  M.  Mc- 
Millan, a daughter  of  the  late  United  States  Sen- 
ator S.  J.  R.  McMillan.  Mrs.  Shepard  survived 
her  husband,  and  for  many  years  they  had  lived  at 
the  old  homestead,  325  Dayton  Avenue,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  places  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul.  Mr. 
Shepard1  was  also  survived  by  four  sons — David  C., 
Samuel  M.,  Roger  B.  and  Frank  P.,  Jr.  David 
Chauncey  Shepard  (second),  grandson  of  the  man 
whose  name  he  bore,  is  now  secretary  of  the  Finch, 
Van  Slyck  & McConville  wholesale  house  of  St. 
Paul,  and  is  a director  of  the  First  National  Bank. 
Samuel  M.  Shepard  is  one  of  the  firm  of  Morris, 
Shepard  & Daugherty,  railway  contractors,  whose 
business  is  a continuation  of  that  established  by  the 
elder  David  C.  Shepard  in  the  pioneer  times  of  the 
Northwest.  Roger  C.  Shepard  is  treasurer  of  the 
Finch,  Van  Slyck  & McConville  wholesale  house, 
and  is  a director  of  the  Merchants  National  Bank. 
Frank  P.  Shepard,  the  youngest  son,  is  a student  in 
Yale  College. 

Hon.  Miles  Porter.  A resident  of  Minnesota  all 
the  forty  odd  years  of  his  life,  Miles  Porter  has  been 
a farmer,  merchant,  lawyer  and  public  official  and 
is  one  of  the  men  of  recognized  high  standing  at 
the  Mankato  bar. 

He  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  County,  Minnesota, 
December  7,  1873,  a son  of  John  and  Ellen  (Parks) 
Porter.  The  Porter  family  are  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  while  the  Parks  family  was  early  settled  in 
New  England,  and  the  maternal  grandfather,  Elisha 
Parks,  was  captain  of  state  militia  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. John  Porter  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
New  York,  in  1822  and  died  in  1894,  and  his  wife 
was  born  in  Acworth,  New  Hampshire,  in  1842  and 
is  still  living  at  Vernon  Center,  Minnesota.  The 
parents  were  married  in  Blue  Earth  County  in  1861. 
John  Porter  came  to  this  state  as  a pioneer  in  1857, 
and  Miss  Parks  in  the  spring  of  1858.  John  Porter 
preempted  a piece  of  land  in  Blue  Earth  County  and 
was  its  owner  until  his  death.  Several  years  prior 
to  his  location  in  Minnesota  he  had  gone  out  to 
California  by  the  overland  route,  was  more  than 
ordinarily  successful  as  a miner,  accumulated  some 
treasure,  and  returned  to  the  states  by  way  of  the 


Panama  route.  He  was  a man  of  no  little  promi- 
nence in  his  section  of  Minnesota.  In  politics  he 
was  a supporter  of  the  democratic  party.  He  served 
as  town  clerk  of  Ceresco  Township  for  a number 
of  years,  and  at  one  time  was  an  unsuccessful  candi- 
date for  the  State  Legislature,  being  defeated  by 
only  two  votes.  He  was  one  of  the  rare  men  in 
political  life,  practicing  the  principle  that  the  office 
should  seek  the  man  rather  than  the  man  the  office, 
and  never  made  a formal  canvas  for  votes  in  con- 
nection with  any  office  to  which  he  aspired.  Of  the 
four  children  of  John  Porter  and  wife  two  are 
living:  Mrs.  Frank  Clague,  Mr.  Clague  being  a well 
known  attorney  and  state  senator  of  Redwood 
County. 

Miles  Porter  grew  up  in  Minnesota  on  a farm, 
attended  common  schools,  and  in  1894  was  graduated 
from  the  Mankato  State  Normal  School.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business 
at  Vernon  Center,  and  studied  law  under  Mr.  Frank 
Clague,  above  mentioned,  and  on  removing  to  Man- 
kato in  1908  took  active  practice  and  has  since  en- 
joyed a large  clientage,  always  practicing  alone. 

In  November,  1904,  Mr.  Porter  married  Margaret 
E.  Lovell,  daughter  of  F.  R.  Lovell  of  Vernon  Cen- 
ter, a farmer  in  that  vicinity.  They  are  the  parents 
of  three  children:  Stella,  born  in  1906;  Joyce,  born 
January  2,  1909;  and  Barbara,  born  in  1913.  Mr. 
Porter  with  his  family  attends  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  is  a past  chancellor  com- 
mander of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  having  held  that 
office  three  consecutive  years,  and  also  belongs  to 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  Politically  he 
is  a progressive  republican.  For  five  years  in  suc- 
cession he  served  as  president  of  the  city  council  at 
Vernon  Center,  and  held  the  office  of  city  attorney 
at  Mankato  one  term.  In  1912  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  state  legislature  for  the  session  of 
1913.  Ever  since  reaching  his  majority  he  has  been 
interested  more  or  less  in  politics  and  possesses 
many  distinctive  qualities  of  civic  leadership.  Along 
with  a good  practice  as  a lawyer  he  possesses  some 
extensive  farming  interests,  and  most  of  his  summer 
months  are  devoted  to  the  supervision  of  his  farm. 
Mr.  Porter  was  the  originator  of  the  Northwestern 
Lawyers  Association,  which  was  recently  established 
with  general  offices  at  Waseca.  This  is  an  associa- 
tion for  the  protection  of  attorneys  practicing  in 
the  Northwest.  Mr.  Porter  is  also  a member  of 
the  American  Bar  Association  and  of  the  Com- 
mercial Law  League  of  America. 

William  B.  Davies.  For  a long  term  of  years 
William  B.  Davies  has  been  official  court  reporter  at 
Mankato.  Mr.  Davies  is  a lawyer  by  profession, 
but  most  of  . his  time  has  been  occupied  with  public 
affairs  and  for  a number  of  years  he  has  been  out 
of  practice  altogether.  Mr.  Davies  is  of  New  Eng- 
land birth  and  antecedents,  his  father  was  a Con- 
necticut lawyer,  and  the  reason  for  his  coming  to 
the  Northwest  was  failing  health,  which  caused  an 
interruption  of  his  early  preparation  for  the  law 
and  during  his  residence  of  upwards  of  half  a cen- 
tury in  Minnesota  he  has  found  many  opportunities 
for  usefulness  and  advantageous  service  to  himself 
and  the  community. 

William  B.  Davies  was  born  in  New  York  State 
July  27,  i8a8,  a Son  of  Lemuel  Sanford  and  Stella 
M.  (Scovill)  Davies,  both  of  whom  were  natives 


1604 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  Connecticut.  He  is  a direct  descendant  of  Col. 
John  Davies,  who  was  an  officer  in  Washing- 
ton’s army  during  the  Revolution.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Thomas  F.  Davies,  was  a minister  of 
the  Congregational  Church  in  Connecticut.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  Edward  Scovill,  who  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  was  for  many  years  a manu- 
facturer in  Waterbury,  Connecticut,  and  died  in  that 
city.  Lemuel  S.  Davies  was  a graduate  of  Yale 
College,  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  practiced 
all  his  active  life  in  Waterbury,  Connecticut.  He 
had  a prominent  and  influential  place  in  local  affairs, 
was  a democrat,  and  at  one  time  mayor  of  Water- 
bury, was  judge  of  probate  in  the  county,  also 
county  treasurer.  He  and  his  family  were  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

William  B.  Davies  was  the  oldest  in  a family  of 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  He  was 
educated  through  the  eighth  grade  of  the  public 
schools  at  Waterbury,  and  had  further  instruction 
in  a private  academy.  He  lived  on  a farm  for  a 
time,  studied  law  under  the  direction  of  his  father, 
but  on  account  of  ill  health  left  Connecticut  and 
came  to  the  Northwest  in  1868.  He  spent  the  fol- 
lowing eight  years  as  a farmer,  and  found  health 
and  vigor  in  the  bracing  atmosphere  of  Minnesota 
and  in  the  rugged  life  of  a pioneer  farming  com- 
munity. In  1876  Mr.  Davies  went  to  Minneapolis, 
and  for  several  years  traveled  about  engaged  in 
contracting.  Returning  to  Mankato  in  1886,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  active  practice.  In 
the  same  year  of  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  was 
elected  city  recorder,  an  office  he  held  for  two  years. 
He  was  also  appointed  a member  of  the  Board  of 
Public  Works  for  one  year,  and  in  1887  became  re 
porter  for  the  District  Court,  an  office  which  he  has 
now  held  for  more  than  a quarter  of  a century,  and 
in  point  of  continuous  service  is  probably  one  of  the 
oldest  if  not  the  oldest  court  reporter  in  the  state. 
Along  with  his  official  duties  he  carried  on  a sub- 
stantial practice  as  a lawyer  until  1893,  but  since 
that  time  the  duties  of  his  office  have  claimed  all  his 
time  and  attention. 

In  1870  Mr.  Davies  married  Laura  Presson,  daugh- 
ter of  Harrison  Presson,  who  was  a native  of  Illi- 
nois, but  lived  a number  of  years  at  Henderson,  Min- 
nesota. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davies  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children : William  T.,  who  is  a railroad  man 
in  California;  Mrs.  Julia  E.  Riddle,  of  Jacksonville, 
Florida;  Joseph  S.,  agent  for  the  Wells,  Fargo  & 
Company's  Express  at  Mankato ; Laura  B.  Koch, 
whose  husband  is  general  manager  of  the  George  E. 
Breet  Dry  Goods  House  at  Mankato ; Stella  M., 
wife  of  Edward  C.  Minea,  formerly  of  St.  Paul  and 
now  connected  with  the  Wells,  Fargo  & Company’s 
Express  at  Seattle,  Washington;  Irma  and  Mary, 
twins,  the  former  the  wife  of  Harry  Marquette,  who 
is  in  the  engineering  department  of  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  & Pacific  Railway  at  Chicago,  while 
Mary  lives  at  home  in  Mankato ; and  Edward  F., 
who  is  connected  with  the  Wells,  Fargo  & Company 
at  Seattle. 

Mr.  Davies  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Science 
Church.  He  is  a past  exalted  ruler  of  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  a past  chancellor 
in  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  also  has  membership 
in  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Politically  he  is 
classified  as  an  independent  democrat.  Mr.  Davies 
began  his  life  in  the  Northwest  without  capital,  and 
his  success  is  due  to  his  own  efforts  and  his  ambition 


to  achieve  something  for  himself  and  for  his  com- 
munity. Besides  his  residence  in  Mankato  he  has 
a summer  home  on  Lake  Francis. 

George  Robert  Curran,  M.  D.  The  profession  of 
surgery  is  eminently  represented  at  Mankato  by  Dr. 
George  Robert  Curran,  who  has  been  engaged  in 
practice  in  this  city  since  1902  and  has  established 
himself  in  high  position  in  his  calling,  in  the  confi- 
dence of  the  community  and  in  the  possession  of 
an  excellent  practice.  Doctor  Curran  was  born  at 
Cannon  Falls,  Minnesota,  July  1,  1863,  and  is  a son 
of  Charles  W.  and  Rebecca  (Clark)  Curran. 

The  Curran  family  was  founded  in  the  United 
States  by  the  great-grandparents  of  Doctor  Curran, 
Patrick  and  Clara  Curran,  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  from  Ireland  and  located  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
modest  farming  ventures.  Their  son,  Robert  Cur- 
ran, the  grandfather  of  the  doctor,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1800,  and  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
homestead,  so  that  he  naturally  adopted  the  voca- 
tion of  an  agriculturist  when  he  came  to  years  of 
maturity.  In  1828,  desiring  to  see  something  of  the 
country  that  lay  to  the  west,  he  made  himself  a raft, 
which  he  launched  on  French  Creek,  not  far  from 
his  home,  and  on  this  he  floated  down  to  the  Ohio 
River,  and  then  on  past  the  State  of  Ohio  to  Indiana, 
finally  stopping  at  Madison.  He  remained  in  Indiana 
until  1837,  in  which  year  he  made  his  way  to  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin,  that  city  at  that  time  having 
but  two  houses.  Subsequently  Mr.  Curran  settled 
on  a farm  nine  miles  west  of  Milwaukee,  on  which 
he  continued  to  spend  the  balance  of  his  life. 

Rev.  Charles  W.  Curran,  the  father  of  Dr.  George 
R.  Curran,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1819.  He 
was  a lad  of  nine  years  when  he  made  the  long  and 
perilous  trip  down  the  Ohio  with  his  parents,  and 
was  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  went  with  them 
to  Wisconsin,  but  in  spite  of  his  various  movings 
from  point  to  point  was  successful  in  securing  what 
was  considered  a very  good  education  for  his  day. 
the  principal  part  being  gained  in  the  schools  of 
Mount  Vernon,  Illinois.  As  a young  man  he  entered 
the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
for  a number  of  years  preached  at  various  points 
in  Indiana,  but  in  1855  took  up  his  residence  in  Min- 
nesota, his  first  sermon  in  this  state  being  preached 
at  Cannon  Falls.  This  sermon  was  also  the  first 
preached  in  that  vicinity.  Here  he  continued  to  re- 
side until  his  death  in  1868,  and  when  not  engaged 
in  ministerial  work  followed  farming  and  school 
teaching.  He  was  married  in  Bartholomew  County, 
Indiana,  in  1851,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Clark,  who  was 
born  at  Columbus,  Indiana,  in  1832,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Clark,  and  she  died  in  1866,  having  been 
the  mother  of  five  children,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing: Mrs.  Mary  Clifford,  of  Cannon  Falls,  Minne- 
sota; Mrs.  Belle  Price,  of  Seattle,  Washington;  and 
Dr.  George  R.,  of  this  review. 

George  Robert  Curran  received  his  early  education 
in  the  country  schools  of  Minnesota,  following  which 
he  attended  the  Hastings  High  School.  His  aca- 
demic course  was  pursued  at  Carleton  College, 
Northfield,  Minnesota,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1887,  and  he  entered  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor, 
where  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine 
in  1892.  Doctor  Curran  at  once  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Worthington,  Minne- 
sota, and  there  remained  nine  years,  the  following 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1605 


year  being  spent  in  post-graduate  study  in  the  col- 
leges and  hospitals  of  Europe.  On  his  return  to  the 
United  States  he  opened  an  office  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  Mankato,  and  here  has  continued  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a constantly  increasing  practice,  he 
now  devoting  his  entire  time  to  surgery.  Doctor 
Curran  has  not  only  a large  home  oractice,  but  is 
often  called  to  distant  parts  of  the  state,  for  his 
reputation  has  extended  far  beyond  the  limits  of 
his  community.  He  has  always  been  a close  student 
of  his  profession  and  has  made  constant  and  rapid 
progress,  keeping  well  informed  concerning  all  the 
theories  and  discoveries  relating  to  surgical  science 
and  leading  the  way  in  some  lines  of  original  investi- 
gation. At  this  time  he  maintains  offices  in  the  Na- 
tional City  Bank  Building.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Blue  Earth  County  Medical  Society,  the  Minnesota 
State  Medical  Society,  the  Southern  Minnesota 
Medical  Society,  the  Southwestern  Medical  Society 
and  the  American  Medical  Association,  and  frater- 
nally is  identified  with  Mankato  Lodge  No.  12,  An- 
cient Free  & Accepted  Masons,  and  Mankato  Lodge 
No.  225,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  Elks.  In 
political  matters  he  is  a republican. 

On  December  20,  1892,  Doctor  Curran  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Katrina  Manson.  Her  father,  Dr.  Mel- 
ville Manson,  was  born  in  Maine,  in  1835,  became 
an  eminent  practitioner,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  was  made  surgeon  of  the  Fifth  Maine 
Volunteers,  with  which  organization  he  participated 
in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  and  most  of  the  engage- 
ments of  the  Peninsula  campaign.  In  1868  he  came 
to  Minnesota  and  for  a number  of  years  practiced 
his  profession  at  South  Bend,  Shakopee  and  St. 
Paul.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Moody,  a young 
lady  from  the  East,  who  was  born  in  1840.  One 
child  has  been  born  to  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Curran : 
Doris  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  October  4,  1893,  and 
is  now  a senior  at  Carleton  College,  Northfield. 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Curran  and  their  daughter  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Tean  A.  Flittie’s  chief  service  as  a lawyer  at 
Mankato  has  been  rendered  through  his  occupancy 
of  the  office  of  referee  in  bankruptcy,  which  he 
has  held  for  a number  of  years.  His  findings  have 
been  almost  uniformly  satisfactory,  and  in  this 
quasi-judicial  position  he  has  gained  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  have  handled  matters  under 
his  jurisdiction.  Mr.  Flittie  has  been  a member  of 
the  Mankato  bar  more  than  twenty  years,  and  has 
also  been  an  important  factor  in  local  civic  and 
municipal  work. 

Jean  A.  Flittie  was  born  in  Norway,  July_4,  1866, 
a son  of  Johannes  and  Anna  (Afden)  Flittie.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Thron  Flittie,  died  in  Norway, 
where  he  was  a farmer.  There  is  a farm  in  Norway 
called  Flittie,  and  this  family  have  had  their  resi- 
dence there  for  a numbet  of  generations.  Both 
parents  were  born  in  Norway,  Johannes  on  July  14, 
1823,  and  his  wife  on  July  24,  1827.  He  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1900,  and  she  on  September  8,  1909.  On 
July  4,  1869,  just  three  years  after  Jean  was  born,  the 
family  set  out  from  Bergen.  Norway,  taking  passage 
on  a sailing  vessel,  and  after  seven  weeks  on  the 
ocean  landed  in  Quebec.  They  came  on  to  Minne- 
sota, and  the  father  homesteaded  a farm  near  Ma- 
delia,  and  that  farm  is  still  owned  by  the  family.  The 
father  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  but  later  became  a Seventh  Day  Adventist. 
He  was  a republican  in  politics  but  took  little  part  in 


public  affairs,  since  he  never  learned  to  speak  the 
English  language.  Though  he  was  a poor  immigrant 
when  he  arrived  in  Minnesota,  by  industry  he  suc- 
ceeded in  rearing  his  family  in  some  degree  of  com- 
fort and  fitting  them  for  useful  citizenship.  There 
were  nine  children  in  all,  and  the  five  still  living 
are:  Jorgen,  a farmer  at  Brookings,  South  Dakota^ 
Mrs.  Hans  Jorgenson,  whose  husband  is  a merchant 
tailor  at  Mankato;  Matt  J„  living  at  Battle  Moun 
tain,  Nevada;  Jean  A.;  and  Thron,  who  occupies 
the  old  homestead.  One  of  the  sons,  John  Flittie. 
who  was  born  in  Norway  March  22,  1856,  and  died 
at  Williston,  North  Dakota,  January  21,  1913,  gained 
a prominent  position  in  the  Northwest.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  Mankato  Normal  School  in  1878, 
and  moved  out  to  Dakota  Territory  soon  afterwards. 
He  was  a member  of  the  legislature  for  one  term 
at  Yankton,  and  was  the  first  secretary  of  state  in 
North  Dakota,  serving  two  terms. 

Jean.  A.  Flittie  received  his  first  training  in  local 
schools  near  his  home,  and  in  1888  graduated  from 
the  Mankato  Normal  School.  Four  years  of 
his  early  career  were  spent  in  teaching  and  for  two 
years  he  was  principal  of  the  schools  at  Mayville, 
North  Dakota.  In  1892  Mr.  Flittie  was  graduated 
in  law  from  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  took 
active  practice  at  Mankato  in  1893.  For  more  than 
sixteen  years  he  has  held  the  office  of  referee  in 
bankruptcy. 

In  1898  Mr.  Flittie  married  Elizabeth  Keysor  of 
Mankato,  a daughter  of  Capt.  Clark  Keysor,  who 
gained  his  title  by  service  in  the  Civil  war  in  Com- 
pany E of  the  First  Minnesota  Regiment.  Captain 
Keysor  was  of  an  old  New  England  family,  and  his 
wife  is  the  granddaughter  of  a Revolutionary  sol- 
dier. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flittie  are  the  parents  of  one 
daughter,  Louise  Ingrid,  now  fifteen  years  of  age 
and  attending  high  school.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Flittie  has  served  as 
master  of  Mankato  Lodge  No.  12,  Ancient  Free  & 
Accepted  Masons,  has  passed  the  chairs  of  Mankato 
Lodge  No.  15,  Independent  Order  Odd  Fellows,  and 
is  a member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks. 

His  part  in  politics  has  been  as  a member  of  the 
democratic  party.  In  1914  he  was  candidate  for 
Congress  from  his  district,  but  was  unable  to  over- 
come the  heavy  normal  republican  majority.  For 
six  years  he  served  on  the  library  board,  was  also 
a member  of  the  park  commission,  and  was  on  the 
city’s  utility  commission.  Mankato  people  recog- 
nize his  thorough  public  spirit  and  his  usefulness  in 
any  responsibility  placed  upon  him. 

Benjamin  Taylor.  A successful  lawyer  and  a 
fearless  leader  of  public  opinion  in  the  City  of  Man- 
kato, Benjamin  Taylor  has  practiced  his  profession 
there  for  the  past  twenty  years.  He  is  a native 
Minnesotan,  and  is  an  alumnus  of  the  university. 

Benjamin  Taylor  was  born  in  Minneapolis,  De- 
cember 14,  1871,  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Hannah  J. 
(Monaghan)  Taylor.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
Lowndes  Taylor,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  of 
English  parents,  and  spent  his  life  in  Pennsylvania 
as  a farmer.  He  was  in  religion  a member  of  that 
quiet  sect  of  Quakers.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  John  J.  Monaghan,  who  was  also  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, followed  the  trade  of  tanner,  and  his  par- 
ents came  from  Ireland.  Benjamin  Taylor,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1825  and  died  in  1887,  while 


1606 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


his  wife  was  born  in  1836  and  died  in  1906.  After 
their  marriage  in  Pennsylvania  they  moved  out  to 
the  Northwest  in  1867,  locating  in  Minneapolis.  Ben- 
jamin Taylor,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  millers  of 
the  great  flour  metropolis,  and  that  was  the  business 
which  occupied  him  all  his  active  career.  In  the 
early  days  of  the  development  of  Minneapolis  as  a 
flour  center  he  was  associated  in  the  industry  with 
Charles  A.  Pillsbury.  The  senior  Taylor  and  wife 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  all  of  them  liv- 
ing, as  follows : Frederick  J.,  who  is  division  en- 
gineer on  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  with  head- 
quarters at  Livingston,  Montana;  George  H.,  a resi- 
dent of  Hastings,  Minnesota ; Mary  H.,  who  is  _ a 
Christian  Science  practitioner  at  Minneapolis ; Wil- 
liam J.,  a pastor  of  the  Universalist  Church  at  Oak 
Park,  Chicago,  Illinois;  Benjamin,  Jr.;  Anna  R.,  of 
Minneapolis ; and  Joseph  E.,  who  is  with  the  United 
States  Fidelity  and  Guaranty  Company  of  Chicago. 
Mr.  Taylor’s  father  was  a Universalist  in  religion 
and  in  politics  a republican. 

Benjamin  Taylor  attended  public  schools  m his 
youth,  was  graduated  Bachelor  of  Science  from  the 
University  of  Minnesota  in  1893,  and  then  continued 
in  the  law  department  until  taking  the  degree 
LL.  B.  in  1895.  His  professional  career  has  been 
passed' in  Mankato,  where  he  began  practice  in  1895 
associated  with  Mr.  Fletcher  of  Minneapolis  under 
the  firm  name  of  Fletcher  & Taylor.  Since  this 
partnership  was  dissolved  Mr.  Taylor  has  practiced 
as  an  individual,  and  enjoys  a large  general 
clientage  „ , . . 

In  1901  he  married  Lucy  Pope  of  Mankato,  daugh- 
ter of  Edmund  M.  Pope,  who  attained  the  rank  of 
brigadier  general  in  the  Civil  war,  having  entered 
the  service  as  major  of  the  Eighth  New  York  Cav- 
alry and  remaining  until  the  close  of  hostilities. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: Virginia  Pope,  Harlan  Pope  and  Benjamin, 
Jr.  The  two  older  are  now  students  in  the  Man- 
kato Normal  School.  The  family  all  attend  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.”  Taylor  has  been  quite  prominent  in  the  Bene- 
volent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  having  served 
as  exalted  ruler  of  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225  in  1910, 
as  district  deputy  in  1911,  and  has  attended  grand 
lodges  both  at  Portland,  Oregon,  and  Atlantic  City. 
He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Royal  Arcanum,  with 
the  Psi  Upsilon  and  the  Delta  Tan  Delta  college 
fraternities. 

' A republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Taylor  has  been  fre- 
quently heard  in  state  and  local  campaigns,  and  is 
an  effective  worker  for  the  party  and  for  the  gen- 
eral cause  of  good  government.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  serving  as  United  States  commissioner 
at  Mankato  through  appointment  by  the  United 
States  district  judge.  Every  year  he  makes  a few 
campaign  speeches,  and  in  1914  was  unsuccessful 
candidate  for  election  as  district  judge.  Mr.  Tay- 
lor is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Mankato  Savings 
Bank. 

Hon.  Clarence  Bennett  Buckman.  The  forty- 
two  years  since  Mr.  Buckman  located  in  the  vicinity 
of  Little  Falls  have  been  employed  in  activities  and 
a varied  service  which  render  him  one  of  the  fore- 
most citizens  of  Minnesota.  He  has  always  been 
a leader  in  public  affairs,  as  he  has  been  successful' 
in  business,  and  besides  the  various  local  offices 
which  he  has  at  times  filled  he  has  represented  his 
district  in  Congress,  served  a number  of  years  in 


the  State  Legislature,  both  in  the  House  and  in  the 
Senate,  and  for  the  past  six  years  has  been  deputy 
United  States  marshal. 

Clarence  Bennett  Buckman  was  born  in  Doyles- 
town,  Pennsylvania,  April  1,  1851,  a son  of  William 
and  Jennie  (Bennett)  Buckman,  substantial  farming 
people  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Buckman  family  came 
to  America  early  in  the  seventeenth  century,  and  the 
original  ancestor  made  the  voyage  on  the  sailing 
ship  Welcome. 

When  Clarence  B.  Buckman  came  out  to  Little 
Falls  in  1872  he  took  up  a homestead  in  Morrison 
County,  proved  up  on  his  claim,  and  his  enterprise 
as  a farmer  was  the  foundation  of  his  commercial 
success. 

He  continued  to  buy  land  until  at  one  time  he 
owned  1,400  acres,  all  under  cultivation.  Between 
1873  and  1906  practically  all  his  time  was  devoted 
to  the  management  of  his  agricultural  interests.  Dur- 
ing that  time  he  established  on  his  farm  the  Town 
of  Buckman,  a prosperous  little  village,  now  of  about 
500  population. 

In  1873  Mr.  Buckman  held  his  first  local  office, 
as  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1881  he  was  sent  to  the 
State  Legislature,  serving  two  years  in  the  lower 
house,  and  in  1883  became  state  senator,  and  was 
in  that  body  for  eight  successive  years,  and  was 
later  elected  for  another  four-year  term.  Mr.  Buck- 
man  represented  his  district  in  the  Fifty-eighth  and 
Fifty-ninth  Congress,  and  while  in  Washington 
served  as  a member  of  several  important  commit- 
tees. 

Since  1880  he  has  lived  in  the  City  of  Little  Falls. 
For  twenty  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  and  built  a sawmill  at  Sauk  Rapids.  At 
Little  Falls  he  gave  the  city  Hotel  Buckman,  a 
modern  house  of  entertainment  containing  fifty-five 
rooms.  He  also  built  a garage  80  by  150  feet,  and 
constructed  the  Realty  Block,  where  the  Merchants 
State  Bank  is  now  located. 

He  was  also  one  of  the  principals  in  the  Little 
Falls  Packing  Company.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent 
men  in  his  section  of  Minnesota,  and  has  done 
much  in  the  way  of  public  service,  and  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  office  of  deputy  United  States  marshal 
was  one  based  upon  his  singular  fitness  for  public 
position. 

In  1887  Mr.  Buckman  married  Emina  Harvy,  of 
St.  Cloud,  Minnesota.  To  their  union  were  born 
two  children.  The  daughter  Maude  is  the  wife  of 
John  A.  Burg,  of  Little  Falls,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  automobile  business.  The  son,  Mark  M., 
who  lives  in  Little  Falls,  is  proprietor  of  the  Motor 
Inn  Garage.  He  married  Grace  M.  Schroder  of 
Little  Falls,  and  they  have  one  child,  Clarence  Ben- 
nett. 

In  the  year  1905  Mr.  Buckman  married  Alice  R. 
Shea  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  Fraternally  he  is 
identified  with  the  lodge. and  chapter  of  the  Masonic 
order,  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 

George  G.  Krost.  Now  serving  as  clerk  of  courts 
for  Blue  Earth  County,  George  G.  Krost  is^  the  son 
of  a pioneer  family  of  this  section  of  Minnesota, 
and  is  a man  whose  worth  is  well  known  and  ap- 
preciated and  has  been  an  independent  worker  and 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes  since  twenty-one 
years  of  age. 

George  G.  Krost  was  born  at  Mankato,  August 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1607 


24,  1866.  His  parents  were  J.  P.  and  Gertrude 
(Keifer)  Krost,  both  of  them  natives  of  Germany. 
His  father  was  born  in  1823  and  died  in  1877  and 
his  mother  was  born  in  1828  and  died  November 
29,  1905.  They  came  to  America  when  young,  were 
married  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  in  1854  came  out 
to  Minnesota  Territory  and  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Blue  Earth  County.  J.  P.  Krost  con- 
ducted a grist  mill  at  Lake  Washington  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  but  afterwards  moved  to  Mankato  and 
while  employed  by  the  Rocky  Flour  Mill  contracted 
pneumonia  and  died.  He  and  his  wife  were  both 
active  members  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  Catholic 
Church,  having  membership  in  the  church  societies, 
and  in  politics  he  was  a democrat.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living. 
Besides  George  G.  the  children  are  mentioned  brief- 
ly as  follows.  John  and  Clara,  twins;  Mary; 
Peter;  Theresa;  and  Jennie.  John  is  a harness 
salesman  with  the  O.  W.  Schmitt  Saddlery  Com- 
pany of  Mankato.  Clara  is  the  wife  of  John  B. 
Hodapp,  of  Mankato.  Mrs.  Mary  Power  is  now  a 
widow  and  lives  at  Corpus  Christi,  Texas.  Peter 
is  proprietor  of  a confectionery  store  in  St.  Paul. 
Theresa  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Borgmeier,  while  Jen- 
nie married  Mr.  Hefner  of  El  Campo,  Texas,  where 
she  now  resides. 

George  G.  Krost  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  parochial  schools  at  Mankato,  attended  the  high 
school,  and  before  his  majority  was  engaged  in  his 
own  support  and  has  been  an  active  and  vigorous 
worker  for  himself  and  others  for  many  years.  His 
first  employment  was  with  Moore,  Piper  & Com- 
pany, wholesale  druggists  and  agents  for  the  Stand- 
ard Oil  Company.  After  three  years  the  firm  went 
out  of  business,  and  Mr.  Krost  then  was  employed 
by  the  Standard  Oil  Company  for  eleven  years.  He 
was  connected  with  the  Standard  Cement  Company 
until  1893,  at  which  time  the  business  failed,  then 
was  with  the  firm  of  Lamm  & Laudkammer,  and 
subsequently  became  bookkeeper  for  the  Minne- 
apolis Brewing  Company  at  Moorehead.  As  man- 
ager for  this  company  he  was  sent  to  Mankato,  and 
somewhat  later  became  identified  with  local  poli- 
tics. In  March,  1909,  Mr.  Krost  was  elected  city 
recorder,  and  on  May  15,  1909,  the  clerk  of  court, 
Stephen  Thorn,  having  died,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  vacant  position  by  Hon.  A.  R.  Pfau.  Mr. 
Krost  was  regularly  elected  clerk  of  court  in  1910, 
and  re-elected  in  1914.  He  gives  all  his  time  to  the 
duties  of  his  office,  and  is  one  of  the  best  known 
citizens  of  Mankato.  Politically  he  is  a democrat, 
but  stands  somewhat  independently  so  far  as  party 
affiliation  is  concerned. 

In  1895  Mr.  Krost  married  May  Schleif  of  St. 
Paul.  Their  three  children  are : George  P.,  born 

March  29,  1896,  now  attending  the  Mankato  High 
School ; Dorothy,  born  September  27,  1903,  in  the 
public  schools ; and  Kenneth  M.,  who  was  born  at 
Moorehead,  November  6,  1906,  and  is  also  in  school. 
The  family  are  members  of  St.  John’s  Catholic 
Church.  Fraternally  Mr.  Krost  has  a number  of  in- 
teresting affiliations,  has  served  for  sixteen  years  as 
recorder  for  the  lodge  of  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  is  a member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters,  of  the  Sons  of  Hermann,  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Degree  of 
Honor,  and  the  Order  of  Samaritans. 

Charles  L.  Pillsbury.  The  ability  and  effective 
service  of  Mr.  Pillsbury  in  connection  with  his 
Voi.  in— 22 


chosen  profession  have  been  shown  by  results.  He  is 
one  of  the  representative  consulting  engineers  of 
Minnesota,  and  is  the  executive  head  of  the  Charles 
L.  Pillsbury  Company,  Engineers,  with  offices  in 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  and  consulting  engineers 
to  the  Minnesota  State  Board  of  Control.  Mr.  Pills- 
bury is  also  at  present  engaged  as  chief  engineer  of 
the  valuation  bureau  of  the  Public  Utilities  Com- 
mission of  the  District  of  Columbia,  which  is  con- 
ducting a valuation  of  all  the  public  utilities  of  the 
District. 

Charles  Lucien  Pillsbury  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Minneapolis,  and  is  a son  of  Charles  F.  and  Fran- 
ces H.  (Boynton)  Pillsbury,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  at  Kingfield,  Maine,  and  the  latter  at 
East  New  Portland,  that  state,  each  being  a de- 
scendant in  the  sixth  generation  of  families  that 
were  founded  in  New  England  in  the  early  colonial 
era,  the  original  American  progenitors  having  emi- 
grated from  England  and  representatives  of  both 
families  having  been  aligned  as  patriot  soldiers  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Charles  F.  Pillsbury, 
who  was  a lawyer  by  profession,  came  to  Minne- 
sota and  established  his  residence  in  Minneapolis  in 
the  late  ’60s.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business,  of  which  he  became  an  influential  and  suc- 
cessful representative,  and  here  he  continued  to  re- 
side until  his  death  in  1887 ; his  venerable  widow 
now  resides  in  the  home  of  her  daughter  in  the 
City  of  Seattle,  Washington. 

Charles  L.  Pillsbury  is  indebted  to  the  public 
schools  of  Minneapolis  for  his  early  educational  dis- 
cipline and  here  availed  himself  also  of  the  advan- 
tages of  the  Minneapolis  Academy.  Thereafter  he 
took  special  work  in  electrical  engineering  at  Pur- 
due University,  at  Lafayette,  Indiana,  and  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota.  He  has  since  been  ac- 
tively and  effectively  identified  with  the  work  of  his 
chosen  profession,  in  connection  with  which  he  has 
filled  many  important  contracts  in  the  designing  and 
supervising  of  municipal  and  private  electric  light 
and  power  plants,  waterworks  systems,  etc.,  in  the 
designing  and  supervising  of  the  mechanical  equip- 
ments of  large  buildings  and  industrial  plants,  and 
in  valuations  and  rate  investigations  of  public  utili- 
ties. 

From  1893  to  1899  Mr.  Pillsbury  served  as  city 
electrician  of  Minneapolis ; from  1899  to  1901  he 
was  general  superintendent  of  the  Minneapolis  In- 
ternational Electric  Light,  Heat  and  Power  Com- 
pany; from  1902  to  1904  he  was  a special  partner 
of  the  firm  of  W.  I.  Gray  & Company,  contracting 
engineers,  Minneapolis ; in  1905-06  he  was  pro- 
prietor of  the  engineering  business  conducted  at  St. 
Paul,  under  the  title  of  the  Northwest  Engineering 
Company;  since  1906  he  has  held  the  position  of 
consulting  engineer  to  the  Minnesota  State  Board 
of  Control  and  has  been  frequently  engaged  in 
valuations  and  rate  investigations  of  public  utilities 
and  other  engineering  undertakings  by  the  cities  of 
Minneapolis,  St.  Paul  and  Duluth.  For  the  past 
year.  Mr.  Pillsbury,  as  a matter  of  course,  has 
passed  much  of  his  time  in  the  City  of  Washing- 
ton, District  of  Columbia,  but  still  gives  his  per- 
sonal supervision  to  the  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul 
offices  of  the  Charles  L.  Pillsbury  Company.  He 
holds  active  membership  in  the  American  Society 
of  Civil  Engineers,  the  American  Society  of  Me- 
chanical Engineers,  the  American  Institute  of  Elec- 
trical Engineers,  and  the  Engineers  Club  of  Minne- 
apolis. He  is  identified  with  the  Interlachen  Coun- 


1608 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


try  Club  of  Minneapolis,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic 
Club,  the  Minnesota  Club  of  St.  Paul,  and  the 
University  Club  of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Pillsbury  is 
a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce 
Association,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Fraternity  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1899,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Pillsbury  to  Miss  Eva  M.  Kinsey, 
of  Minneapolis,  her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  P. 
Kinsey,  having  come  to  Minnesota  from  Albany, 
New  York. 

William  Patrick  Murphy.  One  of  the  leading 
lawyers  of  Crookston,  William  P.  Murphy  has  al- 
ways shown  himself  a man  of  independence,  self 
reliance  and  willing  to  make  his  success  in  the 
world  through  his  individual  efforts.  He  was  never 
sent  through  college  as  the  son  of  a rich  father, 
but  gained  his  education  like  everything  else  in  life 
by  dint  of  concentration  and  earning  his  livelihood 
at  the  same  time  as  advancing  his  abilities  to  fit 
himself  for  his  profession. 

William  Patrick  Murphy  was  born  at  Ottawa, 
Canada,  March  7,  1876,  a son  of  Patrick  and  Mary 
Ann  (Keegan)  Murphy.  His  father  was  a lumber- 
man, and  when  William  P.  was  five  years  of  age 
the  family  removed  to  Wisconsin,  locating  at  Eau 
Claire.  In  that  city  he  attended  the  public  schools, 
worked  in  different  lines  for  a time,  finally  learned 
stenography,  and  while  thus  employed  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  private  offices.  He  came  to  Crook- 
ston in  January,  1899,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Min- 
nesota bar  in  March,  1903. 

For  the  past  twelve  years  he  has  been  engaged 
in  a substantial  general  practice  as  a lawyer,  and 
has  also  interested  himself  in  various  local  move- 
ments and  organizations.  He  was  an  alderman  of 
the  city  from  1908  to  1910,  and  was  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Commercial  Club.  He  is  a past  exalted 
ruler  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  and  is  a member  of  the  executive  board  of 
the  Modern  Samaritans.  At  the  present  time  he 
holds  the  position  of  United  States  commissioner. 
Other  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  the  Royal 
League  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  He  takes 
much  part  in  out  of  door  sports,  is  a member  of 
the  Crookston  Gun  Club,  the  Tennis  Club,  and  the 
Crookston  Automobile  Club.  He  is  one  of  the  men 
who  has  helped  to  establish  what  is  known  as  the 
old  “Territorial  Road’’  from  St.  Anthony  Falls  to 
Winnipeg,  Canada,  and  he  used  his  influence  of 
getting  this  road  located  through  Crookston. 

Mr.  Murphy  was  married  June  12,  1901,  to 
Beatrice  McAvoy  of  Crookston. 

D.  Grashius.  One  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Chippewa  County,  a banker  at  Montevideo,  D. 
Grashius  is  a native  of  Holland,  and  came  to  Minne- 
sota as  representative  for  a large  Holland  emigra- 
tion company.  Though  at  the  time  unacquainted 
with  the  American  language  and  customs,  he  quick- 
ly adapted  himself  to  the  conditions  of  a new 
country,  and  has  since  become  one  of  the  stable 
and  valuable  business  men  of  his  home  locality. 

D.  Grashius  was  born  in  Holland  in  1858,  a son 
of  A.  and  Willemtje  Grashius.  His  father  was 
born  in  Holland  in  1825,  and  his  mother  in  1834, 
she  passing  away  in  1885.  D.  Grashius  came  to 
Minnesota  in  1889  representing  the  Netherland- 
American  Agricultural  Company,  which  bought 
twenty  thousand  acres  in  this  state.  Mr.  Grashius 


was  one  of  the  representatives  of  this  large  immi- 
gration and  settlement  concern  for  thirteen  years, 
and  since  1902  has  been  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  for  himself.  He  subsequently  became  in- 
terested in  the  German-American  State  Bank  of 
Montevideo,  which  he  assisted  to  organize  with  C. 
B.  Enkema,  A.  J.  Prince,  and  A.  Enkema.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  held  the  office  of  president,  and  has 
recently  become  its  cashier. 

Mr.  Grashius  was  married  in  1891  to  Ida  Douma. 
They  have  one  son,  William  D.,  now  twenty-three 
years  of  age  and.  serving  as  assistant  cashier  in  the 
German-American  Bank.  This  son  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  graduated  from  Carleton  Col- 
lege at  Northfield  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts  and  also  took  two  years  in  law  at  the  State 
University.  Mrs.  Grashius  is  a daughter  of  G.  M. 
and  Stemka  Douma,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Holland  and  were  early  settlers  in  Minnesota. 

Thomas  Olsen.  The  business  life  of  any  com- 
munity depends  upon  and  is  largely  characterized 
by  the  personality  and  enterprise  of  its  effective 
leaders.  Every  successful  institution  has  some  suc- 
cessful man  or  men  connected  with  it.  The  thriving 
business  community  of  Stephen  has  a prosperous 
bank  known  as  the  Scandia  State  Bank,  and  closely 
identified  with  its  management  from  the  time  of  its 
organization  down  to  the  present  has  been  Thomas 
Olsen,  whose  previous  record  was  that  of  a sub- 
stantial real  estate  man  and  farmer,  and  who  has 
supplied  the  effective  influence  of  his  personality 
and  experience  in  the  handling  of  the  material  re- 
sources and  commercial  service  of  this  local  bank. 

The  Scandia  State  Bank  was  organized  in  1901 
with  a capital  stock  of  $10,000.  Its  president  since 
organization  has  been  H.  L.  Melgaard,  the  well 
known  banker  of  Marshall  County.  The  vice  presi- 
dent is  O.  L.  Melgaard,  and  as  already  stated 
Thomas  Olsen  has  been  cashier  from  the  beginning. 
The  bank  is  housed  in  a substantial  one-story 
frame  building  22x40  feet.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  1914  its  total  resources  amounted  to  over 
$110,000.  The  capital  stock  is  $10,000,  surplus  $4,000, 
and  undivided  profits  $1,500.  The  deposits  at  the 
present  writing  aggregate  approximately  $100,000. 
An  interesting  feature  of  the  statement  is  that  the 
cash  reserve  approximated  140  per  cent,  though  the 
requirements  of  the  banking  laws  provide  for  only 
20  per  cent. 

Thomas  Olsen,  whose  position  in  the  business 
community  has  thus  been  briefly  noted,  was  born 
in  Norway,  July  5,  1866,  a son  of  Ole  O.  and  Agot 
Rishovd.  His  father  was  a farmer,  and  about 
1886  brought  the  family  to  America  and  located  in 
Norman  County,  Minnesota.  Thomas  Olsen  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  Norway,  and  had 
practical  farming  experience  in  the  old  country  be- 
fore coming  to  America.  In  Minnesota  he  was 
employed  for  a time  as  clerk  in  general  stores,  and 
has  been  a resident  of  Stephen  since  1895.  In  that 
village  he  opened  an  office  for  the  handling  of 
loan  and  real  estate  business  and  gave  all  his  at- 
tention to  that  line  until  he  became  associated  with 
Mr.  Melgaard  in  1901  in  the  organization  of  the 
Scandia  State  Bank,  and  was  its  first  and  has  been 
its  only  cashier. 

Mr.  Olsen  is  also  a director  of  the  Stephen  Im- 
plement Company.  He  owns  farm  land  in  Mar- 
shall County  to  the  extent  of  800  acres.  His  only 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1609 


fraternal  association  is  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America. 

In  November,  1893,  he  married  Bella  Armot, 
who  was  born  in  Norway,  but  was  reared  in  Min- 
nesota. They  have  one  son,  Odin  T.  Olsen,  born 
May  19,  1895,  and  in  addition  to  his  duties  as  as- 
sistant cashier  of  the  Scandia  Bank  has  the  active 
supervision  of  his  father’s  farming  interests.  This 
son  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  a com- 
mercial college.  Mr.  Thomas  Olsen  is  treasurer  of 
the  Scandia  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  and  his 
family  worship. 

Berton  J.  Branton,  M.  D.  Of  the  native  sons 
of  Kandiyohi  County  who  have  gained  eminence  in 
professional  life  through  the  possession  of  supe- 
rior talents,  none  have  achieved  more  deserved  suc- 
cess than  has  Dr.  Berton  J.  Branton,  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Willmar,  where  he  has  a very  large  prac- 
tice and  conducts  a modern  hospital.  He  was  born 
at  Willmar,  September  20,  1883,  and  is  a son  of 
J.  F.  and  Alice  (Thompson)  Branton. 

The  Branton  family  was  founded  in  America  by 
the  grandfather  of  Doctor  Branton,  Robert  Bran- 
ton, a native  of  England,  who  emigrated  to  Can- 
ada and  there  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 
His  son,  J.  F.  Branton,  was  born  in  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, in  1859,  and  was  married  at  St.  Thomas,  On- 
tario, January  n,  1880,  to  Alice  Thompson,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  province  in  1864.  They  moved 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  at  Willmar  in 
1882,  and  here  for  manv  years  Mr.  Branton  was 
connected  with  the  Great  Northern  Railroad  as  a 
train  dispatcher.  He  is  now  a resident  of  Minne- 
apolis, where  he  is  state  manager  for  Minnesota 
of  the  Central  Life  Insurance  Company.  A repub- 
lican in  politics,  Mr.  Branton  was  active  in  public 
affairs  for  a number  of  years.  He  is  a Mason,  and 
both  he  and  Mrs.  Branton  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons : Dr.  Berton  J. ; and  Allays,  who  is  studying 

medicine  at  the  University  of  Minnesota. 

Berton  J.  Branton  graduated  from  the  Willmar 
High  School  in  1901,  and  after  some  further  prep- 
aration entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1903,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 
He  began  practice  at  Atwater,  Minnesota,  where  he 
continued  for  2V2  years,  and  then  returned  to  Will- 
mar and  opened  an  office,  being  successful  in  build- 
ing up  an  excellent  private  practice.  Realizing  the 
needs  of  the  community,  Doctor  Branton,  after  sev- 
eral years  of  residence  at  Willmar,  began  the  erec- 
tion of  a private  hospital,  which  was  completed 
and  ready  for  service  in  1914,  and  of  this  he  has 
since  remained  as  sole  proprietor.  Here  he  has 
twenty  beds,  with  every  appliance  known  to  the 
profession  for  the  successful  treatment  of  the  most 
difficult  and  delicate  cases.  He  has  specialized  in 
surgical  cases,  and  that  this  institution  has  filled 
a long-felt  want  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that 
during  the  first  year  of  its  existence  Doctor  Bran- 
ton handled  successfully  over  250  cases.  Doctor 
Branton  is  a close  and  careful  student,  a thoroughly 
learned  practitioner  and  a steady-handed  surgeon. 
He  maintains  membership  in  the  Swift  County  Med- 
ical Society,  the  Kandiyohi  County  Medical  Society, 
the  Southern  Minnesota  Medical  Association,  the 
Minnesota  State  Medical  Society  and  the  American 
Medical  Association.  During  the  past  eight  years 
he  has  rendered  the  community  invaluable  service 


as  county  coroner.  Politically  he  is  a republican, 
and  his  fraternal  connections  include  membership 
in  Sharon  Lodge  No.  104,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  master,  and  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of 
Masonry.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  Branton  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  1906  Doctor  Branton  was  married  to  Miss  Alice 
A.  Brown,  daughter  of  Hon.  C.  L.  Brown,  judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Minnesota,  and  three  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union : Alice,  who  was  born 

in  1907;  Elizabeth,  born  in  1909;  and  Calvin,  born 
in  1911.  Both  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Branton  are  well 
known  in  social  circles  of  Willmar,  where  they 
have  numerous  appreciative  friends. 

Josiah  B.  Crooker.  A publication  of  this  order 
exercises  one  of  its  supreme  and  most  consistent 
functions  when  it  enters  memorial  tribute  to  such 
sterling  and  influential  pioneers  as  was  the  late 
Josiah  B.  Crooker,  who  left  a definite  impress  upon 
the  history  of  Minnesota,  and  who  aided  potently  in 
the  civic  and  material  development  of  the  state.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  honored  citizens  of  Minne- 
apolis at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  here  occurred 
on  the  30th  of  May,  1912,  and  it  is  most  gratifying 
to  offer  in  this  work  a brief  review  of  his  career. 

Josiah  B.  Crooker  was  born  in  Cayuga  County, 
New  York,  on  the  3d  of  August,  1828,  and  thus  he 
was  nearly  eighty-four  years  of  age  at  the  time 
when  he  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal, — a man 
who  had  accounted  well  to  himself  and  to  the  world 
in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  who  commanded  the 
unqualified  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  The 
Crooker  lineage  is  traced  back  to  English  origin 
and  the  name  became  identified  with  American  his- 
tory in  the  early  colonial  era,  several  representa- 
tives of  the  family  having  been  found  aligned  as 
valiant  soldiers  in  the  Continental  forces  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution.  Josiah  B.  Crooker  was 
accorded  good  educational  advantages,  as  gauged 
by  the  standards  which  obtained  in  his  youth,  and 
in  1849,  at  the  time  of  the  memorable  discovery  of 
gold  in  California,  he  was  to  have  been  found  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  an  academy  at  Homer,  New 
York.  The  gold  excitement  made  definite  appeal 
to  his  ambition  and  adventurous  spirit,  and  in  the 
early  ’50s  he  joined  the  throng  of  argonauts  who 
were  making  their  way  to  the  New  Eldorado.  He 
crossed  the  plains  to  California,  where  he  met  with 
definite  success  in  his  operations  as  a placer  miner, 
and  where  he  remained  for  some  time.  After  his 
return  to  the  old  Empire  State  he  there  took  unto 
himself  a wife,  in  the  person  of  Miss  Frances 
Phillips,  who  proved  to  him  a devoted  companion 
and  helpmeet  during  the  long  years  of  their  wedded 
life.  About  the  year  1855  the  young  couple  came 
to  Minnesota  and  numbered  themselves  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Steele  County.  There  Mr.  Crooker 
entered  claim  to  a tract  of  wild  land  and  instituted 
the  development  of  a farm.  A considerable  por- 
tion of  the  present  thriving  little  City  of  Owatonna, 
the  judicial  center  of  that  county,  is  situated  on  a 
part  of  his  original  homestead  place.  Mr.  Crooker 
did  well  his  part  in  furthering  the  development 
and  upbuilding  of  that  section  of  the  state,  en- 
dured his  share  of  the  hardships  and  trials  that 
ever  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  pioneer,  and  became  one 
of  the  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  the 
community.  He  was  one  of  the  first  merchants  at 
Owatonna,  where  he  continued  in  business  until 
the  late  ’60s,  likewise  giving  his  supervision  to  his 


1610 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


farm,  and  he  finally  turned  his  attention  to  the 
lumber  business,  as  a member  of  the  firm  of 
Crooker  Brothers  & Lamoreaux,  with  main  office 
and  lumber  yards  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis,  where 
he  established  his  home  in  1870,  the  firm  having 
a number  of  lumber  yards  scattered  over  the  state 
and  having  long  controlled  a large  and  profitable 
business.  The  Minneapolis  office  of  this  firm  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  present  Metropolitan  Life  Build- 
ing, and  the  lumber  yards  of  the  firm  occupied  the 
block  where  the  old  postoffice  now  stands,  together 
with  the  block  across  the  street,  where  is  situated 
the  Soo  Railway  Building. 

Mr.  Crooker  retired  from  the  lumber  business  in 
1877  and  then  went  to  the  Black  Hills  in  South 
Dakota,  where  he  engaged  in  mining  operations, 
with  which  he  there  continued  to  be  actively  con- 
cerned until  1883,  as  did  he  also  in  Arizona  during 
the  same  interval.  In  the  year  last  mentioned  Mr. 
Crooker  returned  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  and  built  up  a 
large  and  substantial  enterprise,  his  business  hav- 
ing also  included  operations  in  and  from  the  City 
of  Chicago.  In  1893  he  went  to  Everett,  Washing- 
ton, to  inspect  and  report  on  conditions  for  John 
D.  Rockefeller,  who  was  making  investments  in 
that  state.  As  a result  of  his  report  Mr.  Rocke- 
feller employed  him  to  take  charge  of  the  latter’s 
interests  on  Puget  Sound,  these  interests  including 
the  townsite  hotel  and  lumber  operations  at  Ever- 
ett. as  well  as  the  local  electric  light  plant,  electric 
railway  service,  nail  and  paper  mills,  smelter,  a 
ship  building  plant,  the  railway  from  Everett  to 
the  Monte  Cristo  mining  camp  in  the  Cascade 
Mountains,  with  a large  concentrator  and  a number 
of  mines  at  Monte  Cristo.  The  total  valuation  of 
the  properties  of  which  Mr.  Crooker  thus  had 
supervision  was  approximately  $10,000,000,  and  he 
remained  in  the  far  west  about  six  years,  until  he 
had  closed  out  all  of  the  Rockefeller  interests.  He 
then  returned  to  Minneapolis,  and  here  he  con- 
tinued actively  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
until  a few  days  prior  to  his  death. 

Mr.  Crooker  was  a most  zealous  and  devoted 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  was  for  many 
years  an  influential  figure  in  its  work  in  Minne- 
sota. He  was  president  of  the  first  Baptist  con- 
vention held  in  the  state,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  a deacon  of  the  Central  Baptist 
Church  of  Minneapolis,  a position  which  he  had 
held  for  many  years.  While  a resident  of  Steele 
County  Mr.  Crooker  served  two  terms  in  the 
State  Legislature,  and  as  chairman  of  the  house  com- 
mittee on  education  he  made  the  address  at  the 
laying  of  the  cornerstone  of  the  old  Washington 
School  building,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
Hennepin  County  Court  House,  Minneapolis,  his 
children  having  received  the  advantages'  of  this 
school  at  a somewhat  later  period.  His  was  a life 
of  signal  activity  and  usefulness,  and  his  course 
was  ever  guided  and  governed  by  the  loftiest  prin- 
ciples of  integrity  and  honor,  so  that  his  name  is 
revered  by  all  who  knew  him  in  the  state  to  which 
he  gave  much  and  to  which  his  loyalty  was  inviol- 
able. The  brick  residence  which  Mr.  Crooker 
erected  at  Owatonna  is  still  in  an  excellent  state 
of  preservation  and  is  one  of  the  veritable  land- 
marks of  Steele  County.  It  is  now  occupied  by 
one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the  town.  In  the 
pioneer  days,  when  the  Indians  constituted  an  al- 
most constant  menace,  men  were  stationed  on  the 


roof  of  this  house  to  warn  the  inhabitants  of  the 
approach  of  the  Indians,  as  the  settlers  in  the  com- 
munity would  all  gather  at  this  stronghold  for  pro- 
tection in  times  of  danger,  the  brick  walls  of  the 
building  being  virtually  bullet  and  arrow  proof,  and 
the  roof  being  too  high  to  permit  the  Indians  to  set 
fire  to  the  same.  It  has  been  stated  on  excellent 
authority  that  when  Mr.  Crooker  came  to  Minne- 
sota and  erected  this  now  historic  brick  house  he 
was  undoubtedly  the  richest  man  in  the  state  at  the 
time.  His  cherished  and  devoted  wife  preceded 
him  to  eternal  rest  by  a term  of  several  years,  and 
she  held  the  affectionate  regard  of  all  who  came 
within  the  sphere  of  her  gentle  and  gracious  in- 
fluence. Of  the  children  only  two  are  now  living, 
Edward  H.,  concerning  whom  individual  mention 
is  made  elsewhere  in  this  work;  and  Mrs.  Edward 
G.  Critchett,  of  Minneapolis,  her  husband  being  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  State  High-School 
Inspectors. 

Edward  H.  Crooker.  For  nearly  thirty  years  Mr. 
Crooker  had  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  at  Minneapolis,  and  his  death  on  August  6, 
1914,  was  a loss  not  only  to  the  profession  but  to 
the  good  citizenship  and  society  of  that  city,  which 
had  been  his  home  from  boyhood  days.  Represent- 
ing an  old  and  honored  pioneer  family  of  Minne- 
sota, and  the  son  of  Josiah  B.  Crooker,  whose 
prominent  career  is  sketched  in  this  work,  the  late 
Edward  H.  Crooker  had  always  moved  in  the  best 
circles  of  Minneapolis  life,  and  had  many  close  as- 
sociations with  large  affairs  and  distinguished  men. 

Edward  H.  Crooker  was  born  at  Owatonna,  Steele 
County,  Minnesota,  April  20,  1861,  and  death  found 
him  in  his  fifty-fourth  year.  At  the  age  of  nine 
when  his  family  moved  to  Minneapolis,  his  early 
education  was  acquired  partly  in  the  public  schools 
of  Owatonna  and  partly  in  Minneapolis.  Mr. 
Crooker  was  a graduate  in  1879  of  the  old  Central 
High  School,  an  institution  that  furnished  advan- 
tages to  many  of  the  young  men  of  that  time.  Mr. 
Crooker  was  a graduate  of  Cornell  University,  with 
the  class  of  1883,  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Literature. 
While  at  college  he  was  a member  of  the  Theta 
Delta  Chi  fraternity  and  subsequently  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Minneapolis  University  Club.  Among 
his  classmates  and  intimate  friends  in  the  university 
were  Hon.  John  Dix,  who  was  later  a governor  of 
New  York  State;  and  Edward  W.  Huffcut,  who  be- 
came a prominent  member  of  the  New  York  bar 
and  at  one  time  was  legal  adviser  to  Governor 
Hughes,  now  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  After  his  university  career  Mr.  Crooker 
returned  to  Minneapolis,  took  up  the  study  of  law 
under  the  preceptorship  of  Judge  James  M.  Shaw 
and  Judge  Wil'ard  R.  Cray  in  the  firm  of  Shaw  & 
Cray.  Judge  Shaw  is  now  deceased,  while  Judge 
Cray  is  still  in  active  practice  at  Minneapolis.  By 
earnest  and  close  application  to  _ his  studies,  Mr. 
Crooker  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1885,  and  after 
taking  up  practice  soon  became  recognized  as  a lead- 
ing lawyer  in  Minneapolis.  For  a short  time  his 
practice  was  as  a member  of  the  firm  of  Crooker  & 
Gaylord,  his  partner  being  E.  S.  Gaylord.  In  1888, 
when  his  former  classmate  at  Cornell  University, 
Edward  F.  Huffcut,  came  to  Minneapolis,  the  new 
partnership  of  Crooker  & Huffcut  was  formed  and 
continued  for  two  years  until  Mr.  Huffcut  returned 
east  to  take  a place  as  instructor  in  law.  From 
1890  Mr.  Crooker  conducted  an  independent  prac- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1611 


tice,  and  his  offices  were  in  the  New  York  Life 
Building.  An  effective  trial  lawyer,  with  many  im- 
portant victories  to  his  credit,  and  with  a broad 
and  exact  knowledge  of  law  that  made  him  a for- 
midable advocate  in  any  case,  Mr.  Crooker  dur- 
ing the  last  ten  years  had  given  special  attention  to 
bankruptcy  and  commercial  law.  it  is  said  that  his 
collection  of  works  upon  bankruptcy  law  was  the 
largest  and  most  complete  in  the  state,  and  many 
of  his  books  were  not  duplicated  in  the  state  law 
library.  He  held  membership  in  the  Minneapolis  Bar 
Association,  and  its  members  paid  him  unusual 
tributes  of  respect  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Crooker  was  a stanch  republican,  and  in  former 
years  was  prominent  in  Hennepin  County  politics. 

On  February  17,  1886,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Edward  H.  Crooker  and  Miss  Louise 
Jones,  daughter  of  H.  K.  and  Anna  (Clough) 
Jones  of  Ithaca,  New  York.  Mrs.  Crooker  has 
long  been  one  of  the  prominent  women  in  Minne- 
apolis society.  They  became  the  parents  of  one 
son,  Herbert  B.,  who  was  born  in  Minneapolis, 
graduated  in  1913  from  the  West  Side  High  School, 
and  then  entered  Cornell  University.  He  has  be- 
come prominent  in  university  circles,  and  his  ex- 
ceptional talents  in  music  and  dramatic  affairs  have 
given  him  a reputation  much  beyond  his  years.  He 
is  the  author  of  two  musical  comedies,  both  of 
which  have  been  presented  in  Minneapolis,  and  on 
the  presentation  of  one  of  them  at  the  Minneapolis 
Opera  House  he  personally  directed  the  orchestra. 

Judge  Evan  Hughes.  Now  serving  his  third 
term  as  probate  judge  of  Blue  Earth  County,  Judge 
Evan  Hughes  is  one  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of 
Mankato,  has  practiced  successfully  for  a number 
of  years,  and  in  his  present  office  has  shown  great 
proficiency  and  ability  in  taking  care  of  the  many 
delicate  responsibilities  intrusted  to  his  charge. 

Judge  Evan  Hughes  is  a native  of  Minnesota, 
born  in  Cambria  Township,  Blue  Earth  County, 
February  10,  1862.  He  is  a son  of  Henry  and 
Eliza  (Davis)  Hughes,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Wales,  his  father  on  June  4.  1833,  and  his  mother 
in  1831.  They  came  to  the  United  States  and  lived 
for  a time  in  Ohio,  and  in  October,  1855,  joined  the 
early  pioneers  of  Blue  Earth  County.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  they  located  on  a farm  in  Cambria 
Township,  where  Judge  Hughes  was  born. 

Judge  Hughes  grew  up  in  Blue  Earth  County,  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  and  was  a student  in 
Carleton  College  at  Northfield  until  his  junior  year. 
After  leaving  college  he  took  up  the  study  of  law 
with  his  brother  Thomas,  and  after  his  admission 
to  the  bar  began  to  practice  in  partnership  with  his 
brother  in  1897.  This  firm  was  one  of  the  strong- 
est in  the  Mankato  bar,  and  practiced  successfully 
until  January,  1911.  In  the  preceding  fall  Mr. 
Hughes  had  been  elected  to  the  office  of  probate 
judge,  beginning  his  term  of  office  in  January,  1911, 
and  in  1914  was  elected  for  his  third  two-year  term. 

On  January  31,  1899,  Judge  Hughes  married  Amy 
E.  Mason,  of  Spring  Valley,  Minnesota.  Her  par- 
ents were  William  and  Amanda  Mason,  her  father 
an  early  settler  at  Spring  Valley,  where  he  was  in 
business  as  a contractor.  Judge  Hughes  and  wife 
are  the  parents  of  three  children  : Ralph  M.,  aged 
eleven;  Floyd  T.,  aged  eight;  and  Ruth  Alice,  aged 
five.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  and  Judge  Hughes  has  long  been  a worker 
in  that  denomination,  has  been  a member  of  the 


choir  for  twenty-five  years,  and  has  sung  at  nearly 
all  the  funerals  held  in  the  church  for  many  years. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Lodge,  Chapter 
and  Knight  Templar  Commandery  of  the  Masonic 
Order  and  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Judge  Hughes  has  long  been  interested  in  educa- 
tional matters  and  his  name  is  familiar  to  educators 
all  over  the  state.  Prior  to  his  admission  to  the 
bar  he  taught  for  three  years  at  Mankato,  being 
principal  of  the  Franklin  School  for  a time  and  also 
of  the  Pleasant  Grove  School.  He  is  now  a mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  at  Mankato  and  was  presi- 
dent five  years.  For  one  year  Judge  Hughes  served 
as  president  of  the  State  Board  of  Education,  and 
from  that  position  was  elected  a delegate  to  the 
National  Educational  Association  in  its  meeting  at 
Denver.  His  leadership  and  interest  in  educational 
affairs  at  Mankato  were  instrumental  in  securing  the 
introduction  of  departments  of  agriculture,  do- 
mestic science  and  manual  training  in  the  city 
schools. 

Thomas  Hughes.  For  more  than  thirty  years 
Thomas  Hughes  has  been  one  of  the  prominent  at- 
torneys of  the  Blue  Earth  County  bar.  His  official 
record  is  familiar  to  the  citizens  of  Mankato  and 
vicinity,  and  he  has  also  been  a leader  in  business 
and  civic  affairs,  and  is  one  of  the  authorities  on 
local  and  state  history.  Mr.  Hughes  was  elected 
county  attorney  in  1896,  holding  that  office  four 
years,  and  for  fifteen  years  was  attorney  for  the 
Mankato  Mutual  Building  & Loan  Association,  and 
took  the  same  position  with  the  successor  of  that 
organization,  the  Mankato  Savings  & Building  As- 
sociation, which  he  still  holds.  For  a number  of 
years  he  has  been  a member  and  director  of  the 
Mankato  Board  of  Trade,  and  besides  his  law  prac- 
tice has  been  president  of  the  Wisconsin  and  Min- 
nesota Land  Company. 

Thomas  Hughes  was  born  at  Minersville,  Ohio, 
September  23,  1854,  a son  of  Henry  and  Eliza 
Hughes.  Both  parents  were  natives  of  Wales,  the 
father  born  June  4,  1833,  and  the  mother  in  1830. 
They  came  from  Wales  to  the  Llnited  States,  lived 
for  some  time  in  Ohio,  and  in  October,  1855,  be- 
came pioneer  settlers  in  Blue  Earth  County,  Minne- 
sota. In  June,  1856,  they  located  on  a farm  in 
Cambria  Township,  still  owned  by  the  family.  The 
parents  moved  to  Pasadena,  California,  in  1908, 
where  the  father  died  in  1912. 

Thomas  Hughes  grew  up  in  the  new  and  pioneer 
district  of  Blue  Earth  County,  lived  on  a farm, 
worked  with  his  father,  and  had  the  advantages  of 
the  local  public  schools.  In  1874  he  entered  the 
preparatory  department  of  Carleton  College  at 
Northfield,  and  in  1880  was  graduated  from  Carle- 
ton College  with  the  degree  Bachelor  of  Arts.  His 
law  studies  were  pursued  in  the  office  of  Waite  & 
Porter  at  Mankato,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1882.  From  February,  1884,  to  July,  1887,  Mr. 
Hughes  was  a partner  of  M.  G.  Willard,  then  prac- 
ticed alone  ten  years,  and  in  1897  became  associated 
with  his  brother,  the  present  Evan  Hughes,  a satis- 
factory relationship  which  continued  until  the  elec- 
tion of  Judge  Hughes  to  the  probate  bench.  Mr. 
Hughes  has  invested  his  earnings  as  a lawyer  in 
real  estate,  and  much  of  his  practice  has  been  in 
real  estate  law. 

Politically  he  is  a republican,  and  has  made  his 
influence  count  for  local  betterment  both  in  civic 


1612 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


affairs  and  in  material  improvement.  In  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  of  which  he  is  a member,  he 
has  served  as  trustee  and  deacon  and  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school.  Historical  subjects 
have  long  interested  him,  and  he  has  delivered  a 
number  of  addresses  before  the  State  Historical 
Society,  and  also  before  the  Blue  Earth  Territorial 
Association.  Mr.  Hughes  is  author  of  “History  of 
the  Welsh  in  Minnesota,’’  published  in  1895,  and  is 
editor  of  the  semi-centennial  work  on  Mankato.  He 
is  also  the  author  of  “The  History  of  Blue  Earth 
County,”  published  in  1907,  and  has  published  a 
number  of  short  historical  pamphlets. 

On  November  25,  1885,  Mr.  Hughes  married  Alice 
0.  Hills.  She  was  born  on  the  Island  of  Jamaica, 
July  6,  1856,  a daughter  of  Amos  B.  and  Sybil 
(Rawson)  Hills.  Both  her  parents  were  born  near 
Pekin,  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  are  the 
parents  of  two  sons : Burton  E.,  who  completed  his 
education  in  Harvard  Law  School,  and  Evan  Ray- 
mond, a student  of  Carleton  College,  Northfield, 
Minnesota.  Both  sons  were  born  and  grew  up  in 
Mankato. 

James  I.  Vermilya.  Prominent  among  the  hon- 
ored residents  of  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  is 
found  James  I.  Vermilya,  for  more  than  a half  a 
century  a resident  of  the  county,  where  he  has 
been  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  has  also  taken  an  active  part  in  those  move- 
ments which  have  made  for  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  community.  He  has  led  an  ex- 
ceptionally busy  and  industrious  career,  and  his  high 
standing  in  the  community  in  which  he  has  resided 
for  so  long  is  but  evidence  of  his  honorable  deal- 
ing at  all  times. 

Mr.  Vermilya  was  born  November  30,  1849,  at 
Oswego,  Tioga  County,  New  York,  which  was  also 
the  birthplace  of  United  States  Senator  Thomas  C. 
Platt,  whom  Mr.  Vermilya  well  remembers.  His 
father  was  Avery  Vermilya,  born  at  Roxbury,  Dela- 
ware County,  New  York,  September  20,  1820,  and 
his  mother  was  Fannie  (Mead)  Vermilya,  born 
March  20,  1821,  in  Delaware  County.  The  history 
of  the  Vermilya  family  has  been  traced  back  to  the 
middle  of  the  fifteenth  century  (1460-1485)  to  the 
province  of  Perugia,  Italy,  when  Count  Stefano 
Vermigli  resided  at  that  place.  His  son,  Peter 
Martyr,  born  on  his  father’s  estate  in  1500,  was 
dedicated  to  the  church  by  his  pious  mother,  who 
had  lost  several  older  sons  in  early  infancy. 

Peter  Martyr  Vermigli  was  at  an  early  age  or- 
dained to  the  priesthood  and  obtained  rapid  pro- 
motion in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

At  the  age  of  about  thirty  he  came  under  the 
domination  of  the  eloquence  of  Savaronola  preach- 
ing at  Florence  and  became  a convert  to  Protestant- 
ism. He  married,  and  on  account  of  his  religion 
was  obliged  to  flee  to  Switzerland  with  his  wife, 
whence  he  was  called  to  Oxford,  England,  by  Arch- 
bishop Cranmer  with  whom  he  collaborated  in  com- 
piling the  first  English  prayer  book  (for  details  as 
to  Peter  Martyr  see  any  biographical  dictionary). 

Driven  out  of  England  on  the  accession  of  Queen 
Mary  to  the  throne  “Peter  Martyr”  returned  to 
Switzerland,  where  his  first  wife  having  died,  he 
married  a second  time  and  on  the  accession  of  Ed- 
ward VI  he  returned  to  Oxford,  resumed  his  labors, 
but  in  1560  returned  again  to  Zurich,  where  he  died 
in  1562. 


His  grandson,  Isaac  Vermelje  (the  Dutch  man- 
ner of  spelling  the  name),  with  his  family  came  to 
New  Amsterdam  (New  York),  in  1662,  on  the 
ship  Pumberland  Church,  Capt.  Johannes  Vermilye, 
and  became  a prominent  citizen  and  a member  of 
the  common  council  under  Jacob  Leisler,  in  1689. 
From  the  marriage  of  Johannes  Vermilye  and  Aelt- 
je  Waldren  are  descended  all  those  bearing  the 
name  in  America  spelled  Vermilyea,  Vermilya  and 
(New  York  City)  Vermilye.  James  I.  Vermilya  is 
the  great-great-great-great-grandson  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Odell)  Vermilya.  His  great-grandfather  was 
William  Vermilya,  who  married  Phebe  Husted,  while 
his  grandfather  was  Abram  Vermilya,  who  married 
Charity  Molineux,  whose  mother  was  Ethan  Allen’s 
niece. 

Avery  and  Fannie  (Mead)  Vermilya  were  mar- 
ried in  1844,  and  in  April,  1863,  came  West,  lo- 
cating in  Olmsted  County,  the  father  taking  up 
land  in  Section  18,  Quincy  Township,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  be  engaged  in  successful  agricultural  pur- 
suits during  the  remainder  of  a long  and  active 
life.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  Vermilya  were  widely 
known  in  this  section  where  they  spent  so  many 
years,  and  were  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  those 
who  came  into  contact  with  them  in  any  way.  The 
father  passed  away  in  August,  1905,  while  the 
mother  died  in  1898.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  as  follows : David  M.,  who  was 
born  June  9,  1844,  and  died  in  October,  1887;  Abram, 
who  was  born  December  2,  1846,  and  resides  in 
Dexter  County,  Minnesota;  James  I.,  of  this  re- 
view; John  K.,  who  was  born  September  12,  1851, 
and  now  a resident  of  Kansas ; Joseph  and  Joseph- 
ine, twins,  born  November  29,  1853,  the  former  of 
whom  is  a resident  of  Oregon,  while  the  latter 
is  now  Mrs.  Putnam  and  a resident  of  Granite 
Falls;  Samuel,  who  was  born  May  28,  1858,  and  now 
a resident  of  Los  Angeles,  California,  being  one  of 
the  leading  lawyers  of  the  Pacific  coast;  Orville  A., 
born  April  14,  1861,  and  now  residing  at  Verndale, 
Minnesota;  Jesse  C.,  who  was  born  June  26,  1863; 
Eulila  Frost,  born  November  17,  1866,  and  living 
near  Portland,  Oregon;  and  Reuhen,  born  January 
5,  1869,  who  died  April  14,  1904. 

James  I.  Vermilya  was  a lad  of  thirteen  years 
when  brought  to  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  by 
his  parents,  and  here  his  education  was  completed 
and  he  has  always  made  his  home.  He  was  mar- 
ried October  12,  1875,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Hinton, 
who  was  born  January  4,  1857,  the  fourth  white 
child  born  in  Quincy  Township,  daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  (George)  Hinton,  early  pioneers  of  Olm- 
sted County.  Her  parents,  born,  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  England,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1850, 
and  for  some  time  resided  in  New  York  State,  but 
in  1856  came  to  Olmsted  County,  and  here  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  the,  pursuits  of  the 
soil.  Mrs.  Vermilya  had  two  brothers  and  one  sis- 
ter: James,  born  in  England,  October  19,  1849, 

who  died  in  Quincy  Township,  December  12,  1876; 
Frank,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  February  22,  1853; 
and  Elizabeth  Odell,  born  October  9,  i860,  died  Oc- 
tober 2,  1883.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vermilya  there  were  born  four  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Cora  F.  Stocker,  born  February  22,  1877; 

J.  Mead,  born  February  17,  1884;  R.  Ervin,  born 
August  o,  1890:  and  George  H.,  born  December  5, 
1893.  The  last  two  named  reside  under  the  par- 
ental roof,  while  the  other  two  make  their  homes 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood. 


o 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1613 


Mr.  Vermilya  has  been  eminently  successful  in 
his  undertakings,  and  is  at  present  the  owner  of 
325  acres  of  finely  cultivated  land  in  Sections  9,  17 
and  18.  In  connection  with  his  agricultural  labors, 
he  has  engaged  in  auctioneering  during  the  past 
thirty  years,  and  has  as  much  business  as  he  cares 
to  handle  in  this  line,  being  widely  known  for  his 
talents  in  conducting  sales.  He  bears  an  excellent 
reputation  for  integrity  and  straightforward  deal- 
ing, and  as  a citizen  is  known  to  have  borne  his 
full  share  in  the  responsibilities  which  have  arisen 
during  the  growth  and  development  of  Olmsted 
County.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Vermilya  has  al- 
ways maintained  an  independent  stand,  refusing  to 
be  tied  down  by  party  lines.  He  has  at  different 
times  been  a candidate  for  various  offices,  was  nomi- 
nated and  defeated  for  the  State  Legislature,  and 
was  then  nominated  by  the  people’s  party  for  Con- 
gress, his  opponent  being  James  A.  Tawney,  who 
canvassed  his  district  in  a palace  railroad  train, 
while  Mr.  Vermilya,  evidencing  his  democratic 
spirit  and  membership  in  the  mass  of  the  people, 
made  his  journeys  by  horse  and  carriage.  In  1910 
Mr.  Vermilya  was  again  a candidate  for  the  state 
Senate,  and  made  such  a remarkable  campaign  that 
he  was  defeated  by  but  fifty-seven  votes.  In  1914 
he  was  again  a candidate  for  state  senator  and  eas- 
ily fulfilled  his  friends’  predictions  of  victory. 

Hon.  Otto  N.  Raths.  The  present  postmaster  of 
St.  Paul  is  a man  of  considerable  experience  in  the 
business  world  and  has  spent  nearly  all  his  life  in 
the  Twin  Cities,  where  he  has  been  successively 
connected  with  banking,  with  the  grocery  and  com- 
mission business  and  other  lines  of  activity.  His 
appointment  to  the  postoffice  was  particularly  grat- 
ifying to  the  employes  of  that  office,  all  of  whom  are 
grouped  together  as  a class  in  the  St.  Paul  local 
of  the  N.  F.  P.  O.  C.  Mr.  Raths  went  into  this 
responsible  office  with  a sense  of  fairness  and  im- 
partiality which  will  permit  no  barrier  in  the  path 
of  the  constitutional  and  legitimate  efforts  of  the 
union  postoffice  clerks  in  St.  Paul.  His  appoint- 
ment was  largely  the  result  of  the  successful  efforts 
of  Congressman  Van  Dyke,  a member  of  the  N.  F. 
P.  O.  C. 

The  extended  and  versatile  career  of  the  man  now 
at  the  head  of  the  St.  Paul  postoffice  began  with 
his  birth  at  Minneapolis,  August  30,  1874.  He  is  of 
German  descent,  both  his  parents  having  come  from 
Luxembourg.  Mr.  Raths  as  a boy  attended  St. 
Joseph’s  Parochial  School  and  the  North  Side  High 
School  at  Minneapolis,  and  from  the  age  of  eighteen 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Bank  of  Minneapolis,  from 
1892  to  1897.  He  then  became  connected  with  the 
Security  Bank  of  Minnesota,  a national  bank,  and 
served  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American 
war.  On  April  29,  1898,  a few  days  after  the  war 
began,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B of  the  Thirteenth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry  as  a sergeant,  and 
was  with  his  regiment  in  the  Philippine  Islands 
campaign  until  October,  1899,  and  participated  in 
eleven  engagements. 

After  the  conclusion  of  his  military  career  he 
spent  a short  time  in  Minneapolis,  and  then  re- 
turned to  San  Francisco  and  was  for  one  year  con- 
nected with  the  Wells,  Fargo  & Co.’s  banks.  Mr. 
Raths  came  to  St.  Paul  in  1901  and  for  seven  years 
was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  People’s  Pro- 
vision Company,  at  447-449  Wabasha  Street.  Selling 
h’s  interest  in  this  company  in  1908,  he  was  con- 


nected with  the  firm  of  Schuneman  & Evans  until 
1909.  During  the  past  five  years  his  business  inter- 
ests have  had  broad  scope.  In  1909  he  organized 
and  became  part  owner  of  the  Gaiety  Theater,  and 
has  since  then  been  manager  and  part  owner  of 
this  well-known  entertainment  house.  He  is  senior 
member  of  the  Raths-Seavold  Film  Manufacturing 
Company,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  motion 
pictures.  He  is  also  a stockholder  and  manager  of 
the  Ideal  Theater  of  South  St.  Paul. 

For  a number  of  years  Mr.  Raths  has  been  actively 
interested  in  the  Minnesota  National  Guards,  and  for 
eleven  years  has  been  a member  of  that  organization 
and  for  six  years  an  officer.  He  is  a prominent 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and 
has  been  especially  concerned  with  its  foresters’ 
department,  where  as  major  commanding  the  One 
Hundred  and  Ninth  Battalion  and  colonel  command- 
ing the  Tenth  Regiment,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  he  won  the  first  prizes  for  drill  both  at 
Peoria,  Illinois,  and  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  many- 
other  prizes  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  during  the  last  en- 
campment. 

Mr.  Raths  is  chairman  of  the  Bolo  Club,  an  organ- 
ization comprising  1,800  voters  of  Ramsey  County, 
who  are  honorably  discharged  soldiers  of  the  wars 
in  which,  the  United  States  has  engaged,  including 
the  Mexican,  the  Civil,  the  Spanish-American  and 
the  Philippine  insurrection.  For  three  years  Mr. 
Raths  was  president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibit- 
ors’. Association  of  Minnesota,  composed  of  the 
motion  picture  theaters  of  the  state. 

Owen  M.  Parry.  The  proprietor  and  editor  of 
the  Revere  Record  has  illustrated  in  an  interesting 
manner  the  great  principle  of  self  help,  and  that 
hardly  any  physical  handicap  can  prevent  a life  of 
usefulness  and  service  in  the  case  of  a man  of  real 
ambition,  Mr.  Parry  deserves  mention  among  in- 
teresting people  as  probably  the  only  editor  and 
publisher  in  the  United  States  who  does  all  his  own 
work  with  one  hand,  including  the  setting  of  type, 
the  operation  of  a printing  press,  the  composing  of 
editorials  and  news  items,  and  all  the  other  mani- 
fold duties  about  a printing  office.  He  gets  out  a 
first  class  paper  too,  and  one  that  has  a wide  read- 
ing and  influence  in  Redwood  County. 

Owen  M.  Parry  was  born  in  Wales,  July  11, 
1886.  His  father,  Owen  M.  Parry,  Sr.,  also  a na- 
tive of  Wales,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1896, 
settling  in  Utica,  New  York.  He  is  a tailor  by 
trade.  Owen  M.  Parry,  Sr.,  married  Charlotte 
Hughes,  who  died  in  Wales  in  1890.  Their  chil- 
dren v/ere : William  E.,  who  is  a resident  of  Seat- 
tle, Washington  ; Lottie,  who  married  Mr.  Hughes, 
a coal  miner  at  St.  Helens,  England ; Lizzie,  who 
married  Mr.  Williams,  a farmer  at  Anglesea,  Wales; 
and  Owen  M. 

Owen  M.  Parry  came  over  to  the  United  States 
with  his'  father,  being  then  about  ten  years  of  age, 
and  shortly  afterwards  came  out  to  Walnut  Grove, 
Minnesota,  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Evan  M.  Parry. 
He  was  sent  to  the  common  schools  and  to  the  high 
school  at  Walnut  Grove,  but  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
began  an  apprenticeship  in  newspaper  work  with 
the  Walnut  Grove  Tribune.  After  mastering  the 
details  of  a printing  shop  he  became  manager  for 
the  Potter  County  News-Courier  at  Gettysburg, 
South  Dakota,  remaining  there  one  year.  His  next 
location  was  in  Seattle,  Washington,  where  he  was 
employed  for  nearly  four  years  in  a job  printing 


1614 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


office,  and  it  was  while  in  the  Northwest  that  he 
suffered  the  misfortune  which  has  interfered  with 
but  by  no  means  seriously  impaired  his  usefulness 
as  a worker  in  the  world.  While  employed  for  a 
few  months  in  a sawmill  in  Washington,  he  had 
the  misfortune  to  lose  his  left  hand  in  the  ma- 
chinery. In  1911  Mr.  Parry  returned  to  Walnut 
Grove,  Minnesota,  and  soon  after  in  the  same  year 
bought  the  Revere  Record.  This  paper  was  founded 
by  C.  W.  Folsom  on  May  20,  1902.  It  is  inde- 
pendent in  politics,  and  has  a circulation  not  only 
in  Redwood,  but  in  Cottonwood,  Murray  and  Lyon 
counties.  The  office  is  well  equipped  with  me- 
chanical appliances,  and  Mr.  Parry  is  at  the  head  of 
a good  business. 

Politically  he  is  also  independent,  and  has  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Revere.  His  church  is  the 
Methodist  Episcopal,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  Wal- 
nut Grove  Lodge  No.  148,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  also  with  the  Rebekahs  at  Lam- 
berton.  Besides  his  newspaper  he  owns  the  bil- 
liard parlors  in  Revere  and  has  charge  of  the.  State 
Public  Free  Traveling  Library,  which  he  originated 
in  Revere.  Mr.  Parry  was  married  March  7,  1914, 
in  Walnut  Grove  to  Miss  Maude  Downing,  of  Do- 
wagiac,  Michigan. 

Frank  P.  McQuillin  is  one  of  the  oldest  busi- 
ness men  of  Aitkin,  having  been  identified  with  that 
city  more  than  thirty  years,  with  a business  record 
which  has  identified  him  with  a number  of  important 
concerns  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Mr.  McQuillin 
is  president  of  the  Farmers  & Merchants  State  Bank 
of  Aitkin,  and  has  been  connected  with  several  large 
land  companies  and  other  local  corporations. 

Frank  P.  McQuillin  was  born  at  Delta,  Ohio, 
January  2,  1853.  Flis  parents,  Jacob  and  Maria  C. 
(Eddleman)  McQuillin,  were  farming  people  of 
Ohio.  Mr.  McQuillin  acquired  a public  school  edu- 
cation, and  in  early  manhood  came  out  to  the 
Northwest,  where  he  has  found  wide  and  diverse 
opportunities  for  a business  career.  He  was  first 
located  in  Fillmore  County,  Minnesota,  and  for 
sixteen  years  served  as  an  examiner  of  lands  for  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway.  For  eight  years  he  was 
engaged  in  selecting  lands  for  the  Wisconsin,  Minne- 
sota & Pacific  Railway  Co.  from  the  State  of  Minne- 
sota. Since  1882  his  home  has  been  in  Aitkin, 
where  he  has  been  prominent  both  in  business  and 
in  public  affairs.  In  1888  Mr.  McQuillin  was  elected 
county  treasurer,  serving  two  terms,  and  was  city 
treasurer  four  years.  He  has  also  been  chairman 
of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  holding  that 
office  four  years,  until  giving  his  resignation. 

For  twenty  years  Mr.  McQuillin  was  in  the  real 
estate  business  at  Aitkin  under  the  name  McQuillin 
Land  Company.  He  is  general  manager  for  the 
Central  Minnesota  Land  & Investment  Company, 
and  president  of  the  Farmers  & Merchants  State 
Bank.  This  bank  is  one  of  the  newer  banks  in 
Northern  Minnesota,  having  been  organized  July 
1,  1914.  A statement  of  business  four  months  after 
organization  showed  capital  stock  and  surplus  paid 
in  of  $30,000,  with  deposits  of  more  than  $45,000. 
The  bank  has  nearly  three  times  the  amount  of 
reserve  required  by  law  and  pays  interest  on  deposits 
of  4 per  cent  on  six  months  deposits  and  5 per  cent 
on  deposits  left  one  year  or  more.  The  officers  of 
this  bank  are:  F.  P.  McQuillin,  president:  C.  H. 

Warner,  vice  president;  W.  T.  Mount,  cashier,  and 
D.  A.  Foley,  second  vice  president.  Other  directors 


are  B.  W . Ke.ly,  A.  Zoerb,  M.  Frederickson,  J J 
Ratcliffe,  J.  Heft,  B.  L.  Hollister,  Ben  Olson. 

Mr.  McQuillin  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order 
and  with  the  Royal  Arcanum.  At  Rockford,  Minne- 
sota, in  1878  he  married  Catherine  S.  George.  Their 
family  of  five  children  are:  Grace  K.,  now  Mrs. 

Edmond  L.  Young,  of  Minneapolis;  Alice  L.,  at 
home;  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  A.  Brooks,  of 
Peoria,  Illinois;  Beulah  M.,  at  home;  and  Leslie  D., 
at  home.  Mr.  McQuillin  is  a member  and  trustee  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  was  a member 
of  the  building  committee  which  erected  the  hand- 
some new  church  in  Aitkin  in  1914. 

Edmund  Henry  Krelwitz.  An  attorney  who  has 
gained  a well  earned  reputation  at  Aitkin,  Edmund 
H.  Krelwitz  has  been  in  practice  there  for  over 
fifteen  years,  has  filled  various  offices  which  indicate 
his  standing  in  popular  esteem,  and  now  has  a large 
professional  business  and  varied  relations  with  the 
community,  both  in  business  and  civic  and  social 
affairs. 

Edmund  Henry  Krelwitz  was  born  November  4, 
1872,  a son  of  Edmund  and  Elizabeth  Krelwitz,  his 
father  having  for  many  years  been  identified  with 
real  estate  and  mining.  In  1891  Mr.  Krelwitz  gradu- 
ated from  high  school,  began  earning  his  own  way, 
and  subsequently  prepared  for  his  profession  in  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1898.  After  two  years’  practice 
in  Minneapolis  . Mr.  Krelwitz  moved  to  Aitkin  in 
1900,  and  has  since  looked  after  a growing  general 
clientage.  From  1903  to  1909  he  served  as  county 
attorney  of  Aitkin  County,  and  in  1914  was  re- 
elected to  that  office  for  four  years.  He  also  held 
the  office  of  village  attorney  during  1901-02,  and 
from  1913  to  1914.  Mr.  Krelwitz  is  treasurer  of  the 
Lake  Investment  Company  of  Duluth. 

He  has  affiliations  with  the  Masonic  Order  and  is 
a past  master  of  Mystic  Lodge  No.  213  of  Aitkin, 
is  a member  of  the  Eastern  Star  and  the  thirty- 
second  degree  of  Scottish  Rite,  and  also  of  the 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  Fie  is  affiliated  with 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  is  a 
past  noble  grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  a past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
the  Modern  Samaritans,  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of 
Eagles. 

On  June  30,  1903,  Mr.  Krelwitz  married  Annabell 
Huston  of  Minneapolis,  who,  prior  to  her  marriage, 
was  a popular  teacher  in  both  Aitkin  and  Duluth. 
They  have  a son,  Huston,  born  June  25,  1904,  and 
a daughter,  Marion,  born  November  13,  1905.  Mr. 
Krelwitz  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the 
republican  party. 

Wallace  Barker.  During  a residence  of  nearly 
a quarter  of  a century  at  Aitkin,  Mr.  Barker  has 
been  identified  with  business  and  public  affairs,  has 
held  the  office  of  mayor,  and  is  well  known  through 
his  extensive  relations  as  a real  estate  man. 

Wallace  Barker  was  born  in  Huntington,  Lorain 
County,  Ohio,  July  9,  1857,  a son  of  Orlando  and 
Aurelia  Adaline  (Hempstead)  Barker,  the  mother  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  the  father  of  Massachusetts. 
The  father  was  a contractor  and  builder,  but  later 
in  life  located  on  a farm  and  followed  agriculture 
and  dairying.  The  son  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  graduating  . from  the  high  school  at  Well- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1615 


ington,  Ohio,  and  soon  afterwards  took  up  practical 
work  as  a farmer.  His  interests  finally  led  him 
into  the  insurance  field,  and  in  1890  he  located  at 
Aitkin,  Minnesota,  and  for  a number  of  years  was  a 
traveling  commercial  man,  making  his  headquarters 
at  Aitkin.  In  1901  he  opened  real  estate  offices,  and 
has  since  built  up  a large  business  in  the  general 
brokerage  of  real  estate,  and  has  done  considerable 
farm  development  on  his  own  account  and  with  his 
own  capital.  At  the  present  time  Mr.  Barker  owns 
470  acres  of  farm  land,  and  has  developed  much  of 
it  to  profitable  cultivation. 

Always  actively  interested  in  his  home  town  and 
ready  to  serve  the  interests  of  his  fellow  citizens, 
he  was  twice  honored  with  the  office  of  mayor. 
Mr.  Barker  is  an  active  republican,  and  formerly 
was  chairman  of  the  County  Republican  Central 
Committee.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Outside  of  his  regular  business 
interests  he  is  a director  of  the  Cuyuna  Iron  Com- 
pany, with  offices  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 

J.  B.  Galarneault.  The  Aitkin  County  State 
Bank  of  Aitkin,  one  of  the  most  prosperous  financial 
institutions  in  Northern  Minnesota,  was  organized 
in  September,  1895,  with  a capital  of  $10,000.  Its 
first  president  was  Col.  Warren  Potter,  and  the  first 
cashier  was  J.  B.  Galarneault,  who  has  thus  been 
identified  with  the  institution  at  post  of  cashier  for 
nearly  twenty  years.  In  1903  the  capital  stock  was 
increased  to  $25,000,  with  stock  and  surplus  of 
$60,000.  Its  capital  is  now  $50,000,  and  surplus 
$10,000.  In  September,  1914,  the  total  resources 
aggregated  over  $420,000,  and  besides  the  stock  and 
surplus  the  undivided  profits  were  over  $13,000. 
The  deposits  aggregated  at  that  time  about  $357,000. 
The  amount  of  legal  reserve  required  for  this  bank 
is  a little  over  $26,000,  whereas  the  actual  reserve 
is  more  than  double  that  figure.  The  bank  owns  a 
two-story  brick  building  40  by  50  feet,  with  offices 
on  the  second  floor.  It  is  an  exceedingly  prosperous 
and  well  managed  institution.  Its  officers  are : C. 

P.  Delaittre,  president;  James  J.  McDonald,  first 
vice  president;  Walter  F.  Knox,  second  vice  presi- 
dent, and  J.  B.  Galarneault,  cashier. 

John  B.  Galarneault,  the  cashier,  was  born  in 
Sherburn  County,  Minnesota,  November  4,  1863,  a 
son  of  Casimir  and  Margaret  (Malone)  Galarneault. 
His  father  was  a farmer,  and  the  son  grew  up  in  a 
rural  district,  received  an  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  the  St.  Cloud  Normal  College,  and 
since  early  manhood  has  pursued  an  effective  and 
energetic  career.  In  1886  he  was  elected  county 
superintendent  of  schools  in  Benton  County  and 
served  one  term,  and  then,  for  three  terms,  occupied 
the  office  of  county  auditor.  Mr.  Galarneault  came 
to  Aitkin  in  1895  and  has  since  been  cashier  of  the 
Aitkin  County  State  Bank.  For  one  term  during 
Governor  Johnson’s  administration  he  served  as 
superintendent  of  banks  in  Minnesota,  and  has  a 
wide  acquaintance  among  bankers  over  the  state 
and  in  the  nation.  He  is  a member  of  the  executive 
council  of  the  American  Bankers'  Association,  and  in 
1913  was  vice  president  of  the  Minnesota  branch 
of  the  American  Association.  For  one  term  he 
served  as  president  of  the  Aitkin  City  Council,  and 
for  a number  of  years  was  a member  of  the  school 
board.  He  is  secretary  of  the  Clover  Dells  Land 
Company.  Mr.  Galarneault  was  married,  February 
14,  1893,  to  Susie  Toan  of  Lyons,  Michigan.  They 
have  a son,  John  T.,  born  September  23,  1899,  and 


at  the  present  time  a student  in  St.  Thomas  College 
at  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Galarneault,  besides  his  relations 
with  Aitkin,  is  also  president  of  the  First  State 
Bank  of  Crosby. 

Gen.  Reece  M.  Newport.  Distinguished  as  a sol- 
dier, a railway  official,  and  as  the  founder  of  one 
of  the  strongest  and  best-known  real  estate  and 
mortgage  loan  concerns  in  Minnesota,  Gen.  Reece 
M.  Newport  was  actively  identified  with  Minnesota 
affairs  for  more  than  forty  years.  General  Newport 
came  from  Ohio  to  Brainerd,  Minnesota,  in  1870, 
moved  to  Minneapolis  in  1875,  and  from  1876  lived 
in  St.  Paul.  From  1870  to  1882  he  was  local  treas- 
urer, auditor  and  land  commissioner  with  the  North- 
ern Pacific  Railway,  and  as  representative  of  this 
company,  was  the  first  to  promote  immigration  and 
colonization  by  Scandinavians  in  this  section  of  the 
country,  and  for  this  purpose  circulated  and  posted 
bills  and  other  forms  of  advertisement  all  over 
Sweden  and  Norway.  At  the  occasion  of  the  driv- 
ing of  the  golden  “spike,”  marking  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  General  New- 
port had  charge  of  the  banquet  at  the  Lafayette 
Hotel  at  Lake  Minnetonka,  at  which  celebration 
President  Arthur,  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  and  many  other 
dignitaries,  including  ambassadors  from  foreign 
countries,  were  present.  General  Newport  in  1882 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  mortgage  loan  busi- 
ness, at  first  under  the  name  Cochran  & Newport, 
after  1885  as  Newport  & Peet,  in  1887  as  R.  M. 
Newport  & Son,  continuing  actively  identified  with 
that  firm  until  1901,  and  later  as  R.  M.  Newport  until 
1910.  It  has  been  estimated  that  General  Newport 
loaned  in  round  figures  $35,000,000  on  first  mortgages 
in  the  Twin  Cities,  a sum  that  was  a valuable  factor 
toward  the  upbuilding  of  both  St.  Paul  and  Minne- 
apolis. General  Newport  was  also  president  of  the 
Seven  Corners  Bank. 

General  Newport  became  a captain  of  United 
States  Volunteers  at  the  age  of  twentyrfour,  was 
promoted  to  colonel  at  twenty-five,  and  was  breveted 
brigadier-general  at  twenty-seven  for  meritorious 
services.  During  his  long  lifetime  he  had  a per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  Abraham  Lincoln,  U.  S. 
Grant  and  Presidents  Hayes,  Cleveland  and  McKin- 
ley, and  was  also  a close  personal  friend  of  Sec- 
retary of  War  Edwin  M.  Stanton.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society  at  Marietta  Col- 
lege, his  alma  mater,  belonged  to  the  Minnesota, 
Town  and  Country  and  Commercial  clubs,  and  was 
a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
a member  and  commander  of  the  Military  Order  of 
the  Loyal  Legion. 

In  the  preceding  brief  summary  only  the  larger 
facts  in  the  career  of  General  Newport  have  been 
presented.  To  supplement  and  amplify  this  brief 
sketch  it  will  be  appropriate  to  quote  a memorial 
prepared  by  a committee  from  the  Minnesota  Com- 
mandery  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion 
of  St.  Paul  on  November  23,  1912.  The  essential 
parts  of  this  memorial  are  as  follows : 

“Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  Reece  Marshall  Newport  was 
born  at  Sharpsburg,  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
May  27,  1838,  and  in  his  early  childhood  moved 
with  his  parents  to  a farm  near  the  village  of  New- 
port, Ohio,  and  on  which  he  later  engaged  in  farm 
work.  He  graduated  at  Marietta  College  in  i860, 
and  edited  a republican  paper  during  the  Lincoln 
campaign.  In  1862  he  took  part  in  Fremont’s  cam- 
paign against  Stonewall  Jackson,  and  later  was  for 


1616 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


a short  time  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Jan- 
uary 24,  1863,  he  was  appointed  captain  and  assist- 
ant quartermaster  of  volunteers ; was  assigned  to 
duty  at  Washington  City  and  finally  at  Baltimore. 
In  1864  he  was  appointed  colonel  and  made  chief 
quartermaster  at  Baltimore.  A large  amount  of  sup- 
plies for  the  army  of  General  Sheridan,  operating  in 
the  Valley  of  Virginia,  and  for  General  Grant’s  army, 
were  forwarded  under  his  direction.  His  money 
disbursements,  though  much  less  than  the  stores  and 
supplies  handled,  amounted  during  the  last  year  of 
the  war  to  more  than  $13,000,000.  Simply  one  check 
issued  by  him  to  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railway 
Company  for  transportation  was  for  $850,000.  For 
faithful  and  meritorious  services  he  was  breveted 
brigadier  general  of  volunteers  and  mustered  out 
of  the  service  March,  1866. 

“In  1872  he  came  to  Minnesota  as  local  treasurer 
of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  in  which 
capacity  and  as  auditor  he  continued  for  ten  years, 
and  finally  was  given  charge  of  its  land  depart- 
ment. In  this  capacity  he  contributed  to  immigra- 
tion into  the  northwest  and  to  the  founding  of 
many  flourishing  communities.  In  1882  he  engaged 
in  loan  and  real  estate  business,  which  became  ex- 
tensive. Though  his  health  was  far  from  robust:, 
he  was  very  industrious  and  painstaking  in  busi- 
ness affairs.  He  was  universally  regarded  as  an 
accomplished  public-spirited  citizen.  He  was  a man 
of  fine  presence,  of  dignified  yet  kindly  manner;  a 
devoted  husband  and  father. 

“General  Newport  was  married  in  1863  to  Miss 
Eliza  Edgerton  of  Marietta,  Ohio.  Their  children 
are  Luther  E.,  Mary  M.  and  Reece  Marshall  New- 
port. Mrs.  Newport  died  May  27,  1909. 

“General  Newport  became  a member  of  this  com- 
mandery  October  7,  1885;  registrar,  May  4,  1887; 
junior  vice  commander,  May  12,  1896;  served  as 
commander  from  May  10,  1904,  to  May  9,  1905.  He 
died  at  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  tem- 
porarily staying  on  account  of  ill  health,  November 
1,  1912.  His  funeral  occurred  at  St.  Paul,  and  he 
was  buried  in  Oakland  Cemetery.  He  had  been  for 
many  years  a member  of  the  House  of  Hope  Pres- 
byterian church.” 

Reece  Marshall  Newport,  Jr.  Since  the  death 
of  the  late  General  Newport  the  large  business  estab- 
lished and  built  up  by  him  has  been  carried  on  by 
his  son,  Reece  Marshall  Newport,  who  is  now  pres- 
ident of  R.  M.  Newport  & Co.,  dealers  in  real 
estate,  mortgages,  loans  and  insurance  at  St.  Paul. 

Mr.  Newport,  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  St.  Paul,  was  born  in  that  city 
June  8,  1878.  His  early  education  was  obtained  from 
private  schools  at  St.  Paul,  and  later  he  attended 
the  Westminster  School  in  Connecticut,  and  from 
that  entered  Yale  College,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1901.  He  soon  afterwards  began  his  business 
career,  and  succeeded  to  the  loan  and  real  estate 
business  after  the  death  of  his  father.  Prior  to 
that  time  the  concern  was  conducted  as  a partner- 
ship, and  in  January,  1913,  was  incorporated  as  R. 
M.  Newport  & Co.,  with  capital  stock  of  $50,000. 
Its  officers  are:  Reece  Marshall  Newport,  Jr.,  pres- 
ident; M.  M.  Newport,  vice  president;  C.  B.  Baker, 
secretary ; and  R.  E.  Stower,  treasurer.  The  firm  is 
extensively  engaged  in  the  handling  of  bonds,  mort- 
gages, lands  and  real  estate  and  loans,  and  by  its 
transactions,  both  under  the  late  General  Newport 
and  under  the  present  corporate  form,  has  a posi- 


tion second  to  none  among  concerns  of  this  class  in 
Minnesota. 

Reece  Marshall  Newport,  Jr.,  aside  from  this 
company,  is  connected  with  several  business  indus- 
tries at  St.  Paul.  He  is  a director  of  the  State  Bank 
at  Cloquet,  Minnesota;  of  the  Farmers  and  Mer- 
chants State  Bank  of  Carlton,  Minnesota,  and  the 
hirst  State  Bank  at  Brookston.  He  is  president  of 
the  Edgeciiff  Realty  Company  of  St.  Paul.  Mr. 
Newport  is  a member  of  the  Military  Order  of  the 
Loyal  Legion,  the  Town  and  Country,  University 
and  Minnesota  Boat  clubs  of  St.  Paul,  the  Yale  Club 
of  New  York  and  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  Fraternity. 
His  offices  are  in  the  Pioneer  Building. 

George  A.  Norton.  For  a full  half  century  has 
the  name  of  the  Norton  family  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  history  of  Dodge  County,  Minne- 
sota, where  the  subject  of  this  review  has  resided 
from  his  boyhood  days  and  where  he  now  holds 
distinct  precedence  as  one  of  the  able  members  of 
the  bar  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Mantorville,  the 
judicial  center  of  the  county,  and  he  also  has  the 
general  supervision  of  the  large  estate  of  the  late 
Thomas  S.  Slingerland. 

George  A.  Norton  was  born  in  Marquette  County, 
Wisconsin,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  and  is  a son 
of  Ichabod  and  Luana  (Reynolds)  Norton,  both 
natives  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  father  having 
been  born  in  Lewis  County,  in  1819,  and  his  death 
having  occurred  January  28,  1907,  and  the  mother, 
who  was  born  in  Erie  County,  in  1823,  having  been 
summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  1886,  George  A. 
being  the  younger  of  the  two  children  and  the  other 
child  having  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  The 
marriage  of  the  parents  was  solemnized  in  Erie 
County,  New  York,  in  1845,  and  in  the  following 
year  they  settled  at  Waupon,  Wisconsin,  as  pioneers 
of  the  Badger  State.  Ichabod  Norton  was  a man  of 
much  mechanical  skill,  especially  as  a carpenter, 
and  he  followed  his  trade  in  Wisconsin  until  1864, 
when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Dodge  County, 
Minnesota,  where  he  became  a citizen  of  much 
influence  in  the  furtherance  of  civic  and  industrial 
progress.  In  1875  he  was  elected  judge  of  the 
Probate  Court  of  Dodge  County,  and  of  this  position 
he  continued  the  incumbent  two  terms.  He  was  a 
stalwart  republican,  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  held  membership 
in  the  Baptist  Church.  Judge  Norton  was  a son  of 
Joseph  Norton,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the 
State  of  New  York  and  who  became  a pioneer 
farmer  in  Wisconsin,  from  which  state  he  came  to 
Minnesota  in  1856,  here  passing  the  residue  of  his 
life.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  George  A.  Norton 
was  an  early  settler  in  Erie  County,  New  York, 
in  which  state  he  maintained  his  home  until  his 
death. 

George  A.  Norton  was  about  eleven  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  parents’  settlement  in  Dodge 
County,  Minnesota,  and  in  addition  to  receiving  the 
advantages  of  the  common  schools  of  the  locality 
and  period  he  was  enabled  to  attend  a well  conducted 
academy  at  Wasioja,  this  county.  He  then  studied 
law  under  the  able  preceptorship  of  William  A. 
Sperry,  and  in  1879  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
forthwith  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Mantorville  and  success  attended  his  efforts,  but 
he  was  soon  called  upon  to  serve  in  the  position  of 
county  auditor,  an  office  of  which  he  continued  the 


/ 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1617 


valued  incumbent  for  the  long  period  of  sixteen 
years.  Since  his  retirement  from  office  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  found 
insistent  demands  upon  his  time  and  attention  in 
the  management  of  the  extensive  Slingerland  estate. 

Mr.  Norton  has  shown  deep  interest  in  all  that 
has  concerned  the  social  and  material  well  being  of 
his  home  village  and  county,  is  an  uncompromising 
and  effective  advocate  of  the  basic  principles  which 
have  made  the  republican  party  the  safe  guardian 
of  national  government,  and  he  has  served  as  presi- 
dent, secretary  and  recorder  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  Mantorville,  besides  having  been  for  twenty-six 
years  in  continuous  service  as  a member  of  the  board 
of  education.  Mr.  Norton  is  the  owner  of  a pleasant 
residence  property  in  Mantorville,  as  well  as  a well 
improved  farm  in  Dodge  County.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  American  Yeomen 
and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  his 
wife  holds  membership  in  the  Baptist  Church. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1881,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Norton  to  Miss  Phidelia  Perley, 
daughter  of  the  late  Stephen  Perley,  who  came  to 
Dodge  County  in  1864  and  became  a representative 
farmer  of  this  section.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Norton  have 
three  children.  Allen  P.  completed  the  curriculum 
of  the  Mantorville  High  School  and  took  one  year's 
academic  work  in  Hamline  University,  in  the  City 
of  St.  Paul,  and  thereafter  graduated  from  the  St. 
Paul  College  of  Law.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Mantorville.  George 
A.,  Jr.,  is  a successful  farmer  in  Dodge  County;  and 
Harrison  E.  was  graduated  in  Hamline  University 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  1913  and  is  now  (1915) 
taking  post-graduate  work  at  Hamline  and  first  year 
law  at  St.  Paul  College  of  Law. 

William  S.  Willyard.  The  efficient  and  popular 
cashier  of  the  Kasson  National  Bank  of  Kasson, 
Dodge  County,  has  achieved  success  through  his  own 
ability  and  well  ordered  endeavors  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  substantial  and  influential  citizens  of 
the  prosperous  village  in  which  he  maintains  his 
home  and  in  the  welfare  and  progress  of  which  he 
maintains  a lively  and  helpful  interest. 

Mr.  Willyard  was  born  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  the  3d  of  January,  1853,  and  is  a son  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  M.  (Grier)  Willyard,  the  former 
of  whom  likewise  was  a native  of  the  old  Keystone 
State,  where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1828,  and  the 
later  of  whom  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1833,  their 
marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1852.  Of  the  five  children,  William  S.  is  the  first 
born,  and  of  the  others  only  one  is  living,  Sarah 
Belle,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Edmondson,  of 
Cloquet,  Carlton  County,  Minnesota.  He  whose 
name  initiates  this  article  was  a child  of  two  years 
at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  the  Territory 
of  Minnesota,  in  1855,  and  his  parents  established 
their  home  at  Mantorville,  thus  becoming  pioneer 
settlers  of  Dodge  County.  The  father  was  a skilled 
millwright  and  carpenter  and  worked  at  his  trade 
for  a number  of  years  after  he  came  to  Minnesota. 
He  later  purchased  a tract  of  land  near  Cloquet, 
Carlton  County,  where  he  developed  a farm,  this 
homestead  continuing  to  be  his  place  of  abode  until 
his  death  and  his  widow  having  there  passed  the 
remainder  of  her  life.  Henry  Willyard  was  a re- 
publican in  politics,  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  special  honor  was  his  for  his  service 
as  a soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war.  He 


enlisted  in  Company  B,  Tenth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  which  was  later  transferred  to  an  artillery 
command,  and  he  was  in  active  service  during  the 
major  part  of  the  war.  In  later  years  he  was  in 
active  affiliation  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, and  both  he  and  his  wife  commanded  the  high 
regard  of  all  who  knew  them. 

William'S.  Willyard  gained  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Wasioja,  Dodge  County,  and 
Waseca,  Waseca  County,  in  which  latter  place  he 
availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  high  school. 
As  a youth  he  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  to 
the  trade  of  telegraphist,  in  the  service  of  the  Chi- 
cago & Northwestern  Railroad,  and  he  familiarized 
himself  with  the  various  local  details  of  railway 
service,  with  the  result  that  he  was  finally  made 
station  agent  for  the  Chicago  & Northwestern  Rail- 
road at  Kasson,  his  present  place  of  residence.  He 
retained  this  position  four  years,  and  for  four  years 
thereafter  he  was  cashier  of  a bank  at  Mantorville, 
the  judicial  center  of  Dodge  County.  During  the 
ensuing  nine  years  he  held  the  position  of  assistant 
cashier  of  the  National  Bank,  now  the  National  Bank 
of  Dodge  County,  at  Kasson,  and  in  1908  he  was 
promoted  to  the  office  of  cashier  of  this  institution, 
a position  of  which  he  has  since  continued  the  able 
and  valued  incumbent.  During  an  absence  of  thir- 
teen years  from  Dodge  County  Mr.  Willyard  was 
engaged  in  railway  service — with  the  Soo  Line  and 
the  Great  Northern  Railroad. 

In  politics,  though  never  imbued  with  ambition 
for  public  office,  Mr.  Willyard  is  a stanch  repub- 
lican, and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  year  1872  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Willyard  to  Miss  Elva  L.  Long,  daughter  of 
Seth  Long,  who  was  a well  known  citizen  of  Waseca 
County,  and  who,  as  a representative  of  the  demo- 
cratic party,  served  for  a long  period  as  sheriff  of 
that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willyard  have  one  son, 
Clyde  Long  Willyard,  who  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  cities  of  Minneapolis 
and  Duluth,  including  the  high  school  in  the  latter 
place,  and  who  is  now  assistant  cashier  of  the  Kas- 
son National  Bank. 

Clarence  C.  Crawford.  Ambition,  resolute  pur- 
pose and  proper  application  of  his  powers  have 
enabled  Mr.  Crawford  to  achieve  through  his  own 
efforts  a substantial  success  in  connection  with  the 
productive  activities  of  life,  and  he  is  today  num- 
bered among  the  substantial  citizens  and  representa- 
tive business  men  of  the  county  that  has  been  his 
home  from  infancy.  He  is  cashier  of  the  First  State 
Bank  of  Mantorville,  judicial  center  of  Dodge 
County,  is  a stockholder  of  this  and  other  banking 
institutions  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  is  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  Mantorville  Farmers’ 
Elevator  & Mercantile  Company.  He  has  depended 
upon  his  own  ability  and  exertions  for  the  accumu- 
lation of  every  dollar  that  stands  to  his  credit  and  is 
known  and  honored  as  one  of  the  reliable,  progres- 
sive and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Dodge  County. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  born  in  the  Village  of  Oxford 
Mills,  Grenville  County.  Province  of  Ontario, 
Canada,  on  the  9th  of  February,  1877,  and  is  a son 
of  Thomas  and  Susan  (Cooper)  Crawford,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York  and  the  latter  in  the  Province  of  Ontario, 
Canada,  where  their  marriage  was  solemnized  in 
1876.  In  1878,  when  their  son,  Clarence  C.,  was  about 


1618 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


one  year  old,  they  came  to  Minnesota  and  settled 
in  the  Village  of  Kasson,  Dodge  County,  where  they 
still  maintain  their  home,  the  father  having  given 
his  attention  principally  to  the  teaming  and  draying 
business.  He  is  a republican  in  politics,  is  affiliated 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  American  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Of  their  five  children  the  subject  of  this 
review  is  the  first  born ; Harry  C.  is  engaged  in 
the  moving  picture  business  at  Marion,  South  Caro- 
lina; Effie  is  the  wife  of  Knute  H.  Finseth,  who 
is  engaged  in  farming  near  Kenyon,  Goodhue 
County,  Minnesota;  Ashley  E.,  of  Minneapolis;  and 
Ruth,  who  remains  at  the  parental  home,  was  grad- 
uated in  the  Kasson  High  School  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1914. 

Clarence  C.  Crawford  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  at  Kasson  and  as  a youngjnan 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany, with  which  he  remained  nine  years,  as  one  of 
its  representatives  in  Dodge  County.  Thereafter  he 
held  for  four  years  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  County 
Court  of  Dodge  County,  and  during  the  last  two 
years  of  this  incumbency  he  served  also  as  cashier 
of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Mantorville,  the  county 
seat,  a position  which  he  still  retains.  This  is  one 
of  the  stanch  and  well  managed  financial  institu- 
tions of  this  part  of  the  state,  with  a capital  stock 
of  $15,000,  a surplus  fund  of  $10,000,  and  with 
deposits  that  have  attained  to  an  average  aggregate 
of  $200,000.  Mr,  Crawford  is  likewise  a director 
of  this  bank,  as  is  he  also  of  the  Farmers’  State 
Bank  at  Hayfield,  Dodge  County,  and  he  is  a stock- 
holder and  director  in  the  National  Bank  of  Dodge 
County  at  Kasson,  besides  being  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Mantorville  Farmers’  Elevator  & 
Mercantile  Company,  an  important  and  thriving 
institution  of  Dodge  County. 

That  Mr.  Crawford  is  a stalwart  in  the  local 
camp  of  the  republican  party  needs  no  further 
voucher  than  the  statement  that  he  has  served  as 
secretary  of  the  Republican  County  Committee  of 
Dodge  County.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  local  lodge 
of  Ancient,  Free  & Accepted  Masons,  has  held  offi- 
cial chairs  in  the  Mantorville  Lodge  of  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  is  identified  also  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  both  he  and  his  wife  being 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1904,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Crawford  to  Miss  Clara  M.  Mantor, 
a representative  of  the  influential  family  in  whose 
honor  Mantorville  was  named.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crawford  have  no  children. 

Harry  J.  Edison.  The  professional  ability  and 
ambitious  application  of  Mr.  Edison  have  given 
him  secure  prestige  as  one  of  the  representative 
members  of  the  bar  of  his  native  county  and  he 
is  engaged  in  the  successful  practice  of  law  at 
Kasson,  Dodge  County,  with  an  excellent  clientage 
and  substantial ' business.  He  is  a scion  of  a well 
known  and  highly  honored  pioneer  family  of  this 
county,  within  whose  gracious  borders  he  has  main- 
tained his  home  from  the  time  of  his  nativity  and 
in  which  his  circle  of  friends  is  coincident  with 
that  of  his  acquaintances. 

Harry  J.  Edison  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
farm  of  his  father,  in  Milton  Township,  Dodge 
County,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1878,  and  is  a son  of 


William  H.  and  Marian  C.  (Cramond)  Edison,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  Province  of 
Ontario,  Canada,  in  1835,  and  the  latter  of  whom 
was  born  in  Wisconsin,  in  1839,  their  marriage  hav- 
ing been  solemnized  in  Dodge  County,  Minnesota. 
William  H.  Edison,  a first  cousin  of  Thomas  A. 
Edison,  the  celebrated  wizard  of  electricity,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  province  and  as 
a young  man  came  to  Minnesota  and  established 
his  residence  in  Dodge  County.  Here  he  became  a 
successful  farmer  and  through  his  own  industry  and 
good  management  he  accumulated  a competency,  the 
while  he  became  one  of  the  progressive  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  the  county,  with  secure  place  in 
popular  confidence  and  esteem.  He  was  a democrat 
in  his  political  allegiance,  held  various  township 
offices  and  served  also  as  a member  of  the  board  of 
county  commissioners.  He  was  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  Edison  continued  to  reside 
on  his  fine  homestead  farm  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  December,  1903,  and  his  widow  now 
resides  in  the  Village  of  Kasson,  her  father  having 
been  a native  of  England,  whence  he  came  to  the 
United  States  when  a young  man,  and,  having  be- 
come one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Dodge  County, 
Minnesota,  where  he  developed  an  excellent  farm 
and  continued  to  reside  until  his  death.  Harry 
Edison,  paternal  grandfather  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  review  and  who  was  named  in  honor 
of  this  grandsire,  passed  his  entire  life  in  the 
Province  of  Ontario,  Canada.  William  H.  and 
Marian  C.  Edison  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
of  whom  four  are  now  living,  Harry  J.,  of  this 
review,  having  been  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth ; 
Victorine  is  the  wife  of  Frank  E.  Decker,  of  Byron, 
Olmsted  County;  Inez  is  the  wife  of  John  J.  Mc- 
Caughey,  a Dodge  County  lawyer  of  whom  individual 
mention  is  made  in  this  publication ; and  George  W. 
is  a resident  of  Stanford,  Fergus  County,  Montana, 
a county  named  in  honor  of  the  same  sterling  old 
pioneer  of  the  Northwest  as  was  Fergus  Falls, 
Minnesota. 

After  completing  the  curriculum  of  the  public 
schools  of  Kasson,  Harry  J.  Edison  began  the  work 
of  preparing  himself  for  the  profession  of  his  choice. 
He  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1906  and  from  which  he  received 
the  degree  of  bachelor  of  laws,  with  concomitant 
admission  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state.  Mr.  Edison 
had  the  good  judgment  not  to  seek  a far  field  in 
initiating  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  for  he 
established  his  office  at  Kasson,  where  he  was 
associated  in  practice  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
McCaughey,  until  1909,  since  which  time  he  has  con- 
ducted an  individual  practice,  with  an  excellent 
clientage  and  with  well  proved  reputation  as  a skilled 
trial  lawyer  and  well  fortified  counselor.  He  has 
served  two  terms  as  county  attorney,  to  which  office 
he  was  first  elected  in  1910,  with  reelection  in  1912. 
and  he  is  one  of  the  loyal  and  valiant  advocates  of 
the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  in  whose  local 
ranks  he  has  been  an  active  worker.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  aside  from  the 
exacting  demands  of  his  profession  he  gives  a 
general  supervision  to  the  fine  farm  which  he  owns 
in  his  native  county. 

In  1909  Mr.  Edison  wedded  Miss  Myrtle  A.  Sax- 
ton, of  St.  Charles,  this  state,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Ralph  S. 


1 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1619 


Orren  E.  Safford.  Junior  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Belden  & Safford,  with  offices  in  the  McKnight 
Building,  Orren  E.  Safford  has  practiced  law  at 
Minneapolis  for  the  past  five  years. 

He  was  born  in  Richland  County,  North  Dakota, 
March  7,  1882,  a son  of  Orren  W.  and  Hattie  R. 
(Price)  Safford.  His  father  was  born  and  reared 
in  Fond  du  Lac  County,  Wisconsin,  followed  farming 
there  until  his  removal  to  North  Dakota,  and  finally 
came  to  Minnesota,  living  in  Aitkin  County  as  a 
substantial  farmer  and  citizen  until  his  death.  His 
death  occurred  in  Aitkin  County,  March  17,  1905, 
and  his  widow  now  resides  in  the  Village  of  Aitkin. 
Their  three  sons  were  : Arthur  A.  of  Aitkin  County; 
Orren  E. ; and  Robert  R.  of  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Orren  E.  Safford  gained  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Aitkin  and  Hutchinson  and 
in  1902  graduated  from  the  Duluth  High  School. 
Already  for  one  term  he  had  taught  in  Aitkin 
County,  and  after  leaving  high  school  was  again 
a teacher  for  one  term.  Teaching  supplied  him  with 
some  of  the  means  which  he  used  for  his  higher 
education.  For  3P2  years  he  was  a student  in  the 
literary  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
and  in  1910  graduated  from  the  law  department  with 
the  degree  LL.  B.  Admitted  to  the  bar,  he  pos- 
sessed, in  addition  to  the  training  given  him  by 
his  university  course,  two  years  of  experience  with 
the  law  department  of  the  Minneapolis  Street  Rail- 
way Company.  For  one  year  after  his  admission 
he  was  associated  with  James  D.  Shearer,  with 
offices  in  the  Loan  & Trust  Building.  January  1, 
1912,  he  entered  a partnership  with  Judge  Henry 
Clay  Belden,  under  the  firm  name  of  Belden  & 
Safford.  Mention  is  made  of  Judge  Belden  on  other 
pages  of  this  work. 

Mr.  Safford  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
Bar  Association  and  the  Minnesota  State  Bar 
Association,  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Com- 
merce Association  and  the  University  Club  of 
Minneapolis.  On  April  2,  1914,  in  Christ  Episcopal 
Church  in  New  York  City,  Mr.  Safford  married  Miss 
Virginia  Wetherby,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Minneapolis,  a daughter  of  John  K.  Wetherby  of 
that  city.  Mrs.  Safford  is  a niece  of  former  Gov. 
P.  C.  Lounsbury  of  Connecticut.  She  received  her 
preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  her 
native  city  and  subsequently  attended  one  of  the 
leading  eastern  schools  for  young  women. 

Theophilus  L.  Haecker.  Dairy  and  animal  hus- 
bandman is  the  title  of  Mr.  Haecker,  on  the  staff 
of  the  experiment  station  of  the  Agricultural  School 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  As  chief  of  the 
division  of  dairy  and  animal  husbandry  his  greatest 
work  in  behalf  of  Minnesota  has  been  accomplished. 
Among  thousands  of  Minnesota  dairymen  he  is 
gratefully  acknowledged  as  the  Father  of  Co-oper- 
ative Dairying,  and  nearly  every  progressive  dairy 
farmer,  not  only  in  Minnesota,  but  in  other  states 
of  the  Northwest,  knows  him  either  through  his 
practical  demonstrations  and  personal  lectures  or 
through  the  standard  literature  of  which  he  is  author. 

His  career  has  been  one  of  unusual  experience 
and  successful  achievement.  Theophilus  L.  Haecker 
was  born  at  Liverpool,  Medina  County,  Ohio,  May 
4,  1846.  When  he  was  seven  years  old  his  parents 
moved  to  a farm  in  Wisconsin,  near  Cottage  Grove, 
and  all  the  education  he  had  until  sixteen  years  of 
age  was  acquired  by  attendance  during  the  brief 
winter  terms  at  district  schools.  He  grew  up  on 


the  farm,  and  the  interest  which  he  early  acquired 
in  agriculture,  and  particularly  live  stock,  has  been 
the  one  vital  enthusiasm  of  all  his  subsequent 
career.  When  he  was  sixteen  he  entered  the  State 
University  at  Madison,  but  the  following  winter  ill- 
ness compelled  him  to  give  up  his  studies.  Mr. 
Haecker  made  a record  as  a boy  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war.  At  the  close  of  his  first  term  in  uni- 
versity he  enlisted  in  Company  A of  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  was  at  first  de- 
tailed to  clerical  work  at  headquarters.  That  did 
not  prevent  him  from  active  service,  however,  and 
during  Grant’s  campaign  before  Richmond  he  was 
in  the  ranks  as  a private  and  regimental  bugler, 
serving  in  the  trenches  before  Petersburg.  He  was 
finally  put  on  detached  service  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment at  City  Point,  and  was  rapidly  promoted  until 
given  charge  of  the  quartermaster’s  supplies  of  the 
Ninth  Corps  Hospital  Department.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  war  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  drum  corps,  and  participated  in  the 
great  review  at  Washington.  Mr.  Haecker  was  dis- 
charged with  his  regiment  at  Madison  in  August, 
1865,  and  was  then  only  nineteen  years  of  age.  His 
parents  had  in  the  meantime  removed  to  Hampton, 
Franklin  County,  Iowa,  and  the  first  two  years  after 
his  muster  out  were  spent  in  working  his  father’s 
farm. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  Mr.  Haecker  again  entered 
the  University  of  Wisconsin,  and  again  his  health 
failed  during  his  third  year,  and  he  returned  home. 
Work  as  a teacher  in  public  schools  then  kept  him 
busy  until  1870,  and  a new  direction  to  his  activities 
was  given  when  he  established  the  Ackley  Inde- 
pendent in  Hardin  County,  Iowa.  As  a newspaper 
man  and  publisher  he  was  unusually  successful,  but 
in  1873  disposed  of  the  paper  and  the  following 
February  located  on  a farm  near  Cottage  Grove, 
Wisconsin,  with  the  intention  of  building  up  an 
extensive  enterprise  as  a stock  raiser  and  dairyman. 
Shortly  afterwards,  however,  without  any  solicitation 
on  his  part,  he  was  offered  a position  on  the  execu- 
tive staff  of  William  R.  Taylor,  then  governor  of 
Wisconsin.  This  position  he  accepted  as  an  attache 
of  the  governor’s  office ; he  served  through  five  suc- 
ceeding administrations,  covering  a period  of  seven- 
teen years.  Many  responsible  duties  were  assigned 
to  him  in  the  course  of  this  time,  and  for  ten  years 
he  reviewed  all  pardon  cases  coming  before  the 
governor.  He  also  assisted  in  the  adjustment  of  the 
noted  St.  Croix  land  grant  case. 

The  duties  of  this  public  position  did  not  cause  Mr. 
Haecker  to  lose  his  interest  in  stock  raising.  He 
usually  spent  each  evening  on  his  farm,  personally 
inspecting  every  animal  on  the  place,  and  drove  a 
distance  of  ten  miles  to  office  in  the  morning.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  become  an  intimate  friend  and 
associate  of  Professor  Henry,  who  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  Wisconsin  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station  established  in  1880,  and  through  this  associa- 
tion acquired  a highly  technical  as  well  as  practical 
knowledge  of  agriculture  and  agricultural  education. 
His  exceptional  qualifications  in  this  field  led  to  his 
being  commissioned  by  the  board  of  regents  in  1882 
to  make  a tour  of  the  East  to  select  foundation 
stock  for  the  experiment  station.  The  animals  he 
selected  proved  of  excellent  merit,  and  on  the 
organization  of  the  Farmers’  Institute  he  was  chosen 
to  discuss  subjects  of  breeding  and  handling  of 
dairy  stock.  In  the  fall  of  1890  Mr.  Haecker  moved 
his  family  to  the  City  of  Madison  in  order  to 


1G20 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


afford  his  children  the  advantages  of  better  schools. 
The  following  January  he  was  unexpectedly  relieved 
of  his  official  duties,  and  accepted  this  as  an  oppor- 
tunity for  joining  the  first  class  in  the  Wisconsin 
Dairy  School.  In  the  second  week  he  was^  appointed 
assistant  to  the  chief  instructor  in  the  dairy  school, 
and  was  thus  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  experiment 
station  at  Madison  until  August,  1891. 

Mr.  Haecker  then  moved  to  Minnesota  and  became 
connected  with  the  Agricultural  College,  and  on  the 
resignation  of  Professor  Hays  was  appointed  assist- 
ant in  agriculture  in  charge  of  live  stock  and  dairy- 
ing. In  June,  1893,  he  was  appointed  full  professor 
in  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  placed  in  charge 
of  the  dairy- school. 

It  is  an  assertion  that  the  facts  will  readily  sustain 
that  Mr.  Haecker  has  done  more  to  promote  the 
interests  of  the  dairy  men  in  the  Northwest  than 
any  other  man,  and  is  one  of  the  few  great  dairy 
experts  in  America.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the 
scientific  investigation  of  dairy  problems  for  the 
past  fifteen  years,  and  during  that  time  has  earned 
a wide  reputation  both  as  a practical  expert  and 
adviser  and  as  an  author  of  dairy  literature.  He 
is  not  only  a scientist,  a teacher  and  an  investigator, 
but  a moulder  of  thought  and  an  inspiration  to  his 
colleagues  and  students.  Of  the  hundreds  who  know 
him  as  a teacher  all  recognize  above  his  ability  to 
impart  knowledge  the  fine  inspiration  which  flows 
from  him  and  becomes  a permanent  influence  in 
vitalizing  the  activities  of  his  followers.  Fully  thirty 
years  ago  Mr.  Haecker  was*  considered  among  his 
associates  an  authority  on  farming  and  dairy  stock 
raising,  and  at  that  time  his  publications  on  the 
“Jersey  Interests”  and  “Principles  of  Breeding”  and 
other  articles  had  a general  circulation  among 
breeders  and  farmers  of  Wisconsin.  Thus  his  repu- 
tation was  well  established  at  the  time  he  came  to 
Minnesota. 

His  first  important  work  in  this  state  was  the 
organization  of  the  creamery  interests  along  co- 
operative lines.  At  that  time  the  creameries  in 
Minnesota  were  nearly  all  private  concerns,  conducted 
largely  for  the  benefit  of  the  individual  owners,  and 
with  the  widest  diversity  in  effectiveness  and  profits 
to  producers  and  sellers.  Mr.  Haecker’s  first  task 
was  the  coordination  of  the  dairy  interests.  He 
spent  many  months  in  field  work,  holding  meetings 
and  delivering  addresses  all  over  the  state.  Largely 
through  the  results  of  his  individual  work  Minnesota 
now  has  the  most  perfect  system  of  cooperation 
among  creameries  in  any  state  of  the  Union.  Twenty 
years  ago  Minnesota  dairy  products  were  practically 
unknown  in  the  great  markets,  while  at  the  present 
time  the  producers  are  receiving  the  highest  market 
price  for  Minnesota  creamery  butter.  The  state  also 
holds  more  national  contest  banners  for  high  quality 
than  all  other  states  combined.  As  a result  of  general 
cooperation,  the  standard  of  products  has  risen,  there 
has  been  a greater  diffusion  of  knowledge  among 
farmers,  system  has  taken  the  place  of  the  old  hap- 
hazard methods  at  farm  and  in  creamery  manage- 
ment, and  foremost  among  the  results  is  that  the 
producer  gets  the  benefit  of  high  prices.  Since  com- 
ing to  Minnesota  Mr.  Haecker  has  worked  con- 
sistently for  the  people  of  the  state  and  for  the 
producer  against  all  fraud,  and  his  vigilance  has 
meant  and  will  mean  millions  of  dollars  to  the  dairy 
interests  of  Minnesota.  It  has  been  conclusively 
demonstrated  again  and  again  that  the  dairy  farmers 
who  depend  upon  the  advice  and  assistance  of  the 


State  Agricultural  College  and  the  various  agencies 
for  instruction  and  organization  enjoy  benefits  and 
profits  from  50  to  100  per  cent  greater  than  those 
who  are  content  to  follow  the  old  routine  and  “prac- 
tical” methods  which  had  no  relation  to  system  and 
efficiency.  Among  progressive  Minnesota  dairymen 
one  of  the  standard  books  of  instruction,  a handbook 
that  has  become  the  ready  reference  volume  in  thou- 
sands of  dairy  farms,  is  Mr.  Haecker’s  “Feeding 
Dairy  Cows,”  published  as  a bulletin  by  the  Agri- 
cultural College  of  the  University.  This  work  alone 
is  one  that  will  give  Mr.  Haecker  a lasting  reputation 
among  the  great  American  dairy  experts. 

Judge  C.  W.  Stanton.  A prominent  lawyer  of 
Northern  Minnesota,  Charles  Willard  Stanton  has 
been  in  active  practice  for  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century,  and  for  the  past  seven  years  has  been  judge 
of  the  Fifteenth  Judicial  District,  with  residence  at 
Bemidji.  Judge  Stanton  is  one  of  the  older  native 
sons  of  Minnesota,  his  father  died  while  in  the  Union 
army,  and  in  his  professional  and  judicial  career 
he  has  measured  up  to  the  high  ideals  of  the  true 
lawyer,  and  in  many  ways  has  exercised  his  ability 
for  the  benefit  and  welfare  of  the  people. 

Charles  Willard  Stanton  was  born  at  Pine  Island, 
Goodhue  County,  Minnesota,  August  5,  1861,  a son 
of  Flarrison  M.  and  Alida  (Parker)  Stanton.  His 
father  was  a merchant,  an  early  settler  in  Minne- 
sota, and  left  his  business  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war  to  enlist  in  the  Union  army.  He  became  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  D in  the  Fourth  Minnesota 
Infantry  in  October,  1861,  and  in  June,  1862,  died 
at-  Benton  Barracks  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Judge  Stanton  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools,  in  the  Wesleyan  Seminary  in  Dodge 
County,  Minnesota,  and  in  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota. His  early  career  found  him  engaged  in  news- 
paper work,  and  while  in  that  occupation  he  studied 
iaw,  a part  of  the  time  with  the  former  attorney- 
general,  E.  T.  Young,  of  Appleton.  Admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Appleton  in  1888,  Judge  Stanton  was  in  active 
practice  in  that  city  until  1904,  and  during  his  resi- 
dence there,  in  addition  to  a large  private  practice, 
he  served  four  years  as  judge  of  probate,  as  mayor 
of  the  city  and  also  as  city  attorney.  In  1904  he 
removed  to  International  Falls,  and  while  there 
served  both  as  city  and  county  attorney. 

In  March,  1908,  Governor  Johnson  appointed  Mr. 
Stanton  judge  of  the  Fifteenth  Judicial  District,  and 
the  duties  of  that  office  caused  his  removal  to 
Bemidji.  In  1910  he  was  elected  for  the  regular 
term,  and  is  still  on  the  bench. 

In  addition  to  many  other  services  special  credit 
is  due  to  Judge  Stanton  for  his  effective  leadership 
in  the  fight  to  regain  25.000  acres  of  land  granted 
to  a railway  company,  which  failed  and  never  ful- 
filled the  obligations  on  which  the  land  grant  was 
based.  The  railway  company  assigned  its  land  grant 
to  Russell  Sage,  and  made  vigorous  efforts  to  retain 
this  property.  Judge  Stanton  fought  the  case 
through  both  the  state  and  federal  courts,  and 
after  eleven  years  won  his  contentions  and  safe- 
guarded the  rights  of  the  hundreds  of  settlers  who 
had  located  on  those  tracts  of  forfeited  railway 
lands. 

Judge  Stanton  is  a member  of  the  Minnesota  and 
the  American  Bar  associations,  and  fraternally  has 
taken  interest  in  Masonic  work.  He  is  a member 
of  the  lodge  and  chapter  at  Bemidji,  of  Damascus 
Commandery  of  Knights  Templar  at  St.  Paul,  and 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1621 


oi  the  Minneapolis  Consistory  of  the  thirty-second 
degree  Scottish  Rite  and  the  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Minneapolis.  He  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  is  warden  in  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

William  Alwin,  Sr.  In  any  account  of  the  fine 
old  German  community  about  New  Ulm  mention 
must  be  made  of  the  late  William  Alwin,  who  was 
among  the  pioneers  of  that  region  and  had  a large 
share  in  shaping  its  destinies.  He  was  a man  of  the 
true  pioneer  type,  willing  to  sacrifice  much  for  the 
sake  of  the  community,  and  his  own  efforts  con- 
tributed not  a little  to  the  improvement  of  that  sec- 
tion of  the  great  State  of  Minnesota.  His  name  is 
associated  with  early  Indian  affairs,  he  was  one  of 
the  soldiers  who  participated  in  the  battle  at  New 
Ulm  during  the  Civil  war  and  is  remembered  as  a 
man  of  great  strength  and  nobility  of  character. 

William  Alwin  was  born  in  Putzig,  the  Province 
of  Posen,  Germany,  September  6,  1825,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  his  cottage  home  at  New  Ulm  on  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1910,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
Both  his  parents  died  when  he  was  an  infant,  he 
never  knew  his  mother  at  all  and  had  only  a faint 
recollection  of  his  father.  His  early  boyhood  was 
spent  in  the  home  of  an  uncle,  and  he  lived  there 
until  reaching  military  age.  Because  of  his  physical 
build,  sturdy  health  and  regulation  size,  which  is 
so  greatly  valued  by  the  German  military  authori- 
ties, he  was  placed  with  the  imperial  guard  of  the 
Uhlans,  and  after  serving  the  regular  time  pre- 
scribed by  law  was  given  an  honorable  discharge. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-eight  Mr.  Alwin  married 
Miss  Wilhelmina  Gruening,  and  they  soon  after- 
wards emigrated  to  America,  making  their  first  home 
at  Milwaukee,  the  cepter  of  German  colonization  in 
the  Northwest.  While  there  they  learned  of  a move- 
ment promoted  by  some  prominent  Germans  of  Chi- 
cago to  establish  an  independent  colony  in  Minne- 
sota, which  was  then  far  out  on  the  Northwestern 
frontier.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alwin  embraced  the  project 
as  being  in  accord  with  their  ideas  of  independence, 
and  they  joined  their  friends  and  relatives  in  their 
march  to  the  promised  land.  The  journey  was  made 
in  prairie  schooners  drawn  by  oxen,  and  they  and 
others  arrived  at  New  Ulm  in  the  early  summer  of 
1855.  Soon  afterwards  Mr.  Alwin  made  selection  of 
a tract  of  land  and  homesteaded  what  for  many 
years  has  been  known  as  the  Alwin  Farm  on  the 
Cottonwood  River,  a mile  and  a half  southwest  of 
New  Ulm.  That  was  his  home,  there  his  children 
were  born  and  reared,  and  for  thirty-five  years  he 
had  an  active  part  in  the  improvement  of  that 
pioneer  district.  It  is  a truth  that  cannot  be  too 
frequently  asserted  that  what  the  present  generation 
enjoy  in  the  comforts  and  facilities  of  civilization 
is  due  primarily  to  the  hardships  and  strenuous 
efforts  put  forth  by  the  pioneers  who  first  turned 
the  soil,  built  homes,  cleared  the  wilderness,  founded 
towns,  schools  and  churches,  and  blazed  the  broad 
path  of  civilization  in  a new  country.  The  late  Wil- 
liam Alwin  was  one  of  the  sturdiest  of  these 
pioneers,  and  in  all  the  hardships  he  was  accom- 
panied both  in  spirit  and  in  fact  by  his  estimable 
wife,  who  had  equal  fortitude  with  himself  in  meet- 
ing the  dangers  and  difficulties  that  stood  in  the 
way  of  making  a home  in  this  new  country.  For 
several  months  the  family  lived  in  the  prairie 


schooner  which  had  brought  them  to  Minnesota,  but 
with  the  approach  of  winter  they  moved  from  that 
shelter  to  a cozy  dugout,  constructed  by  Mr.  Alwin 
in  an  embankment.  In  that  humble  dwelling  the 
little  family  of  three,  the  parents  and  a son  who 
had  been  born  in  the  prairie  schooner,  lived  during 
the  first  Minnesota  winter,  with  very  few  neighbors 
and  for  weeks  at  a time  without  sight  of  a human 
being  except  their  own  household.  The  necessity 
for  earning  some  ready  money  during  the  first  win- 
ter caused  Mr.  Alwin  to  accept  employment  near 
Fort  Ridgely.  That  was  the  hardest  kind  of  physi- 
cal labor,  but  the  endurance  he  displayed  in  perform- 
ing it  was  equalled  by  the  courage  of  his  wife,  who 
was  thus  left  isolated  in  the  little  dugout  home  and 
her  most  frequent  visitors  were  the  friendly  In- 
dians who  occasionally  passed  by.  Mr.  Alwin  with 
remarkable  perseverance  and  diligence  cleared  the 
ground  of  his  homestead,  turned  it  into  fields  of 
grain,  and  in  time  made  the  wilderness  yield  ample 
fruits  for  home  and  in  provision  for  the  future.  The 
patches  of  cultivated  ground  year  after  year  in- 
creased in  size,  home  and  living  conditions  were 
improved,  and  in  time  he  and  his  wife  were  at  the 
head  of  a noble  family  of  children,  eight  sons  and 
one  daughter. 

As  Mr.  Alwin  had  been  so  diligent  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duties  toward  his  family,  he  was 
likewise  never  negligent  of  his  obligations  as  a citi- 
zen. During  the  terrible  days  of  the  Indian  out- 
break, soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war,  he 
showed  the  courage  of  the  true  pioneer.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  Indian  rebellion  he  moved  his  fam- 
ily into  New  Ulm,  placed  them  in  safety  in  what 
was  then  known  as  the  Fuller  Building,  and  then 
took  his  place  in  the  front  rank  of  the  defenders 
of  the  little  village.  During  the  entire  time  of  the 
siege  he  was  found  on  the  firing  line,  his  wife  not 
knowing  but  what  he  too,  like  many  others,  had 
fallen  victim  to  Indian  bullets.  In  after  years  he 
frequently  related  the  horrors  and  incidents  of,  this 
Indian  siege,  related  many  facts  concerning  indi- 
vidual performance  by  his  neighbors,  but  it  is  note- 
worthy that  in  his  modesty  he  could  never  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  refer  to  his  own  actions.  His  old 
comrades,  however,  gave  him  credit  for  always 
being  foremost  to  incur  danger  and  for  exceeding 
valorous  conduct  throughout  the  battle  and  siege. 

In  the  course  of  thirty  years  of  residence  on  the 
homestead  Mr.  Alwin  provided  well  for  himself  and 
family,  and  in  1885  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
in  the  little  cottage  home  in  New  Ulm  where  the  rest 
of  his  years  were  spent  in  quiet  retirement.  He 
never  aspired  to  nor  accepted  any  public  office. 

As  a well  deserved  tribute  to  this  fine  old  German 
pioneer  it  will  be  appropriate  to  quote  an  article 
which  appeared  in  the  New  Ulm  Review  shortly 
after  his  death : “Mr.  Alwin  was  one  of  those  rare 
characters  who  through  the  rough  and  practical 
school  of  life  had  acquired  a firmly  fixed  principle, 
which  became  the  guiding  star  and  from  the  course 
of  which  he  never  deviated.  Charitable,  forbearing, 
patient,  forgiving,  honest  and  honorable,  he  com- 
bined in  his  noble  self  an  aggregate  of  personal 
virtues  which  made  him  well  nigh  an  ideal  character. 
In  considering  him  we  might  well  paraphrase  the 
English  playwright : ‘Here  was  a man,  where  is 

there  such  another?’  Although  profoundly  re- 
ligious and  of  pronounced  convictions  in  his  faith, 
he  gladly  and  unhesitatingly  granted  his  fellow  citi- 
zens the  right  and  privilege  to  work  out  their  own 


1622 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


spiritual  destiny  and  salvation  according  to  their  best 
understanding.  It  was  but  natural  that  he  was 
greatly  respected  and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  German  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  of  this  city  and  for  full 
forty  years  was  a trustee  of  that  organization.  And 
a more  faithful  and  self-denying  servant,  intensely 
true  to  his  trust,  it  would  be  difficult  to  imagine.  A 
loving  husband,  a kind  father,  a loyal  and  patriotic 
citizen,  his  memory  will  be  truly  cherished,  not 
only  by  the  members  of  his  family  but  by  all  who 
ever  came  in  contact  with  him.” 

This  sketch  should  not  close  without  a deserved 
tribute  to  his  venerable  wife,  now  a widow,  who  is 
living  at  the  age  of  ninety  years  in  her  home  in 
New  Ulm.  She  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  Minnesota’s 
living  pioneers,  and  in  spite  of  the  early  hardships 
through  which  she  passed,  and  her  devotion  and 
hard  work  in  behalf  of  her  family,  she  is  still  well 
preserved,  has  always  been  a reader  and  well  in- 
formed on  current  topics,  and  an  interesting  fact  is 
her  interest  in  the  present  European  war.  The 
sturdiness  of  physical  and  mental  character  of  these 
venerated  pioneers  is  well  exemplified  in  the  fact 
that  all  their  nine  childen  are  still  living,  and  they 
were  all  at  the  bedside  of  the  father  before  he 
passed  away.  The  oldest  of  the  children  is  Fred 
W.  Alvvin,  who  was  born  in  the  prairie  schooner 
near  New  Ulm  on  July  4,  1855.  His  birth  occurred 
only  a few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  family  in 
Minnesota,  and  he  has  the  distinction  of  having 
been  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  Brown 
County.  The  rest  of  the  children  are  as  follows, 
born  in  the  order  given:  Herman  J.,  Adolph  A., 

Rudolph  E.,  Emil  G.,  Albert  J.,  Edward  L.,  Wil- 
liam G.,  and  Elwina  M.,  now  Mrs.  Herman 
Breitkrentz. 

All  the  children  were  born  at  New  Ulm.  The 
eight  sons,  obeying  the  last  request  of  their  father, 
bore  his  body  to  its  final  resting  place. 

Dennis  A.  Foley.  For  a young  man  who  came 
to  America  and  began  life  as  a common  laborer, 
Dennis  A.  Foley  has  reached  a position  of  most 
satisfying  accomplishment  and  is  now  well  known 
as  a contractor,  banker  and  general  business  man  at 
Aitkin. 

Dennis  A.  Foley  was  born  May  5,  1876,  in  County 
Kerry,  Ireland,  a son  of  Timothy  and  Johanna 
(O’Connor)  Foley.  His  father  was  a farmer.  The 
son  was  educated  in  Ireland,  and  in  1893,  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  came  to  America,  and  utilized  his 
Irish  intelligence  and  strength  as  a common  laborer 
for  some  time.  He  became  a master  of  details,  was 
thrifty  and  showed  ability  to  carry  out  undertakings 
on  his  own  responsibility,  and  finally  began  inde- 
pendent work  as  a contractor  in  1905.  Mr.  Foley 
has  been  a resident  of  Aitkin  since  1908,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  D.  A.  Foley  & Company,  a cor- 
poration which  has  done  a great  deal  of  work  in  the 
ditching  and  reclamation  of  lands  in  Northern  Min- 
nesota. Nearly  all  his  work  is  now  done  in  that 
line.  In  less  than  ten  years  Mr.  Foley  through  his 
company  organization  has  constructed  about  425  miles 
of  reclamation  ditching  in  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Foley  is  a'so  vice  president  of  the  Farmers  & 
Merchants  State  Bank  of  Aitkin.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  is  a man  very 
fond  of  travel,  and  has  a large  following  and  many 
close  friendships  with  the  best  people  of  Aitkin 
County. 


John  B.  Lemire.  In  the  office  of  county  auditor 
of  Aitkin  County,  John  B.  Lemire  has  for  six  years, 
through  three  terms,  performed  his  duties  with  the 
highest  efficiency  and  a most  creditable  sense  of 
responsibility  for  the  public  welfare.  Mr.  Lemire 
is  one  of  the  progressive  young  men  in  politics  in 
Minnesota,  and  prior  to  taking  up  the  duties  of  his 
present  office  was  a successful  teacher  and  also  has 
banking  experience. 

John  B.  Lemire  was  born  at  Stillwater,  Minnesota, 
May  7,  1880,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Eleanor  (Papin) 
Lemire.  His  father  was  a lumberman.  Mr.  Lemire 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  St.  John’s 
University,  graduating  in  1904.  His  home  has  been 
in  Aitkin  since  1887.  Five  years  of  his  early  life 
were  spent  as  a teacher,  and  for  three  years  he  was 
assistant  cashier  of  the  Aitkin  County  State  Bank. 
In  1908  the  citizens  of  Aitkin  County  chose  him  for 
the  office  of  auditor,  and  repeated  this  manifestation 
of  confidence  in  his  work  by  re-electing  him  to  the 
same  office  in  1910  and  1912. 

Mr.  Lemire  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Col- 
umbus and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  and  with 
his  family  is  a member  of  St.  James  Catholic  Church 
at  Aitkin.  On  November  6,  1906,  he  married  Diana 
LaFreniere,  who  was  of  a Canadian  family.  Their 
four  children  are  Eleanor  R.,  Clement  B.,  John  B., 
Jr.,  and  Cecilia  L. 

Edwin  N.  Newhouse.  One  of  the  young  business 
men  of  Spring  Grove  and  a representative  of  one  of 
the  old  families  was  chosen  by  the  people  of  Houston 
County  in  1914  for  the  office  of  county  auditor.  Ed- 
win N.  Newhouse  is  one  of  the  most  popular  young 
citizens  in  the  county,  and  has  been  active  in  the 
republican  party  since  reaching  his  majority.  He 
was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  same  office  in 
1912.  In  1914  he  defeated  Mr.  Burns,  who  had 
occupied  the  place  of  auditor  for  the  last  eight 
years.  Mr.  Newhouse  assumed  the  duties  of  office 
in  January,  1915. 

Edwin  N.  Newhouse  was  born  in  Caledonia,  Min- 
nesota, October  11,  1886,  a son  of  N.  T.  and  Anna 
(Rosaaen)  Newhouse,  and  a grandson  of  Tollef 
Newhouse,  who  came  from  Norway  to  the  United 
States  in  1853  and  became  one  of  the  solid  pioneers 
of  Houston  County,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life.  N.  T.  Newhouse  was  born  in  Houston  County 
in  1861,  and  his  wife  was  born  there  in  1866,  and 
they  grew  up,  married  and  have  been  residents  of 
this  locality  to  the  present  time.  For  the  past 
twenty-eight  years  N.  T.  Newhouse  has  been  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Spring  Grove,  is  one  of  the 
older  merchants  of  the  county,  and  has  developed 
a fine  paying  business.  He  takes  an  active  part  in 
the  Lutheran  Church  and  is  a republican  in  politics. 
He  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living,  the  present  auditor  being 
the  oldest. 

County  Auditor  Newhouse  has  spent  nearly  all 
his  days  in  Spring  Grove,  where  he  Was  graduated 
from  the  high  school  in  1903,  and  after  taking  a 
course  in  the  Wisconsin  Business  College  at  La- 
Crosse  began  assisting  his  father  and  has  since  been 
connected  with  the  business  which  is  one  of  the 
chief  landmarks  in  Spring  Grove. 

Hon.  James  T.  Elwell  is  easily  one  of  the  most 
prominent  figures  in  Minnesota’s  public  life  today. 
While  he  has  been  a successful  business  man  since 
youth  the  characteristic  which  has  been  most  import- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1623 


ant  in  his  public  life  has  been  his  constant  readiness 
to  leave  his  own  interests  and  work  heart  and  soul 
for  something  he  thought  Minneapolis  or  Minnesota 
ought  to  have.  His  public  spirit  is  active,  not 
passive.  That  the  value  of  his  services  will  be  known 
and  appreciated  more  in  the  future  than  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  a thought  that  has  been  expressed  in 
varying  forms  frequently  within  the  last  few  months, 
and  among  Minneapolis’  forceful  figures  at  the  pres- 
ent time  it  is  doubtful  if  any  of  his  contemporaries 
have  done  so  much  to  enrich  the  community  in  those 
elements  which  make  for  civic  wholesomeness  and 
material  prosperity  as  Mr.  Elwell. 

James  T.  Elwell  was  born  on  a farm  in  Ramsey 
County,  near  the  Hennepin  County  line,  July  2,  1855. 
His  early  life  was  spent  in  Washington  County, 
where  he  attended  a district  school,  and  for  a time 
was  a student  in  Carleton  College.  The  oldest  of 
eight  children,  he  early  showed  the  independence 
and  enterprising  spirit  of  a true  son  of  Minnesota 
and  launched  himself  on  an  independent  business 
career  when  not  more  than  seventeen  years  of  age. 
At  that  time  he  invented  what  was  known  as  the 
Minneapolis  Spring  Bed,  and  soon  began  manu- 
facturing it  in  Minneapolis.  That  invention  and 
business  constituted  the  nucleus  of  the  present  large 
Minneapolis  furniture  company  owned  by  George 
H.  Elwell,  a brother  of  Senator  Elwell,  and  also  of 
the  Minneapolis  Bedding  Company,  of  which  C.  M. 
Way  is  at  the  head.  From  his  first  venture  into 
business  life  Mr.  Elwell  has  never  shown  any  tend- 
ency to  rest  on  the  honor  of  past  accomplishments, 
and'  has  found  and  utilized  almost  countless  oppor- 
tunities to  make  himself  useful  both  in  business  and 
in  citizenship.  He  has  taken  a large  view  of  the  fu- 
ture of  his  home  city  and  state,  and  it  was  his  confi- 
dence and  faith  in  the  continued  development  of 
Minneapolis  as  a city  that  opened  the  way  for  his 
most  conspicuous  business  successes.  Many  years 
ago  Senator  Elwell  began  investing  in  lands  and 
city  real  estate,  and  in  1882  laid  out  the  first  Elwell’s 
Addition  to  Minneapolis.  His  faith  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  city  was  shown  by  the  immediate  erec- 
tion of  fifty-five  homes,  and  the  first  addition  was 
followed  soon  afterward  by  Elwell’s  Second,  El- 
well’s  Third  and  Elwell  & Higgins  Addition.  These 
additions  are  in  the  beautiful  University  District  of 
Minneapolis,  and  among  the  many  ways  in  which 
Senator  Elwell  has  sought  to  improve  the  district, 
mention  should  be  made  of  the  planting  of  hundreds 
of  elm  trees  at  the  time  the  additions  were,  laid  out, 
and  these  handsome  trees  now  line  all  the  streets 
and  avenues,  and  almost  as  much  as  anything  else 
have  added  to  the  beauty  and  attractiveness  of  the 
district. 

Senator  Elwell  has  also  been  prominent  in  the 
development  of  the  rural  districts.  In  1886  he  ac- 
quired 57,200  acres  of  land  in  Eastern  Anoka  County, 
the  greater  portion  of  the  lands  being  meadows  and 
requiring  drainage  before  they  could  be  profitably 
used.  Instead  of  allowing  his  land  to  wait  for  the 
tardy  progress  of  public  improvement,  Senator  El- 
well showed  his  initiative  and  enterprise  by  the  con- 
struction of  o-ver  200  miles  of  ditches  on  his  own 
and  adjoining  properties,  and  at  his  own  expense. 
In  this  way  thousands  of  acres  of  land  were  re- 
claimed for  farming  purposes,  and  his  example  was 
not  only  a good  investment  so  far  as  his  own  returns 
were  concerned,  but  proved  an  inspiration  to  other 
land  owners  in  the  same  part  of  the  state. 

Vol.  Ill— 2 3 


At  the  present  time  one  of  the  best  laws  on  the 
statute  books  of  Minnesota  is  the  Elwell  Road  Law. 
This  is  a product  of  long  and  careful  study  and 
experience  on  the  part  of  Senator  Elwell.  Many 
years  ago  he  perceived  the  economic  advantage  of 
good  country  highways  for  farming  communities, 
and  in  this,  as  in  the  improvement  of  his  lands  by 
drainage,  he  showed  himself  no  theorist,  but  a prac- 
tical man  willing  to  back  up  his  judgment  by  invest- 
ing heavily  in  the  construction  of  highways.  He  has 
a penchant  for  straight  roads  as  well  as  good  roads, 
and  some  years,  ago  constructed  the  first  air-line 
wagon  road  in  this  portion  of  the  state,  connecting 
his  two  large  stock  farms  in  Anoka  County.  This 
highway  is  eight  miles  long  and  was  constructed  at 
a cost  of  a thousand  dollars  a mile.  During  his 
membership  in  the  Legislature  in  1899  Senator  El- 
well was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  good  roads  move- 
ment as  well  as  in  legislation  for  the  general  welfare 
of  the  farming  community  and  in  behalf  of  the 
stock  interests  of  the  state.  He  was  the  author 
of  the  Elwell  Road  Law,  the  provisions  of  which 
enable  country  districts  to  undertake  the  construction 
of  improved  highways  at  a cost  which  will  not 
prove  burdensome  upon  the  property  owners. 

According  to  the  law,  the  state  bears  one  half  the 
cost  of  construction,  the  county  one-fourth,  while 
the  remaining  fourth  falls  upon  the  property  owners 
directly  benefited  by  such  improvement.  The  as- 
sessments for  road  improvements  are  so  graduated 
that  the  heaviest  cost  falls  upon  land  directly  ad- 
jacent to  the  highway  and  which  may  extend  back 
a distance  of  from  two  to  three  miles,  but  the  aver- 
age expense  over  the  entire  three  miles  district 
amounts  to  only  one  cent  an  acre  per  year  while  the 
total  cost  of  the  road  is  $1,500  a mile,  payable  one- 
tenth  each  year,  with  option  to  pay  at  any  time. 
Senator  Elwell  is  also  the  author  of  the  popular 
Inside  Elwell  Road  Law  for  the  improvement  of  all 
arterial  streets,  highways,  parks  and  parkways,  and 
under  its  provision  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars 
worth  of  improvements  in  Minneapolis  are  now 
being  made. 

During  the  last  eight  years  no  one  has  worked 
with  greater  effectiveness  and  earnestness  for  the 
interests  of  the  University  of  Minnesota  than  Sen- 
ator Elwell.  Long  a resident  of  the  university  dis- 
trict, he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  from  the 
thirty-ninth  district  in  the  fall  of  1906.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  practically  in  charge  of  all  uni- 
versity bills  and  measures  considered  in  the  senate. 
Most  noteworthy  among  his  acts  was  the  securing 
of  the  appropriation  of  $800,000  for  the  Greater 
University  campus,  and  his  colleagues  in  the 
senate  credit  him  with  the  leadership  in  this  im- 
portant measure  which  is  of  so  great  current  and 
future  value  to  the  university. 

Senator  Elwell  served  as  the  first  president  of  the 
St.  Anthony  Commercial  Club,  which  is  the  second 
largest  club  in  membership  in  Minneapolis  today. 
His  unlimited  faith  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis  has 
been  shown  in  many  ways.  He  has  constructed  a 
number  of  factories,  and  these  industries  furnish 
employment  to  hundreds  of  men.  He  is  con- 
vinced that  the  commercial  if  not  the  municipal 
union  of  the  Twin  Cities  of  Minneapolis  and 
St.  Paul  must  be  accomplished  at  no  distant  date. 
His  election  to  the  office  of  state  senator  in  1905, 
with  term  beginning  in  January,  1906,  has  given  the 
city  and  state  eight  years  of  continuous  service  as 
a legislator,  and  his  second  term  expires  in  January, 


1624 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1915.  While  in  the  senate  he  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  sub-committee  of  finance,  and  this  com- 
mittee has  charge  of  appropriations  involving  mil- 
lions of  dollars.  Senator  Elwell  is  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  and 
on  the  highway  committee  of  that  body,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  Real  Estate  Board.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Native  Sons  of  Minnesota, 
belongs  to  the  Hennepin  County  Territorial  Pioneer 
Association,  with  membership  on  the  executive  com- 
mittee, is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club, 
a trustee  of  Carleton  College,  and  he  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Como  Avenue  Congregational 
Church. 

Early  in  1914  Senator  Elwell  filed  as  a candi- 
date for  the  republican  nomination  for  the  office 
of  governor.  He  was  one  of  the  four  republi- 
cans who  agreed  to  submit  their  candidacy  for  en- 
dorsement by  a conference  of  delegates  all  over  the 
state.  Senator  Elwell’s  statement  preceding  the  con- 
ference is  one  that  should  be  inserted  in  this  article: 
“Believing  in  the  sincerity  and  patriotic  purpose  of 
the  citizens  who  are  to  meet  in  this  conference,  and 
with  full  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  their  delibera- 
tions, and  desirous  to  aid  the  conference  in  the  sin- 
cere and  orderly  expression  of  its  best  wisdom,  I 
agree  to  abide  by  its  conclusions  when  so  expressed. 
I am  disposed  to  go  before  the  conference  on  Thurs- 
day on  my  well  known  record  on  good  roads,  labor 
legislation,  county  option,  woman's  suffrage,  uni- 
versity legislation,  economy  of  administration,  the 
development  of  the  unproductive  portions  of  the 
state  and  other  progressive  measures.” 

While  Senator  Elwell  has  been  prominent  in  many 
ways  as  a contributor  to  the  material  and  civic 
prosperity  of  his  city  and  state,  a fact  that  deserves 
almost  equal  notice  is  that  he  is  father  of  a large, 
useful  and  happy  family.  Senator  Elwell  was  mar- 
ried June  28,  1882,  to  Miss  Lizzie  E.  Alden.  They 
have  a family  of  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters.  James  T.,  Jr.',  the  eldest  of  the  children, 
lives  on  a farm  at  Forest  Lake  in  Anoka  County,  and 
is  married  and  has  three  children.  Margaret  A.,  who 
is  the  wife  of  George  E.  Cook,  has  a daughter. 
Edwin  S.  is  married  and  has  established  the  Elwell 
Dairy  Company,  which  supplies  pure  milk  to  Min- 
neapolis. The  other  children  are  Alden  W.,  who  is 
married  and  has  two  children ; and  Elizabeth,  Ruth, 
Mary  Isabelle,  Lawrence  Robert,  and  Watson 
Rickord.  Margaret,  Edwin,  Alden,  Elizabeth  and 
Ruth  are  graduates  of  the  university,  and  Mary  is 
a graduate  of  Carleton  College,  while  Lawrence  and 
Watson  are  of  high  school  age. 

Alphonse  E.  Sohmee,  M.  D.  While  in  the  field 
of  surgery  Minnesota  has  no  cause  to  fear  compari- 
son with  any  state  in  the  Union,  there  are  a number 
of  men  who  share  in  and  have  chiefly  contributed 
to  this  worthy  distinction.  In  point  of  attainments, 
individual  skill,  and  professional  associations  and 
training,  Dr.  Alphonse  Sohmer  of  Mankato  stands 
easily  in  the  front  rank  of  Minnesota  surgeons. 

Doctor  Sohmer  was  born  in  New  York  City,  June 
2,  1879,  and  is  of  German  parentage,  the  family  hav- 
ing been  prominent  and  enjoying  many  high  social 
connections  in  that  city.  The  godmother  of  Doctor 
Sohmer,  was  Mrs.  Herman  Ridder,  and  his  god- 
father was  Judge  Edward  Amend,  a supreme  judge 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  Doctor  Sohmer  is  a 
son  of  Conrad  and  Theresa  (Schroepfer)  Sohmer. 
His  father  was  born  in  Germany  in  1845  and  died 
in  1912.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1864,  and 


soon  afterwards  joined  the  regular  United  States 
army,  in  which  he  saw  three  years  of  service.  His 
discharge  was  dated  February  7,  1870,  and  across 
the  face  of  it  his  captain  wrote:  “Good,  excellent 
and  reliable  man.”  He  was  in  the  artillery  branch 
of  the  United  States  army.  A cabinet  maker  by 
trade,  he  spent  many  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
Hazelton  Brothers  of  New  York  City,  piano  manu- 
facturers, and  rose  to  the  position  of  foreman  in  the 
plant.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  he  belonged  to  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion,  and  in  politics  was  independent. 
His  wife,  Theresa  Schroepfer,  was  born  in  New 
York  City  in  1848  and  is  still  living.  They  were 
married  in  1872.  Her  father  was  Valentine  Schroep- 
fer, who  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  when  a 
young  man  to  New  York  City  and  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life  as  a teacher.  Dr.  Sohmer  was  one  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  and  the  only  other  one  now 
living  is  Aloys,  piano  tuner  at  Mankato. 

Doctor  Sohmer  attended  the  parochial  schools  of 
New  York  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  then 
entered  St.  John’s  College  at  Brooklyn,  taking  the 
four  years’  course.  After  his  college  training  he 
entered  the  Long  Island  Hospital  College  at  Brook- 
lyn, and  remained  until  graduating  medical  doctor 
in  1899.  He  then  spent  two  years  as  an  interne  in 
the  German  Hospital  of  New  York  City.  As  a stu- 
dent and  as  assistant  in  clinical  work  he  had  the 
benefit  of  the  instruction  and  association  with  a 
number  of  eminent  men  in  the  medical  profession, 
two  in  particular  having  been  Dr.  Abraham  Jacobi 
and  Dr.  Willy  Meyer,  both  of  whom  are  among 
America’s  foremost  physicians  and  surgeons.  Doc- 
tor Sohmer  spent  eleven  years  in  his  profession  in 
New  York  City,  and  in  1910  came  to  Mankato,  and 
has  since  made  a specialty  of  surgery;  his  work  is 
now  practically  all  done  either  in  the  hospitals  or 
in  special  consultation.  His  growing  practice  has 
caused  him  to  employ  the  services  of  an  assistant. 

Doctor  Sohmer  is  a member  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  is  affiliated  with  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  with  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  with  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters,  the  Ancient  Order  of  LInited  Workmen. 
In  politics  he  is  independent.  He  is  an  active  mem- 
ber and  at  this  writing  president  of  the  County 
Medical  Society,  and  also  a member  of  the  Southern 
Minnesota  and  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society, 
and  the  American  Medical  Association,  surgeon  for 
the  Chicago  & Northwestern  Railway  Company. 

Harry  L.  Robinson.  Secretary  and  treasurer,  one 
of  the  directors  and  one  of  the  largest  stockholders 
in  the  Gamble-Robinson  Company,  and  also  officially 
identified  with  its  many  associated  houses,  Harry 
Leigh  Robinson  was  born  February  22,  1869,  at 
Leon  in  Monroe  County,  Wisconsin. 

His  parents  were  Henry  J.  and  Cynthia  E.  (Burr) 
Robinson.  On  the  Robinson  side  the  grandparents, 
were  English  people  who  came  to  this  country  about 
1830.  The  genealogical  record  of  the  Burr  family  is 
traced  back  to  the  year  1630  in  the  American  col- 
onies, and  from  that  back  to  the  eleventh  century 
in  England.  The  Burrs  were  Connecticut  colonists, 
and  among  the  notable  members  of  the  family  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Princeton  College  in  New 
Jersey  and  another  the  vice  president  of  the  United 
States.  Mrs.  Cynthia  E.  Robinson  is  still  living  and 
has  her  home  with  her  son,  Harry  L.,  at  Minneapolis. 
Henry  J.  Robinson  was  born  in  Kent  County,  Can- 
ada West,  and  died  at  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  Jan- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1625 


uary  4,  1885,  at  the  age  of  forty-one  years,  five 
months,  six  days.  In  early  manhood  he  came  to 
America  and  on  March  28,  1865,  enlisted  in  the 
Fifty-second  Wisconsin  Infantry  and  served  until 
receiving  his  honorable  discharge  on  July  28th  of 
the  same  year.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members 
of  James  A.  Goodwin  post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  buried 
by  his  comrades  of  that  post  in  Owatonna. 

Harry  Leigh  Robinson  grew  up  in  Owatonna,  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  that  city  and  graduated 
from  the  high  school  in  the  class  of  1887.  His  early 
business  experience  soon  led  him  into  the  produce 
and  grocery  business,  and  when  he  was  still  a young 
man  he  became  one  of  the  principals  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Gamble-Robinson  Commission  Com- 
pany at  Minneapolis  in  1892.  He  has  since  been 
continuously  identified  with  this  organization  and 
is  one  of  the  men  chiefly  responsible  for  perfecting 
the  systematic  operation  of  the  business  over  such 
a large  territory.  The  Gamble-Robinson  Commis- 
sion Company  was.  incorporated  in  1903  and  in  1912 
the  name  changed  to  the  Gamble-Robinson  Company. 
A more  complete  account  of  this  splendid  wholesale 
organization,  easily  one  of  the  most  notable  in  the 
country,  will  be  found  on  other  pages  of  this  publi- 
cation! In  the  same  place  Mr.  Robinson’s  individual 
relations  as  an  officer  with  the  various  companies  are 
mentioned. 

Mr.  Robinson  is  naturally  one  of  the  business 
leaders  of  Minneapolis  and  has  been  a factor  in 
the  Civic  and  Commerce  Association  of  that  city  and 
is  at  present  a director  of  the  traffic  division.  He  is 
a republican  in  politics,  a member  of  the  Minne- 
apolis Athletic  Club,  of  the  Interlachen  Club,  the 
Automobile  Club,  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Park 
Avenue  Congregational  Church,  and  a director  of 
the  Hennepin  County  Sunday  School  Association. 

On  January  26,  1897,  at  Minneapolis  Mr.  Robinson 
was  married  to  Miss  Irene  A.  Allen,  daughter  of 
Charles  A.  and  Carrie  W.  Allen  of  Minneapolis. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  three  children,  all  in 
Minneapolis,  named  Harold  Allen,  Harry  Leigh,  Jr., 
and  Douglas  Burr  Robinson. 

William  A.  Beach,  M.  D.  Deference  is  instinct- 
ively paid  by  his  fellowmen  to  the  individual  whose 
success  has  been  worthily  achieved,  who  has  attained 
prosperity  by  honorable  methods,  who  has  acquired 
the  highest  reputation  in  his  chosen  calling  through 
individual  merit,  and  whose  prominence  in  society 
is  not  less  the  result  of  a life  of  probity  and  integrity 
than  of  recognized  natural  gifts.  Thus  has  been 
achieved  the  enviable  position  now  occupied  by  Dr. 
William  A.  Beach,  of  Mankato,  one  of  the  city’s 
prominent  physicians  and  surgeons  and  a man  who 
has  been  pre-eminently  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortunes. 

Doctor  Beach  was  born  at  Ionia,  Ionia  County, 
Michigan,  October  20,  1868,  and  is  a son  of  Ben- 
ajah  and  Clarinda  (Weston)  Beach.  The  family  js, 
of  English  origin  and  one  of  the  earliest  settled  in 
Connecticut,  to  which  colony  the  founder  of  the 
name  in  America  came  as  early  as  1640.  The  grand- 
father of  William  A.  Beach,  M.  D.,  Artemus  H. 
Beach,  who  was  also  the  grandfather  of  Rex  Beach, 
the  famous  novelist,  was  born  in  New  York  State, 
and  in  middle  life  moved  to  Battle  Creek,  Michigan, 
where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  business,  and 
where  he  died.  On  his  mother’s  side,  Doctor  Beach 
is  the  grandson  of  a soldier  of  the  War  of  1812,  who 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg,  and  is  also 


a descendant  of  Lieutenant  Preston,  a Revolutionary 
war  officer.  Benajah  Beach,  father  of  Doctor  Beach, 
was  born  in  New  York  in  1836,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Clarinda  Weston,  who  was  born  in  that 
state  in  1834.  While  they  were  residing  in  New 
York,  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  Mr.  Beach  en- 
listed in  the  Ninety-first  Regiment,  New  York  Heavy 
Artillery,  with  which  he  continued  to  serve  until 
peace  was  declared,  although  the  greater  part  of  his 
service  was  in  detail  duty  at  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
Upon  receiving  his  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Beach 
came  west  to  Wisconsin,  and  subsequently  moved  to 
Michigan,  being  engaged  in  the  milling  business  in 
both  states,  with  a full  measure  of  success.  He  was 
an  excellent  business  man  and  so  well  conducted 
his  large  mill  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  that  in 
1878  he  was  able  to  sell  his  interests,  retire  from 
active  participation  in  business  activities,  and  come 
to  Minnesota,  where  his  late  years  were  spent  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a handsome  competence.  He  died  in 
1897,  but  Mrs.  Beach  still  survives  him.  He  was  a 
republican  in  politics  and  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  to  which  Mrs.  Beach  belongs. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living:  Walter,  of  Bellingham,  Washington, 
an  expert  machinist,  now  living  on  a ranch ; Ernest, 
of  ■ Mount  Hamilton,  California,  who  has  been  an 
extensive  traveler  in  this  and  other  countries,  hav- 
ing passed  eight  years  in  Alaska,  and  now  the  owner 
of  a valuable  ranch ; Dr.  William  A-.,  of  this  review ; 
and  Clara,  the  wife  of  Mr.  McLaskey,  manager  of 
the  telephone  company  at  Anacortes,  Washington. 

William  A.  Beach  was  ten  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  Minnesota  by  his  parents,  and  here  he 
completed  his  primary  education  in  the  graded 
schools.  He  entered  the  academic  department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  was  graduated 
therefrom  in  1890,  and  three  years  later  received 
his  diploma  and  degree  from  the  medical  department 
of  the  same  institution.  While  at  college  he  became 
a charter  member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  fraternity. 
Doctor  Beach  made  his  advent  in  Mankato  under 
decidedly  unfavorable  circumstances,  for  the  great 
financial  panic  of  1893  had  reached  its  height,  and 
after  a short  time  he  decided  to  seek  his  living  in 
other  sections.  He  did  not  lose  faith  in  the  future 
of  the  city,  however,  and  four  years  later  returned, 
with  a capital  of  $60,  and  opened  an  office  and  took 
up  his  residence  here.  He  has  had  no  reason  to 
regret  the  confidence  which  brought  him  back  to 
Mankato,  for  here  he  has  been  successful  in  the 
acquirement  of  a large  and  lucrative  professional 
business  of  the  best  kind  that  can  fall  to  the  lot  of 
a physician,  and  has  gained  a high  standing  among 
his  medical  brethren.  He  belongs  to  the  various  or- 
ganizations of  his  profession,  has  served  three  years 
as  a member  of  the  state  board  of  medical  exam- 
iners, was  county  physician  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  present  time  is  treasurer  of  the  school  board  of 
Mankato.  His  offices  are  in  the  Coughlin  & Hickey 
Building.  Naturally,  the  major  portion  of  his  atten- 
tion is  given  to  his  calling,  but  he  is  also  the  owner 
of  a splendidly  cultivated  farm  of  240  acres,  which 
is  stocked  with  fine  blooded  Holstein  cattle  and 
Chester  White  hogs.  Fraternally,  Doctor  Beach 
is  connected  with  the  Masonic  order,  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  He  is 
a republican  in  his  political  views. 

On  December  10,  1902,  Doctor  Beach  was  married 
to  Mrs.  Gertrude  (Corp)  Hanna,  of  Mankato,  and 
to  this  union  there  have  been  born  two  children : 


1626 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Helen,  who  is  ten  years  old;  and  William,  aged  five 
years. 

Arthur  Schaub,  As  an  active  and  successful 
attorney  of  Mankato  for  the  past  twenty  years, 
Arthur  Schaub  has  occupied  a prominent  place,  both 
in  his  profession  and  in  public  affairs.  His  has  been 
a varied  and  broad  experience  as  a lawyer,  and  what 
he  has  done  for  his  own  advancement  from  the 
position  of  a poor  boy  and  the  efficient  way  in 
which  he  has  served  his  community  is  deserving  of 
the  highest  credit. 

Arthur  Schaub  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  County, 
Minnesota,  October  20,  1873,  a son  of  Casimir  and 
Magdeline  (Kasper)  Schaub.  Both  parents  were 
born  in  Germany,  were  married  there,  and  in  1868 
came  to  America  and  were  early  settlers  on  a farm 
in  Blue  Earth  County.  The  father  acquired  two 
farms  in  this  section  of  the  state.  They  were 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  though  a 
democrat  in  politics  the  father  was  never  conspic- 
uous in  affairs,  and  applied  himself  quietly  to  the 
business  of  making-  a living.  Of  the  eight  children, 
six  are  living:  Mrs.  Caroline  Wanamaker  of  Colo- 
rado; Mrs.  Lina  Koos  of  Albert  Lea;  Frank,  a 
farmer  at  Trego,  Wisconsin;  Charles,  who  is  a 
farmer  in  Canada ; Mrs.  Lena  Kauffman  of  Man- 
kato; and  Arthur. 

Arthur  Schaub  received  his  education  in  the 
country  schools  in  Blue  Earth  County,  also  attended 
a parochial  school  at  Mankato,  and  finished  his 
early  education  in  1891  at  Buffalo,  New  York.  Re- 
turning to  Mankato  he  took  up  the  study  of  law 
under  C.  L.  Benedict  of  Mankato,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1895.  Since  that  year,  for  a period  of 
twenty  years,  he  has  been  rising  to  success  and  promi- 
nence in  his  profession.  He  also  was  in  the  real 
estate  business  for  four  years,  and  he  recalls  that 
period  of  his  life  with  regret,  since  it  was  the 
means  of  losing  a large  amount  of  money. 

In  1901  Mr.  Schaub  married  Anna  M.  Groschaus 
of  Lesueur,  Minnesota.  Both  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  are  people  of  the  highest  social 
standing  in  Mankato. 

Many  people  in  Minnesota  know  Mr.  Schaub  best 
through  his  activity  in  politics  and  particularly 
through  his  service  in  the  office  of  city  attorney,  to 
which  he  was  appointed  in  April,  1913.  In  the 
democratic  party  he  has  been  assistant  chairman  of 
the  State  Democratic  Executive  Committee,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  County  Executive  Committee  in 
1898-1900  and  again  in  1908,  and  was  chairman  of  the 
Congressional  Committee  in  1906.  Ever  since  cast- 
ing his  first  vote  he  has  been  interested  in  political 
affairs.  Mr.  Schaub  is  a stockholder  and  director  in 
the  Mankato  German  Post,  and  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  company  publishing  that  influential 
journal. 

He  deserves  particular  credit  for  his  efficient 
handling  of  the  city’s  affairs  through  his  office  as 
city  attorney.  When  he  took  charge  of  the  office 
the  city  was  in  a tangle  of  financial  difficulties.  Peo- 
ple were  complaining  of  the  high  rate  they  were 
paying  for  gas  supplied  by  the  gas  company,  at  $1.50 
per  thousand  feet.  In  two  years,  operating  under  a 
plan  suggested  and  with  the  advice  of  Mr.  Schaub, 
the  city  has  reduced  its  debt  considerably,  and  the 
bonded  debt  has  been  refunded,  and  instead  of  6 per 
cent  the  interest  rate  is  now  4 per  cent.  At  the  same 
time  a new  arrangement  has  been  effected  between 
the  gas  company  and  its  patrons  so  that  the  rate 
is  now  only  $1.10. 


Jacob  Charles  Rothenburg,  M.  D.  For  twenty- 
seven  years  the  name  of  Dr.  Jacob  Charles  Rothen- 
burg has  been  identified  with  the  medical  profession 
of  Brown  County,  and  during  this  time  his  zeal  has 
found  an  outlet  not  alone  in  his  chosen  and  honored 
vocation,  but  in  enterprises  of  a business  and  finan- 
cial character,  and  in  the  performance  of  important 
public  services.  From  the  time  of  his  arrival  in 
Springfield,  in  1887,  he  has  steadily  advanced  in  pub- 
lic confidence  and  popularity,  in  the  esteem  of  the 
members  of  his  profession,  and  in  the  material 
rewards  that  accompany  such  well  deserved  develop- 
ment. It  is  not  too  much  to  name  him  as  one  of  his 
community’s  foremost  men. 

Doctor  Rothenburg  is  a product  of  the  East,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Erie  County,  New  York,  in  April, 
i860,  a son  of  Valentine  and  Paulina  (Loefler) 
Rothenburg.  His  grandfather,  Stephen  Rothenburg, 
was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the  United  States, 
coming  to  this  country  from  Germany  in  1835  and 
settling  in  Erie  County,  New  York,  where  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  Through  steady  application  and  intelligent 
management  of  his  affairs  he  became  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  property,  and  was  looked  up  to  and  es- 
teemed as  one.  of  his  adopted  community’s  substan- 
tial citizens. 

Valentine  Rothenburg  was  born  at  Reinheim, 
Baden,  Germany,  in  1827,  and  was  a lad  of  eight 
years  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this  country, 
his  entire  subsequent  life  being  passed  within  the 
limits  of  Erie  County,  New  York.  Reared  to  the 
pursuits  of  the  soil,  in  his  youth  he  adopted  farming 
as  his  life  work,  but  later  took  up  merchandising, 
and  also  followed  contracting  and  building  with 
some  measure  of  success.  Like  his  father,  he  took 
an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  community, 
assisted  in  the  growth  and  development  of  his  lo- 
cality, and  was  known  as  an  important  and  stirring 
factor  in  civic  affairs.  He  died  in  Erie  County,  in 
1889.  Mr.  Rothenburg  was  married  to  Miss  Paulina 
Loefler,  also  a native  of  Germany,  born  in  1831,  and 
she  passed  away  in  Erie  County,  in  1866.  They 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows : 
Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years ; Wil- 
liam, who  engaged  in  farming  at  Mount  Clemens, 
Michigan,  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  thirty  years ; 
John,  who  is  a railroad  agent  and  resides  at  Loomis, 
Placer  County,  California ; David,  who  is  a farmer 
in  the  vicinity  of  Hartly,  Kent  County,  Delaware; 
Dr.  Jacob  Charles,  of  this  review;  Mary,  the  widow 
of  John  Measer,  formerly  a farmer,  who  resides  at 
Williamsville,  Erie  County,  New  York;  Franklin, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years ; and  Caroline, , 
who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 

After  securing  his  primary  training  in  the  public 
schools  of  Erie  County,  New  York,  Jacob  Charles 
Rothenburg  became  a student  in  Clarence  Academy, 
where  he  took  his  preparatory  course.  Succeeding 
•this  he  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  was 
duly  graduated  with  the  class  of  1885,  receiving  his 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Unlike  many  others, 
however.  Doctor  Rothenburg  did  not  give  up  his 
professional  studies  with  the  attainment  of  his 
diploma,  but  has  continued  as  a close  and  careful 
student  to  the  present  time,  and  has  taken  post- 
graduate courses  in  New  York  in  1896  and  1906. 
Immediately  following  his  graduation,  in  June,  1885, 
Doctor  Rothenburg  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Livingston  County,  New  York,  and 


6> 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1627 


made  that  his  field  of  endeavor  until  September  i, 
1886,  when,  feeling  that  the  West  offered  better 
opportunities  for  the  young  medical  man,  he  started 
for  Minnesota,  and  December  31st  of  that  year 
opened  an  office  at  New  Ulm,  Brown  County.  There 
he  remained  about  nine  months,  coming,  October 
1,  1887,  to  Springfield,  where  he  has  since  continued 
to  carry  on  a general  medical  and  surgical  practice. 
At  this  time  he  is  a member  of  the  firm  of  Rothen- 
burg  and  Shrader,  his  partner  being  Dr.  J.  S. 
Shrader,  a sketch  of  whose  career  will  be  found  on 
another  page  of  this  work,  and  they  maintain  well- 
appointed  offices  in  the  Lehrer-Ross  Building. 

Doctor  Rothenburg’s  practice  has  been  broad  and 
general  in  its  range,  for  he  has  not  tied  himself 
down  to  specializing  in  any  one  confined  line.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  Brown  County  Medical 
Society,  the  Redwood  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Minnesota  State  Medical  Society  and  the  American 
Medical  Association,  in  each  of  which  he  has  high 
standing  among  his  fellow  members.  He  has  kept 
fully  abreast  of  the  marvelous  advancements  being 
constantly  made  in  the  profession,  and  his  undoubted 
skill,  talent  and  knowledge  have  attracted  to  him 
a practice  of  the  most  desirable  kind. 

Doctor  Rothenburg  has  been  more  than  ordinarily 
successful  in  a financial  way,  and  has  identified  him- 
self with  a number  of  enterprises,  being  at  this  time 
vice  president  of  the  Springfield  State  Bank.  He 
is  prominent  fraternally,  as  past  master  of  Zenith 
Lodge  No.  20,  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  past  high  priest  of  McKinley  Chapter  No.  69, 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  is  a member  of  De  Molay 
Commandery,  Knights  Templars,  Minneapolis  Con- 
sistory No.  2,  and  Zurah  Temple,  Ancient  Order 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  a thirty-second 
degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  He  belongs  also  to 
Springfield  Lodge  No.  102,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen.  A stalwart  republican  in  his  political 
views,  he  has,  at  various  times,  been  called  upon  to 
fill  offices  of  local  importance,  and  has  served  as 
coroner  for  eight  years,  as  school  director  for  six- 
teen years,  and  as  health  officer  for  a long  period,  a 
position  which  he  holds  at  present.  Every  beneficial 
and  progressive  movement  has  his  support  and  co- 
operation, and  his  activities  have  done  much  to 
advance  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  place. 

Doctor  Rothenburg  was  united  in  marriage  at  New 
Ulm,  Minnesota,  in  1899,  to  Miss  Clara  D.  Doehne, 
daughter  of  George  Doehne,  who  for  many  years 
was  a miller  of  New  Ulm,  but  is  now  living  retired 
at  that  place.  To  this  union  there  have  been  born 
three  children,  namely:  Robert,  Norman  and  Mar- 

ion, all  of  whom  are  attending  the  public  schools 
of  Springfield. 

Judge  George  W.  Holland.  During  his  active 
career  as  a lawyer,  banker,  judge  and  public  spirited 
citizen,  no  resident  of  Brainerd  enjoyed  a higher 
position  in  the  esteem  of  that  city  than  the  late 
Judge  George  W.  Holland.  He  was  a man  of  many 
activities  and  interests,  had  the  clear  understanding 
of  the  well  educated  lawyer,  possessed  the  sterling 
character  of  a just  and  true  judge,  and  left  his 
impress  for  good  on  many  affairs  with  which  he  had 
been  identified. 

George  W.  Holland  was  born  at  Westville,  New 
York,  March  17,  1843.  He  was  liberally  educated, 
given  a thorough  training  for  the  law,  and  arrived 
at  Brainerd  October  9,  1871,  opening  his  law  office 
and  beginning  the  career  which  in  a short  time 


brought  him  the  substantial  honors  of  his  profession. 
He  served  several  terms  as  county  attorney,  and  for 
twelve  years  occupied  the  bench  as  judge  of  his 
circuit.  In  the  course  of  his  career  many  appoint- 
ments to  places  of  trust  and  responsibility  came  to 
him,  usually  at  the  hands  of  the  governors  of  the 
state. 

Judge  Holland  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Brainerd,  and  served  as  its 
vice  president.  His  financial  interests  extended  to 
real  estate,  and  he  was  one  of  the  early  developers 
of  mining  properties,  and  through  his  investments 
in  that  field  acquired  a substantial  fortune. 

His  position  in  the  community  was  well  indicated 
by  the  respect  paid  to  his  memory  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  when  all  business  houses  were  closed  on 
the  day  of  his  funeral.  Judge  Holland's  career  of 
usefulness  came  to  a tragic  end.  While  cleaning  a 
revolver  he  accidentally  shot  himself.  He  was  active 
in  Masonry  and  a member  of  Ascalon  Commandery, 
No.  16,  of  Brainerd.  Judge  Holland's  will  was 
unique,  in  that  he  left  every  church  in  Brainerd  the 
■ sum  of  $1,000,  and  there  were  more  than  forty 
bequests,  ranging  from  $200  to  $1,000  each,  to  old 
friends  and  associates.  Most  of  them  were  bequests 
of  $1,000  each,  and  they  were  paid  to  railway  men, 
doctors,  newspaper  men,  and  all  with  whom  he  had 
been  actively  associated  in  business  and  private  life. 

George  D.  LaBar.  One  of  the  oldest  and  sound- 
est banking  institutions  in  central  Minnesota  is  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Brainerd.  Its  capital  stock 
has  always  been  $50,000,  and  at  the  present  it  has  a 
surplus  of  $50,000  with  undivided  profits  of  $17,000. 
Its  prosperity  is  reflected  in  some  of  the  figures 
taken  from  a report  of  its  condition  made  in  Sep- 
tember, 1914.  At  that  time  the  total  resources  ag- 
gregated $1,286,318.58.  This  is  one  of  the  compara- 
tively few  banks  outside  the  larger  cities  in  Minne- 
sota that  have  deposits  of  more  than  $1,000,000.  Its 
deposits  at  the  last  report  were  $1,116,428.46.  The 
First  National  Bank  was  organized  by  William  Fer- 
ris and  the  late  Judge  G.  W.  Holland,  and  Mr.  Hol- 
land was  its  cashier  for  a number  of  years.  At  the 
present  time  the  bank  occupies  a modern  building 
at  the  corner  of  Front  and  Sixth  streets,  with  well 
equipped  banking  rooms  below  and  offices  above. 
The  chief  officers  at  the  present  time  are:  G.  D.  La- 
Bar,  president ; F.  A.  Farrar,  vice  president ; and 
R.  B.  Withington,  cashier. 

George  Daniel  LaBar,  the  president  has  been 
identified  with  this  bank  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
having  begun  as  a boy  in  a clerical  position  and 
having  advanced  himself  on  the  merit  of  efficiency 
to  the  executive  direction.  He  is  a banker  of  broad 
experience,  has  a large  acquaintance  with  men  in 
the  banking-  world,  and  has  a thorough  insight  into 
all  the  details  of  the  business.  He  was  born  in  Ber- 
lin, Wisconsin.  September  4,  1866,  a son  of  Denison 
D.  and  Marv  C.  (Holland)  LaBar.  His  father  was 
a soldier  in  the  Union  army,  and  later  died  from  dis- 
ease contracted  while  in  the  service.  George  D.  La- 
Bar was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  for  one 
year  worked  as  a telegraph  operator  with  the  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railroad.  Coming  to 
Brainerd,  to  become  associated  with  his  uncle,  the 
late  George  W.  Holland,  he  entered  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  as  a clerk  on  January  13,  1883,  and  was 
subsequently  advanced  to  assistant  cashier,  cashier, 
vice  president,  and  since  September,  1903,  has  held 
the  post  of  president. 


1628 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Mr.  LaBar  is  also  president  and  treasurer  of  The 
G.  W.  Holland  Company,  vice  president  of  the 
Lrainerd  Mining  Company,  president  of  the  Minne- 
sota Park  Region  Land  Company,  secretary  of  the 
Rabbit  Lake  Mining  Company,  and  secretary  of  the 
Park  Opera  House  Association.  He  is  a member 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Brainerd 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  With  all  his  varied  busi- 
ness relations  he  has  been  quite  active  in  local  af- 
fairs, and  served  seven  years  as  city  treasurer  of 
Brainerd  and  for  two  terms  has  been  a member  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  of  which  board  he  is  still 
a member  and  vice  president,  his  incumbency  thereon 
covering  a period  of  six  and  a half  years.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a member  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and 
Commandery  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  has 
ascended  to  the  thirty-second  degree  of  Scottish 
Rite  Masonry,  is  a Shriner,  and  is  also  a member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

On  October  3,  1900,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
LaBar  to  Mayme  Mitchell,  of  Brainerd. 

John  Strickler  Shrader,  M.  D.  When,  in  1901, 
the  name  of  John  Strickler  Shrader  was  added  to  the 
citizenship  of  Springfield,  this  thriving  Brown 
County  city  secured  the  services  of  a man  who 
possessed  the  ability,  the  ambition  and  the  experi- 
ence to  make  himself  a factor  of  large  professional 
usefulness.  He  had  already  had  sixteen  years  of 
practice  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  had  sup- 
plemented a good  primary  training  by  great  study 
and  observation  in  this  and  other  countries,  and  was 
moreover  a man  of  tactful  and  sympathetic  manner, 
with  a personality  which  inspired  instant  confidence 
in  his  ability.  During  his  residence  at  Springfield 
a gratifying  patronage  has  grown  up  about  him,  and 
a large  following  has  responded  to  his  practical 
demonstration  of  skill  and  resource  in  the  sciences 
of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  at  the  same  time  he 
has  taken  an  active  and  useful  part  in  the  affairs 
which  govern  the  daily  life  of  the  community  and 
its  people. 

Like  many  others  who  have  adopted  Minnesota 
as  their  home  and  field  of  endeavor,  Doctor  Shrader 
is  a son  of  the  Empire  State.  He  was  born  in 
Niagara  County,  New  York,  in  March,  1858,  his 
parents  being  Philip  and  Fannie  (Strickler)  Shrader, 
while  his  grandfather  was  Christian  Shrader,  who 
left  his  native  home  in  the  Fatherland  in  1833  and 
became  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  the  United 
States.  Christian  Shrader  was  a shoemaker  by  trade, 
an  honest,  industrious  workman  who  made  a good 
and  comfortable  home  for  his  family  and  lived  to 
advanced  years,  dying  in  Erie  County,  New  York. 
The.  grandmother,  whom  he  married  in  Germany, 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Schafer,  and 
died  in  Erie  County  in  i860,  at  the  age  of  sixty 
years. 

Philip  Shrader  was  born  at  Wiltsburg,  Germany, 
in  1830,  and  was  an  infant  in  arms  when  brought 
to  the  United  States  by  his  parents.  He  grew  up 
to  know  the  value  of  thrift  and  industry,  received 
an  ordinary  education  in  the  public  schools,  and 
when  he  embarked  upon  his  career  chose  the  voca- 
tion of  agriculturist,  in  which  field  he  was  engaged 
throughout  the  entire  period  of  his  active  life.  In 
1854  he  was  married,  in  Erie  County,  New  York, 
to  Miss  Fannie  Strickler,  who  was  a native  of  New 
York,  born  in  1832,  and  four  years  after  their 
marriage  they  removed  to  Niagara  County,  New 
York,  where  they  resided  on  a farm  for  some  ten 


years.  In  1868  they  returned  to  Erie  County,  where 
the  mother  died  during  the  same  year,  while  the 
father  survived  her  for  many  years,  passing  away 
at  Clarence,  New  York,  in  1903.  He  was  a man 
of  energy  and  enterprise,  and  through  earnest  effort 
accumulated  a competency.  The  children  born  to 
Philip  and  Fannie  (Strickler)  Shrader  were  as 
follows:  Lena,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  C. 
Seyfang,  and  resides  on  a farm  in  Erie  County, 
New  York;  Dr.  John  Strickler,  of  this  notice; 
Hattie,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Lewis  Pleb- 
ding,  an  agriculturist  of  New  York;  and  Edwin,  a 
graduate  of  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery  at  Watertown,  South  Dakota. 

After  completing  the  course  of  study  provided 
in  the  curriculum  of  the  public  schools  of  Niagara 
and  Erie  counties,  New  York,  John  S.  Shrader  be- 
came a student  in  Clarence  (New  York)  Academy, 
following  his  graduation  from  which  he  went  to  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  There  he 
took  a regular  course  in  medicine,  and  in  1885  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  that  year  and  given 
the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  At  that  time 
Doctor  Shrader  opened  an  office  at  Hadley,  Michi- 
gan, and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  calling, 
but  after  six  months  decided  that  he  might  find  a 
fairer  field  in  Minnesota,  and  accordingly  moved  to 
Delano,  Wright  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
practice  from  February  26,  1886,  until  July  11,  1901. 
On  the  latter  date  he  came  to  Springfield,  where 
he  at  once  formed  a partnership  with  Dr.  J.  C. 
Rothenburg,  who  had  been  a classmate  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  and  a review  of  whose  career 
will  be  found  in  this  work.  They  have  well-equipped 
offices  in  the  Lehrer-Ross  Building. 

Doctor  Shrader  is  engaged  in  a general  medical 
and  surgical  practice,  and  has  been  successful  in 
attracting  to  himself  a liberal  professional  business. 
By  many  of  the  longest  established  and  most  con- 
servative families  his  skill,  resource  and  obliging 
temperament  have  come  to  be  regarded  as  indis- 
pensable. He  has  the  zeal  which  recognizes  no 
limitations  in  his  calling,  and  much  of  his  time 
has  been  spent  in  research  and  investigation  of  a 
personal  character.  In  the  search  for  clearer  vision 
and  larger  capacity  for  usefulness,  in  1901  he  took 
post-graduate  courses  at  Vienna,  Austria,  at  Berlin, 
Germany,  at  Paris,  France,  and  at  London,  England. 
Doctor  Shrader  may  be  said  to  represent  an  entirely 
different  kind  of  medical  science  from  that  practiced 
several  decades  ago,  his  progressive  mind  merci- 
lessly rejecting  dogmas  whose  only  claim  is  their 
antiquity.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Brown 
County  Medical  Society,  the  Minnesota  State  Medi- 
cal Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association, 
and  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-practi- 
tioners. His  business  connections  at  Springfield 
include  holdings  in  the  Springfield  State  Bank. 
Doctor  Shrader  is  well  known  fraternally,  belonging 
to  Zenith  Lodge  No.  20,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  past  master;  McKinley  Chapter  No.  69,  R.  A. 
M.,  of  which  he  is  high  priest;  De  Molay  Com- 
mandery, K.  T. ; Minneapolis  Consistory  No.  2,  and 
Zurah  Temple  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  being  a 
thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  He  has 
formed  a wide  acquaintance  since  coming  to  Spring- 
field,  and  in  it  claims  many  warm  friends. 

Doctor  Shrader  was  married  in  t888,  at  Minne- 
apolis, to  Miss  Charlotte  MacDonald,  daughter  of 
John  MacDonald,  now  deceased,  who  was  a Minne- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1629 


apolis  contractor.  Three  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union : Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 

T.  A.  Peppard,  a practicing  physician  of  Minneapolis ; 
Donald,  who  died  in  childhood ; and  Dorothy,  who 
is  attending  the  graded  schools. 

William  H.  Wilcox.  One  of  the  old  established 
plants  of  Mankato,  which  has  grown  steadily  since 
its  founding  here,  is  that  of  the  Mankato  Manu- 
facturing Company,  the  present  directing  head  of 
which  is  William  H.  Wilcox.  Mr.  Wilcox’s  career 
furnishes  an  illustration  of  the  rewards  to  be  gained 
through  industry  and  persistent  effort,  as  he  entered 
the  employ  of  his  present  firm  in  a humble  capacity 
and  steadily  worked  his  way  to  the  positions  of 
president  and  general  manager. 

William  H.  Wilcox  was  born  in  Buckfastleigh,  near 
Plymouth,  England,  February  12,  1856,  and  is  a son 
of  William  and  Lavinia  (Prowse)  Wilcox,  both 
born  in  the  same  community.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  William  Wilcox,  who  passed  his  entire 
life  in  England,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business 
as  a tanner,  and  the  grandfather  on  the  maternal 
side  was  John  Prowse,  also  of  England.  William 
Wilcox,  the  father  of  William  H.,  was  educated 
in  his  home  community,  and  was  there  married  in 
1853.  Four  years  later  he  came  to  the  United  States 
alone  and  secured  the  means  with  which  to  return 
to  England  for  his  family,  which  he  did  during  the 
Civil  war,  returning  to  America  in  1867  and  locating 
in  Canada.  There  he  passed  the  balance  of  his  life  as 
a wool  sorter,  and  through  industry  and  good 
management  succeeded  in  the  accumulation  of  a 
modest  competency.  He  died  in  1910,  while  Mrs. 
Wilcox  still  survives  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely: 
George,  who  is  a machinist  of  Sherbrooke,  Canada; 
William  H.,  of  this  notice;  John  W.,  who  is  secre- 
tary of  the  Mankato  Manufacturing  Company;  and 
Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  Cote,  a locomo- 
tive engineer  on  the  Boston  & Maine  Railway, 
residing  in  Vermont.  The  parents  were  members 
of  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  children  were 
reared  in  that  faith. 

William  H.  Wilcox  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Sherbrooke,  Canada,  and  there  learned 
the  trade  of  machinist,  which  he  followed  in  the 
Dominion  for  a number  of  years.  Mr.  Wilcox  came 
to  Mankato,  Minnesota,  in  1880,  and  accepted  a 
position  with  the  Mankato  Manufacturing  Company, 
a concern  which  had  been  founded  here  in  1873. 
His  ability,  industry  and  faithfulness  to  duty  won 
him  promotion,  and  gradually  he  obtained  an  interest 
in  the  business,  which  was  incorporated  in  1873, 
with  a capital  of  $30,000.  The  present  officers  of 
the  company  are : William  H.  Wilcox,  president 

and  general  manager;  John  W.  Wilcox,  secretary; 
and  Fred  Prowse,  treasurer.  Each  of  these  gentle- 
men is  a man  of  substantiality  and  worth  in  the 
business  circles  of  Mankato,  and  any  enterprise  with 
which  their  names  are  connected  is  rated  high  in 
commercial  centers.  The  Mankato  Manufacturing 
Company  employs  twenty-five  skilled  mechanics  and 
manufactures  creamery  engines  and  boilers,  roller 
and  feed  mills  and  general  machinery  of  all  kinds, 
and  in  the  workshop  all  kinds  of  repair  work  is 
done,  including  plow  work,  gas  welding,  etc.  The 
factory  is  a brick  structure,  the  machine  shop  being 
35  by  100  feet,  the  foundry  45  by  60  feet  and  the 
blacksmith  shop  30  by  60  feet. 

Mr.  Wilcox  was  married,  in  1878,  to  Miss  Mary 


George,  of  Canada,  who  died  during  the  same  year 
without  issue.  In  1882  Mr.  Wilcox  was  again 
married,  his  wife  being  Charlotte  George,  the  sister 
of  his  first  wife.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union : Ethel,  who  resides  with  her  parents ; 

George,  who  is  a bookkeeper  in  the  automobile  works 
at  Mankato;  and  Ray,  who  is  a musician  and  plays 
in  theater  orchestras. 

Mrs.  Wilcox  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Mr.  Wilcox  has  shown  some  interest 
in  fraternal  matters,  having  passed  through  the 
chairs  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  being  a member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  A republican  in  politics,  he  has  taken  a 
more  or  less  active  part  in  civic  affairs,  and  has 
served  very  acceptably  as  alderman  of  Mankato  for 
two  years.  At  all  times  he  has  shown  himself  a 
good  and  public-spirited  citizen,  worthy  of  the  regard 
and  esteem  in  which  he  is  almost  universally  held. 

Alois  M.  Schaefer.  The  cashier  of  the  Peoples 
State  Bank  of  Jordan  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of 
that  village,  and  is  a keen  and  aggressive  young 
business  man  who  has  won  the  confidence  of  all 
people  with  whom  he  has  relations,  is  a thorough 
banker,  and  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  local  citizen- 
ship. 

Alois  M.  Schaefer  was  born  in  Jordan,  Minnesota, 
November  19,  1877,  a son  of  John  and  Anna  Maria 
( Wermerskirchen)  Schaefer.  Both  parents  were 
natives  of  Germany.  The  father  was  born  in  1835 
and  died  in  1890,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  1840 
and  died  in  1895.  The  father  located  at  Jordan, 
Minnesota,  in  1873,  and  was  married  there.  By 
occupation  he  was  a merchant,  and  a man  who  had 
risen  from  a position  of  comparative  poverty  to  a 
commendable  degree  of  prosperity.  He  and  his  wife 
were  both  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  in 
politics  he  was  a democrat,  though  he  paid  little 
attention  to  politics  and  gave  his  efforts  almost 
undividedly  to  his  business  affairs.  Of  the  eight 
children  six  are  living:  John,  who  runs  a summer 

resort  at  Rice  Lake;  Alois  M. ; Anna,  wife  of  A. 
Ricklick,  a railway  conductor  with  headquarters  at 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa;  Phillip  M„  a salesman  for  a 
St.  Paul  wholesale  house;  Tillie,  wife  of  A.  M. 
Seifert,  of  St.  Paul;  and  Mamie,  unmarried,  and 
living  in  St.  Paul. 

Alois  M.  Schaefer  received  his  early  education 
in  the  Jordan  schools  and  was  graduated  in  1894 
from  the  St.  Francis  College  at  Quincy,  Illinois. 
Part  of  his  early  experience  was  clerking  in  a store 
for  four  years,  and  in  1903,  on  the  organization  of 
the  Peoples  State  Bank  of  Jordan,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  cashier  and  has  had  a large  share  of  the 
executive  and  administrative  responsibilities  of  that 
institution  from  the  beginning.  In  addition  to  his 
banking  he  also  handles  insurance. 

The  Peoples  State  Bank  has  a capitalization  of 
$23,000,  with  surplus,  of  $17,000,  and  its  deposits 
range  at  about  $275,000.  It  is  one  of  the  solid 
institutions  of  Scott  County,  and  Mr.  Schaefer 
probably  deserves  as  much  credit  as  any  other  in- 
dividual for  its  continued  prosperity. 

On  October  15,  1902,  Mr.  Schaefer  married  Miss 
Lucy  Smith,  daughter  of  George  C.  Smith.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Schaefer  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  is  a demo- 
crat in  politics,  and  for  4P2  years  held  the  office  of 
city  clerk. 


1630 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


John  Casey,  a pioneer.  John  and  Mary  (Howe) 
Casey  were  both  natives  of  Ireland.  The  former 
was  born  in  1822  and  died  in  1896.  The  latter  was 
born  in  1839  and  died  in  1898.  John  Casey  came  to 
America  in  1843  and  for  several  years  lived  in  New 
York  State.  He  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers 
in  St.  Paul,  when  it  was  a village  of  only  about  600 
population.  For  several  years  he  was  employed  as 
gardener  by  Mr.  Oakes,  a pioneer  St.  Paul  banker, 
and  by  dint  of  thrift  acquired  a small  sum  of  money 
which  he  husbanded  to  begin  farming  operations. 

Accordingly,  in  the  year  1853,  he  went  to  Scott 
County  and  homesteaded  a claim  in  Cedar  Lake 
Township.  He  carried  on  the  work  alone  for  a few 
years,  building  the  cabin  and  making  clearings,  then 
returned  to  St.  Paul  and  was  married  to  Mary  Howe, 
bringing  his  bride  to  the  farm  when  the  county  was 
still  undeveloped  and  supporting  only  a scanty  popu- 
lation. He  lived  the  usual  life  of  the  early  settlers 
and  frequently  in  those  pioneer  days  carried  flour 
home  on  his  back  from  Mendota,  a distance  of  more 
than  twenty  miles.  He  was  a man  of  upright  char- 
acter and  his  wife  a woman  of  much  charm  and 
many  noble  traits,  whose  good  deeds  in  the  early 
settlement  are  still  spoken  of.  They  gave  all  their 
children  the  advantages  of  good  schooling.  Both 
were  active  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  and 
their  pioneer  home  for  a number  of  years  was  where 
Monsignor  Oster  held  services  whenever  he  visited 
Cedar  Lake  Settlement.  John  Casey  helped  to  build 
both  the  churches  of  St.  Catherine  and  St.  Patrick. 
He  was  in  politics  a democrat.  He  was  progressive, 
had  the  first  self-binder,  first  platform  buggy  and 
first  Shorthorn  cattle  in  his  neighborhood. 

In  the  family  there  were  four  sons  and  a daughter, 
all  of  whom,  excepting  the  daughter,  are  living  in 
Scott  County.  W.  J.  Casey  is  a large  landowner 
residing  in  Credit  River  Township;  Mrs.  Nellie 
Kelley  lives  at  Faribault,  Minnesota;  C.  H.  Casey 
is  a hardware  merchant  in  Jordan  and  has  served 
as  president  of  the  Minnesota  Retail  Hardware 
Dealers’  Association ; Joseph  Casey,  a University  of 
Minnesota  man,  is  now  serving  as  postmaster  of 
Jordan,  and  John  E.  Casey  is  publisher  of  the 
Jordan  Independent,  the  most  widely  circulated  news- 
paper published  in  Scott  County.  He  has  published 
this  newspaper  for  fifteen  years  as  owner.  Born 
of  a pioneer  Scott  County  family,  he  has  a deep 
interest  in  the  county’s  welfare  and  progress.  He 
has  served  as  member  of  the  Minnesota  Democratic 
State  Central  Committee  from  Scott  County  and 
has  been  of  recent  years  chairman  of  the  Scott 
County  Democratic  Committee. 

George  F.  Sullivan.  The  present  county  attorney 
of  Scott  County  is  George  F.  Sullivan,  a young 
and  able  lawyer,  who  is  a native  of  Minnesota  and 
has  been  in  active  practice  of  the  law  at  Jordan 
since  1908. 

George  F.  Sullivan  was  born  at  Shakopee,  Minne- 
sota, January  30,  1886,  a son  of  James  and  B.  C. 
(O'Regan)  Sullivan.  Both  his  grandparents  were 
natives  of  County  Cork,  Ireland.  Michael  Sullivan, 
the  grandfather,  came  to  the  United  States,  first 
lived  in  Indiana,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  Scott  County,  Minnesota,  where  he  died  on  a 
farm.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Timothy  O’Regan, 
also  came  to  Minnesota  in  the  early  days,  was  a 
boat  man  on  the  Mississippi  River  several  years, 
located  in  St.  Paul,  and  then  moved  to  a farm  where 
he  died.  James  Sullivan  was  born  in  Newcastle, 


Indiana,  in  1856,  and  died  in  1902.  His  wife,  who 
is  still  living  in  Shakopee,  was  born  in  Dakota 
County,  Minnesota,  in  i860,  and  was  married  in  that 
locality.  Her  three  children  are : Maude,  wife  of 

Joseph  G.  Barens,  a general  merchant  at  Shakopee; 
George  E. ; and  Jessie,  living  with  her  mother.  The 
father  was  an  active  member  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  in  politics  a democrat,  and  took  a decided  part 
in  public  affairs  in  Scott  County.  He  held  the  office 
of  county  treasurer,  and  for  one  term  was  mayor 
of  Shakopee.  Though  he  came  to  Minnesota  and 
began  his  career  with  no  capital,  at  his  death  he 
left  a good  estate,  having  followed  farming  for 
many  years  and  owning  a well  improved  farmstead 
at  the  time  of  his  death. 

• George  F.  Sullivan  grew  up  in  Shakopee,  getting 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  and  graduat- 
ing from  the  high  school  in  1905.  For  six  months  he 
was  engaged  in  teaching  in  a district  school  in 
Newmarket  Township,  then  entered  and  spept  one 
year  in  the  literary  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  following  which  he  was  a law  student 
until  graduating  LL.  B.  in  1908.  In  the  same  year 
he  began  his  practice  at  Jordan,  and  the  success 
with  which  he  has  followed  the  various  interests 
entrusted  to  his  charge  has  commended  him  to  the 
confidence  of  a large  private  clientage  and  also  to 
the  public  at  large.  He  was  elected  city  attorney 
of  Jordan  in  April,  1909,  still  holds  that  office,  and 
in  1912  was  elected  county  attorney.  Mr.  Sullivan 
is  unmarried,  is  a member  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  belongs  to  the 
Sigma  Nu  College  fraternity.  He  has  always  been 
active  in  politics,  though  the  law  is  with  him  the 
object  of  his  dominating  ambition  and  effort. 

Gamble-Robin  son  Company.  One  of  the  largest 
and  most  conspicuous  firms  in  the  Minneapolis 
wholesale  district  is  the  Gamble-Robinson  Company, 
wholesale  fruits  and  groceries,  whose  large  ware- 
house and  offices  are  at  220  to  226  Sixth  Street, 
North.  This  business,  large  as  it  is  taken  individual- 
ly, is  really  only  the  central  house  in  a chain  of 
affiliated  companies  engaged  in  the  suonlying  of 
fruit  and  produce  to  retail  merchants  over  a terri- 
tory extending  from  the  eastern  border  of  the 
Great  Lakes  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  While 
the  “associate  house”  idea  is  not  an  unfamiliar  one 
in  both  wholesale  and  retail  merchandising,  the  Gam- 
ble-Robinson people  have  been  essentially  pioneers 
in  its  development  as  a phase  of  the  wholesale  busi- 
ness. In  this  particular  case  the  plan  has  been 
carried  out  with  exceptional  success.  Each  asso- 
ciated house  has  been  located  in  a position  of 
strategic  importance,  and  as  a result  of  the  close 
organization  and  prompt  relationship  between  the 
various  constituent  members  it  has  become  possible 
to  place  the  goods  within  the  reach  of  the  ultimate 
consumer  at  minimum  transportation  expense,  and 
this  feature  alone  gives  the  organization  a decided 
advantage  over  firms  that  try  to  do  their  business 
altogether  from  one  central  location,  with  the  heavy 
expense  and  natural  delays  incident  to  the  shipment 
of  goods  long  distances  to  individual  customers. 

Some  idea  of  the  great  volume  of  business  trans- 
acted through  this  organization  is  found  in  the  state- 
ment that  it  receives  and  distributes  more  than 
6,000  cars  of  goods  annually,  and  furnishes  the 
largest  outlet  of  any  wholesale  fruit  house  in  the 
Northwest.  The  Gamble-Robinson  Company  -of 
Minneapolis  has  a capital  stock  of  $1,000,000.  The 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1631 


officers  of  the  company  are : Ross  A.  Gamble,  presi- 
dent; David  F.  Gamble,  vice  president;  Harry  L. 
Robinson,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  George  T. 
Freeman,  credit  manager — these  men  constituting 
the  board  of  directors  together  with  Ernest  L. 
Robinson.  Like  every  great  concern  in  which  the 
systematic  efficiency  of  organization  is  the  prime 
factor,  the  business  has  been  developed  gradually. 
About  twenty-five  years  ago  the  two  Gamble  brothers 
who  now  fill  the  above  offices  in  the  company  had 
a small  commission  house  in  Minneapolis.  Early  in 
1892  Harry  L.  Robinson  entered  the  firm  and  the 
name  was  changed  to  Gamble-Robinson  Commission 
Company,  and  when  the  business  was  incorporated 
under  that  title  about  ten  years  later  a further  stage 
was  marked  in  its  progress,  and  subsequently  the 
present  title  of  Gamble-Robinson  Company  was 
adopted.  While  the  business  has  been  developed 
as  a combined  fruit  and  grocery  house,  emphasis  is 
gradually  being  placed  more  and  more  on  the  grocery 
department  of  the  business. 

The  various  houses  or  companies,  each  an  inde- 
pendent organization  and  with  relations  to  the  cen- 
tral company  that  are  better  described  by  the  word 
“associate”  than  the  word  “branch,”  are  as  fol- 
lows : Gamble-Robinson  Fruit  Company  of  St. 

Paul ; Gamble-Robinson  Fruit  & Produce  Company 
of  Mankato ; Gamble-Robinson  Fruit  Company  of 
Aberdeen,  South  Dakota ; Gamble-Robinson  & Com- 
pany, Rochester,  Minnesota;  Gamble-Robinson  Fruit 
Company,  Oelwein,  Iowa;  Gamble-Robinson  Com- 
pany of  Miles  City,  Montana ; Gamble-Robinson 
Shaw  Company  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Michigan ; Gam- 
ble-Robinson Fruit  Company  of  Bismarck,  North 
Dakota;  Gamble-Robinson  Fruit  Company,  Ltd.,  of 
Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Ontario ; Gamble-Robinson  Com- 
pany, Billings,  Montana ; Gamble-Robinson  & Com- 
pany of  Great  Falls,  Montana ; Gamble-Robinson- 
Bemidji  Company  of  Bemidji,  Minnesota;  Gamble- 
Robinson-Jamestown  Company  of  Jamestown,  North 
Dakota;  Gamble-Robinson-Sheridan  Company  of 
Sheridan,  Wyoming;  Gamble-Robinson-W  a d e n a 
Company  of  Wadena,  Minnesota;  and  Escanaba 
Gamble-Robinson  Company  of  Escanaba,  Michigan. 

The  territory  covered  by  these  affiliated  concerns 
extends  east  and  west  about  1,700  miles,  the  farthest 
point  west  being  Big’  Tirober,  Montana,  and  the 
most  easterly  point  Sudberry,  Ontario.  The  busi- 
ness is  entirely  wholesale  and  has  always  been  on 
that  basis,  the  dealings  being  with  the  retail  mer- 
chants only.  At  the  present  time  the  organization 
has  more  than  sixty  regular  traveling  men  in  the 
field  and  about  300  employes.  All  the  houses  are 
well  located  in  a fast  developing  country  where  the 
prospects  are  that  for  years  to  come  the  facilities 
for  supplying  the  demands  of  local  trade  must  be 
on  the  increase.  Many  of  the  individual  houses, 
however,  were  established  when  the  country  was 
quite  new  and  thinly  settled,  and  when  the  distribu- 
tion of  goods  was  subject  to  many  delays  and  diffi- 
culties no  longer  present. 

Commenting  on  the  general  system  of  this  busi- 
ness one  of  the  company’s  officials  says:  “There  are 

many  advantages  in  a business  way  that  these  allied 
institutions  enjoy.  Each  one  is  fully  officered  and 
established  on  an  independent  basis,  but  we  all  work 
together  in  obtaining  our  supply  of  goods  where 
we  can  and  buying  in  large  quantities  naturally  can 
secure  the  agency  for  many  brands  and  packs  of 
goods  that  give  a distinctive  character  to  our  busi- 
ness, which  is  one  strong  point  in  making  it  suc- 


cessful. Of  course,  the  most  important  point  in  our 
success  is  in  the  manner  of  the  organization,  the 
system  and  the  economy  of  management,  which  can 
be  maintained  by  co-operation.” 

The  officers  and  directors  of  the  various  associate 
houses  comprised  under  the  Gamble-Robinson  or- 
ganization are  as  follows:  Gamble-Robinson  Fruit 
Company  of  Aberdeen,  South  Dakota, — David  F. 
Gamble,  president,  Ross  A.  Gamble,  vice  president, 
Frank  R.  Thompson,  secretary,  and  Harry  L.  Robin- 
son, treasurer.  The  Gamble-Robinson-Bemidji  Com- 
pany of  Bemidji— Harry  L.  Robinson,  president, 
David  F.  Gamble,  vice  president,  Ross  A.  Gamble, 
treasurer,  and  Forest  G.  Halgren,  secretary.  The 
Gamble-Robinson  Company  of  Billings,  Montana, — 
Harry  L.  Robinson,  president,  David  F.  Gamble, 
vice  president,  Frank  R.  Thompson,  treasurer,  War- 
ner L.  Halgren,  secretary.  The  Gamble-Robinson 
Fruit  Company  of  Bismarck,  North  Dakota, — David 
F.  Gamble,  president,  Ross  A.  Gamble,  vice  presi- 
dent, Frank  R.  Thompson,  treasurer,  and  Anton  B. 
Olson,  secretary.  Gamble-Robinson  Company  of 
Great  Falls,  Montana, — David  F.  Gamble,  president, 
Ross  A.  Gamble,  vice  president,  Frank  R.  Thompson, 
treasurer,  and  Alfred  L.  Smith,  secretary.  The  Gam- 
ble-Robinson Jamestown  Company  of  Jamestown, 
North  Dakota, — Ross  A.  Gamble,  president,  David 
F.  Gamble,  vice  president,  Frank  R.  Thompson, 
treasurer,  and  James  A.  McKenzie,  secretary.  The 
Gamble-Robinson  Fruit  & Produce  Company  of 
Mankato, — Harry  L.  Robinson,  president,  Ross  A. 
Gamble,  vice  president,  Frank  D.  Sleight,  secretary, 
and  David  F.  Gamble,  treasurer.  Gamble-Robinson 
Fruit  Company  of  Miles  City,  Montana, — Harry  L. 
Robinson,  president,  David  F.  Gamble,  vice  presi- 
dent , Frank  R.  Thompson,  treasurer,  Alex  B. 
Browne,  secretary.  Gamble-Robinson  Wadena  Com- 
pany of  Wadena, — David  F.  Gamble,  president, 
Harry  L.  Robinson,  vice  president,  R.  A.  Gamble, 
treasurer,  and  Walter  W.  Ellis,  secretary.  Gamble- 
Robinson  Fruit  Company  of  Oelwein, — Harry  L. 
Robinson,  president,  Ross  A.  Gamble,  vice  president, 
David  F.  Gamble,  treasurer,  George  H.  Valentine, 
secretary.  Gamble-Robinson  & Company  of  Ro- 
chester,— David  F.  Gamble,  president,  Ross  A.  Gam- 
ble, vice  president,  Harry  L.  Robinson,  treasurer, 
and  William  A.  Mair,  secretary.  Gamble-Robinson 
Fruit  Company  of  St.  Paul, — Ross  A.  Gamble,  presi- 
dent, David  F.  Gamble,  vice  president,  Harry  L. 
Robinson,  treasurer,  and  Corwin  M.  Blackmun,  sec- 
retary. Gamble-Robinson-Sheridan  Company  of 
Sheridan,  Wyoming, — Harry  L.  Robinson,  president, 
David  F.  Gamble,  vice  president,  Warner  L.  Halgren, 
treasurer,  and  W.  R.  Peril,  secretary.  Gamble- 
Robinson-Shaw  Company  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Mich- 
igan,— Ross  A.  Gamble,  president,  David  F.  Gamble, 
vice  president,  Harry  L.  Robinson,  treasurer,  and 
Fred  F.  Shaw,  secretary.  Gamble-Robinson  Fruit 
Company,  Ltd.,  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Ontario, — Ross 
A.  Gamble,  president,  David  F.  Gamble,  vice  presi- 
dent, Harry  L.  Robinson,  treasurer,  and  Carl  J. 
Sanders,  secretary.  Merchants  Cold  Storage  Com- 
pany of  Minneapolis, — A.  D.  Ellis,  president,  Ross 
A.  Gamble,  vice  president,  and  Harry  L.  Robinson, 
secretary  and  treasurer.  Escanaba-Gamble-Robin- 
son  Company  of  Escanaba.  Michigan, — David  F. 
Gamble,  president,  Ross  A.  Gamble,  vice  president, 
Harry  L.  Robinson,  treasurer  and  Jesse  Owens, 
secretary. 

The  Minneapolis  house  of  Gamble-Robinson  Com- 
pany operate  also  two  distinctively  branch  concerns 


1632 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


at  St.  Cloud  and  Alexandria,  and  the  officers  there 
are  the  same  as  those  in  the  Minneapolis  company. 
The  Gamble-Robinson  Company  are  members  of  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  of 
the  Western  Fruit  Jobbers’  Association  of  America, 
of  the  National  League  of  Commission  Merchants, 
and  the  International  Apple  Shippers’  Association. 

Ross  A.  Gamble  is  a Minneapolis  business  man 
who  twenty-five  years  ago  laid  the  foundation  for 
the  great  Gamble-Robinson  Company  of  that  city. 
A son  of  the  Owatonna  pioneer,  the  late  William 
Gamble,  whose  life  is  sketched  on  other  pages,  Ross 
Alexander  Gamble  was  born  at  Owatonna,  May  22, 
1867,  and  completed  his  education  in  the  Owatonna 
High  School.  In  1890,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
he  began  the  jobbing  business  at  Minneapolis  on  a 
very  modest  scale,  and  probably  not  one  of  his  con- 
temporaries and  seniors  in  the  business  predicted 
for  him  any  part  of  the  phenomenal  success  that 
has  characterized  the  business  of  which  he  is  the 
head.  A few  months  later  he  was  joined  by  his 
brother,  David  F.,  and  together  they  operated  as 
Gamble  Brothers.  From  that  the  style  of  business 
in  1892  was  changed  to  Gamble-Robinson  Commis- 
sion Company,  and  ten  years  later  Ross  Gamble  be- 
came president  of  the  incorporated  company,  and 
has  been  continuously  president  of  the  central  cor- 
poration. As  already  mentioned  in  the  separate 
account  of  the  Gamble-Robinson  organization,  he  is 
an  officer  and  director  in  all  the  eighteen  associate 
houses. 

He  was  formerly  a director  of  the  Minneapolis 
Produce  Exchange  and  is  now  its  president,  and  is 
a director  of  the  Western  Fruit  Jobbing  Association 
of  America.  In  the  old  Commercial  Club,  now 
merged  with  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  he  was 
a director,  and  has  a life  membership  in  the  new 
organization,  and  is  also  a member  of  the  committee 
on  industrial  development  for  the  location  of  new 
enterprises  in  Minneapolis  in  the  Minneapolis  Civic 
and  Commerce  Association.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Minneapolis  Club,  the  Automobile  Club,  the  Minne- 
apolis Tennis  Club  and  the  Institute  of  Fine  Arts. 
He  and  his  family  belong  to  the  Trinity  Baptist 
Church.  Mr.  Gamble’s  chief  recreations  are  motor- 
ing and  golf. 

At  Owatonna  on  September  18,  1894,  he  married 
Miss  Marguerite  Farmer,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
A.  A.  Farmer,  a sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  on 
other  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gamble  have  two  sons, 
Robert  G.  and  William  Gamble,  both  now  students 
in  the  Blake  School  for  Boys  at  Minneapolis  and 
both  natives  of  that  city. 

Amasa  A.  Farmer.  One  of  the  chief  distinctions 
of  this  publication  on  the  history  of  Minnesota  is 
the  inclusion  in  its  pages  of  memorial  tributes  to 
those  sterling  pioneers  who  came  to  the  Northwest 
when  Minnesota  was  in  its  formative  period  of  de- 
velopment and  who  practically  gave  their  energies 
and  their  lives  to  making  the  state  what  it  now  is. 
It  is  only  giving  honor  where  honor  is  due  to  men- 
tion in  this  class  the  name  of  Amasa  A.  Farmer,  who 
was  especially  well  known  and  esteemed  in  Owaton- 
na and  vicinity,  and  who  died  in  that  city  July  2, 
1885. 

Amasa  A.  Farmer  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York  in  1839,  and  was  twenty  years  of  age  when  he 
came  out  to  Minnesota  and  located  in  Steele  County 
at  the  little  village  of  Owatonna.  Two  years  later 


he  gave  up  the  business  of  making  a home  in  a new 
country  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  offer  his  services 
in  the  defense  of  the  Union.  He  served  as  a soldier 
three  and  a half  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Owatonna,  where  in  1868  he  married  Miss  Annette 
Phelps.  Her  father  was  Squire  Phelps,  one  of  the 
most  noteworthy  pioneers  of  Southern  Minnesota, 
prominent  in  the  development  of  the  state  and  a 
leader  in  the  civic  and  political  life  of  Owatonna. 
Mrs.  Farmer  is  now  living  in  Minneapolis. 

In  1878  Amasa  A.  Farmer  took  his  family  to  Lyon 
County,  and  purchased  a farm  and  began  again  the 
task  of  development.  While  a resident  of  Lyon 
County  there  came  much  sorrow  to  darken  his  life. 
Two  of  his  children  died,  a son  and  a daughter. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  still  owned  his  home- 
stead near  Marshall  in  Lyon  County,  but  had  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  in  Owatonna  for  medical 
treatment,  and  thus  his  death  occurred  in  that  city. 

He  was  survived  by  a widow,  a son  and  three 
daughters.  Two  of  his  daughters  are  the  wives  of 
conspicuous  business  men  of  Minneapolis,  Ross  A. 
and  David  F.  Gamble.  The  late  Mr.  Farmer  was 
marked  for  the  generosity  of  his  disposition,  and 
was  a strong  man  in  times  of  tribulation  and  mis- 
fortune, and  though  giving  freely  to  others  seldom 
asked  favors  in  return.  As  a soldier  he  was  im- 
pressed by  both  the  moral  and  political  arguments 
which  justified  the  war  against  slavery  and  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  and  therefore  went 
through  the  performance  of  his  duty  justified  by  the 
conviction  that  he  was  fighting  for  a righteous 
cause.  The  qualities  of  faithfulness  and  courage 
which  he  exemplified  on  the  field  of  battle_  he  also 
displayed  in  his  daily  walk  and  life  in  Minnesota. 

Ernest  L.  Behnke.  A wide-awake  young  man, 
full  of  push  and  energy,  Ernest  L.  Behnke,  of  St. 
Paul,  has  long  been  associated  with  the  agricultural 
prosperity  of  Ramsey  County,  and  as  secretary, 
treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the  Minnesota 
Milk  Company  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
promoting  its  dairy  interests.  A son  of  the  late 
Gustave  H.  Behnke,  he  was  born  in  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota,  December  1,  1880,  of  German  ancestry. 

Born  and  reared  in  Germany,  Gustave  H.  Behnke 
determined  as  a young  man  t<5  begin  life  for  himself 
on  American  soil.  Securing  passage  on  a vessel 
bound  for  the  United  States,  he  was  fortunate 
enough  to  meet  at  Shakopee,  Minnesota,  a most 
estimable  young  woman,  Miss  Caroline  Rose  Haack, 
whom  he  wooed  and  won,  their  marriage  taking 
place  at  Shakopee,  Minnesota.  He  was  a carpenter, 
and  subsequently  followed  his  trade  m Minneapolis 
until  retired,  in  1909,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years. 
Taking  an  active  interest  in  public  matters,  he  was 
a stanch  adherent  of  the  democratic  party,  and  a 
faithful  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
to  which  his  family  also  belonged.  To  him  and  his 
wife  four  children  were  born  and  reared,  as  follows : 
Ernest  L.,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch:  Dorothy, 
living  in  Minneapolis;  Edward  A.,  chief  engineer 
for  the  Metropolitan  Milk  Company,  which  is  a 
branch  of  the  Minnesota  Milk  Company,  is  a resi- 
dent of  Minneapolis;  and  Flora.  The  mother  died 
in  1889,  when  but  thirty-two  years  old. 

While  yet  a pupil  in  the  public  schools  of  Minne- 
apolis, Ernest  L.  Behnke  made  up  his  mind  to 
further  advance  his  education  by  paying  his  own 
wav  through  Agricultural  College.  With  that  object 
in  view  he  became  chore  boy  for  Mr.  Albert 


* 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1633 


Ruhnke,  president  of  the  Metropolitan  Milk  Com- 
pany. Pleased  with  the  young  fellow’s  high  ambi- 
tions, and  his  willingness  to  work  in  order  to 
accomplish  his  object,  Mr.  Ruhnke  sent  his  chore 
boy  to  the  State  Agricultural  College,  paying  all  of 
his  expenses  while  in  that  institution.  In  1899  Mr. 
Behnke  was  graduated  from  the  dairy  department 
of  the  college,  and  was  at  once  made  foreman  of 
the  Metropolitan  Milk  Company,  of  which  Mr. 
Ruhnke  was  the  head.  For  the  next  two  years  he 
held  that  important  position,  having  charge  of  the 
thirty-five  men  under  him,  and  performed  the  duties 
devolving  upon  him  most  satisfactorily  to  all  con- 
cerned. At  the  end  of  that  time,  having  been  with 
the  company  8(4  years,  two  years  as  foreman,  Mr. 
Behnke  resigned  his  office  and  accepted  a position 
in  the  traffic  department  of  the  Rapid  Transit  Com- 
pany in  Minneapolis.  During  the  eleven  years  Mr. 
Behnke  remained  with  that  company  he  had  several 
promotions,  during  the  last  six  years  having  charge 
of  all  train  schedules,  a position  of  great  responsi- 
bility, and  one  requiring  a man  possessing  a thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  duties  connected  with  it. 

In  1912  Mr.  Behnke,  after  a steady  grind  of 
twenty  years,  without  any  rest,  decided  that  he 
needed  a vacation,  his  six  years  as  train  despatcher 
having  been  a severe  strain  upon  him.  Resigning 
his  position,  therefore,  he  made  a leisure  trip  to 
the  western  coast,  where  he  spent  a year  recuperat- 
ing. Returning  then  to  Minneapolis,  he  entered  the 
service  again  of  his  first  employer,  Mr.  Ruhnke, 
and  was  at  once  given  charge  of  the  Minnesota 
Milk  Company,  a branch  of  the  Metropolitan  Milk 
Company,  located  in  St.  Paul,  and  was  later  made 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company.  He  has 
thirty  men  in  his  employ,  and  is  carrying  on  a large 
and  successful  business,  disposing  of  his  milk, 
cream  and  butter  in  St.  Paul,  the  products  of  his 
plant  being  in  great  demand  in  the  local  markets. 

Mr.  Behnke  married,  October  2,  1901,  in  Minne- 
apolis, Myrta  Gertrude  Thomson,  who  was  born  in 
Minneapolis,  a daughter  of  Hugh  J.  Thomson,  a 
retired  engineer  of  that  city,  and  they  have  an 
attractive  home  at  No.  41 1 Aldine  Street,  St.  Paul. 
Politically  Mr.  Behnke  is  a straightforward  republi- 
can, and  religiously  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Behnke  are 
members  of  the  Olivett  Congregational  Church. 

Frank  D.  Smith,  M.  D.  In  his  native  state  Doctor 
•Smith  is  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  representative 
members  of  the  younger  generation.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  practice  at  Kasson,  Dodge  County,  and 
his  business  shows  a constantly  cumulative  tendency, 
indicating  his  close  application. 

Doctor  Smith  was  born  in  Olmsted  County,  Min- 
nesota, on  the  19th  of  June,  1881,  and  is  a son  of 
James  C.  and  Nellie  J.  (Jenkins)  Smith,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1836,  and  the  latter 
in  Maine,  in  1848,  though  she  was  reared  in  Wis- 
consin, where  her  father,  William  Jenkins,  estab- 
lished his  residence  when  she  was  a child.  James 
C.  Smith  came  from  Wisconsin  to  Minnesota  in 
1856,  when  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age.  He 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  near  the  present 
village  of  Center  Grove,  Olmsted  County,  where 
he  entered  claim  to  a tract  of  Government  land  and 
instituted  the  reclamation  of  a farm.  He  became 
one  of  the  representative  agriculturists  and  stock 
growers  of  his  community,  as  well  as  a loyal  citizen 
who  commanded  unqualified  esteem.  He  was  a 


stanch  republican  in  politics  and  served  in  various 
township  offices  of  minor  order.  At  the  time  of  the 
Civil  war  he  served  for  over  a year  as  a member 
of  Company  H,  Eleventh  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, doing  service  in  Tennessee  under  General 
Thomas.  Mr.  Smith  was  affiliated  with  the  York 
Rite  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
Their  only^  living  child  is  Doctor  Smith  of  this 
review. 

Doctor  Smith  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  county  until  his  graduation  from  the  Rochester 
High  School,  in  1901,  and  in  preparation  for  the 
profession  of  his  choice  he  entered  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1905  and  from  which  he  received  his  well  earned 
degree  of  doctor  of  medicine.  The  doctor’s  profes- 
sional novitiate  was  served  at  Oronoco,  Olmsted 
County,  where  he  remained  three  years  and  built  up 
an  excellent  practice.  He  then  took  up  his  residence 
at  Reeder,  North  Dakota,  and  practiced  there  until 
November,  1913,  when  he  came  to  Kasson,  Dodge 
County,  Minnesota,  where  he  has  received  a rep- 
resentative support  and  is  building  up  a substantial 
practice.  He  is  a member  of  the  American  Medical 
Association,  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society 
and  the  Dodge  County  Medical  Society.  Doctor 
Smith  is  the  owner  of  his  father’s  old  homestead 
farm  in  Olmsted  County,  which  is  doubly  valued  by 
him  by  reason  of  the  gracious  memories  and  associa- 
tions which  it  recalls.  He  is  a zealous  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party;  both  he  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church;  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity as  a member  of  Kasson  Lodge,  besides  which 
he  holds  membership  in  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  the  American  Yeomen. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1912,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Doctor  Smith  to  Miss  Pearl  Olson, 
daughter  of  George  H.  Olson,  a successful  farmer 
and  honored  citizen  of  Olmsted  County. 

John  J.  McCaughey.  A representative  member 
of  the  bar  of  Dodge  County,  Mr.  McCaughey  is 
engaged  in  successful  practice  in  the  attractive  and 
thriving  village  of  Kasson,  which  has  been  the 
headquarters  of  his  professional  activities  from  the 
time  of  his  admission  to  the  Minnesota  bar,  twenty 
years  ago.  He  is  not  only  a prominent  lawyer  of 
the  county  but  is  also  known  as  a progressive  citizen 
and  business  man. 

Mr.  McCaughey  was  born  in  Dane  County,  Wis- 
consin, on  the  13th  of  May,  1868,  and  is  a son  of 
John  and  Jane  (Simpson)  McCaughey,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Scotland,  on  the  18th  of 
June,  1822,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  the 
State  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  6th  of  June,  1850. 
The  death  of  the  father  occurred  October  29,  1897, 
and  the  mother  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on 
the  16th  of  April,  1914.  Their  marriage  was 
solemnized  at  Madison,  the  capital  city  of  Wisconsin, 
in  July,  1867,  and  of  the  two  children  John  J.  is  the 
elder;  William  C.  resides  in  Mantorville  and  owns 
and  operates  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  Dodge  County. 

John  McCaughey  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  land,  whence  he  immigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1844,  as  a young  man  of  twenty-two  years. 
He  settled  in  Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  and  within 
a year  after  his  marriage,  and  while  the  subject  of 
this  review  was  an  infant,  he  came  with  his  family 
to  Dodge  County,  Minnesota,  in  1868.  In  Scotland 


1634 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


he  had  followed  the  trade  of  silk-weaver,  but  after 
he  came  to  America  he  gave  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  during  the  remainder  of  his  active 
career.  He  was  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and 
honored  citizens  of  Dodge  County  and  in  1890  he 
retired  from  active  labors  and  established  his  resi- 
dence in  the  village  of  Ivasson,  where  both  he  and 
his  wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives,  both 
having  been  earnest  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  McCaughey  was  a man  of  noble  char- 
acter, quiet  and  unassuming,  kindly  and  charitable, 
but  always  showed  the  courage  of  his  convictions. 
He  was  one  of  the  well  known  and  venerable  pioneer 
citizens  of  Dodge  County  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
his  father,  John  McCaughey,  Sr.,  having  likewise 
come  to  America  and  having  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facturing of  silk  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia.  Mrs. 
McCaughey  was  a daughter  of  James  Simpson,  who 
was  born  in  Ireland  and  who  was  still  a young  man 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  having  contracted 
cholera  during  the  epidemic  that  raged  at  the  time, 
not  many  years  after  he  came  to  America. 

John  J.  McCaughey  passed  the  days  of  his  child- 
hood and  early  youth  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in 
Dodge  County,  and  is  indebted  to  the  district  schools 
for  his  early  education,  which  was  supplemented  by 
a course  in  the  high  school  at  Mantorville,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1889.  He  then  began  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  Lovely  & Edgerton,  in  the 
City  of  St.  Paul,  later  had  as  his  preceptor  Judge 
Jaggard,  of  same  city,  and  he  finally  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 'in  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1894,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor 
of  laws.  Pie  forthwith  established  himself  in  prac- 
tice at  Kasson,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his 
home  and  where  he  has  long  controlled  a sub- 
stantial and  representative  law  business,  in  con- 
nection with  which  he  has  appeared  in  many  im- 
portant litigations  in  both  the  State  and  Federal 
courts  of  Minnesota.  He  served  nearly  twelve  years 
as  county  attorney,  resigning  that  office  in  1910,  and 
in  1912  he  was  the  republican  candidate  for  repre- 
sentative of  his  district  in  the  United  States  Com 
gress,  his  defeat  being  compassed  by  the  political 
exigencies  that  brought  victory  to  the  national  demo- 
cratic ticket  in  that  year.  He  has  been  a forceful 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  republican  party 
and  his  allegiance  to  its  cause  has  never  wavered. 
Mr.  McCaughey  is  a director  of  the  Farmers  State 
Bank  of  Kasson,  is  the  owner  of  valuable  farming 
land  in  Dodge  County,  and  has  also  a large  ranch 
in  the  State  of  Montana.  He  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  both  the  York  and  Scottish  Rite 
bodies  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  as  well  as  with 
the  adjunct  organization,  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  past  master  of 
the  Kasson  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons 
and  past  high  priest  of  the  local  chapter  of  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  his  chivalric  affiliation  being  with  the 
commandery  of  Knights  Templars  at  Rochester,  and 
his  Consistory  and  Mystic  Shrine  affiliation  with  the 
organization  in  the  City  of  Winona  and  the  capital 
city  of  Minnesota  respectively.  He  holds  member- 
ship also  in  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the  Yeo- 
men. 

In  1890  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
McCaughey  to  Miss  Inez  M.  Edison,  daughter  of 
William  Edison,  a pioneer  settler  and  substantial 


farmer  of  Dodge  County  and  a first  cousin  of  the 
great  electrical  wizard,  Thomas  A.  Edison. 

William  H.  Eustis.  A lawyer  of  fine  attain- 
ments, a business  man  of  experience  and  tested 
ability,  a citizen  of  unqualified  public  spirit,  the 
period  of  more  than  thirty  years  spent  by  William 
H.  Eustis  in  Minneapolis  has  been  not  only  im- 
portant from  his  own  standpoint  in  working  out  a 
large  and  generous  success,  but  has  been  a vital 
force  in  many  ways  in  the  improvement  and  de- 
velopment of  the  city  and  the  Northwest.  There  is 
inspiration  in  his  career  not  only  on  account  of  its 
absolute  accomplishment,  but  especially  owing  to 
the  fact  that  he  was  once  a poor  boy,  struggling 
with  all  his  courage  and  the  resources  of  a versatile 
mind  to  make  some  worthy  use  of  his  years  among 
men. 

Of  English  lineage,  he  was  born  in  the  Village 
of  Oxbow,  Jefferson  County,  in  1845,  the  second  of 
eleven  children  born  to  Tobias  and  Mary  (Mark- 
wick)  Eustis.  Tobias  Eustis  was  born  in  Cornwall, 
England,  where  his  forefathers  had  for  generations 
been  identified  with  the  mining  industry.  Tobias 
took  a radical  departure  from  the  usual  family 
pursuits  and  learned  the  trade  of  wheelwright.  He 
came  to  America  when  a young  man,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  this  country,  finally  establishing  his  residence 
at  Hammond,  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York, 
where  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  years. 

His  position  as  second  in  a large  family  made  it 
necessary  for  William  H.  Eustis  to  become  a worker 
and  wage  earner  when  most  boys  of  his  age  have 
no  responsibilities  beyond  those  of  the  schoolroom. 
He  attended  school,  but  not  regularly,  and  when 
about  fifteen  years  of  age  met  with  an  accident  which 
incapacitated  him  for  further  manual  labor.  It  was 
not  in  keeping  with  his  independent  nature  to  become 
dependent  upon  others,  and  as  is  often  the  case  the 
handicap  imposed  by  the  accident  proved  a blessing 
in  disguise.  It  quickened  his  ambition  to  action 
and  achievement,  but  a hard  course  lay  ahead  before 
he  was  fitted  for  the  work  he  had  chosen,  which 
was  the  legal  profession.  He  learned  telegraphy 
and  also  mastered  bookkeeping,  and  taught  select 
classes  in  both  the  arts.  He  also  sold  life  insurance, 
and  from  these  different  sources  paid  his  expenses 
through  a preparatory  course  in  the  seminary  at 
Gouverneur  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York. 
In  1871  he  entered  Wesleyan  University  at  Middle- 
town,  Connecticut,  and  there  again  paid  his  expenses 
by  teaching  and  was  graduated  in  1873.  The  next 
stage  of  his  early  career  was  in  New  York  City,  in 
the  law  department  of  Columbia  University,  where 
his  energy  enabled  him  to  accomplish  two  years’ 
work  in  one,  and  he  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1874. 

On  leaving  law  school  Mr.  Eustis  owed  a debt  of 
$1,000,  which  he  had  borrowed  for  his  education. 
He  turned  to  teaching,  in  which  his  previous  experi- 
ence had  chiefly  lain,  and  at  the  end  of  about  a year 
had  paid  his  obligations.  A suit  of  clothes  and  $15 
in  cash  constituted  his  worldly  possessions.  As  a 
result  of  his  previous  acquaintance  with  John  R. 
Putnam,  who  was  already  established  in  practice  at 
Saratoga  Springs,  a partnership  was  formed  between 
them  and  they  soon  had  a promising  and  profitable 
practice,  which  together  they  managed  for  six  years. 
The  partnership  was  terminated  in  1881  when  Mr. 
Eustis  went  abroad,  with  the  intention  of  spending 
two  years  in  Europe.  He  had  already  come  into 
some  distinction  in  New  York  politics,  and  was 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1635 


especially  valuable  to  the  republican  party  as  a 
campaign  orator.  Leaving  America  for  Europe  in 
the  summer  of  1881,  he  returned  a few  months  later, 
his  presence  being  demanded  by  political  events  in 
which  he  was  greatly  interested. 

After  a careful  investigation  of  western  cities  Mr. 
Eustis  concluded  to  locate  permanently  in  Minne- 
apolis, where  he  established  his  home,  October  23, 
1881.  In  a short  time  his  work  had  given  him  an 
enviable  prestige  as  a lawyer,  and  for  fully  thirty 
years  he  has  been  one  of  the  leaders  in  local  business 
affairs.  His  unlimited  faith  in  the  future  of  the  city 
caused  him  to  invest  his  limited  capital  in  local  real 
estate,  and  those  acts  of  a sound  judgment  have 
been  justified  many  fold.  Mr.  Eustis  erected  the 
building  now  known  as  Elks  Hall  at  the  corner  of 
Hennepin  and  Sixth  streets,  and  this  has  been  a well 
known  landmark  in  the  city,  and  was  utilized  for 
many  years  as  the  headquarters  of  the  local  Repub- 
lican Union  League.  He  also  built  the  Flour  Ex- 
change and  the  Corn  Exchange  buildings,  and  other 
similar  structures.  He  was  a member  of  the  build- 
ing committee  in  charge  of  the  erection  of  the 
Masonic  Temple  in  Minneapolis,  was  one  of  the 
projectors  and  organizers  of  the  North  American 
Telegraph  Company,  which  was  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  competitive  telegraph  service 
throughout  the  Northwest,  and  in  that  company  he 
served  as  a director  and  as  secretary. 

He  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Minne- 
apolis, St.  Paul  and  Sault  Ste.  Marie  Railway 
Company,  whose  lines  were  built  to  provide  cheap 
transportation  facilities  to  the  East.  For  some  time 
he  was  a member  of  its  board  of  directors.  At  the 
present  time  large  and  valuable  real  estate  interests 
are  owned  and  controlled  by  Mr.  _ Eustis.  In  1907 
his  splendid  energy  and  executive  ability  were 
demonstrated  in  a remarkably  expeditious  real  estate 
transaction.  He  obtained  from  the  United  States 
Government  an  order  for  a block  of  land  to  be 
utilized  as  the  site  for  the  New  Federal  Building  in 
Minneapolis.  In  seven  weeks  he  perfected  title  to 
the  desired  property,  cut  through  yards  of  Washing- 
ton red  tape,  obtained  Government  acceptance  of 
the  deeds  and  abstracts  in  two  days  time,  though 
usually  months  are  required  by  the  postoffice  depart- 
ment for  such  adjustment,  and  in  forty-eight  hours 
secured  his  warrant  for  the  requisite  money  for  the 
property,  though  the  issue  of  such  warrant  usually 
requires  many  weeks.  The  entire  transaction  was 
closed  with  such  energy  and  facility  that  it  served 
to  establish  a record  in  the  handling  of  Government 
business  and  greatly  astonished  Washington  officials. 

In  1892  Mr.  Eustis  was  elected  mayor  of  Minne- 
apolis. His  administration  has  been  characterized 
as  “one  of  the  most  careful  and  economical  in  the 
history  of  municipal  affairs  in  Minneapolis.”  He 
made  a very  careful  study  of  the  saloon  question 
and  the  laws  relating  to  the  liquor  traffic,  a subject 
to  which  he  gave  much  attention  at  the  beginning 
of  his  term.  He  looked  rather  to  conditions  than 
to  theories,  and  sought  to  enforce  the  laws  in  such  a 
way  as  would  gain  the  best  results.  His  policy  did 
not  demand  the  undue  restriction  of  the  rights 
granted  to  saloon  keepers,  but  urged  just  coopera- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  dealers  in  so  enforcing  the 
provisions  of  the  law  as  to  insure  as  far  as  possible 
the  suppression  of  crime  and  drunkenness.  Early 
in  his  administration  the  rule,  suggested  by  experi- 
ence, potent  and  far  reaching  in  good  results,  was 
adopted : “Let  every  saloon  be  held  responsible 


for  what  takes  place  in  that  saloon  within  the  bounds 
of  reason.”  The  rigid  enforcement  of  this  simple 
and  just  rule  quickly  eliminated  the  “knock  out 
drop”  robbing  and  other  vicious  practices  so  frequent 
in  saloons  of  the  tougher  sort  in  all  large  cities.  If 
a man  were  robbed  in  a saloon  the  proprietor  was 
compelled  to  make  the  loss  good  to  the  victim. 
There  were  no  exceptions  to  the  rule.  A few  ex- 
amples only  were  necessary  to  effect  the  complete 
and  permanent  elimination  during  his  administration 
of  this  class  of  evils.  The  enforcement  of  this  rule 
added  greatly  to  the  efficiency  of  the  police  depart- 
ment. Written  reports  were  received  on  all  saloons 
and  according  to  the  character  of  these  reports 
they  were  divided  into  classes.  This  principle  ap- 
pealed to  their  pride,  and  many  sought  by  change 
of  methods  to  work  up  from  a lower  to  a higher 
class.  In  this  business,  different  from  any  other, 
in  the  formation  of  public  opinion,  the  low  and 
tough  saloons  make  the  reputation  for  all.  On  this 
basis  it  was  easy  to  appeal  to  the  better  element 
to  aid  in  the  improvement  or  elimination  of  the 
dives.  The  statistics  of  the  police  department  and 
the  workhouse  for  the  two  years  of  his  administra- 
tion showed  a great  decrease  in  crime  under  his 
system.  Drunkenness  was  materially  diminished, 
commitments  to  the  workhouse  were  cut  down,  while 
many  confirmed  drunkards  from  this  institution  were 
given  the  Keeley  cure,  the  sale  of  liquors  to  minors 
and  habitual  drunkards  was  noticeably  reduced,  and 
the  evils  resulting  from  the  liquor  traffic  were  very 
greatly  minimized.  It  was  an  administration  char- 
acterized by  progressive  and  broad-minded  policies 
and  at  the  same  time  systematic  efforts  in  every 
department  for  just  economy. 

At  a later  date  Mr.  Eustis  was  made  republican 
nominee  for  governor  of  Minnesota.  He  made  a 
vigorous  canvass  of  the  state,  but  the  political  power 
of  the  opposition  was  unfavorable  to  the  republican 
candidates  that  year.  The  subtle,  though  natural 
and  strong  influence  of  nationality  was  the  con- 
trolling factor  in  the  election.  He  accepted  defeat 
with  characteristic  good  nature.  He  still  continues 
an  unswerving  supporter  of  the  republican  party. 
He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  to  which  he  is  a liberal  supporter  and 
is  also  a member  of  various  fraternal  and  social 
organizations  in  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Eustis  has  never 
married. 

At  the  present  time  he  is  virtually  retired  from 
the  practice  of  law,  owing  to  the  demands  made 
upon  him  by  his  various  business  interests.  He  is 
still  a popular  orator  and  has  been  of  great  service 
to  the  republican  party  as  a campaign  speaker  in 
Minnesota  and  other  states.  In  1892  he  was  a dele- 
gate to  the  national  convention,  in  which  he  gave 
his  support  to  the  candidacy  of  James  G.  Blaine. 
A sterling  citizen,  a genial  and  whole  souled  per- 
sonality, and  a man  of  affairs,  Mr.  Eustis  is  one  of 
the  notable  citizens  of  Minneapolis. 

Charles  F.  Sawyer.  Since  the  age  of  eighteen 
identified  with  banking,  and  now  vice  president  and 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Goodhue, 
Charles  F.  Sawyer  is  a native  of  Goodhue  County, 
represents  one  of  the  old  and  most  prominent  fami- 
lies of  Southeastern  Minnesota,  and  has  made  a 
name  and  reputation  as  an  able  financier  in  this  and 
other  states.  Mr.  Sawyer  has  applied  his  efforts  to 
one  line  and  as  a result  of  that  concentration  has 
reached  a place  of  success  and  high  esteem. 


163G 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Charles  F.  Sawyer  was  born  in  Goodhue  County, 
Minnesota,  January  22,  1874,  a son  of  Charles  L. 
and  Anette  (Hagler)  Sawyer.  The  Sawyer  family 
is  of  English  descent,  and  the  Haglers  of  Dutch 
stock.  Grandfather  D.  C.  Sawyer  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire  and  located  as  a pioneer  in  Minnesota 
Territory  in  1854.  His  homestead  was  in  Goodhue 
County,  and  he  also  followed  the  business  of  con- 
tractor and  builder  for  a number  of  years  and 
afterwards  was  in  the  furniture  trade  at  Pine 
Island,  where  he  died.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  Fletcher  Hagler,  a native  of  Illinois,  who  also 
pioneered  to  Minnesota  in  1856,  locating  on  a farm, 
and  afterwards  becoming  a citizen  of  Pine  Island. 
He  was  prominent  in  the  early  days  of  Goodhue 
County,  serving  as  sheriff  a number  of  years,  also 
as  postmaster  at  Pine  Island,  and  in  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was 
for  two  years  in  the  Union  army  and  had  his  son 
Amos  in  the  same  regiment  with  him. 

Charles  L.  Sawyer  was  born  in  New  Hampshire 
in  1852,  and  was  about  two  years  of  age  when  the 
family  came  to  Minnesota.  He  finished  his  education 
in  the  Wasioja  Seminary  of  Minnesota,  and  is  now 
a resident  of  Minot,  North  Dakota,  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Victoria  Elevator  Company  of  Min- 
nesota. He  is  the  owner  of  real  estate  and  farm 
property  and  has  been  successful  in  business  affairs. 
In  politics  he  is  a republican,  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  order,  and  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  His  wife,  a Miss  Flagler,  was  born  in 
Illinois  in  1853,  and  they  were  married  in  .Goodhue 
County  in  1872.  There  are  four  living  children: 
Charles  F. ; W.  R.,  a banker  at  Bellechester,  Min- 
nesota; Julia,  wife  of  G.  Johnson  of  Minneapolis; 
and  Guy,  connected  with  the  Second  National  Bank 
of  Minot,  Minnesota. 

After  finishing  his  education  in  the  high  school 
at  Cannon  Falls,  in  1893,  Charles  F.  Sawyer  had 
ten  years  of  thorough  training  in  the  Citizens  State 
Bank  of  Cannon  Falls,  and  then  organized  the  First 
National  Bank  at  Fosston,  Minnesota,  and  was  its 
active  manager  for  two  years.  Selling  out  his 
interests  there,  Mr.  Sawyer  organized  the  State 
Bank  of  Sarles,  North  Dakota,  lived  in  that  state 
four  years,  and  in  1909  returned  to  Goodhue  County 
and  bought  an  interest  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Goodhue.  He  has  since  held  the  office  of  vice 
president  and  cashier,  and  is  its  chief  executive  offi- 
cial. This  bank  has  a capital  of  $25,000,  with  $10,000 
surplus  and  undivided  profits,  and  the  average  de- 
posits are  $350,000,  which  is  ample  proof  of  its 
financial  soundness  and  popularity.  Mr.  Sawyer  also 
has  an  interest  in  the  bank  at  Bellechester  and  is  its 
vice  president. 

In  1902  Mr.  Sawyer  married  Joanna  Libbey,  daugh- 
ter of  Howard  Libbey,  a Goodhue  County  farmer. 
Their  four  children  are : Marion,  Mildred,  Charles 

and  David,  the  two  oldest  being  in  school.  Mr. 
Sawyer  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  has 
affiliations  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Zumbrota, 
and  as  a republican  has  been  honored  with  some 
local  offices,  though  practically  all  his  career  has 
been  sedulously  devoted  to  banking,  and  through 
that  work  he  lias  performed  his  best  service  to  the 
community. 

Thomas  J.  Nary.  The  name  of  Thomas  J.  Nary 
is  perhaps  more  widely  known  among  the  old  set- 
tlers of  northern  Minnesota  than  that  of  any  other, 
and  wherever  it  is  spoken  it  recalls  the  hardy  lum- 


berman whose  high  tide  of  vigorous  activity  fell 
across  the  period  when  lumbering  was  an  industry 
only  for  the  strong  and  daring.  For  upwards  of 
forty  years  Thomas  J.  Nary  has  had  the  chief 
responsibilities  in  the  management  of  the  great  Pills- 
bury  lumbering  and  timber  land  interests  in  Minne- 
sota, and  in  the  practical  operation  of  that  company 
his  word  has  been  law  for  many  years.  Mr.  Nary 
is  a graduate  from  that  rugged  school  of  the  old 
days  on  the  river  and  in  the  lumber  woods,  when 
weaklings  were  unknown  and  when  muscular 
strength  and  agility  and  the  ready  acceptance  of 
the  hazards  and  circumstances  of  a rough  life  were 
the  highest  badge  of  manhood  and  fellowship.  In 
recent  years  Mr.  Nary  has  given  up  his  more  im- 
mediate supervision  of  lumbering  operations,  ^nd  is 
now  retained  in  an  advisory  and  semi-retired*  rela- 
tion with  the  great  business  of  which  he  was  so  long 
the  active  head.  His  home  is  in  Park  Rapids,  Hub- 
bard County,  and  one  of  the  little  settlements  in 
northern  Minnesota  bears  his  name  as  a memorial 
to  his  extended  influence  and  enterprise  in  that  sec- 
tion of  the  state. 

Thomas  J.  Nary  was  born  at  Providence,  New 
Brunswick,  May  23,  1842,  and  has  spent  nearly  all 
his  life  in  the  zone  of  lumbering  activities,  extending 
from  the  Atlantic  Coast  to  the  Northwest.  His 
father  was  Thomas  W.  Nary,  a native  of  Augusta, 
Maine,  and  by  occupation  a lumberman.  He  moved 
to  the  Province  of  New  Brunswick,  where  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Sutter,  who  was  born  in  New  Brunswick 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  She  died  in  the  State  of  Maine 
at  the  age  of  about  forty-six  years,  and  the  father 
was  again  married  before  leaving  Maine  and  com- 
ing to  Wisconsin  in  1856.  In  Wisconsin  he  located 
at  the  heart  of  the  then  great  lumber  industry  of 
northern  Wisconsin,  at  Eau  Claire,  and  continued 
actively  associated  with  lumbering  interests  until 
his  death  at  the  age  of  about  seventy  years.  He 
had  nine  children. 

The  fourth  in  this  family  Thomas  J.  Nary  was 
the  oldest  son,  and  was  about  fourteen  when  his 
father  moved  out  to  Wisconsin.  His  first  education 
in  the  common  schools  was  in  the  State  of  Maine, 
and  in  Eau  Claire  he  continued  to  attend  the  public 
schools  until  about  eighteen  years  old.  From  that 
time  forward,  for  a period  of  more  thkn  half  a cen- 
tury, his  chief  interest  has  been  in  lumbering,  and 
perhaps  no  man  living  in  Minnesota  today  has  a 
broader  and  more  thorough  practical  experience 
of  all  the  details  of  this  business.  For  a time  he 
was  with  his  father  in  Wisconsin,  and  afterwards 
with  C.  W.  Hutchinson,  at  Eau  Claire.  He  reached 
manhood  about  the  time  the  Civil  war  broke  upon 
the  country,  and  his  individual  record  as  a Union 
soldier  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  chapters  in  his 
life,  and  one  for  which  he  deserves  special  honor 
and  memory.  He  enlisted  in  Company  L of  the 
Second  Wisconsin  Cavalry  as  a private,  and  for 
proficiency  and  faithfulness  was  promoted  from  the 
ranks  to  second  lieutenant,  and  about  a year  later  to 
first  lieutenant. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Nary  returned  to  Eau  Claire, 
and  resumed  the  lumber  business  on  his  own  account. 
Four  years  later  he  sold  out  his  Wisconsin  interests, 
and  in  1868  removed  to  Minnesota,  locating  at 
Anoka.  That  was  the  scene  of  his  operations  for 
about  four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  be- 
came associated  with  J.  S.  Pillsbury  & Company,  as 
general  superintendent  of  their  logging  and  had  the 
management  of  their  extensive  timber  land  holdings. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1637 


Mr.  Nary  has  explored  practically  every  important 
timber  section  in  northern  Minnesota,  has  superin- 
tended operations  on  a magnificent  scale,  and  his 
judgment  and  ability  have  been  chief  factors  in  the 
foundation  of  a number  of  fortunes  acquired  in  the 
Minnesota  lumber  industry.  While  a large  part  of 
his  career  has  been  spent  in  managing  interests  for 
others,  he  has  to  a large  extent  been  independent, 
and  his  suggestions  and  instructions  have  been  as 
promptly  obeyed  by  boards  of  directors  and  in  gen- 
eral offices  as  in  the  lumber  and  logging  camps  along 
the  rivers  and  in  the  forests  of  the  North. 

Mr.  Nary  was  first  married  in  1865  to  Henrietta 
Armstrong,  who  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  and 
died  about  1875.  Both  her  daughters  are  also 
deceased,  having  been  named  Blanche  and  Maude. 
The  daughter  Blanche,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six,  married  Professor  C.  F.  Sidner.  The 
daughter  Maude  died  when  about  nine  years  of 
age.  In  1882  Mr.  Nary  married  Jennette  Douglas. 
To  this  union  were  also  born  two  children:  Blanche 
M.,  who  died  in  1912  as  the  wife  of  Elmer  Wilson ; 
and  Thomas  D.,  who  lives  at  home  with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Nary  has  always  been  a stanch  republican, 
and  cast  his  first  v6te  for  Abraham  Lincoln  during 
the  war.  He  possesses  not  only  the  character  of 
the  able  executive,  but  also  the  gift  of  congenial 
companionship  and  has  hundreds  of  fast  friends  all 
over  the  Northwest.  He  was  postmaster  at  Gull 
River  six  years,  and  occupied  the  same  office  for 
six  years  at  Walker.  For  twelve  years  he  was  one 
of  the  county  commissioners  of  Cass  County,  and  as 
a republican  attended  all  the  state  conventions  of 
the  party  from  1879  to  1910.  He  is  also  well  known 
in  Masonic  circles.  He  belongs  to  old  Anoka  Lodge 
No.  30,  Ancient  Free  & Accepted  Masons,  and  has 
taken  thirty-two  degrees  in  the  Scottish  Rite  and  is 
also  a member  of  the  Mystic  Shriners.  He  affiliates 
with  Lodge  No.  615  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks. 

Charles  T.  Goodrich.  Through  his  successful 
career  as  a traveling  man,  Charles  T.  Goodrich  is 
known  pretty  well  all  over  the  Northwest,  and  has 
sold  goods  in  almost  every  town  of  Minnesota. 
Mr.  Goodrich  is  now  living  somewhat  retired  from 
his  strenuous  business  career  at  Mantorville,  and 
is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  that  community. 

Charles  T.  Goodrich  was  born  at  Owego,  New 
York,  September  2,  1847,  and  represents  an  old  New 
England  family.  His  ancestors  came  to  America 
about  the  time  of  the  Mayflower.  His  grandfather 
was  Erastus  Goodrich,  a native  of  New  York  State 
and  a farmer,  and  the  great-grandfather  was  Enos 
Goodrich,  also  a native  of  New  York  State.  Charles 
T.  Goodrich’s  parents  were  Davis  and  Fannie  (Tru- 
man) Goodrich,  both  natives  of  New  York  State. 
His  father  was  born  in  1813  and  died  in  1899,  and 
his  mother  was  born  in  1823  and  died  in  1894.  The 
mother  was  a daughter  of  Aaron  Truman,  who  spent 
all  his  life  on  a New  York  farm.  David  Goodrich 
was  a merchant  in  New  York,  and  spent  sixty  years 
in  merchandising.  There  were  three  children : Mary 
E.,  wife  of  W.  D.  Cady  of  Binghamton,  New  York, 
who  was  general  agent  for  the  Home  Sewing  Ma- 
chine Company  for  a number  of  years ; Charles  T. ; 
and  Lyman  T.,  who  lives  at  Binghamton.  The  father 
was  a member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  taught 
in  the  Sunday  school  for  sixty  years,  and  was  a 
republican  in  politics. 

Charles  T.  Goodrich  acquired  an  education  in  the 


common  schools  of  his  native  village  and  also  at 
White  Plains,  New  York.  His  career  began  in  the 
store  of  his  father,  and  there  he  got  the  experience 
in  handling  goods  which  furnished  the  foundation 
for  his  subsequent  career.  In  1868  Mr.  Goodrich 
married  Sarah  M.  Crouch,  daughter  of  Sam  Crouch, 
who  for  many  years  was  a conductor  on  the  Erie 
Railroad.  To  their  marriage  were  born  four  chil- 
dren : Dora  T.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Summerville  of 
Idaho;  Samuel  Goodrich,  clerk  of  court  at  Mantor- 
ville ; David,  who  lives  in  St.  Charles,  Minnesota, 
and  is  vice  president  of  the  Peffercorn  Bank;  and 
Fannie  McKeen,  the  wife  of  H.  W.  Brown,  station 
agent  at  Kasson,  Minnesota.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  in  1875.  She  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  1882  Mr. 
Goodrich  married  Janette  M.  Johnson.  This  mar- 
riage has  brought  one  child,  Louise,  the  wife  of 
Ralph  H.  Cole,  one  of  the  officials  in  the  Rapid 
Transit  Company  of  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Goodrich  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  has  taken  both  the  lodge  and  chapter 
degrees  in  Masonry,  and  for  four  terms  has  served 
as  master  of  his  lodge.  In  politics  he  is  a repub- 
lican and  takes  a quite  active  part  in  behalf  oi  his 
friends,  though  without  personal  aspirations. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Goodrich  traveled  a year 
and  a half  for  the  Hahn,  Knight  & Co.  Hat  House, 
and  during  that  time  sold  more  goods  than  any 
other  representative  of  the  company.  His  next  con- 
nection was  with  the  Wyman,  Mullen  & Co.,  and 
continued  for  eight  years.  The  following  fourteen 
years  were  spent  with  the  well  known  St.  Paul  Hat 
& Fur  Co.,  the  Albrecht,  Lanpher  & Finch.  He 
was  also  with  the  A.  Hursick  Sons  & Co.  and  other 
firms,  and  his  career  as  a traveling  salesman  covered 
a total  of  thirty  years.  For  a number  of  years  Mr. 
Goodrich  was  also  in  the  cigar  manufacturing  busi- 
ness and  then  settled  down  to  a quiet  routine  of 
existence  in  Dodge  County,  where  he  owns  a nice 
home  and  240  acres  of  land. 

Samuel  Goodrich.  With  punctilious  care  and 
marked  efficiency  Mr.  Goodrich  is  giving  most  satis- 
factory administration  in  the  office  of  clerk  of  the 
County  Court  of  Dodge  County,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Man- 
torville, the  judicial  center  of  his  native  county. 

Samuel  Goodrich  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Kasson,  Dodge  County,  on  the  30th  of  June,  1872, 
and  is  a son  of  Charles  T.  and  Sarah  (Crouch) 
Goodrich.  He  was  but  three  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  mother’s  death  and  was  taken  into  the 
home  of  his  maternal  grandparents,  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  where  he  was  reared  to  adult  age  and 
afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools,  includ- 
ing the  high  school  in  the  City  of  Binghamton. 
Thereafter  he  was  for  two  years  a student  in  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Mansfield,  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  initiating  his  independent  career  he  returned 
to  his  native  village  of  Kasson,  Minnesota,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  operation  of  a flour  mill  for  two 
years,  with  fair  success.  For  the  ensuing  three 
years  he  was  there  engaged  in  the  manufacturing 
of  cigars,  and  he  then  became  the  incumbent  of  a 
position  in  the  Kasson  Postoffice,  with  the  manage- 
ment of  which  he  continued  to  be  identified  nearly 
twelve  years.  In  1911  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
County  Court  of  Dodge  County,  of  which  position 
he  has  since  continued  the  valued  and  efficient  in- 
cumbent, having  been  nominated  for  a second  term 


1638 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


without  opposition  and  having  been  reelected  in  1913. 
He  has  served  also  as  clerk  for  the  county  auditor 
for  two  years.  Mr.  Goodrich  has  shown  a con- 
sistent interest  in  political  affairs  and  is  essentially 
progressive  and  public-spirited  as  a citizen.  He 
is  the  owner  of  a well  improved  farm  and  other 
property  in  his  native  county,  and  his  father,  who 
was  long  numbered  among  the  representative  agri- 
culturists of  Dodge  County,  is  now  living  retired  at 
Kasson,  a well  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizen 
of  the  county. 

In  politics  Mr.  Goodrich  is  a stalwart  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Kasson  Lodge  of  the  Ancient,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  is  past  master ; 
with  the  Mantorville  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
and  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
popular  factors  in  the  representative  social  activities 
of  Mantorville. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  1894,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Goodrich  to  Miss  Julia  E.  Houston, 
daughter  oT  William  A.  Houston,  an  honored  pioneer 
and  substantial  farmer  of  Dodge  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Goodrich  have  two  children,  both  of  whom  re- 
main at  the  parental  home:  Nadine  was  graduated 

in  the  Mantorville  High  School  as  a member  of 
the  class  of  1913;  and  Samuel  T.,  who  celebrated 
his  sixteenth  birthday  anniversary  on  the  22d  of 
August,  1914,  is  now  a student  in  the  public  schools. 

Ely  Parker  Adams.  One  of  the  oldest  active 
members  of  the  Little  Falls  bar  is  Ely  P.  Adams, 
who  began  practice  in  that  city  in  1887,  and  has 
enjoyed  many  of  the  associatipns  which  indicate 
leadership  and  success  in  this  profession.  Among 
his  qualifications  recognized  by  his  associates  are 
sound  learning,  long  experience  in  all  the  important 
departments  of  practice,  keen  ability  as  a debater, 
and  an  unwavering  fidelity  to  the  interests  intrusted 
to  his  charge. 

Ely  Parker  Adams  was  born  in  Coles  County, 
Illinois,  July  28,  1851.  He  is  a son  of  Christopher 
B.  and  Sarah  (Gannaway)  Adams,  who  were  Coles 
County  farmers.  As  a boy  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  received  his  higher  education  in  the 
Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  where 
he  was  graduated  from  the  academic  department 
with  the  degree  bachelor  of  science  in  1875,  and 
from  the  same  institution  took  his  degree  LL.  B. 
in  1878.  From  1878  to  1881  Mr.  Adams  was  engaged 
in  teaching  school,  and  at  one  time  was  principal  of 
the  schools  at  Oakland,  Illinois. 

Coming  out  to  Minnesota,  he  established  an  office 
at  Little  Falls  in  1887,  and  has  since  been  engaged 
in  a general  practice.  For  two  terms  he  was  city 
attorney,  and  has  also  been  public  examiner  of 
titles  for  Morrison  County.  Among  his  business 
relations  Mr.  Adams  is  vice  president  of  the  Lenox 
Development  Company. 

He  is  an  active  republican,  a trustee  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  has  fraternal  associations 
with  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 

On  August  25,  1880,  Mr.  Adams  married  Emma 
A.  Ross  of  Pontiac,  Illinois.  Their  son,  Mark  Ross, 
born  October  21,  1887,  is  now  cashier  of  the  First 
State  Bank  at  Big  Falls,  Minnesota.  The  son  was 
married  December  14,  1912,  to  Ella  Doten  of  Little 
Falls. 


_ Hon.  Alfred  W.  Mueller  is  a typical  Brown 
County  man,  exemplifying  the  energy,  virility  and 
resource  of  the  younger  generation.  Here  he  has 
been  engaged  in  an  extensive  law  practice  for  the 
past  several  years,  as  a member  of  the  firm  of 
Sompsen,  Dempsey  & Mueller,  and  recently  has 
entered,  with  characteristic  progressiveness,  the 
public  arena,  being  the  present  representative-elect 
to  the  House  of  Representatives  from  his  district. 
However  guardedly  we  must  speak  of  youth,  Mr. 
Mueller  is  still  a young  man,  but  this  has  seemed 
to  have  retarded  his  progress  in  no  way,  for  his 
standing  both  in  the  ranks  of  his  profession  and  in 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  has  reached  a 
height  and  a strength  that  might  well  be  envied 
by  men  many  years  his  senior. 

Mr.  Mueller  is  a product  of  New  Ulm,  and  was 
born  May  19,  1888,  a son  of  Theodore  and  Anna 
(Schulz)  Mueller.  The  family  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Brown  County,  having  been  founded  at  New 
Ulm  by  his  grandfather,  Carl  F.  Mueller,  who  came 
to  this  country  as  an  emigrant  from  Germany  and 
settled  at  New  Ulm  among  the  early  residents.  He 
spent  his  active  life  here  at  the  trade  of  stone  mason, 
and  is  still  residing  in  this  city,  now  being  retired. 
Theodore  Mueller  was  born  at  New  Ulm,  in  1864, 
and  has  been  identified  with  business  affairs  as  a 
cigar  merchant  for  many  years,  having  built  up  an 
excellent  business  through  enterprise  and  industry. 
Long  prominent  in  republican  politics,  he  was  acting 
mayor  until  1914,  and  is  still  president  of  the  city 
council.  Mr.  Mueller  married  Miss  Anna  Schulz, 
also  of  German  parentage  and  herself  a native  of 
the  Fatherland,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been 
born  six  children:  Alfred  W.,  of  this  review;  Alice, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Haeberle,  who  resides  at 
New  Ulm  and  is  identified  with  the  New  Ulm  Ice 
Company;  Olga,  who  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Bing- 
ham, manager  of  the  firm  of  Bingham  Brothers, 
grain  merchants  of  New  Ulm;  Vera,  who  is  stenog- 
rapher for  the  Eagle  Rolling  Mills  of  New  Ulm; 
Hertha,  who  is  attending  the  New  Ulm  High  School; 
and  Anna,  who  is  a student  in  the  graded  schools 
of  this  city. 

Alfred  W.  Mueller  first  attended  the  graded  and 
high  schools  of  New  Ulm,  from  the  latter  of  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1906,  then  being  a student  in  the 
Minneapolis  Business  College  for  one  year.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  commenced  reading  law  in  the 
office  of  Joseph  A.  Eckstein,  at  New  Ulm,  and 
subsequently  entered  the  office  of  the  attorney-gen- 
eral at  St.  Paul.  While  in  the  latter  city  he  was  a 
student  in  the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law,  and  in  1911 
took  the  examination  for  the  bar,  being  admitted  to 
practice  on  July  26th  of  that  year.  Since  his  ad- 
mission Mr.  Mueller  has  carried  on  a general  prac- 
tice at  New  Ulm,  being  now  a member  of  the  firm 
of  Somsen,  Dempsey  & Mueller,  with  offices  in  the 
Vogel  Block.  Mr.  Mueller  belongs  to  the  various 
organizations  of  his  calling  and  continues  to  be  an 
earnest  and  painstaking  student.  His  knowledge  of 
the  law  is  comprehensive  and  accurate,  and  in  its 
application  he  is  logical  and  forceful,  which  accounts, 
in  part,  for  the  high  standing  he  enjoys  among  his 
fellow  practitioners.  Since  attaining  his  majority, 
Mr.  Mueller  has  displayed  an  active  and  intelligent 
interest  in  the  movements  of  the  republican  party 
and  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks,  and  in 
1914  became  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  the  office 
of  representative  of  his  district  in  the  House  of 
Representatives,  meeting  with  success  at  the  general 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1639 


election,  November  3rd  of  that  year.  His  fraternal 
connection  is  with  Charity  Lodge  No.  98,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

Mr.  Mueller  was  married  in  March,  1914,  at  New 
Ulm,  to  Miss  Ellen  Siegler,  the  daughter  of  Henry 
Siegler,  who  is  foreman  in  the  cooper  shop  at 
Sleepy  Eye,  Minnesota. 

Hon.  Henry  J.  Berg.  One  of  the  most  important 
county  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  people  is  that 
which  pertains  to  the  reception  and  disbursement, 
pursuant  to  law,  of  all  the  revenues  and  other  public 
money  belonging  to  the  county.  Having  it  in  his 
power  to  countersign  county  orders  and  to  render 
accounts  to  the  board  of  commissioners,  the  county 
treasurer  must  be  a man  of  great  business  ability, 
with  unblemished  reputation  for  integrity,  and  an 
individual  in  whom  the  people  may  place  the  greatest 
trust.  That  Henry  J.  Berg,  of  New  Ulm,  measures 
up  to  this  standard  was  shown  in  1914,  when,  after 
eight  continuous  years  in  office,  he  was  re-elected  by 
the  people  for  a term  of  four  years  more  in  the  office 
of  county  treasurer  of  Brown  County.  His  public 
service  has  been  one  that  has  been  eminently  satis- 
factory to  the  citizens  of  this  locality,  and  under 
his  capable  administration  of  affairs  the  business 
of  the  office  has  been  discharged  in  an  expeditious 
and  thoroughly  efficient  manner. 

Mr.  Berg  is  a native  son  of  Brown  County  and  a 
product  of  the  farm,  having  been  born  in  the  vicinity 
of  New  Ulm,  on  the  homestead  of  his  father,  John 
Berg.  The  latter  was  born  near  the  River  Rhine, 
in  Germany,  in  1824,  and  was  thirty-seven  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in 
Illinois  in  1861.  He  did  not  participate  in  the  Civil 
war,  but  while  in  his  native  land  had  seen  military 
service,  having  been  for  the  customary  time  a private 
in  the  standing  army.  After  two  years  in  Illinois 
Mr.  Berg  came  in  1863  to  Brown  County,  Minnesota, 
where  he  settled  as  a pioneer  farmer,  and  here 
rounded  out  a long  and  successful  career  as  an 
agriculturist.  Several  years  prior  to  his  death  he 
retired  from  active  pursuits  and  moved  to  New  Ulm, 
where  he  passed  away  in  1901,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  Mr.  Berg  married  Fredericka  Bumm, 
who  was  born  in  1828,  also  in  the  Fatherland,  and 
she  passed  away  at  New  LTlm  the  same  year  of 
her  husband’s  demise.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  as  follows : Louisa,  who  died  at  the 

age  of  six  years;  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Fred  Kretsch,  a retired  resident  of  New  Ulm;  John, 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Brown 
County;  Hubert,  a retired  merchant,  who  makes  his 
home  at  New  Ulm;  Henry  J.,  of  this  review;  Annie, 
who  died  in  childhood;  Bertha,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six  years  as  the  wife  of  Henry  Leisenfeld, 
who  is  now  a resident  of  the  Town  of  Sigel,  Brown 
County,  and  is  engaged  in  farming;  and  Lena,  who 
was  the  wife  of  the  late  John  Kretsch,  a harness 
maker,  and  now  makes  her  home  at  New  Ulm. 

The  common  schools  of  Brown  County  furnished 
Henry  J.  Berg  with  his  educational  advantages  in 
his  youth,  but  when  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age 
he  gave  up  his  studies  and  commenced  to  devote 
all  his  attention  to  assisting  his  father  in  the  work 
of  the  farm.  He  remained  until  reaching  his  majority 
with  his  parents,  and  then  embarked  upon  a career 
of  his  own,  being  for  two  years  occupied  in  farming, 
and  then  becoming  identified  with  the  livery  business 
as  a member  of  the  firm  of  Kretsch  & Berg,  his 
Tot  in— 24 


partner  being  his  brother-in-law.  This  business  was 
dissolved  in  1895,  when  Mr.  Berg  sold  out  to  his 
partner  and  went  from  New  Ulm  to  Sleepy  Eye, 
where  he  embarked  in  a cafe  business.  This  estab- 
lishment he  conducted  successfully  until  1905,  when 
he  disposed  of  his  business  and  entered  politics  as 
an  active  participant.  He  became  the  candidate  of 
the  democratic  party  for  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer of  Brown  County  in  1906,  and  was  elected  to 
that  office,  and  his  subsequent  services  during  his 
first  and  succeeding  terms  so  favorably  impressed 
the  people  that  November  3,  1914,  he  was  once 
more  elected  for  a full  term  of  four  years.  His 
faithful  and  conscientious  labors  in  this  most  im- 
portant office  have  left  nothing  to  be  desired,  and 
as  the  years  have  passed  he  has  but  strengthened 
himself  in  the  confidence  of  those  who  have  continued 
to  support  him.  Mr.  Berg  is  a member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  His  fraternal  connections  include 
membership  in  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  No.  1076, 
New  LTlm,  of  which  he  is  grand  knight;  St.  Joseph’s 
Society,  New  Ulm ; Catholic  Order  of  Foresters, 
No.  639,  Sleepy  Eye;  St.  John’s  Society,  Sleepy  Eye, 
and  the  Arbeiter  Verein,  New  Ulm. 

Mr.  Berg  was  married,  August  7,  1887,  in  Brown 
County,  to  Miss  Mary  Hoffman,  daughter  of  Clement 
Hoffman,  a farmer  of  Brown  County,  now  deceased. 
To  this  union  there  have  been  born  eight  children, 
as  follows : Mary,  who  married  Dr.  A.  W.  Eck- 
stein, a practicing  physician  of  Holdingford,  Stearns 
County,  Minnesota ; Edward,  who  is  deputy  county 
treasurer  in  his  father’s  office  at  New  LTlm;  Henry, 
who  is  a college  student,  preparing  for  a career  as  a 
pharmacist;  Dora,  Leo  and  Helen,  who  are  attending 
the  New  Ulm  High  School;  Clement,  who  is  a 
student  in  the  parochial  school;  and  Walter,  the 
baby. 

Samuel  D.  Works.  One  of  _ the  important  ap- 
pointments by  the  present  administration  of  state 
government  that  has  given  unusual  satisfaction  and 
has  strengthened  the  administration  with  the  public, 
was  the  selection  of  Samuel  D.  Works  to  the 
important  post  of  commissioner  of  insurance.  Mr. 
Works  has  had  a long  and  varied  business  experience 
in  the  Northwest.  He  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  politics.  He  served  two  terms  in  the 
State  Senate.  Is  engaged  in  the  real  estate,  mortgage 
and  investment  business  and  is  president  of  the  Com- 
mercial State  Bank  of  St.  Paul. 

Mr.  Works  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  New 
York,  February  3,  1862,  one  of  seven  sons  of  Leoni- 
das and  Helen  (Gasleigh)  Works.  Both  parents 
were  natives  of  New  York,  and  his  father  was  a 
farmer,  giving  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  that  call- 
ing. He  died  in  New  York  in  1884,  and  his  wife  in 
1894. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Samuel  D.  Works  was  spent 
in  one  of  the  typical  rural  communities  of  New  York 
State,  where  he  attended  the  country  and  select 
schools  in  the  village  where  he  was  born.  He  also 
attended  Cook  Academy  at  Montour  Falls,  New 
York,  and  afterwards  the  University  of  Chicago 
and  the  Southern  Baptist  Theological  Seminary.  In 
July,  1888,  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  after  spending  five  years  was 
elected  general  missionary  to  the  State  of  North 
Dakota;  going  from  there  to  the  City  of  Huron, 
South  Dakota,  and  then  to  Mankato,  Minnesota. 

Resigning  the  ministry,  he  entered  active  business 


1640 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


life  in  Mankato,  and  has  since  continued  in  various 
business  activities  until  the  present  time. 

He  was  elected  state  senator  to  represent  the 
Eleventh  District  in  1906,  being  the  first  democrat 
who  had  represented  that  district  in  thirty  years.  He 
has  always  been  identified  with  the  democratic  party. 
While  in  the  Senate  he  served  on  several  important 
committees,  viz. : railroad,  grain  and  warehouse, 
finance,  and  others  and  was  always  a disinterested 
and  zealous  advocate  of  good  government  and 
sound  legislation. 

During  the  various  political  campaigns  in  Minne- 
sota, he  has  been  much  in  demand  as  a stump 
speaker,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost 
orators  of  the  state. 

In  1913  Mr.  Works  removed  from  Mankato  to 
St.  Paul,  and  has  since  become  identified  with  the 
Commercial  State  Bank,  and  was  elected  president 
of  this  institution  February  1,  1915.  On  January  12, 
1915,  he  assumed  the  duties  of  commissioner  of 
insurance  under  appointment  of  Governor  Ham- 
mond, which  post  he  now  fills  with  ability.  During 
his  long  residence  in  Minnesota  he  has  acquired  an 
extensive  acquaintance  both  with  men  and  affairs, 
and  his  fitness  is  recognized  in  every  respect  for  his 
present  office. 

Mr.  Works  was  married  in  1888  to  Miss  Agnes 
Owens  of  Troupsburg,  New  York.  They  have  two 
sons : Donald  Harper,  and  Phil  Owens,  both  of 

whom  are  attending  the  Shattuck  Military  School  at 
Faribault,  Minnesota.  Mr.  Works  is  a ' member  of 
several  clubs  in  St.  Paul,  and  is  a member  of  the 
Elks,  and  the  blue  lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

William  D.  Bell.  A newspaper  which  has  had  a 
fine  and  vitalizing  influence  on  the  community  is  the 
Journal-Gazette  at  St.  James.  Its  editor  and  proprie- 
tor, William  D.  Bell,  is  a journalist  from  the  ground 
up,  and  for  many  years  has  successfully  edited  and 
published  newspapers  in  Minnesota  and  South  Da- 
kota, and  under  his  management  has  elevated  the 
Journal-Gazette  to  the  position  of  a profitable 
financial  enterprise  and  a paper  of  more  than  local 
influence. 

William  D.  Bell  was  born  in  Monroe  County, 
Wisconsin,  October  18,  1866,  and  is  descended  from 
a family  that  came  from  England  to  America  during 
the  colonial  days  and  settled  in  New  York  State. 
The  father,  Richard  Bell,  was  born  in  Albany  County, 
New  York,  in  1839,  came  west  and  settled  in 
Wisconsin  in  1862,  followed  farming  as  a pioneer 
in  that  state,  and  in  1880  moved  out  to  Brookings 
County,  South  Dakota,  where  he  lived  on  a farm 
until  1887,  when  he  moved  to  Brookings  City  and 
retired,  remaining  there  until  his  death  in  1907.  A 
short  time  after  locating  in  Wisconsin  he  enlisted, 
in  1864,  in  the  Forty-ninth  Regiment  of  Wisconsin 
Infantry,  and  saw  active  service  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  Richard  Bell  married  Elizabeth  A.  Palmer, 
who  was  born  in  Albany  County,  New  York,  in  1838 
and  died  at  Brookings,  South  Dakota,  in  1912. 

The  only  child  of  his  parents,  William  D.  Bell 
grew  up  in  Monroe  County,  Wisconsin,  attended  the 
public  schools  there,  and  after  the  family  moved  out 
to  South  Dakota  he  continued  attending  school  in 
Brookings  County,  and  in  1891  was  graduated 
Bachelor  of  Science  from  the  South  Dakota  State 
College.  While  at  college  Mr.  Bell  was  distinguished 
for  his  work  in  oratory,  and  for  a year  and  a half 
served  as  instructor  in  telegraphy  and  electricity  in 
the  college.  After  leaving  college  Mr.  Bell  spent 


a year  as  principal  of  schools  at  Iroquois,  SoutK 
Dakota,  another  year  in  the  same  capacity  at  Hudson 
in  that  state,  and  the  next  year  he  was  in  the  jewelry 
and  photography  business  in  Castlewood,  South 
Dakota.  At  Ashton,  South  Dakota,  he  combined 
photography  and  newspaper  work.  In  1896  Mr.  Bell 
re-entered  South  Dakota  State  College,  and  after  a 
post-graduate  course  went  to  Slayton,  Minnesota, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1897  bought  the  Herald,  of  which 
he  was  editor  until  1905.  Since  the  spring  of  the 
latter  year  he  has  lived  in  St.  James.  On  moving  to 
St.  James  he  bought  the  Journal,  one  of  the  older 
papers  of  Watonwan  County,  having  been  established 
in  1878.  In  1906  a partnership  was  formed  with 
W.  M.  Barrett,  owner  of  the  Gazette,  and  the  two 
newspapers  were  consolidated  as  the  Journal-Gazette. 
In  the  fall  of  1908  Mr.  Bell  bought  his  partner's 
interest,  and  has  since  been  sole  proprietor  and 
editor  of  the  Journal-Gazette.  It  is  conducted  as 
an  independent  republican  paper,  and  its  circle  of 
readers  covers  the  entire  county.  The  paper  main- 
tains a liberal  and  public-spirited  policy  in  support 
of  all  progressive  measures,  and  it  is  not  only  the 
best  medium  of  news  but  also  influential  as  a 
moulder  of  public  opinion. 

Like  his  paper  he  maintains  the  attitude  of  an 
independent  republican  in  politics.  He  belongs  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  affiliated  with 
Libanus  Lodge  No.  96,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; with  the 
Order  of  Eastern  Star;  with  St.  James  Camp  No. 
1538  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America;  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  St.  James,  and  the 
Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen. 

October  21,  1891,  at  Estelline,  South  Dakota, 
Mr.  Bell  married  Miss  Eva  I.  Robinson,  daughter 
of  the  late  John  W.  Robinson,  who  was  a farmer 
in  that  section  of  South  Dakota.  The  children  of 
their  marriage  are:  Fred  E.,  a graduate  of  the  St. 

James  High  School,  and  now  assisting  his  father; 
Ralph  W.,  attending  public  schools  in  St.  James; 
and  Grace  Eva. 

John  C.  Jensen.  The  present  efficient  county 
auditor  of  Watonwan  County,  Minnesota,  John  C. 
Jensen,  has  been  the  incumbent  of  this  office  since 
January,  1911,  and  during  his  administration  of  its 
duties  has  established  the  reputation  of  being  a man 
who  can  secure  results.  Aside  from  his  personal 
accomplishments  and  abilities,  he  has  been  aided 
by  the  possession,  in  a marked  degree,  of  that 
faculty  possessed  by  men  of  large  and  successful 
affairs  of  bringing  about  him  able  co-workers  and 
communicating  to  them  his  enthusiasm  and  deter- 
mination to  get  the  greatest  and  best  results  from 
the  matters  in  hand. 

Mr.  Jensen  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Seneca  Township,  Kossuth  County,  Iowa,  May  26, 
1871,  and  is  a son  of  P.  W.  Jensen.  The  father  was 
born  three  miles  out  of  Christiania,  Norway,  in 
1846,  and  was  a young  man  of  twenty-three  years 
at  the  time  of  his  emigration  to  the  United  States. 
He  took  up  his  residence  in  Wisconsin  in  1869, 
and  was  there  married  to  Maria  Jacobson,  who  was 
also  born  in  Norway,  and  who  came  as  a young 
woman  to  America  on  the  same  vessel  that  brought 
her  husband.  After  a residence  of  two  years  in 
Wisconsin  the  parents  moved  to  Kossuth  County, 
Iowa,  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Seneca  Township, 
where  they  carried  on  agricultural  operations  until 
1911,  at  which  time  they  retired  from  active  labor. 
They  are  now  living  in  their  comfortable  home  at 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1641 


Ringsted,  Emmet  County,  Iowa.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  P.  W.  and  Maria  Jensen,  namely:  John  C., 

of  this  review;  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Ed 
Helgason,  a farmer  and  elevator  owner  at  Arm- 
strong, Iowa;  Louise,  who  became  the  wife  of  Jens 
Peterson,  a blacksmith  of  Ringsted,  Iowa ; J.  M., 
who  is  engaged  as  a successful  merchant  at  Ringsted; 
Otto,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Seneca  Township,  Kossuth  County,  Iowa;  Henrietta, 
who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years ; 
Fred,  who  is  a farmer  and  resides  in  Seneca  Town- 
ship ; Edward,  who  is  cultivating  the  old  homestead 
place  in  Seneca  Township ; and  Martha,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Peter  Jensen,  a farmer  of  Seneca  Town- 
ship. The  children  were  all  given  good  trainings 
by  their  parents,  and  well  fitted  to  fill  the  honorable 
and  useful  positions  in  life  to  which  they  have  been 
called. 

The  early  education  of  John  C.  Jensen  was  secured 
in  the  district  schools  of  Seneca  Township,  and 
during  his  vacation  periods  was  given  his  intro- 
duction to  business  affairs  on  his  father’s  farm.  He 
furthered  his  training  by  a course  in  the  Algona 
Business  College,  Algona,  Iowa,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1893,  and  then  entered  upon  his  career 
by  securing  employment  in  a lumber  yard  at  Sioux 
Falls,  South  Dakota,  where  he  remained  until  1897. 
In  that  year  Mr.  Jensen  returned  to  his  native 
township  and  opened  a store,  being  successfully 
engaged  in  business  there  until  1901,  when  he  recog- 
nized and  accepted  an  excellent  opportunity  to  enter 
the  banking  business  at  Odin,  Watonwan  County, 
Minnesota.  Mr.  Jensen’s  experience  as  a banker 
continued  for  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  came 
into  close  contact  with  the  leading  farmers,  business 
men  and  bankers  of  this  section,  who  recognized  and 
appreciated  his  ability,  his  trustworthiness  and  his 
fidelity  to  engagements,  so  that,  in  the  fall  of  1910, 
when  he  became  the  republican  candidate  for  county 
auditor  of  Watonwan  County,  he  was  given  their 
combined  support  and  secured  the  election.  He 
assumed  the  duties  of  his  office  in  January,  1911, 
and  his  first  term  was  so  eminently  satisfactory 
to  the  people  that  in  the  elections  of  1914  he  was 
re-elected  to  succeed  himself,  without  opposition.  On 
first  taking  up  his  official  duties,  Mr.  Jensen  moved 
to  St.  James,  the  county  seat,  where  he  has  since 
resided  and  where  his  offices  are  located  in  the 
courthouse.  During  the  entire  time  of  his  residence 
at  Odin,  Mr.  Jensen  served  in  the  capacity  of  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  and  in  each  of  his  offices 
he  has  evinced  a worthy  and  earnest  desire  to  serve 
the  people  to  the  extent  of  his  ability.  He  still 
maintains  interest  in  business  matters,  and  is  vice 
president  of  the  Odin  State  Bank.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  St.  James  Lodge  No.  207,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  the  St.  James  Lodge 
of  the  Rebekahs,  St.  James  Lodge  No.  58,  and  the 
Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  Bradford  Lodge 
No.  361,  of  which  he  is  president.  With  his  family 
he  is  a member  and  consistent  attendant  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  Church,  and  has  been  liberal  in 
his  support  of  its  various  enterprises  and  move- 
ments. 

Mr.  Jensen  was  married  at  Brookings,  Brookings 
County,  South  Dakota,  in  1897,  to  Miss  Emma  Sin- 
jem,  daughter  of  the  late  B.  Sinjem,  formerly  a 
farmer  of  Brookings  County.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  this  union : Miss  Myrtle,  who  is  at- 

tending the  high  school  at  St.  James;  and  Prescott 
and  Norvil,  who  are  students  in  the  graded  schools. 


Knute  Sevrin  Thompson.  Now  serving  as  clerk 
of  the  District  Court  of  St.  James,  Knute  S.  Thomp- 
son is  a Watonwan  County  citizen  who  has  always 
shown  a capacity  for  service  and  efficiency,  whether 
as  a farmer  or  in  public  office,  and  is  one  of  the 
best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed  men  in  that 
section  of  the  state. 

A native  of  Norway,  he  was  born  at  Kragro,  May 
19,  1865,  a son  of  Jens  Thompson,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  locality  in  1829,  and  who  died  in  August, 
1908,  in  the  Town  of  Rosendale,  Watonwan  County, 
Minnesota.  Jens  Thompson  brought  his  family  to 
America  in  1868,  landing  at  Quebec,  Canada,  and 
shortly  afterward  coming  to  Minnesota  and  taking 
up  a homestead  in  the  Town  of  Rosendale.  He  was 
a farmer  who  developed  his  land  from  wilderness 
conditions,  and  lived  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  material 
prosperity  and  the  esteem  of  his  community.  He 
married  Sevrine  Swenson,  who  was  born  at  Kragro 
and  died  at  Rosendale  in  February,  1900.  Brief 
mention  of  their  children  is  as  follows : Marie  is 

the  wife  of  Henry  Madson,  a farmer  in  Watonwan 
County ; Thomas  J.,  lives  on  a farm  at  Mobridge, 
South  Dakota;  Eliza  is  the  widow  of  Andrew 
Graven,  who  was  a painter  and  decorator,  and  she 
now  lives  in  Minneapolis ; Louisa  A.  is  the  wife  of 
John  A.  Johnson,  a real  estate  man  at  Windom, 
Minnesota;  Henry  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen;  and 
J.  Caroline  is  in  Windom,  Minnesota. 

Knute  S.  Thompson  has  lived  in  Minnesota  since 
early  childhood,  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  in  the  Town  of  Rosendale  in  Watonwan 
County,  and  also  took  a course  in  a business  college 
at  Mankato.  On  reaching  mature  years  he  engaged 
in  business  as  a farmer  in  Watonwan  County,  and 
prospered  along  those  lines  and  still  has  extensive 
interests  in  the  agricultural  districts  of  this  section. 
In  1909  Mr.  Thompson  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
District  Court,  and  has  since  lived  in  St.  James. 
His  term  expires  in  1916.  Other  service  by  which 
he  has  identified  himself  with  the  community  and 
gained  a record  of  admirable  efficiency  in  positions 
of  trust  has  been  as  town  tlerk,  assessor,  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  as  a member  of  the  school  board  in 
the  Town  of  Rosendale.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  a member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  Church.  He  is  noble  grand  in  the  St. 
James  Lodge  of  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  affiliates  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  M.  B.  A.  On  May  3,  1898,  at  Canton,  South 
Dakota,  he  married  Miss  Christina  Thompson,  a 
distant  relative.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage  she 
was  serving  as  a nurse  at  St.  Peter,  Minnesota.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  three  children : Henry  J. 
and  Irven  S.,  both  in  the  public  schools  of  St. 
James;  and  Lenora  Marie. 

Edward  C.  Farmer  is  one  of  the  successful  law- 
yers at  St.  James,  and  a partner  in  practice  with  W. 
S.  Hammond,  who  was  elected  governor  of  the  state 
in  1914.  Since  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1897  Mr. 
Farmer  has  had  a steadily  growing  and  successful 
practice  as  a lawyer,  and  at  the  same  time  has  ac- 
quired some  important  business  interests  in  Waton- 
wan County. 

Edward  C.  Farmer  was  born  at  Savage  in  Scott 
County,  Minnesota,  September  19,  1876.  His  father, 
Hugh  Farmer,  who  was  of  Irish  descent,  was  born 
in  Canada  in  1847,  and  is  now  living  at  Madelia,  in 
Watonwan  County.  After  his  marriage  he  moved 


1642 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


to  the  United  States,  located  near  Shakopee, 
Minnesota,  and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  at 
Madelia  in  1878.  For  many  years  his  work  was  as 
section  foreman  on  the  railroad,  but  he  has  lived 
retired  since  igoo.  Hugh  Farmer  married  Margaret 
Grady,  a native  of  Elgin,  Illinois.  Their  children 
are:  Edward  C. ; Florence,  wife  of  John  Tigh,  a 
farmer  near  Madelia;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Alfred  E. 
LeBlanc,  station  agent  at  Wahkon,  Minnesota. 

Edward  C.  Farmer  grew  up  at  Madelia,  attended 
the  grammar  and  high  schools  there,  and  began 
preparation  for  law  in  the  same  town.  He  received 
his  higher  education  in  Lincoln  University  one  year, 
and  in  1897  graduated  LL.  B.  from  the  University  of 
Minnesota  Law  School.  His  old  home  town  of 
Madelia  was  the  scene  of  his  early  career  as  a 
lawyer,  and  he  remained  there  until  1911  and  has 
since  been  located  at  St.  James.  As  a partner  of 
Mr.  Hammond  he  has  offices  in  the  Peck  Building, 
and  they  have  a splendid  general  practice  both  in 
civil  and  criminal  cases.  Mr.  Farmer  is  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  C.  E.  Brown  Land  Company  of  Madelia, 
and  is  a stockholder  in  the  State  Bank  of  Madelia, 
the  St.  James  Telephone  Company,  the  Madelia 
Telephone  Company  and  the  Twin  City  Fire  Com- 
pany. 

Politically  he  is  classified  as  an  independent 
republican.  For  four  years  he  held  the  office  of 
county  attorney  of  Watonwan  County,  and  made  a 
creditable  record  in  that  position.  Mr.  Farmer  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  is  affiliated  with 
Mankato  Lodge  No.  225  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  In  1907  at  Denver, 
Colorado,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Price.  Her 
father,  John  Price,  is  now  a retired  farmer  at  Lime 
Springs,  Iowa. 

Edson  A.  Gibbs.  The  founder  of  what  is  now  the 
leading  hotel  of  the  city,  the  chief  business  interests 
of  Edson  A.  Gibbs  for  nearly  twenty  years  have 
been  in  the  line  of  real  estate,  and  his  clientage  in 
both  city  and  farm  property  is  now  one  of  the  most 
profitable,  enjoyed  by*  any  of  his  competitors  in 
Watonwan  County. 

Mr.  Gibbs  is  a native  Vermonter,  and  comes  of 
substantial  old  English  and  Colonial  American  stock. 
The  first  Americans  of  the  name  left  England  and 
of  three  brothers  one  settled  in  Massachusetts,  one 
in  New  York  and  one  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
descendants  of  the  Massachusetts  colonists  finally 
moved  to  Vermont,  and  established  the  family  of 
which  Edson  A.  is  a representative.  Edson  A.  Gibbs 
was  born  at  Woodstock,  Vermont,  November  4,  1855. 
His  father,  Seth  W.  Gibbs,  was  born  at  Bridge- 
water,  Vermont,  in  1816  and  died  at  Norwich  in  the 
same  state  August  5,  1865.  For  the  greater  part  of 
his  active  career  he  was  proprietor  of  a hotel,  and 
that  business  has  been  followed  by  his  son  so  that 
it  is  almost  a family  profession.  Seth  W.  Gibbs 
married  Levina  W.  Holland,  who  was  born  in  Pitts- 
field, Vermont,  in  1824  and  died  in  St.  James, 
Minnesota,  January  19,  1890.  Of  their  children  the 
oldest,  William  W.,  died  at  Los  Angeles,  California, 
September  25,  1914.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
citizens  of  St.  James,  Minnesota,  having  located  in 
the  village  in  1876.  His  business  was  as  hotel 
proprietor,  and  he  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
men  in  Watonwan  County,  and  his  estate  now  com- 
prises more  than  a thousand  acres  of  land  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  James.  The  son,  Myron  D.,  who 
died  at  Tracy,  Minnesota,  in  1908,  was  also  a hotel 


man  and  in  business  at  Tracy  for  a number  of 
years. 

Edson  A.  Gibbs  grew  up  at  Woodstock,  attended 
the  public  schools  there,  and  finished  his  education 
by  graduation  from  the  Norwich  Classical  and 
English  Boarding  School  at  Norwich  with  the  class 
of  1874.  His  first  regular  employment  was  as  a 
telegraph  operator  at  Bradford,  Vermont,  and 
afterwards  he  was  stationed  at  the  White  River 
Junction  in  Vermont  until  1876.  Moving  to  Wal- 
tham, Massachusetts,  he  had  charge  of  the  retail 
jewelry  store  of  George  H.  Whitford  from  1876 
until  1883.  Going  to  the  extreme  West,  Mr.  Gibbs 
was  proprietor  of  a hotel  in  Marysville,  California, 
until  1885,  and  then  came  to  Minnesota  and  was  in 
the  gas  and  electric  fixture  business  at  Minneapolis 
until  1890. 

His  activities  have  identified  him  with  St.  James 
since  1890,  and  on  moving  to  this  city  he  opened 
the  Hotel  Gibbs,  which  now  under  the  name  of 
Boston  is  still  the  leading  hotel  of  the  town.  In 
1895  Mr.  Gibbs  retired  from  the  active  management 
of  the  hotel  to  enter  the  real  estate  business,  and 
has  since  been  one  of  the  extensive  dealers  in  farm 
lands  and  city  property.  His  offices  are  in  the  Olson 
Block. 

His  service  as  a mayor  was  for  two  terms,  and 
for  a number  of  years  he  was  a member  of  the 
school  board.  Mr.  Gibbs  is  a republican,  is  a past 
master  of  service  of  Libanus  Lodge  No.  96,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ; is  past  high  priest  of  Concordia  Chapter  No. 
25,  R.  A.  M. ; and  is  a member  of  Mankato  Com- 
mandery  No.  4,  K.  T. ; Order  of  the  Eastern  Star; 
St.  James  Lodge  No.  207,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; and  was  the 
first  chancellor  commander  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  of  St.  James. 

Mr.  Gibbs  was  married  December  4,  1878,  in  Brad- 
ford, Vermont,  to  Miss  Kate  S.  Stevens.  Her 
father,  Harry  B.  Stevens,  died  in  1911  at  the  vener- 
able age  of  ninety-three,  was  a distinguished  charac- 
ter in  Vermont,  and  for  more  than  forty  years  had 
conducted  the  White  Mountain  Stage  Line.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gibbs  have  one  son,  Harry  W.,  who  is  now 
serving  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Watonwan  County. 

Maj.  R.  R.  Henderson.  The  following  is  the 
record  of  a gallant  soldier  in  the  great  struggle 
which  preserved  the  Union,  of  a thorough  and  suc- 
cessful business  man,  and  of  a steadfast  and  useful 
citizen,  who  during  his  thirty  odd  years  of  residence 
at  Minneapolis  has  been  again  and  again  honored 
with  those  distinctions  which  are  most  prized  in  any 
community  or  state.  Major  Henderson  retired  from 
active  business  life  many  years  ago,  and  his  time 
has  since  been  chiefly  devoted  to  civic  affairs  and 
the  interests  of  the  old  soldiers  in  Minnesota.  In 
December,  1912,  Major  Henderson  was  appointed 
adjutant  of  the  Minnesota  Soldiers’  Home  at  Minne- 
haha Falls,  and  is  now  giving  that  institution  the 
benefit  of  his  long  and  varied  experience  and  ability 
in  affairs.  As  will  be  shown  in  later  paragraphs, 
he  deserves  the  chief  credit  for  the  location  of  the 
institution  at  Minnehaha. 

The  active  military  career  of  Major  Henderson 
came  very  early  in  his  young  manhood  and  he  left 
the  army  a youthful  major,  having,  won  his  promo- 
tion by  successive  steps  from  the  ranks.  Even 
before  the  outbreak  of  the  war  his  experience  was 
much  more  varied  than  that  of  the  average  youth  of 
his  time  and  had  taken  him  to  many  parts  of  .the 
country.  Born  in  the  City  of  Washington,  Wash- 


0 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1643 


ington  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  April  24,  1837,  he 
grew  up  in  Southwestern  Pennsylvania  and  for  a 
time  was  a student  at  the  fine  old  college  in  his 
native  town.  A boy  of  nineteen,  in  1857,  he  removed 
to  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  the  two  following  years  were 
spent  in  railroad  service.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he 
accompanied  a small  party  of  prospectors  who  went 
across  the  plains  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  the  Pike’s  Peak  region  several 
years  before  had  attracted  a vast  throng  of  eager 
fortune  hunters,  and  life  in  the  western  mining 
camps  in  those  days  was  one  of  stirring  incident 
and  adventure,  while  a journey  across  the  west 
intervening  and  desolate  region  between  the  Mis- 
souri River  and  the  mountains  was  fraught  with 
hardship,  privation  and  danger.  The  party  of  four 
of  which  Major  Henderson  was  a member  left 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  on  April  4,  1859,  driving  three 
yoke  of  cattle  to  a wagon,  and  it  was  fifty-four  days 
before  they  arrived  in  the  new  Town  of  Denver. 
The  following  year  was  spent  by  young  Henderson 
in  the  West,  as  a prospector  and  miner,  and  then 
with  his  zest  for  adventure  somewhat  satisfied  he 
returned  to  the  quiet  routine  of  affairs  in  the  State 
of  Ohio.  He  became  a bookkeeper  for  W.  W. 
Woods,  a grain  dealer  at  Marysville,  and  was  there 
at  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion. 

Only  a few  days  after  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon, 
on  April  17,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Com- 
pany F of  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  Infantry.  His  service 
with  that  regiment  continued  until  and  through  the 
battle  of  Shiloh  on  April  7,  1862.  Going  out  as  a 
private,  his  service  was  so  faithful  and  efficient  that 
he  was  promoted  first  to  sergeant-major,  then  to 
first  lieutenant  and  to  adjutant.  He  was  captain  of 
Company  I of  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  Infantry  in  the 
battle  of  Shiloh.  His  regiment  was  a portion  of 
the  forces  under  General  Buell  who  arrived  from 
Nashville  in  time  to  help  Grant  fight  the  second  day 
of  that  critical  battle.  On  that  day,  while  charging 
the  famous  Washington  Battery  of  New  Orleans, 
Major  Henderson  was  stricken  down,  badly 
wounded,  and  spent  several  months,  attended  with 
much  suffering,  first  in  the  hospital  at  Mound  City 
and  afterwards  at  home.  For  his  gallant  conduct 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  major  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first 
Regiment  of  Ohio  Infantry,  on  September  10,  1862. 
Upon  returning  to  the  field  Major  Henderson  con- 
tinued in  active  service  as  a soldier  of  the  Union 
army  until  he  had  nearly  completed  his  term,  and 
was  obliged  on  account  of  wounds  to  resign.  For 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war  he 
was  brevetted  lieutenant-colonel  and  colonel. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  having  returned  to  Marys- 
ville, he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Whelply  & Henderson.  From 
Marysville  in  1868  he  transferred  his  business  con- 
nections to  Delaware,  and  there  set  up  a merchant 
tailoring  and  men’s  furnishing  goods  store.  Dela- 
ware continued  to  be  his  home  until  1881.  In  that 
year  Major  Henderson  became  a resident  of  Minne- 
apolis. He  bought  the  interest  of  C.  A.  Fuller,  in 
the  old  firm  of  Fuller  & Simpson,  which  then  became 
Simpson  & Henderson.  Most  of  the  older  residents 
of  Minneapolis  remember  the  fine  store  for  men’s 
furnishing  goods  conducted  by  this  firm  and  they 
also  operated  a laundry.  On  August  4,  1890,  Major 
Henderson  bought  out  his  partner  in  the  retail  store 
and  continued  business  under  his  own  name  until 


1891.  The  laundry  business  was  finally  incorporated, 
and  Major  Henderson  was  president  of  the  company 
until  the  year  1893.  Among  Minneapolis  merchants 
Major  Henderson  stood  in  the  front  rank,  and  his 
store  was  noted  for  its  large  and  excellent  stock. 
It  had  a splendid  trade  among  the  best  classes. 

It  was  only  natural  that  his  record  as  an  army 
officer  and  an  efficient  business  man  should  give  him 
prominence  as  a citizen  in  any  locality  which  became 
his  home.  Hence,  during  the  greater  portion  of  his 
career  since  the  war  Major  Henderson  has  served 
in  some  official  position  of  trust.  . During  his  resi- 
dence at  Delaware,  Ohio,  he  was  for  six  years  a 
trustee  of  the  Girls’  Industrial  Home.  His  first 
appointment  came  from  the  democratic  governor, 
R.  M.  Bishop,  and  was  afterwards  re-appointed  by 
Gov.  C.  A.  Foster,  a republican. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Minnesota 
Soldiers’  Home,  in  the  spring  of  1887,  Major  Hen- 
derson was  appointed  by  Gov.  A.  R.  McGill,  one 
of  the  board  of  seven  trustees.  The  first  duty  of 
the  board  was  to  select  a site  for  the  prooosed 
institution,  which  had  just  been  authorized  by  the 
State  Legislature.  Eligible  locations  were- abundant 
and  the  towns  of  the  state  were  overflowing  with 
public  spirit.  Twelve  or  fifteen  cities  made  formal 
offers  of  tracts  of  land  free  of  expense  to  the  state, 
on  which  to  build  the  home,  and  all  strove  for  the 
honor  and  prestige  of  securing  the  institution  on 
which,  it  could  be  foreseen,  the  state  would  be  lavish 
in  its  generosity.  The  trustees  conscientiously 
visited  all  these  cities,  listened  to  their  proposals  and 
arguments  and  inspected  the  tracts  offered.  The 
City  of  Minneapolis  offered  the  fifty-one  acres  at 
Minnehaha,  afterwards  selected,  for  which  $55,000 
was  paid.  Major  Henderson  strongly  and  constantly 
urged  the  acceptance  of  this  offer  and  was  tireless 
in  his  efforts  to  convince  his  colleagues  in  the  board 
of  the  superiority  of  that  site.  The  board,  however, 
was  divided  in  opinion  and  many  ballots  were  taken 
before  a majority  could  be  secured  for  any  locality. 
Finally,  on  the  107th  ballot,  on  every  one  of  which 
Major  Henderson  voted  for  Minnehaha,  that  site 
received  the  necessary  four  votes  and  was  chosen. 
The  home  was  built  there,  as  described  in  a chapter 
of  this  book.  Thus  the  great  prize  was  secured  to 
his  city,  and  so  manifest  were  the  intrinsic  merits 
of  the  beautiful  location  that  not  a serious  criticism 
has  ever  been  made  of  the  wise  selection  by  the 
board,  even  by  the  most  zealous  of  the  rival 
aspirants.  Few  who  see  the  magnificent  home  which 
has  grown  up  there  now  question  the  wisdom  of  the 
choice,  and  all  who  are  advised  of  the  facts  award 
to  Major  Henderson  the  principal  credit  for  the 
admirable  selection. 

Major  Henderson  served  six  years  as  a trustee 
without  compensation.  These  were  the  formative 
years  of  the  institution,  when  it  had  to  be  organized 
from  the  foundation ; officers  chosen ; buildings 
erected;  discipline  maintained  and  large  sums  from 
the  outside  relief  fund  disbursed.  In  all  this  work 
Major  Henderson,  as  the  resident  trustee  in  Minne- 
apolis, had  an  extra  share  and  a special  responsibility. 
He  gave  unremitting  devotion  to  his  varied  duties, 
with  a zeal  that  commanded  the  admiration  of  his 
fellow  trustees — one  of  whom  writes  these  lines,  as 
a feeble  tribute  to  his  great  services  to  the  veterans 
and  to  the  people  of  the  state. 

When  the  time  came,  nearly  twenty  years  after  his 
retirement  from  the  board,  that  his  valuable  services 
as  an  officer  of  the  home  could  be  secured,  it  was 


1644 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


graceful  recognition  of  his  past  voluntary  work  for 
the  institution,  as  well  as  a knowledge  of  his 
efficiency,  that  prompted  his  appointment  to  the  place 
he  now  fills. 

For  a number  of  years  Major  Henderson  has  been 
active  in  Grand  Army  circles,  and  has  at  different 
times  been  honored  with  high  offices  in  that  great 
organization,  among  them  that  of  chief  of  staff  to 
the  national  commander-in-chief.  Major  Henderson 
is  an  active  and  popular  member  of  the  Commandery 
of  the  State  of  Minnesota,  Military  Order  of  the 
Loyal  Legion,  in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of 
commander.  In  1884  Major  Henderson  organized 
John  A.  Rawlins  Post  No.  126,  Department  of 
Minnesota  G.  A.  R.  He  was  its  first  commander 
and  for  more  than  thirty  years  has  been  one  of  its 
most  useful  and  honored  members.  He  admired  a 
true  soldier  loyal  to  the  cause  he  believed  to  be 
right.  Through  his  efforts  a library  was  established 
at  Cardinal,  Mathews  County,  Virginia,  as  an  ex- 
pression of  his  fraternal  feelings  for  the  ex-Con- 
federate  soldier. 

It  was  not  only  a compliment  to  a distinguished 
soldier  and  successful  business  man,  but  also  the 
good  fortune  of  the  city  which  claimed  his  residence, 
when  on  January  5,  1891,  Major  Henderson  accepted 
the  post  of  chief  of  police  of  Minneapolis.  This 
appointment  was  tendered  by  the  late  P.  B.  Winston, 
a prominent  Minneapolis  citizen  whose  career  is 
sketched  elsewhere.  Major  Henderson’s  experience 
in  military  discipline  and  his  skill  as  an  organizer 
and  his  unquestioned  integrity  fitted  him  for  the 
responsible  position,  which  he  held  during  P.  B. 
Winston’s  administration  as  mayor. 

William  J.  Julius.  With  the  expiration  of  his 
present  four-year  term  of  office,  in  1918,  William 
J.  Julius  will  have  completed  a service  of  sixteen 
years  in  the  capacity  of  sheriff  of  Brown  County. 
He  was  first  sent  to  this  office  in  1902  and  so  faithful 
has  been  his  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  shrievalty 
that  at  each  succeeding  election  he  has  secured  a 
majority  of  the  people’s  votes,  and  has  continued 
to  vindicate  their  faith  in  his  ability  and  fidelity. 
Mr.  Julius  has  a wide  acquaintance  throughout  this 
part  of  the  state,  and  particularly  in  journalistic 
circles,  for  during  a long  period  of  years  he  was 
connected  with  newspapers  in  various  localities,  but 
always  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  his  birth.  Sheriff 
Julius  was  born  at  Milford,  one-half  mile  from  New 
Ulm,  Brown  County,  Minnesota,  May  15,  1869,  and 
is  a son  of  Fred  and  Mary  (Kalb)  Julius. 

Fred  Julius  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1841,  and 
was  a lad  of  fifteen  years  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States  to  seek  his  fortunes,  settling  among 
the  pioneers  of  Brown  County,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  for  a number  of  years.  He  was 
residing  there  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  outbreak 
and  took  an  active  part  in  that  trouble,  being 
stationed  at  Fort  Ridgely.  In  1870  Mr.  Julius 
removed  to  New  Ulm  and  engaged  in  merchandising, 
being  thus  successfully  occupied  until  his  death,  in 
1880.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Kalb,  who  was  born 
in  1841,  in  Ohio,  of  German  descent,  and  who  still 
survives  him  and  makes  her  residence  at  New  Ulm. 
Four  children  were  born  to  them,  namely : William 
J.,  of  this  review ; Bertha,  who  married  Henry 
Vedder,  proprietor  of  a barber  shop  at  New  Ulm; 
Mary,  of  New  Ulm,  the  widow  of  Charles  Roeder, 
who  was  employed  by  the  Schell  Brewing  Company; 


and  Rosa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Emil  Hoffman,  the 
proprietor  of  a hotel  business  at  Maquoketa,  Iowa. 

William  J.  Julius  was  given  ordinary  educational 
advantages  at  New  Ulm,  but  at  an  early  age  laid 
aside  his  school  books  and  became  self-supporting, 
learning  the  trade  of  printer  in  the  office  of  the 
New  Ulm  Post  and  the  New  Ulm  Review,  continuing 
with  one  or  the  other  of  these  newspapers  con- 
tinuously until  1887.  In  that  year  he  went  to 
Minneapolis,  and  for  one  year  was  identified  with 
the  Minneapolis  Free  Press-Herald,  the  following 
winter  being  passed  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  Returning 
to  New  Ulm,  in  1888,  he  assisted  in  the  founding 
of  a newspaper  at  Springfield,  Minnesota,  known  as 
The  Springfield  Adler,  but  remained  with  that  sheet 
only  eight  months,  then  again  coming  to  New  Ulm. 
Here  he  adopted  the  vocation  of  painting,  in  which 
he  was  occupied  until  1892,  when  he  again  turned 
his  attention  to  journalistic  labors,  assisting  in 
starting  the  New  Ulm  Volksblatt,  a paper  with 
which  he  was  connected  for  two  years,  during  which 
time  he  also  helped  to  organize  the  New  Ulm 
Fortschritt. 

In  1897  Mr.  Julius  began  his  official  services  when 
he  was  appointed  night  policeman  of  the  City  of 
New  Ulm,  a position  which  he  held  for  five  years. 
Previous  to  this  time  he  had  had  some  experience 
in  the  capacity  of  constable,  and  his  excellent 
services  in  both  these  offices  commended  him  to  the 
people,  so  that  when,  in  January,  1902,  he  became 
the  candidate  of  the  republican  party  for  the 
shrievalty,  he  secured  the  election  at  the  hands  of  his 
fellow-citizens  of  Brown  County.  Sheriff  Julius  has 
established  an  excellent  record  for  duty  well  and 
courageously  performed.  He  has  been  prompt  in 
the  serving  and  return  of  all  writs,  warrants,  pro- 
cesses, orders  and  decrees ; has  been  an  able  con- 
servator of  peace  in  his  county,  has  been  effective 
in  the  suppression  of  crime  and  the  bringing  of 
criminals  to  the  bar  of  justice,  and  faithful  in  attend- 
ing the  courts  of  record  and  obeying  their  orders. 
Sheriff  Julius  is  a member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  is  an  enthusiastic  and  valued  member  of 
the  Commercial  Club  of  New  Ulm,  and  fraternizes 
with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  St.  Joseph’s  U.  V. 
of  Minnesota,  and  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters. 

Mr.  Julius  was  married  November  23,  1891,  at 
New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Charlotte  May  Blass, 
daughter  of  the  late  William  Blass,  who  until  his 
retirement  to  New  Ulm  was  a well  known  farmer  of 
Nicollet  County.  Five  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union,  as  follows : Hildegaard,  a graduate  of 
New  Ulm  High  School,  who  also  took  a course  of 
one  year  at  the  Mankato  Normal  School,  is  a teacher 
in  the  public  schools,  single,  and  resides  with  her 
parents;  Louisa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Herman  Janke, 
of  New  Ulm,  now  acting  as  deputy  sheriff;  and 
Florence,  William  and  Walter,  who  are  all  attending 
the  public  schools  of  New  Ulm. 

Enoch  Germaine  Larson.  One  of  the  ambitious 
younger  members  of  the  Minneapolis  bar,  Mr.  Larson 
entered  the  profession  with  exceptional  natural 
qualifications  and  training,  and  few  men  in  so  short 
a time  have  given  so  excellent  an  account  of  them- 
selves in  their  chosen  field  of  work.  Mr.  Larson’s 
offices  are  in  the  First  National-Soo  Line  Building 
at  Minneapolis. 

Enoch  Germaine  Larson  was  born  in  Dunn 
County,  Wisconsin,  July  27,  1888,  a son  of  Erik  -S. 
and  Eliza  (Hegge)  Larson,  both  natives  of  Norway. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1645 


Erik  S.  Larson  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  land  and  about  i860  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  finding  a home  in  Wisconsin.  His  loyalty 
to  the  land  of  his  adoption  was  manifested  by  his 
enlistment  in  a Wisconsin  regiment  of  volunteers 
during  the  Civil  war,  though  he  was  never  called 
to  the  front.  His  wife  came  with  her  parents  to 
Wisconsin  when  she  was  a girl,  settling  at  LaCrosse, 
where  her  father  was  one  of  the  Norwegian 
pioneers.  Erik  S.  Larson  became  a successful 
farmer  in  Dunn  County,  and  finally  transferred  his 
home  to  North  Dakota,  where  he  was  an  early 
settler  and  developed  a large  landed  estate.  He 
now  owns  an  entire  section  in  Williams  County,  and 
is  living  retired  at  the  county  seat,  Williston.  In 
Dunn  County,  Wisconsin,  he  owns  300  acres  of 
land,  the  greater  part  of  which  had  been  developed 
and  improved  by  his  own  hands  or  under  his  direct 
management.  In  Dunn  County  he  served  a long 
term  of  years  as  postmaster  in  the  little  village  of 
Fosbroke,  and  has  likewise  been  prominent  and 
influential  in  Williams  County,  North  Dakota.  He 
and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  nine 
daughters,  all  of  them  living  with  the  exception  of 
Mrs.  Julia  Hoigaard,  who  died  in  Africa  in  the 
year  1900,  Mi  11a  Larson,  who  died  in  1902  in  Mada- 
gascar, and  G.  Adolph,  who  died  in  the  fall  of  1914 
in  Minneapolis,  and  all  the  sons  are  residents  of 
North  Dakota  with  the  exception  of  the  Minneapolis 
lawyer  above  named.  In  order  of  birth  they  are : 
Mrs.  E.  P.  Harbo,  wife  of  Professor  Harbo,  a 
Minneapolis  educator;  Mrs.  O.  B.  Sanders,  who  lives 
in  Canada;  Edwin  E.,  of  Wild  Rose,  North  Dakota; 
Emma,  Sister  Superior  of  the  leading  hospital  at 
Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota;  Mrs.  C.  G.  Jorgenson, 
wife  of  Rev.  C.  G.  Jorgenson,  of  Ashland,  Wis- 
consin; Mrs.  O.  L.  Christensen,  wife  of  Rev.  O.  L. 
Christensen,  of  Hendricks,  Minnesota;  L.  Herman, 
of  Marmon,  North  Dakota;  William  Alfred,  a com- 
mercial traveler  with  headquarters  in  Minneapolis; 
E.  Germaine;  Edna,  a trained  nurse  in  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  Hospital  at  Grand  Forks,  North 
Dakota;  and  Hilda,  who  graduated  from  the 
LaCrosse  High  School  in  1914  and  is  now  a student 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota.  All  the  children 
were  born  in  Dunn  County,  Wisconsin. 

E.  Germaine  Larson  as  a boy  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  county,  spent  one  year  in  the 
North  Side  High  School  at  Minneapolis  and  for  six 
years  was  a student  in  the  excellent^  Minneapolis 
institution  maintained  by  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church,  the  Augsburg  Seminary,  where  he  was 
graduated  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1910.  In  the  mean- 
time he  had  made  definite  choice  of  the  law  as  a 
profession,  and  was  a student  in  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota  until  graduating 
LL.  B.  in  1913.  Mr.  Larson  began  practice  at  Minne- 
apolis in  July,  1913,  and  his  energy  and  ability  made 
his  novitiate  one  of  brief  duration.  He  has  built  up 
a general  practice  and  gives  considerable  attention 
to  the  handling  of  Minneapolis  real  estate.  He  is 
legal  representative  for  the  M.  Rumley  Company, 
manufacturers  of  traction  engines  and  other  agricul- 
tural machinery,  and  spent  the  fall  of  1913  traveling 
in  North  and  South  Dakota,  Iowa,  and  Wisconsin 
in  the  interests  of  that  company. 

Mr.  Larson  for  several  years  has  made  himself  a 
factor  in  politics,  and  is  a progressive  republican. 
He  was  a candidate  on  the  non-partisan  ticket  for 
Alderman  of  the  Sixth  Ward  in  1914  but  was 
defeated  by  the  combined  opposition  of  the  socialist 


and  liquor  votes.  He  has  been  particularly  success- 
ful as  a political  manager.  He  has  managed  several 
local  and  congressional  campaigns.  His  early 
interest  in  politics  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that 
before  he  reached  his  majority  he  traveled  from 
Wisconsin  to  attend  the  National  Republican  Con- 
vention at  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mr.  Larson  is  a man 
of  self  attainment.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  chose 
to  become  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  and 
from  his  own  earnings  paid  his  expenses  throughout 
his  college  career.  He  was  distinguished  at  Augs- 
burg Seminary  as  an  orator  and  debater,  and  repre- 
sented the  institution  in  the  oratorical  contest  held 
at  Holton,  Kansas,  and  had  previously  gained  two 
victories  as  representative  of  the  seminary  in  con- 
tests with  Red  Wing  College  at  Red  Wing,  Minne- 
sota. The  first  of  these  debates  was  on  the  tariff 
question  and  the  second  was  on  the  question  of 
compulsory  arbitration  of  industrial  disputes.  While 
a student  at  the  university  he  was  president  of  the 
LaFollette  Club,  organized  at  the  university  for  the 
purpose  of  furthering  the  nomination  of  Robert 
LaEollette  of  Wisconsin  as  republican  candidate  for 
president  in  1912. 

Mr.  Larson  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic 
and  Commerce  Association,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic 
Club,  and  the  South  Side  Commercial  Club,  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  the  Camels  of  the  World.  He  has 
served  as  a member  of  the  First  Regiment  of  the 
Minnesota  National  Guard. 

Hon.  William  Vinson  Sanford.  High  on  the 
roll  of  Mille  Lacs  County’s  bench  is  found  the  name 
of  Hon.  William  Vinson  Sanford,  who  for  the  past 
six  years  has  served  efficiently  and  impartially  in 
the  capacity  of  judge  of  probate.  Although  not  a 
lawyer  by  profession,  he  is  well  versed  in  law  and 
jurisprudence  and  possesses  the  judicial  mind  which 
is  so  important  an  asset  to  the  jurist.  That  his 
services  have  been  appreciated  by  the  people  of 
Mille  Lacs  County  has  been  demonstrated  by  his 
re-elections  to  office  and  by  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence in  which  he  is  universally  held. 

Judge  Sanford  was  born  at  Princeton,  Mille  Lacs 
County,  Minnesota,  January  28,  1867,  and  is  the  son 
of  Saul  S.  and  Rachel  (Burk)  Sanford.  He  is  the 
oldest  of  a family  of  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom 
are  now  living.  The  names  of  those  living  are  as 
follows  excepting  the  subject  of  this  writing:  Dillie 
(Sanford)  Tower,  Charles  B.  Sanford,  Henry  J. 
Sanford,  Leon  Sanford,  Ernest  N.  Sanford,  Elwood 
Sanford,  Noah  Sanford,  Enola  (Sanford)  Tower 
and  Gordon  Sanford.  The  family  has  been  repre- 
sented in  this  county  for  more  than  a half  a century, 
for  Judge  Sanford’s  father  came  to  Princeton  in 
1863,  where  he  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  where  he  still  remains  and  probably  will  to 
the  end  of  his  days.  He  is  now  seventy-three  years 
of  age.  His  worthy  companion  and  the  mother  of 
the  family  parted  with  this  life  some  seven  years 
ago,  and  was  of  the  same  age,  being  born  in  the 
same  year.  His  energy  and  enterprise  established 
a good  home  for  the  family,  and  while  he  took  no 
active  part  in  public  affairs  was  a good,  public 
spirited  citizen  who  could  be  at  all  times  depended 
upon  to  assist  civic  movements  in  his  community. 

The  public  schools  of  Princeton  furnished  William 
Vinson  Sanford  with  his  primary  educational  train- 
ing, and  after  completing  the  elementary  course  he 
prepared  himself  for  a career  as  a teacher.  Four 


1646 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


years  of  experience  as  teacher  in  country  schools 
followed,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  gave  up  the 
educator’s  vocation  to  become  clerk  and  bookkeeper 
for  a commercial  concern  at  Princeton.  Thus  he 
continued  to  be  engaged  for  another  four  years,  and 
thereafter  was  variously  employed  until  1908,  when 
he  announced  himself  as  a candidate  for  the  office 
of  judge  of  probate  of  Mille  Lacs  County,  to  which 
he  was  elected.  His  services  in  that  office  have  been 
of  a nature  to  insure  his  re-elections  and  he  is  justly 
accounted  one  of  his  county’s  most  popular  and 
impartial  jurists.  Prior  to  assuming  his  judicial 
duties,  Judge  Sanford  had  served  in  the  capacity  of 
supervisor  of  Princeton  Township,  but  when  elected 
judge  resigned  that  office.  In  political  matters  Judge 
Sanford  is  generally  a supporter  of  republican 
principles  and  candidates,  but  it  is  his  belief  that  a 
just  jurist  should  not  retain  partisan  views,  and  his 
leanings  are  decidedly  independent  in  character. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  local  lodge  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

October  18,  1894,  Judge  Sanford  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Myrtilla  A.  Northway  of  the 
Township  of  Milo,  County  of  Mille  Lacs  and  State 
of  Minnesota,  who  was  born  March  15,  1872.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Marshall  C.  and  Mary  (Bonney) 
Northway  and  is  the  oldest  of  a family  of  three 
children.  Her  father  and  mother  are  now  alive, 
the  one  being  seventy-eight  years  of  age  and  the 
other  sixty-five.  The  names  of  the  other  two  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  Maud  and  Charles.  Judge 
Sanford  has  a family  of  seven  children,  named  as 
follows : Lee  E.,  Clement  E.,  Roe  E.,  Wilford  A., 

Hollis  E.,  Mary  Enola,  and  Lysle  W.,  born  respec- 
tively on  the  following  dates : April  14,  1896,  May 

25,  1902,  October  13,  1903,  September  21,  1905,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1909,  June  16,  1911,  and  November  30, 
1913.  The  children  have  been  and  are  being  given 
good  educational  advantages  in  the  public  schools 
in  as  much  as  their  parents  are  warm  supporters 
and  friends  of  education.  The  family  is  connected 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Hon.  William  E.  Lee.  When,  in  1914,  the  anti- 
machine republicans  of  Minnesota,  in  their  search 
for  a candidate  for  gubernatorial  honors,  finally 
agreed  upon  the  Hon.  William  E.  Lee,  the  zenith  was 
reached  in  a career  that  in  achievements,  experiences 
and  rise  from  humble  station' and  poverty  to  state- 
wide prominence  and  financial  independence  has  been 
phenomenal.  Whether  one  considers  the  obstacles 
thrown  in  his  path  by  the  lack  of  educational  train- 
ing, the  early  necessity  of  his  becoming  self-support- 
ing, his  indomitable  courage  in  not  merely  accepting 
conditions  as  he  found  them,  but  improving  them 
and  making  them  subservient  to  his  wishes  and  con- 
tributory to  his  promotion,  or  his  final  attainment 
of  the  well-won  fruits  of  victory,  here  is  a man  of 
remarkable  personality,  of  remarkable  perseverance, 
of  remarkable  power — such  a man  as  could  only  be 
a product  of  American  soil,  with  such  a record  as 
could  only  have  been  achieved  in  this  land. 

The  birthplace  of  William  E.  Lee  was  the  little 
river  town  of  Alton,  Illinois,  and  his  natal  date 
January,  1852.  He  was  a lad  of  seven  years  when 
he  accompanied  his  father,  mother,  four  brothers  and 
four  sisters  to  Minnesota,  the  father,  a millwright, 
settling  near  Little  Falls.  There  the  lad  secured  his 
educational  training  in  the  little  village  school,  but 
when  between  the  ages  of  thirteen  and  fourteen 
years  laid  aside  his  books  to  take  his  place  among 


the  world’s  workers.  In  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Sam,  he  embarked  in  the  ferry  business, 
with  a little,  old-fashioned,  flat-bottomed  ferry  boat’ 
its  location  being  near  the  mouth  of  the  Swan  River’ 
on  the  swift-flowing  Mississippi.  The  boat  was 
built  by  the  two  boys  and  had  a capacity  for  two 
teams,  its  motive  power  being  the  current  of  the 
river,  a plan  often  employed  in  the  old  pioneer  days 
when  a cable  across  the  stream  did  not  interfere  with 
navigation.  Twenty-five  cents  per  team  and  ten 
cents  for  each  foot  passenger  was  charged,  and  the 
business  averaged  about  $40  monthly.  This  income, 
however,  did  not  satisfy  the  ambitions  of  William, 
who  one  year  later  sought  and  secured  a contract 
from  the  Government  to  carry  the  mail  afoot  to 
Long  Prairie,  a distance  of  thirty  miles,  the  round 
trip  being  made  once  a week  and  from  eleven  to 
twelve  hours  being  consumed  each  way  of  the 
journey. 

In  the  Minneapolis  Journal  of  April  2,  1914,  there 
appeared  an  article,  from  which  much  of  the  matter 
for  this  sketch  was  secured,  and  which  said  in 
writing  of  Mr.  Lee’s  life  at  this  time:  “It  is  not 

unlikely  the  journey  could  have  been  completed  in 
less  time,  but  midway  on  the  road,  tucked  away  on 
the  banks  of  a little  stream,  stood  a roughly-hewed 
log  schoolhouse.  Old-fashioned  hollyhocks  grew  in 
the  schoolyard  and  morning  glories  climbed  over  its 
door.  In  the  school,  attended  by  half  a score  of 
children,  who  for  the  most  part  trudged  a mile  or 
more  through  the  woods  to  be  taught  the  old- 
fashioned  three  R’s,  there  presided  a rosy-cheeked, 
bright-eyed  little  schoolma'am — Eva  Gibson  by  name. 
Here  it  was  the  youthful  mail  carrier  usually  ‘hap- 
pened’ along  about  noon  time.  While  the  children 
ate  their  lunches  and  romped  away  the  hours,  he 
chatted  with  the  little  teacher,  lagging  until  school 
‘took  up’  again.  Often  he  passed  and  as  often  he 
paused  ‘just  to  see  if  there  was  anything  she  wanted 
from  the  store.’  And  that  was  a long  time  ago,  and 
it  might  as  well  be  at  this  time  as  another,  to  say 
that  Mrs.  Eva  Gibson  Lee  lives  now  in  Long  Prairie, 
Minnesota,  and  her  husband,  also  at  this  time,  is  a 
candidate  for  governor.” 

Always  enterprising  and  progressive,  the  young 
man  never  allowed  an  opportunity  to  pass  which 
might  help  him  in  any  way.  He  learned  something 
about  carpentering  as  well  as  the  trade  of  millwright 
and  assisted  his  father  and  brothers  in  erecting  many 
of  the  early  mills  of  his  section,  another  of  the 
structures  in  the  erection  of  which  he  participated 
being  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  station  at  Brain- 
erd.  Later,  with  the  desire  to  see  something  of  the 
great  world  beyond  that  of  his  home  locality,  he 
journeyed  up  to  the  Elk  River  lumber  country  and 
there  secured  employment  as  a camp  cook.  The 
foreman  there  was  Lyman  W.  Ayer,  a university 
graduate,  and  after  the  supper  dishes  were  washed 
and  put  away,  Mr.  Lee  would  get  out  a well-thumbed 
geometry,  and  by  the  light  of  a pine-knot  fire, 
worked  out  the  intricacies  of  mathematics  on  the 
mess  table,  under  the  willing  tutelage  of  this  man 
of  “learning.”  It  may  be  interesting  to  note  that 
about  forty-three  years  later,  March  26,  1914,  Lyman 
W.  Ayer  came  to  Minneapolis  from  his  home  in 
Morrison  County  as  a delegate  to  the  anti-machine 
conference  which  selected  his  old  pupil.  William  E. 
Lee,  as  the  gubernatorial  candidate  for  the  primaries. 

Mr.  Lee  left  his  position  as  camp  cook  to  accept 
that  of  woodsman,  later  drove  logs  down  the  Sandy 
River,  and  finally  received  his  introduction  to  busi- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1647 


ness  life  as  clerk  in  a small  general  store  located 
at  Long  Prairie.  By  dint  of  tireless  energy,  constant 
industry  and  strict  economy,  he  managed  to  save 
enough  from  his  earnings  to  purchase  a small  stock 
of  goods  and  establish  himself  in  business  as  a 
merchant  at  Vurnhamville,  Todd  County,  and  shortly 
thereafter  was  elected  to  his  first  public  office,  that 
of  justice  of  the  peace.  At  this  time  Mr.  Lee 
founded  a home  of  his  own,  when  he  married  the 
little  teacher  acquaintance  of  his  youth,  and  for 
two  years  more  the  young  couple  resided  at  Vurn- 
hamville, which  struggling  hamlet  they  then  left 
for  the  larger  community  of  Long  Prairie,  where 
Mr.  Lee  became  the  owner  of  a much  more  preten- 
tious establishment.  That  he  impressed  himself 
favorably  upon  his  new  community  as  a man  of 
sterling  worth  and  ability  is  demonstrated  in  the 
fact  that  in  the  fall  following  his  arrival  he  was 
elected  register  of  deeds  of  Todd  County,  and  in 
1885,  after  a bitterly-contested  campaign,  was  elected 
to  the  Minnesota  Legislature,  serving  also  through 
the  sessions  of  1887  and  1893.  At  the  latter  session 
Mr.  Lee  was  selected  as  the  speaker  of  the  house. 
During  the  earlier  term  of  his  legislative  work,  Mr. 
Lee  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  banks  and 
banking,  and  had  much  to  do  with  the  enactment 
of  laws  for  official  inspection  of  grain  and  grain 
warehouses,  and  later  a railway  commission. 

Mr.  Lee’s  earliest  connection  with  educational 
work,  in  which  he  has  subsequently  become  widely 
known,  came  as  a result  of  an  appointment  from 
Governor  Merriam  as  a member  of  the  State  Normal 
School  Board.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  the  State  Reformatory  at  St.  Cloud,  but 
resigned  this  office  in  the  following  year,  not,  how- 
ever, until  he  had  gained  an  entirely  new  idea  of  and 
attitude  toward  boys.  This  resulted  in  his  making 
a careful  study  of  penal  institutions  and  reform- 
atories throughout  the  country,  that  he  might  better 
his  own  methods,  and  through  all  of  many  journeys 
taken  by  Mr.  Lee  in  this  and  foreign  countries,  he 
has  never  failed  to  visit  and  study  corrective  institu- 
tions. In  1895,  Governor  Van  Sant,  having  the 
appointment  of  a board  of  control  to  supervise  the 
state’s  public  institutions,  asked  Mr.  Lee  to  serve  as 
its  chairman,  an  offer  which  was  accepted,  although 
two  years  later,  when  the  board  was  thoroughly 
organized  and  in  good  running  order,  Mr.  Lee 
resigned  to  devote  his  attention  to  his  rapidly  grow- 
ing and  important  commercial  interests. 

In  the  field  of  finance  Mr.  Lee  has  been  long  arid 
favorably  known  throughout  the  state.  In  1881  he 
organized  the  first  banking  institution  -of  Todd 
County,  the  Bank  of  Long  Prairie,  a state  concern 
which  he  still  controls.  He  organized  and  _ still 
controls  a majority  of  the  stock  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Browerville ; the  First  National  Bank  of 
Eagle  Bend  and  the  State  Bank  of  Bertram,  all  in 
Todd  County.  In  addition  to  these  institutions  he 
has  large  lumber  interests  in  his  section  of  the 
state,  and  is  the  directing  head  of  a manufacturing 
plant  at  Long  Prairie,  with  a branch  at  Winnipeg, 
which  manufactures  what  is  known  as  the  Hahnman 
device,  a series  of  patented  appliances  for  extending 
the  usefulness  of  traction  engines  in  farming.  Orders 
have  been  shipped  from  the  Long  Prairie  plant  to 
Russia,  Roumania,  Argentina,  Ecuador,  Australia, 
Austria,  Germany  and  Hungary,  and  from  the 
Winnipeg  branch  to  points  throughout  Canada.  Mr. 
Lee  was  the  inventor  of  the  machine  now  used 
throughout  the  country  for  cleaning  grain,  but  not 


having  the  capital  at  that  time  to  properly  secure  his 
patents,  his  device  was  seized  by  others  and  placed 
in  general  use,  and  although  later  Mr.  Lee  brought 
suit  against  the  infringers  the  damages  secured  by 
him  were  just  about  sufficient  to  pay  for  the  litiga- 
tion. 

Mr.  Lee  is  an  extensive  traveler,  and  in  his  fre- 
quent journeys  throughout  the  United  States  and 
other  lands  has  invariably  devoted  a large  part  of 
his  time  to  a study  of  civic  conditions.  Banking 
matters  have  also  attracted  his  attention,  and  he 
has  followed  both  state  and  federal  legislation  with 
much  intelligent  interest.  His  pride  in  his  com- 
munity and  its  developments  has  led  him  to  identify 
himself  with  movements  making  for  public  better- 
ment, and  from  the  erection  of  the  first  log  school- 
house  in  Todd  County  until  the  recent  building  of 
the  new  $40,000  high  school  building  he  has  been  a 
helpful  factor  in  everything  that  has  contributed  to 
educational,  moral  and  religious  progress.  The 
public  park  and  library  of  Long  Prairie  are  evidences 
of  his  generosity  and  public  pride. 

An  intimate  pen  picture  of  Mr.  Lee  appeared  in 
the  article  formerly  referred  to:  “Nature  gave  Mr. 

Lee  a tremendous  asset  in  the  way  of  physical  and 
mental  vigor,  and  at  manhood  he  faced  his  career 
with  six  feet  of  height  and  200  pounds  of  bone 
and  sinew.  Today,  although  his  hair  is  threaded 
with  gray,  he  walks  with  shoulders  thrown  back  and 
the  swinging  stride  of  a young  man.  In  appearance 
the  candidate  presents  a curious  mixture  of  the 
pioneer  and  thoughtful  and  successful  man  of  busi- 
ness. His  head  is  large  and  his  forehead  high;  his 
eyes  gray,  deep  set,  wide  apart  and  observing;  his 
mouth  is  well  moulded  and  his  chin  square  and 
aggressive,  and  his  hands,  like  his  feet,  are  large, 
the  fingers  knotted  with  the  toil  of  the  woods.  Mr. 
Lee’s  speech  is  slow,  distinct  and  deliberate,  and 
although  educated  mainly  in  the  school  of  hard 
knocks,  with  the  lumber  camps  of  a generation  ago 
as  his  campus,  his  address  is  that  of  the  studious, 
scholarly  man.  His  public  utterances  show  thought- 
ful preparation,  and  a thorough  knowledge  of 
governmental  affairs.  Of  hobbies,  he  has  but  one, 
and  that  is  thoroughness  and  system  in  his  business 
affairs,  for  of  procrastination  he  knows  but  little. 
His  recreations  are  two — travel  and  reading.  ‘The 
best  job  I have  ever  accomplished  in  my  career,’ 
Mr.  Lee  declared,  ‘from  my  way  of  thinking  has 
been  to  raise  my  three  sons,  all  of  whom  I have 
taught  to  work.’  ” 

Mr.  Lee’s  three  sons  are : Rudolph,  a graduate 

of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  editor  of  the 
Long  Prairie  Leader;  Harry,  cashier  of  the  Brower- 
ville Bank,  and  Raymond,  a graduate  of  Hamline 
University  and  vice  president  of  the  Long  Prairie 
Bank. 

In  the  opening  speech  of  his  campaign  for  nomina- 
tion in  1914,  Mr.  Lee  outlined  his  platform  and 
pledged  his  candidacy  to  a policy  of  sound  business- 
like government  for  the  commonwealth,  declaring 
for  a comprehensive  plan  of  state,  industrial  and 
agricultural  development,  local  control  of  public 
utilities,  submission  of  woman  suffrage  to  the  people 
for  a vote,  a more  efficient  civil  service  law,  old  age 
pensions  for  state  employes,  including  school  teachers 
and  nurses  in  state  hospitals,  strict  enforcement  of 
the  liquor  and  anti-trust  laws,  good  and  even  better 
schools  untrammeled  by  politics,  conservation  of 
the  state's  natural  resources,  local  control  of  good 
roads  as  far  as  is  compatible  with  a broad  state 


1648 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


development  policy.  It  may  not  be  inappropriate  in 
this  connection  to  close  this  short  review  of  the 
life  of  one  of  the  foremost  of  Minnesota’s  citizens 
with  a few  excerpts  from  his  opening  campaign 
speech  and  platform  pledges,  which  serve  to  illus- 
trate those  things  which  he  represents  and  for  which 
he  stands : “The  need  of  our  government  is  an  ener- 
getic and  competent  business  direction.  The  evil 
days  that  have  fallen  to  us  politically  are  due  to  a 
failure  to  recognize  the  necessity  of  united  action 
against  the  organized  forces  who  look  upon  the 
power  of  government  as  opportunity  to  despoil.  The 
commission  (efficiency  commission)  found  enough 
useless  state  boards  to  wall  up  the  state  and  roof 
it  over.  A thorough  investigation  would  reveal 
opportunities  for  saving  that  would  make  possible 
the  abolition  of  the  general  tax  levy.  We  should 
have  a civil  service  law  to  apply  to  all  offices  other 
than  heads  of  departments  where  service  and  effi- 
ciency would  thereby  be  promoted.  A comprehen- 
' sive  and  workable  program  of  state  development  is 
of  large  import  to  the  future  of  the  state.  I favor 
a roads  policy  that  takes  into  consideration  first  the 
needs  of  the  farmer.  No  unnecessary  expense 
should  attach  to  the  product  of  the  farm ; unneces- 
sary tolling  stations  and  the  middleman’s  profits 
must  be  eliminated.  I am  in  full  accord  with  the 
world  movement  to  better  protect  lives,  health  and 
welfare  by  prohibiting  excessive  hours  of  labor  and 
improving  conditions  under  which  labor  is  per- 
formed. The  state  should  provide  a service  pension 
system  to  include  schoolteachers,  nurses  in  state 
hospitals  and  others  of  long  and  arduous  service. 
I believe  in  the  matter  of  public  utilities,  the  prin- 
ciples of  home  rule  and  local  control  should  govern 
a system  that  will  recognize  as  paramount  the  rights 
and  powers  of  local  government.  The  right  kind  of 
legislature  and  governor  working  in  harmony  can 
regenerate  the  political  conditions  of  the  state.  The 
machine  has  but  one  issue — the  control  of  the  gov- 
ernment. The  machine  constitutes  the  large  brewery 
interests,  the  corporations  whose  owners  desire  to 
get  more  out  of  the  public  than  they  are  entitled  to, 
the  multitude  of  appointive  office  holders,  and  the 
‘Boss.’  Like  a spider  in  his  web,  feeding  upon  the 
degradation  of  mankind,  plotting  enticements  and 
allurements  for  innocents,  sits  the  astute  and  cunning 
manipulator.  He  collects  tributes  and  dictates 
appointments  and  policies.  The  brewers  contribute 
to  the  campaign  fund  and  violations  of  the  law  are 
winked  at  in  return.” 

At  the  state  primaries  on  June  16,  1914,  Mr.  Lee 
was  chosen  the  candidate  of  the  Minnesota  republi- 
cans by  a plurality  of  about  16,000  over  his  chief 
opponent,  Governor  Eberhart.  In  the  campaign  Mr. 
Lee  made  a vigorous  fight  for  the  progressive  prin- 
ciples contained  in  his  platform,  but  was  unable  to. 
overcome  the  handicap  of  a triangular  contest  and 
was  defeated  in  November  by  the  democratic  can- 
didate, Mr.  Hammond. 

William  H.  Bremner  is  general  solicitor  of  the 
Minneapolis  & St.  Louis  Railroad  Company,  with 
headquarters  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis.  He  came 
to  Minneapolis  on  the  1st  of  July,  1909,  as  general 
attorney  for  the  railroad  company,  and  was  made 
general  solicitor  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1913. 

Mr.  Bremner  was  born  at  Marshalltown,  Marshall 
County,  Iowa,  on  the  24th  day  of  October,  1869. 
He  is  the  youngest  son  of  William  asid  Katherine  C. 
(Hampton)  Bremner,  the  former  of  whom  was 


born  in  Scotland,  the  latter  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 
His  father,  William  Bremner,  was  two  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  parents’  immigration  to  the  United 
States.  The  family  home  was  first  established  in 
New  Hampshire,  from  whence  the  family  removed 
to  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  in  1856.  Mr.  Bremner’s 
father  continued  to  reside  in  Marshalltown  until 
the  time  of  his  death  in  1911  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  _ The  death  of  the  mother  occurred  in  the 
following  year. 

Mr.  Bremner’s  mother  was  of  English  and  Irish 
lineage,  and  she  was  a direct  descendant  of  the 
first  governor  of  Vermont. 

Mr.  Bremner  is  the  youngest  of  four  children, 
the  eldest  being  George  H.,  who  resides  in  the  City 
of  Chicago  and  who  is  assistant  district  engineer  of 
the  valuation  board  of  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission ; Fanny  H.  is  the  wife  of  Otto  A.  Bying- 
ton  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  and  Annabel  P.,  who  died 
in  1896. 

Mr.  Bremner  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  where  he 
graduated  from  the  high  school  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1886.  After  employment  for  one  year  in 
the  passenger  department  of  the  Iowa  Central  Rail- 
way Company  he  entered  the  University  of  Iowa  in 
the  fall  of  1887,  graduating  in  1891  with  the  degree 
of  civil  engineer.  After  his  graduation  Mr.  Bremner 
served  for  two  years  in  the  engineering  department 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & Quincy  Railway  Com- 
pany and  then  returned  to  the  University  of  Iowa 
as  a student  in  the  law  department.  He  was  grad- 
uated as  a member  of  the  law  class  of  1895  with  a 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  the  City  of  Des  Moines  in  1895 
as  a member  of  the  firm  of  Bremner  & Shular,  Mr. 
Shular  having  been  a classmate.  Mr.  Bremner 
remained  in  the  City  of  Des  Moines  for  fourteen 
years,  and  during  that  period  served  six  years  as 
the  head  of  the  legal  department  of  the  city. 

Since  his  removal  to  Minneapolis  in  1909  Mr. 
Bremner  has  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  service 
of  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis  Railroad  Company. 

In  June,  1903,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emily  T. 
McKell,  daughter  of  Capt.  Jas.  C.  and  Emily 
(Thorpe)  McKell,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska.  Mrs.  Brem- 
ner was  born  in  the  City  of  Burlington,  Iowa,  and 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Omaha  and  Des 
Moines. 

C.  J.  Miss.  About  forty-five  years  ago  a German 
emigrant  boy  arrived  in  this  country,  and  was  at 
once  confronted  with  the  severe  conditions  imposed 
upon  a stranger  in  a strange  land  and  one  uneducated 
in  the  language  and  customs  of  a new  country.  Not 
long  afterward  he  came  to  St.  Paul,  and  by  his 
industry  and  persistent  efforts  at  gaining  an  educa- 
tion and  making  himself  useful  had  in  a few  years 
reached  a responsible  position  with  the  well  known 
St.  Paul  shoe  house  of  C.  Gotzian  & Company.  C. 
J.  Miss  was  one  of  the  important  factors  in  building 
up  that  great  business  in  the  Northwest,  and  has  for 
years  been  regarded  as  one  of  St.  Paul’s  leading 
business  men  and  citizens. 

C.  J.  Miss  was  born  in  Hatzfeld,  Grand  Duchy  of 
Hessen,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  in  1870  and 
first  located  in  McGregor,  Iowa.  He  was  a boy  at 
the  time,  and  had  to  earn  his  own  living  while  learn- 
ing the  English  language.  He  entered  a school  in 
Iowa,  and  paid  his  way  by  doing  hard  work.  In 
T871  he  came  to  St.  Paul,  and  was  first  employed  in 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1649 


the  John  S.  Prince  lumber  yards.  He  continued 
his  education  by  night  school  work  with  Prof.  E.  E. 
Taylor,  in  whose  school  he  remained  for  four  years. 
He  realized  the  necessity  for  adequate  training  in 
English  schools  as  a requisite  for  a business  career, 
and  thus  laid  a solid  foundation  on  which  to  build 
a permanent  success. 

In  1872  he  was  fortunate  in  making  the  acquaint- 
ance of  the  late  Conrad  Gotzian,  dealer  and  manu- 
facturer in  boots  and  shoes.  Mr.  Gotzian  offered 
him  employment  as  stock  boy  and  general  utility 
worker.  In  the  new  business  he  rapidly  acquainted 
himself  with  its  details,  and  became  a valuable  sales- 
man, particularly  among  German  business  men.  In 
1879,  011  account  of  business  depression  in  America, 
he  returned  to  Germany  with  the  intention  of  living 
there  permanently.  However,  Mr.  Gotzian  knew  his 
value  and  requested  his  return,  offering  a position 
as  traveling  salesman.  In  that  work  he  continued 
for  eight  years,  and  gained  a large  volume  of  busi- 
ness for  the  Gotzian  Shoe  Company.  In  1887,  at  the 
death  of  Mr.  Gotzian,  he  was  recalled  from  the  road 
and  made  head  salesman  in  the  home  house,  and  for 
many  years  continued  with  the  firm  in  important 
capacities.  He  was  finally  elected  vice  president  of 
the  company,  and  continued  in  that  office  until  the 
reorganization  of  the  house  of  C.  Gotzian  & Com- 
pany. 

During  his  residence  at  St.  Paul  Mr.  Miss 
interested  himself  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city,  and 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  American  District 
Telephone  Company  and  its  president  for  years.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  the  German  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  a loyal  citizen  in  every  good 
sense  of  the  term.  Mr.  Miss  married  Miss  Nette 
Kruger,  daughter  of  the  late  Louis  Kruger.  There 
are  two  sons,  Walter  and  Allen,  and  two  daughters, 
Florence  and  Dorothy. 

Victor  E.  Lawson.  One  of  the  most  forceful  and 
energetic  of  the  citizens  of  Willmar,  Victor  E. 
Lawson  has  taken  an  active  participation  in  all  move- 
ments of  importance  that  have  combined  to  make 
the  city’s  history  since  his  arrival  here  in  1895. 
During  the  two  decades  that  have  passed,  he  has 
been  successful  in  building  up  a large  newspaper, 
the  Willmar  Tribune,  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  organs  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  has  also 
been  interested  in  other  business  enterprises;  but 
while  his  personal  interests  have  been  of  a most 
important  nature,  those  of  his  city  have  found  an 
equally  high  place  in  his  attention,  and  few  men 
have  done  more  to  advance  Willmar’s  prosperity  and 
general  progress. 

Mr.  Lawson  was  born  at  Paxton,  Ford  Count}', 
Illinois,  March  24,  1871,  and  is  a son  of  Charles  M. 
and  Maria  (Lindstrom)  Lawson,  natives  of  Sweden, 
and  a grandson  of  Lars  Johanson,  who  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  family  in  1852  and  died  at 
Peru,  Illinois,  and  Jonas  Gummeson  Lindstrom,  who 
died  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  the  United  States. 
Charles  M.  Lawson  was  born  April  7,  1834,  and 
was  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
and  soon  secured  employment  at  Rock  Island  in  a 
sash  and  door  factory.  For  fifty  years  he  was 
engaged  successfully  in  both  contracting  and  build- 
ing, in  Illinois  and  Minnesota.  Mr.  Lawson  came 
to  the  latter  state  in  1880,  in  the  spring,  and  was 
followed  by  his  family  in  the  following  fall.  Fie 
is  now  living  in  retirement  at  New  London.  He  is 


a member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  Mr. 
Lawson  was  married  to  Maria  Lindstrom,  who  was 
born  November  9,  1836,  and  who  also  survives.  Of 
their  thirteen  children  a number  died  in  infancy, 
while  five  still  survive : Carrie,  who  is  the  widow 

of  Mr.  F.  O.  Swanson,  and  lives  on  a farm  at  Spicer, 
Minnesota;  Theodora,  who  is  single  and  resides 
at  home  with  her  parents;  Victor  E.,  of  this  review; 
Eden  E.,  educated  at  the  Chicago  Art  Institute,  and 
now  associated  with  his  brother  in  the  newspaper 
business ; and  Esther,  who  is  single  and  resides  with 
her  brothers.  A foster  brother  of  these  children  is 
Thomas  J.  Lawson,  who  „ is  a successful  business 
man  and  farmer  and  now  resides  at  New  London, 
Minnesota.  Of  Eben  E.  Lawson,  it  was  said  by  the 
late  Gov.  John  A.  Johnson:  "He  is  the  best  carica- 
turist in  the  state." 

Victor  E.  Lawson  began  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Paxton,  Illinois,  attending  a Swedish 
primary  school  and  the  public  schools  but  when  he 
was  nine  years  of  age  was  brought  to  Kandiyohi 
County,  where  he  attended  the  New  London  schools. 
Fie  became  a teacher  for  one  year,  and  also  was 
engaged  in  farming  for  a short  period,  but  his 
inclinations  ran  toward  journalistic  work,  and  from 
early  boyhood  it  had  been  his  desire  to  learn  the 
printing  trade.  Finally  he  was  given  the  opportunity 
to  Indulge  his  ambition,  and  in  1889  he  began  work 
on  the  New  London  Times.  Not  long  thereafter,  he 
purchased  the  paper  and  became  the  youngest  editor 
in  the  State  of  Minnesota.  While  this  enterprise 
proved  a successful  one,  Mr.  Lawson  was  desirous 
of  finding  a broader  field  for  his  activities,  and 
accordingly,  in  February,  1895,  came  to  Willmar  and 
became  editor  and  partial  owner  of  the  Willmar 
Tribune.  Since  that  time  he  has  purchased  the 
remaining  interest,  and  now  continues  as  sole  owner, 
editor  and  publisher  of  a flourishing  weekly  news- 
paper, with  a circulation  o'f  3,400,  which  is  generally 
acknowledged  to  be  a potent  factor  in  influencing 
public  opinion  in  Kandiyohi  and  the  surrounding 
counties.  The  Willmar  Tribune  is  a thoroughly 
reliable,  well-edited,  well-printed  publication,  which 
has  grown  out  of  the  needs  of  the  community  and 
which  has  come  to  occupy  an  established  place  in 
the  lives  of  its  citizens.  In  connection  with  his 
newspaper  Mr.  Lawson  conducts  a printing  office, 
fully  equipped  with  presses  and  paraphernalia  for 
the  best  class  of  work,  and  in  addition  operates  an 
art  department.  Mr.  Lawson  is  president  of  the 
Kandiyohi  County  Fair  Association  and  secretary 
of  the  Chautauqua  Park  Board  and  has  worked 
faithfully  and  energetically  to  establish  the  assembly 
park  property  for  public  use.  A firm  believer  in  the 
benefits  of  good  schools,  he  is  serving  on  the  board 
of  education  and  is  at  present  its  president.  He 
belongs  to  the  board  of  directors  of  Gustavus 
Adolphus  College,  St.  Peter,  Minnesota,  is  a 
member  and  trustee  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
has  attended  several  of  the  synod  meetings,  and  at 
all  times  has  been  a liberal  contributor  to  educational 
and  religious  movements.  A stirring  member  of  the 
Commercial  Club,  he  has  been  a member  of  the 
publicity  committee  and  its  chairman  for  several 
years.  Mr.  Lawson  is  possessed  of  considerable 
literary  ability  and  is  particularly  interested  in  his- 
torical works,  being  a life  member  of  the  Minnesota 
Historical  Society  and  a sustaining  member  of  the 
American  Scandinavian  Foundation  of  New  York. 
In  1905  Mr.  Lawson  was  associated  in  the  publish- 
ing of  a county  history  of  Kandiyohi  County  which 


1650 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


is  universally  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  best 
works  of  its  kind  ever  placed  before  the  public.  In 
political  matters  an  independent  democrat,  he  has 
taken  somewhat  of  an  active  part  in  public  affairs. 

Mr.  Lawson  was  married  in  1894  to  Miss  Wilhel- 
mina  Nelson,  daughter  of  S.  M.  Nelson,  an  early 
settler  of  Kandiyohi  County.  She  died  in  1901.  Mr. 
Lawson  was  married  again'  in  1910,  when  he  was 
united  with  Miss  Julia  Kallstrom,  whose  father,  an 
early  settler  of  Michigan,  was  killed  in  a mine 
accident  in  that  state.  Mrs.  Lawson  is  a member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  is  well  known  in  religious  and 
social  circles,  and,  like  her  husband,  is  generally 
popular  and  has  numerous  friends  at  Willmar. 

Samuel  Nelson,  of  Willmar,  is  an  honored  citizen 
in  whom  the  people  have  manifested  their  confidence 
by  electing  him  to  the  position  of  county  auditor  of 
Kandiyohi  County.  He  is  now  discharging  the 
duties  of  that  office  with  marked  promptness  and 
fidelity,  and  with  such  men  at  the  head  of  public 
affairs  a community  may  feel  assured  that  its 
interests  will  be  administered  with  the  strictest 
honesty  and  after  the  most  approved  business 
methods.  Although  elected  to  his  present  position 
only  in  1914,  Mr.  Nelson  is  not  a newcomer  nor 
unfamiliar  with  its  duties,  for  he  has  been  in  the 
county  auditor’s  office  as  deputy  since  the  year  1901. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  born  at  Carver,  Carver  County, 
Minnesota,  July  1,  1864,  and  is  a son  of  Rev.  John 
S.  and  Bengta  (Thomson)  Nelson,  natives  of 
Sweden.  Llis  father  was  born  February  7,  1829, 
and  was  given  a fairly  good  education  in  the  schools 
of  this  country,  coming  to  the  United  States  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years.  Settling  in  Nicollet  County, 
Minnesota,  he  soon  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  and  continued  to  preach 
at  various  parishes  in  the  state  until  within  ten 
years  of  his  death,  when  he  retired.  Although  a 
quiet  and  unassuming  man,  he  was  an  earnest  and 
zealous  preacher,  and  when  he  died,  April  19,  1904, 
his  church  lost  one  of  its  most  energetic  workers. 
He  was  a republican  in  politics  and  took  a fairly 
active  part  therein.  Mr.  Nelson  was  married  at 
St.  Peter,  Minnesota,  May  26,  i860,  to  Bengta 

Thorson,  who  was  born  January  3,  1839,  and  died 
June  13,  1870,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Samuel,  born  July  1,  1864;  Benjamin,  born 
July  11,  1867,  who  died  May  27,  1871;  and  Cecilia, 
born  March  23,  1861,  now  Mrs.  J.  E.  Hedberg,  of 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  the  wife  of  a minister  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Reverend  Mr.  Nelson  was 
married  a second  time,  and  his  widow,  who  was  born 
February  15,  1840,  is  still  living.  They  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children. 

The  public  schools  of  Carver  and  Wright  counties, 
Minnesota,  furnished  Samuel  .Nelson  with  his  early 
education,  this  being  supplemented  by  a course  in 
Gustavus  Adolphus  College,  at  St.  Peter.  He  then 
adopted  the  vocation  of  educator,  and  for  eighteen 
years  was  a teacher  in  the  district  and  parochial 
schools  in  various  parts  of  Minnesota,  achieving  an 
enviable  reputation  as  an  efficient  and  popular 
teacher.  He  first  entered  public  life  in  1901,  when  he 
was  made  deputy  auditor  of  Kandiyohi  County,  and 
he  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office 
satisfactorily  until  1914,  when  he  was  elected  auditor. 
His  subsequent  services  in  this  capacity  have  given 
the  people  of  the  county  no  reason  to  regret  of  their 
choice. 

In  1895  Mr.  Nelson  was  united  in  marriage  with 


Miss  Christine  Freeberg,  who  was  born  in  Sweden, 
August  29,  1877,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been 
born  six  children,  as  follows : Minnie  Rosalie,  age 

nineteen,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  Willmar  High 
School;  Chester  Laurentius,  age  seventeen,  in  third 
year  high  school;  Plildur  Cecelia  Christine,  who  died 
in  infancy  in  the  year  1900;  Lenhardt  Vincent,  age 
nine,  and  Vernon  Samuel,  age  seven,  who  are  also 
attending  school ; and  Marvis  Lucile  Ingeborg. 
Reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  Mr. 
Nelson  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  its  work, 
and  has  served  as  organist  for  several  years  and  as 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  Mrs.  Nelson 
has  also  been  interested  in  religious  work  and  both 
she  and  her  husband  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  a 
wide  circle  of  friends. 

Elvero  Lewis  McMillan.  There  is  much  benefit 
to  be  gained  from  the  increasing  tendency  of  the 
man  learned  in  law  to  engage  in  pursuits  which  do 
not  immediately  come  under  the  head  of  professional 
duties.  The  individual  trained  in  legal  learning  has 
the  advantage  of  belonging  to  a calling  which  touches 
many  others  and  gives  its  devotees  a broad  outlook 
and  a thorough  knowledge  of  principles  and  men. 
Prominent  among  the  men  of  this  class  in  Minnesota, 
is  found  Elvero  Lewis  McMillan  of  Princeton,  a 
lawyer  of  marked  ability  and  of  more  than  local 
reputation,  who  is  also  interested  in  farm  lands  and 
farm  loans  as  a member  of  the  firm  of  McMillan  & 
Stanley. 

Mr.  McMillan  was  born  at  Wilmington,  Clinton 
County,  Ohio,  April  4,  1866,  and  is  a son'  of  Eli  and 
Phoebe  H.  McMillan.  His  father,  then  a young 
Ohio  farmer  boy,  enlisted  as  a private  and  served 
some  three  years  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
Civil  war,  being  made  first  lieutenant  before  its 
close.  After  his  father’s  death,  which  occurred  in 
1870,  the  family  moved  to  Minnesota,  going  first  to 
Howard  Lake  and  thereafter,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1880,  to  Minneapolis,  where  Elvero  L.  early  entered 
into  active  business  life,  engaging  in  such  employ- 
ment as  was  then  available.  Later,  deciding  upon 
following  the  legal  profession,  Mr.  McMillan  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
graduating  therefrom  in  1892,  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws,  and  at  once  beginning  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Minneapolis.  He  also  con- 
tinued his  university  studies,  taking  the  night  course 
then  offered,  leading  to  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Laws,  which  was  granted  to  him  in  1894.  He  con- 
tinued the  practice  of  law  in  Minneapolis  until  1902 
when  he  moved  to  Princeton,  where  his  business  and 
home  has  been  continued  to  the  present  time. 

His  practice  is  broad  and  general  in  its  scope  and 
his  ability  and  talent  have  attracted  to  him  a very 
valuable  professional  business.  At  various  times  he 
has  been  called  upon  to  fill  public  offices,  having 
served  five  terms  as  city  attorney  of  Princeton  and 
one  term  as  county  attorney  of  Mille  Lacs  County. 
He  has  also  served  as  treasurer  of  the  school  board, 
a position  which  he  held  for  nine  years,  and  in  each 
capacity  has  shown  himself  an  able,  conscientious 
and  active  official.  He  is  not  interested  in  politics  as 
a politician,  but  at  all  times  is  ready  to  aid  his  com- 
munity in  movements  for  the  public  welfare. 

Fraternally  Mr.  McMillan  is  identified  with  the 
Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Commandery  and  Shrine  of 
Masonry. 

While  his  law  practice  has  been  extensive  and 
important,  demanding  the  larger  share  of  his  atten- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1651 


tion,  Mr.  McMillan  has  found  some  time  to  devote 
to  other  pursuits.  After  going  to  Princeton  he 
became  interested  in  land  and  loan  operations  as 
one  of  the  firm  of  M.  S.  Rutherford  & Company. 
After  the  dissolution  of  this  firm  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  Rutherford,  it  was,  in  1911,  reorganized  as  Mc- 
Millan & Stanley,  Mr.  Ira  G.  Stanley  being  the  other 
partner.  Since  then  the  present  firm  has  actively 
continued  the  work  of  settling  and  improving  the 
country  tributary  to  Princeton,  including  the  Mille 
Lacs  Lake  country. 

On  June  22,  1898,  Mr.  McMillan  was  married 
to  Miss  Marian  Campbell  of  Litchfield,  Minnesota, 
and  to  this  union  have  been  born  six  children, 
Esther  Louise,  Harriet  Emerette,  Marian  Campbell 
and  Elvero  James,  who  are  in  the  high  school, 
graded  and  primary  schools  of  Princeton,  and  twin 
boys,  David  Reid  and  Otho  Harold,  who  arrived 
in  January,  1915. 

Hon.  Joseph  M.  Thornton.  Now  serving  his  sec- 
ond term  as  a member  of  the  lower  house  of  the 
Legislature,  representing  the  Thirty-ninth  District 
in  St.  Paul,  Joseph  M.  Thornton  is  a well  known 
contractor  and  member  of  the  firm  of  Thornton 
Brothers,  comprising  his  brothers,  M.  E.  and  P. 
M.  Thornton.  This  firm  of  general  contractors  rep- 
resent many  years  of  solid  experience  and  have  a 
large  amount  of  capital  invested  in  equipment  and 
in  general  business  organization  for  handling  all 
kinds  of  contracts  in  grading,  sewer  construction, 
waterworks,  cellar  excavations,  steam  shovel  and 
heavy  team  work,  and  makes  a specialty  of  concrete 
paving. 

Joseph  M.  Thornton  was  born  in  the  City  of  St. 
Paul,  September  5,  1872,  being  the  oldest  son  of 
P.  H.  and  M.  A.  Thornton.  His  father  was  born 
in  Ireland,  spent  his  boyhood  and  received  his  educa- 
tion there,  and  became  a resident  of  Minnesota  dur- 
ing the  early  days  of  the  territory.  For  a number  of 
years  his  home  was  in  Scott  County,  and  he  was 
elected  from  that  county  on  the  democratic  ticket 
as  representative  to  the  Legislature,  serving  through 
the  sessions  of  1879  and  1881.  He  is  still  living  in 
St.  Paul,  a well  preserved  old  gentleman,  and  still 
takes  a considerable  interest  in  local  and  state 
politics,  has  always  been  an  extensive  reader,  and  a 
well  informed  man  on  affairs. 

Joseph  M.  Thornton  acquired  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  St.  Paul  public  schools,  for  three  years 
was  a student  in  the  Cretin  Catholic  School,  and 
then  was  in  the  Central  St.  Paul  High  School  until 
taking  up  active  work.  His  first  employment  was 
with  a company  engaged  in  handling  contracts  for 
public  work,  and  this  took  him  into  the  states  of 
Indiana  and  Illinois.  He  traveled  over  a number 
of  states,  spent  about  four  years  in  the  territories 
of  Idaho,  Montana  and  Oregon,  and  then  returned 
to  St.  Paul  to  take  up  business  on  his  own  account. 
In  1906  was  formed  the  present  partnership  of 
Thornton  Brothers,  which  is  one  of  the  leading  firms 
of  its  kind  in  St.  Paul.  The  brothers  are  all  enter- 
prising business  men,  well  known  and  well  estab- 
lished. 

Besides  looking  after  his  business  interests  Joseph 
M.  Thornton  takes  a lively  interest  in  politics  as 
a democrat.  In  1912  he  was  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature, serving  through  the  sessions  of  1913-14,  and 
in  November,  1914,  was  reelected  by  the  Thirty- 
ninth  District.  Mr.  Thornton  is  unmarried  and  is 
a member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  Pioneers,  the 


Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  His  home  is  at  369  Von 
Minden  Street,  St.  Paul. 

William  Gamble.  One  of  the  fine  old  pioneers 
of  Steele  County  was  the  late  William  Gamble,  who 
died  at  his  home  in  Owatonna  in  1911  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two.  He  was  a pioneer  settler  and  farmer 
in  Lemond  Township,  was  a veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  his  life  contained  all  those  elements  which 
lend  it  dignity  and  usefulness. 

William  Gamble,  of  Scotch  and  Irish  ancestry, 
was  born  November  15,  1829,  at  Linneus,  Maine. 
When  a young  man  he  and  his  brother  Ross  moved 
out  to  Wisconsin,  and  like  so  many  emigrants  from 
the  Pine  Tree  State  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
at  Portage.  When  the  war  came  on  he  enlisted  in 
Company  D of  the  Nineteenth  Wisconsin  Infantry, 
and  served  with  distinction  for  3^4  years.  After 
the  close  of  his  first  term  of  enlistment  he  re- 
enlisted and  continued  with  the  Union  forces  until 
the  final  cessation  of  hostilities.  He  lived  in  Wis- 
consin only  a short  time  after  the  war,  and  in  1866 
took  his  family  to  Steele  County,  Minnesota,  locat- 
ing on  a farm  in  Lemond  Township,  where  he  set 
to  work  industriously  to  develop  the  virgin  soil  and 
in  time  surrounded  himself  with  all  the  accompani- 
ments of  material  prosperity.  About  fifteen  years 
ago  he  removed  to  Owatonna,  and  lived  there  until 
his  death.  William  Gamble  was  a man  of  sterling 
worth,  had  hosts  of  personal  friends,  and  was  active 
in  local  affairs,  having  served  several  years  as  county 
commissioner  of  Steele  County.  His  death  occurred 
after  a long  illness.  He  was  buried  at  Owatonna, 
and  his  comrades  in  the  James  A.  Goodwin  Post 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  had  charge  of 
the  ceremony.  In  politics  he  was  a democrat  who 
believed  in  the  basic  principle  of  free  trade  and 
was  also  a strong  advocate  of  sound  money  on  the 
gold  standard.  His  church  was  the  Universalist. 

At  Sparta,  Wisconsin,  in  1859,  Mr.  Gamble  mar- 
ried Matilda  E.  Robinson.  She  was  born  in  War- 
wick, Canada,  July  15,  1839,  lived  in  that  locality 
during  early  childhood,  subsequently  moved  to 
Wisconsin,  and  taught  school  for  several  years  in 
that  state  before  her  marriage.  She  was  of  English 
ancestry.  She  died  at  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  in 
December,  1899.  She  was  likewise  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Steele  County,  and  during  her  residence 
of  thirty-five  years  in  that  locality  came  to  possess 
the  esteem  of  every  acquaintance  and  friend.  Her 
funeral  was  attended  by  relatives  from  Minneapolis 
and  a host  of  her  old  friends  in  Steele  County.  She 
had  lived  on  the  homestead  farm  in  Lemond  Town- 
ship until  about  two  weeks  before  her  death,  when 
the  family  removed  to  a beautiful  new  home  just 
completed  in  Owatonna.  The  children  of  William 
and  Matilda  Gamble  were:  Mary;  Emma,  Mrs.  L. 

E.  Cochrane;  Ross  A.;  David  F. ; Ray  H. ; and 
Ralph  R.  The  four  sons  are  all  Minneapolis  busi- 
ness men.  Mrs.  Cochrane  lives  in  Clear  Lake,  South 
Dakota,  and  Miss  Mary  is  a resident  of  Owatonna. 

David  F.  Gamble.  Vice  president  and  director  in 
the  Gamble-Robinson  Company  and  director  in 
seventeen  of  its  affiliated  houses,  David  F.  Gamble 
has  given  almost  his  entire  active  lifetime  to  the 
development  and  management  of  this  great  whole- 
sale fruit  and  grocery  business.  As  a business 
organization  which  operates  all  over  the  North 
and  Northwest  from  the  eastern  end  of  the  Great 


1652 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Lakes  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  an  appropriate  sketch 
has  been  prepared  for  this  publication  and  will  be 
found  on  other  pages,  where  Mr.  Gamble’s  particular 
relations  with  the  organization  are  given  in  detail. 

David  F.  Gamble,  a son  of  the  late  William  and 
Matilda  E.  (Robinson)  Gamble,  who  were  early 
settlers  in  Southern  Minnesota  and  are  given  some 
memorial  in  preceding  paragraphs,  was  born  at 
Owatonna,  Minnesota,  May  21,  1869.  After  com- 
pleting his  high  school  education  he  taught  school 
for  a time  in  Southern  Minnesota,  but  then  removed 
to  Minneapolis  to  engage  in  the  wholesale  fruit 
business,  being  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  old 
Gamble-Robinson  Commission  Company,  and  has 
been  closely  concerned  in  the  development  of  that 
corporation  and  its  affiliated  houses  for  more  than 
twenty  years. 

Mr.  Gamble  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  in  Min- 
neapolis, and  has  been  active  in  civic  matters  and  in 
social  settlement  work.  He  is  a republican,  a mem- 
ber of  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Lafayette  Club, 
the  Interlachen  Country  Club  and  the  Automobile 
Club.  He  indulges,  whenever  possible,  his  tastes 
for  country  life,  and  is  fond  of  golf  and  other 
outdoor  recreations.  His  church  home  is  the  Ply- 
mouth Congregational  Church  of  Minneapolis. 

On  February  15,  1898,  at  Owatonna,  Mr.  Gamble 
married  Miss  Jessie  Farmer,  daughter  of  Amasa 
A.  and  Annette  (Phelps)  Farmer.  Her  father  died 
in  Owatonna,  July  2,  1885,  while  Mrs.  Farmer  is 
now  living  in  Minneapolis.  The  Phelps  family  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  Southern  Minnesota,  promi- 
nent in  the  development  of  the  state  in  early  days, 
and  the  name  is  especially  identified  with  civic 
and  political  affairs  in  Owatonna.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gamble  are  the  parents  of  three  children : Donald 
Phelps,  David  Franklin,  and  Philip  Bruce. 

Willard  L.  Comstock.  On  January  4,  1915,  Wil- 
lard L.  Comstock  assumed  his  duties  as  judge  of  the 
District  Court  at  Mankato.  Judge  Comstock  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  bar  at  Mankato 
for  the  past  twenty-five  years,  during  his  young  man- 
hood served  a term  in  the  State  Legislature,  was 
municipal  judge  for  a number  of  years,  and  in  the 
opinion  of  the  bar  and  the  general  public  as  well  as 
his  immediate  friends  possesses  exceptional  qualifi- 
cations for  the  dignities  and  responsibilities  of  his 
present  office. 

Judge  Willard  L.  Comstock  is  a native  of  Man- 
kato, born  in  that  city  November  24,  1861.  His 
parents  were  Marshall  T.  and  Sarah  E.  (Patten) 
Comstock.  It  is  an  old  American  family.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Thomas  H.  Comstock,  was 
reared  in  Herkimer  County,  New  York,  served  as 
high  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  was  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  his  generation.  The  Patten  family 
were  early  settlers  in  Ohio,  and  had  previously  lived 
in  the  colonies  for  several  generations,  four  men  of 
the  name  having  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Revolu- 
tion and  four  in  the  Civil  war,  one  having  been  in 
the  navy  and  having  died  during  the  war.  The  late 
Marshall  T.  Comstock  was  born  in  Herkimer  County, 
New  York,  in  1827  and  died  at  Mankato,  Minnesota, 
in  1908.  He  came  out  to  Minnesota  in  1853  and  was 
married  at  Mankato  to  Miss  Patten  who  was  born 
in  Eastern  Ohio  near  the  Ohio  River  in  1836,  and  is 
now  living  in  South  Dakota.  Marshall  T.  Comstock 
after  coming  to  Minnesota  engaged  in  the  saw  mill- 
ing industry  for  a time,  and  erected  the  first  sawmill 
in  the  vicinity  of  Mankato.  Later  his  attention  was 


engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and  sleighs 
and  other  implements.  In  the  meantime  his  invest- 
ments had  been  well  placed  in  farm  lands,  and  his 
later  years  were  devoted  to  the  supervision  of  his 
farms.  Judge  Comstock  was  first  in  a family  of  six 
children.  The  daughters  are : Mrs.  E.  J.  Cook  of 
McIntosh,  South  Dakota;  Mrs.  S.  S.  Washburn  of 
Bellingham,  Washington;  Grace  E.,  who  is  an  in- 
structor in  the  well  known  school  for  girls,  Stanley 
Hall,  at  Minneapolis.  The  parents  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  father  was  a 
Mason  and  in  politics  a democrat  and  quite  active  in 
local  affairs. 

Judge  Comstock  received  his  education  in  the 
Mankato  High  School  and  the  Normal  School,  and 
six  years  of  his  early  life  were  spent  as  a teacher. 
He  studied  law  in  the  offices  of  Collester  & Foster 
for  five  years,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May, 
1890.  That  was  twenty-five  years  ago,  and  his  place 
in  the  bar  is  one  of  successful  prominence  and  from 
the  early  years  he  had  a large  and  profitable  practice. 
For  two  years  Judge  Comstock  was  in  partnership 
with  Byron  Hughes,  then  county  attorney  of  Blue 
Earth  County.  He  was  elected  a member  of  the 
State  Legislature  in  1892,  serving  one  term.  A 
democrat,  he  is  regarded  as  an  independent  rather 
than  a strict  party  man.  For  six  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Mankato  school  board,  and  held  the 
office  of  municipal  judge  ten  years.  His  campaign 
for  the  office  of  district  judge  was  made  against  A. 
R.  Pfau,  and  in  the  November  election  of  1914  he 
received  a good  majority. 

In  1890  Judge  Comstock  married  Phila  F.  Fletcher, 
daughter  of  John  Fletcher,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Lake  City,  Minnesota,  conducted  a 
hotel  there  and  afterwards  a grain  dealer.  Judge 
Comstock  and  wife  have  two  children : Philip  F., 

assistant  county  surveyor ; and  Dorothy  L.,  attend- 
ing St.  Mary’s  Hall.  Judge  Comstock’s  family  are 
members  of  St.  John’s  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  , the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  During  the  years  1909-10-11  he  was  grand 
master  workman  in  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  did  much  to  give  this  order  its 
permanent  strength  in  Minnesota.  He  also  served 
in  1904  as  grand  regent  of  the  state  for  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  After  ten  years  of  service  as  a member 
of  the  National  Guard  Mr.  Comstock  retired  with 
the  rank  of  captain  of  Company  F of  the  Second 
Regiment. 

Chelsea  C.  Pratt,  M.  D.  For  ten  years  Doctor 
Pratt  has  been  connected  with  the  work  of  the 
State  Board  of  Health  of  Minnesota,  and  is  now  in 
charge  of  the  laboratory  conducted  by  that  depart- 
ment at  Mankato.  He  is  an  expert  in  laboratory 
analysis,  a graduate  physician,  and  enjoys  an  excel- 
lent reputation  in  his  profession  and  as  a citizen. 
He  is  a young  man  who  paid  his  way  through  college 
by  his  own  work,  and  has  already  realized  some  of 
his  chief  ambitions  in  life. 

Dr.  Chelsea  C.  Pratt  was  born  at  Chippewa  Falls, 
Wisconsin,  June  6,  1877.  He  comes  of  a family 
which  has  been  identified  with  Wisconsin  through 
three  generations  since  the  early  settlements.  His 
grandfather,  who  was  of  Holland-Dutch  descent, 
was  born  in  Wisconsin,  as  was  also  the  father, 
Atlee  D.  Pratt,  who  was  born  in  that  state  in  1850 
and  is  now  living  with  his  son.  Doctor  Pratt,  in 
Mankato.  Doctor  Pratt’s  mother  is  Mary  E. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1653 


(Meyers)  Pratt,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin  in 
1853,  a daughter  of  Charles  G.  Meyers,  who  was 
born  in  England  and  settled  in  Wisconsin  during 
the  ’40s.  Charles  Meyers  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  States  army  from  Wisconsin,  and  went 
through  the  Civil  war,  being  quartermaster  of  his 
regiment.  Atlee  D.  Pratt  and  wife  were  married 
at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  in  1876.  He  was  a graduate 
of  the  University  of  Wisconsin  in  the  law  depart- 
ment, practiced  for  a short  time  at  Madison,  and 
the  year  following  the  Custer  massacre  went  out  to 
live  at  Bismarck,  among  the  Indians  and  the  few 
white  settlers  who  then  populated  the  Dakota  Ter- 
ritory. The  senior  Mr.  Pratt  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  is  a republican  in  politics,  and 
his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children : Dr.  Chelsea  C. ; 

Mrs.  C.  M.  McConn,  whose  husband  is  registrar 
of  the  University  of  Illinois  at  Urbana;  B.  A.  Pratt, 
who  is  a senior  student  in  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota; R.  A.  Pratt,  a civil  engineer  at  Yankton, 
Oregon;  Harlow,  of  Medford,  Oregon;  and 
Margaret,  a student  in  the  University  of  Oregon. 

Doctor  Pratt  received  his  early  education  in  the 
Minneapolis  public  schools,  graduating  from  high 
school,  and  later  working  his  way  through  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  state  university,  where  he  was 
graduated  M.  D.  in  1906.  After  a brief  practice  in 
Minneapolis  he  removed  to  Mankato,  and  now  has 
charge  of  the  State  Board  of  Health  Laboratory 
in  that  city.  He  also  does  a large  amount  of  clini- 
cal work,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  men 
in  the  scientific  side  of  his  profession  in  the  state. 

Doctor  Pratt  was  married  June  5,  1907,  to  Blanche 
Wheeler,  of  Minneapolis.  They  have  two  children : 
Chelsea  Wheeler  Pratt,  born  September  3,  1912;  and 
Wilbur  Carroll,  born  January  5,  1914.  Doctor  Pratt 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
he  is  affiliated  with  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225,  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  with 
the  medical  fraternities,  Nu  Sigma  Nu  and  Sigma 
Alpha  Epsilon.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Peter  M.  Ferguson.  Among  the  telephone  men 
of  Minnesota  one  of  the  best  known  is  Peter  M. 
Ferguson  of  Mankato,  who  has  been  manager  of 
the  business  at  Mankato  for  several  years,  and  his 
prominence  among  telephone  circles  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  he  is  now  on  his  second  term  as  treas- 
urer of  the  Independent  State  Telephone  Company. 

Peter  M.  Ferguson  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, October  24,  1885,  a son  of  William  and  Mary 
(McCauley)  Ferguson.  His  father  owned  a large 
ship  chandlery  business  in  Glasgow,  and  was  a 
victim  of  the  failure  of  the  Glasgow  Bank,  said 
to  have  been  the  only  bank  that  ever  failed  in 
Scotland.  After  this  disaster  he  brought  his  family 
to  Minnesota,  in  1890,  and  is  now  a resident  of 
Aitkin.  He  is  a prosperous  farmer  and  owns  220 
acres  of  good  land.  He  has  also  been  active  in 
republican  politics,  and  at  the  present  time  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  of 
Aitkin  County.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Peter 
McCauley,  a prominent  ship  builder  in  Scotland. 
All  the  eight  children  were  born  in  Scotland,  except 
the  three  youngest.  Their  names  are : Mary,  now 
thirty-eight  years  of  age,  living  in  St.  Paul;  James, 
also  a resident  of  St.  Paul;  Isabelle,  wife  of  Charles 
Demming;  Jessie,  wife  of  William  Blaylock  of  St. 
Paul;  Peter  M. ; William,  aged  twenty- four;  Jennie, 


aged  twenty-two ; and  Duncan,  now  nineteen  years 
of  age. 

Peter  M.  Ferguson  was  five  years  old  when  he 
came  to  America,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  St.  Paul  public  schools,  graduating  from  high 
school  in  1900.  His  first  occupation  was  as  an 
office  boy  in  the  Northwestern  Telephone  Exchange, 
and  he  has  thus  been  identified  with  one  line  of 
business  all  his  practical  career.  He  rose  to  the 
position  of  superintendent  of  switchboards  and  for 
the  past  six  years  has  been  manager  of  the  Mankato 
Citizens’  Telephone  System. 

Mr.  Ferguson  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  12  of 
the  Masons,  with  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  has 
an  official  post  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Relig- 
iously he  is  a Scotch  Presbyterian'  and  in  politics 
a republican. 

Mr.  Ferguson  married  Lydia  Ludwig  of  St.  Paul, 
a daughter  of  Ferdinand  and  Christine  Ludwig. 
The  Ludwig  family  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
St.  Paul,  and  the  old  homestead  first  located  by 
them  is  now  in  the  center  of  the  most  fashionable 
residence  district  of  the  city.  Ferdinand  Ludwig 
was  one  of  the  members  of  the  first  fire  department 
of  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Ferguson  and  wife  have  one  child, 
Peter  M.,  now  two  years  of  age. 

George  E.  Nettleton.  Probably  no  education  in 
Mankato  has  a more  practical  relation  to  the  business 
community  and  to  the  individual  welfare  of  many 
young  men  and  women  than  the  Mankato  Commer- 
cial College,  of  which  George  E.  Nettleton  has  been 
the  secretary  and  treasurer  for  the  past  fifteen  years. 
Mr.  Nettleton  has  made  education  his  life  work,  and 
it  has  been  his  aim  and  successful  achievement  to 
make  his  school  at  Mankato  as  thoroughly  equipped 
and  as  complete  in  every  detail  as  any  commercial 
college  in  the  Northwest. 

Mr.  Nettleton  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  born  in 
Lesueur  County,  April  22,  1861,  a son  of  Edward 
F.  and  Elizabeth  (Stone)  Nettleton.  The  Nettleton 
family  came  originally  from  England,  and  grand- 
father Lehman  Nettleton  was  a native  of  New 
York  State  and  spent  his  life  there.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Simon  S.  Stone,  was  born  in  Canada, 
moved  to  Minnesota  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  days 
as  a farmer  in  Scott  County.  Elizabeth  (Stone) 
Nettleton  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec, 
Canada,  in  1832,  and  died  in.  1891.  Edward  F. 
Nettleton  was  born  at  Albion,  New  York,  in  1830 
and  died  in  1904.  He  is  numbered  among  the 
pioneers  of  Lesueur  County,  having  taken  up  a 
homestead  there  in  1856,  and  the  rest  of  his  days 
were  devoted  to  its  cultivation.  For  many  years 
he  was  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church,  but 
later  became  a Seventh  Day  Adventist.  Politically 
a republican,  he  served  a number  of  years  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  was  also  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
having  enlisted  in  1861  in  Company  G of  the  Tenth 
Minnesota  Regiment,  and  serving  until  mustered 
out  in  1864.  During  the  various  campaigns  in  which 
he  participated  in  the  South  he  twice  suffered  a 
sunstroke,  and  the  last  year  of  his  military  service 
was  assigned  as  a cook.  There  were  four  children 
in  the  family:  George  E. ; William  F.  is  now  head 
miller  at  New  Richland,  Minnesota;  Luella  South- 
wick  lives  at  Alexandria,  Minnesota ; and  Theron  S. 
is  a bookkeeper  and  office  man  at  Fort  Worth,  Texas. 

George  E.  Nettleton  had  the  advantages  of  public 
schools  during  his  youth,  but  had  to  work  out  his 


1654 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


own  salvation  from  an  early  age,  and  educated  him- 
self largely  through  the  means  secured  by  his  own 
efforts.  For  three  years  he  was  a student  in  the 
Mankato  Normal  School,  was  employed  as  a teacher 
in  the  rural  schools  three  years,  and  then  spent  the 
winter  of  1884-85  in  the  Gem  City  Business  College 
at  Quincy,  Illinois.  For  thirty  years  he  has  held 
positions  as  an  instructor  or  as  an  executive  in  a 
number  of  different  schools.  For  three  years  he 
taught  in  Johnson’s  Business  College  in  St.  Louis, 
for  three  years  in  Brown’s  Business  College  at 
Peoria,  Illinois,  for  nine  years  was  connected  with 
the  Brown’s  College  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  and 
also  held  positions  as  principal  of  schools  at  both 
Peoria  and  Jacksonville.  Mr.  Nettleton  located  at 
Mankato  in  1899  and  bought  a half  interest  in  the 
Mankato  Commercial  College,  which  he  still  owns. 
The  enrollment  in  this  school  during  1914  was  860 
pupils,  and  during  the  present  school  year  this  number 
will  be  still  larger.  The  college  was  established  in 
1891,  and  its  influence  and  success  have  been  steadily 
growing,  particularly  during  the  past  fifteen  years. 
Students  are  enrolled  from  twelve  different  states 
of  the  Union,  and  some  even  from  Canada. 

Mr.  Nettleton  was  married,  September  19,  1883, 
to  Emma  E.  Hodge,  a daughter  of  William  B. 
Hodge,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Man- 
kato. To  their  marriage  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren : George  IT,  who  for  three  years  was  in  the 

insurance  department  of  the  State  of  Minnesota 
and  is  now  state  inspector  of  buildings  at  St.  Paul ; 
Neva,  wife  of  Myron  M.  Weisenberger,  pastor  of 
Olivet  Methodist  Church  in  Minneapolis ; Edward 
Paul,  bookkeeper  and  stenographer  for  J.  C.  Mar- 
low of  Mankato ; Elizabeth  L.  and  Ruth  Darling, 
both  of  whom  are  students  in'  the  Asbupy  College 
at  Wilmore,  Kentucky. 

Mr.  Nettleton  was  reared  in  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  is  a local  preacher  in  the  denomination.  He  is 
recording  secretary  of  the  official  board  of  the 
Centenary  Methodist  Eoiscopal  Church  at  Mankato. 
He  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  12,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
and  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  Royal  Arcanum. 
Politically  he  is  a republican.  His  interest  in  and 
experience  in  educational  affairs  have  made  him- 
a valuable  worker  in  different  organizations,  and 
he  has  interested  himself  personally  in  the  Mankato 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  in  which  he  is  a director  and  recording 
secretary. 

Fred  J.  Busch.  One  of  the  commercial  establish- 
ments which  have  given  rank  and  standing  to 
Mankato  as  a distributing  center  is  the  A.  J.  Busch 
Company,  wholesale  grocers,  of  which  Fred  J. 
Busch  is  now  president  and  general  manager.  This 
business  has  a history  of  about  thirty  years.  The 
energy  of  father  and  sons  has  gone  into  the  estab- 
lishment, and  from  a retail  store  its  relations  have 
been  expanded  until  now  four  traveling  salesmen 
represent  the  house  and  distribute  its  goods  all  over 
the  state.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are : 
Fred  J.  Busch,  president;  Francis  Busch,  vice  presi- 
dent, and  John  McKasy,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Fred  J.  Busch,  the  present  executive  of  the  com- 
pany, was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  March  12, 
1863,  but  has  spent  nearly  all  his  life  in  Minnesota. 
His  parents  were  Antone  J.  and  Frances  (Schutte) 
Busch,  both  natives  of  Germany.  The  grandfather 
was  Fred  Busch,  a native  of  Germany,  where  at  one 
time  he  was  a stage  driver,  but  subsequently  came 
to  the  United  States  and  died  at  Red  Wing  in 


Minnesota.  Antone  J.  Busch,  who  was  the  founder 
of  the  A.  J.  Busch  & Co.  Wholesale  Grocery  House, 
and  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent 
business  leaders  in  Mankato,  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1837  and  died  at  Mankato,  April  22,  1914.  He 
married  at  St.  Louis,  in  April,  1862,  Frances  Schutte, 
who  was  born  in  1837  and  is  still  living.  Antone  J. 
Busch  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  to  join  an  older  brother,  who  was 
at  that  time  in  the  bakery  business  in  Chicago. 
From  there  the  brothers  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  he 
was  a baker  in  that  city  until  1863.  He  then  removed 
to  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  went  on  a farm,  on 
account  of  poor  health,  enjoyed  a steadily  growing 
prosperity,  ■ and  in  1876  removed  to  Mankato.  He 
lived  somewhat  retired  for  a year  or  so,  and  then 
invested  his  capital  in  a large  building,  which  was 
rented  for  mercantile  purposes.  Later  on  he  formed 
a partnership  with  Peter  Miller,  who  lived  only  a 
year  and  a half,  leaving  the  sole  responsibility  to 
Mr.  Busch.  He  had  the  business  judgment  and 
energy  required  for  successful  merchandising,  and 
under  the  name  of  A.  J.  Busch  the  establishment 
enjoyed  continuous  prosperity.  His  son,  Fred  J. 
Busch,  became  a partner  in  the  enterprise  in  1884, 
and  thereafter  the  title  of  the  firm  was  A.  J.  Busch 
& Son.  It  was  continued  as  a retail  store  until 
1899,  but  has  since  grown  into  one  of  the  chief 
wholesale  houses  west  of  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis. 
Antone  J.  Busch  was  a vigorous  factor  in  Mankato 
commercial  and  civic  affairs  for  many  years.  He 
was  a member  of  the  German  Catholic  Church  and 
a democrat  in  politics.  He  served  on  the  Mankato 
School  Board,  had  interests  in  the  Citizens  Fire 
Insurance  Company  and  was  president  of  its  board 
of  directors,  and  also  was  a director  in  the  First 
National  Bank.  Though  he  was  recognized  as  a 
successful  man  for  many  years  before  his  death, 
his  start  in  life  had  been  as  a poor  boy,  and  in 
addition  to  other  handicaps  had  to  overcome  those 
of  unfamiliarity  with  the  English  language  and  with 
American  customs.  Fred  J.  Busch  is  the  oldest  of 
six  children,  and  the  others  are:  Bertha,  wife  of 

George  Kline,  in  the  furniture  business  at  Mankato ; 
Henry,  a resident  of  California;  Frank  J.,  a Man- 
kato undertaker;  Mary,  wife  of  John  McKasy,  who 
lives  in  Lesueur ; and  Joseph,  who  is  associated  in 
the  wholesale  grocery  house  with  his  brother. 

Fred  J.  Busch  was  an  infant  when  the  family 
removed  to  Minnesota,  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  Mankato  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  was  taken  into  the  business  as  a partner  with  his 
father.  On  February  7,  1893,  he  married  Josephine 
Hillesheim  of  Mankato,  daughter  of  Henry  Hille- 
sheim,  who  was  an  early  settler  of  Mankato  and  a 
wagon  maker  by  trade.  To  their  marriage  have  been 
born  five  sons : Louis,  who  is  employed  in  the  City 

National  Bank;  Joseph,  clerk  in  a clothing  store; 
Edmund,  attending  parochial  schools : Raymond  and 
William,  also  school  boys.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Busch 
is  an  independent  democrat.  Mr.  Busch,  who  has 
followed  the  example  of  his  father  as  a vigorous  ex- 
ponent of  Mankato’s  commercial  and  civic  advan- 
tages, can  always  be  found  aligned  with  the  most 
progressive  workers  for  his  community's  welfare. 

Walter  A.  Plymat.  The  name  Plymat  has  been 
well  known  in  legal  circles  at  Mankato  for  a number 
of  years,  both  Walter  A.  and  his  father  having  been 
regarded  among  the  successful  lawyers  during  this 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1655 


time.  Walter  A.  Plymat  is  one  of  the  most 
industrious  men  in  his  profession,  and  while  enjoy- 
ing a good  general  practice  has  also  come  in  for 
some  of  the  responsibilities  and  honors  that  belong 
particularly  to  men  in  his  profession. 

Walter  A.  Plymat  was  born  in  Mapleton  Township 
of  Blue  Earth  County  on  Christmas  Day  of  1877. 
His  parents  were  William  M.  and  Mary  E.  (Young) 
Plymat.  His  grandfather  was  Alexander  Plymat,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  moved  out  to  Wiscon- 
sin in  the  early  days,  later  to  Minnesota,  and  spent 
his  last  years  in  California.  The  maternal  grand- 
parents were  Richard  and  Rachael  Young,  natives 
of  New  Brunswick,  and  among  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Wisconsin,  from  which  state  they  removed  to 
Minnesota,  and  Richard  Young,  who  was  a farmer 
in  Blue  Earth  County,  died  there  at  a good  old  age. 
William  N.  Plymat  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
July,  1845,  and  died  in  1907.  His  wife,  who  was 
born  in  Wisconsin,  October  13,  1847,  is  still  living, 
with  home  at  Mankato.  They  were  married  at 
Garden  City,  Minnesota,  November  26,  1866.  Wil- 
liam M.  Plymat  came  to  Minnesota  with  the  early 
settlers  of  the  state  in  1862,  and  located  on  a farm 
in  Garden  City  Township.  His  career  was  one  of 
varied  experience  and  activity.  In  1863  he  enlisted 
in  Company  B of  Beckett’s  Minnesota  Cavalry,  and 
was  with  his  command  until  mustered  out  and 
honorably  discharged  on  June  1,  1866.  His  regiment 
was  in  the  South  during  the  first  two  years  of  the 
war,  participated  in  many  campaigns,  and  afterwards 
was  sent  out  to  do  duty  in  the  bad  lands  of  Dakota, 
and  they  were  among  the  first  to  go  through  that 
broken  section  of  country.  After  the  war  Mr. 
Plymat  returned  to  Minnesota,  was  a homesteader  in 
Mapleton  Township,  read  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  taught  school,  but  from  1880  to  the  time  of  his 
death  was  actively  engaged  in  practice  of  the  legal 
profession.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in 
which  he  was  commander  of  the  post  a number  of 
terms,  was  a trustee  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
grand  trustee  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge.  In 
politics  he  was  a republican,  and  for  a year  and  a 
half  held  the  office  of  municipal  judge  of  Mankato. 
His  widow  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children:  Genevieve 

Mechelke,  a widow  who  is  now  teaching  school  in 
Duluth;  Mrs.  L.  W.  Wells,  who  lives  in  Cheyenne 
Wells,  Colorado,  where  her  husband  is  a merchant; 
Harry  E.,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Rolla, 
North  Dakota;  and  Walter  A. 

Walter  A.  Plymat  has  lived  in  Mankato  since  early 
childhood,  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  there 
in  1895,  and  in  1899  took  his  degree  bachelor  of 
science  from  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  two 
years  later  became  a bachelor  of  laws  from  the 
university  law  department.  After  one  year  of  prac- 
tice at  Madelia  Mr.  Plymat  came  to  Mankato,  and 
was  associated  with  his  father  in  practice  until  the 
latter’s  death.  Since  then  he  has  managed  his  office 
according  to  his  own  convenience  and  has  handled  a 
large  volume  of  litigation. 

On  September  20,  1904,  Mr.  Plymat  married  Ida 
F.  Robel  of  Blue  Earth  County.  They  have  one 
son,  William  N.,  now  3Jd  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Plymat 
is  a member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  while  Mr. 
Plymat  is  of  the  Episcopal  faith. 

Mr.  Plymat  has  held  some  of  the  important  offices 
in  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,,  is  a 

Vol.  HI— 25 


past  chancellor  commander  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  a past  master  workman  in  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  has  affiliations  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  the  D.  D.  H.  S.  Politi- 
cally a republican,  Mr.  Plymat  has  given  considerable 
time  to  public  office,  and  for  four  years,  from  1906 
to  1910,  was  county  attorney.  He  has  been  special 
judge  at  Mankato  since  1911,  and  is  now  serving  as 
municipal  judge  of  Mankato.  Mr.  Plymat  is  well 
remembered  in  university  circles  in  Minneapolis 
where  he  was  active  not  only  in  the  usual  student 
affairs  but  for  five  years  played  on  the  university 
baseball  team,  from  1897  to  1901. 

Frank  E.  Wade.  The  life  of  Frank  E.  Wade  is 
the  career  of  a strong  man,  one  who  has  accom- 
plished some  big  things  and  always  in  a large  way. 
Mr.  Wade  for  a number  of  years  has  had  his  home 
and  business  headquarters  in  Fairmont,  where  he  is 
known  as  president  of  the  Fairmont  National  Bank 
and  president  of  the  Fairmont  Gas  Engine  and  Rail- 
way Motor  Car  Company.  In  the  past  thirty-five 
years  that  cover  his  practical  career  he  has  bepn  an 
engineer,  a contractor  and  builder,  a merchant,  a 
public  official,  traveling  salesman,  and  miner,  and 
now  as  a banker  and  financier  is  at  the  head  of  some 
of  the  most  important  business  enterprises  in  South- 
ern Minnesota  and  has  numerous  relations  with  com- 
panies operating  outside  the  state. 

Frank  E.  Wade  was  born  at  Whitehall,  Wisconsin, 
March  6,  1862.  The  Wade  family  came  originally 
from  England,  settled  in  New  York  and  New 
Jersey,  and  some  of  the  family  connections  of 
Mr.  Wade  are  with  old  Ben  Wade,  a notable 
figure  in  democratic  politics  and  public  affairs 
many^  years  ago,  and  others  of  the  family  were 
prominent  in  the  City  of  Cleveland,  and  it  was 
a Wade  who  built  the  first  telegraph  line  across 
the  continent  to  California.  Edward  F.  Wade, 
father  of  the  Fairmont  banker,  was  born  at  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  in  1842,  and  died  at  Fairmont,  Minne- 
sota, in  August,  1911.  His  was  an  active  and  varied 
career.  In  early  life  he  moved  out  to  Rock  Prairie, 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1872  to  Cedarville,  and  established 
his  home  in  Fairmont  in  1881.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  for  three  years  a member  of  the  Thir- 
tieth Wisconsin  Infantry,  with  the  rank  of  captain, 
for  a number  of  years  held  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer of  Trempealeau  County,  Wisconsin,  and  after 
moving  to  Martin  County,  Minnesota,  lived  on  a 
farm  for  a time,  and  then  for  eighteen  years  was 
clerk  of  court  in  that  county.  He  subsequently  be- 
came a justice  of  the  peace,  an  insurance  agent  and 
acted  as  attorney  in  the  handling  of  land  matters 
and  for  old  soldiers’  pensions.  Edward  F.  Wade 
married  Miss  Amelia  A.  Sherwood,  who  was  born 
at  Whitehall,  Wisconsin,  in  1843,  and  is  still  living, 
with  home  at  Fairmont. 

Frank  E.  Wade  spent  his  youth  in  several  different 
places,  attending  public  school  at  Galesville,  Wiscon- 
sin, in  Martin  County,  and  also  in  Fairmont  Village. 
He  also  had  a course  in  the  Curtis  Business  College 
at  St.  Paul.  His  natural  disposition  and  energy  took 
him  into  affairs  at  an  early  age.  Under  C.  F. 
Loweth,  who  is  now  chief  engineer  of  the  Milwaukee 
railway,  he  had  considerable  engineering  practice 
and  instruction,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  in  1881, 
became  connected  with  G.  W.  Sherwood  & Co.,  a 
firm  engaged  in  the  building  of  bridges  along  the 
Mississippi  River.  That  was  his  line  of  work  until 


1656 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1886,  the  firm  being  Sherwood,  Sutherland  & Fitz, 
of  St.  Paul.  Before  he  had  reached  his  majority 
he  was  superintendent  of  construction,  with  370  men 
under  him,  and  in  full  charge  of  bridge  construction. 

In  1887  Mr.  Wade  moved  to  Primghar,  Iowa,  con- 
ducted -a  general  store  there  under  the  name  of 
Herrick  & Wade  for  a year,  and  then  moved  to 
Sheldon,  Iowa.  For  a number  of  years  Mr.  Wade 
was  prominently  identified  with  O’Brien  County, 
Iowa,  and  is  well  remembered  in  that  section.  He 
did  general  building  and  contracting,  and  as  engi- 
neer made  plans  and  specifications,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  construction  of  water  works.  For  twelve  years 
Mr.  Wade  served  as  county  surveyor  of  O’Brien 
County.  Another  employment  which  furnished  him 
the  experience  now  utilized  in  the  Fairmont  Gas 
Engine  and  Railway  Motor  Car  Company,  was  as 
general  salesman  with  Fairbanks,  Morse  & Company 
of  Chicago.  While  selling  goods  for  that  company 
he  also  assisted  to  perfect  the  engines  manufactured 
by  that  well  known  firm.  During  the  year  1899, 
of  all  the  men  traveling  from  the  eighteen  sales 
agencies  of  the  company,  Mr.  Wade  sold  the  largest 
number  of  gasoline  engines,  and  this  distinction 
in  competition  with  other  salesmen  gave  him  a prize 
of  a hundred  dollars  offered  for  the  largest  aggre- 
gate of  sales. 

Mr.  Wade  laid  the  substantial  basis  of  his  fortune 
in  the  mining  district  of  the  Black  Hills.  He  went 
into  that  region  in  1902,  and  was  one  of  the  inter- 
ested principals  in  the  Home  Stake  Mining  Company, 
and  was  also  connected  with  the  Globe  Gold  Mining 
Company  from  1902  to  1906.  Returning  to  Fairmont 
in  1906,  Mr.  Wade’s  first  efforts  were  in  assuming  the 
management  and  the  rehabilitation  of  the  Water  and 
Light  Commission,  and  he  is  still  connected  with 
that  important  local  municipal  plant.  In  the  same 
year  he  also  engaged  in  the  banking  business,  estab- 
lishing the  Fairmont  National  Bank,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  its  president.  This  bank  has  a capital 
stock  of  $25,000,  with  a surplus  of  $4,000,  and  the 
banking  house  is  situated  on  North  Avenue,  Fair- 
mont. 

The  largest  industrial  establishment  in  Martin 
County  is  the  Fairmont  Gas  Engine  and  Railway 
Motor  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Wade  is  president, 
and  in  the  upbuilding  of  which  he  has  concentrated 
his  broad  and  thorough  experience.  At  the  present 
time  a new  factory  is  being  erected  on  Fifth  Street, 
a building  300  by  80  feet.  The  group  of  buildings 
include  a factory  420  by  40  feet ; a shop  building 
180  by  40  feet;  a foundry.  130  by  46 ; a core  room 
80  by  26;  and  also  general  offices,  the  entire  plant 
fronting  on  Fifth  Street  for  a distance  of  a quarter 
of  a mile.  The  older  buildings  are  now  used  for 
store  rooms.  This  company  manufactures  the  Fair- 
mont Gasoline  Engines.  Mr.  Wade  has  not  only 
done  much  to  perfect  this  engine  in  its  mechanical 
details,  but  more  than  anyone  else  has  by  his  ag- 
gressive salesmanship  opened  up  a splendid  field 
for  the  use  of  the  factory’s  output.  At  the  present 
time  the  company  supplies  more  than  four  hundred 
of  the  important  railways  and  their  subsidiary  lines 
with  all  the  gasoline  engines  required  for  the  dif- 
ferent departments  of  the  service.  Thus  the  Fair- 
mont engine  is  the  type  employed  in  the  majority 
of  all  the  railways  in  the  United  States.  The  company 
has  an  authorized  capital  of  $1,000,000,  with  a paid- 
up  capital  of  $350,000. 

Mr.  Wade  is  also  president  of  the  Fairmont  Boat 
Company,  which  is  incorporated  with  a capital  of 


$14,000,  and  under  his  management  it  has  been  made 
a growing  concern,  principally  a public  enterprise  for 
boating,  fishing,  outing,  etc.  He  is  also  secretary  of 
the  Southern  Florida  Land  Company,  and  is  a vice 
president  in  the  labasco  Plantation  Company,  the 
largest  sugar  manufacturing  plant  in  Mexico,  and 
the  only  industry  of  that  kind  which  during  the  past 
year  made  financial  profits,  notwithstanding  the  un- 
settled political  conditions  in  the  southern  republic. 

Mr.  Wade  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Science 
Church.  Politically  a republican,  he  is  and  has  been 
chairman  of  the  State  Central  Committee  for  the 
past  ten  years.  In  1915  he  was  elected  mayor  and 
forced  them  to  start  paving  the  streets,  notwithstand- 
ing objections.  While  business  affairs  have  not  al- 
lowed him  to  engage  in  public  service  to  any  impor- 
tant extent  in  recent  years,  Mr.  Wade  made  a spe- 
cially noteworthy  record  in  the  office  of  fish  and 
game  warden.  On  account  of  the  abundance  of  its 
game  resources,  public  opinion  in  Minnesota  has  been 
notably  lax  in  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  for  pro- 
tection of  game,  and  in  few  places  have  the  wardens 
been  efficient  and  sufficiently  courageous  to  oppose 
this  public  opinion.  However,  Mr.  Wade  was  a 
notable  exception  to  this  rule,  and  proved  himself 
entirely  fearless  in  the  enforcement  of  the  law,  and 
while  in  office  prosecuted  and  convicted  seven  offend- 
ers, and  his  work  did  much  to  educate  the  people  to 
the  needs  of  proper  law  enforcement  in  the  con- 
servation of  fish  and  game  resources. 

Mr.  Wade  is  a member  of  the  Commercial  Club 
of  Fairmont  and  the  Minneapolis  Commercial  Club, 
and  is  vice  president  of  the  Federation  of  Commer- 
cial Clubs  of  the  state.  He  is  also  affiliated  with 
Chain  Lake  Lodge  No.  64,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Fairmont 
Chapter  No.  50,  R.  A.  M. ; Fairmont  Commandery 
No.  27,  K.  T. ; Zurah  Temple  of  the  Nobles  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine  at  Minneapolis;  with  Fairmont  lodges 
of  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and 
with  the  United  Commercial  Travelers  at  Sheldon, 
Iowa. 

On  January  2,  1888,  at  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Wade 
married  Miss  Georgia  St.  John,  daughter  of  Adam 
St.  John,  now  deceased,  who  was  a farmer  at  Wel- 
come, Minnesota.  Mrs.  Wade  was  born  in  Lyle, 
Moyer  County,  Minnesota.  Their  children  are : 
Harold  E.,  who  graduated  from  the  public  schools 
at  Fairmont  and  for  three  years  was  a student  in 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  is  now  purchasing 
agent  for  the  Fairmont  Gas  Engine  and  Railway 
Motor  Car  Company;  Fern  O.,  who  graduated  from 
the  Fairmont  High  School  and  from  the  Flandicraft 
Guild  at  Minneapolis,  was  for  some  time  a student 
in  the  Chicago  Art  School  and  is  now  a student  of 
vocal  music  in  Chicago;  Helene  G.  is  a student  in 
the  Principia  School  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Hon.  Ralph  J.  Parker  is  considered  one  of  the 
able  and  reliable  lawyers  of  his  district.  He  is 
located  at  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  County,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  has  been  in  practice  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  having  come  here  soon  after  graduating 
from  the  state  university,  and  throughout  his  career 
has  made  himself  effective  on  the  basis  of  merit 
and  proved  ability.  Mr.  Parker  has  recently  been 
elected  a member  of  the  Legislature. 

He  was  born  at  Frankford,  in  Mower  County, 
Minnesota,  December  17,  1867,  a son  of  W.  H. 
and  Hannah  (Wiseman)  Parker.  His  father  -was 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1657 


born  in  New  York  State  in  1824,  a son  of  William 
Parker,  of  that  state.  The  father  died  in  1889.  The 
mother  was  born  in  England,  a daughter  of  Phillip 
Wiseman,  who  came  from  England  and  settled  near 
Berlin,  Wisconsin,  on  a farm  in  the  early  '50s.  The 
mother  is  still  living,  having  her  home  in  California. 
The  parents  moved  out  to  Minnesota  in  1858,  when 
it  was  still  a territory,  and  located  on  a farm  in 
Mower  County.  The  father  was  a man  who  at  that 
time  had  practically  no  capital,  but  before  his  death 
was  the  owner  of  a well  improved  estate  of  500 
acres.  During  his  career  in  Mower  County  he  held 
several  township  offices,  and  was  at  one  time  county 
commissioner.  His  wife  was  active  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  There  were  six  children,  and  the 
four  now  living  are : Carrie,  living  with  her  mother 

in  California;  Ralph  J. ; Mrs.  W.  H.  Goodsell,  whose 
husband  is  an  extensive  farmer  in  Mower  County, 
owning  1,000  acres  of  land  in  that  section;  and 
Mrs.  Dora  Walker,  who  lives  in  California. 

Ralph  J.  Parker  was  educated  in  the  Spring 
Valley  public  schools,  and  after  finishing  the  high 
school  course  and  earning  some  money  of  his  own 
he  entered  the  University  of  Minnesota  and  gradu- 
ated in  1890  in  the  first  class  that  finished  the  law 
course.  After  his  graduation  he  remained  about  a 
year  working  as  clerk  for  a law  firm  in  Minneapolis, 
and  in  1892  opened  an  office  in  Spring  Valley.  For 
twenty  years  he  practiced  as  an  individual,  and  in 
1913  took  into  partnership  Ludwig  Gullickson. 

In  1909  Mr.  Parker  married  Caroline  Hendershot, 
who  was  born  in  Spring  Valley.  Her  father,  David 
Hendershot,  was  a very  early  settler  in  Minnesota, 
and  by  trade  was  a blacksmith  and  liveryman.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Parker  have  one  child,  Suzanne,  now  at- 
tending school.  Fraternally  he  has  taken  the  York 
Rite  degrees  in  Masonry,  and  is  a member  of  the 
Lodge,  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  the  Knight 
Templar  Commandery.  Almost  since  establishing  a 
home  in  Fillmore  County  he  has  been  active  in 
republican  politics,  and  served  for  six  years  as  county 
attorney.  In  1914  he  was  a successful  candidate 
for  representative  from  Houston  and  Fillmore 
counties.  As  a lawyer  Mr.  Parker  has  for  a num- 
ber of  years  had  all  the  business  he  could  attend  to. 
He  is  a director  in  the  First  State  and  in  the  First 
National  banks  of  Spring  Valley  and  also  represents 
these  institutions  as  attorney. 

Thomas  H.  Bunn.  The  official  distinction  of 
Thomas  H.  Bunn  as  postmaster  at  Pine  Island  is 
only  one  of  many  marks  of  a successful  business 
career,  which,  beginning  as  a clerk,  has  brought 
him  to  independent  success  as  a merchant  and  has 
left  him  with  ample  material  prosperity  and  full 
opportunity  to  serve  his  community.  Mr.  Bunn  was 
made  postmaster  at  Pine  Island  under  the  present 
administration  on  July  1,  1914.  Though  now  retired 
from  merchandising,  he  is  the  owner  of  a creamery 
at  Pine  Island,  and  still  has  his  father’s  old  home- 
stead in  the  county. 

On  that  homestead  Thomas  H.  Bunn  was  born 
October  12,  1866.  His  parents  were  Isaac  and 
Cynthia  (Criley)  Bunn.  The  Bunn  family  is  of 
Holland-Dutch  ancestry,  and  was  established  in  this 
country  by  three  brothers  about  300  years  ago.  A 
great-great-grandfather  of  Thomas  H.  Bunn  was  a 
soldier  on  the  American  side  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-nine  years. 
The  maternal  grandfather  was  Karl  Criley,  a native 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  moved  west  to  Illinois  and  died 


in  that  state.  Isaac  Bunn  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1817  and  died  in  1887,  and  his  wife  was  born 
in  the  same  state  in  1827  and  died  in  1907.  They 
were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  ten  of  whom 
are  living,  and  Thomas  H.  is  the  eleventh  in  order 
of  birth.  Isaac  Bunn  was  one  of  Minnesota’s 
pioneers,  moving  to  the  territory  in  1856  and  getting 
120  acres  of  land  from  the  Government.  That 
homestead  was  the  scene  of  his  activities  and  his 
residence  until  his  death.  Isaac  Bunn  was  the  son 
of  Benjamin  Bunn,  who  spent  all  his  life  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Isaac  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  in  politics  a democrat. 

Thomas  H.  Bunn  grew  up  in  Goodhue  County, 
was  educated  in  the  .common  schools,  and  after 
working  as  a farmer  until  eighteen  found  a position 
as  clerk  in  a drug  store.  His  knowledge  of  the 
business  and  experience  in  merchandising  enabled 
him,  in  1892,  to  buy  the  store,  and  he  conducted  it 
successfully  for  more  than  twenty  years  until  selling 
out  in  February  in  1913.  In  1892  Mr.  Bunn  married 
Florence  Miller,  daughter  of  Charles  R.  Miller,  of 
New  York  State.  They  have  one  son,  Lloyd,  who 
is  now  a student  in  the  state  university  of  Minnesota. 
Mr.  Bunn  is  a trustee  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  Masonic 
Lodge  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  For  a number  of  years  the  demo- 
crats of  Goodhue  County  have  considered  him  a 
leader,  and  through  his  private  business  and  influ- 
ence as  a citizen  it  has  been  possible  for  him  to 
promote  in  many  ways  the  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity. 

William  L.  Craddock,  M.  D.  For  a period  of 
more  than  a quarter  of  a century  Doctor  Craddock 
has  quietly  and  efficiently  performed  his  services  as 
a physician  at  the  Village  of  Pine  Island  and  vicinity. 
A man  of  high  standing  in  his  profession,  the  town 
and  township  has  reason  for  congratulation  that  he 
chose  to  spend  his  career  in  a country  community 
where  the  opportunities  for  service  are  just  as  great 
as  in  a city,  and  where  he  has  enjoyed  many  of  the 
rewards  of  community  esteem  in  a richer  degree 
than  are  ever  paid  to  the  city  practitioner. 

Dr.  William  L.  Craddock  is  a native  of  Ireland, 
born  March  29,  1858,  a son  of  George  and  Margaret 
(Kelly)  Craddock.  As  he  left  Ireland  at  the  age 
of  ten  with  his  sister,  and  has  since  made  his  home 
in  America,  Doctor  Craddock  never  knew  his  parents 
after  that  time.  His  early  youth  was  spent  with 
an  uncle  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  attended  the  city 
schools,  took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  and  in  1879 
was  graduated  M.  D.  from  the  Philadelphia  Medical 
College.  His  early  experience  was  in  metropolitan 
practice  at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  but  in  1887  he  came 
west  and  located  at  Pine  Island,  and  there  is  no 
adequate  measure  for  the  usefulness  of  his  profes- 
sional services  in  that  community  since  the  begin- 
ning of  his  practice.  While  he  has  done  a great  deal 
of  unremunerated  work,  Doctor  Craddock  has  also 
been  successful  in  business,  and  has  enjoyed  some 
of  the  distinctions  of  public  life.  For  a number  of 
years  he  has  served  as  health  officer,  also  as  mayor 
of  Pine  Island,  but  it  is  as  Doctor  Craddock  that 
he  is  best  known  and  esteemed  over  the  country 
about  Pine  Island.  Doctor  Craddock  owns  a farm 
and  has  always  enjoyed  farm  work  and  has  done 
something  to  advance  rural  prosperity  in  his  section. 
In  politics  he  is  a republican  and  he  is  a member  of 
the  Goodhue  County  Medical  Society. 


1658 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


In  1889  Doctor  Craddock  married  Mary  O’Neill, 
who  was  born  in  Wisconsin.  To  their  marriage 
have  been  born  four  children : Catherine,  who  has 
finished  the  work  of  the  public  schools;  Helen, 
Margaret  and  William  J.,  all  attending  school. 

John  H.  Towey.  Now  filling  the  office  of  post- 
master at  Stewartville,  Olmsted  County,  John  H. 
Towey  is  a native  son  of  Olmsted  County,  where 
his  parents  were  early  settlers,  and  his  business 
career  as  a merchant  and  his  faithful  service  and 
public  spirited  attitude  in  all  the  relations  of  life 
have  well  justified  his  recent  appointment  to  his 
present  office. 

John  H.  Towey  was  born  in  Olmsted  County, 
June  10,  1874,  and  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Catherine 
(Grady)  Towey,  still  reside  on  their  well  improved 
farm  in  High  Forest  Township.  Thomas  Towey 
was  born  in  Ireland  in  1834  and  his  wife  in  the 
same  country  in  1837.  They  were  married  in  Wis- 
consin in  1859.  The  paternal  grandfather  spent  all 
his  life  in  Ireland,  while  the  maternal  grandfather 
Grady  was  a resident  of  Olmsted  County,  Minne- 
sota, at  the  time  of  his  death.  Thomas  Towey  came 
to  Olmsted  County  nearly  half  a century  ago,  and 
is  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  citizens  and  rep- 
resentative farmers  of  the  county.  He  is  a stanch 
democrat,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  Of  the  ten  children  John 
H.  was  the  seventh,  and  the  six  others  still  living 
are:  Mrs.  Peter  M.  Burns,  wife  of  a successful 

farmer  in  the  State  of  Montana ; Hugh,  an  Olmsted 
County  farmer;  Mrs.  Thomas  Warren,  who  lives  on 
a farm  near  Rochester  in  Olmsted  County;  Cath- 
erine, living  at  home;  Agnes,  now  in  Montana;  and 
Thomas  F.,  a farmer  in  Olmsted  County. 

John  H.  Towey  grew  up  on  a farm,  and  his  early 
education  came  from  the  district  schools.  Though 
many  years  of  his  active  career  have  been  spent  an  a 
merchant,  he  continues  loyal  to  his  early  influences 
and  was  a farmer  until  the  spring  of  1896.  At  that 
date  he  established  his  home  in  Stewartville,  and  in 
partnership  with  Albert  T.  Danielson  engaged  in 
the  furniture  and  undertaking  business.  The  part- 
nership was  continued  nearly  three  years,  following 
which,  for  eighteen  months,  Thomas  A.  Nelson  was 
the  partner  of  Mr.  Towey.  Since  that  time  Mr. 
Towey  has  conducted  the  enterprise  in  an  individual 
way,  and  has  an  establishment  well  equipped  and 
with  a large  and  representative  patronage. 

Mr.  Towey  has  been  specially  active  in  local  poli- 
tics as  an  advocate  of  the  prirfciples  and  policies  of 
the  democratic  party.  He  did  some  effective  service 
as  chairman  of  the  county  committee  in  Olmsted 
County.  It  was  in  recognition  of  this  service  and 
of  his  personal  qualifications  that  resulted  in  his 
appointment  as  postmaster  of  Stewartville  on  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1914.  He  has  since  given  a very  careful 
and  efficient  administration  to  that  office. 

In  1901  Mr.  Towey  married  Miss  Nellie  Z.  Toher 
of  Stewartville.  Both  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  in  which  faith  they  were  reared.  Their 
five  children  are  named : Ralph  J.,  Robert  F., 

Richard  L.,  Andrew  E.  and  Katherine  Zeida. 

George  Regelsberger.  One  of  the  largest  and  most 
important  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the  twin  cities 
is  the  George  Regelsberger  & Company,  plumbing 
and  heating,  at  180  West  Seventh  Street,  St.  Paul. 
This  is  a business  which  has  been  developed  through 
many  years  of  experience  and  substantial  service, 


and  from  small  beginnings,  and  credit  for  its  success 
must  be  given  to  the  initiative  and  ability  of  George 
Regelsberger,  who  is  not  only  one  of  the  solid  and 
responsible  citizens  of  St.  Paul,  but  also  one  of  the 
city's  oldest  native  sons. 

George  Regelsberger  was  born  at  St.  Paul,  Sep- 
tember 6,  1854,  the  oldest  son  of  Peter  and  Amelia 
(Hubener)  Regelsberger.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Germany,  were  educated  in  that  country, 
and  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York  City;  from  there  they  went  to  Wisconsin,  were 
married  in  Wisconsin,  and  in  1852  settled  in  St. 
Paul,  which  was  then  a village  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  frontier  of  civilization.  Peter  Regelsberger  was 
a farmer  and  gave  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  that 
calling.  He  died  in  1888,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
in  1910  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 

The  earliest  memories  of  George  Regelsberger  are 
associated  with  St.  Paul  when  it  was  still  a village. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
attended  high  school  for  a time,  but  soon  took  up 
the  serious  responsibilities  of  practical  life  as  an 
employe  of  the  J.  IT.  Wolsey  & Co.  of  St.  Paul,  and 
subsequently  was  with  Kenney  & Hudner,  plumbers. 
In  this  way  he  was  introduced  to  the  business  which 
he  has  made  his  permanent  profession.  He  was 
with  Kenney  & Hudner  nine  years,  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  formed  a partnership  with  P.  W.  Hud- 
ner under  the  firm  name  of  Pludner  & Regelsberger. 
This  was  a well  known  partnership  in  the  plumbing 
business  until  1904,  at  which  time  a reorganization 
occurred  with  James  K.  Stark  as  one  of  "the  inter- 
ested principals.  The  name  of  the  business  was  at 
that  time  changed  to  George  Regelsberger  & Com- 
pany. In  the  course  of  many  years’  experience  Mr. 
Regelsberger  has  installed  the  varied  appliances  and 
apparatus  for  plumbing  and  heating  in  hundreds 
of  the  first  class  public  buildings,  stores  and  resi- 
dences of  St.  Paul  and  vicinity.  At  the  headquarters 
on  West  Seventh  Street  the  company  carries  a large 
and  varied  stock,  and  some  of  the  best  ideals  of 
prompt  and  efficient  service  have  been  realized  in 
this  concern.  Mr.  Regelsberger’s  wife  is  deceased, 
and  he  has  no  children.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Assumption  Catholic  Church. 

George  Willard  Deivey,  M.  D.  Though  Doctor 
Dewey  has  practiced  at  his  present  home  in  Fair- 
mont only  since  1910,  his  career  as  a physician  and 
surgeon  is  one  of  nearly  twenty  years  in  extent,  and 
has  been  rich  and  fruitful  in  experience  and  service 
in  the  various  localities  of  his  residence.  DoctorDewey 
is  one  of  the  best  equipped  and  successful  physicians 
and  surgeons  in  Southern  Minnesota. 

George  Willard  Dewey  was  born  at  Marshall,  in 
Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  August  26,  1871,  in  the 
same  log  house  in  which  his  father  was  born.  His 
ancestors  were  New  England  people,  and  the  family 
was  represented  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Doctor 
Dewey’s  great-grandfather  was  David  Dewey,  a na- 
tive of  Vermont,  and  related  closely  with  the  other 
collateral  branch  of  the  Dewey  family  which  pro- 
duced Admiral  George  Dewey.  Doctor  Dewey’s  grand- 
father was  Asa  Dewey,  who  was  also  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  came  out  as  a pioneer  farmer  to  Wiscon- 
sin during  the  forties.  Adelbert  Dewey,  father  of 
Dr.  George  W„  was  born  in  Marshall,  Wisconsin,  in 
1847,  and  died  there  September,  1913.  Adelbert  was 
a lifelong  farmer  in  Dane  County.  He  married 
Abbie  Jane  Pierce,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Vermont  in  1852  and  died  at  Marshall,  Wisconsin. 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1659 


in  1912.  Their  children  were  : George  W. ; Edith,  wife 
of  William  Pyburn,  a farmer  at  Spring  Valley,  Min- 
nesota; Lyda  J.,  who  is  a trained  nurse  in  the 
Asbury  Hospital  in  Minneapolis ; and  Leon  H.,  a 
druggist  in  Dundee,  Illinois. 

Dr.  George  Willard  Dewey  spent  his  early  life  on 
a farm  in  Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1889  was 
graduated  from  the  Marshall  High  School.  For 
two  years  he  was  a student  in  the  University  of 
Wisconsin  at  Madison,  not  far  from  his  home,  and 
prior  to  beginning  his  professional  studies  was  for 
two  years  a teacher  in  the  Dane  County  public 
schools.  Doctor  Dewey  was  graduated  from  the  Mil- 
waukee Medical  College  with  the  degree  M.  D.  in 
1896,  and  for  one  year  was  an  interne  in  St.  Mary’s 
Hospital  at  Oshkosh.  Doctor  Dewey  began  practice 
in  December,  1896,  at  Columbus,  Wisconsin,  lived 
there  until  1898,  and  then  established  a home  at 
Burnett  Junction  in  Dodge  County,  Wisconsin,  and 
lived  there  and  practiced  successfully  until  1910. 
In  that  year  he  moved  out  to  Fairmont  and  has 
since  built  up  a large  general  practice  as  a physician 
and  surgeon,  both  in  Fairmont  and  extending 
throughout  Martin  County.  He  maintains  his  offices 
in  the  Pfeiffer  Block,  and  his  home  is  at  408  North 
Avenue. 

Doctor  Dewey  is  a member  of  the  County  and  State 
Medical  societies  and  the  American  and  Southern 
Minnesota  Medical  associations,  and  during  his  resi- 
dence at  Burnett  Junction  served  as  health  officer. 
He  is  an  independent  republican  in  politics,  and  is 
active  as  a member  and  also  as  steward  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  fraternal  affilia- 
tions are  with  Chain  Lake  Lodge  No.  64,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ; Fairmont  Chapter  No.  50,  R.  A.  M. ; the 
Knights  Templar  Commandery  of  Fairmont,  and 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Fairmont.  zAt  Marshall,  Wis- 
consin, March  24,  1897,  Doctor  Dewey  married  Cora 
E.  Mitchell.  They  have  four  children : Artis  Marie, 
Dudley  Leon  and  Carter,  all  three  of  whom  are 
students  in  the  public  schools  of  Fairmont,  while 
Opal  is  the  youngest  and  is  still  at  home. 

Thomas  Barlow  Walker.  No  citizen  of  the 
Northwest  has  contributed  as  much  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  commercial,  educational,  social,  religious 
and  political  life  of  Minneapolis  and  incidentally  to 
the  Northwest  as  Thomas  B.  Walker.  A man  of 
intense  business  energy  and  ability  and  in  practical 
achievement  the  peer  of  any  in  his  generation,  he 
has  been  successful  not  only  in  the  typical  American 
sense  of  accumulating  riches,  but  even  more  so  in 
his  wise  use  and  distribution  of  what  fortune  has 
lent  him  as  a .steward  and  trustee.  In  his  own 
career  he  has  exemplified  some  truths  that  are  of 
special  significance  in  an  age  of  industrial  and  social 
unrest — emphasizing  the  fact  that  living  is  as  vital 
as  activity  and  that  the  soul  must  be  satisfied  not 
only  jvith  things  but  with  ideals,  culture  and  benefit. 

Thomas  Barlow  Walker  was  born  at  Xenia,  Greene 
County,  Ohio,  February  1,  1840,  son  of  Platt  Bayliss 
and  Anstis  (Barlow)  Walker.  His  father  was  a 
descendant  from  early  American  settlers  originally 
from  England,  and  when  Thomas  was  born  was  a 
prosperous  business  man  at  Xenia.  A few  years 
later  his  adventurous  spirit  led  him  to  undertake 
a trip  to  the  newly  discovered  gold  fields  of  Cali- 
fornia. He  invested  all  his  capital  in  outfitting  and 
collecting  a supply  of  goods  to  be  sold  on  the  Pacific 
coast.  While  on  the  way  he  was  stricken  with 


cholera,  and  died  at  Warrensburg,  Missouri.  His 
partner  in  the  business  went  on  to  California  and 
sold  the  goods  at  a large  profit,  but  never  made  any 
returns  to  the  widow  and  children  back  in  Ohio. 
Mr.  Walker’s  mother  was  a woman  of  great  force 
of  character  and  came  of  a strongly  intellectual 
family.  Two  of  her  brothers  were  prominent  lawyers 
and  judges,  Thomas  Barlow  in  New  York  and  Moses 
Barlow  in  Ohio.  With  the  courage  and  resourceful- 
ness which  were  so  intimate  a part  of  her  character, 
she  set  herself  resolutely  to  provide  not  only  the 
necessities  of  life  but  means  of  education  for  her 
children.  Thomas  B.  Walker  was  at  that  time  nine 
years  of  age  and  soon  began  to  contribute  to  the 
expenses  of  the  home  by  selling  papers,  cutting  wood, 
working  in  stores  and  other  employment.  As  an 
early  indication  of  his  commercial  genius  it  has  been 
noted  that  when  he  undertook  to  pick  berries  or  do 
similar  work  he  would  hire  other  boys  to  work  for 
him  and  pay  them  a certain  amount,  and  thus  get- 
ting pay  not  only  for  his  individual  services  but  also 
for  what  he  did  in  directing  others.  When  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to  Berea, 
near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  the  mother  hoped  to 
secure  better  educational  advantages  for  her  children. 
Here  Mr.  AValker  had  the  benefit  of  a few  terms  in 
Baldwin  University,  but  the  insistent  necessities  of 
the  home  kept  him  at  work  in  stores  and  also  at  a 
worker  in  the  lumber  woods.  Though  his  occupa- 
tion was  one  of  daily  labor,  he  used  many  of  his 
night  hours  and  his  Sundays  in  study.  He  was 
finally  commissioned  to  travel  and  sell  Berea  grind- 
stones, wooden  bowls  and  wagon  spokes,  and  it  is 
said  that  no  other  representative  of  the  firm  turned 
in  more  orders  than  young  Walker.  While  traveling 
he  carried  his  clothes  in  one  grip  and  books  in  the 
other,  and  studied  the  latter  as  industriously  as  his 
work  would  allow.  His  inclination  led  him  to  con- 
tinue his  study  in  the  higher  branches  of  mathe- 
matics and  science,  and  in  later  days  he  has  con- 
fessed a large  debt  to  mathematics  as  the  source  of 
his  success.  As  one  student  of  his  career  has  ex- 
pressed it : “Mathematics  taught  him  the  practical 

necessity  of  keeping  corrected  up  all  along  the  line ; 
of  retracing  his  steps  the  moment  he  found  himself 
on  the  wrong  road  and  not  waiting  until  the  error 
had  grown  important ; of  taking  advantage  of  all 
the  knowledge  and  experience  of  others  and  not 
waiting  to  find  a thing  out  all  over  again  for  himself.” 
His  knowledge  of  business  was  gained  by  travel 
and  experience,  contact  with  other  business  men, 
studying  business  methods,  solving-  big  problems, 
and  pushing  himself  forward  in  the  world  generally, 
in  which  he  employed  all  his  ability,  courage  and  self 
reliance  to  advantage  and  with  good  judgment. 

In  1859,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  undertook  a 
contract,  which  in  view  of  his  meager  experience 
and  capital,  well  indicate  his  courage  and  resource- 
fulness. He  was  then  selling  grindstones  at  Paris, 
Illinois,  where  a railroad  company  was  engaged  in 
construction  work.  Without  friends,  without  capi- 
tal, without  credit  at  the  local  banks,  he  took  a con- 
tract to  supply  the  railroad  with  a large  amount  of 
cross  ties  and  cordwood.  He  bought  some  timber 
land,  to  be  paid  for  from  proceeds,  and  soon  had 
his  workmen  organized  and  was  filling  his  contract 
engagement  in  a manner  indicating  a profitable 
enterprise ; but  at  the  end  of  eighteen  months  the 
railroad  company  failed,  and  after  settling  up  the 
contracts  on  a basis  of  onl>  about  50  per  cent  of 
the  amount  due  him  he  had  only  a few  hundred 


1660 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


dollars  left  above  the  amount  of  his  obligations, 
which  he  fully  paid.  He  then  returned  to  Ohio  and 
began  teaching  school.  In  this  occupation  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  found  him,  and,  while  the 
war  caused  the  discontinuation  of  his  school  and 
made  the  general  business  outlook  ominous,  Mr. 
Walker  volunteered  for  service  in  an  artillery  com- 
pany, but  failed  to  secure  admission. 

The  necessity  of  getting  employment  caused  him 
to  go  west  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  applied  to  the 
president  of  the  board  of  regents  of  the  state  univer- 
sity for  a position  as  assistant  teacher  in  mathe- 
matics. His  qualifications  were  adequate,  but  while 
waiting  for  a decision  on  his  application  he  went 
on  to  Iowa,  and  there  his  attention  was  first  at- 
tracted to  the  new  town  of  Minneapolis,  described 
as  being  “ten  miles  above  St.  Paul.” 

Thus,  in  the  year  1862,  Thomas  B.  Walker  arrived 
in  Minneapolis,  having  previously  accepted  a position 
in  a surveying  party  under  government  direction. 
The  turning  point  in  important  careers  are  always 
of  interest,  and  had  Mr.  Walker  not  accepted  a 
place  in  this  surveying  party  before  the  receipt  of 
the  delayed  appointment  as  an  instructor  in  the 
University  of  Wisconsin  he  might  have  devoted  his 
life,  certainly  with  eminent  success,  to  university 
life  of  which  he  would  probably  have  been  in  com- 
mand before  many  years  had  elapsed  instead  of  to 
the  lumber  industry.  As  a surveyor  he  quickly 
proved  himself  an  adept,  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  ’60s  was  engaged  in  work  with  the 
compass  in  running  township  lines  and  also  part 
of  the  time  in  surveying  for  some  of  the  railway 
routes  then  under  construction.  His  engagements 
as  a surveyor  took  him  all  over  Northern  and 
Western  Minnesota  and  the  experience  was  of  the 
greatest  advantage  to  his  future  operations.  It  made 
him  familiar  with  the  white  pine  regions  of  the 
state,  and  led  him  to  begin  purchasing  tracts  of 
timber,  in  connection  with  other  persons,  for  the 
manufacture  of  lumber. 

In  1868  Mr.  Walker  formed  a combination  with 
Levi  Butler  and  Howard  W.  Mills  to  exploit  these 
lumber  regions.  It  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  con- 
vince skeptical  capitalists  that  any  profit  could  be 
made  from  working  up  the  isolated  timber  district 
so  far  from  the  markets.  Mr.  Walker,  with  his 
characteristic  earnestness,  managed  to  convince  the 
two  men  who  became  his  partners,  and  they  com- 
bined their  money  with  his  experience.  The  enter- 
prises which  the  new  firm  undertook  were  all  worked 
out  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Mr.  Walker. 
He  examined  every  piece  of  land  taken  up  and  knew 
the  exact  value  of  each  acre  of  property.  From  the 
beginning  the  firm  of  Butler,  Mills  & Walker  grew 
and  flourished.  After  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Mills 
on  account  of  ill  health  the  firm  became  Butler  & 
Walker.  This  firm  built  one  of  the  largest  sawmills 
on  the  Mississippi  and  did  a very  extensive  manu- 
facturing business  for  several  years.  In  1877  Mr. 
Walker  and  Maj.  George  J.  Camp  formed  the  firm 
of  Camp  & Walker  and  bought  the  old  Pacific  mills, 
which  burned  down  in  1880  but  were  subsequently 
rebuilt. 

In  1880  Mr.  Walker  began  to  purchase  large 
quantities  of  pine  lands  on  the  headwaters  of  Red 
Lake  and  Clear  Water  River,  and  to  utilize  this 
timber  he  and  his  oldest  son,  Gilbert  M.  Walker, 
organized  the  Red  River  Lumber  Company,  erecting 
mills  at  Crookston,  Minnesota,  and  Grand  Forks, 
North  Dakota.  In  1887  Mr.  Walker  became  asso- 


ciated with  H.  C.  Akeley,  and  it  was  said  that  the 
logging  firm  of  Walker  & Akeley  handled  larger 
quantities  of  logs  than  any  other  firm  in  the  North- 
west. 

Mr.  Walker  exhibited  the  breadth  of  judgment 
and  foresight  of  his  nature  twenty-five  years  ago, 
when  the  limits  of  Minnesota’s  timber  resources 
began  to  be  realized,  in  extending  the  field  of  his 
operations  and  timber  land  purchases  to  the  extreme 
Northwest.  He  investigated  the  timber  lands  of  the 
Pacific  Coast  as  early  as  1889,  and  beginning  about 
1896  invested  heavily  in  the  timber  lands  of  Oregon, 
Washington  and  California.  He  chose  as  the  most 
desirable  the  immense  sugar  and  yellow  pine  timber 
of  the  upper  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  and  bought 
huge  tracts  in  that  region,  magnificently  stocked  with 
the  great  white  pine,  spruce  and  fir  trees.  In  these 
purchases  and  in  their  management  he  has  had  the 
active  co-operation  of  his  sons,  all  of  whom  are  now 
actively  identified  with  some  one  department  or 
other  of  the  immense  business  controlled  by  Mr. 
Walker. 

As  one  of  the  largest  individual  owners  of  timber 
resources  in  America,  Mr.  Walker’s  position  on  the 
conservation  question  is  one  of  vital  significance. 
His  views  have  been  so  frequently  expressed  in  his 
writings  and  addresses  that  there  is  no  difficulty  in 
assigning  him  to  the  ranks  of  the  most  ardent  con- 
servationist, and  still  more  important,  Mr.  Walker 
has  endeavored  and  is  endeavoring  to  translate  his 
ideals  into  concrete  practice,  and  the  intelligent  man- 
agement of  the  vast  timber  holdings  of  the  Walkers 
in  the  Northwest  probably  furnishes  more  encourage- 
ment to  the  friends  of  the  conservation  movement 
than  any  other  individual  example.  His  practical 
course  in  this  matter  has  been  well  stated  in  the 
following  sentences : “Soon  after  migrating  to  the 

North  Star  State  he  was  afforded  an  opportunity 
of  realizing  the  coming  value  of  the  large  virgin 
forests  that  grew  along  the  northern  border.  To 
secure  a goodly  supply  of  this  bounty  of  nature  and 
to  husband  it  for  future  generations  was  his  ambi- 
tion. The  greedy  tax  shark  and  the  exigencies  of 
the  times,  however,  compelled  him  to  cut  off,  with 
the  other  lumbermen,  his  supply  of  pine  trees.  To 
carry  out  his  fixed  purpose  he  then  searched  our 
country  over  and  finally  in  the  far  West,  in  the 
Golden  State,  found  an  immense  tract  of  timber 
that  promised  to  afford  an  opportunity  of  carrying 
out  his  ideas  of  economical  use  and  perpetuation 
of  the  supply.  I am  confident  that  it  is  not  for  the 
purpose  of  laying  claim  to  the  title  of  being  the 
owner  of  the  largest  amount  of  timber  in  this 
country,  or  in  the  world,  that  Mr.  Walker  has  been 
investing  many  millions  of  dollars  in  these  valuable 
assets.  The  millions  of  feet  of  timber  that  he  has 
now  the  undisputed  title  to  is  vastly  more  than  he, 
his  sons,  or  even  his  grandsons  can  profitably  utilize. 
This  vast  forest,  utilized  as  he  has  planned,  will  be 
an  incalculable  blessing  to  those  that  require  lumber 
in  the  centuries  to  come.  By  simply  utilizing  the 
matured  trees  and  protecting  the  young  and  growing 
ones  an  endless  supply  is  insured.  From  a strictly 
commercial  and  mercenary  standpoint  such  enter- 
prises as  this  are  not  considered  logical,  and  cer- 
tainly entail  expenses  and  annoyances  which  Mr. 
Walker  can  never  expect  to  be  compensated  for 
in  his  life  or  the  next  generation  to  come.  Any 
combination  or  conspiracy  intended  to  restrain  trade 
nr  impose  hardship  on  the  people  has  ever  received 
his  most  emphatic  disapproval.  He  has  repeatedly 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1661 


declined  to  pool  or  consolidate  his  interests  in  timber 
lands  either  in  Minnesota  or  in  the  West,  although 
constantly  importuned  to  do  so  and  offered  exceed- 
ingly tempting  proposals.  His  experience  and  study 
of  forestry  problems  have  led  him  to  conceive  a 
broad  and  comprehensive  plan  for  co-operation  be- 
tween the  general  government  and  local  governmental 
bodies  and  all  private  owners  of  forests,  and  only 
by  such  co-operation,  he  believes,  can  anything  of  a 
practical  or  far-reaching  benefit  be  gained.  He  feels 
that  his  personal  interest  in  conservation  and  that 
of  the  public  are  identical.  The  forests,  he  holds, 
grew  for  the  benefit  of  all,  and  a solemn  obligation 
rests  upon  the  men  into  whose  hands  they  come  to 
use  them  with  economy,  and  to  replant  them  and  to 
provide  for  a future  supply. 

So  far  this  article  has  been  concerned  only  with 
Mr.  Walker’s  stupendous  business  achievements. 
His  public  spirited  efforts  in  behalf  of  his  home 
city  are  perhaps  known  to  everyone  who  has  been 
interested  in  the  development  of  Minneapolis  during 
recent  years,  and  some  reference  to  the  part  he  has5 
taken  in  local  development  is  only  demanded  for 
the  judgment  of  the  future.  A resident  of  Minne- 
apolis fully  fifty  years,  his  desire  has  constantly 
been  for  the  welfare  of  the  city,  and  his  ambition 
to  see  it  among  the  leading  centers  of  the  country 
in  educational,  industrial,  commercial  and  social  im- 
portance. He  was  the  founder  of  Business  Men's 
Union,  which  was  succeeded  by  the  Commercial 
Club.  With  the  co-operation  of  Major  Camp  he 
planned  and  established  the  central  market  and  com- 
mission district,  now  one  of  the  greatest  wholesale 
markets  and  wholesale  exchanges  in  the  world,  and 
which  has  made  Minneapolis  the  third  city  in  this 
country  as  a commission  center,  outclassed  only 
by  New  York  and  Chicago.  He  also  furnished  the 
capital  for  and  built  the  Butler  Building  when  it 
was  a question  whether  the  Butler  Company  would 
locate  its  western  branch  in  Minneapolis  or  St. 
Paul.  He  thus  secured  for  Minneapolis  the  largest 
wholesale  establishment  west  of  Chicago. 

From  the  standpoint  of  the  future  undoubtedly 
Mr.  Walker’s  greatest  achievements  will  be  regarded 
on  the  cultural  side.  Only  a few  great  American 
business  men  have  so  fully  expressed  their  intel- 
lectual and  social  ideals  in  such  enduring  manner 
for  the  benefit  of  all  the  people.  With  all  the 
intensity  of  his  business  activity  he  has  remained  a 
student  and  is  a master  of  many  lines  of  thought  and 
action.  He  is  a recognized  connoisseur  in  art,  an 
authority  on  literature,  both  ancient  and  modern. 
The  manifold  phases  of  his  genius  have  made  him 
a captain  of  industry,  an  eminent  citizen,  a student, 
thinker,  writer  and  speaker,  a humanitarian,  a politi- 
cal economist  and ' a collector  and  discriminating 
judge  of  the  beautiful  and  rare  in  art.  Many  men 
of  great  wealth  turn  their  resources  to  the  benefit 
of  humanity  largely  by  proxy.  This  has  not  been 
Mr.  Walker’s  course.  Minneapolis  is  indebted  to 
him  for  its  fine  library  and  for  the  greatest  indi- 
vidual collection  of  art  open  absolutely  free  to  public 
enjoyment  in  the  world,  and  yet  these  and  other 
benefits  are  only  the  direct  expression  of  his  own 
character  and  depth  of  mind  and  heart.  Mr.  Walker 
was  one  of  the  early  members  and  patrons  of  the 
old  Athenaeum  Library,  and  with  the  increase  of  his 
individual  means  he  utilized  the  membership  in  that 
association  so  as  to  make  its  collection  of  books 
practically  free  to  the  public,  and  later  secured  the 
enactment  of  the  law  which  gave  to  the  city  its 


present  fine  library  building.  The  rapid  growth  of 
the  library  in  capacity  and  popular  favor  since  it 
was  opened  in  1889  has  given  it  a standing  and  cir- 
culation fourth  among  the  public  libraries  in  the 
United  States.  Its  first  board  of  directors  elected 
Mr.  Walker  president  and  he  has  been  annually 
re-elected  now  for  nearly  thirty  years. 

As  an  art  collector  Mr.  W aiker  deserves  a place 
in  the  same  category  with  the  late  Pierpont  Morgan 
and  Henry  Altman  and  other  wealthy  Americans, 
who  have  not  only  used  their  vast  resources  to 
collect  the  best  in  the  field  of  art  but  have  also 
placed  their  collections  for  the  use  and  enjoyment 
of  the  public.  In  some  respect  Mr.  Walker  has 
gone  beyond  any  others  in  the  liberality  which  he 
has  shown  in  making  his  art  treasures  absolutely 
free  to  all  who  may  enjoy  them.  The  Walker 
homestead  in  Minneapolis  occupies  more  than  half  a 
block  on  Hennepin  Avenue,  well  within  the  busi- 
ness district.  Mr.  Walker  was  one  of  the  first 
citizens  to  set  a worthy  example  by  converting  his 
grounds  into  a park,  from  which  the  public  are 
not  excluded  by  fences.  While  the  public  has  be- 
come familiar  with  his  art  gallery,  less  is  known 
of  his  remarkable  collection  of  books,  said  to 
constitute  one  of  the  finest  private  libraries  in  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Walker  is  not  only  a book 
collector  and  buyer,  but  one  who  has  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  contents  of  his  library  in  all  the 
chief  subjects  represented  there — philosophy,  religion, 
science,  therapeutics,  history,  political  economy, 
biography,  art,  poetry  and  all  the  standard  authors, 
both  ancient  and  modern. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Walker  erected  a large  gal- 
lery, in  which  he  has  placed  500  or  more  examples 
of  medieval  and  modern  painters,  together  with  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  valuable  collections  of 
porcelains  and  glass,  jades,  jewels  and  examples  of 
carving  and  the  goldsmith’s  art.  It  is  one  of  the 
great  private  collections  of  the  world, . and  has  been 
assembled  by  Mr.  Walker  personally  during  the  last 
thirty  years.  In  addition  to  this  collection  at  his 
home  he  has  about  a hundred  paintings  in  the  public 
library  and  a large  number  not  yet  hung.  His  art 
gallery  is  enriched  by  a large  assortment  of  the 
finest  Chinese,  Persian,  Japanese  and  Corean  pottery 
and  porcelains,  and  the  collection  of  jade  stands 
ahead  of  any  known  collection  in  beauty  of  form 
and  color.  This  gallery,  with  its  wealth  of  treas- 
ures, is  open  every  day  in  the  week  to  the  public 
without  any  charges  for  entrance  fees  or  catalogs. 
It  consists  of  fourteen  rooms  adjacent  to  his  resi- 
dence. Besides  the  part  of  his  collection  found  in 
the  public  library  he  has  placed  in  the  museum  of 
the  Academy  of  Science  a fine  collection  of  ancient 
art  work,  pottery,  porcelain,  ancient  glass,  Greek 
and  Persian  vases,  and  some  ancient  bronzes,  num- 
bering some  forty  cabinets. 

Fpr  nearly  half  a century  Mr.  Walker  has  been  a 
member  and  active  supporter  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
Methodist  Church  Extension  and  Social  Union  of 
Minneapolis,  and  has  contributed  largely  to  the 
upbuilding  of  many  Methodist  churches  in  his  home 
city  and  state.  He  has  been  especially  interested  in 
the  cause  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association, 
and  for  years  has  served  as  northwestern  member 
of  the  national  committee  of  that  organization.  In 
1914  Mr.  Walker  was  named  as  one  of  the  com- 
missioners from  the  State  of  Minnesota  to  the 
Panama-Pacific  Exposition. 


1662 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


It  is  perhaps  a result  of  the  broad  culture  of  such 
a man  that  the  tremendous  rugged  energy  of  his 
nature  and  his  forcefulness  in  business  and  all  affairs 
should  be  concealed  under  a quiet  demeanor  and  an 
unassuming  simplicity,  sincerity  and  gentleness.  He 
well  exemplifies  the  old  maxim,  “suaviter  in  modo 
fortiter  in  re.”  Large  interests,  strenuous  action, 
successful  command  of  resources,  have  only 
increased  the  courtesy  of  the  heart  which  he  betrays 
in  all  his  personal  relations  with  his  fellow  men. 

On  December  19,  1863,  Mr.  Walker  married  Miss 
Harriet  G.  Hulet.  Mrs.  Walker  has  been  one  of  the 
notable  philanthropists  of  Minneapolis,  and  as  such 
her  career  deserves  individual  mention,  which  will 
be  found  in  the  succeeding  sketch.  To  their  union 
have  been  born  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
five  living  sons,  all  of  them  associated  with  the  large 
business  interests  of  their  father,  are  Gilbert  M., 
Fletcher  L.,  Willis  ].,  Clinton  L.  and  Archie  D. 
The  son  Leon  B.  died  in  1887.  The  living  daughter 
is  Julia,  wife  of  Ernest  F.  Smith,  and  has  four 
children.  The  daughter  Harriet,  who  died  in  1904, 
was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Frederick  O.  Holman,  formerly 
pastor  of  the  Hennepin  Avenue  Methodist  Church. 

Mrs.  Thomas  B.  Walker.  That  a woman’s  work 
must  be  limited  by  no  arbitrary  distinction  or  tradi- 
tional customs,  but  solely  on  the  basis  of  fitness  and 
ability,  is  rapidly  becoming  American  practice,  and 
perhaps  more  slowly  is  being  accepted  by  the  moral 
and  logical  sense  of  the  nation.  Many  persons  have 
commented  on  the  ideal  character  of  the  home  rela- 
tions of  the  Walker  family  in  Minneapolis.  The 
making  of  a home  and  the  rearing  of  sons  and 
daughters  under  competent  direction  and  training 
for  a proper  sense  of  responsibility  and  service  in 
the  world  is  not  only  a primary  obligation,  but  one 
that  transcends  all  others  in  human  life.  While 
assuming  and  discharging  these  duties  in  so  credit- 
able a manner  that  parenthood  is  one  of  their  finest 
achievements,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  B.  Walker 
have  also  extended  their  activities  and  influence  to  the 
broadest  and  most  substantial  objects  of  social 
endeavor.  While  in  previous  paragraphs  an  attempt 
has  been  made  to  review  concisely  the  character  and 
work  of  Mr.  Walker,  it  is  only  a matter  of  justice 
to  give  a similar  tribute  to  his  wife,  who  has  long 
stood  as  one  of  the  foremost  woman  philanthropists 
in  Minneapolis  and  also  the  country  at  large. 

While  never  neglecting  or  slighting  any  of  the 
details  pertaining  to  the  rearing,  training  and  wel- 
fare of  her  large  family.  Mrs.  Walker  has  for 
years  been  foremost  in  planning,  developing  and 
managing  many  large  public  and  charitable  works 
carried  on  by  women  of  Minneapolis  and  has  also 
been  more  or  less  prominent  in  matters  of  national 
importance.  She  has  been  a determined  foe  of  all 
forms  of  intemperance  and  the  liquor  traffic.  She 
was  the  principal  factor  in  planning,  establishing  and 
maintaining  the  Northwestern  Hospital,  of  which 
organization  she  served  continually  as  president  from 
its  beginning.  She  is  the  only  survivor  among  the 
four  originators  of  the  Bethany  Home,  and  was  also 
one  of  the  originators  of  the  Woman’s  Council,  an 
organization  of  great  practical  benefit,  and  of  which 
she  was  president  during  the  greater  part  of  its 
existence.  For  years  her  time  and  means  have  been 
taxed  to  the  utmost  in  responding  to  the  calls  from 
the  unfortunate  members  of  society,  particularly 
women  and  children.  All  this  work  has  been  super- 
imposed upon,  and  has  not  been  substituted  for,  the 


immediate  duties  of  her  home.  Her  character, 
energy,  remarkable  judgment,  clear  understanding  of 
home  and  public  affairs,  has  been  an  important 
element  in  giving  character  and  direction  to  her  sons 
and  daughters,  and  it  has  been  well  said  that  her 
part  in  the  development  of  the  ideal  family  life  of 
the  Walker  home  has  been  equally  important  with 
that  of  her  husband. 

Harriet  Granger  Hulet  was  born  in  Brunswick, 
Medina  County,  Ohio,  September  10,  1841,  a daughter 
of  Fletcher  and  Fannie  (Granger)  Hulet.  Both  her 
parents  were  Massachusetts  people  and  of  English 
colonial  descent.  Her  grandfather,  John  Hulet,  was 
a soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  fought  at  Bunker 
Hill,  while  the  father  of  this  patriot,  also  named 
John  Hulet,  is  said  to  have  built  the  first  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  erected  in  Massachusetts.  When 
Mrs.  Walker  was  six  years  of  age  her  parents 
removed  to  Berea,  Ohio,  in  order  to  secure  for  their 
children  the  educational  advantages  of  Baldwin 
University.  There  - she  lived  in  a home  radiated 
with  ideals  of  service,  and  during  young  womanhood 
cultivated  her  natural  gifts  in  music,  language,  and 
absorbed  readily  all  the  cultural  influences  of  the 
time.  Fler  earliest  ambition  was  to  become  a pro- 
ducer in  the  field  of  literature,  she  wrote  for  period- 
icals, and  cherished  a design  to  write  a book  which 
might  have  a permanent  place  among  the  standard 
authors.  While  she  never  accomplished  this  purpose, 
her  literary  tastes  and  ability  have  found  expression 
in  lectures  and  addresses  in  behalf  of  her  numerous 
philanthropies. 

In  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Walker  mention  has  been 
made  of  the  Hulet  family.  Mr.  Walker  was 
employed  by  Fletcher  Hulet  as  a traveling  salesman, 
and  the  two  young  people  were  together  in  Baldwin 
University.  It  was  in  1856  that  their  acquaintance 
began  and  it  was  maintained  with  increasing  affection 
during  the  years  while  young  Walker  was  struggling 
to  establish  himself  in  business  affairs.  After  her 
graduation  from  Baldwin  Miss  Harriet  spent  two 
years  as  a piano  instructor  in  that  institution  with 
which  her  family  had  many  associations,  her  father 
having  been  one  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  a 
contributor  of  the  funds  for  the  erection  of  Hulet 
Hall  on  the  campus. 

On  November  19,  1863,  seven  years  after  they  first 
met,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  were  married  at  Berea. 
Mr.  Walker  had  in  the  meantime  made  his  first 
excursion  to  the  Northwest  and  after  preparing  a 
simple  home  in  St.  Anthony  Falls  sent  for  his  bride. 
Six  years  later  he  built  a residence  at  Ninth  Street 
and  Fifth  Avenue  South,  which  was  then  so  far 
out  of  town  that  he  felt  obliged  to  keep  a horse  for 
transportation  between  the  city  and  his  home. 
During  the  first  twelve  years  of  her  married  life 
Mrs.  Walker  devoted  her  energies  to  her  growing 
family  and  gave  little  time  to  any  work  outside  of 
her  home.  Her  husband  in  his  business  as  surveyor 
and  lumberman  was  absent  from  home  for  months 
at  a time.  The  little  family  had  only  limited  means, 
and  Mrs.  Walker  had  to  meet  and  solve  many  per- 
plexing problems.  She  accepted  her  lot  with 
fortitude  and  cheerfulness,  and  was  a constant  source 
of  inspiration  and  encouragement  to  her  husband, 
and  devoted  herself  unreservedly  to  the  care  and 
training  of  the  children  who  at  that  time  filled  the 
modest  home. 

For  fully  forty  years  Mrs.  Walker  has  been 
engaged  in  the  active  work  of  philanthropy.  She 
has  helped  in  the  founding  of  benevolent  and  helpful 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1663 


institutions,  has  given  generously  of  money,  and 
the  results  of  her  life  work  in  this  field  serve  to 
place  her  name  among  the  most  capable,  efficient  and 
admirable  women  of  America. 

Mrs.  Walker  was  a member  of  the  first  organiza- 
tion of  Women’s  Christian  Associations  of  Minne- 
apolis, which  at  its  beginning  assumed  the  care  of 
all  the  poor  of  the  community.  A few  years  later 
she.  joined  in  organizing  and  managing  the  Sister- 
hood of  Bethany,  an  association  for  the  care  of 
erring  women  and  their  infant  children,  and  as 
already  stated  she  was  either  secretary  or  president 
of  the  organization  almost  throughout  its  existence. 
The  Sisterhood  of  Bethany  finally  developed  into  a 
larger  agency,  known  as  the  Northwestern  Hospital 
Association,  organized  to  care  for  the  worthy  poor 
who  are  ill.  Mrs.  Walker  has  been  president  of 
this  association  since  its  beginning.  The  hospital 
was  started  in  a poorly  furnished  house,  with  meager 
facilities,  and  with  neither  cash  nor  credit  to  support 
it.  At  the  present  time  the  Northwestern  Hospital 
has  an  equipment  and  service  that  rank  it  among  the 
best  institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  with  a 
capacity  of  ioo  patients  and  with  a training  school 
for  nurses.  The  buildings  are  now  free  of  debt  and 
the  association  has  an  endowment  fund  of  over 
$40,000.  Since  1901  the  hospital  has  been  open  for 
men  as  well  as  women. 

Other  movements  of  practical  benevolence  with 
which  Mrs.  Walker's  name  is  closely  associated  are 
the  Women’s  Christian  Union,  the  Newsboys  Home, 
the  Kindergarten  Association  and  the  Children's 
Home,  the  last  being  an  outgrowth  of  the  Sisterhood 
of  Bethany.  She  had  long  been  eminent  in  tem- 
perance work,  has  conducted  many  meetings  in  her 
home  city,  has  published  temperance  literature,  and 
at  the  World's  Temperance  Conference  in  the 
Columbian  Exposition  in  1893  delivered  a lecture  on 
the  Keeley  Cure,  which  had  a wide  distribution  both 
in  America  and  in  other  countries. 

One  of  the  interesting  facts  in  connection  with 
Mrs.  Walker's  benevolent  activities  is  that  she 
believes  in  and  has  introduced  business  system  into 
her  work,  keeps  regular  office  hours  and  brings  to 
her  duties  the  same  judgment  and  prompt  decision 
which  are  characteristic  of  successful  business  men. 
Mrs.  Walker  was  responsible  for  the  introduction 
and  establishment  of  police  matronship  in  connection 
with  the  city  government  of  Minneapolis.  Through 
investigations  in  the  eastern  cities  she  became  fully 
convinced  that  all  women  prisoners  in  the  custody 
of  the  police  ought  to  be  under  the  care  of  a woman. 
Great  opposition  was  encountered  to  the  movement, 
but  having  become  convinced  of  its  desirability  she 
never  desisted  until  her  purpose  was  accomplished. 

Her  promptness  in  acting  in  emergencies  was 
illustrated  by  her  actions  at  the  time  of  the  Sauk 
Rapids  cyclone.  In  a few  hours  after  she  had  been 
notified  of  the  pressing  need  for  assistance  in  the 
devastated  districts  she  started  for  the  scene  with 
twelve  nurses,  most  of  them  from  the  training  school 
of  the  Northwestern  Hospital.  She  remained  in 
Sauk  Rapids  two  weeks,  taking  care  of  one  of  the 
hospitals,  and  several  of  the  nurses  continued  on 
duty  there  two  or  three  months. 

Such  is  only  a brief  review  and  condensed  report 
of  the  many  beneficent  activities  of  this  noble  Minne- 
apolis woman,  who  as  a wife  has  been  a wise  coun- 
selor and  a loyal  supporter,  whose  motherhood  has 
been  such  that  her  children  may  rise  up  and  call 
her  blessed,  and  who  for  many  years  has  been 


almost  constant  in  tending  the  highways  and  byways 
of  sordid  existence  and  not  only  lifting  up  but  sup- 
plying practical  relief  and  hope  and  courage  to 
thousands  who  have  fallen  by  the  way. 

The  Walker  Art  Galleries.  This  really  great 
collection  is  more  than  a veritable  surprise  to  all 
visitors  who  are  to  material  extent  acquainted  with 
the  public  and  private  art  galleries  of  Europe  and 
America.  The  owner  is  Mr.  T.  B.  Walker,  who  has 
assembled,  personally,  this  magnificent  collection  of 
paintings,  ancient  and  modern,  and  ancient  and  early 
Chinese,  Persian,  Japanese,  Greek,  Corean  and  old 
delft  and  English  wedgewood.  porcelains  and  pot- 
tery, finest  examples  of  ancient  Chinese  bronzes, 
temple  incense  burners,  and  sacred  images  or  statues. 
He  has  the  finest  known  collection  of  jades  and  cut 
stones,  crystals  and  gems,  with  a matchless  collection 
of  ancient  Roman,  Egyptian,  Babydonian  and  Persian 
pottery  and  jewels,  including  by  far  the  largest  and 
finest  collection  of  necklaces  known.  He  has 
gathered  and  collected  this  rare  and  costly  collection 
of  the  world’s  finest  examples,  some  of  them  running 
back  for  long  periods  reaching  5,000  years,  as  in  old 
Egypt,  to  2,500  years  in  Greek  art,  to  2,000  or  more 
years  of  Syrian  and  Roman,  and  from  the  Christian 
era  to  the  present  time  in  Chinese,  Japanese,  Euro- 
pean and  American  art.  This  collection  is  most 
generously  open  to  the  nublic  every  week  day  from 
8 o'clock  in  the  morning  to  as  late  as  the  daylight 
will  show  the  collection,  which  is  most  unusual  and 
exceptional.  The  gallery  is  also  open  a great  many 
evenings  during  the  year  to  clubs  and  associations 
and  classes,  as  well  as  for  receptions.  Many  of  the 
finest  examples  from  many  of  the  famous  private 
collections  of  England,  France,  Spain,  Italy  and 
America,  that  have  come  into  the  market,  have  been 
secured  and  brought  into  this  most  select  collection. 

Not  only  is  the  art  gallery  open  to  the  public,  but 
the  grounds  on  which  the  residence  and  gallery  are 
built,  located  in  the  center  of  the  business  part  of 
the  city  and  on  the  main  and  widest  avenue,  have 
along  the  front  for  250  feet  and  on  the  side 
street  about  an  equal  distance,  steel  benches  running 
this  whole  distance  under  the  large  spreading  oak 
and  elm  trees.  These  benches  are  occupied  in  the 
warm  season  of  the  year,  day  and  night,  by  multi- 
tudes of  people,  who  use  them  more  freely  than  if 
they  were  on  public  grounds  for  there  are  no  “Keep 
of  the  Grass”  signs  and  the  lawn  is  not  fenced  in. 
but  left  open.  Mr.  Walker  originated  the  idea  of 
the  open  lawn,  his  being  absolutely  the  first  instance 
of  the  open  lawn  known,  and  from  this  beginning 
the  custom  has  spread  not  only  over  the  City  of 
Minneapolis,  but  to  practically  every  city  and  village 
of  the  country. 

The  editor  of  the  Congregationalism  after  a visit 
in  T012,  to  the  Walker  Art  Galleries,  writes : 

“The  Journambulist  returned  to  his  hotel  that 
afternoon,  thoughtful  as  from  a church  service.  The 
Presbyterian  editor  with  his  ideals  of  journalism, 
the  Congregational  banker  with  his  conceptions  of 
public  service,  the  Methodist  millionaire  with  his 
priceless  collection  of  treasures,  shared  freely  with 
all  who  cared — it  was  the  Christian  manhood  of  the 
northwest  dominating  the  hustle  and  hurricane  of 
prosperity.  As  the  dollars  grow  more  numerous, 
they  often,  too.  grow  smaller.  The  rushing  flood  of 
money-getting  is  succeeded,  perhaps  more  often  than 
the  pessimist  lets  us  realize  by  the  still,  deep  tides 


1664 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  philanthropy  and  public  welfare.  The  signs  of 
Roman  decay  do  not  yet  appear  in  the  northwest.” 

Men  who  have  seen  many  of  the  finest  art  galleries 
in  Europe  and  America  consider  this  the  finest  col- 
lection. It  is  much  larger  and  finer  than  the  Wallace 
collection  and  more  uniformly  magnificent  than  the 
National  Gallery,  or  the  Tate  Gallery.  The  Turners 
here  are  finer  than  in  any  other  collection  reported, 
as  are  also  the  Rembrandts  and  the  Van  Dycks. 
Every  picture  is  of  the  highest  grade  of  art  and 
there  are  no  commonplace  ones  in  the  entire  col- 
lection. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  mention  all  of  the 
pictures  and  objects  of  art  which  Mr.  Walker  has  so 
generously  placed  in  the  public  view.  He  is  con- 
stantly adding  pictures,  objects  of  ethnological  and 
anthropological  interest,  making  several  collections 
of  which  the  city  may  well  be  proud.  A collection 
which  Mr.  Walker  has  just  completed  is  the  great 
Indian  and  Scout  pictures,  of  which  there  are  130, 
by  H.  H.  Cross.  This  is  probably  the  greatest 
assemblage  of  Indian  portraits  in  the  world.  Skeptics 
can  be  excused  for  incredulity  when  you  tell  them 
that  samples  of  Raphael,  Michelangelo,  Rubens, 
Carlo  Dolci,  Murillo,  three  of  Van  Dyck’s,  eleven  of 
Rembrandt’s,  sixteen  of  Turner’s,  four  portraits  by 
Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  and  portraits  by  Gainsborough, 
Hogarth,  Holbein  and  other  equally  great  artists  are 
hanging  on  the  walls  of  a Minneapolis  house. 

Among  the  paintings  by  Rembrandt  are:  Two  of 
the  many  portraits  which  he  painted  of  himself ; 
the  portrait  of  the  wife  of  some  Dutch  merchant  or 
alderman — a plain,  wholesome  woman  of  his  time ; 
a burgomaster  with  a reddish  beard  from  the  col- 
lection of  Jacob  Anthony  Van  Damm,  of  Dortrecht, 
which  the  catalogue  says  “is  in  the  great  master’s 
most  attractive  style.”  It  would  be  difficult  to  find 
among  all  his  works  a more  beautiful  portrait,  and 
it  is  considered  one  of  the  most  characteristic  in 
softness  and  refinement  of  tone. 

The  largest  collection  of  Turners  that  can  be 
found  outside  of  a public  museum  is  said  to  be  here, 
and  includes  sixteen  characteristic  works  of  the 
great  artist,  who,  experts  say,  is  the  most  difficult  to 
copy  of  any  man  who  ever  wielded  a brush. 

A portrait  that  has  greater  interest  to  Americans 
is  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  made  in  1775  by  Jean 
Baptiste  Greuze  in  Paris,  where  Franklin  was  agent 
of  the  American  colonies.  It  was  presented  by 
Franklin  to  Archibald  Hamilton  Rowen  and  passed 
through  the  hands  of  several  other  owners  before 
it  reached  Mr.  Walker’s  gallery. 

William  Dobson,  who  in  1641  succeeded  Van 
Dyck  as  court  painter  of  England  during  the  reigns 
of  Charles  I and  Charles  II,  is  represented  by  three 
fine  examples. 

The  four  portraits  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  are  all 
characteristic.  One  of  them,  which  has  been  pro- 
nounced the  finest  portrait  in  America,  is  an  exquisite 
picture  of  the  wife  of  Edmund  Burke,  the  great 
Irish  patriot  and  advocate. 

Some  comprehension  of  the  magnitude  of  this 
collection  may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that  the 
splendid  pictures  are  over  600  in  number,  the  pro- 
ductions of  more  than  250  distinguished  artists. 

In  the  new  addition  there  is  a long  gallery  filled 
with  fine  canvases,  many  of  which  are  new.  The 
room  in  the  rear  contains  a marvelous  collection  of 
rarest  old  porcelains ; Chinese.  Persian,  Corean, 
Japanese.  Babylonian,  Greek,  Old  English  cameo 
and  basalt  ware,  with  finest  sets  of  old  Dutch  delft. 


The  adjoining  room  is  devoted  to  priceless  old  jade 
and  crystal,  said  to  be  the  finest  collection  of  its 
kind  in  the  world.  In  another  room  there  is  a 
splendid  collection  of  small  ivory  carvings,  and 
several  cases  of  jade,  crystal,  amber,  agate,  amethyst, 
chalcedony  and  other  old  Chinese  snuff  bottles,  on 
which  a day  could  easily  be  spent  with  much  pleasure 
and  profit.  In  still  another  room  is  a magnificent 
collection  of  miniatures,  without  doubt  one  of  the 
largest  and  finest  collections  of  the  kind  in  existence. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  go  into  detail  concerning 
the  contents  of  these  rooms,  for  there  is  so  much 
in  them  which  would  be  of  interest  to  the  student  of 
art  and  the  lover  of  color  and  design. 

George  T.  Slade.  Now  first  vice  president  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway  Company,  George  T.  Slade 
began  his  career  in  the  railway  service  soon  after 
his  graduation  from  Yale  University.  His  first  work 
was  as  a clerk  in  the  accounting  department  of  the 
Great  Northern  Railway  Company.  In  that  position 
he  remained  at  St.  Paul  during  1893-94,  and  the 
following  year  was  spent  as  timekeeper,  foreman 
and  assistant  roadmaster  at  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota, 
Leavenworth,  Washington,  Spokane,  Washington, 
and  at  various  points  along  the  Pacific  Coast.  His 
next  promotion  was  to  chief  clerk  to  superintendent 
at  Superior,  Wisconsin,  which  he  held  in  1895-96, 
and  in  1896  became  assistant  superintendent  at 
Superior,  and  in  1897  was  promoted  to  superinten- 
dent at  Superior.  He  closed  this  consecutive  service 
for  the  Great  Northern  Railway  in  1899,  resigning  to 
become  general  manager  of  the  Erie  & Wyoming 
Valley  Railroad  Company  at  Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 
When  that  company  was  absorbed  by  the  Erie  Rail- 
road in  1901,  he  became  its  general  superintendent, 
with  headquarters  at  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey.  In 
1903  Mr.  Slade  again  returned  to  the  Northwest  and 
until  1907  was  general  superintendent  of  the  Great 
Northern  Railway  Company,  having  reached  this 
position  of  responsibility  just  ten  years  after  enter- 
ing the  St.  Paul  offices  as  clerk.  In  1907  Mr.  Slade 
transferred  his  services  to  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railway  Company  as  general  manager,  held  that 
office  until  1910,  from  1910  to  1913  was  third  vice 
president,  and  since  1913  has  been  first  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  Company  with 
headquarters  at  St.  Paul. 

George  T.  Slade  was  born  in  New  York  City  July 
22,  1871,  a son  of  George  P.  and  Cornelia  W.  Slade. 
His  education  was  acquired  at  St.  Paul’s  School  in 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  and  at  Yale  University, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1893.  His 
American  ancestry  is  indicated  by  the  fact  of  his 
membership  in  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and  the 
Sons  of  Colonial  Wars.  Mr.  Slade  has  membership 
in  various  clubs  in  New  York,  Chicago  and  St.  Paul. 
He  is  a director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  St. 
Paul.  Mr.  Slade  was  married  October  9,  1901,  at 
St.  Paul,  to  Miss  Charlotte  E.  Hill,  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  James  J.  Hill. 

Roger  B.  Shepard.  One  of  the  younger  group  of 
men  now  in  active  control  of  St.  Paul’s  business 
affairs  is  Roger  B.  Shepard,  treasurer  of  the  whole- 
sale house  of  Finch,  Van  Slyke  & McConville,  and 
also  a director  of  the  Merchants  National  Bank  of 
St.  Paul.  The  name  Shepard  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  railway  construction,  banking  and 
other  business  affairs  of  the  Northwest  since  'the 
pioneer  period  of  Minnesota. 


r/7  ^-/7 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1665 


Roger  B.  Shepard  was  born  at  St.  Paul  Septem- 
ber 14,  1885,  the  third  son  of  the  late  Frank  P. 
Shepard.  The  grandfather  was  David  Chauncey 
Shepard,  a man  conspicuous  in  the  early  railway 
construction  and  development  of  the  Northwest. 

Frank  P.  Shepard,  who  was  born  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  in  1853,  came  to  St.  Paul  with  his  parents  in 
1857.  and  after  reaching  manhood  was  for  many 
years  closely  associated  with  his  father  in  railway 
construction  and  in  extended  financial  operations. 
He  was  a director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  St. 
Paul,  a stockholder  in  many  corporations,  and 
throughout  his  career  a man  of  the  highest  integrity 
and  influence.  He  died  in  St.  Paul  December  24, 
1912.  Frank  P.  Shepard  was  married  in  1880  to 
Miss  Anna  McMillan,  who  is  still  living  at  325  Day- 
ton  Avenue,  St.  Paul. 

Roger  B.  Shepard  grew  up  in  St.  Paul,  attended 
the  city  schools  and  after  his  high  school  course 
entered  Yale  University  in  1904,  graduating  in  1908. 
Following  his  university  career  came  three  years  of 
experience  in  a Chicago  banking  house  and  on 
returning  to  St.  Paul  he  became  connected  with  the 
firm  of  Finch,  Van  Slyke  & McConville,  and  for 
several  years  has  held  the  position  of  treasurer. 
This  is  one  of  the  large  wholesale  dry  goods  houses 
of  the  Northwest,  has  had  a long  and  honorable 
record  of  business  and  a reputation  for  stability  and 
solid  integrity.  The  firm's  location  is  well  known  to 
the  St.  Paul  citizens,  a large  brick  office  and  ware- 
house at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Wacouta  streets. 

Mr.  Shepard,  as  one  of  the  enterprising  and  liberal 
citizens  of  St.  Paul,  has  numerous  -associations  with 
both  business  and  social  life.  His  home  is  at  45 
South  St.  Albans  Street.  In  1910  he  married  Miss 
Katherine  Kohlsaat  of  Chicago,  daughter  of  H.  H. 
Kohlsaat,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent 
business  men  and  editors  of  Chicago.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shepard  have  two  children:  Roger  Jr.  and  Blake. 

Hon.  Louis  Albert  Fritsche,  M.  D.  An  acknowl- 
edged leader  in  the  financial,  commercial,  social  and 
official  life  of  Brown  County,  Dr.  Louis  Albert 
Fritsche,  of  New  Ulm,  is  also  numbered  among  the 
prominent  professional  men  of  this  part  of  Minne- 
sota, having  acquired  an»  extensive  practice  and  a 
broad  reputation  in  the  sciences  of  medicine  and 
surgery.  At  the  present  time  he  is  serving  efficiently 
as  mayor  of  New  Ulm,  a position  he  has  held  for 
two  terms ; is  president  of  the  Brown  County  Bank, 
and  vice  president  of  the  New  Ulm  Roller  Milling 
Company,  and  is  an  accepted  leader  in  every  move- 
ment that  is  making  for  progress  and  civic  better- 
ment in  this  thriving  community. 

Doctor  Fritsche  is  a native  son  of  New  Ulm,  and 
belongs  to  a family  that  settled  here  during  the 
days  of  the  county’s  infancy.  He  was  bqrn  May 
28.  1862,  and  is  a son  of  Fred  Fritsche,  who  was  born 
in  Saxony,  Germany,  in  1838,  and  was  sixteen  years 
of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  in  their 
emigration  to  the  United  States.  Carl  J.  Fritsche, 
the  grandfather  of  Doctor  Fritsche,  was  a member  of 
the  land  association  that  laid  out  the  Village  of 
New  Ulm,  and  his  property  was  a part  of  the  land 
that  now  forms  the  town.  He  took  an  important 
part  in  the  settlement  and  development  of  this 
region,  and  was  justly  accounted  one  of  the  com- 
munity’s stirring  and  helpful  citizens,  and  during 
the  Indian  outbreak  of  1862  served  as  a defender 
of  New  Ulm.  Fred  Fritsche  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Saxony  and  in  the  Chicago 


schools  in  1855.  He  participated  in  the  struggles 
that  arose  because  of  the  depredations  of  the  hostile 
Indians  in  1862.  His  attention  early  turned  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  he  became  a large  land  owner 
in  Nicollet  County,  but  in  1872  moved  to  St.  Peter, 
Minnesota,  and  there  served  in  the  capacity  of  treas- 
urer of  Nicollet  County  for  a period  of  ten  years. 
Mr.  Fritsche  married  Miss  Louise  Lillie,  who  was 
born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and  was  four  years  of 
age  when  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  the  United 
States,  her  father,  Christian  Lillie,  settling  in  New 
York  State  in  1853  and  coming  to  New  Ulm,  Minne- 
sota, in  1858,  to  take  up  a claim.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fritsche,  namely:  Dr. 

Louis  xMbert ; Emil  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  Nicollet  County,  Minnesota;  Dr.  Fred,  a dental 
practitioner,  who  died  in  New  Ulm,  February  1, 
1913 ; Otto,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  opera- 
tions in  Nicollet  County ; and  Bertha,  the  wife  of 
William  H.  Mueller,  who  is  a member  of  the  firm  of 
Johnson  & Company,  overall  manufacturers  of  Saint 
Peter.  The  other  brothers  died  young. 

The  early  education  of  Doctor  Fritsche  was  secured 
in  the  graded  and  high  schools  of  Saint  Peter,  fol- 
lowing which  he  took  up  his  medical  studies  in  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine  in  1887.  Previous  to  this  time, 
in  order  to  further  prepare  himself,  and  to  add  to 
his  resources  he  had  taught  for  one  year  in  the 
country  schools.  While  at  the  university.  Doctor 
Fritsche  made  a very  creditable  record  in  his 
studies,  was  popular  with  his  mates,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Adelphi  Literary  Society.  In  1887 
Doctor  Fritsche  returned  to  New  Ulm  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  but  two  years 
later,  feeling  the  need  of  further  preparation,  he 
went  to  Berlin  and  in  1889  and  1890  took  post- 
graduate courses,  being  graduated  from  Berlin  Uni- 
versity March  31,  1890,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine.  While  abroad  at  that  time  Doctor 
Fritsche  was  a member  of  the  Tenth  International 
Medical  Congress  in  Berlin,  August  7-12,  1890.  He 
now  maintains  well  appointed  and  excellently 
equipped  offices  in  the  Brown  County  Bank  Build- 
ing, and  has  a large  professional  business,  his  prac- 
tice being  broad  and  general  in  character,  although 
he  has  specialized  in  surgery,  a field  in  which  he 
has  gained  wide  recognition  and  reputation.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Brown  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Minnesota  State  Medical  Society,  American  Medical 
Association  and  the  Southern  Minnesota  Medical 
Society,  and  was  first  president  of  the  last-named 
organization. 

A democrat  in  politics,  he  served  as  pension  med- 
ical examiner  under  President  Cleveland’s  second 
administration ; was  appointed  a member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners  in  the  year  1900 
by  Governor  John  Lind,  and  served  for  three  years, 
the  last  of  which  was  as  president  of  the  board.  In 
the  year  1907  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  John 
A.  Johnson  as  brigade  surgeon  of  the  Minne- 
sota National  Guard  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Bobleter,  with  the  rank  of  major.  This  com- 
mission was  renewed  by  Gov.  A.  O.  Eberhart,  and 
he  still  serves  in  this  capacity.  He  has  served  as 
health  officer  of  the  City  of  New  Ulm,  as  well  as 
coroner  of  Brown  County,  for  a number  of  years, 
and  in  the  year  of  1912  was  the  choice  of  the  people 
for  the  office  of  mayor.  His  administration  was 
made  notable  by  a business-like  handling  of  the 


1666 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


affairs  of  the  office  and  the  introduction  of  a number 
of  much  needed  reforms,  and  in  1914  he  was  again 
chosen  mayor.  Everything  seems  to  indicate  that 
he  endeavors  to  the  fullest  of  his  ability  to  ad- 
vance the  city’s  interests,  and  his  services  in  this 
connection  have  but  placed  him  further  in  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people.  In  1904  he  served  as  a dele- 
gate to  the  National  Democratic  Convention,  where 
he  supported  the  nomination  of  John  A.  Johnson,  the 
great  Minnesota  governor,  for  President.  Doctor 
Fritsche  is  president  of  the  Brown  County  Bank 
and  in  business  circles  is  accounted  by  his  asso- 
ciates a man  of  many  attainments.  In  addition  to 
his  private  practice  he  is  surgeon  to  the  Loretto 
and  the  Union  hospitals  in  New  Ulm. 

Doctor  Fritsche  has  traveled  extensively,  both  in  this 
and  foreign  countries,  and  in  his  last  trip  to  Europe 
met  with  some  thrilling  experiences.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  United  States  Senator  Fletcher’s  party  of 
mayors  and  civic  leaders  in  the  summer  of  1914, 
attending  an  International  Congress  of  Municipal 
Executives  held  at  London,  July  20th  and  25th.  Sub- 
sequently he  went  to  Paris  and  to  the  International 
Urban  Exposition  at  Lyons,  where  the  party  dis- 
banded. They  were  royally  entertained  by  the  lord 
mayors' of  London  and  Liverpool,  and  officials  at 
Paris  and  Lyons.  Doctor  Fritsche  was  still  in  the 
latter  city  when  war  was  declared  by  the  European 
countries,  in  August,  1914,  and  by  the  narrowest 
possible  margin  was  able  to  escape  being  confined 
in  that  city,  getting  out  by  the  last  train  to  Berne, 
Switzerland. 

On  June  14,  1890,  Doctor  Fritsche  was  married  in 
Berlin,  Germany,  to  Miss  Amalie  Pfaender,  daughter 
of  Col.  William  Pfaender,  deceased,  who  served  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  and  who.  had 
charge  of  Fort  Ridgely  from  the  year  1862  until  its 
abandonment  in  1866.  Six  children  have  been  born  to 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Fritsche,  namely:  Elsa  and  Albert, 
who  are  attending  the  University  of  Minnesota ; 
William,  who  is  a student  in  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin; Louise,  who  is  a pupil  in  the  New  Ulm 
High  School ; and  Carl  and  Theodore,  who  are  at- 
tending the  graded  schools  of  New  Ulm 

Nels  O.  Nelson.  In  the  career  of  Nels  O.  Nel- 
son, both  as  business  man  and  public  servant,  success 
to  him  has  meant  an  earnest  and  untiring  struggle 
every  step  of  the  way.  From  the  time  he  came  to 
the  United  States  with  his  parents,  as  a lad  of 
seventeen  years,  he  has  found  that  nothing  of  victory 
has  come  easy  to  him  as  it  does  to  many  less  worthy, 
or  has  been  thrust  upon  him.  However,  the  fruits 
of  success,  when  won  through  personal  effort,  are 
doubly  sweet.  As  a business  man,  Mr.  Nelson  has 
been  and  is  identified  with  a number  of  enterprises 
of  an  important  character;  in  public  life  he  has  long 
held  offices  of  responsibility  and  trust,  and  at 
present  is  serving  his  county,  Kandiyohi,  as  treasurer 
for  the  fourth  consecutive  term. 

Nels  O.  Nelson  was  born  October  17,  1854,  in 
Malmohus  Lan,  Sweden,  and  is  a son  of  Ola  and 
Kama  (Swanson)  Nelson.  His  father  was  born  in 
Sweden,  November  26,  1822,  and  his  mother  in  the 
same  country,  April  27,  1821,  and  in  1871  the  family 
emigrated  to  the  LTnited  States,  landing  at  New  York 
City  May  21st  of  that  year,  and  arriving  in  Kandi- 
yohi County,  Minnesota,  June  1st  following.  Here 
Ola  Nelson  located  on  a farm  at  Whitefield,  and 
during  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  continued  to 


be  engaged  in  successful  and  extensive  agricultural 
operations. 

Nels  O.  Nelson  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  land  and  was  brought  up 
to  the  pursuits  of  agriculture.  For  several  years 
after  coming  to  this  country  he  was  engaged  in 
assisting  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home 
place,  bu>t  when  he  accumulated  the  means  purchased 
some  land  of  his  own  in  the  same  locality  and 
settled  down  to  farm  on  his  own  account.  Mr. 
Nelson’s  operations  as  a tiller  of  the  soil  ha-ve  been 
eminently  satisfactory,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is 
the  owner  of  the  southeast  one-quarter  of  section  22, 
the  northeast  one-quarter  of  section  27,  and  the 
south  one-half  of  the  southwest  one-quarter  of 
section  33,  all  located  in  the  Town  of  Whitefield, 
eight  miles  from  Willmar,  and  only  forty  rods  from 
the  district  school.  He  has  modern,  substantial 
buildings  on  his  property,  the  latest  machinery  and 
modern  equipment  of  all  kinds,  and  raises  large 
crops  of  grain  and  breeds  a high  grade  of  cattle. 
While  a large  part  of  his  attention  has  been  given 
to  farming,  he  has  alsQ  been  interested  in  other 
directions,  having  been  manager  of  the  Farmers 
Elevator  of  Willmar  since  its  inception,  when  he 
leased  the  building  from  the  company  in  partnership 
with  Swan  Nelson,  but  later  took  over  Mr.  Nelson’s 
interest  and  is  now  conducting  it  alone. 

Mr.  Nelson  has  always  maintained  an  independent 
stand  in  political  matters,  and  it  has  been  solely 
upon  the  merits  of  his  general  good  citizenship  and 
well-known  integrity  that  he  has  been  elected  to 
public  office.  During  his  residence  in  the  Town  of 
Whitefield,  he  was  connected  with  the  management 
of  its  affairs,  serving  as  town  clerk,  chairman  of 
the  board  of  supervisors  and  as  a member  of  the 
school  board  for  years.  Since  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence at  Willmar,  he  has  continued  to  serve  the 
people  in  responsible  capacities,  having  been  aider- 
man  of  the  Fourth  Ward  and  a member  of  the 
Municipal  Light  and  Water  Commission.  In  1898 
he  was  elected  a representative  to  the  Minnesota 
Legislature,  being  nominated  on  both  the  republican 
and  democratic  tickets,  and  served  in  that  body  for 
one  term,  making  an  excellent  record.  In  1908  he 
first  became  a candidate  for  the  office  of  treasurer 
of  Kandiyohi  County,  and  by  successive  elections  is 
now  serving  in  his  fourth  term.  His  administration 
in  this  high  office  has  been  one  of  the  greatest  benefit 
to  the  county’s  interests,  and  Mr.  Nelson  has 
strengthened  his  position  in  the  confidence  of  the 
people  materially  by  his  many  wise  and  sagacious 
acts.  With  his  family,  Mr.  Nelson  attends  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  in  the  faith  of  which  he 
was  reared  and  a member  of  which  he  has  been  since 
boyhood. 

On  July  14,  1880,  Mr.  Nelson  was  married  to  Miss 
Olga  Hanson,  who  was  born  at  Fjelkinge,  Christian- 
stad  Lan,  Sweden,  September  5,  i860,  a daughter  of 
Hans  Larson  and  Nilla  (Rasmussen)  Hanson.  She 
died  April  12,  1888,  having  been  the  mother  of  three 
children:  Hattie  Carolina,  born  May  30,  1881,  the 

wife  of  S.  L.  Benton,  who  is  engaged  in  the  real 
estate,  loan  and  insurance  business  at  Willmar; 
Nannie  Alfreda,  born  September  14,  1883;  and  Maria 
Adelia,  born  September  17,  1887,  who  is  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  graded  schools  of  Willmar.  On  June 
7,  1889,  Mr.  Nelson  was  again  married  when  united 
with  Miss  Lena  Regina  Westerberg,  who  was  born 
in  Elmstad  Parish.  Smoland,  Sweden,  July  2 7,  1864, 
daughter  of  Lars  Magnus  Westerberg,  born  August 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1667 


7,  1831,  and  Anna  (Frederickson)  Westerberg,  born 
December  11,  1835,  both  native  of  the  same  place. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nelson : Amy  Olga  Regina,  born  April  23,  1891,  and 
now  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Delano,  Minne- 
sota; and  Carl  Herbert,  born  April  26,  1896,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Charles  H.  Cooper,  president  of  the  Mankato 
Normal  School,  is  a schoolman  who  has  been  active 
in  his  profession  since  the  age  of  sixteen,  is  an 
experienced  educator,  with  practical  and  progressive 
ideals,  and  keenly  alive  to  the  needs  of  modern 
education,  and  possessed  of  the  ability  to  fit  educa- 
tional training  into  practical  relations  with  the 
scheme  of  twentieth  century  society.  As  a teacher 
Mr.  Cooper  has  had  experience  in  the  best  schools 
of  both  the  East  and  West,  and  has  brought  to  his 
present  position  the  ability  of  the  administrator  as 
well  as  sound  knowledge  and  ideals. 

Charles  H.  Cooper  was  born  in  LaCrosse,  Wis- 
consin, June  16,  1855,  the  only  son  of  James  M.  and 
Anna  (Hermance)  Cooper.  His  father  was  born  in 
New  York  State  in  1794  and  died  in  1865,  came  out 
to  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin,  in  1853,  and  his  occupation 
was  chiefly  as  a gardener  and  a drayman.  He  was 
a republican  in  politics,  and  a member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  The  mother  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1816,  and  died  in  1906. 

Charles  H.  Cooper  from  an  early  age  was  brought 
into  close  touch  with  the  actualities  of  life.  His 
education  and  his  career  are  the  product  of  his 
individual  efforts,  and  his  own  early  struggles  have 
made  him  all  the  more  sympathetic  in  his  relation 
with  those  whose  preparation  for  life  he  has  super- 
vised. After  an  education  in  the  common  schools, 
he  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  by 
alternating  his  work  as  a teacher  with  that  of 
student  he  finally  acquired  a liberal  education,  and 
is  a graduate  of  one  of  the  best  of  the  eastern 
colleges.  He  received  his  degree  A.  B.  from  Dart- 
mouth College  at  Hanover,  New  Hampshire,  in 
1877,  and  his  alma  mater  conferred  upon  him  the 
degree  Master  of  Arts  in  1880.  One  of  his  earlier 
positions  was  as  sub-master  of  the  Abbott  School  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and 
then  became  sub-master  and  later  master  of  the 
Hitchcock  Academy  at  Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  his 
relations  with  that  institution  continuing  from  1878 
to  1882.  For  one  year  he  was  an  instructor  in  Dart- 
mouth College,  and  then  accepted  the  Chair  of 
History  and  Science  at  Carleton  College  in  North- 
field,  Minnesota,  and  was  one  of  the  professors  of 
that  splendid  institution  of  higher  learning  from 
1883  to  1898.  Mr.  Cooper  in  January,  1899,  assumed 
his  duties  as  president  of  the  Mankato  State  Normal 
School,  and  for  sixteen  years  has  directed  its  admin- 
istration and  has  impressed  his  ideals  and  enthusiasm 
on  his  faculty  and  the  student  body.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  at  the  head  of  a staff  of  thirty-seven 
teachers  and  instructors,  and  the  enrollment  in  all 
departments  aggregates  1,345. 

In  1883  Mr.  Cooper  married  Caroline  A.  Wheeler 
of  Woburn,  Massachusetts.  They  are  the  parents  of 
three  children : Helen,  educated  in  the  Carleton 

College,  spent  five  years  as  teacher  in  a high  school, 
then  was  abroad  as  a student  of  languages  one  year, 
and  is  now  an  instructor  of  French  in  the  East  High 
School  of  Minneapolis.  Margaret,  who  graduated 
from  Carleton  College,  and  in  the  kindergarten  train- 
ing course  of  Mankato  Normal,  is  now  instructor  of 


primary  methods  in  the  Des  Moines  College  of  Iowa. 
Robert,  the  only  son,  is  a student  in  Carleton  College. 
Mr.  Cooper  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
is  independent  in  politics,  and  during  his  residence 
at  Northfield  was  a member  of  the  local  school  board 
a number  of  years. 

Christian  J.  Laurisch.  The  Mankato  bar  has 
always  been  recognized  in  Minnesota  for  the  high 
qualifications  of  its  members,  and  outside  of  the  two 
largest  cities  there  is  probably  no  bar  in  the  state 
outranking  that  of  Mankato.  A lawyer  whose  attain- 
ments and  connections  justify  a foremost  position 
in  this  list  of  attorneys  is  Christian  J.  Laurisch, 
whose  active  career  covers  nearly  twenty  years,  and 
all  of  it  in  Blue  Earth  County. 

Christian  J.  Laurisch  was  born  on  a farm  in  Blue 
Earth  County  October  2,  1873.  His  parents  were 
John  C.  and  Mary  (Krause)  Laurisch,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  The  grandfather  Christian  Laurisch 
emigrated  from  Germany  to  the  United  States  in  the 
early  days,  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Blue  Earth 
County.  The  maternal  grandfather  Krause  lived  all 
his  life  in  Germany.  John  C.  Laurisch  was  born  in 
1842  and  died  in  1900,  and  his  wife  was  born  in 
1844  and  died  in  May,  1914.  They  were  married  at 
Mayville,  Wisconsin,  in  1866.  John  C.  Laurisch  was 
brought  to  the  United  States  when  a boy  in  1856, 
and  lived  on  a Wisconsin  farm  until  the  beginning 
of  the  Civil  war.  In  1861  he  volunteered  for  service 
in  the  Union  army,  with  Company  E of  the  Third 
Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  his  record  as  a soldier 
covers  almost  the  entire  period  of  hostilities.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  at  Antietam,  and  spent 
six  months  in  hospital  at  Annapolis.  After  his 
recovery  he  returned  to  his  command  and  continued 
without  interruption  from  duty  until  the  war  was 
over.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Wisconsin,  was 
married,  and  in  1867  moved  to  Minnesota  and  bought 
a farm  in  Blue  Earth  County.  He  began  life  as  a 
poor  boy,  eventually  prospered,  and  at  his  death  left 
a valuable  estate  of  225  acres.  For  many  years  he 
was  a recognized  leader  in  the  republican  party  in 
Blue  Earth  County,  and  for  thirteen  years  held  the 
office  of  assessor  in  Danville  Township.  He  was 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows at  Mapleton,  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  while  his  wife  was  a Catholic.  They  had 
a large  family  of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are 
still  living:  Nicholas,  an  engineer  at  Appleton,  Wis- 
consin; John,  a farmer  in  Pine  County,  Minnesota; 
Mrs.  Lena  Sauerhering  of  Warsaw,  Wisconsin ; 
Frank,  a farmer  in  Blue  Earth  County ; Christian  J. ; 
Gertrude,  who  is  cashier  with  a hardware  company 
at  Minnesota  Lake ; Marie,  a trained  nurse  in  a Min- 
neapolis hospital  who  has  recently  returned  from 
professional  service  in  the  Philippine  Islands ; Eliza- 
beth, also  a nurse  in  St.  Paul ; and  Theresa. 

Christian  J.  Laurisch  had  the  usual  training  and 
experiences  of  a farm  boy,  attended  local  schools  and 
the  Wells  High  School,  and  in  1892  entered  the  law 
office  at  Mankato  of  Pfau  & Young,  remaining  with 
them  as  clerk  and  student  three  years.  After  one 
year  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota  he  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1895  and 
admitted  to  the  bar  the  same  year.  Mr.  Laurisch 
began  his  practice  at  Mapleton  and  in  the  community 
where  he  had  been  reared  succeeded  in  building  up 
a substantial  practice.  Ten  years  later  he  came  to 
Mankato  and  became  a partner  in  the  prominent 
and  old  established  law  firm  of  Pfau  & Pfau,  under 


1668 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  firm  name  of  Pfau,  Pfau  & Laurisch.  After  the 
election  of  the  senior  member  to  the  bench  Mr. 
Laurisch  continued  in  practice  with  A.  R.  Pfau,  Jr., 
under  the  name  Pfau  & Laurisch,  until  January  15, 
1915.  Since  that  date  he  has  maintained  an  office  of 
his  own.  In  the  course  of  twenty  years  Mr. 
Laurisch’s  services  have  been  retained  in  most  of 
the  important  cases,  both  criminal  and  civil,  before 
the  local,  state  and  federal  courts,  and  is  the  local 
attorney  for  the  Chicago  & Northwestern  and  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railroad  companies. 
While  a resident  of  Mapleton  he  served  on  the  city 
council  and  as  city  attorney  and  is  a director  of  the 
Mapleton  State  Bank.  While  the  law  is  his  chief 
business,  he  also  deals  to  some  extent  in  real 
estate. 

Mr.  Laurisch  was  married  at  Watertown,  South 
Dakota,  to  Lulu  Anna  Littel,  a daughter  of  Robert 
Littel  of  Blue  Earth  County,  a retired  farmer.  They 
were  married  in  1903.  Mrs.  Laurisch  is  a member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Laurisch  is  affiliated 
with  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  has  passed  all  the 
chairs  except  that  of  worshipful  master  in  the  Ma- 
sonic Order,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  members 
of  the  Eastern  Star.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Edward  Carty  Boxell,  M.  D.,  Ph.  G.  Measured 
by  the  extent  of  his  practice  and  his  prominent  pro- 
fessional associations,  Dr.  Edward  C.  Boxell  is  one 
of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  St.  Paul. 
A native  of  Minnesota  himself,  he  is  a son  of  one 
of  the  territorial  pioneer  families. 

His  father,  the  late  John  William  Boxell,  was  a 
pioneer  and  is  also  remembered  as  a successful 
educator.  John  William  Boxell  was  born  in  Ohio, 
February  6,  1824,  was  educated  in  public  schools 
and  in  the  McIntyre  Academy  at  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
and  on  November  23,  1848,  married  Mary  Shaw,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1854,  four  years  before 
Minnesota  became  a state,  the  family  came  to  Minne- 
sota, Mr.  Boxell  being  accompanied  by  his  mother, 
his  wife  and  children.  He  settled  in  Washington 
County,  and  bought  a large  farm  fifteen  miles  east 
of  St.  Paul,  near  Afton.  While  looking  after  his 
farming  interests  he  also  organized  a school  in  that 
locality,  and  for  thirty  years  gave  most  of  his 
attention  to  educational  interests.  In  1885,  having 
sold  his  farm,  he  moved  into  St.  Paul  in  order  to 
be  with  his  children,  and  for  the  following  ten 
years  was  connected  more  or  less  actively  with  the 
Northwest  Magazine.  John  W.  Boxell  died  March 
1,  1899,  and  was  buried  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Knight  Templar  organization,  of  which  he  was  a 
member. 

Dr.  Edward  Carty  Boxell  was  born  at  his  father’s 
old  home  near  Afton,  Minnesota,  November  13, 
1863.  His  early  education  came  from  the  public 
schools,  and  his  early  ambition  was  to  be  a lawyer. 
For  one  year  he  read  law  under  the  tuition  of  Sen. 
Cushman  K.  Davis  at  St.  Paul.  Later  he  spent  a 
year  in  the  Duluth  Yale  School,  and  then  entered 
the  University  of  Minnesota.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  turned  from  the  law  to  medicine,  and  after  one 
year  in  the  state  university  entered  the  Minneapolis 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  and  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  highest  honors  in  1893.  In  1892  he 
had  taken  the  degree  Ph.  G.  from  the  Minnesota 
College  of  Pharmacy.  Between  his  college  terms  he 
had  practiced  medicine  at  Buffalo,  Minnesota,  and 
also  filled  the  post  of  health  officer.  After  procuring 


his  degree  Doctor  Boxell  engaged  in  general  practice 
at  St.  Paul  Park,  but  in  June,  1897,  removed  his 
office  to  the  City  of  St.  Paul,  and  soon  was  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a large  practice  and  became  well  known 
for  his  advanced  ideas  in  therapeutics. 

Doctor  Boxell  has  associations  with  many  frater- 
nal, scientific  and  other  organizations.  He.  is  a 
member  of  the  Ramsey  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Minnesota  State  Medical  Society  and  the  American 
Medical  Association;  of  the  National  Geographic 
Society  of  Washington ; of  the  Minnesota  Society  of 
the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  his  ancestry 
including  men  who  participated  in  the  war  for  in- 
dependence ; an  honorary  member  of  the  Anthologi- 
cal  Society  of  London,  England.  Doctor  Boxell 
possesses  one  of  the  largest  private  libraries  of 
general  literature  in  St.  Paul.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican. 

On  June  25,  1902,  Doctor  Boxell  married  Mary 
Elizabeth  Hess  of  St.  Paul.  They  were  married  at 
Atlanta,  Georgia.  ■ Mrs.  Boxell  was  born  at  Lang- 
don,  Minnesota,  in  1876,  daughter  of  Samuel  Hess. 
One  son  has  been  born  to  their  union,  Allen,  who 
was  born  at  St.  Paul,  June  9,  1905. 

H.  L.  Melgaard.  In  the  banking  circles  of  North- 
western Minnesota  there  is  no  name  associated  more 
influentially  and  more  extensively  than  that  of  H.  L. 
Melgaard,  who  is  the  organizer  and  president  of 
half  a dozen  or  more  institutions  in  Marshall  and 
adjoining  counties.  Mr.  Melgaard  is  a banker  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  term,  and  not  only  an  able 
manager  of  'finance  from  a conservative  point  of 
view,  but  one  who  judiciously  uses  the  resources 
of  the  banking  business  in  such  a way  as  to  profit 
to  the  largest  possible  extent  the  commercial  and 
industrial  community  in  which  his  institutions  are 
located. 

Mr.  Melgaard  has  his  home  in  Argyle,  and  is 
president  of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank  of 
that  city,  which  he  organized  as  a private  bank  in 
1886  and  which  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
oldest  bank  in  Marshall  County.  He  has  been  the 
controlling  factor  in  this  institution  since  its  begin- 
ning. In  1895  a state  charter  was  taken  out  under 
the  name  Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank,  with  a 
capital  of  $10,000.  Mr.  Melgaard  was  the  first 
president.  In  1892  he  erected  a substantial  building 
in  which  the  bank  still  has  its  quarters,  a brick 
block  22  by  45  feet.  In  1915  the  capital  stock  of 
this  bank  is  $25,000,  with  surplus  of  an  equal  amount 
and  undivided  profits  of  over  $8,000.  The  total 
deposits  aggregate  over  $400,000.  It  is  a bank  of 
service,  and  includes  among  its  customers  hundreds 
of  the  most  substantial  farmers  and  business  men 
in  Marshall  County.  Besides  Mr.  Melgaard  the 
other  officers  and  some  of  the  principal  stockholders 
are : P.  I.  Holen,  vice  president ; O.  L.  Melgaard, 

who  has  served  as  cashier  since  the  bank  was 
organized,  with  the  exception  of  the  first  two  years ; 
E.  I.  Amundgaard,  Andrew  Olson,  Henry  Keye, 
C.  J.  Moline  and  F.  D.  Keye. 

Hans  Larson  Melgaard  is  a native  of  Norway, 
born  November  4,  1859.  His  parents  were  Lars  and 
Anne  (Melgaard)  Melgaard,  farming  people  of  the 
old  country.  Mr.  IT.  L.  Melgaard  secured  his  educa- 
tion in  Norway,  and  was  about  twenty-three  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  this  country  and  located 
in  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  in  1882.  The  following- 
four  years,  spent  as  bookkeeper  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  that  city,  gave  him  a detailed  knowledge 


-•>? 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1669 


of  American  banking,  and  he  then  supplemented  this 
experience  with  his  individual  ability  and  private 
capital  in  organizing  the  first  banking  house  at 
Argyle  in  April,  1886.  Since  that  time  he  has 
organized  and  has  served  officially  in  a number  of 
other  local  banks.  He  is  organizer  and  president 
of  the  Scandia  State  Bank  of  Stephen,  organizer 
and  president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Kennedy,  organ- 
izer and  president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Middle 
River,  organizer  and  president  of  the  Citizens  State 
Bank  of  Oslo,  these  constituting  a string  of  sub- 
stantial banking  institutions  in  Marshall  County,  and 
all  offering  the  guaranty  of  prudent  and  conservative 
banking,  the  same  as  the  Farmers  and  Merchants 
Bank  of  Argyle.  Mr.  Melgaard  is  also  vice  president 
of  the  State  Bank  of  Warren,  vice  president  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Viking,  vice  president  of  the  Farmers 
State  Bank  of  Alvarado,  and  vice  president  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  of  Newfolden. 

While  these  banking  interests  have  necessarily 
taken  the  best  energies  of  his  active  career,  Mr. 
Melgaard  has  at  the  same  time  been  a leader  in  local 
affairs  of  a general  nature.  He  organized  and  served 
as  the  first  president  of  the  Commercial  Club  at 
Argyle.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  in 
establishing  the  first  lodge  of  Masons  at  Argyle 
and  was  worshipful  master  of  the  lodge  five  years. 
He  is  also  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite 
Mason  and  a member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  Mr. 
Melgaard  indulges  his  fancy  for  country  life,  and 
also  gets  considerable  profit,  at  the  same  time  fur- 
nishing an  example  of  his  enterprise  to  others  in 
the  community  by  operating  a model  farm  of  640 
acres,  known  as  "the  Spring  Bank  Farm,  where  he 
raises  thoroughbred  stock,  fruit  and  other  crops. 
For  several  years  Mr.  Melgaard  served  as  president 
of  the  council  of  Argyle.  In  politics  a republican, 
he  has  long  been  a leader  in  that  party,  has  served 
in  county  and  state  central  committees,  and  was  a 
delegate  at  the  Republican  National  Convention  in 
Philadelphia  in  1900,  when  McKinley  and  Roose- 
velt were  nominated. 

On  May  17,  1893,  Mr.  Melgaard  married  Miss 
Hulda  Elizabeth  Mankell,  who  was  born  in  Minne- 
sota. They  are  the  parents  of  six  children : Agnes 

Lucile  and  Irene  Margaret,  both  students  in  Carleton 
College  in  Northfield : Ruth  Eleanor,  Mildred  Dag- 
mar,  Harold  Lucian  and  Carmen  Elizabeth,  who  are 
still  at  home. 

Roland  L.  Barry.  Now  general  superintendent 
of  the  Tri-State  Telephone  Company,  with  offices 
in  St.  Paul,  Roland  L.  Barry  is  an  acknowledged 
expert  and  authority  in  telephone  matters  in  the 
Northwest.  He  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine  in 
1874,  a son  of  William  P.  and  Henrietta  M. 
(Dormer)  Barry.  Both  parents  were  natives  of 
Maine,  and  their  ancestors  came,  respectively,  from 
France  and  Scotland.  William  P.  Barry  brought 
his  family  from  Maine  to  Minneapolis  in  1882,  and 
was  for  a number  of  years  connected  with  the  traf- 
fic department  of  the  Northwestern  Consolidated 
Milling  Company. 

Roland  L.  Barry  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Minneapolis,  where  he  has 
lived  since  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  and_  after 
leaving  school  found  his  first  employment  in  the 
commercial  department  of  the  Minneapolis,  St.  Paul 
& Sault  Ste.  Marie  Railroad,  known  as  the  "Soo 
Line.”  He  was  connected  with  that  company  for 
about  five  years,  and  then  in  1897  entered  the  me- 


chanical department  of  the  Northwestern  Telephone 
Company.  In  1901  he  transferred  his  services  from 
the  Northwestern  to  the  Twin  City  Telephone  Com- 
pany, which  is  now  a part  of  the  Tri-State  Tele- 
phone and  Telegraph  Company.  He  became  man- 
ager of  the  St.  Paul  exchange,  and  held  that  office 
until  his  advancement  in  1911  to  the  general  super- 
intendency of  the  whole  system  embraced  under  this 
corporation.  In  1912  the  government  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Manitoba  enlisted  his  services  to  carry  out 
a thorough  investigation  of  the  affairs  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Telephone  Company.  After  conducting  a 
thorough  examination  of  the  system  and  its  com- 
mercial and  mechanical  organization,  he  reorganized 
the  entire  system,  appointing  a new  set  of  officers 
who,  under  his  direction,  have  built  up  one  of  the 
very  few  government-owned  corporations  that  is 
giving  satisfaction  to  the  public  and  showing  a profit 
from  operation  each  year.  The  1914  published  re- 
port shows  a surplus  of  almost  10  per  cent  of  the 
capital  invested.  Seldom  has  there  been  a better 
proof  of  what  can  be  done  by  the  introduction  of 
efficient  methods  into  corporate  management,  and 
the  results  were  largely  due  to  Mr.  Barry’s  thorough 
experience  and  efficiency  as  a telephone  manager. 

He  is  a member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Elec- 
trical Engineers,  and  has  membership  in  the  Com- 
mercial Club  of  St.  Paul,  the  Town  and  Country 
Club,  and  the  Association  of  Commerce.  In  1902,  at 
St.  Paul,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  Colter,  of 
St.  Paul.  Their  two  children  are  Harlan  William, 
aged  seven,  and  Roland  C.,  aged  four.  The  family 
attends  the  Trinity  Methodist  Church,  of  which  Mr. 
Barry  is  one  of  the  trustees.  Their  home  is  at  1633 
Portland  Avenue. 

Christ  J.  Sylling.  Now  serving  as  mayor  of 
Spring  Grove.  Christ  J.  Sylling  is  a native  of  Hous- 
ton County,  had  a thorough  training  and  is  an 
expert  in  farming  matters,  and  for  a number  of 
years  has  carried  on  an  extensive  business,  both  as  a 
farmer  and  stock  buyer  and  shipper. 

Christ  J.  Sylling  was  born  in  Houston  County, 
February  22,  1877,  a son  of  Jul  and  Bertha  (Blexrud) 
Sylling.  Both  the  Sylling  and  Blexrud  families  have 
been  identified  with  Minnesota  since  pioneer  times. 
His  grandfather,  Hans  Sylling,  brought  his  family 
from  Norway  to  Houston  County  and  lived  on  a 
farm  until  his  death,  and  the  maternal  grandfather, 
Lars  Blexrud,  was  also  prominent  as  an  early  farmer 
of  Houston  County.  Jul  Sylling  was  born  in  Norway 
in  1832  and  died  in  1911,  and  his  wife,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  same  country,  is  still  living.  They 
were  married  in  Houston  County,  and  the  father 
spent  all  his  life  as  an  active  farmer.  He  was  one 
of  the  leading  members  in  his  Lutheran  Church, 
and  in  politics  was  a republican.  By  industry  and 
the  overcoming  of  the  obstacles  of  pioneering  he 
made  a substantial  property  and  at  his  death  left  a 
good  estate.  There  were  six  children : Helmer, 

who  lives  on  a farm  in  Houston  County;  Lars,  a 
Houston  County  farmer;  Christ  J.,  at  Spring  Grove; 
George,  who  occupies  the  old  homestead ; Albert,  a 
farmer  in  Houston  County;  and  Anna,  wife  of  Mr. 
Bekkemo,  a farmer  in  Houston  County. 

Christ  J.  Sylling  grew  up  on  a Houston  County 
farm,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
for  a time  was  a student  in  the  Normal  College  at 
Decorah.  Iowa.  After  farming  for  a couple  of 
years,  he  moved  to  Spring  Grove  in  1902,  and  for 
the  following  ten  years  devoted  most  of  his  time 


1670 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


to  the  creamery  business.  He  finally  sold  his  inter- 
est in  that  line  and  then  began  the  buying  and 
shipping  of  live  stock.  Chicago  has  been  his  chief 
market,  and  in  recent  years  he  has  all  he  could  attend 
to.  Mr.  Sylling  is  also  the  owner  of  two  farms, 
one  comprising  160  acres  and  the  other  eighty  acres, 
and  supervises  their  management. 

In  1900  Mr.  Sylling  married  Louise  Larson  of 
Iowa.  Their  six  children  are:  Geneva,  aged  eleven; 
Oberlin,  aged  nine ; Gladys,  aged  seven ; Charlotte, 
aged  five;  Harold,  aged  three;  and  Alfred.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
Mr.  Sylling  is  a republican.  He  has  shown  much 
interest  in  local  affairs,  and  the  people  of  Spring 
Grove  congratulated  themselves  on  his  choice  to 
the  office  of  mayor. 

Frederick  H.  Warwick.  The  H.  M.  Smyth  Print- 
ing Company  of  St.  Paul  is  a business  that  has  more 
than  local  distinction,  since  its  trade  relations  extend 
over  several  states  of  the  Northwest.  The  plant  in 
size  and  equipment  would  bear  favorable  comparison 
with  other  concerns  anywhere  in  the  country.  The 
company  has  a three-story  brick  building  80  by  100 
feet,  all  the  floors  being  used  for  the  business,  and 
about  fifty  people  are  employed  in  the  various  de- 
partments. The  power  for  the  machinery  is  supplied 
by  electric  motors,  and  the  equipment  comprises  all 
facilities  for  printing,  lithographing,  binding,  de- 
signing and  fine  color  work,  and  the  execution  of 
such  high  grade  products  as  maps,  bonds,  checks, 
drafts,  etc.  The  company  published  the  New  Atlas 
of  St.  Paul,  Kirk’s  Public  Map  of  St.  Paul  and 
Minneapolis  and  Curtis’  Street  Guide  Map  of  St. 
Paul. 

This  business  was  started  in  1881  by  LI.  M.  Smyth 
and  was  conducted  by  him  individually  until  1899. 
The  company  is  now  incorporated,  with  a capital 
stock  of  $30,000. 

Guel  G.  Morehouse,  M.  D.  In  this  history  of 
Minnesota  it  will  be  found  that  there  are  many 
salient  points  that  make  specially  interesting  a con- 
sideration of  the  career  of  Doctor  Morehouse.  He 
is  a native  son  of  the  city  and  county  in  which  he 
now  maintains  his  home  and  is  a representative 
physician  and  surgeon,  besides  holding  preferment 
as  mayor  of  Owatonna,  in  1914,  and  is  a scion  of 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  honored  pioneer 
families  of  Steele  County,  where  he  is  well  upholding 
the  prestige  of  the  name  which  he  bears.  His 
father,  the  late  Dr.  Eli  M.  Morehouse,  established 
a home  at  Owatonna,  judicial  center  of  Steele  County, 
in  1853,  about  four  years  prior  to  the  admission  of 
Minnesota  to  statehood,  and  with  the  civic  and 
material  development  and  progress  of  this  section 
of  the  state  the  name  of  Morehouse  has  been  promi- 
nently and  influentially  identified. 

Dr.  Guel  G.  Morehouse  was  born  at  Owatonna, 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1876,  and  is  a son  of  Dr. 
Eli  M.  and  Lorinda  A.  (McRostie)  Morehouse,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  at  Warren,  Ohio,  in 
1835,  and  the  latter  of  whom  is  a native  of  Ogdens- 
burg,  New  York.  The  father  died  at  Owatonna  in 
1891,  and  his  widow  still  maintains  her  home  in 
this  fine  little  city.  As  a youth  Dr.  Eli  M.  Morehouse 
learned  the  trade  of  cabinet  maker,  but  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  he  made  effective  protest  against 
such  limitation  of  his  powers  and  ambitions,  as  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine,  under  the  preceptorship 
of  Dr.  William  Payne,  a representative  physician  of 


the  City  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  Lie  admir- 
ably fortified  himself  for  the  work  of  his  chosen 
profession  and  in  1834  he  located  at  Independence, 
Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged  in  practice  about  one 
year,  his  removal  to  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  having- 
occurred  in  1855.  He  was  one  of  the  first  physicians 
to  engage  in  practice  in  Steele  County  and  long  held 
precedence  as  one  of  the  able  and  representative 
physicians  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  was 
broad-minded  and  progressive  as  a citizen  and  his 
life  was  guided  and  governed  by  the  highest  prin- 
ciples, so  that  he  had  inviolable  place  in  popular 
confidence  and  esteem.  He  was  a leader  in  the 
local  councils  of  the  democratic  party, ..though  he 
had  been  a republican  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  and  in 
1879  he  represented  Steele  County  as  a member 
of  the  State  Legislature.  He  served  several  terms 
as  a member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Owa- 
tonna and  was  serving  his  third  term  as  mayor  of 
the  city  at  the  time  of  his  death.  A strong  and 
noble  character,  he  wielded  large  and  benignant 
influence  in  civic  and  material  affairs  and  his  memory 
is  revered  in  the  city  and  county  that  long  repre- 
sented his  home.  He  was  a zealous  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  was  a Knights  Templar  Mason 
and  was  affiliated  also  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen. 

Concerning  the  children  of  Dr.  Eli  M.  and  Lorinda 
A.  (McRostie)  Morehouse,  the  following  brief  rec- 
ord is  entered:  Dr.  Eli  M.,  Jr.,  who  was  graduated 
in  Bennett  Medical  College,  in  the  City  of  Chicago, 
is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Yankton,  South  Dakota;  Effie  L.  is  the  wife  of 
John  W.  Adsit,  manager  of  the  Owatonna  Hotel ; 
Timothy  N.,  who  was  a commercial  traveling  sales- 
man, met  his  death  in  a stage-coach  accident  at 
Roseburg,  Oregon ; and  Dr.  Guel  G.,  of  this  review, 
is  the  youngest  of  the  children. 

To  the  public  schools  of  Owatonna  Dr.  Guel  G. 
Morehouse  is  debted  for  his  early  educational  dis- 
cipline, and  he  was  graduated  in  the  high  school  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1897.  1°  preparation  for 

the  work  of  the  profession  that  had  been  signally 
honored  by  the  services  of  his  father,  he  was  matricu- 
lated in  Bennett  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1902  and  from  which  he  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  In  the  following- 
year,  after  an  effective  post-graduate  course,  he  was 
graduated  also  in  the  medical  department  of  Val- 
paraiso University,  and  in  1904  he  gained  valuable 
clinical  experience  through  his  service  as  interne  in 
Cook  County  Hospital,  one  of  the  great  institutions 
of  the  nation’s  western  metropolis.  For  a short  time 
after  his  graduation  in  Bennett  Medical  College 
Doctor  Morehouse  was  engaged  in  practice  in  South 
Dakota,  but  since  December,  1904,  he  has  been 
established  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his 
native  city,  with  a clientage  whose  scope  and  rep- 
resentative character  attest  alike  to  his  ability  and 
his  personal  popularity,  his  well  appointed  offices 
being  at  120  West  Broadway.  The  Doctor  is  an 
enthusiast  in  all  that  pertains  to  his  profession  and 
insistently  keeps  in  touch  with  the  advances  made 
in  medical  and  surgical  science.  He  is  identified 
with  the  Steele  County  Medical  Society,  the  Minne- 
sota State  Medical  Society,  the  Southern  Minnesota 
Medical  Association,  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion and  the  Clinical  Congress  of  Surgery.  In  the 
Masonic  fraternity  the  ancient  craft  affiliation.  of 
Doctor  Morehouse  is  with  Star  of  the  East  Lodge 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1671 


No.  33,  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  in  his 
home  city,  and  he  has  received  the  thirty-second 
degree  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  in 
which  he  is  affiliated  with  Winona  Consistory,  besides 
being  a member  of  Zurah  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic 
Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  in  the 
City  of  St.  Paul,  and  of  the  Owatonna  Lodge  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Doctor  Morehouse  maintains  an  independent  atti- 
tude in  politics,  and  in  the  spring  of  1914  he  was 
elected,  on  an  independent  ticket,  to  the  office  of 
mayor  of  Owatonna,  his  administration  showing 
his  loyalty  to  his  native  city  and  his  ability  as  a 
municipal  executive  of  progressiveness  and  excel- 
lent judgment.  The  Doctor  is  president  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Owatonna  Hotel  Company,  which  owns 
one  of  the  fine  hotel  properties  of  Southern  Minne- 
sota. He  is  the  owner  of  his  attractive  residence  at 
717  South  Cedar  Street,  and,  with  Mrs.  Morehouse 
as  its  gracious  and  popular  chatelaine,  the  home  is  a 
center  of  hospitality  and  of  much  of  the  representa- 
tive social  activity  of  the  community. 

In  November,  1911,  was  solemnized  the  marriage 
of  Doctor  Morehouse  to  Miss  Margaret  Moore, 
daughter  of  Henry  R.  Moore,  who  is  a retired  busi- 
ness man  and  representative  citizen  of  Owatonna. 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Morehouse  have  no  children. 

In  a retrospective  way  it  may  be  stated  that  the 
founder  of  the  Morehouse  family  in  America  was 
Thomas  Morehouse,  a stanch  Scotch  Presbyterian 
who  was  driven  by  religious  difficulties  from  his 
native  land  to  Holland  and  who  came  from  the  latter 
country  to  America  in  1640,  his  home  having  been 
established  at  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Orville  W.  Walker.  To  those  who  are  still 
struggling  with  the  vicissitudes  of  the  world  and 
to  young  men  who  must  soon  face  the  responsi- 
bilities of  serious  life,  there  will  be  found  a great 
deal  of  inspiration  and  encouragement  in  the  fol- 
lowing paragraphs,  which  furnish  a suggestive  out- 
line of  the  career  of  Orville  W.  Walker,  now  a 
prosperous  business  man  of  Mankato  and  head  of 
the  O.  W.  Walker  Company,  one  of  the  leading 
real  estate  and  insurance  firms  of  Minnesota. 

Born  March  7,  1873,  at  Verona,  Frontenac  County, 
Ontario,  Canada,  he  is  the  third  son  of  Samuel  W. 
Walker  and  Lavina  (Percy)  Walker,  both  natives 
of  Canada  and  a grandson  of  George  Walker  and 
Michael  Percy,  natives  of  England,  who  emigrated 
to  Canada  and  spent  their  declining  years  there. 
Samuel  W.  Walker  was  born  in  1841,  and  when  but 
eight  years  of  age  left  home  and  became  self- 
supporting.  Steady  industry  and  economy  finally 
gave  him  sufficient  means  to  purchase  a small  tract 
of  land,  with  which  he  entered  upon  a career  of 
agriculture.  In  1891  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
locating  at  Caldwell,  Kansas,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home  and  has  accumulated  a fortune  in 
farming  wheat  and  corn.  During  the  last  ten  years 
he  has  spent  most  of  his  time  in  travel,  passing  most 
of  his  winters  in  Florida,  California  or  Texas  and 
hot  summers  in  Duluth  and  Colorado.  He  is  a con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  to  the 
cause  of  which  he  has  donated  liberally  of  his 
means,  is  a republican  in  politics  and  maintains  a 
fraternal  connection  with  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  Mrs.  Walker,  who  was  born 
in  1846,  passed  away  in  1885,  leaving  her  husband 
and  eight  children. 

The  early  education  of  Orville  W.  Walker  came 

Vol.  m— 26 


from  a log  schoolhouse  in  Canada,  and  at  Caldwell, 
Kansas,  to  which  place  he  went  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  he  finished  the 
eighth  grade  of  public  schools.  His  first  vocation 
was  working  on  a farm  at  $8  a month,  and  he  con- 
tinued that  until  twenty-one,  at  which  time  he  pur- 
chased a relinquished  claim  in  the  recently  opened 
Cherokee  Strip  of  the  Indian  Territory,  and  set 
about  to  improve  the  same.  He  built  a sod  dug-out 
in  the  side  of  a bank  and  batched  there  three  years 
during  the  hard  times  of  1894-95-96.  The  year 
1897  gave  good  crops  to  the  people  of  Oklahoma, 
and  on  the  promise  of  continued  prosperity,  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  he  took  to  himself  a wife.  She 
was  Oma  Lee  Fleming,  who  came  with  her  people 
from  Missouri  and  homesteaded  a claim  a few  miles 
from  Mr.  Walker's  location.  After  marrying  Mr. 
Walker  continued  to  farm  two  years,  proving  up  his 
claim  under  the  Free  Homestead  Bill,  and  during 
this,  time  two  sons  were  born,  W.  Paul  and  Tor- 
rance D.  Having  acquired  unrestricted  ownership 
of  their  land,  and  Mrs.  Walker  being  somewhat  frail 
and  in  ill  health,  they  decided  to  leave  the  farm  and 
try  city  life.  The  farm  was  sold  for  $3,500.  They 
moved  to  Kingfisher,  Oklahoma,  and  ventured  into 
the  hotel  business.  It  was  a successful  venture  up 
to  the  third  month,  when  smallpox  broke  out  in 
the  city,  the  town  was  quarantined,  and  in  six  months 
time  business  had  collapsed  and  their  money  was 
practically  all  gone.  Being  dissatisfied  with  the 
climate  of  Oklahoma  as  it  affected  the  health  of 
his  family,  and  believing  that  all  would  enjoy  better 
health  in  the  northern  states,  Mr.  Walker  left  Okla- 
homa and  removed  to  Duluth,  Minnesota.  There 
they  bought  a rooming  flat,  which  Mrs.  Walker 
cared  for  while  her  husband  tested  his  powers  as  a 
life  insurance  salesman.  After  one  years  as  local 
agent  he  was  promoted  to  an  assistant  superin- 
tendency and  transferred  to  Ironwood,  Michigan. 
His  record  there  during  the  next  four  months  was 
so  satisfactory  that  the  company  transferred  him  to 
Superior,  Wisconsin,  and  made  him  superintendent 
in  charge.  During  this  period  his  third  son,  Mark 
F.  F.,  was  born. 

Having  become  tired  of  his  position  in  the  insur- 
ance business,  Mr.  Walker  resigned  and  accepted 
traveling  work  on  the  road  writing  insurance.  Later 
he  became  identified  with  the  International  Corre- 
spondence School  of  Scranton,  making  his  head- 
quarters at  Mankato,  Minnesota,  to  which  city  he 
moved  his  family  in  1905.  After  his  second  year 
with  the  school  the  owners  of  the  Eagle  Roller 
Mill  of  New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  met  him  and  induced  him 
to  accept  a position  selling  their  flour  through  West- 
ern Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  West  Virginia.  In 
order  to  be  near  his  work  he  removed  his  family 
to  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  lived  there  one 
year.  While  a resident  at  Duluth  and  Superior  he 
had  invested  the  proceeds  of  his  farm  in  real  estate, 
and  owing  to  a slump  in  values  lost  practically  every- 
thing he  had  accumulated.  The  one  year  he  spent 
in  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania,  was  a time  of  illness 
for  his  wife  and  children  and  as  a result  of  the 
experience  he  resigned  his  position  and  returned  to 
Mankato,  Minnesota.  In  that  city  his  fourth  son 
was  born,  named  James  S. 

On  returning  to  Mankato  Mr.  Walker  himself 
was  stricken  down  by  la  grippe,  and  during  a linger- 
ing illness  he  was  reduced  to  bed  rock  financially. 
For  six  weeks  he  was  able  to  accomplish  little, 
spending  his  time  in  looking  up  a promising  business 


1672 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  which  to  engage.  Finally  convinced  of  the  oppor- 
tunities in  real  estate  and  insurance  he  opened  an 
office  on  April  i,  1908.  That  was  a panic  year  among 
the  banks  and  he  found  it  hard  sledding,  but  by 
continual  hard  knocks  every  day  and  every  evening 
he  finally  developed  a clientage  that  gave  him  a good 
living  and  eventually  brought  him  to  the  front 
among  the  business  men  of  Blue  Earth  County.  He 
founded  the  O.  W.  Walker  Company,  real  estate, 
insurance  and  loans,  with  offices  in  the  Coughlan- 
Hickey  Building.  This  company  specializes  in  city 
properties,  including  residence,  business  building, 
city  and  suburban  lots.  Mr.  Walker  is  regarded  as 
an  expert  in  real  estate  and  realty  values.  His  busi- 
ness record  in  the  city  has  attracted  to  him  many 
friends  and  well  wishers,  and  in  the  past  six  years 
his  company  has  bought  and  sold  more  city  property 
than  any  two  firms  in  Blue  Earth  County.  His 
judgment  is  much  in  demand  by  both  buyers  and 
sellers.  He  was  the  builder  and  is  still  the  owner 
of  the  Omalee  Place,  a six  apartment  building  located 
in  the  best  portion  of  the  City  of  Mankato  on  the 
corner  of  Second  and  Liberty  streets,  next  door  to 
his  large  brick  residence.  He  also  owns  property 
in  Duluth  and  in  the  State  of  California. 

The  O.  W.  Walker  Company  accepts  the  manage- 
ment of  estates,  collects  rents,  and  on  a great  many 
occasions  he  has  rendered  an  invaluable  service  to 
his  clients,  both  renters  and  owners,  and  is  probably 
one  of  the  most  popular  agents  of  property  in  the 
city.  His  firm  writes  fire,  life,  sick  and  accident, 
steam  boiler,  plate  glass,  casualty  and  compensation 
insurance  and  also  does  bonding.  He  represents  the 
National  Surety  of  New  York,  the  Casualty  Company 
of  America,  the  New  York  Plate  Glass,  the  Plartford 
Steam  Boiler  Inspection  & Insurance  Company,  the 
North  American  Accident,  the  German  American 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  the  Fire  Association,  the 
Aetna,  Twin  City,  Sun  Office  of  London,  Hand  in 
Hand,  Western  of  Toronto,  etc.  Through  Mr. 
Walker’s  operations  he  has  done  much  to  promote 
the  interests  of  both  buyers  and  sellers,  has  effected 
some  sales  noteworthy  for  the  quickness  of  the 
transaction,  and  his  capable  handling  of  business 
and  his  ability  to  get  mutual  advantages  for  both 
parties  to  every  transaction  has  resulted  in  bringing 
to  him  many  firm  friendships.  In  the  fall  of  1912 
the  people  of  North  Mankato,  feeling  they  needed 
a bank,  and  Mr.  Walker  being  public  spirited,  organ- 
ized a co-operative  state  bank,  known  as  the  Peoples 
State  Bank  of  North  Mankato,  capital  $15,000,  and 
he  was  elected  its  first  president  and  a member  of 
the  board  of  directors,  and  served  as  such  until  the 
spring  of  1913,  at  which  time  his  real  estate  business 
called  for  all  of  his  time  and  attention,  and  he  sold 
his  interest  in  the  bank  and  resigned  his  position  as 
president  of’ the  institution. 

Mr.  Walker  is  connected  fraternally  with  the  local 
lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  is  a member  of 
the  Mankato  Commercial  Club,  and  has  allied  himself 
as  a booster  with  all  movements  that  have  promised 
to  benefit  the  community.  His  political  views  are 
those  of  the  republican  party,  but  he  has  found  little 
time  to  devote  to  politics.  With  his  family  he 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
all  are  members. 

Clifford  C.  Eaton.  The  Eaton  family  has  been 
identified  with  Southern  Minnesota  through  three 
generations  since  pioneer  days  in  Minnesota  Terri- 
tory. Clifford  C.  Eaton  is  known  not  only  as  editor 


and  owner  of  the  Winthrop  News,  but  also  for  his 
activity  in  stimulating  agricultural  enterprise  in  that 
section  of  the  state,  and  particularly  for  his  work  in 
securing  adequate  representation  at  the  state  fair  of 
the  agricultural  products  of  several  counties. 

Clifford  C.  Eaton  was  born  at  Sleepy  Eye  in 
Brown  County,  Minnesota,  July  16,  1883.  He  is  a 
grandson  of  a pioneer  Minnesota  newspaper  man, 
William  S.  Eaton,  who  for  a number  of  years  was 
editor  of  the  Rochester  Post  before  it  was  con- 
solidated under  its  present  form  as  the  Post  Record. 
William  S.  Eaton  also  served  as  state  senator  from 
Olmsted  County,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  that  section  of  the  state.  Clifford  C.  Eaton  is  a 
son  of  Horace  G.  and  Lida  (Kendall)  Eaton.  His 
father,  who  was  born  in  Rock  County,  Wisconsin, 
May  31,  1841,  and  died  January  19,  1911,  was  promi- 
nent from  the  early  days  as  a grain  buyer.  He  put 
in  forty-eight  years  in  that  service,  and  the  State 
Grain  Journal  gave  him  credit  for  being  the  oldest 
man  in  the  business.  Soon  after  the  Indian  outbreak 
during  the  Civil  war  he  located  at  New  Ulm,  re- 
moving to  that  city  from  Rochester.  For  a number 
of  years  he  bought  grain  from  the  boats  that  used 
to  ply  the  Minnesota  River  between  New  Ulm  and 
Riverside.  Riverside  is  now  the  site  of  North  Red- 
wood. He  had  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union 
army  about  the  time  of  Lee's  surrender.  He  was 
also  active  in  republican  politics  in  the  state.  Clif- 
ford C.  Eaton  has  a brother,  Bernie  A.,  who  was 
born  in  1881,  and  married  Minnie  Schon,  and  is 
now  located  in  North  Dakota. 

Clifford  C.  Eaton  was  educated  in  the  high  school 
at  Morgan  and  took  a commercial  course  at  Mankato. 
Llis  first  occupation  was  the  printing  business,  and 
he  has  spent  all  his  active  career  in  the  printing- 
trade  and  in  newspaper  work.  In  October,  1912, 
he  became  editor  and  owner  of  the  Winthrop  News, 
and  has  made  that  one  of  the  bright  and  interesting 
journals  of  Sibley  County.  During  his  residence  in 
Morgan  County  he  interested  himself  in  county 
agriculture  exhibit  work,  and  placed  the  first  county 
display  of  Redwood  County  products  at  the  Minne- 
sota State  Fair.  He  followed  that  work  for  about 
four  years,  and  after  locating  in  Sibley  County 
collected  the  first  exhibits  from  that  county  for  the 
state  fair.  He  is  vice  president  of  the  Minnesota 
State  Exhibitors  Association. 

Mr.  Eaton  is  affiliated  with  the  Sibley  Lodge,  No. 
209,  of  Winthrop,  and  with  the  Chapter  of  the 
Masonic  Order  at  New  Ulm,  and  with  Gaylord 
Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
Politically  he  is  a republican.  Mr.  Eaton  was  mar- 
ried, in  1906,  to  Antoinette  Schnobrich.  Their  one 
child,  Genevieve,  is  now  two  years  of  age. 

Alfred  J.  Krank.  The  development  of  one  of  St. 
Paul’s  leading  mercantile  concerns  can  be  read  in  the 
career  of  Alfred  J.  Krank,  a native  son  of  Minne- 
sota, and  for  more  than  thirty  years  identified  with 
business  in  St.  Paul. 

Alfred  J.  Krank  was  born  January  10,  1866,  in 
New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  a son  of  Frank  William  and 
Susan  (Sausen)  Krank,  who  were  early  settlers  in 
the  German  community  of  New  Ulm.  Mr.  Krank 
received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  St.  Paul  and  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  living  in  St. 
Paul  since  1877,  and  in  the  year  of  1879  beginning 
to  learn  the  cutler’s  and  grinder’s  trade  with  Franke 
& Schnell.  He  became  foreman  of  this  firm  in 
1881,  and  in  the  year  of  1883  bought  the  interest  of 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1673 


Mr.  Schnell,  who  had  succeeded  Franke  & Schnell. 
The  firm  then  became  known  as  Alfred  J.  Krank, 
but  later  on  Mr.  Schnell  again  bought  an  interest, 
and  the  name  became  H.  Schnell  & Company  in 
1884.  It  was  then  Schnell  & Krank  until  1903,  at 
which  date  Mr.  Krank  established  the  present  busi- 
ness of  Alfred  J.  Krank,  manufacturer  and  dealer 
in  barbers’  supplies  and  cutlery,  the  largest  concern 
of  its  kind  in  the  Northwest. 

This  business  occupies  an  eligible  location  at  142 
East  Sixth  Street,  in  a three-story  building  25  by 
135  feet,  a floor  over  140  East  Sixth  Street,  all  the 
floors  and  space  being  required  for  the  stock  and 
salesrooms  and  general  offices  of  the  firm.  A fur- 
ther idea  of  the  extent  of  the  business  is  conveyed 
by  the  fact  that  sixty  people  are  employed  in  the 
establishment.  The  business  is  conducted  both 
wholesale  and  retail,  and  its  outside  trade  extends  all 
over  the  northwestern  states.  Mr.  Krank  is  also 
president  of  the  A.  J.  Krank  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, manufacturers  of  all  toilet  necessities;  a mem- 
ber and  director  of  the  Barbers  Supply  Dealers 
Association  of  America ; also  a member  of  the  Per- 
fumers Association  of  America ; a director  in  the 
People’s  Bank;  vice  president  of  the  Association  of 
Commerce ; chairman  of  the  advisory  committee  of 
the  local  division  of  the  Association  of  Commerce ; 
and  is  a member  of  the  building  committee  of  the 
St.  Paul  Athletic  Club.  He  is  a member  of  the  Elks 
and  is  a member  and  has  been  treasurer  of  the  St. 
Paul  Turnverein  and  a member  of  the  Automobile 
Club,  the  Commercial  Club  and  a life  member  of 
the  Minnesota  Historical  Society ; also  a member 
of  the  United  Commercial  Travelers. 

Mr.  Krank  and  family  reside  at  893  Osceola  Ave- 
nue. He  was  married  February  17,  1891,  to  Miss 
Emma  Hundt.  They  have  two  daughters  and  a son, 
Virginia,  Erma  and  Walter  A. 

Rudolph  H.  Werges.  A popular  young  banker  of 
Gaylord  in  Sibley  County,  Rudolph  H.  Werges, 
though  still  in  his  twenties,  has  made  himself  a 
useful  factor  in  the  community  where  he  has  spent 
his  career,  and  represents  one  of  the  solid  old 
pioneer  families  of  Minnesota. 

Rudolph  H.  Werges  was  born  at  Gaylord  in  1891. 
His  father.  John  H.  Werges,  was  born  in  Sibley 
County  in  1858,  the  year  Minnesota  was  admitted 
to  the  Union,  has  followed  business  as  a contractor 
and  farmer,  and  is  still  living.  He  has  held  all  the 
chairs  in  the  local  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  a republican  in 
politics.  John  H.  Werges  is  a son  of  Frederick 
Werges,  who  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers  in 
Kelso  Township  of  Sibley  County.  The  mother  of 
Rudolph  H.  Werges  was  Margaret  Otting,  who  was 
born  at  Gaylord  in  1864  and  is  still  living.  Other 
members  of  the  family  are  Hertha  Spellman.  Isabel 
and  Ella. 

Rudolph  H.  Werges  grew  up  in  Sibley  County, 
attended  the  public  schools  and  was  graduated  from 
high  school  in  1909,  and  his  first  activities  in  self 
support  were  as  a farmer  and  one  year  as  a teacher 
in  the  rural  schools.  He  became  identified  with  the 
Citizens  State  Bank  at  Gaylord  in  1910  and  has  since 
been  advanced  as  experience  has  merited  until  he  is 
the  cashier  of  that  institution.  Mr.  Werges  was 
married,  April  20,  1915,  to  Elsie  M.  Byhoffen.  He 
is  a progressive  republican  in  politics  and  has  filled 
several  chairs  in  the  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows. 


Charles  W.  Quandt.  Both  in  the  law  and  in 
banking  Charles  W.  Quandt  has  had  a career  of 
successful  achievement.  Born  on  a Minnesota  farm, 
he  has  created  most  of  his  opportunities  through 
persistent  industry  and  application,  has  been  steadily 
increasing  his  powers  and  his  influence,  and  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  successful  men  of  Sibley 
County. 

Charles  W.  Quandt  was  born  in  Nicollet.  County, 
Minnesota,  in  1876,  a son  of  August  and  Fredericka 
(Blumrick)  Quandt.  Both  parents  were  natives  of 
Germany.  His  father  was  born  in  1837  and  died 
in  1914,  having  brought  his  family  to  Minnesota  in 
1871,  and  as  an  early  settler  having  followed  farming 
in  Nicollet  County  to  the  close  of  his  active  career. 
He  was  a republican  in  politics  and  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  His  parents  were  married  in  Ger- 
many, and  the  mother  was  born  in  1843  and  died  in 
1898.  Of  their  children  seven  are  living:  Mrs. 

Mary  Sivert,  whose  husband  is  a farmer  in  Nicollet 
County,  and  they  have  three  living  children;  Mrs. 
Rieka  May,  wife  of  an  electrician  living  in  Buffalo, 
New  York,  and  the  mother  of  one  child;  William, 
a Sibley  County  farmer ; Paul,  also  a farmer  in 
Sibley  County;  Herman,  a farmer  in  Nicollet 
County;  Charles  W. ; and  Albert,  a farmer  in 
Canada. 

Charles  W.  Quandt  grew  up  on  a farm,  had  an 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and  from  early 
boyhood  was  noted  for  his  studious  inclinations. 
After  his  school  career,  while  incidentally  engaged 
in  farming  in  Nicollet  County,  he  also  taught  school. 
Mr.  Quandt  finished  his  education  for  his  profession 
by  attendance  at  the  St.  Paul  College  in  St.  Paul 
Park,  was  graduated  in  1899  from  the  Illinois  College 
of  Law,  and  was  awarded  the  degree  LL.  B.  by  the 
law  school  of  the  University  of  Minnesota  in  1900. 
His  practice  for  the  past  fifteen  years  has  been  one 
of  growing  importance  at  Winthrop.  and  while  look- 
ing after  the  interests  of  his  clientele  he  has  also 
given  considerable  service  in  public  office  and  as  a 
banker.  Mr.  Quandt  has  served  as  county  attorney 
and  as  city  attorney,  as  president  of  the  school 
board,  and  has  never  failed  to  give  response  to  calls 
upon  his  services  and  leadership  in  public  affairs.  Mr. 
Quandt  is  president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Winthrop, 
is  president  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Rock 
Creek,  Minnesota,  and  vice  president  of  the  Farmers 
State  Bank  at  Atwater,  Minnesota.  He  has  passed 
all  the  chairs  in  the  Masonic  lodge,  and  politically 
is  identified  with  the  republican  party. 

In  1904  Mr.  Quandt  married  Sarah  Erickson, 
whose  people  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Sibley  County,  having  located  there  about  1866. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quandt  have  two  children : Bernice, 
aged  three,  and  Charles,  aged  two. 

Emil  W.  Olson.  An  important  individual  part  in 
business  service  has  been  performed  in  Sibley  County 
by  Emil  W.  Olson,  who  is  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Winthrop.  Mr.  Olson  is  a native 
Minnesotan,  and  since  early  manhood  has  been 
steadily  progressing  to  larger  accomplishments  in 
business  affairs,  having  begun  as  a farmer,  later  was 
in  merchandising,  and  now  looks  after  the  affairs 
of  one  of  the  sound  financial  institutions  of  Sibley 
County. 

Emil  W.  Olson  was  born  on  a farm  in  Sibley 
County  in  1875,  a son  of  John  W.  and  Lottie 
(Kulander)  Olson.  Both  parents  were  natives  of 
Sweden,  his  father  born  in  1844  and  still  living. 


1674 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


He  came  to  Minnesota  in  1868,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  in  Sibley  County,  and  as  a farmer  has 
been  unusually  successful,  being  the  owner  of  about 
600  acres  in  that  section  of  the  state.  He  is  a 
republican  and  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
The  mother,  who  was  born  in  Sweden  in  1851,  is 
also  still  living.  The  parents  were  married  in  Sib- 
ley County  in  1874,  and  of  their  six  children  five 
are  living : Emil  YV. ; August  W.,  a farmer  oc- 

cupying 220  acres  and  who  married  Amelia  Peterson 
and  has  four  children;  Charles  O.,  also  a farmer; 
Arthur  L.,  who  is  assistant  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  at  Wintbrop,  married  Alice  Ander- 
son, and  has  two  children ; Esther  A.,  living  at 
home. 

Emil  W.  Olson  was  reared  on  a farm,  had  the 
usual  training  of  a country  boy,  and  graduated  from 
the  farm  first  into  the  mercantile  business  and  later 
into  the  bank  at  Winthrop,  which  he  is  now  capably 
serving  as  cashier. 

In  1896  Mr.  Olson  married  Hilda  A.  Asp.  By 
their  marriage  five  children  have  blessed  their  home : 
Edith  A.,  Laura  H.,  Mildred  L.,  Leonard  T.  and 
Everett  A.  Mrs.  Olson's  people  came  from  Sweden 
about  1890.  tier  father  is  one  of  the  successful 
men  of  Minnesota.  Mr.  Olson  is  prominent  as  a 
banker,  being  president  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank 
of  Almont,  North  Dakota;  vice  president  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  at  Lafayette,  Minnesota,  and  a 
stockholder  in  state  banks  at  Atwater  and  Rock 
Creek,  Minnesota. 

Hon.  LeForest  E.  Potter.  The  activities  of  Hon. 
LeForest  E.  Potter,  state  senator  of  Brown  and 
Redwood  counties,  Minnesota,  during  a long  and 
uniformly  successful  career,  have  embraced  farming, 
the  breeding  of  blooded  stock,  business  and  financial 
activities  of  a varied  character  and  politics,  as  well 
as  useful  participation  in  the  movements  which  have 
done  so  much  to  make  this  one  of  the  important 
commercial  and  agricultural  centers  of  the  state. 
Mr.  Potter  was  born  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin, 
August  10,  1858,  and  on  his  mother’s  side  belongs  to 
a family  which  originated  in  England  and  came  to 
New  England  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  while 
on  his  father’s  side  he  is  of  Scotch  descent. 

John  A.  Potter,  father  of  LeForest  E.  Potter, 
was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine,  in  1832,  and  as  a 
young  man  migrated  to  the  West,  settling  first  in 
Wisconsin  and  subsequently,  in  1865,  removing  to 
Watonwan  County,  Minnesota.  Later  he  moved  to 
Blue  Earth  County,  Minnesota,  and  in  1869  took  up 
his  residence  in  Brown  County  as  a farmer.  From 
that  time  until  his  retirement  he  continued  to  be 
actively  identified  with  agricultural  operations,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  1885,  at  his  home  at  Spring- 
field.  Mr.  Potter  married  Miss  Olive  S.  Weymouth, 
who  was  also  a native  of  Maine,  where  she  was 
born  in  1835,  and  she  still  survives  him  and  makes 
her  home  at  Springfield.  They  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  as  follows : Andrew,  who  is  a suc- 

cessful farmer  and  resides  near  Vesta,  Minnesota; 
George,  also  a farmer,  who  resides  near  Springfield ; 
LeForest  E.,  of  this  review;  Ida,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Simon  Dotson  and  resides  in  California;  Lottie, 
who  married  James  Casserly  and  resides  at  Tracy. 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Casserly  being  a railroad  fireman ; 
John  F.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  on  his  property 
near  Springfield ; Accie,  who  married  Ed  Crumlett 
and  resides  on  a farm  in  Cottonwood  County,  Min- 
nesota; Allen,  who  carries  on  agricultural  operations 


in  the  vicinity  of  Springfield ; Elsie,  who  married  the 
late  P.  McLaughlin  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm ; and  Arthur,  a farmer  of  Cottonwood 
County. 

LeForest  E.  Potter  was  reared  amid  agricultural 
surroundings,  and  as  a youth  assisted  his  father' on 
the  homestead  while  securing  his  education  in  the 
district  schools.  He  remained  with  his  father  until 
reaching  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  at  which 
time  he  embarked  in  farming  on  his  own  account, 
and  has  continued  to  be  engaged  therein  to  the 
present  time,  being  now  the  owner  of  a well- 
cultivated  property  of  330  acres  located  two  miles 
out  of  the  Village  of  Springfield.  He  carries  on 
diversified  farming,  under  modern  methods,  but  has 
given  particular  attention  to  the  breeding  of  blooded 
stock,  principally  Hereford  cattle  and  Poland-China 
hogs. 

Probably  no  man  in  this  part  of  the  state  has 
done  more  to  advance  agricultural  standards  than 
has  Mr.  Potter.  As  president  of  the  Brown  County 
Farmers’  Association  he  has  encouraged  the  agricul- 
turists of  this  region  in  their  efforts  to  secure 
larger  and  better  crops,  and  has  labored  unselfishly 
in  educating  the  farming  population  in  new  methods 
and  processes.  He  is  president  of  the  Hereford 
Breeders’  Association  of  the  state,  a capacity  in 
which  he  has  been  an  important  factor  in  making 
this  breed  of  cattle  popular  among  stock  raisers.  He 
also  has  the  presidency  of  the  Farmers  Elevator 
Company,  is  president  of  the  State  Live  Stock 
Breeders’  Association,  and  has  been  able  to  secure 
many  benefits  for  the  grain  growers  here.  A non- 
partisan in  his  political  views,  he  has  taken  an  active 
and  intelligent  interest  in  civil  affairs,  and  Novem- 
ber 3,  1914,  was  elected  state  senator  from  his 
district,  and  he  is  also  a trustee  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  His  activities  in  finance  have 
been  as  vice  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Springfield.  Mr.  Potter  is  a director  of  the 
Village  Cemetery  Association. 

At  Springfield,  Minnesota,  in  1885,  Mr.  Potter 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ada  May  Red- 
ford,  daughter  of  the  late  James  Redford,  who  was 
for  some  years  a farmer  in  Brown  County,  and  to 
this  union  there  have  been  born  the  following  child- 
ren : Olive  M.,  who  has  charge  of  the  home 

economics  department  of  the  Morris  (Minnesota) 
State  School ; Reuben  M.,  who  is  his  father's  asso- 
ciate in  the  management  of  the  home  farm;  Fern, 
who  is  assisting  her  sister,  Olive  M.,  at  the  State 
School;  Forest,  who  died  young;  and  Hettie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months. 

A.  Xavier  Schall,  Sr.  Now  a business  man  and 
resident  of  Duluth,  Mr.  A.  X.  Schall  has  a number 
of  interesting  connections  with  the  life  of  Minne- 
sota and  the  Northwest,  where  at  different  times 
he  has  been  a manufacturer,  a newspaper  man,  and 
at  the  present  time  is  manager  of  the  Fitger  Brewing 
Company  of  Duluth. 

His  family  has  been  prominent  in  manufacturing 
and  other  lines  of  endeavor  in  this  country  for 
several  generations.  A.  Xavier  Schall  was  born 
June  9,  i860,  in  Manayunk,  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  father,  Francis  Schall,  started  the  first 
machine  shop  in  what  is  now  the  Twenty-first 
Ward  of  Philadelphia,  and  died  at  Matanzas,  Cuba, 
while  engaged  in  the  installation  of  machinery  of 
his  own  manufacture.  His  wife,  Susanna  S.  Schall, 
was  the  youngest  daughter  of  Francis  P.  Barat,  who 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1675 


built  and  operated  the  first  cotton  mill  in  Manayunk, 
which  is  now  the  Twenty-first  Ward  of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  A.  X.  Schall  finished  his  liberal  education  in 
Manhattan  College  and  in  Columbia  University  at 
New  York  City.  His  first  important  post  in  the 
business  world  was  as  cashier  of  the  Reading  Iron 
Works  at  Reading,  Pennsylvania.  For  several  years 
he  was  a merchandise  broker  in  New  York  City, 
and  then  became  interested  in  coal  mines  in  Southern 
Indiana.  He  should  be  given  credit  as  the  pioneer 
in  the  manufacture  of  charcoal  on  a large  scale  for 
iron  smelting  purposes  in  the  northern  peninsula  of 
Michigan,  which  was  the  scene  of  an  important  por- 
tion of  his  business  career.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Schall  turned  his  attention  to  newspaper  enter- 
prises in  Minneapolis,  and  his  name  is  familiar  to 
most  of  the  older  journalists  of  the  state.  He  held 
the  office  of  president  of  the  Minneapolis  Press 
Club  when  that  organization  was  at  the  height  of 
its  power.  In  addition  to  other  business  interests 
at  Duluth  Mr.  Schall  is  a stockholder  in  various  iron 
mines. 

As  to  his  relations  with  politics  he  can  be  classed 
as  strictly  independent,  and  one  who  has  always 
worked  for  better  and  cleaner  government  and  the 
introduction  of  high  ideals  into  public  service.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Press  Club,  of  the 
Kitchi  Gammi  Club  at  Duluth  and  of  the  Duluth 
Commercial  Club.  While  not  a member  of  any 
church,  he  attends  regularly  some  denomination, 
and  his  convictions  may  be  defined  as  in  favor  of  a 
free  expression  of  thought  on  religious  subjects  and 
the  right  of  each  individual  to  worship  as  his  con- 
science dictates.  He  has  been  a strong  believer  in 
and  practitioner  of  the  simple  rules  of  charity. 

Mr.  Schall  was  married  in  New  York  City  in  1879 
to  Miss  Mary  G.  McLaughlin,  daughter  of  Peter 
McLaughlin,  who  was  a railroad  contractor  at  Read- 
ing, Pennsylvania.  There  are  three  children : A.  X. 

Schall,  Jr„  who  married  Ethel  Cannon  and  is  a 
resident  of  Minneapolis;  Mayme  G.,  the  wife  of 
John  Schmutte  of  Indiana;  and  L.  Leon,  a student 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota. 

Capt.  Anthony  Xavier  Schall,  Jr.,  is  a young 
Minneapolis  lawyer  whose  name  is  quite  frequently 
mentioned  in  connection  with  outside  affairs.  He 
is  one  of  the  alumni  of  the  state  university,  made  a 
military  record  of  active  service  during  the  war 
with  Spain,  has  been  identified  with  the  state  na- 
tional guard,  is  prominent  in  various  civic  and 
social  organizations,  and  in  his  profession  has  a 
large  practice  in  real  estate  and  tax  law. 

Anthony  Xavier  Schall,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  June  9,  1880,  a son  of  A.  Xavier  Schall, 
Sr.,  and  Mary  Gertrude  (McLaughlin)  Schall.  His 
father  was  born  in  Manayunk,  a suburb  of  Phila- 
delphia. and  his  mother  in  Reading,  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  were  married  in  New  York  City. 

Captain  Schall  has  had  his  home  in  Minnesota 
since  the  spring  of  1894.  His  first  location  was  at 
Duluth,  and  while  in  that  city  he  attended  the  high 
school,  and  from  there  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  which  graduated 
him  in  the  class  of  1904  with  the  degree  Bachelor 
of  Laws.  He  did  not  begin  active  practice  at 
Minneapolis  until  1907,  and  looked  after  his_  legal 
business  alone  until  1911,  when  H.  A.  Brown  joined 
him  under  the  firm  name  of  Schall  & Brown.  On 
January  20,  1913,  Judge  Elliott  made  a new  member 
of  the  firm,  then  known  as  Elliott,  Schall  & Brown, 


until  August  20,1913,  since  which  time  the  firm  has 
£ee.n  Bchall  & Brown,  with  offices  in  the  Security 
building.  v\  hue  his  practice  is  of  a general  nature 
he  has  made  a reputation  for  skill  and  successful 
handling  of  real  estate  and  taxation  questions 

During  his  university  career  Captain  Schall  earned 
nis  way  by  work  in  the  city  engineer's  office  and 
later  m the  county  auditor  s office,  beginning  as 
draftsman,  and  when  he  left  he  was  chief  counter 
deputy.  Some  years  ago  he  made  an  unsuccessful 
race  for  the  office  of  court  commissioner  and  muni- 
c w J-11  , ■ His  P°Iitics  ,is  progressive  republican. 

While  his  active  military  service  was  in  the 
Spanish-American  war  and  Philippine  insurrections, 
Captain  Schall  gained  his  first  acquaintance  with 
military_  tactics  as  captain  of  Company  H in  the 
University  Cadets  during  1903-04.  He  served  as 
corporal  in  Company  I in  the  Thirteenth  Minnesota 
Volunteers  in  the  Philippines  and  was  in  all  the 
engagements  participated  in  by  Company  I.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  connected  with,  the  national 
guard,  holding  various  non-commissioned  offices,  both 
company  and  regimental,  and  on  April  2,  ’ 1908, 
organized  and  was  first  captain  of  Company  M,  First 
Infantry,  Minnesota  National  Guard,  holding  his 
commission  as  captain  of  that  company  until  his 
resignation  about  two  years  ago. 

Captain  Schall  has  membership  in  the  Lake  Harriet 
Commercial  Club,  the  Traffic  Club,  the  American 
and  State  Bar  Associations,  and  is  a popular  member 
of  professional  and  civic  circles  in  the  city  On 
August  31,  1904,  at  Duluth,  Captain  Schall  married 
Miss  Ethel  Frances  Cannon,  daughter  of  George  H. 
Cannon  of  Duluth,  where  her  father  is  now  a com- 
mission  merchant.  Mrs.  Schall  was  born  in  Mari- 
nette, Wisconsin,  but  was  educated  in  Duluth.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children : Marion  Gertrude 
Anthony  Xavier  III,  Richard  C„  and  Charles  Leon! 
all  of  whom  were  born  in  Minneapolis.  The  family 
home  is  at  4553  Xerxes  Avenue,  South. 

James  E.  Trask’s  active  membership  in  the  St.  Paul 
bar  has  been  maintained  for  over  a quarter  century, 
and  with  such  associations  and  scope  of  practice  as 
only  the  leading  lawyers  enjoy.  Fie  is  of  New  Eng- 
land birth  and  training,  and  since  coming  to  the 
Northwest  has  been  able  to  realize  many  of  the  ideals 
of  service  which  he  had  set  for  himself  at  the  out- 
set of  his  career.  His  St.  Paul  offices  are  in  the 
Germania  Building. 

James  E.  Trask  was  born  March  2,  1855,  in  that 
part  of  the  Town  of  New  Sharon,  Maine,  originally 
a part  of  the  Town  of  Industry.  His  parents  were 
Robert  and  Zelphia  (Drew)  Trask.  His  New  Eng- 
land family  record  goes  in  direct  line  back  to  Osman 
Trask,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Somerset- 
shire, England,  in  1645,  and  settled  at  Beverly,  Mas- 
sachusetts. From  Osman  (1)  the  line  of  descent 
is  through:  2.  John  Trask,  who  was  born  in  Beverly, 
August  15,  1653.  3.  Nathaniel  Trask,  born  in  Bever- 
ly, January  15,  1695,  moved  to  Lexington,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1715.  4.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Trask,  born  in 
Lexington,  March  18,  1721,  graduated  from  Harvard 
College  in  1742,  studied  theology,  and  for  many 
years  was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Brentwood,  New  Hampshire.  5.  Jonathan  Trask, 
born  in  Brentwood,  December  12.  1764,  married  Eliz- 
abeth Leavitt,  moved  to  that  part  of  Industry,  Maine, 
which  in  1832  was  annexed  to  New  Sharon,  and 
died  September  27,  1838.  6.  Jonathan  Trask,  born 


1676 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  Brentwood,  September  i,  1787,  was  married  June 
4,  1810,  to  Martha  Jewell,  and  died  September  7, 
1838,  in  that  part  of  Industry  previously  mentioned. 
7.  Robert  Trask  was  born  October  8,  1818,  and  died 
October  19,  1869. 

James  E.  Trask  is  therefore  in  the  eighth  genera- 
tion of  the  family  in  America.  He  left  the  home- 
stead farm  in  New  Sharon  in  1874  to  begin  a col- 
lege preparatory  course  of  study  in  the  Waterville 
Classical  Institute,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
June,  1876.  In  September  of  the  same  year  his 
college  career  began  in  that  fine  old  institution,  Colby 
College,  at  Waterville,  Maine,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1880.  From  1880  to  1887  Mr. 
Trask  taught  the  branches  of  natural  science  in  the 
South  Jersey  Institute  at  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey, 
and  while  in  that  work  his  alma  mater  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  A.  M.  While  teaching  his  vaca- 
tion periods  were  devoted  to  the  study  of  law,  part 
of  the  time  in  the  law  office  of  his  brother,  Robert 
D.  Trask,  Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  and  part  of  the 
time  with  H.  and  W.  J.  Knowlton,  at  Portland, 
Maine. 

Mr.  Trask  came  out  to  St.  Paul  in  1887,  and  since 
his  admission  to  the  Minnesota  bar  in  1888  has  been 
engaged  in  practice  with  office  and  residence  in  that 
city.  Although  his  business  has  been  and  is  that 
of  a general  practitioner,  he  has  become  best  known 
by  his  work  in  conducting  litigation  for  the  enforce- 
ment of  what  is  known  as  the  individual  or  con- 
stitutional liability  of  stockholders  in  insolvent 
Minnesota  corporations.  As  the  stockholders  are 
often  widely  scattered,  and  as  the  non-resident  stock- 
holders generally  resist  payment  upon  one  ground 
or  another,  this  line  of  litigation  has  extended  his 
business  outside  of  Minnesota  and  given  him  a wide 
practice  in  the  courts  of  other  states. 

Mr.  Trask  married,  in  June,  1897,  Harriet  Feagles. 
Their  three  children  are:  Allen  Trask,  born  July  12, 
1898;  Catherine  Trask,  born  January  23,  1900;  and 
James  E.  Trask  Jr.,  born  May  23,  1903. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  though 
usually  attends  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  the 
others  of  his  family  are  members.  Politically  his 
support  has  usually  been  given  to  the  republican 
party.  In  college  he  was  a member  of  the  Zeta  Psi 
fraternity,  and  has  since  joined  the  Royal  Arcanum 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  His  favorite 
amusements  are  music  and  long  walks  in  the  country. 

Hon.  John  Lind.  While  John  Lind  has  been 
known  throughout  the  State  of  Minnesota  for  many 
years  as  a prominent  lawyer,  a member  of  Congress, 
fourteenth  governor  of  the  state,  and  in  many  other 
important  civic  relations,  it  was  through  his  effective 
service  as  the  personal  diplomatic  representative  of 
President  Wilson  in  Mexico  in  1914  that  his  name 
became  permanently  fixed  in  national  recognition. 
While  at  this  time  it  is  impossible  to  estimate  or 
understand  the  full  extent  of  Mr.  Lind's  service  in 
the  adjustment  of  the  difficulties  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico,  there  is  no  question  that  Mr. 
Lind  performed  his  exacting  and  delicate  duties  in 
such  manner  as  to  win  the  unqualified  approbation  of 
President  Wilson  and  other  high  officials,  and  in 
the  history  of  this  international  controversy  his  part 
will  always  have  a prominent  place.  Mr.  Lind  re- 
turned to  Washington  after  this  important  mission  on 
April  13,  1914.  Until  his  services  were  thus  called 
into  the  national  adminstration,  Mr.  Lind  had  for 
more  than  ten  years,  since  leaving  state  politics,  been 
identified  with  the  practice  of  law  at  Minneapolis, 


and  is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Lind,  Veland  and 
Jerome. 

As  one  of  Minnesota’s  leading  public  men,  the 
biography  of  John  Lind  is  not  only  an  interesting 
story  of  the  rise  of  a poor  boy  to  eminence,  but  also 
reflects  many  important  features  in  the  state’s  politics 
and  civic  affairs  during  the  past  quarter  of  a cen- 
tury. John  Lind  was  born  in  Sweden  March  25, 
1854,  a son  of  Gustav  and  Catherine  (Johnson)  Lind. 
His  father  was  born  April  11,  1826,  and  died  August 
11,  1895,  and  his  mother  was  born  April  26,  1831,  and 
reached  a ripe  old  age.  She  was  a woman  of  un- 
usual intellect,  devoted  to  her  church,  the  Methodist, 
kept  herself  thoroughly  posted  on  current  affairs,  and 
was  a good  business  woman.  In  the  early  genera- 
tions Mr.  Lind’s  forefathers  were  farmers,  freemen 
owning  the  soil  which  they  tilled,  and  have  been 
identified  with  their  home  province  in  Sweden  for 
many  generations.  The  older  men  on  both  sides 
had  always  been  connected  with  the  administration 
of  communal  affairs  and  as  peace  officers.  They 
were  neither  wealthy  nor  poor,  and  their  record 
for  character  was  without  stain.  They  were  proud 
of  their  standing,  and  resented  an  insult  with  a 
promptitude  that  commanded  respect. 

In  1867,  incited  by  the  stories  of  American  op- 
portunities, the  Lind  family  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  and  settled  in  Goodhue  County,  Minnesota. 
When  the  family  located  there  John  Lind  was  thir- 
teen years  old.  Born  in  a humble  home,  with  a 
comparatively  limited  education,  he  raised  himself 
by  his  talent  and  industry  to  a controlling  position 
in  the  affairs  of  the  state.  Soon  after  locating  in 
Minnesota  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  he  lost 
his  left  hand  by  the  accidental  exploding  of  a gun 
while  hunting.  This  was  one  of  those  misfortunes 
which  are  often  blessings,  and  turned  him  from 
manual  labor  to  intellectual  pursuits.  He  entered 
the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  was 
given  a certificate  entitling  him  to  teach.  He  taught 
in  Goodhue  County  one  year,  and  then  moved  to 
New  Ulm.  By  hard  work  and  study  in  a local  law 
office  and  the  exercise  of  close  economy  he  was  able 
to  enter  the  University  of  Minnesota  in  1875.  Later 
he  passed  the  examination  for  the  bar  in  1877.  Be- 
ginning with  a limited  practice,  he  eked  out  his  in- 
come by  serving  as  superintendent  of  the  schools 
of  Brown  County  for  two  years.  In  1881  President 
Garfield  appointed  him  receiver  of  the  United  States 
Land  Office  at  Tracy  in  Lyon  County.  In  a short 
time  his  legal  ability  began  to  be  recognized,  and 
he  won  reputation  by  his  success  in  some  important 
cases  against  the  railroad  companies. 

For  a number  of  years  John  Lind  was  one  of  the 
energetic  workers  in  the  republican  party  of  Minne- 
sota. In  1886  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  in  the 
Second  District,  comprising  nearly  all  Southwestern 
Minnesota.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign  and  Mr. 
Lind  was  elected  by  a majority  of  nearly  ten  thou- 
sand. In  1888  he  was  elected  over  former  United 
States  Senator  Morton  S.  Wilkinson  by  a majority 
of  over  nine  thousand.  By  1890  when  Mr.  Lind 
was  nominated  for  the  third  time,  the  alliance  party 
had  gained  great  strength  in  Minnesota,  and  he  con- 
tested the  campaign  against  Gen.  James  H.  Baker, 
who  received  the  votes  of  both  the  democrats  and 
the  alliance,  and  Mr.  Lind  was  elected  by  a plurality 
of  less  than  five  hundred.  Mr.  Lind  was  the  only 
republican  in  the  state  in  that  year  elected  to  Con- 
gress. During  his  six  years  in  Congress  Mr.  Lind 
took  much  interest  in  Indian  affairs,  securing  the 
passage  of  a bill  establishing  seven  Indian  schools 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1677 


in  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  secured  the 
payment  of  many  long  standing  claims  for  Indian 
depredations  to  citizens  in  his  district.  Another 
measure  was  the  “Lind  Bill,”  for  the  reorganization 
of  the  Federal  courts  in  Minnesota,  as  a result  of 
which  Federal  courts  were  held  at  Minneapolis, 
Mankato,  Winona  and  Fergus  Falls  as  well  as  in 
St.  Paul,  thus  saving  long  journeys  and  great  ex- 
pense to  litigants.  Mr.  Lind  also  upheld  the  in- 
tegrity and  enforcement  of  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Act,  had  charge  in  the  House  of  the  original  bill 
providing  automatic  couplings  and  air  brake  and 
similar  devices  for  the  protection  of  human  life  in 
railway  service.  It  was  due  to  him  that  Minneapolis 
was  made  a port  of  entry.  He  became  an  acknowl- 
edged authority  on  all  questions  relating  to  the  pub- 
lic lands.  Mr.  Lind  resisted  a tariff  on  lumber  be- 
cause he  believed  it  hastened  depletion  of  the  forests 
of  the  United  States.  He  favored  free  sugar,  free 
material  for  binding  twine,  and  showed  himself  pro- 
gressive in  many  tariff  measures.  In  1892  Mr.  Lind 
absolutely  refused  to  become  candidate  for  re- 
election.  ... 

During  the  early  ’90s  Mr.  Lind  allied  himself  with 
the  free  silver  wing  of  the  republican  party,  an<J 
by  his  position  on  that  issue  he  naturally  and  grad- 
ually became  identified  with  the  populist  movement, 
and  in  1896  accepted  the  nomination  for  governor  at 
the  hands  of  the  populist  and  free  silver  convention, 
and  his  nomination  was  endorsed  by  the  democrats. 
The  popularity  of  his  candidacy  wa.s  illustrated  by 
the  reduction  of  the  republican  majority  to  a little 
more  than  three  thousand.  In  1898  Mr.  Lind  aban- 
doned his  large  law  practice  and  offered  his  services 
to  the  United  States  Government  during  its  war 
with  Spain.  He  was  made  quartermaster  of  the 
Twelfth  Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Bobleter 
of  Uam,  and  was  commissioned  with  the  rank  of 
first  lieutenant.  Though  the  regiment  did  not  reach 
the  scene  of  actual  hostilities,  Mr.  Lind  performed 
important  service  in  keeping  the  men  well  equipped 
and  provisioned  during  their  stay  in  Camp  Thomas 
and  Chickamauga  National  Park.  While  still  in 
the  service  of  the  army,  Mr.  Lind  was  nominated 
in  October,  1898,  by  the  people’s  silver  republican 
and  democratic  organizations  for  governor.  Though 
he  had  formally  retired  from  politics,  the  call  from 
these  different  sources  was  too  pressing  to  decline, 
and  though  the  time  left  before  election  allowed 
him  the  opportunity  of  making  only  two  short 
speeches,  his  well  known  position  on  the  financial 
question  and  other  reforms,  his  splendid  record  in 
Congress,  and  his  popularity  with  the  Scandinavian 
people  and  with  the  best  classes  of  Americans  in 
the  state,  gave  him  a decided  majority  over  all  the 
other  candidates,  and  thus  he  began  his  term  as 
fourteenth  governor  of  the  state  on  January  2, 
1899,  and  served  until  January,  1901.  In  1900  Gover- 
nor Lind  was  a candidate  for  reelection,  but  was 
defeated  by  Samuel  R.  Van  Sant. 

In  the  history  of  Minnesota  state  politics  the  note- 
worthy fact  about  Mr.  Lind’s  election  to  the  office 
of  governor  was  that  he  was  the  first  candidate  to 
break  through  the  continuous  possession  of  power 
by  the  republican  party,  which  had  been  vigorously 
maintained  in  all  the  important  campaigns  for  forty 
years.  During  his  term  as  governor  Governor 
Lind’s  views  and  policies  as  expressed  through  his 
messages  were  of  particular  interest  as  concerned 
taxation  and  the  regulation  of  railways  and  state 
institutions. 

On  retiring  from  the  executive  office,  Governor 


Lind  took  up  his  residence  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis, 
where  he  Iras  since  enjoyed  one  of  the  largest 
clienteles  given  to  any  lawyer  in  the  state.  Though 
he  had  no  desire  for  further  political  preferment, 
Mr.  Lind  was  nominated  and  elected  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket  to  Congress  from  the  Fifth  Congres- 
sional District  in  1902,  and  served  during  the  follow- 
ing term.  In  1907  Governor  Johnson  appointed  him 
a regent  of  the  State  University,  and  he  was  a 
member  of  that  body  and  president  of  the  board 
until  relieved  by  Governor  Eberhart  in  February, 
1914,  at  which  time  he  was  sent  to  Mexico  by  Presi- 
dent Wilson.  After  his  return  from  Mexico  in 
April,  1914,  the  Navy  League  of  the  United  States 
at  its  annual  meeting  elected  Mr.  Lind  a director, 
this  honor  being  paid  him  in  recognition  of  his 
interest  in  the  navy  and  the  men  in  the  service  dur- 
ing his  experience  in  Mexico. 

On  September  15,  1879,  Mr.  Lind  married  Miss 
Alice  A.  Shepard,  a daughter  of  Richard  Shepard, 
of  Mankato,  who  had  seen  service  as  a soldier  in 
the  Union  army.  Mrs.  Lind  was  educated  at  Man- 
kato, and  while  teaching  in  Brown  County  formed 
acquaintance  with  John  Lind.  To  their  marriage 
were  born  the  following  children:  Norman,  Jenny, 

Winifred,  and  John  Shepard.  Mr.  Lind  in  his  pri- 
vate and  personal  character  possesses  those  sterling 
qualities  which  entitle  a public  man  to  confidence 
and  respect.  His  life  has  been  one  of  personal 
purity,  'his  family  ties  are  such  as  to  enhance  the 
domestic  virtues  which  should  govern  every  true 
American  home,  and  whatever  his  relations  in  the 
course  of  his  active  career  he  has  never  deviated 
from  the  path  of  high  rectitude  and  his  convictions 
of  right  and  honor. 

Milie  Bunnell  is  vice  president  and  man- 
ager of  the  Duluth  News-Tribune  Company, 
one  of  the  leading  newspaper  corporations  of 
the  state,  and  one  that  has  exerted  a powerful 
influence  in  furthering  the  civic  and  material  prog- 
ress of  the  City  of  Duluth. 

Only  a newspaper  man  can  appreciate  the  exac- 
tions and  vicissitudes  that  must  have  attended  the 
early  journalistic  career  of  Mr.  Bunnell.  Born  in 
the  Village  of  Goodrich,  Genesee  County,  Michigan, 
on  the  4th  of  December,  1861,  he  represents  a sterl- 
ing pioneer  family  of  the  Wolverine  Commonwealth. 
His  parents,  Miron  and  Viola  (Mathewson)  Bunnell, 
were  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  married 
in  Michigan.  Miron  Bunnell  was  a boy  at  the 
time  of  his  parents’  removal  from  his  native  state 
to  Michigan,  in  the  pioneer  days,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  latter  state,  where  he  long  main- 
tained his  home  and  became  prominent  in  business 
and  public  affairs.  For  a number  of  years  he 
served  as  sheriff  of  Bay  County,  Michigan.  He 
moved  to  Duluth,  Minnesota,  in  1882  and  became 
one  of  the  honored  and  influential  citizens  of  Duluth 
and  was  actively  identified  with  its  development 
and  upbuilding.  He  served  as  a member  of  the 
village  council  and  after  Duluth  obtained  its  city 
charter,  was  a member  of  the  first  municipal  board 
of  public  works.  He  died  in  Phoenix,  Arizona. 

Milie  Bunnell  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  state  for  his  early  educational  disci- 
pline, and  was  granted  also  the  advantages  of  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  He  entered 
the  literary  department  of  this  institution  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1882,  but  left  before  completing 
his  course  to  engage  in  newspaper  work.  In  1880 
he  went  to  Cheboygan,  Michigan,  where  he  founded 


1678 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  Cheboygan  Democrat,  a weekly  paper.  The  fol- 
lowing  year  he  located  at  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico, 
where  he  continued  in  newspaper  work  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1883,  when  he  came  to  Duluth,  Minnesota, 
and  established  the  Duluth  Herald,  of  which  he  con- 
tinued editor  and  publisher  for  six  years.  In  1889 
Mr.  Bunnell  went  to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where 
he  was  employed  in  various  capacities  on  the  local 
newspapers,  resigning  his  position  as  managing 
editor  of  the  Kansas  City  Globe  to  become  Kansas 
political  editor  of  the  Kansas  City  Times.  This  lat- 
ter position  took  him  to  Topeka,  Kansas,  where  he 
lived  until  December,  1896,  when  he  returned  to 
Duluth.  Two  years  later  he  purchased  a half  inter- 
est in  the  Duluth  News-Tribune,  which  has  been 
under  his  personal  supervision  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Bunnell,  both  in  a personal  way  and  through 
the  columns  of  the  News-Tribune,  has  done  all  in 
his  power  to  further  the  best  interests  of  Duluth 
and  St.  Louis  County.  As  a citizen  he  is  loyal  and 
public  spirited,  his  political  allegiance  is  given  to 
the  republican  party,  and  in  his  home  city  he  is 
identified  with  such  representative  civic  organizations 
as  the  Kitchi  Gammi  Club,  the  Northland  Country 
Club,  the  Commercial  Club,  the  Duluth  Boat  and 
Curling  Clubs,  the  Washington  Club  and  the 
Tetegausch  Club,  besides  which  he  retains  member- 
ship in  the  Minnesota  Club  of  St.  Paul. 

In  1888  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Bunnell  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Birney  Cook,  of' Duluth, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Miron,  who  was  born  at 
Duluth  in  the  year  1889.  Miron  Bunnell  was  grad- 
uated from  William  College,  at  Williamstown,  Massa- 
chusetts, as  a member  of  the  class  of  1911,  and  after 
spending  six  months  in  European  travel  returned  to 
Duluth,  where  he  has  since  been  business  manager 
of  the  News-Tribune. 

William  E.  McEwen.  Among  the  individuals 
who  are  justly  entitled  to  a place  in  the  roll  of 
honor  of  American  men  of  energy,  William  E.  Mc- 
Ewen, publisher  of  The  Labor  World,  of  Duluth, 
and  postmaster  at  that  city,  stands  prominently 
forth.  Possessed  of  breadth  of  vision,  invincible 
faith  in  the  cause  to  which  he  has  devoted  his  best 
energies,  and  a first-hand  experience  which  has 
come  to  him  as  a product  of  the  working  classes, 
he  has  led  countless  others  to  his  belief,  has 
accomplished  broad  and  sweeping  reforms  and  has 
solidified  and  strengthened  the  brotherhood  of  man. 
Surely  his  name  will  not  be  forgotten  when  the 
story  of  American  development  is  told.  The  value 
of  Mr.  McEwen  to  the  cause  of  labor  lies  no  less 
in  his  character  than  in  his  activities.  His  deeds 
and  words,  whether  upon  the  public  platform, 
through  the  columns  of  his  publication  or  in  con- 
ference with  those  high  in  official  authority,  are 
the  simple,  direct,  true  expressions  of  his  integrity, 
and  none  who  know  him  doubt  the  absolute  honesty 
and  disinterestedness  of  his  views  on  labor  and 
economic  questions. 

Born  August  10,  1874,  at  Duluth,  Minnesota,  Mr. 
McEwen  is  a son  of  William  and  Anna  (Grant) 
McEwen.  His  father  was  born  at  Inverness,  Scot- 
land, a descendant  of  the  famous  clan  of  that  name, 
nearly  all  of  whose  members  lost  their  lives  on 
the  bloody  battlefield  of  Culloden.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  his  native  land  to  Anna  Grant,  who  was  born 
at  Rosshire,  Scotland,  a member  of  the  Grant  clan, 
and  in  1865,  the  family  came  to  the  United  States, 
locating  at  Duluth  four  years  later.  The  father 
was  for  some  time  employed  on  the  Great  Lakes  in 


various  capacities  and  for  a quarter  of  a century 
was  jailer  at  the  Duluth  Police  Station.  He  died 
in  1913,  when  seventy-four  years  of  age,  the  mother 
having  passed  away  in  1884. 

William  E.  McEwen  has  the  distinction  of  being 
the  first  white  child  born  at  Rice’s  Point,  now  a part 
of  Duluth.  He  received  very  limited  educational 
advantages,  and  early  began  to  be  self-supporting 
as  a newsboy  in  the  streets  of  his  native  place.  Sub- 
sequently he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  plumber's 
trade,  and  upon  becoming  a journeyman  plumber 
came  into  direct  contact  with  the  labor  movement. 
With  enlistment  of  his  sympathies  in  the  cause  of 
the  workingman,  Mr.  McEwen  began  to  make  a 
thorough  and  systematic  study  of  the  fundamental 
causes  underlying  the  constant  friction  between 
capital  and  labor,  and  in  1900  left  the  plumbing  trade 
to  become  owner  and  editor  of  The  Labor  World,  a 
weekly  publication,  which  at  that  time  had  a circu- 
lation of  about  one  thousand  copies.  That  he  has 
been  successful  in  the  management  of  this  organ  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  it  now  has  a subscription 
list  of  about  ten  thousand,  and  circulates  through- 
out all  northern  Minnesota  and  parts  of  Wisconsin. 
Its  columns  are  not  alone  devoted  to  labor  matters, 
but  also  to  questions  of  economic  importance. 

As  editor  of  this  enterprising  weekly,  Mr.  Mc- 
Ewen came  into  public  prominence  and  favor,  and 
in  1896  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
State  Federation  of  Labor,  a position  which  he  held 
until  July,  1914,  when  he  received  the  appointment 
from  President  Wilson  as  postmaster  at  Duluth. 
Although  he  has  held  this  office  but  a comparatively 
short  time,  his  able  executive  management  has  been 
felt  in  the  service  and  many  reforms  have  been 
made  and  others  are  under  way.  For  a period  of 
six  years,  from  1902  to  1908,  he  served  the  city  as 
alderman,  from  1907  to  1908  was  state  oil  inspector, 
and  in  1909  and  1910  acted  in  the  capacity  of  state 
commissioner  of  labor.  In  the  latter  capacity  his 
work  was  that  of  a fearless  official,  who  insisted 
upon  the  observation  of  the  laws,  whether  by 
employe  or  employer.  He  is  the  father  of  the 
Compensation  Law,  which  has  proven  of  such  ben- 
efit to  the  laboring  classes.  In  1909,  as  the  best 
man  who  could  be  secured  for  such  a mission,  he 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Johnson  a member  of 
the  Minnesota  Employes’  Compensation  Committee, 
to  make  a study  of  workingmen’s  compensation,  and 
in  this  capacity  was  sent  by  the  State  of  Minne- 
sota to  Europe  to  observe  and  familiarize  himself 
with  working  conditions  in  that  country.  His  report 
to  the  1911  Legislature  resulted  in  a bill  being  intro- 
duced, but  not  passed  at  that  session,  owing  to 
many  causes,  the  principles  of  which  were  almost 
of  a revolutionary  character  of  legislation,  bringing 
out  many  divisions  of  opinion  on  the  subject.  In 
the  Legislature  of  1913,  the  bill  in  an  amended  form 
was  passed,  this  containing  the  general  principles 
of  his  original  measure,  so  that  workingmen  injured 
at  their  occupation  now  automatically  receive  spe- 
cific compensation,  provided  by  law,  and  without 
suit,  irrespective  of  the  question  of  negligence. 
His  observations  while  in  Europe  led  him  to 
inaugurate  in  America  the  “safety  movement” 
which  is  now  being  effectually  taken  up  in  various 
sections  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  McEwen  has 
the  characteristic  qualities  of  his  forebears— indus- 
try, sharp-sightedness,  clear-headedness  and  capacity 
in  molding  opportunities  and  managing  affairs.  To 
these  the  circumstances  of  his  youth  combined  to 
add  quiet  resoluteness,  self-reliance  and  concentra- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1679 


tion  upon  a given  purpose.  He  has  taken  a leading 
part  in  all  reform  movements  in  Minnesota  since 
1896.  He  was  a member  of  the  Charter  Commis- 
sion of  Duluth,  and.  in  1913,  when  the  new  com- 
mission form  of  government  came  into  effect  in 
this  city,  was  a candidate  for  mayor,  but  lost  the  ■ 
election  by  the  narrow  margin  of  six  votes  on  the 
face  of  the  returns.  He  has  been  a prominent 
member  of  Plumbers  Union  No.  11,  of  Duluth,  and 
has  held  numerous  offices  in  the  local,  including 
those  of  president,  secretary  and  a delegate  to  all 
the  conventions  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor.  His  fraternal  connections  include  member- 
ship in  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  the  Order  of  Scottish  Clans  and  the  Mod- 
ern Samaritans. 

In  1897  Mr.  McEwen  was  married  to  Miss  Pearl 
Mary  Holding,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  S. 
Holding  of  St.  Paul,  pioneer  residents  of  Minnesota, 
and  to  this  union  there  has  come  one  daughter : 
Ann  Grant.  The  family  home  is  located  at  No. 
2022  East  Fifth  Street,  Duluth. 

Robert  E.  Denfeld.  Few  citizens  of  Duluth  have 
rendered  greater  or  more  helpful  public  service  to 
the  city  than  that  contributed  by  Robert  E.  Denfeld, 
the  accomplished  and  energetic  superintendent  of 
public  schools,  whose  labors  have  culminated  in  the 
building  up  of  a school  system  which'  for  efficiency 
and  results  accomplished  ranks  second  to  none  in 
the  country  in  a city  of  this  size.  The  preservation 
of  our  free  institutions  is  dependent  primarily  upon 
the  successful  solution  of  the  problem  of  educa- 
tional reform,  a problem  which  it  would  seem  has 
been  solved  by  Superintendent  Denfeld.  His  entire 
career  has  been  devoted  to  work  in  his  present  field 
of  endeavor  and  his  high  achievements  in  recent 
years  have  come  as  a result  of  the  most  thorough 
training  and  broad  experience  in  the  line  of  his 
vocation. 

Robert  E.  Denfeld  was  born  at  Westboro,  Massa- 
chusetts, June  29,  1853,  and  is  a son  of  Franz 
and  Margaret  (Weigand)  Denfeld.  His  parents 
were  well  educated  in  their  native  home  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1848  with 
the  object  in  view  of  organizing  a school  of  physical 
culture  in  New  York  City,  but  at  that  time  this 
country  was  not  ready  for  this  innovation,  and  the 
project,  being  in  advance  of  the  times,  proved  a 
failure.  Finally,  after  numerous  discouragements, 
the  father  moved  to  Westboro,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  and  con- 
tinued therein  until  his  death  in  1904,  the  mother 
surviving  him  only  three  months. 

The  public  schools  of  Westboro  furnished  Robert 
E.  Denfeld  with  his  primary  educational  training 
and  subsequently  he  entered  Amherst  College,  from 
which  institution  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts  in  1876  and  that  of  Master  of  Arts  in  1878. 
While  attending  that  college  in  his  sophomore  year 
(1874)  he  started  to  teach  school  in  order  to  secure 
the  necessary  means  with  which  to  defray  his  ex- 
penses. After  his  graduation,  in  1876,  the  position 
of  principal  of  the  Peters  High  School,  Southboro, 
Massachusetts,  was  tendered  him  and  held  by  him 
until  1878  when  he  went  to  Needham,  Massachusetts, 
as  principal  of  the  Needham  High  School.  There 
he  remained  three  years,  in  the  meantime  devoting 
himself  to  the  study  of  law,  and  in  1881  he  resigned 
his  charge  to  take  an  ocean  trip.  While  in  the 


Pacific  Ocean,  the  ship  on  which  he  was  a passen- 
ger became  disabled  and  was  forced  to  put  into 
port  at  Valparaiso,  Chile,  South  America,  where 
Mr.  Denfeld  remained  several  months,  then  return- 
ing to  the  United  States  and  entering  the  Boston 
University  Law  School,  to  complete  his  studies. 
While  there  he  was  invited  to  accept  the  principal- 
ship  of  the  Webster  High  School,  at  Webster, 
Massachusetts,  and,  accepting,  occupied  that  position 
for  part  of  a year  and  then  went  to  Weymouth, 
Massachusetts  as  principal  of  the  high  school  at 
that  place.  There,  on  examination  in  1882,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  although  he  continued  his  edu- 
cational duties  until  1884.  In  the  summer  of  1884, 
while  en  route  to  Helena,  Montana,  where  he  in- 
tended to  enter  upon  the  practice  of  law,  Mr.  Den- 
feld stopped  at  Minneapolis  and  there  became 
acquainted  with  Dr.  D.  L.  Kiehle,  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  schools  of  Minnesota,  and  at  his  urgent 
request  accepted  the  position  of  superintendent  of 
the  Mankato  High  School,  which  he  held  for  one 
year.  In  1885  occurred  his  advent  in  Duluth  as 
superintendent  of  schools,  a position  he  has  occupied 
to  the  present  time.  In  1907  he  became  president 
of  the  Minnesota  State  High  School  Board,  by  ap- 
pointment from  Governor  Johnson,  and  in  this 
capacity  has  done  probably  more  than  any  other 
individual  in  bringing  the  high  schools  of  Minnesota 
to  their  present  high  efficiency.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  National  Educational  Association, 
of  which  he  was  at  one  time  secretary,  and  is  a 
lecturer  and  writer  upon  educational  subjects  of 
national  repute. 

For  a nqmber  of  years  Mr.  Denfeld  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  fraternal  matters,  and 
is  now  a thirty-third  degree  Mason,  holding  the 
office  of  honorary  inspector  general.  He  is  grand 
master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Minnesota,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ; past  master  of  Ionic  Lodge  No.  186,  A.  F. 
& A.  M. ; member  of  Keystone  Chapter  No.  20,  R. 
A.  M.,  and  of  Duluth  Council  No.  6,  R.  & S.  M. ; 
past  eminent  commander  and  member  of  Duluth 
Commandery  No.  18,  K.  T.;  a member  of  Aad 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  a member  of  the  Scot- 
tish Rite  bodies,  including  Duluth  Consistory  No. 
3,  of  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  has  taken  both 
the  York  and  the  Scottish  Rites.  Mr.  Denfeld  also 
holds  membership  in  the  Duluth  Commercial  Club. 

In  1882  Mr.  Denfeld  was  married  to  Miss  Helen 
Boyd,  daughter  of  Capt.  A.  P.  Boyd,  of  Needham, 
Massachusetts,  who  was  a sea  captain  and  ship 
owner  during  the  days  of  wooden  sailing  vessels. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  this  union: 
Margaret,  who  married  Irving  McLaren  Hudson,  of 
Benson,  Minnesota ; Kathryn,  who  is  now  a teacher 
in  the  Virginia  High  School;  Gilbert,  who  graduated 
from  the  Duluth  Central  High  School  in  the  class 
of  1914;  and  Frederick,  a member  of  the  junior 
class  of  the  same  school.  The  family  home  is  at 
No.  18  Oxford  Street,  Duluth. 

Charles  N.  Parker.  .On  December  20,  1911, 
Charles  N.  Parker  passed  from  the  scenes  of  his 
labors  in  Brainerd,  yet  the  memory  of  his  pure  life, 
his  many  benefactions  and  his  kindly  deeds  still 
remains.  A man  of  sterling  character,  he  was  honor- 
able in  business,  stanch  in  his  friendships,  sincere 
in  his  religious  professions  and  true  to  every  trust, 
and  probably  no  man  ever  lived  in  Brainerd  whose 
removal  caused  more  general  regret  than  did  his. 

Charles  N.  Parker  was  born  at  Bridgeton,  Maine, 
April  6,  1834.  His  was  a long  career  and  one  of 


1680 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


varied  activities  and  accomplishments.  In  youth  he 
learned  the  trade  of  machinist,  and  subsequently  be- 
came a locomotive  engineer.  On  coming  West  he 
found  employment  with  the  early  railways  of  Minne- 
sota, and  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  master 
mechanic  of  the  St.  Paul  & Pacific  Railway,  now  the 
Great  Northern  system.  He  resided  in  St.  Paul  for 
many  years,  and  while  there  served  as  a member  of 
the  fire  commission.  It  was  during  his  residence 
in  St.  Paul  that  he  established  a large  foundry.  In 
April,  1885,  he  removed  to  Brainerd  to  operate  the 
Northern  Pacific  foundry.  Associated  with  Mr. 
Parker  in  this  enterprise  was  H.  W.  Topping  of  St. 
Paul,  under  the  firm  name  of  Parker  & Topping. 
The  late  Mr.  Parker  had  built  the  first  foundry  in 
Brainerd  about  1872,  and  at  one  time  he  operated 
foundries  in  Brainerd  and  the  northwestern  states  of 
Oregon  and  Washington.  The  firm  of  Parker  & 
Topping  from  1885  prospered  and  extended  its  busi- 
ness rapidly,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the 
chief  centers  of  industry  in  Brainerd  and  a large 
asset  to  the  commerce  of  that  community.  In  1911 
the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
Parker  & Topping  Company. 

The  late  Mr.  Parker  was  the  type  of  business  man 
whose  activities  give  breadth  and  prosperity  to  a 
community,  and  he  often  at  sacrifice  of  his  own 
means  undertook  improvements  for  the  benefit  of 
the  city.  He  built  an  electric  street  railway  at 
Brainerd  during  the  '90s,  and  that  enterprise  cost 
him  a great  deal  of  money.  He  also  established  the 
first  telephone  system.  He  was  interested  in  the 
Citizens  State  Bank,  and  was  the  heaviest  stock- 
holder in  the  Parker-Dunn  corporation  which  built 
the  fine  bank  block  now  the  home  of  that  institution. 
The  late  Mr.  Parker  was  actively  identified  with 
the  Masonic  order,  had  taken  thirty-two  degrees  of 
Scottish  rite,  and  had  membership  in  Osman  Temple 
of  the  mystic  shrine  at  St.  Paul. 

On  October  28,  1856,  the  late  Mr.  Parker  married 
Miss  Almina  Smith,  who  was  born  August  1,  1836, 
in  Ohio  and  died  January  10,  1899.  Surviving  Mr. 
Parker  and  wife  is  one  son,  Fred  S.  Parker,  of 
Brainerd. 

The  late  Mr.  Parker  had  unusual  relations  of 
intimacy  and  old-fashioned  loving  kindness  with  the 
people  who  were  his  employes  and  with  all  his  fellow 
citizens  at  Brainerd.  Though  for  many  years  a 
large  employer  of  labor,  he  had  no  strikes  and  the 
men  at  the  foundry  were  most  sincere  and  earnest 
in  their  expressions  of  admiration  for  their  execu- 
tive head.  The  late  Mr.  Parker  until  the  last  re- 
tained the  old-fashioned  custom  of  mingling  on 
terms  of  personal  intimacy  with  his  subordinates, 
and  this  was  no  doubt  a large  factor  in  the  success 
of  his  industry.  There  were  many  tributes  paid 
him  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  the  keynote  of 
them  all  was  an  expression  of  admiration  for  his 
practical  honesty,  his  simple  kindliness,  and  his 
unostentatious  citizenship.  There  was  recently  dedi- 
cated in  the  city  park  at  Brainerd  a simple  and 
dignified  band  stand,  erected  and  given  to  the  city 
by  F.  S.  Parker  and  family  as  a memorial  to  the  late 
Mr.  Parker.  In  one  of  the  addresses  delivered  at 
the  dedicatory  services  the  following  sentences  ex- 
press an  excellent  estimate  of  the  man.  The  fact 
that  the  stand  had  no  marble  tablet  commemorating 
the  life  and  accomplishments  of  an  active  and  use- 
ful citizen,  merely  the  one  word  “Parker”  was  taken 
as  a significant  illustration  of  the  simplicity  in  the 
character  of  Mr.  Parker,  “a  plain,  unassuming,  mod- 
est man,  whose  quiet  dignity  and  self  poise  gave 


him  the  confidence,  the  esteem  and  the  respect  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  was  a successful 
business  man  and  at  various  times  during  his  long, 
active  business  life  was  extensively  interested  in  a 
number  of  large  business  enterprises,  both  in  Brain- 
erd and  elsewhere.  He  was  also  a public-spirited 
citizen.  He  loved  Brainerd  and  was  always  en- 
deavoring to  build  up  and  benefit  in  every  way  pos- 
sible the  community  in  which  he  made  his  home. 
He  was  an  extensive  employer  of  labor,  but  as  he 
was  always  fair  and  just  with  the  workingmen  he 
was  popular  with  all.  He  was  a most  lovable  man, 
possessed  of  a genial,  happy,  sunny  disposition,  he 
scattered  sunshine  and  flowers  along  his  pathway 
through  a long  and  useful  life.  His  charity  was  as 
broad  as  it  was  boundless,  but  it  was  his  nature  to 
avoid  all  publicity  whenever  possible,  and  as  it  was 
his  habit  in  such  cases  to  act  through  a third  party, 
those  he  helped  in  the  hour  of  need  seldom  knew 
who  was  their  benefactor.” 

The  tribute  of  a friend  to  the  late  Mr.  Parker  was 
happily  expressed  through  some  verses  which  are 
quoted  in  conclusion  of  this  brief  sketch: 

Gifted  with  judgment  rare  and  true, 

A broad  and  liberal  mind; 

A friend  to  any  one  in  need, 

A friend  to  all  mankind. 

A sunny  smile,  a cheery  word 
To  all  upon  the  street; 

And  many  weary  hearts  grow  light 
When  him  they  chanced  to  meet. 

No  glittering  show  he  ever  made 
Of  deeds  of  kindness  done, 

But  they’re  recorded  in  the  Book 
That’s  read  when  life  is  run. 

And  few  will  have  a greater  count 
Of  Credits  to  their  name ; 

And  Honor  will  be  his,  now  he’s 
Returned  from  whence  he  came. 

And  though  success  has  crowned  his  life, 

He  did  not  look  or  turn, 

From  him  who  won  by  manual  work, 

His  daily  bread  must  earn. 

His  friends  were  chosen  for  themselves 
And  not  outward  show; 

With  him,  a man  was  still  a man, 

Be  his  station  high  or  low. 

And  should  you  wonder  why  he  was  loved, 

And  ask  the  reason  why, 

“God  made  but  few  as  good  as  he; 

Too  bad  such  men  must  die.” 

Fred  S.  Parker  was  born  April  11,  1858,  at  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  St.  Paul,  and  in  June,  1885,  came  to  Brainerd  with 
his  father,  and  became  connected  with  the  foundry 
of  Parker-Topping  Company.  He  continued  with 
that  company  actively  until  1892.  About  that  time  his 
father  built  the  first  street  car  line  in  Brainefd,  and 
the  son  took  its  active  management,  and  was  also 
superintendent  and  manager  of  the  telephone  plant, 
which  was  also  installed  through  the  enterprise  of 
his  father.  Later  Mr.  Parker  resumed  an  active  re- 
lation with  his  father’s  manufacturing  business. 
He  was  one  of  the  men  interested  in  the  Cit- 
izens State  Bank  and  the  erection  of  the  handsome 
three-story  brick  building  in  which  that  institution 
now  has  its  headquarters.  Mr.  Parker  is  secretary 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1681 


and  treasurer  of  the  Parker-Dunn  Corporation,  and 
a director  of  the  Parker-Topping  Foundry  Company. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  and  the  Brainerd  Chamber 
of  Commerce.  Outside  of  his  manufacturing  and 
financial  interests  he  is  the  owner  of  1,100  acres, 
comprising  a splendid  farm  at  Long  Lake,  and  has 
his  summer  home  there. 

At  St.  Paul  on  November  17,  1880,  Fred  S.  Parker 
married  Hattie  M.  Emerson,  who  was  born  at  She- 
boygan, Wisconsin,  October  28,  1856.  To  their  union 
have  been  born  four  children : Ethel  Parker  is  now 
Mrs.  R.  T.  Campbell  of  St.  Paul ; Clyde  E.,  who  was 
born  June  9,  iS&i,  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Parker-Topping  Company  of  Brainerd ; Irma  is  the 
wife  of  George  E.  Brown  of  Miles  City,  Montana; 
and  Ruth  is  the  wife  of  Allen  M.  Lowry,  manager 
of  the  Lowry  Letter  Company  of  St.  Paul. 

Herbert  W.  Topping.  The  career  of  the  late  H. 
W.  Topping,  who  died  at  Sierra  Madre,  California, 
February  20,  1915,  was  a potent  influence  for  good  in 
two  localities  of  Minnesota — Brainerd,  where  he  was 
long  in  the  foundry  business,  and  also  in  St.  Paul, 
where  he  was  likewise  identified  with  industrial  af- 
fairs and  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  St.  Paul 
Park  Board. 

Born  in  Maryport,  Solway,  England,  July  9,  1850, 
Herbert  Wilken  Topping  was  well  educated  and 
trained  for  business  by  practical  experience.  He  was 
a resident  of  Minnesota  from  1870,  and  as  a result 
of  his  business  enterprise  acquired  a substantial  com- 
petence which  in  recent  years  enabled  him  to  travel 
extensively.  He  made  several  trips  around  the  world, 
and  lived  in  California  a good  share  of  the  time. 

In  1885  Mr.  Topping  became  secretary  and  gefteral 
manager  of  the  St.  Paul  Foundry  & Manufacturing 
Company,  and  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brass  and  iron  goods.  He  was  asso- 
ciated in  this  enterprise  with  the  late  Charles  N. 
Parker,  under  the  firm  name  of  Parker  & Topping, 
and  in  April,  1885,  they  began  the  operation  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Foundry  at  Brainerd.  The  firm  of 
Parker  & Topping  from  1885  prospered  and  extended 
its  business  rapidly  and  for  many  years  was  one  of 
the  chief  centers  of  industry  in  Brainerd  and  a large 
asset  to  the  commerce  of  that  community.  In  1911 
the  business  was  incorporated  as  the  Parker  & Top- 
ping Company. 

During  his  residence  in  St.  Paul  Mr.  Topping 
served  as  alderman  from  the  Seventh  Ward  from 
1884  to  1886,  and  in  1906  was  elected  president  of 
the  Park  Board.  He  also  had  important  relations 
with  banking  and  other  affairs.  He  was  married  at 
St.  Cloud,  Minnesota,  September  4,  1873,  to  Miss  Ida 
B.  Mead  of  St.  Paul. 

The  late  Mr.  Topping  was  affiliated  with  Palladin 
Lodge  and  with  the  Knight  Templar  Commandery  of 
St.  Paul  and  stood  high  in  Masonic  circles.  Though 
not  a member,  he  was  a liberal  contributor  to  church 
and  to  organized  philanthropy,  but  in  the  highest  de- 
gree his  charity  was  performed  unostentatiously.  In 
later  years  he  took  a great  deal  of  pleasure  in  motor- 
ing and  in  various  outdoor  exercises  and  aside  from 
business  found  a constant  pleasure  in  his  library  and 
was  a student  of  many  subjects  and  one  of  the  best 
informed  men  among  his  large  circle  of  associates. 
The  late  Mr.  Topping  was  a successful  business  man, 
of  a genial,  kindly  and  generous  disposition,  and  his 
somewhat  sudden  death  was  cause  for  sincere  grief 
to  a wide  circle  of  friends. 


George  M.  Gilbert.  This  gentleman  comes  fairly 
within  the  representative  class  of  younger  men  who 
in  Duluth  have  successfully  followed  the  law.  Al- 
though he  has  been  engaged  in  practice  here  but 
a little  more  than  three  years,  he  has  already  won 
an  excellent  standing  and  reputation  among  his 
professional  brethren,  and  as  a member  of  the  firm 
of  Abbott,  MacPherran,  Lewis  & Gilbert  has  been 
connected  with  a number  of  the  important  and  note- 
worthy cases  that  have  recently  been  tried  before 
the  Minnesota  bar.  He  was  born  at  Deer  Park, 
Wisconsin,  September  3,  1884. 

George  M.  Gilbert  commenced  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Minnesota  and  at  the  age  of 
nine  years  accompanied  his  parents  to  Duluth,  where 
he  became  a student  in  the  graded  schools.  This 
training  was  supplemented  by  a course  in  the  Duluth 
High  School,  and  subsequently  he  pursued  his 
academic  studies  at  Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  which  institution  he  attended  for  two 
years.  He  then  entered  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota, and  with  the  class  of  1911  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Alpha  Kappa  Phi  fraternity.  Mr. 
Gilbert  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1911,  and  imme- 
diately came  to  Duluth  and  embarked  in  practice, 
and  now  belongs  to  the  firm  of  Abbott,  MacPherran, 
Lewis  & Gilbert,  now  known  as  one  of  the  strongest 
legal  combinations  in  the  city,  with  offices  at  No. 
1000  Alworth  Building.  He  is  a member  of  Pales- 
tine Lodge  No.  79,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  Duluth,  and 
of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
Lodge  No.  133,  of  this  city. 

George  M.  Peterson.  Though  a young  man  of 
thirty-five,  George  M.  Peterson  is  one  of  the  alert 
and  progressive  business  men  of  Duluth,  and  is 
particularly  well  known  in  retail  merchandise  circles, 
being  secretary  of  the  Retail  Grocers  and  of  the 
Retail  Merchants  Association.  His  career  has  been 
one  of  steady  progress  and  of  substantial  accom- 
plishment from  the  time  he  left  school. 

George  M.  Peterson  was  born  at  Vermillion,  South 
Dakota,  April  1,  1879,  a son  of  L.  H.  and  Bertha 
(Martin)  Peterson.  His  grandfather,  Jorgen  Peter- 
son, was  a native  of  Denmark,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1850,  and  died  on  a homestead  in 
Dakota  Territory.  L.  G.  Peterson,  who  was  born 
in  Denmark  in  1834  and  died  in  Iowa  in  1913,  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  locating  near  Yankton,  South  Dakota,  then 
Dakota  Territory,  and  assisted  his  parents  in  proving 
upon  the  large  homestead  acquired  in  that  vicinity. 
His  home  was  with  his  father  for  a number  of 
years,  but  afterwards  he  followed  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  cabinetmaker.  His  wife,  Bertha  Mar- 
tin, came  from  Madison,  Wisconsin,  and  now  lives 
in  Sioux  City,  Iowa. 

The  early  education  of  George  M.  Peterson  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Northwestern 
Iowa,  and  finished  with  his  graduation  at  the  State 
Normal  School  in  1898.  A little  later  Mr.  Peterson 
went  to  Washburn,  Wisconsin,  where  he  found  a 
position  in  a wholesale  grocery,  and  remained  for 
six  years.  With  this  thorough  experience  in  the 
grocery  trade,  he  arrived  in  Duluth  in  1904  and  took 
charge  of  a retail  store  owned  by  his  uncle,  H. 
Peterson,  for  two  years.  Since  1906  Mr.  Peterson 
has  been  district  manager  of  the  Red  Star  Com- 
pressed Yeast  Company  of  Milwaukee,  and  the  ener- 
getic manner  in  which  he  has  built  up  the  business 
of  that  company  in  Duluth  territory  is  a well  known 


1682 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


feature  of  his  business  record.  A distinction  that 
has  brought  him  a large  acquaintance  among  busi- 
ness men  in  Northern  Minnesota  was  his  election 
in  1911  as  secretary  of  both  the  Retail  Grocers 
and  secretary  of  the  Retail  Merchants  Association,  • 
positions  which  he  has  held  ever  since.  Mr.  Peter- 
son is  a member  of  the  Asparagus  Club,  a club  of 
merchants  limited  to  ninety-nine  members,  and  no 
vacancy  is  filled  except  upon  the  death  of  a mem- 
ber. He  is  also  secretary  of  the  St.  Louis  County 
Good  Roads  Committee,  secretary  of  the  Merchants 
Mercantile  Company,  secretary  of  the  Head  o'  the 
Lakes  Committee,  member  of  the  Duluth  Industrial 
Exposition,  of  the  Duluth  1915  Pageant  Committee, 
and  through  these  organizations  and  in  other  ways 
has  taken  a very  prominent  part  in  Duluth  affairs. 
A republican,  he  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  St. 
Louis  County  Republican  Committee,  and  at  the 
present  time  is  a strong  candidate  for  the  state 
senate  from  the  Fifty-ninth  District,  on  non- 
partisan  ticket.  Mr.  Peterson  is  past  grand  of 
Zenith  Lodge  No.  160,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; is  past  patriarch 
of  Duluth  Encampment  No.  36,  is  past  commander 
of  the  North  Star  Canton  No.  14,  and  is  the  young- 
est man  who  has  ever  gone  through  the  different 
chairs  of  Odd  Fellowship  at  Duluth.  Mr.  Peterson 
also  has  membership  in  Zenith  Lodge  No.  40  of 
the  United  Commercial  Travelers,  and  has  passed 
all  the  chairs  and  is  grand  conductor  of  the  Grand 
Council  for  North  Dakota  and  Minnesota.  In  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  he  is  past  counsel 
of  Duluth  Camp  No.  2341,  belongs  to  the  West 
End  Commercial  Club  and  to  the  Duluth  Rotary 
Club. 

Mr.  Peterson  and  family  reside  at  310  Twenty- 
fifth  Avenue  West.  In  November,  1905,  at  Duluth, 
he  married  Mary  Josephine  Bjorge,  of  Duluth. 
Their  two  children  are  Grace  Alice  and  Harriet 
Winifred. 

Arthur  H.  Burg.  This  truly  representative 
son  of  Duluth,  one  of  the  most  widely  known  men 
of  the  state  in  real  estate,  mortgage,  building  and 
loan  circles,  and  a leading  citizen,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1879. 

The  Burg  family  came  originally  from  Germany, 
where  the  father  of  Arthur  H.  Burg,  Herman  Burg, 
was  born.  He  accompanied  his  parents  to  the 
United  States  in  1852,  and  at  that  time  located  in  the 
City  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  residing  there  four  years 
and  then  coming  as  a pioneer  to  Duluth.  After  two 
years  he  went  to  Ontonagon  County,  Michigan,  but 
in  1866  returned  to  Duluth,  and  shortly  thereafter 
made  a trip  to  Lake  Cermillion,  where  he  was 
employed  in  the  mines  until  removing  to  Superior 
City.  In  1870  he  again  returned  to  Duluth  and 
here  opened  the  Lake  Superior  Meat  Market,  a 
business  with  which  he  was  identified  until  his  re- 
tirement, supplying  many  of  the  vessels  at  the  head 
of  the  lake  in  addition  to  furnishing  a large  city 
trade  with  its  meats.  He  was  engaged  also  in  the 
retail  lumber  business  and  in  various  ways  con- 
tributed to  the  growth  and  development  of  Duluth. 
His  death  occurred  February  2,  1907.  Mr.  Burg 
married  Miss  Anna  Ivugler,  also  a native  of  Ger- 
many, and  she  still  survives  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  son  at  Duluth. 

Arthur  H.  Burg  was  given  good  educational  ad- 
vantages in  his  youth,  attending  first  the  graded 
and  high  schools,  from  which  latter  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  1897,  and  then  the  Duluth 
Business  College,  where  he  completed  the  course 


in  1898.  In  that  year  he  formed  a partnership  with 
his  father,  in  the  retail  lumber  business,  and  was 
engaged  therein  until  1906,  when  his  father  retired 
from  active  pursuits  and  the  younger  man  estab- 
lished a real  estate,  mortgage,  loan  and  building 
business,  with  offices  at  No.  23  Fourth  Avenue, 
West.  Since  that  time  he  has  carried  on  a large 
real  estate  enterprise  at  Duluth  and  in  Northern 
Wisconsin,  representing  the  only  company  that  has 
loaned  money  in  Chisholm,  Beaudette  and  Warroad 
and  the  other  large  towns  which  were  destroyed  by 
forest  fires.  In  addition  Mr.  Burg  has  erected 
numerous  structures  of  a public,  business  and  pri- 
vate nature,  throughout  Duluth,  thus  contributing 
materially  to  its  development  and  welfare.  He  is 
president  of  the  A.  H.  Burg  Company  and  the 
Burg  Acreage  and  Townsite  Company  and  is  vice 
president  of  the  Northern  Securities  & Loan  Asso- 
ciation. Few  men  have  a more  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  realties  and  realty  values  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  Northwest,  and  his  judgment  is  relied 
upon  implicitly  by  his  associates.  Mr.  Burg  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Evangelical  Church.  His 
fraternal  connections  include  membership  in  Ionic 
Lodge  No.  186,  F.  & A.  M. ; Keystone  Chapter  No. 
20,  R.  A.  M. ; Duluth  Commandery  No.  18,  K.  T., 
and  Aad  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  having  attained 
to  the  thirty-second  degree  in  Scottish  Rite  Masonry; 
and  in  Lodge  No.  133,  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  Mr.  Burg  is  also  a member  of  the 
Old  Settlers  Head  o’  the  Lakes  Society  and  the 
Duluth  Boat  Club. 

Otto  J.  Wendlandt.  A business  at  Duluth  that 
represents  individual  enterprise  and  development 
from  small  beginnings  is  the  Wendlandt  Brothers 
Book  Bindery  at  114-116!  West  First  Street.  It  has 
been  in  existence  for  a dozen  years,  and  its  proprie- 
tors have  displayed  great  progressiveness  and  expert 
skill  in  improving  a service  that  is  much  appreciated 
throughout  the  City  of  Duluth  and  vicinity.  Otto 
J.  Wendlandt  is  also  extensively  interested  in  min- 
ing and  other  lines  of  business  at  Duluth. 

Born  April  3,  1877,  at  Bloomer,  Wisconsin,  he  is 
the  son  of  John  Wendlandt,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1851,  was  educated  in  that  country,  came 
to  America  before  his  marriage,  and  at  Bloomer, 
Wisconsin,  a town  then  on  a boom,  built  and  owned 
a brewery  and  had  a very  successful  career.  In 
1891  he  moved  to  Superior,  Wisconsin,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1900.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Minnie  Berg,  who  still  lives  in  Duluth. 
Her  children  are : Robert,  a deputy  sheriff  at 

Duluth,  married  Lydia  Brooks,  now  deceased ; 
Henry,  who  is  unmarried  and  is  at  the  mines  on  the 
Cuyuna  Range;  William  H.,  who  is  the  partner  of 
Otto  in  the  book  bindery;  Bertha,  wife  of  R.  A. 
Bartholomew,  secretary  of  the  Stone  Of"dean  Wells 
Company;  Ida,  who  married  Christian  Behring,  of 
Duluth ; and  Louis  G.,  who  is  unmarried  and  an- 
other member  of  the  firm  of  Wendlandt  Brothers. 

Otto  J.  Wendlandt  has  depended  largely  upon  his 
own  resources  for  his  advances  in  life,  and  after 
attending  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  of 
Bloomer,  including  two  years  in  the  high  school, 
began  practical  work  but  continued  study  at  night 
and  has  become  a man  of  broad  general  informa- 
tion and  of  strong  executive  faculties.  His  first 
employment  was  along  general  lines,  and  at  Superior 
he  and  his  brother,  William  H.,  spent  nine  years  in 
the  book  bindery  of  R.  C.  Mast,  and  thus  acquired 
the  experience  and  skill  which  have  served  them 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1683 


so  well  in  their  present  independent  business.  On 
leaving  Superior  and  moving  to  Duluth  in  1902,  the 
brothers  established  their  book  bindery,  and  now 
have  a large  and  complete  equipment,  with  machinery 
and  trained  employes  for  all  classes  of  book  bind- 
ing. Much  of  their  work  is  in  blank  books  and  loose 
leaf  work,  and  they  supply  practically  all  the  county 
offices  with  this  class  of  supplies. 

Mr.  Wendlandt  is  vice  president  and  assistant 
treasurer  of  the  Cuyuna  Mille  Lacs  Iron  Company, 
and  vice  president  and  assistant  treasurer  of  the 
Cuyuna  Duluth  Iron  Company,  both  of  which  con- 
cerns are  now  consolidated  with  the  American  Man- 
ganese Manufacturing  Company,  with  which  larger 
corporation  Mr.  Wendlandt  is  assistant  treasurer. 

In  politics  he  is  independent,  and  his  fraternal 
associations  are  with  the  Duluth  Lodge  No.  133, 
B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  the  Sons  of  Hermann,  and  he  also 
has  membership  in  the  Duluth  Commercial  Club 
and  is  a trustee  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 
On  June  13,  1900,  at  Superior,  Mr.  Wendlandt  mar- 
ried Christina  Yeska,  of  Long  Prairie,  Minnesota. 
Her  parents  were  William  and  Christina  Yeska,  her 
father  a farmer  who  died  in  Cornucopia,  Wisconsin, 
while  her  mother  lives  in  Duluth.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wendlandt,  whose  home  is  at  1101  East  Third  Street, 
have  the  following  children  : Pearl,  Vernon,  George, 
Violet,  and  Marion,  all  at  home. 

Horace  E.  Emerson.  The  capable  and  energetic 
chief  deputy  state  grain  inspector  of  Minnesota, 
Horace  E.  Emerson,  has  served  continuously  in 
this  position  for  twelve  years,  and  his  services  have 
been  such  as  to  gain  him  the  well-merited  approba- 
tion of  the  general  public.  Mr.  Emerson  was  born 
June  15,  1867,  at  Portage,  Wisconsin,  and  is  a son 
of  Horace  Emery  and  Emma  C.  (Kittredge)  Emer- 
son. 

Of  Welsh  origin,  the  Emerson  family  was  founded 
in  America  during  Colonial  days,  the  progenitor 
settling  in  one  of  the  New  England  colonies,  from 
whence  one  of  the  forefathers  of  Mr.  Emerson 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
Horace  Emery  Emerson,  the  father  of  Horace  E. 
Emerson  of  this  review,  was  born  at  Bangor,  Maine, 
in  1839,  and  as  a young  man  went  to  Wisconsin, 
where  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted 
in  the  Second  Regiment,  Wisconsin  Volunteer 
Infant^,  this  being  attached  to  the  far  and  justly 
famed  “'Iron  Brigade.”  Mr.  Emerson  served  with 
this  organization  for  three  years,  participated  in 
numerous  engagements,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged after  a particularly  valiant  service  with  the 
rank  of  orderly  sergeant.  Subsequently  he  took 
up  the  vocation  of  locomotive  engineer,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  thus  occupied  until  his  retirement.  He 
died  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  January -30,  1912,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  Mrs.  Emerson,  who  was  born 
at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  still  survives,  and  is  now 
making  her  home  at  St.  Paul,  in  hale  old  age. 

After  completing  the  course  of  study  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  St.  Paul,  Horace  E.  Emerson  enrolled 
as  a student  in  Delano  (Minnesota)  High  School, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1886. 
He  then  entered  upon  his  career  as  an  employe  of 
a coal  concern  at  St.  Paul,  and  continued  in  that 
capacity  until  19027  when  he  was  appointed  deputy 
grain  inspector.  He  has  continued  to  be  connected 
with  this  department  of  the  state’s  affairs  to  the 
present  time,  and  through  industry,  close  applica- 
tion and  fidelity  has  won  promotion  to  the  office  of 
chief  deputy  inspector.  His  record  as  an  official  is 


an  excellent  one  and  his  services  have  contributed 
materially  to  the  civic  welfare.  Mr.  Emerson  main- 
tains offices  at  No.  724  Board  of  Trade  Building, 
Duluth.  In  political  matters  a republican,  Mr.  Emer- 
son has  supported  his  party  and  its  candidates  with 
energy  and  enthusiasm.  His  fraternal  connection 
is  with  Duluth  Lodge  No.  133,  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  and  his  religious  faith  is  that 
of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  married  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  in 
1904,  to  Miss  Harriet  Louise  Hall,  daughter  of  B.  A. 
and  Harriet  Hall,  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Emerson  have  no  children.  They  reside  at 
No.  1223  East  Fourth  Street. 

George  H.  Ramer.  As  president  of  the  A.  M. 
Ramer  Company,  manufacturing  confectioners  in 
the  City  of  Winona,  Mr.  Ramer  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  progressive  and  representative  men  of 
affairs  in  the  corrimercial  circles  of  this  thriving 
city,  and  the  important  industrial  enterprise  of  which 
he  is  the  executive  head  was  founded  by  his  father, 
who  was  a member  of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer 
families  of  Minnesota. 

George  H.  Ramer  was  born  at  Lewiston,  Winona 
County,  Minnesota,  on  the  18th  of  June,  1878, 
and  is  a son  of  Abraham  M.  and  Augusta  M. 
(Lasansky)  Ramer,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Ripley  County,  Indiana,  on  the  30th  of  July, 
1851,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  near  the 
City  of  Berlin,  Germany,  on  the  12th  of  Augusi, 
1833,  her  death  having  occurred  in  the  City  of 
Winona,  on  the  21st  of  February,  1910,  and  her 
husband  having  passed  away  on  the  30th  of  the 
following  September,  so  that  their  companionship 
was  not  long  severed.  Abraham  M.  Ramer  was 
about  two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  parents' 
removal  from  the  old  Hoosier  State  to  Minnesota, 
in  1833,  and  his  father  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
farmers  of  Winona  County.  In  this  state  Abraham 
M.  Ramer  was  reared  and  educated  and  during 
his  youth  and  early  manhood  he  continued  to  be 
actively  identified  with  the  great  basic  industry 
of  agriculture.  In  1878  he  became  the  proprietor 
of  a general  store  in  the  Village  of  Lewiston,  where 
he  continued  his  successful  operations  in  this  field 
of  enterprise  until  1890.  He  then  removed  to  the 
City  of  Chicago,  where  he  became  associated  with 
his  brother  in  introducing  and  placing  on  the  mar- 
ket the  Pettijohn  California  Breakfast  Food.  They 
finally  sold  their  distribution  contract  to  the  Ameri- 
can Cereal  Company,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  1894. 
A.  M.  Ramer  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  candy 
in  the  City  of  Winona,  this  modest  enterprise  having 
been  the  nucleus  around  which  has  been  developed 
the  large  and  substantial  manufacturing  business  now 
controlled  by  the  A.  M.  Ramer  Company,  of  which 
George  H.  Ramer,  of  this  review,  has  been  general 
manager  since  1901.  The  trade  of  the  company  is 
now  disseminated  throughout  the  various  states  of 
the  Union  and  in  its  service  is  retained  a corps  of 
eight  traveling  representatives.  The  fine  manufac- 
tory, modern  in  all  details  of  equipment,  now  has  an 
annual  output  of  about  four  million  pounds  of  candy, 
and  the  high  grade  of  the  products  constitutes  the 
most  effective  advertising  for  the  same.  Employ- 
ment is  given  to  an  operative  force,  of  fully  two 
hundred  persons,  and  the  capital  stock  and  surplus 
of  the  company  is  now  $180,000,  so  that  it  may  read- 
ily be  understood  that  the  enterprise  is  one  that  has 
contributed  much  to  the  commercial  precedence  of 


1684 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Winona,  one  of  the  most  thriving  and  progressive 
cities  of  Minnesota. 

In  the  year  1894  Abraham  M.  Ramer  began  the 
manufacturing  of  the  now  celebrated  Ramer  choco- 
lates, and  the  original  factory  in  Winona  was  a 
modest  establishment  at  62  East  Second  Street. 
From  this  location  removal  was  made  to  48-50  East 
Second  Street,  and  in  1895  removal  was  made  to  the 
present  eligible  location,  each  change  having  been 
made  to  accommodate  the  ever  increasing  demands 
placed  upon  the  institution  with  the  substantial  ex- 
pansion of  its  trade.  Abraham  M.  Ramer  conducted 
the  enterprise  in  virtually  an  individual  way  until 
1901,  on  the  1st  of  May  of  which  year  the  A.  M. 
Ramer  Company  was  organized  and  incorporated, 
with  Abraham  M.  Ramer  as  president ; George  H. 
Ramer  as  secretary  and  general  manager,  and  George 
B.  Stager,  vice  president.  After  the  death  of  the 
president,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1910,  George 
H.  Ramer  became  president  and  treasurer  of  the 
company;  S.  L.  Prentiss,  vice  president,  and  Fred- 
erick H.  Ramer,  secretary.  The  present  head  of 
this  representative  corporation  has  been  identified 
with  the  business  from  the  time  of  his  youth,  and 
in  all  the  relations  of  life  he  is  well  upholding  the 
prestige  of  the  honored  name  which  he  bears. 

At  Lewiston,  this  state,  on  the  30th  of  May,  1875, 
was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Abraham  M.  Ramer 
to  Miss  Augusta  M.  Lasansky,  and  of  the  three  chil- 
dren the  eldest  is  Gertrude,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
George  B.  Stager,  her  husband  being  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  business  in  Winona;  George  FL,  of  this 
sketch,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth ; and  Frederick 
H.,  who  was  born  at  Lewiston,  Winona  County,  on 
the  5th  of  November,  1887,  is  secretary  of  the  A.  M. 
Ramer  Company,  as  already  noted. 

George  H.  Ramer  is  one  of  the  progressive  and 
public-spirited  citizens  who  are  doing  a fine  service 
in  furthering  the  commercial  and  civic  advancement 
of  Winona,  and  in  his  native  county  and  state  he  has 
a wide  circle  of  friends  in  both  business  and  social 
relations.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Winona  County  and  the  City  of 
Chicago,  and  has  been  identified  with  the  business 
founded  by  his  honored  father  from  the  beginning 
of  operations,  in  1894.  His  political  allegiance  is 
given  to  the  republican  party,  and  in  the  time- 
honored  Masonic  fraternity  he  has  completed  not 
only  the  circle  of  the  York  Rite,  in  which  his  maxi- 
mum affiliation  is  with  the  Winona  Commandery  of 
Knights  Templars,  but  has  also  received  the  thirty- 
second  degree  of  the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish 
Rite  and  is  identified  with  the  Ancient  and  Arabic 
Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  besides 
which  he  is  a member  of  Winona  Lodge  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is 
also  a member  of  the  LTnited  Commercial  Travelers 
and  a director  of  the  Deposit  Bank  of  Winona. 

_ On  the  3d  of  Tuly,  1900,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Ramer  to  Miss  Gertrude  Pohlman, 
daughter  of  Louis  H.  and  Dora  ( Stark)  Pohlman, 
of  Winona,  and  the  names  of  their  four  children 
are  here  designated,  with  respective  dates  of  birth: 
Stanley  H„  January  10.  1902 ; Milton  G.,  March  19, 
TQ03;  Alice,  December  21,  1906;  and  Frank  W., 
November  18,  1912. 

Lynn  L.  Culbertson.  One  of  the  largest  com- 
mercial houses  of  Duluth  is  the  Culbertson  Brothers 
Company,  engaged  in  the  general  commission  busi- 
ness and  extensive  dealers  in  wholesale  fruit  and 
produce.  The  president  of  this  company  has  been 


a resident  of  Duluth  since  early  youth,  and  his 
career  is  a proof  of  the  value  of  concentration  along 
one  line,  since  his  first  regular  employment  after 
leaving  school  was  in  the  general  line  of  business 
with  which  he  is  now  identified,  and  from  a clerical 
position  he  has  risen  to  control  a large  and  important 
concern,  and  has  various  other  extensive  interests 
in  the  business  affairs  of  Duluth. 

Lynn  L.  Culbertson  was  born  in  Enfield.  Iowa,  in 
1876,  a son  of  John  T.  and  Orlena  (Kidner)  Cul- 
bertson. The  Culbertson  family  comes  of  good  old 
American  stock,  and  was  established  in  Philadelphia 
as  early  as  1776.  In  1890  the  family  moved  from 
Iowa  to  Duluth,  and  Lynn  L.  Culbertson  finished  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 

In  1895  the  firm  of  Thomas  Thompson  Company, 
successors  to  the  older  firm  of  Bevier,  Williams  & 
Company,  gave  him  employment  as  a clerk.  In  a 
few  years  his  ability  had  grown  with  his  experience, 
and  in  1902  when  the  Thomas  Thompson  Company 
was  incorporated  with  Thomas  Thompson  as'  presi- 
dent and  W.  T.  Smith  vice  president,  Mr.  Culbertson 
was  given  an  office  in  the  company  as  secretary  and 
treasurer.  In  1906  Mr.  Thompson  and  Mr.  Smith 
withdrew  from  the  business,  and  in  the  reorganiza- 
tion that  followed  under  the  new  name  Culbertson 
Brothers  Company,  Mr.  Culbertson  became  presi- 
dent and  has  since  been  at  the  head  of  this  general 
commission  and  fruit  and  produce  house.  Mr.  Cul- 
bertson is  also  president  of  the  Cuyuna- Sultana  Com- 
pany and  president  of  the  Almar  Iron  Mining  Com- 
pany. 

His  relations  with  social  affairs  in  the  city  are 
indicated  by  membership  in  the  following  clubs : 
The  Commercial,  the  Tennis,  the  Boat,  the  North- 
land Country,  the  Gun,  the  Curling  Clubs,  the  United 
Commercial  Travelers,  the  Masonic  Order  and  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

In  June,  1903,  Mr.  Culbertson  married  Louisa 
Grandy,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Grandy.  Their 
two  children  are  John  Randolph  and  William  Har- 
rison. 

Norval  Seabring  Mitchell.  A representative  of 
Duluth’s  progressive  enterprise,  Norval  S.  Mitchell 
has  been  identified  with  that  city  for  nearly  twenty- 
five  years,  was  long  connected  with  the  railway  serv- 
ice, and  since  1906  has  been  in  the  stock  and  grain 
brokerage  business,  with  very  influential  connec- 
tions with  that  branch  of  business  in  the  Northwest. 

Norval  Seabring  Mitchell  was  born  at  St.  Mary’s. 
Canada,  November  1,  1870,  a son  of  Burley  and 
Elizabeth  (Griggs)  Mitchell.  His  father  came  from 
England  to  Canada  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and 
his  active  life  was  spent  as  a Canadian  farmer.  The 
formal  schooling  of  Mr.  Mitchell  was  concluded  in 
1886  with  a course  at  St.  Mary’s  Collegiate  Institute. 
While  a resident  of  Canada  he  learned  telegraphy, 
became  an  operator,  and  in  1890  came  to  Duluth 
in  the  employ  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad 
Company.  For  three  years  Mr.  Mitchell  was  chief 
train  dispatcher  for  that  road  at  Duluth.  His  resig- 
nation in  1906,  after  a long  experience  and  acquain- 
tance with  business  affairs  and  business  men  of  the 
Northwest  was  followed  by  establishing  himself  in 
the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm  name  of  N.  S. 
Mitchell  & Company,  grain,  stocks  and  bonds. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  a member  of  the  Duluth  Stock 
Exchange  during  its  existence.  He  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  Duluth  Commercial  Club, 
and  has  affiliations  with  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  Mrs.  Mitchell  before  her 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1G85 


marriage  was  Matilda  E.  Schonning  of  Northfield, 
Minnesota.  Her  father,  Peter  N.  Schonning,  was 
a farmer. 

Charles  F.  Haley.  One  of  the  best  known  men 
in  the  Minnesota  grain  trade  is  Charles  F.  Haley, 
manager  of  the  firm  of  A.  D.  Thompson  & Com- 
pany, of  Duluth.  A pioneer  of  this  city,  where  he 
has  been  located  for  more  than  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury, Mr.  Haley  has  been  continuously  identified 
with  the  growing  business  interests  of  the  city  and 
has  gained  a recognized  position  among  Duluth’s 
business  leaders  as  a result  of  the  display  of 
superior  abilities.  He  was  born  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
November  15,  1867,  and  is  a son  of  Michael  J.  Haley. 

Michael  J.  Haley  was  born  in  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  where  the  family  has  made  its  home  for 
many  generations,  in  1815,  and  as  a young  man  came 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Smith,  a 
native  of  that  city.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out, 
Mr.  Haley  enlisted  in  an  Ohio  volunteer  infantry 
regiment,  and  served  three  years,  establishing  an 
honorable  record  for  bravery  and  devotion  to  duty, 
and  only  leaving  the  service  after  receiving  a severe 
wound  on  the  shin  bone.  After  his  return  from 
the  Southland,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  where  he  established  himself  in  a paper  manu- 
facturing business,  and  to  this  he  continued  to  devote 
himself  during  the  remainder  of  his  active  career, 
his  death  occurring  at  Dayton  in  1896,  when  he  was 
eighty-one  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Haley  passed  away 
at  Dayton  some  years  before  her  husband's  demise. 

After  attending  the  graded  and  high  schools  of 
Dayton,  Charles  F.  Haley,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
began  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  his  first 
position  being  that  of  billing  clerk  with  Marshall 
Held  & Company,  of  Chicago,  the  famous  merchant 
prince,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  for  a period 
of  three  years.  In  1885  he  secured  a position  with 
the  Mitchell  Grain  Company,  of  Milwaukee,  Wiscon- 
sin, in  the  employ  of  which  concern  he  remained 
until  1888,  in  May  of  which  year  he  came  to  Duluth. 
Here  he  secured  a position  in  the  Minnesota  Grain 
Inspection  Department  and  remained  until  1895, 
when  he  became  associated  with  A.  D.  Thompson  & 
Company,  of  which  he  is  now  manager,  with  offices 
at  Nos.  406-410  Board  of  Trade  Building.  Mr. 
Haley’s  career  evinces  not  alone  the  possession  of 
high  business  talents  as  well  as  executive  ability  of 
more  than  ordinary  character,  but  also  of  industry 
and  fidelity,  for  in  each  of  his  different  engagements 
he  has.  been  completely  successful,  and  has  been 
most  highly  valued  and  esteemed  by  every  firm  he 
has  served.  A man  of  attractive  presence  and 
courteous  and  genial  disposition,  he  has  made  hosts 
of  friends,  who  are  frequently  entertained  at  the 
family  residence  at  No.  2401  East  Fifth  Street.  Mr. 
Haley  is  a republican,  but  not  a politician;  his  re- 
ligious connection  is  with  the  Church  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  and  he  is  a good  and  devout  Catholic.  His 
social  connections  include  membership  in  the  Kitchi 
Gammi  and  Northland  Country  Clubs,  both  of 
Duluth. 

In  1901,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  Mr.  Haley  was  married 
to  Miss  Katherine  O’Donnell,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  O’Donnell,  of  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin, 
where  Mr.  O’Donnell,  now  deceased,  was  a con- 
tractor. Mrs.  O’Donnell  still  survives  her  husband 
and  makes  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haley  and 
their  two  children  : Francis,  who  attends  the  Cathe- 


dral School ; and  Katherine,  who  is  a pupil  of  the 
Sisters’  School. 

Henry  F.  Seitz.  Prominent  in  furniture  manu- 
facturing and  wholesale  circles,  and  also  in  the 
broader  sphere  of  business,  civic  and  social  life, 
Mr.  Seitz  is  vice  president  and  treasurer  of  the  De- 
Witt,  Seitz  & Company,  one  of  the  largest  estab- 
lishments of  its  kind  in  Northern  Minnesota,  and 
with  an  immense  trade  covering  several  states  of 
the  Northwest. 

Henry  F.  Seitz  is  of  substantial  German  stock,  his 
grandfather  having  come  from  Germany  and  settled 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Mr.  Seitz  was  born  at  Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin,  November  5,  1875.  His  father,  John 
Seitz,  who  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1847,  and 
died  in  Superior,  Wisconsin,  in  1912  was  for  many 
years  a manufacturer  of  chairs,  and  was  one  of  the 
constituent  members  of  the  Webster  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Superior.  John  Seitz  married  Mary 
Wintz,  who  now  lives  in  Duluth.  Their  children 
are:  Henry  F. ; Albert,  who  is  a business  repre- 

sentative of  the  DeWitt,  Seitz  & Company,  lives  in 
Duluth  and  married  Miss  Wansborough  of  South 
Bend,  Indiana ; Oscar  M.,  who  is  unmarried  and  is 
connected  with  the  brokerage  business  in  Tacoma; 
Lillian,  Ida  and  Hettie,  all  of  whom  are  teachers ; 
and  John,  Jr.,  bookkeeper  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Duluth. 

Henry  F.  Seitz  was  educated  in  the  grammar  and 
high  schools  at  Menasha,  Wisconsin,  leaving  high 
school  at  the  age  of  sixteen  to  take  up  the  practical 
work  of  life  as  an  employe  in  the  Webster  Manufac- 
turing Company,  makers  of  chairs  at  Superior,  Wis- 
consin. While  with  that  firm  he  acquired  a thorough 
and  expert  knowledge  of  furniture  making,  especial- 
ly chairs,  and  in  1905  carried  his  experience  and 
training  to  the  establishment  of  the  new  firm  of 
DeWitt,  Seitz  & Company,  with  Mr.  Charles  E.  De- 
Witt  as  his  chief  associate.  The  business  is  incor- 
porated, and  besides  manufacturing  several  lines  of 
furniture  also  handles  a large  trade  as  wholesalers. 
Their  goods  are  sold  over  the  extensive  territory 
covering  Montana,  North  Dakota,  Minnesota,  Wis- 
consin and  Michigan.  The  offices  and  warehouses 
are  located  at  the  corner  of  Lake  Avenue  and 
Buchanan  Street. 

Mr.  Seitz’s  standing  in  business  and  social  circles 
is  also  indicated  by  his  membership  in  Palestine 
Lodge  No.  79,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Duluth  Council,  R.  & 
S.  M. ; Duluth  Commandery  of  the  Knights  Tem- 
plars; Aad  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  Duluth 
Lodge  No.  133,  B.  P.  O.  E. ; The  Duluth  Commercial 
Club  ; Kitchi  Gammi  Club  ; Northland  Country  Club  ; 
Duluth  Curling  Club;  Duluth  Boat  Club;  and  his 
home  is  in  the  Kitchi  Gammi  Club.  Mr.  Seitz  is  a 
republican  in  politics. 

William  Allen  Hunt,  for  twenty-five  years  a 
Duluth  architect,  with  an  expanding  reputation,  is 
one  of  the  men  whom  the  Buckeye  State  has  con- 
tributed to  the  professional  citizenship  of  Minnesota. 
Coming  to  this  city  a practical  stranger,  a new- 
comer in  his  calling,  he  soon  displayed  such  ability 
and  resource  that  he  was  admitted  to  the  ranks  of 
the  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  since  won  a fore- 
most place.  Many  of  Duluth's  largest  buildings  stand 
as  monuments  to  Mr.  Hunt’s  talent  and  bear  the  im- 
print of  his  distinctive  style  of  architecture. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  February  13,  1859,  and  is  a son  of  Porter 
DeWight  and  Anna  Montgomery  (Beard)  Hunt. 


1686 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


The  Hunt  family  is  of  English  and  Irish  extraction 
and  was  founded  in  America  in  1700,  the  progenitor 
coming  from  Lancaster,  England,  and  locating  in 
Massachusetts.  Among  the  men  which  this  family 
has  contributed  to  the  public  and  military  history 
of  the  country  may  be  mentioned  General  Warren, 
of  Bunker  Hill  fame;  Colonel  Stall,  a Civil  war 
veteran,  to  whom  Mr.  Hunt  is  related  on  his 
mother’s  side ; and  the  first  governor  to  be  elected 
on  the  republican  ticket  in  Kentucky,  Governor 
Bradley.  Porter  DeWight  Hunt  was  born  in  1831 
at  Southampton,  Massachusetts,  later  moved  to  Ohio, 
and  there  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brooms, 
at  one  time  handling  all  the  broom  corn  grown  in  the 
lower  section  of  Ohio.  He  was  known  as  Major 
Hunt,  because  of  his  service  during  the  Civil  war, 
and  in  Morgan's  Raid,  and  died  at  Cincinnati  in  1872. 
Mrs.  Hunt,  who  survives  him,  still  makes  her  home 
in  that  city. 

William  Allen  Hunt  attended  the  grammar  and 
high  schools  of  Cincinnati,  and  after  his  graduation 
from  the  latter,  in  1874,  began  studying  for  the 
profession  of  architecture  in  the  office  of  a Mr. 
Cropsey,  of  Cincinnati,  with  whom  he  remained  four 
years.  At  that  time  he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  after 
spending  eight  years  at  his  vocation  at  Minneapolis, 
came  to  Duluth  in  1889.  Here  he  was  first  asso- 
ciated with  the  firm  of  Palmer,  Hall  & Hunt,  but 
in  1904  Mr.  Hall  retired  from  the  business,  to  be 
followed  by  Mr.  Palmer  in  1907,  and  since  the 
latter  year  Mr.  Hunt  has  conducted  the  business 
alone.  Among  the  more  prominent  of' the  structures 
erected  by  him  may  be  mentioned  the  Wolvin,  Sell- 
wood  and  Lonsdale  buildings,  the  last-named  being 
the  first  steel  building  to  be  constructed  in  the  state, 
in  1894;  the  Patrick  Wholesale  Dry  Goods  House; 
the  Marshall-Wells  Wholesale  Hardware  Building; 
the  Rush-Parker  Wholesale  Grocery  Building;  the 
Duluth  Central  Hiph  School;  the  State  Normal 
School,  a great  many  of  the  finest  residences  in  the 
east  end  of  the  city,  as  well  as  all  classes  of  struc- 
tures throughout  Duluth,  and  a number  of  buildings 
on  the  Vermillion  and  Mesaba  ranges.  He  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  business  circles  of  the  city, 
and  is  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Cuyuna  and 
Bessemer  Iron  Company.  He  maintains  offices  at 
No.  307  Lonsdale  Building.  Mr.  Llunt  is  a repub- 
lican, but  the  part  he  has  taken  in  shaping  the  laws 
of  his  adopted  community  has  been  only  as  a sup- 
porter of  good  movements.  He  belongs  to  the 
Duluth  Commercial  Club  and  to  Lodge  No.  133, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

On  April  23,  1909,  Mr.  Hunt  was  married  to  Miss 
Marie  B.  Newberg,  of  Minneapolis,  daughter  of  John 
Newberg,  of  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  a contractor  and 
recently  a candidate  for  the  office  of  sheriff.  One 
daughter  has  been  born  to  this  union,  Mary 
Elizabeth. 

Henry  W.  Morgan.  Of  the  lawyers  practicing  at 
the  bar  of  Minnesota,  none  have  gained  more  de- 
served success  than  that  which  has  attended  the 
activities  of  Henry  W.  Morgan.  Coming  from  an 
old  and  honored  family  of  the  East,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Minnesota  in  18 87,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  in  continual  practice  at  Lake  City,  where 
his  excellent  attainments  and  thorough  devotion  to 
his  profession  have  attracted  to  him  a clientage 
second  to  none.  Mr.  Morgan  was  born  on  a farm 
■ in  Gloucester  County,  New  Jersey,  ten  miles  from 
Camden,  May  1,  1850,  and  is  a son  of  Hiram  and 
Sarah  (Llewellyn)  Morgan. 


The  Morgan  family  originated  in  Wales  and 
early  settled  in  New  Jersey,  where  the  great-grand- 
father of  Henry  W.  Morgan,  David  Morgan,  was 
born  in  1740  and  died  in  1789.  His  son,  Randell 
W.  Morgan,  was  born  in  Camden  County,  New 
Jersey,  January  15,  1782,  and  died  April  7,  1848. 
On  the  maternal  side,  Mr.  Morgan  is  also  of  Welsh 
descent,  being  a grandson  of  Reuben  and  Sarah 
(Gauntt)  Llewellyn,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Burlington  County,  New  Jersey,  and  held 
the  commission  of  colonel  in  the  state  militia  until 
his  death.  Hiram  Morgan  was  born  in  Camden 
County,  New  Jersey,  November  25,  1813,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  throughout  his  life  in  New  Jersey, 
dying  there  in  1900.  He  was  a strong  abolitionist 
and  a republican,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war  had  3,000  bushels  of  potatoes  stored  in  the 
building  which  later  became  the  famous  Libby 
Prison,  and  when  the  war  had  closed  the  consignees 
paid  for  them  in  full.  A man  of  great  business 
ability  and  much  energy  he  was  successful  in  his 
operations  and  became  the  possessor  of  a fortune. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Mrs.  Morgan,  who  was  born  in  Burling- 
ton County,  New  Jersey,  in  1812,  died  March  22, 
1892,  the  mother  of  five  children,  of  whom  two  are 
still  living:  Anna  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Sweeten,  a retired  citizen  of  Wenonah,  New  Jersey; 
and  Henry  W. 

Henry  W.  Morgan  secured  good  educational  ad- 
vantages in  his  youth,  first  attending  the  Black- 
wood school,  subsequently  taking  his  preparatory 
course  at  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  Bridgeton 
and  Lawrenceville,  New  Jersey,  and  after  his  grad- 
uation from  the  last  named  place  going  to  Lehigh 
University,  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania.  He  com- 
menced his  career  as  a member  of  a railroad  en- 
gineering corps  which  built  a line  from  Amboy  to 
Camden.  New  Jersey,  and  subsequently  assisted  in 
the  construction  of  two  other  lines.  His  legal 
training  was  commenced  under  the  preceptorship 
of  Furman  Shepard,  of  Philadelphia,  following 
which  he  was  in  the  office  of  his  cousin,  J.  Willard 
Morgan,  of  Camden,  but  after  several  }^ears  of 
practice  in  his  native  state  decided  to  seek  the 
opportunities  offered  by  the  West,  and  accordingly, 
in  1887,  came  to  Minnesota  and  chose  the  city  of 
Lake  City  as  his  field  of  endeavor,  a decision  which 
he  has  never  had  the  slightest  cause  to  regret. 
Were  a comparison  instituted  among  lawyers  in 
general  practice  to  prove  which  of  them  all  enjoy 
the  largest  measure  of  public  confidence  as  a man- 
ager of  cases  calling  for  deep  knowledge  of  law 
and  practice,  readiness  of  resource,  energy  of  action 
and  power  of  logical  argument,  the  name  of  Mr. 
Morgan  would  be  found  very  close  to  the  top  in 
Wabasha  County.  He  has  stood  in  the  front  rank 
of  lawyers  in  Lake  City  for  more  than  a quarter 
of  a century,  and  nothing  has  been  allowed  to 
divert  him  from  his  profession.  He  has  never  re- 
lied upon  others  to  do  his  work;  every  question 
is  investigated  until  it  is  exhausted.  His  manner 
is  one  of  honesty  and  candor  which  leaves  no 
room  for  doubt  as  to  his  own  convictions.  His 
large  practice  has  been  of  the  best  kind  that  can 
come  to  a lawyer,  and  has  been  very  remunerative, 
so  that  he  has  been  successful  in  a material  way, 
and  has  invested  his  means  in  city  and  farm  realty, 
of  which  he  owns  a considerable  amount.  He  has 
taken  an  interest  in  democratic  politics,  but  not 
as  a candidate  for  office  or  as  a blatant  advocate: 
rather  as  a strong  man  seeking  the  best  laws  and 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1687 


the  best  legislators.  His  only  public  service  has 
been  as  a member  of  the  board  of  education  of 
Lake  City.  While  in  college  Mr.  Morgan  was  a 
member  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Sigma  fraternity. 

Mr.  Morgan  was  married  in  1884  to  Miss  Mary 
L.  Kelley,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Martha  L.  Kel- 
ley, the  former  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland.  Mr. 
Kelley  came  to  the  United  States  in  young  man- 
hood, and  in  1857  settled  in  Minnesota,  where  for 
many  years  he  was  engaged  in  successful  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  he  passed  away  at  Lake  City, 
Minnesota,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred 
and  four  years.  Mrs.  Kelley,  who  was  born  in 
County  Donegal,  Ireland,  September  13,  1816,  also 
attained  advanced  years,  dying  August  1,  1898.  She 
was  a member  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  faith, 
while  her  husband  belonged  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
church.  Mrs.  Morgan  still  owns  her  father's  old 
homestead,  in  Minnesota,  a very  valuable  piece  of 
property. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Morgan : Hiram,  who  is  twenty-seven  years  of 

age ; Patrick,  aged  twenty  years,  a high  school 
graduate;  and  Alexander,  eighteen  years  of  age, 
in  the  junior  class  at  the  high  school.  They  also 
have  an  adopted  daughter,  Dorothy,  who  is  twelve 
years  old.  Mrs.  Morgan  is  a member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  Lake  City. 

Thomas  J.  Joyce.  Although  a late  comer  into  the 
legal  world  of  Duluth  life,  Thomas  J.  Joyce,  who 
possesses  qualifications  for  his  profession  in  a quick 
grasp  of  salient  points,  an  impressive  manner  of 
presentation  of  his  cases  to  the  jury,  has  already 
achieved  prominence  in  his  profession.  Mr.  Joyce 
is  a native  son  of  Duluth,  having  been  born  Decem- 
ber 11,  188S.  His  parents  were  Martin  and  Catherine 
(Flannery)  Joyce,  the  former  of  whom  is  now  de- 
ceased. Martin  Joyce  was  born  in  County  Galway, 
Ireland,  in  1868,  and  was  twelve  years  old  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  being  of  a well  to  do 
family.  Locating  first  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  he 
came  to  Duluth  as  a young  man  and  engaged  in 
business  as  a contractor,  and  subsequently  removed 
to  the  City  of  Superior,  Wisconsin.  He  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  ventures,  because  of  his  energetic 
nature  and  fidelity  to  engagements,  and  was  rea- 
sonably successful  in  a business  way  when  suddenly 
called  by  death  in  1896,  when  but  twenty-eight  years 
of  age.  Mr.  Joyce  was  married  at  Duluth  to  Miss 
Catherine  Flannery,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
came  to  the  United  States  as  a young  girl  in  1870, 
locating  in  the  City  of  Duluth,  and  she  still  survives 
and  makes  her  home  at  Superior.  Three  children 
were  born  to  Martin  and  Catherine  Joyce,  namely: 
Thomas  J.,  of  this  review;  Martin;  and  Patrick, 
who  resides  with  his  mother  at  Superior. 

Thomas  J.  Joyce  was  a small  child  when  taken 
by  his  parents  to  Superior,  and  there  his  education 
was  commenced  in  the  graded  schools.  He  was  less 
than  eight  years  old  when  his  father  died,  but  the 
mother  kept  him  in  school,  determined  that  he 
should  secure  a good  educational  training,  and  in 
1908  he  was  graduated  from  the  Superior  High 
School.  Succeeding  this  he  became  a student  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  from  which  he  came  after 
a course  of  something  more  than  two  years,  and 
then  applied  himself  so  assiduously  to  the  study  of 
law  that  in  March,  1911,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  St.  Paul.  During  the  next  year  Mr.  Joyce 
was  engaged  in  practice  at  Minneapolis,  but  in  1912 

Vol.  m— 27 


transferred  his  operations  to  Duluth,  where  he 
opened  offices  at  Ros.  1005-6  Torrey  Building.  His 
practice  has  since  enjoyed  a steady  and  consistent 
growth,  and  at  this  time  he  is  generally  recognized 
as  one  of  the  mosj  successful  among  the  younger 
attorneys  of  the  city.  Ever  studious,  industrious, 
conscientious,  and  alive  to  the  interests  of  all  his 
clients,  thorough  in  the  preparation  ,and  complete 
in  the  presentation  of  all  his  cases,  fair-minded  and 
honorable  in  his  methods  of  trial,  he  is  known  as  a 
most  careful  practitioner,  a safe  counselor  and  a 
legist  thoroughly  equipped  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  his  profession.  Mr.  Joyce  is  not  unknown 
in  business  circles  of  Duluth,  being  a director  in 
a mining  company  here  and  in  the  Minnesota  Com 
crete  Stone  Company.  He  belongs  to  the  Sacred 
Heart  Catholic  Church,  and  his  fraternal  connections 
are  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of  Superior,  Wis- 
consin. 

Mr.  Joyce  is  unmarried  and  resides  at  No.  214 
East  Fourth  Street,  Duluth. 

John  Christie.  Citizens  of  Duluth  often  point 
out  the  Christie  Building  as  the  first  example  of 
reinforced  concrete  steel  construction  in  that  city, 
and  it  is  a fine  office  building,  seven  stories  high  and 
now  one  of  many  structures  that  give  character  to 
the  business  district.  The  Christie  Building  has  a 
further  interest  from  the  large  and  flourishing  busi- 
ness which  has  its  home  there,  a complete  printing 
binding,  lithographing  and  general  stationery  and 
office  supply  house,  which  is  the  best  equipped  con- 
cern of  its  kind  west  of  Chicago.  About  twenty- 
three  years  ago  John  Christie  was  a newcomer  in 
Duluth,  had  a very  modest  printing  office,  with  one 
helper,  and  from  that  small  beginning  has  developed 
one  of  the  most  distinctive  enterprises  in  the  city. 

John  Christie  is  a Scotchman,  born  in  Blairgowrie, 
January  12,  i860.  His  family  record  deserves  men- 
tion in  detail.  His  parents  were  David  and  Jane 
(Nicol)  Christie.  His  father  was  born  in  Perth 
February  21,  1824,  and  died  September  1,  1900,  while 
his  mother  was  born  in  the  same  place  July  13, 
1831,  and  died  March  19,  1891.  They  were  married 
at  Perth  April  25,  1851.  David  Christie  was  a son 
of  John  and  Ann  (McIntosh)  Christie,  the  former 
of  whom  died  May  6,  1870,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight,  and  the  latter  on  February  24,  1859,  aged 
sixty.  Jane  Nicol  was  the  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Margaret  (McEwen)  Nicol,  the  former  of  whom 
died  January  19,  1865,  aged  seventy-four,  and  the 
latter  April  4,  1872,  aged  seventy-four.  Robert  Nicol 
was  a ship  owner.  The  children  of  David  and  Jane 
(Nicol)  Christie  were  as  follows:  Margaret  Nicol, 
who  married  Frank  Morrison,  was  born  September 
4,  1852;  Robert  Nicol,  born  April  23,  1854;  Ann,  who 
married  David  Gow,  was  born  January  25,  1856  and 
died  August  21,  1891;  Jane  Nicol,  who  married 
James  Cuthbert,  was  born  March  18,  1858;  John,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Isabella,  born  May  15,  1861, 
and  died  in  infancy;  Isabella,  who  married  John 
Reid,  born  May  4,  1862;  a son  born  May  25,  1863, 
died  unnamed ; Alexandra  Mary,  who  married  Harry 
Black,  was  born  July  18,  1864;  Marjory  Nicol,  Mrs. 
John  Stewart,  was  born  October  24,  1865,  and  died 
April  29.  1914;  Davina,  Mrs.  Charles  G.  Watkins, 
born  November  22,  1867;  Agnes  Cuthil,  Mrs.  Sam 
McLees,  born  December  30,  1868;  David,  born  No- 
vember 19,  1870  and  died  June  6,  1871;  Williamina 
Dron,  Mrs.  David  Ross,  born  May  10,  1872;  and 
Elizabeth  Isabella  Russell,  born  July  19,  1873,  and 


1688 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


died  July  2 2,  1875.  All  except  the  three  oldest  were 
born  in  Blairgowrie.  John  Christie’s  father  estab- 
lished the  Blairgowrie  Advertiser  the  year  of  the 
Crimean  War,  published  it  for  over  thirty  years,  and 
it  is  still  a flourishing  weekly.  He  also  operated  a 
job  printing  office  at  Glasgow,  and  was  subsequently 
proprietor  of  the  Forfar  Herald  at  Forfar  County 
Seat. 

John  Christie  grew  up  in  Blairgowrie,  attended 
the  public  schools  until  sixteen,  had  lived  in  the 
atmosphere  of  a printing  office  since  childhood,  and 
on  leaving  school  went  to  Edinburgh  and  spent  two 
years  in  special  training  in  a printing  house.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  his  father  made  him  foreman  of  the 
Glasgow  printing  office,  and  that  was  his  work  until 
his  father  sold  the  plant  two  years  later,  and  he  then 
accompanied  the  elder  Christie  to  Forfar  County  Seat 
and  they  were  associated  in  business  until  1882. 
John  Christie  then  emigrated  to  America,  spent  two 
years  in  the  printing  department  of  the  Dickinson 
Type  Foundry  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  in  1884 
turned  his  attention  to  real  estate,  a business  which 
he  followed  in  the  East  until  coming  to  Duluth  in 
1891.  As  already  mentioned,  Mr.  Christie  began 
business  in  Duluth  on  a small  scale,  and  with  meager 
equipment,  though  his  long  and  thorough  experience 
was  an  excellent  capital.  He  had  two  small  presses 
and  hired  only  one  boy  assistant  at  first.  The  energy 
with  which  he  pushed  the  business,  and  the  quality  of 
his  work  caused  a rapid  growth  and  the  necessity 
of  larger  quarters.  In  August,  1907,  his  plant,  which 
was  located  on  an  upper  floor,  was  completely  gutted 
by  a fire  that  originated  in  rooms  beneath  his  office. 
Owing  to  the  fact  that  he  carried  co-insurance  and 
had  to  contribute  to  the  general  loss,  he  determined 
to  acquire  a plant  of  his  own,  and  about  that  time 
began  the  construction  of  the  present  seven-story 
Christie  Building.  Mr.  Christie  was  the  first  in 
Duluth  to  show  his  faith  in  the  modern  type  of  the 
reinforced  concrete  construction.  His  business  in  its 
present  dimensions  comprises  stationery  and  office 
furniture,  filing  devices,  complete  printing  and  book- 
binding plant,  lithographing  plant  both  with  the 
stone  and  rubber  offset  process,  a steel  die  and  em- 
bossing plant,  and  altogether  his  equipment  is  suffi- 
cient for  practically  every  demand  made  in  printing 
and  binding  and  illustration  work.  His  trade  in 
office  supplies  and  stock  stationery  and  his  custom 
work  have  a broad  territory  covering  all  of  Minne- 
sota, all  of  Wisconsin,  Northern  Michigan  and  North 
Dakota. 

Mr.  Christie  is  well  known  in  fraternal  and  social 
circles  in  Duluth,  is  a democrat  in  politics,  and  for 
five  years  was  national  president  of  the  Modern 
Samaritans,  the  general  office  of  which  order  is  in 
the  Christie  Building.  Other  affiliations  are  with 
Palestine  Lodge  No.  79,  A.  F.  & A.  M.  at  Duluth; 
Keystone  Chapter  No.  20,  R.  A.  M. ; Duluth  Com- 
mandery  No.  18,  K.  T. ; and  in  the  Scottish  Rite  with 
North  Star  Lodge  of  Perfection  No.  6,  with  A.  T.  C. 
Pearson  Rose  Croix  Chapter  No.  4,  with  the  thirty- 
second  degree  Consistory,  and  with  Aad  Temple  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine.  Mr.  Christie  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters,  the  Royal  Neighbors,  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  His  Scotch  ancestry  gives  him  eligibility 
in  the  Clan  Stewart,  and  in  a business  way  he  has 
membership  in  the  Commercial  Club. 

Mr.  Christie  was  married  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1884  to  Isabella  Wilson,  a native  of  Scot- 
land, whose  father  was  a farmer  in  Forfarshire 
and  was  killed  by  the  kick  of  a horse  when  she  was 


a child.  Mrs.  Christie  is  a member  of  the  Pilgrim 
Congregational  Church.  Ihey  have  no  living  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Christie  about  every  second  year  re- 
turns to  Scotland,  and  keeps  up  regular  communica- 
•tion  with  his  family.  His  last  trip  to  Blairgowrie 
was  in  1913,  and  in  the  family  reunion  of  that  year 
twenty-seven  relatives  were  present,  twenty- five  of 
whom  were  residents  of  Scotland  and  England.  Mr. 
Christie’s  home  is  at  1811  East  Second  Street. 

Watson  S.  Moore.  A leader  in  Duluth  commer- 
cial affairs,  president  of  the  W.  S.  Moore  Grain 
Company,  and  interested  in  other  local  concerns, 
YY'atson  S.  Moore  is  a type  of  a self-made  American 
citizen,  having  advanced  from  the  capacity  of  tele- 
graph messenger  when  a boy  to  prominence  in  one 
of  the  leading  cities  of  the  Northwest.  Mr.  Moore 
has  been  a resident  of  Duluth  for  thirty  years,  and 
while  his  business  success  has  been  won  in  this  city 
his  highest  distinction  among  the  people  of  the 
community  has  come  from  his  forceful  and  influen- 
tial part  in  public  affairs,  both  while  a member  of 
the  city  council  and  as  a private  citizen. 

Watson  S.  Moore  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  November  13,  1867,  a son  of  James 
G.  and  Carrie  (Sadler)  Moore.  His  father,  who 
was  born  in  Indiana  in  1834  and  died  at  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  in  1875,  was  a minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  his  father,  James  G.  Moore, 
Sr.,  was  also  a minister  in  that  denomination  and 
died  in  Indiana. 

After  the  age  of  twelve  years  Watson  S.  Moore 
had  no  formal  schooling,  and  educated  himself  by 
practical  experience  and  a keen  observation.  His 
first  work  was  as  an  A.  D.  T.  messenger  at  Balti- 
more, but  the  following  year  he  found  employment 
in  the  secretary’s  office  of  the  Baltimore  Corn  and 
Flour  Exchange,  and  the  three  years  spent  there 
gave  him  an  insight  into  the  business  which  has  been 
his  regular  work  through  most  of  his  career.  In 
1884  Mr.  Moore  located  in  Duluth,  and  up  to  1889 
was  employed  in  the  office  of  George  Spencer  & 
Company,  grain  dealers.  In  1890  a partnership  was 
formed  with  Mr.  George  Spencer  and  continued 
until  19 1 1 , at  which  time  Mr.  Moore  established 
the  W.  S.  Moore  Grain  Company,  of  which  he  is 
now  president.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Moore, 
Gary  Land  & Improvement  Company,  which  is  de- 
veloping town  sites  adjoining  the  plant  of  the  Minne- 
sota Steel  Company  at  Duluth.  Mr.  Moore  was  a 
joint  owner  with  A.  C.  Volk  of  the  property  sold 
to  the  steel  company,  and  now  occupied  by  its 
plant. 

As  a man  who  had  to  struggle  through  his  boy- 
hood, Mr.  Moore  has  manifested  a thorough  sym- 
pathy with  young  men  ,and  has  performed  much 
practical  social  service.  He  is  president  of  the 
Duluth  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  vice  president  of  the  Duluth 
Commercial  Club  and  superintendent  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  Sunday  School.  On 
national  issues  his  politics  is  republican,  but  he  has 
shown  strong  independence  in  local  affairs.  From 
1900  to  1910  he  was  one  of  the  members  in  the 
Duluth  city  council.  The  joint  commission  ap- 
pointed by  the  Commercial  Club  and  the  city  council 
for  the  investigation  of  the  commission  form  of 
government  included  Mr.  Moore  as  one  of  its  mem- 
bers, and  he  was  one  of  those  most  instrumental 
in  securing  the  adoption  of  this  form  of  government 
under  the  new  charter  in  1910.  His  council  record 
was  also  noteworthy  for  his  efforts  to  maintain  law 
enforcement  policies  throughout  the  city  and  state. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1689 


he  introduced  a resolution  in  the  council,  which  was 
adopted,  abolishing  the  red  light  district,  the 
resolution  that  abolished  the  slot  machine,  was  one 
of  the  council  group  that  stood  aggressively  for 
municipal  ownership  of  public  utilities,  and  asso- 
ciated with  one  or  two  others  started  the  movement 
that  brought  about  municipal  ownership  of  the  elec- 
tric light  plant.  Mr.  Moore  was  a member  of  the 
committee  that  provided  for  the  construction  of  the 
unique  aerial  bridge  at  Duluth,  one  of  the  wonders 
of  engineering  construction,  and  the  only  one  of  its 
kind  in  the  world.  He  was  chairman  for  nine 
years  of  the  street  commissioners,  and  whether  in 
the  council  or  as  a private  citizen  has  worked  steadily 
and  consistently  for  civic  and  social  progress. 

Mr.  Moore  was  married  in  Duluth  in  1891  to  Miss 
Jessie  Tyler,  whose  father,  E.  A.  Tyler,  is  connected 
with  the  American  Exchange  National  Bank  of 
Duluth.  Mrs.  Moore’s  grandfather  served  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution,  while  her  father  was  for 
four  years  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  War, 
and  she  is  eligible  to  membership  in  the  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution.  Mr.  Moore  and  wife 
reside  at  1829  East  First  Street,  and  their  family  of 
children  are  as  follows:  Wendell,  who  has  taken 
two  years  of  study  in  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic 
Institute  at  Troy,  New  York,  and  now  lives  at 
home ; Irving,  attending  a preparatory  school  in 
Andover,  Massachusetts;  Warren  and  Dorothy,  both 
of  whom  are  students  in  the  Duluth  High  School. 

Rollo  Nichols  Chaffee..  A young  Duluth  law- 
yer who  has  done  much  to  prove  his  ability  and  open 
a way  towards  a successful  career  in  the  law,  Rollo 
N.  Chaffee  is  an  eastern  man,  was  thoroughly 
trained  in  the  schools  and  universities  of  New  York 
State,  and  since  1906  has  practiced  as  a member  of 
the  Duluth  bar,  giving  special  attention  to  real 
estate,  corporation  and  probate  work. 

Rollo  Nichols  Chaffee  was  born  in  Amenia,  New 
York,  February  28,  1882,  a son  of  James  S.  and 
Lydia  A.  (Judd)  Chaffee.  His  preliminary  training 
was  acquired  in  the  Wesleyan  Academy  at  Wilbra- 
ham,  Massachusetts,  graduating  in  1900,  and  in 
1904  he  graduated  LL.  B.  from  the  law  department 
of  Columbia  University  at  New  York  City.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  New  York  Bar  in  the  same  year,  his 
university  training  was  supplemented  by  two  years 
of  practical  experience  in  the  law  offices  and  courts 
of  New  York  City,  and  in  the  fall  of  1906  he  came 
to  Duluth  and  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of 
real  estate,  corporation  and  probate  law.  Mr.  Chaf- 
fee has  membership  in  the  St.  Louis  County  and 
State  Bar  associations  and  has  prominent  connec- 
tions both  with  the  professional  and  social  life  of  the 
city. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
the  Duluth  Boat  Club,  the  Long  View  Tennis  Club 
and  Duluth  Automobile  Club.  On  May  20,  1908, 
occurred  his  marriage  to  Millie  McKee  of  Duluth, 
a daughter  of  William  and  Louise  (Tucker) 
McKee. 

Jed  L.  Washburn,  lawyer,  Duluth,  was  born  in 
Montgomery  County,  Indiana,  December  26,  1856, 
a son  of  Christopher  C.  and  Julia  A.  (Showen) 
Washburn,  the  former  a native  of  Ohio  but  of  New 
England  descent,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky,  of  an 
old  family  of  South  Carolina.  In  1857  the  parents 
brought  their  children  from  Indiana  to  Minnesota, 
locating  among  the  early  settlers  in  Blue  Earth 


County  in  the  Town  of  Vernon,  where  Christopher 
C.  Washburn  was  a substantial  farmer. 

Jed  L.  "Washburn  received  an  academic  education, 
but  is  mainly  self  educated,  studied  law  with  Hon. 
Martin  J.  Severance  at  Mankato,  was  admitted  and 
began  practice  in  May,  1880,  and  continued  at  Man- 
kato until  March,  1890,  when  he  removed  to  Duluth 
and  has  since  lived  and  practiced  there,  being  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Washburn,  Bailey  & Mitchell, 
with  offices  in  the  Alworth  Building.  Mr.  Wash- 
burn has  always  been  keenly  interested  in  the  school 
system  of  the  state,  was  a member  and  president 
of  the  board  of  education  of  Mankato,  a member 
of  the  board  of  education  of  Duluth  from  1900  to 
1907,  and  resident  director  of  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Duluth  since  1903.  He  has  served  on 
other  public  boards,  but  never  held  a paid  political 
office  nor  accepted  any  recompense  or  reimburse- 
ment for  expenses  involved  in  his  public  service. 
In  1907  and  1908  he  served  as  president  of  the 
Minnesota  State  Bar  Association  and  has  been  active 
in  the  Eleventh  Judicial  District  Bar  Association. 
Mr.  Washburn  has  enjoyed  a large  practice  and  the 
confidence  of  the  public.  His  opinions  are  con- 
sidered unselfish  and  unprejudiced.  He  has  large 
business  interests,  and  is  president  of  the  Northern 
National  Bank  of  Duluth  and  of  several  other 
financial  and  industrial  concerns. 

Mr.  Washburn  is  a member  of  the  Ivitchi  Gammi, 
Commercial,  Northland  Country,  Duluth  Curling, 
and  Duluth  Boat  clubs  of  Duluth,  the  Minnesota 
Club  of  St.  Paul,  the  Minneapolis  Club  of  Min- 
neapolis, and  the  Chicago  Club  of  Chicago.  His 
home  is  at  101  Oxford  Street,  while  he  also  has 
a winter  home  in  North  Carolina,  and  spends  about 
three  months  of  the  year  there,  taking  a great  inter- 
est in  both  places  in  the  beautification  of  his  grounds. 

In  June,  1882,  Mr.  Washburn  was  married  to  Miss 
Alma  J.  Pattee,  daughter  of  the  late  Joseph  R. 
Pattee  of  Stockton,  Portage  County,  Wisconsin. 
His  oldest  son,  Claude  C.  Washburn,  an  author,  re- 
sides in  Florence,  Italy;  his  next  son,  A.  McC. 
Washburn,  lawyer,  is  with  the  law  firm  of  Wash- 
burn, Bailey  and  Mitchell ; his  youngest  son,  John 
Lawrence,' is  a student  at  the  Asheville  (North  Car- 
olina) School.  His  daughters,  Genevieve,  Mildred 
and  Hope,  reside  at  home,  and  all  the  children  have 
been  given  the  best  educational  advantages  both  at 
home  and  abroad.  Mrs.  Washburn  has  been  for 
many  years  interested  in  club,  educational  and 
charitable  work  and  is  well  known  throughout  Min- 
nesota and  other  states. 

Benjamin  F.  Nelson.  The  lumber  industry  early 
became  and  has  ever  since  remained  one  of  the 
leading  lines  of  business  in  Minnesota,  and  the  rea- 
sons for  this  are  strong  and  manifest.  The  bounty 
of  nature  in  providing  the  material  for  the  industry 
was  almost  unlimited,  and  the  quality  of  that  ma- 
terial was  superior  in  some  respects  to  that  of  what 
was  to  be  found  in  many  other  heavily  timbered  re- 
gions. The  men  who  initiated  the  industry  were 
men  of  broad  views,  fine  business  capacity,  resolute 
purpose  and  all-daring  courage;  and  those  who  have 
followed  them  have  shown  the  utmost  capability  for 
developing  the  industry  to  its  full  limitations  and  to 
handling  it  with  unequivocal  wisdom  and  success. 
Here  was  the  raw  material  in  lavish  quantity,  ready 
and  waiting  for  the  commanding  power  of  mind  to 
come  and  convert  it  into  marketable  form  for  the 
service  of  mankind,  and  the  practical  results  of  this 
initiative  and  constructive  power  have  been  manifest 


1690 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  the  magnitude,  value  and  far-reaching  results  of 
the  work  achieved. 

As  a representative  of  both  the  earlier  and  the 
present  day  magnates  in  the  lumber  industry  in 
this  section  of  the  country,  Benjamin  Franklin 
Nelson,  of  Minneapolis,  stands  in  the  front  rank. 
His  operations  have  been  and  still  continue  to  be 
very  extensive.  His  foresight  and  sweep  of  vision 
are  great.  His  knowledge  of  the  business  has  from 
the  first  been  comprehensive  and  accurate,  and  his 
daring  and  acumen  are  of  the  highest  and  most 
legitimate  type.  Whether  measured  by  the  scope 
and  importance  of  his  undertakings  or  by  the  skill 
with  which  they  have  been  directed,  he  is  easily  one 
of  the  foremost  men  in  the  lumber  industry  in  the 
United  States. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Nelson  was  born  in  Greenup 
County,  Kentucky,  on  the  4th  of  May,  1843,  and  is 
a son  of  William  and  Emeline  (Benson)  Nelson, 
who  were  natives  of  Maryland  and  who  immigrated 
thence  to  Kentucky  in  early  life.  The  family  was 
in  moderate  circumstances  and  its  record  was  vir- 
tually that  voiced  by  the  immortal  Lincoln,  himself 
a Kentuckian,  who  said  of  his  own  family  that  its 
history  was  "the  short  and  simple  annais  of  the 
poor.”  It  may  thus  be  seen  that  to  the  children  of 
the  Nelson  family  only  limited  educational  advan- 
tages could  be  offered,  owing  to  the  exigencies  of 
time  and  place.  Benjamin  F.  Nelson  attended  the 
common  schools  in  Greenup  and  Lewis  counties  for 
brief  and  irregular  periods,  and  while  he  was  still 
a youth  the  impaired  health  of  his  father  placed 
upon  him  the  duty  of  assisting  his  brothers  in  pro- 
viding for  the  needs  of  the  household.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  years  he  began  cutting  logs  and  raft- 
ing them  down  the  Ohio  River.  This  gave  him  his 
first  experience  in  the  lumber  trade,  and  the  fiber 
and  activity  of  his  mind  were  such  that  he  made  it 
tell  greatly  to  his  advantage  at  that  period  in  his 
career,  as  well  as  in  subsequent  years. 

But  Mr.  Nelson  was  not  permitted  to  continue  his 
efforts  along  this  line  without  early  and  definite 
interruption.  When  the  dark  cloud  of  the  Civil  war 
that  had  for  several  years  cast  its  pall  over  the  na- 
tional horizon  at  length  burst  in  a deluge  of  death 
and  disaster,  he  responded  to  the  call  of  higher 
duty  and  tendered  his  aid  in  defense  of  the  Con- 
federate cause  and  the  political  views  and  theories 
of  government  under  the  influence  of  which  he  had 
been  reared.  In  1862,  when  but  nineteen  years  of 
age,  he  enlisted  in  the  Second  Kentucky  Cavalry, 
and  during  the  progress  of  the  great  internecine 
conflict  he  served  successively  in  the  commands  of 
Generals  Morgan,  Forrest  and  Wheeler,  whose 
names  are  written  large  upon  the  history  of  the 
Civil  war.  Although  the  commands  in  which  Mr. 
Nelson  thus  served  were  engaged  in  and  ever  per- 
forming the  most  hazardous  duties,  he  escaped  with- 
out disaster,  save  that  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  he 
was  held  in  confinement  at  the  Federal  prison  at 
Camp  Douglas,  near  Chicago,  when  the  long  and 
weary  struggle  came  to  its  close. 

After  his  release  as  a prisoner  of  war  Mr.  Nelson 
returned  to  Kentucky  and  with  characteristic  cour- 
age and  determination  he  girded  himself  for  the 
winning  of  the  victories  which  peace  ever  has  in 
store.  The  havoc  of  warfare  had  left  its  trail  in 
Kentucky,  and  after  remaining  a few  months  in  his 
native  state  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  a 
more  promising  field  of  endeavor.  In  September, 
1865,  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  located  at  St.  An- 


thony, the  nucleus  around  which  was  built  up  the 
present  great  city  of  Minneapolis.  His  experience 
in  lumbering  secured  to  him  immediate  employment 
in  connection  with  that  business,  and  he  has  been 
connected  with  this  industry  during  the  long  inter- 
vening years. 

Mr.  Nelson  passed  his  first  year  in  Minnesota  as 
a laborer  in  the  lumber  woods  and  mills  and  on  the 
river.  But  such  a post  in  the  association  with  the 
great  industry  in  which  he  was  intensely  interested 
did  not  easily  satisfy  his  ambition  or  meet  the  re- 
quirements of  his  faculties,  although  he  manfully 
accepted  it  as  a stepping-stone  to  the  realization  of 
his  high  hopes,  and  faithfully  and  laboriously  did 
he  perform  the  incidental  duties.  In  his  second  win- 
ter in  the  state  he  secured  a contract  to  haul  logs, 
and  some  time  afterward  he  entered  into  a contract 
for  the  manufacturing  of  shingles.  Even  this  ad- 
vance he  looked  upon  as  but  a means  to  an  end,  for 
he  had  his  vision  fixed  on  loftier  heights.  In  1872 
this  aspiring  lumberman  formed  a partnership  with 
others  in  the  planing-mill  business,  and  this  led 
directly  to  the  manufacturing  of  lumber.  In  1881 
the  firm  of  Nelson,  Tenny  & Company,  consisting 
of  Mr.  Nelson  and  William  M.  Tenny,  bought  a 
sawmill.  Mr.  Nelson  was  now  in  a position  en- 
tirely suited  to  his  taste  and  his  abilities.  He  gave 
his  whole  attention  to  the  business  of  the  firm,  and 
as  the  city  and  the  country  around  it  advanced  in 
development  and  improvement,  the  firm’s  trade 
greatly  expanded,  with  the  result  that  before  the 
expiration  of  ten  years  it  became  one  of  the  heaviest 
operators  in  Minneapolis. 

For  more  than  forty  years  Mr.  Nelson  was  en- 
gaged directly,  and  most  of  the  time  extensively,  in 
manufacturing  lumber.  His  energies  in  this  field 
were  not,  however,  confined  to  the  company  of 
which  he  was  the  head,  nor  were  they  wholly  ab- 
sorbed in  this  line  of  effort.  He  acquired  interests 
in  many  other  companies  in  the  trade  and  those 
affiliated  therewith,  and  he  took  part  also  in  carry- 
ing forward  other  lines  of  manufacturing  enter- 
prise, as  well  as  in  the  financial  and  public  affairs 
of  the  city  and  county  of  his  residence,  in  which  he 
is  still  deeply  and  helpfully  interested.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Leech  Lake  Lumber  Company,  the  Hen- 
nepin Paper  Company,  B.  F.  Nelson  & Sons  Com- 
pany, and  chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
B.  F.  Nelson  Manufacturing  Company.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  directorate  of  the  Northwestern  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Minneapolis  and  holds  similar  posi- 
tion in  connection  with  other  Minnesota  banks  in 
which  he  is  financially  interested.  He  has  also  ex- 
tensive holdings  in  mineral  lands  in  Northern  Minne- 
sota and  in  paper  mills  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

This  is  a record  of  long-continued,  extensive,  very 
exacting  and  highly  successful  business  operations, 
but  it  shows  only  a part  of  Mr.  Nelson’s  activities 
and  achievements.  He  has  been  as  liberal  and  zeal- 
ous in  philanthropic,  educational  and  religious  work 
as  he  has  in  business,  and  for  years  he  took  a prom- 
inent part  in  public  affairs  in  his  home  city.  He 
served  as  a member  of  the  city  council  from  1879 
to  1885,  and  was  chairman  of  the  ways  and  means 
and  the  railroad  committees,  at  the  time  when  he 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  James  J.  Hill,  one  of  the 
greatest  of  all  railroad  men.  Mr.  Nelson,  fully  be- 
lieved that  Minneapolis  was  just  emerging  from  her 
swaddling  clothes  and  as  a city  could  afford  to  be 
liberal  with  railroads.  Holding  such  views,  he  was 
able  to  assist  materially  in  securing  to  railroads  such 


1 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1691 


rights  and  privileges  as  were  necessary  for  their 
expansion  and  economical  operation,  and  the  close 
friendship  which  he  formed  with  Mr.  Hill  has  re- 
mained inviolate  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Nelson 
was  a member  of  the  first  board  of  park  commis- 
sioners, and  in  this  association  he  rendered  wise  and 
appreciated  service  in  laying  the  foundation  of  the 
Minneapolis  park  system.  He  was  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  old  Minneapolis  Board  of  Trade,  of 
which  he  was  president  in  1890-91,  and  in  1890  he 
was  treasurer  and  a director  of  the  Minneapolis 
Men’s  Union. 

From  1884  to  1891  Mr.  Nelson  was  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Board  of  Education.  During  this 
period  the  increase  in  the  school  population  of  the 
community  was  phenomenal,  and  the  necessity  of 
providing  for  it  taxed  to  the  utmost  the  ability  of 
those  in  direct  charge  of  the  educational  affairs  of 
the  city.  In  this  pressing  time  Mr.  Nelson’s  special 
fitness  for  the  position  which  he  held  was  amply 
demonstrated,  and  he  won  high  praise  for  his  re- 
sourcefulness, readiness  and  adaptability  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  as  a member  of  the  board. 
The  experience  which  he  gained  in  this  important 
connection,  as  co-ordinated  with  his  recognized  busi- 
ness capacity,  marked  him  for  other  and  even  higher 
positions  of  public  trust.  In  1896  he  was  appointed 
a member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Prison,  and  in  1899  he  became  president 
of  the  board.  In  1905  he  was  appointed  a member 
of  the  board  of  regents  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota, and  in  February,  1914,  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  this  body,  his  present,  and  second,  term  as  a 
member  of  the  board  expiring  in  1916.  Mr.  Nelson 
has  rendered  to  Minnesota  service  of  the  highest 
character  and  most  productive  order  in  the  depart- 
ments noted,  and  in  the  connection  he  has  shown 
forth  most  significantly  his  breadth  of  view,  his  civic 
loyalty,  his  admirable  resourcefulness,  and  his 
prescience  as  to  future  needs  as  well  as  circumspec- 
tion in  ordering  affairs  under  existing  conditions 
and  demands.  For  thirty  years  Mr.  Nelson  has 
been  a valued  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
Hamline  University,  another  of  the  noble  educa- 
tional institutions  of  Minnesota,  and  contributed 
largely  to  its  endowment  fund.  The  civic  and  indus- 
trial interests  of  Minnesota  have  received  Mr.  Nel- 
son’s intelligent  and  fruitful  interest.  In  1902  he 
was  chosen  a member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  and  after  several 
years  of  most  effective  service  he  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  the  board,  in  1907,  as  was  he  also  in  the 
following  year.  Another  line  of  enterprise  that  en- 
gaged his  active  and  helpful  cooperation  was  that 
for  which  the  Minneapolis  Commercial  Club  stands 
sponsor.  In  1904  he  became  a member  of  the  di- 
rectorate of  this  fine  organization  and  chairman  of 
its  committee  on  public  affairs.  He  proved  in- 
defatigable in  furthering  the  high  civic  ideals  and 
progressive  movements  of  the  club,  assisted  in  work- 
ing out,  under  its  auspices,  conspicuous  commercial 
development,  and  wrote  his  name  in  enduring  way 
upon  the  pages  of  its  history.  In  1907  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  club,  and  of  this  office  he 
continued  the  incumbent  until  1909.  He  is  a valued 
member  of  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society,  and  in 
the  social  and  fraternal  life  of  the  community  he  is 
identified  with  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Lafayette 
Club,  the  Minikahda  Club,  the  Minnesota  Club,  the 
Minneapolis  Automobile  Club,  and  the  time-honored 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  received  the 


Knights  Templar  degrees  in  the  York  rite  and  the 
thirty-second  degree  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scot- 
tish Rite,  besides  having  affiliation  with  the  local 
temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

In  1869  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Nel- 
son to  Miss  Martha  Ross,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1874  and  who  is  survived  by  two  sons,  William  Ed- 
win and  Guy  Henry,  both  of  whom  are  associated 
with  their  father  in  business.  In  1875  Mr.  Nelson 
contracted  a second  marriage,  when  Miss  Mary 
Fredenberg,  of  Northfield,  Minnesota,  became  his 
wife.  They  have  one  child,  Bessie  E. 

From  the  dawn  of  his  manhood  Mr.  Nelson  has 
given  his  political  allegiance  and  services  to  the 
democratic  party,  but  he  has  never  sought  an  office 
or  been  chosen  to  one  by  a partisan  election.  The 
offices  which  he  has  held  have  been  conferred  either 
by  non-partisan  election  or  by  appointment — in  tacit 
recognition  of  his  special  fitness  for  them  rather 
than  on  account  of  political  services  or  partisan  con- 
siderations. He  has  frequently  been  importuned  to 
become  a candidate  for  high  elective  offices,  but  has 
steadfastly  refused  such  overtures. 

Concerning  Mr.  Nelson,  his  character  and  his 
achievement  the  following  consistent  and  pertinent 
statements  have  been  written,  and  they  are  well 
worthy  of  perpetuation  in  this  history  of  a state 
which  has  honored  and  been  honored  by  him : “How 
like  a thread  of  gold  the  splendid  record  of  this 
excellent  business  man  and  superior  citizen  runs 
through  the  history  of  Minneapolis ! And  what  a 
credit  it  is,  not  only  to  the  community  in  which  he 
has  expended  his  activities  but  also  to  the  whole 
range  of  American  citizenship.  It  is  an  engaging 
theme  for  the  pen  of  the  biographer,  and  must  prove 
a strong  stimulus  and  incentive  to  those  young  men 
of  the  present  day  who  become  familiar  with  it — 
furnishing  an  exagiple  worthy  of  the  emulation  of 
the  most  ambitious.” 

William  Edward  Tracy.  Though  one  of  the 
3rounger  members  of  the  bar  of  Northern  Minnesota, 
William  Edward  Tracy  has  served  two  terms  as 
judge  of  probate  of  Lake  County  and  is  one  of  the 
able  and  thoroughly  qualified  lawyers  of  that  part 
of  the  state.  When  first  elected  to  the  office  of 
judge  of  probate  it  was  his  distinction  to  have  been, 
up  to  that  time,  the  youngest  judge  of  probate  of 
the  State  of  Minnesota.  For  seven  years  Mr.  Tracy 
was  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  law  at  Two 
Harbors  and  during  that  period  was  also  interested 
in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business. 

William  Edward  Tracy  was  born  at  LaCrosse, 
Wisconsin,  February  8,  1886,  but  his  home  since 
childhood  and  until  the  middle  part  of  the  year 
1915  was  made  in  Two  Harbors.  His  parents  are 
William  and  Laura  Elizabeth  (Bates)  Tracy,  his 
father  a locomotive  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the 
Steel  Corporation  at  Two  Harbors  for  more  than 
thirty  years.  Judge  Tracy  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  at  Two  Harbors,  to  which  place  the 
family  removed  in  1888,  graduated  from  the  Two 
Harbors  High  School  in  1905,  and  then  entered  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at 
Ann  Arbor,  and  finished  the  law  course  with  a 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  in  1908.  In  June  of 
the  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  Michigan  bar 
and  at  once  returned  to  Two  Harbors  where  he 
was  formally  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Minnesota  in 
February,  1909.  Mr.  Tracy  was  elected  judge  of 


1692 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


probate  of  Lake  County  in  1908,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years,  and  was  returned  to  the  office  in  1910. 
He  did  an  important  service  in  the  careful  and  im- 
partial administration  of  the  probate  affairs  of  Lake 
County  and  since  his  retirement  from  that  office  has 
enjoyed  a lucrative  probate  practice. 

Since  leaving  the  office  of  judge  of  probate,  Mr. 
Tracy  has  been  actively  engaged  in  looking  after  a 
large  and  growing  practice  and  in  June,  1915,  formed 
a law  partnership  with  Mr.  Abe  Feldman  of  Eve- 
leth,  Minnesota,  for  the  general  practice  of  law 
with  offices  at  Duluth  and  Eveleth,  Minnesota,  Mr. 
Tracy  devoting  his  entire  time  to  the  business  of 
the  Duluth  office.  The  new  firm  brought  about  by 
this  association  is  known  at  both  places  as  Tracy 
& Feldman. 

Mr.  Tracy  is  affiliated  with  Fortitude  Lodge  No. 
188,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  is  a thirty- 
second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason,  belonging  to 
the  Duluth  Consistory  in  the  southern  jurisdiction 
and  is  a member  of  Aad  Temple  of  the  Ancient 
Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at 
Duluth,  Minnesota.  He  is  a member  of  the  Two 
Harbors  Commercial  Club,  St.  Louis  County  Bar 
Association,  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Association, 
and  the  Chippewa  Club.  His  church  is  the  Pres- 
byterian. He  was  one  of  the  organizers,  and  since 
its  organization,  has  been  president,  of  the  Two 
Harbors  High  School  Alumni  Association. 

Mr.  Tracy  was  married  October  19,  1910,  to  Miss 
Lucy  McNutt,  daughter  of  Thomas  G.  and  Josephine 
(Beach)  McNutt  of  Minneapolis.  Her  father  was 
a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  with  ancestors  in  the 
War  of  1812,  Revolutionary  war,  and  the  party 
arriving  on  this  continent  in  the  Mayflower  in 
1620.  Mrs.  Tracy,  for  several  years  prior  to  her 
carriage,  was  a successful  school  teacher  at  Two 
Harbors,  Minnesota.  Their  two  children  are  Wil- 
liam Edward,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  lianiel. 

William  N.  Parkhurst.  A citizen  of  influence 
in  Dodge  County  is  Mr.  Parkhurst,  who  is  cashier 
of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Kasson,  of  which 
institution  he  was  the  organizer.  He  has  been  the 
primary  force  in  making  this  one  of  the  solid  and 
popular  financial  institutions  of  Southeastern  Minne- 
sota, has  been  prominently  identified  with  farming 
and  stock-growing  in  this  section  of  the  state  and  is 
known  as  a citizen  of  utmost  loyalty  and  progressive- 
ness. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  is  a scion  of  old  colonial  New 
England  stock  and  is  himself  a native  of  the  Empire 
State  of  the  Union.  He  was  born  on  the  paternal 
homestead  farm,  in  Essex  County,  New  York,  on 
the  31st  of  March,  1876,  and  is  a son  of  Lemuel 
S.  and  Ellen  (Kennedy)  Parkhurst,  who  have  main- 
tained their  home  in  Minnesota  since  1911,  the 
father  being  now  retired  from  active  business  after 
long  years  of  close  and  effective  identification  with 
the  great  basic  industry  of  agriculture.  He  was 
born  at  Burlington,  Vermont,  on  the  26th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1838,  and  is  a son  of  Roswell  and  Lovina 
(Wait)  Parkhurst,  the  former  having  been  a native 
of  Mccretown,  Vermont,  and  having  devoted  his 
active  career  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  wife  was 
a representative  of  one  of  the  old  and  influential 
families  of  Washington  County,  Vermont,  and  the 
Town  of  Waitsfield,  that  county,  was  named  in 
honor  of  this  family,  Mrs.  Parkhurst  having  been  a 
direct  descendant  of  General  Waite,  a gallant  officer 
of  the  continental  line  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
The  genealogy  of  the  Parkhurst  family  is  traced 


back  to  sterling  Scotch  origin.  James  and  Eliza 
(Parrish)  Kennedy,  the  maternal  grandparents  of 
him  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  passed  their 
entire  lives  in  New  England.  Azel  Parkhurst,  great- 
grandfather of  William  N.,  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  in  the  capacity  of  blacksmith.  William 
N.  Parkhurst  is  the  eldest  in  a family  of  three  chil- 
dren. Orville  W.  is  vice  president  and  active  in 
the  management  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Kemp- 
ton  at  Kempton,  North  Dakota,  which  bank  is  con- 
trolled by  the  Parkhurst  family,  W.  N.  Parkhurst 
being  president  of  that  institution.  Mettie  E.  re- 
mains at  the  parental  home,  her  father  and  mother 
being  now  residents  of  Kasson  and  both  being  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Lemuel 
S.  Parkhurst  is  a stanch  democrat  in  politics  and 
held  various  minor  offices  in  Essex  County,  New 
York,  where  he  continued  to  be  identified  with  the 
work  and  management  of  his  fine  farm  until  he 
sold  the  property  and  came  to  Minnesota,  in  1911. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  ancient  craft  order  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

William  N.  Parkhurst  was  reared  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  which  was  the  place  of  his,  birth 
and  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools 
of  Lake  Placid,  an  attractive  town  in  picturesque 
Essex  County,  New  York.  He  continued  to  be  asso- 
ciated with  the  work  of  the  home  farm  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  assumed  a cleri- 
cal position  in  a bank  at  Hunter,  North  Dakota. 
About  five  years  later  he  went  to  Kindred,  Cass 
County,  that  state,  where,  in  December,  1898,  he 
became  cashier  of  the  Kindred  State  Bank,  which 
was  organized  through  his  efforts  and  of  which  he 
is  still  a stockholder  and  director.  Mr.  Parkhurst 
continued  his  effective  service  as  cashier  of  this 
institution  until  1902,  when  he  came  to  Kasson, 
Minnesota,  and  organized  the  Farmers  State  Bank, 
of  which  he  has  been  cashier  from  the  time  of  its 
corporation.  This  bank  bases  its  operations  on  a 
capital  stock  of  $15,000,  and  it  now  has  a surplus 
fund  of  $15,000,  with  average  deposits  of  $275,000. 
These  figures  indicate  emphatically  the  able  manage- 
ment of  the  institution  and  the  hold  that  it  has 
upon  popular  confidence. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  has  been  closely  identified  with 
practical  banking  operations  from  his  youth  and  has 
become  a financier  of  ability  and  discrimination,  his 
sterling  integrity  and  admirable  administrative  ability 
having  been  effectively  brought  into  play  in  the  up- 
building of  the  substantial  business  of  the  institution, 
of  which  he  still  continues  as  cashier,  and  the 
policies  of  which  he  has  directed  with  much  cir- 
cumspection. Mr.  Parkhurst  is  progressive  as  a 
citizen,  is  arrayed  as  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause 
of  the  republican  party,  has  passed  the  various  official 
chairs  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
besides  which  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Kasson  Lodge 
of  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  the 
Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  and  Commandery  at 
Rochester,  Minnesota.  Lie  and  his  wife  are  earnest 
communicants  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  became  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
large  and  valuable  farms  of  Dodge  County,  and  he 
sold  this  property  in  the  spring  of  1914  for  a con- 
sideration of  $35,000.  He  gave  special  attention  to 
the  breeding  of  high-grade  Holstein  cattle  and 
Percheron  horses,  and  he  disposed  of  his  remaining 
stock  of  cattle  at  auction  at  the  time  of  selling  his 
farm.  The  sale  attracted  wide  attention  on  the  part 
of  buyers  from  diverse  sections  of  the  state,  and  high 
prices  were  obtained  for  the  animals,  many  of  them 
being  purchased  for  breeding  purposes. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1693 


On  the  19th  of  June,  1901,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Parkhurst  to  Miss  Nellie  Little, 
of  Kasson,  she  being  a daughter  of  John  Little,  who 
was  a pioneer  settler  and  successful  farmer  of  Dodge 
County  and  who  is  one  of  the  substantial  capitalists 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  Mr.  Little  is  now  living 
retired  at  Kasson  and  is  one  of  the  principal  stock- 
holders and  a director  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parkhurst  have  three  children : Wil- 
liam N.,  Jr.,  Ellen  J.,  and  Roberta  I. 

John  G.  Phillips,  M.  D.  Rice  County  claims  as 
one  of  its  representative  physicians  and  surgeons 
and  loyal  and  public-spirited  citizens  Doctor  Phillips, 
who  has  since  1907  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  the  fine  little  city  of  Northfield, 
where  he  was  associated  with  his  uncle,  the  late  Dr. 
J.  R.  Phillips,  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  since 
which  time  he  has  virtually  continued  in  control  of 
the  large  and  important  practice  that  had  been  built 
up  by  his  uncle  and  himself,  the  former  having  been 
one  of  the  honored  and  influential  citizens  of  North- 
field  and  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Dr.  John  G.  Phillips  was  born  in  the  Province 
of  Ontario,  Canada,  on  the  7th  of  January,  1877, 
and  in  the  same  province  were  born  also  his  parents, 
Richard  and  Sarah  (Leader)  Phillips,  who  estab- 
lished their  home  at  Marlette,  Sanilac  County,  Michi- 
gan, in  1888,  the  father  having  become  one  of  the 
representative  farmers  and  stock-growers  of  that 
county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
in  1912,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  1851.  His 
widow  still  resides  at  Marlette,  and  of  their  children 
Dr.  John  G.  is  the  eldest;  Robert,  a traveling  sales- 
man, resides  at  Bay  City,  Michigan ; Dr.  Frederick 
Phillips,  a graduate  of  the  Detroit  Medical  College, 
is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
the  City  of  Battle  Creek,  Michigan;  Roy  is  a pros- 
perous farmer  of  Sanilac  County,  that  state ; Earl 
is  a student  in  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1915;  Mrs. 
Clara  Jensen  resides  in  the  State  of  Washington, 
her  husband  being  a dentist  by  profession ; and 
Pearl,  who  remains  with  her  widowed  mother,  is 
devoting  special  attention  to  the  study  of  music,  in 
which  connection  she  has  attended  the  conservatory 
of  Hillsdale  College,  Michigan. 

Doctor  Phillips  was  a lad  of  about  eleven  years 
at  the  time  of  his  parents'  removal  from  Canada  to 
Sanilac  County,  Michigan,  where  he  was  reared  to 
adult  age  and  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the 
public  schools  of  Marlette.  There  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  high  school  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1895,  after  which  he  was  for  one  year  a student 
in  Ferris  Institute,  at  Big  Rapids,  Michigan.  For 
five  years  thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in 
the  public  schools  of  Michigan,  and  during  the 
major  part  of  this  period  he  was  principal  of  the 
schools  at  Brown  City,  in  his  home  county.  In 
preparation  for  the  work  of  his  chosen  profession 
Doctor  Phillips  finally  went  to  the  City  of  Chicago 
and  entered  the  medical  school  of  Northwestern  LTni- 
versity,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of 
the  class  of  1905  and  from  which  he  received  his 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  For  the  two  ensuing 
years  he  held  the  position  of  interne  in  the  Union 
Hospital  of  Chicago,  and  this  experience  proved  of 
inestimable  value  to  him.  Upon  coming  to  Minne- 
sota the  doctor  was  identified  with  the  hospital  at 
Virginia,  St.  Louis  County,  about  one  year,  and  in 
1907  he  removed  to  Northfield  and  became  associated 


in  practice  with  his  uncle,  the  late  Dr.  J.  R.  Phillips, 
with  whom  he  maintained  a most  grateful  personal 
and  professional  alliance  until  the  death  of  his  uncle, 
since _ which  time  he  has  conducted  an  individual 
practice  of  general  order  and  of  broad  scope.  His 
uncle  represented  Rice  County  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture in  1909  and  was  otherwise  influential  in  civic 
affairs  in  this  part  of  Minnesota.  Doctor  Phillips  is 
actively  identified  with  the  Rice  County  Medical 
Society,  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society  and 
the  American  Medical  Association. 

Though  intrinsically  progressive  and  loyal  in  his 
civic  attitude,  Doctor  Phillips  has  not  been  animated 
by  a desire  for  public  office,  though  he  served  for 
some  time  as  a member  of  the  board  of  education  at 
Marlette,  Michigan.  He  has  identified  himself  thor- 
oughly with  Minnesota  interests,  as  shown  by  his 
connection  with  a number  of  land  companies  and 
other  business  organizations,  including  the  Northfield 
Iron  Company,  of  which  he  is  vice  president.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  they  are  popular  factors  in 
the  leading  social  activities  of  Northfield,  where  the 
doctor  has  recently  completed  the  erection  of  his  fine 
modern  residence  at  420  Union  Street.  In  the  time- 
honored  Masonic  fraternity  his  affiliations  are  as 
here  noted:  Social  Lodge  No.  41,  Ancient,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons ; Corinthian  Chapter  No.  33,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  both  at  Northfield ; Faribault  Com- 
mandery  No.  8,  Knights  Templar,  at  Faribault; 
Osman  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  and  he  is  also  identified  with 
Faribault  Lodge  No.  1166,  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  1911,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Doctor  Phillips  to  Miss  Nellie 
Phillips,  daughter  of  Ross  Phillips,  a well  known 
citizen  of  Northfield.  Though  of  the  same  name 
the  two  families  can  trace  no  kinship,  even  of  remote 
order.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Phillips  have  one  child, 
Margaret  Elizabeth. 

In  conclusion  it  may  be  stated  that  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  Doctor  Phillips  immigrated  to  Amer- 
ica from  Scotland  and  first  settled  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  He  later  removed  to  the  Province  of 
Ontario,  Canada,  where,  as  a man  of  high  scholastic 
attainments,  he  became  a member  of  the  faculty  of 
a leading  college,  the  residue  of  his  life  having  been 
passed  in  Canada. 

William  T.  Smith.  Born  to  parents  in  modest 
circumstances,  and  belonging  to  that  class  of  young 
Americans  whose  every  faculty  must  be  exerted  to 
achieve  distinction  through  the  stimulating  friction 
of  battling  with  difficulties.  William  T.  Smith,  presi- 
dent of  the  Florence  Mining  and  Milling  Company, 
of  Duluth,  was  given  no  advantages  over  his  fellows 
in  his  youth.  He  had  his  own  way  to  make,  his 
own  battles  to  fight;  no  helpful  influences  started 
him  upon  life’s  journey.  Yet  in  his  career  he  has 
succeeded  wonderfully  in  diversified  fields  of 
endeavor.  As  merchant,  wholesaler,  real  estate 
dealer  and  mine  operator  he  has  shown  his  business 
ability,  his  executive,  organizing  and  promotive 
powers,  his  capacity  for  handling  large  affairs  and 
his  courage  in  grasping  and  making  the  most  of  his 
opportunities.  Mr.  Smith  was  born  at  Virocqua, 
Wisconsin,  May  4,  1864,  and  is  a son  of  Isaac  W. 
and  Susan  (Josephs)  Smith.  His  father,  born  at 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  in  1830,  came  to  Wisconsin  in 
1854,  and  there  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 


1694 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


until  his  death,  May  12,  1906.  The  mother  is  still 
living  at  Duluth,  and  is  seventy-seven  years  of  age. 

William  T.  Smith  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Wisconsin  and  worked  with  his  father 
on  the  home  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years.  At  that  time  he  went  to  Fargo,  North 
Dakota,  where  he  spent  the  years  1887  and  1888  in 
the  grocery  business  with  Mr.  E.  A.  Perry.  The 
year  1889  was  passed  in  St.  Paul,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  grocery  trade,  and  April  1,  1890,  Mr. 
Smith  came  to  Duluth,  which  city  has  since  been  his 
home.  For  the  two  years  that  followed  he  was 
associated  with  Henry  Folz  in  the  grocery  line,  and 
in  1892  he  became  a partner  in  the  wholesale  fruit 
firm  of  Smith,  Koors  & Company,  a business  with 
which  he  was  identified  until  1894.  In  that  year  he 
associated  himself  with  the  firm  of  Bevier,  Williams 
& Company,  wholesale  fruits,  etc.,  a concern  that 
was  succeeded  in  1895  by  that  of  Thomas  Thompson 
& Company,  this  latter  being  incorporated  in  1902 
as  the  Thomas  Thompson  Company,  Mr.  Lewis  be- 
coming vice  president  and  general  manager.  This 
company  did  an  extensive  wholesale  fruit  business, 
dealing  only  with  jobbers.  In  1906  Messrs.  Smith 
and  Thompson  disposed  of  their  interests  in  this 
connection,  and  Mr.  Smith  then  organized  the  firm 
of  Parker,  Smith  & Warner,  to  deal  in  Canadian 
lands  in  Southern  Alberta.  Here'  followed  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  deals  in  real  estate  that  has 
occurred  in  that  remarkable  country.  Within  the 
short  space  of  three  years  the  partners,  as  agents 
for  the  owners,  disposed  of  800,000  acres  of  land, 
clearing  up  the  deal  entirely.  Since  that  time  Mr. 
Smith  has  devoted  his  time  to  and  concentrated  his 
energies  upon  the  mining  business  in  Montana,  Idaho 
and  Oregon.  He  has  large  copper  interests  in 
Montana ; is  largely  interested  in  the  Consolidated 
Interstate-Callahan  Mine,  in  the  Coeur  d’Alene 
country  in  Idaho,  one  of  the  largest  silver  and  lead 
mines  in  the  United  1 States,  and  is  also  largely 
interested  in  gold  mining  in  Southern  Oregon,  in 
Josephine  County,  on  the  Illinois  River.  He  is  also 
president  of  the  Florence  Mining  and  Milling  Com- 
pany of  Duluth  and  maintains  offices  at  No.  513 
Selwood  Building.  Mr.  Smith  is  a thorough  master 
of  every  detail  of  his  manifold  enterprises.  He 
finds  time  to  keep  in  constant  touch  with  the  com- 
merce of  the  world,  and  is  keenly  awake  to  every 
improvement  for  advancement  along  progressive 
lines.  With  rare  comprehension  and  a masterful 
grasp  of  business  principles,  he  has  led  and  his 
associates  have  followed  him  to  success.  Surely  his 
career  should  prove  encouraging  to  those  who  have 
not  yet  found  their  proper  place  among  the  world’s 
workers  and  who  imagine  themselves  hopelessly 
handicapped  by  the  lack  of  favoring  advantages. 

On  May  12,  1894,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  D.  Sullivan,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Sulli- 
van, of  Hornellsville,  New  York.  They  have  one 
son,  Edgar,  born  in  1897.  Mr.  Smith  is  a thirty- 
second  degree  Mason,  belonging  to  Ionic  Lodge  No. 
186,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Duluth  Consistory  No.  3,  A.  & 
A.  S.  R.,  and  all  the  Scottish  Rite  bodies.  He  is 
also  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  No.  133,  of  Duluth,  and  of  the  Duluth 
Commercial  Club.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  117 
West  Fourth  Street. 

A.  FI.  Turrittin.  There  is  now  serving  in  the 
office  of  superintendent  of  banks  for  Minnesota  one 
of  the  ablest  bankers  of  the  state,  with  a notable 
record  of  efficient  management  over  half  a dozen 


or  more  individual  institutions.  Mr.  Turrittin  is 
well  known  throughout  Minnesota  both  in  banking 
and  civic  circles,  and  is  one  of  the  men  at  the  state 
capital  who  are  devoting  themselves  with  all  the 
energy  and  wisdom  at  their  command  to  the  duties 
of  an  office  which  is  intimately  connected  with  the 
basic  welfare  of  business. 

Mr.  Turrittin,  who  lives  at  Sauk  Rapids,  was  born 
at  Kasota,  LeSueur  County,  Minnesota,  July  12,  1874, 
a son  of  James  B.  and  Wilhelmina  (Zwanziger  ) Tur- 
rittin. His  father  was  a pioneer  in  LeSueur  County, 
having  located  at  Cleveland  in  1859.  There  he  op- 
erated a sawmill,  and  for  many  years  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  both  hard  and  soft  lumber 
and  continued  in  that  industry  until  a short  time 
before  his  death.  He  passed  away  January  17,  1911. 
He  was  also  an  old  soldier,  having  enlisted  as  a pri- 
vate in  Company  K of  the  Seventh  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry  early  in  the  war,  and  being  promoted 
to  sergeant  and  later  to  second  lieutenant  of  his 
company.  The  regiment  was  commanded  by 
Col.  William  R.  Marshall.  Fie  was  with  the  regi- 
ment in  its  various  campaigns  through  the  South, 
and  was  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Nashville 
at  the  end  of  1864.  For  some  time  he  was  under  the 
command  of  the  Federal  general,  A.  J.  Smith.  His 
wife  died  in  LeSueur  County  about  the  same  time 
as  her  husband. 

A.  H.  Turrittin  was  graduated  from  the  Mankato 
State  Normal  School  in  the  advanced  Latin  course 
in  1894,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  After  several 
years  of  experience  as  a teacher  and  in  business 
affairs,  in  1900  he  became  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Royalton.  Since  then  continuously 
for  fifteen  years  he  has  enjoyed  a high  position  as 
a financier.  He  continued  as  president  of  the  bank 
at  Royalton  until  1903,  and  from  that  year  until  1912 
was  president  of  the  Rice  State  Bank  at  Rice.  He 
was  president  of  the  State  Savings  Bank  of  Ortley, 
South  Dakota,  from  1909  to  1912.  Fie  has  also 
served  as  cashier  and  director  of  the  Benton  County 
State  Bank,  as  president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Long 
Lake,  and  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Bruce, 
South  Dakota.  During  his  residence  in  Rice  he 
served  as  president  of  the  village  four  years,  and 
has  been  a member  of  the  village  council,  mayor 
and  member  of  the  school  beard  at  Sauk  Rapids.  In 
1908  Mr.  Turrittin  was  a republican  presidential 
elector  for  Minnesota. 

He  began  his  career  as  an  educator,  and  from  1894 
until  T903  was  superintendent  of  schools  at  Motley, 
St.  Clair  and  Royalton,  Minnesota,  having  grad- 
uated from  school  work  into  banking.  He  was  made 
superintendent  of  banks  for  the  State  of  Minnesota 
on  May  21,  1914,  and  now  resides  in  St.  Paul.  Mr. 
Turrittin  is  a Presbyterian,  and  in  politics  a repub- 
lican. He  has  fraternal  affiliations  with  the  Masons, 
the  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 
the  Order  of  Owls,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is 
now  associate  grand  patron  of  the  O.  E.  S.  On 
June  22,  TQ05,  at  Royalton,  Minnesota,  Mr.  Turrittin 
married  Miss  Bessie  L.  Bouck.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  children:  Hugh  Lonsdale,  born  in  1906;  and 

an  infant  daughter,  named  Phyllis  Asenath  Tur- 
rittin. 

Melvin  S.  Nelson,  M.  D.  The  son  of  an  old  Min- 
nesota physician.  Dr.  Melvin  S.  Nelson  has  had  an 
active  practice  for  the  past  five  years,  and  at  his 
present  place  of  residence,  Spring  Grove,  where  he 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1695 


located  in  1914,  has  already  come  into  a substantial 
professional  business.  Doctor  Nelson  has  special- 
ized in  surgery,  and  much  of  his  experience  has  been 
in  that  branch  of  practice. 

Melvin  S.  Nelson  was  born  in  Appleton,  Minne- 
sota, September  6,  1882,  a son  of  N.  A.  and  Jennie 
(Boe)  Nelson.  His  grandfather,  Nels  Nelson, 
which  name  was  adopted  after  coming  to  America, 
was  born  in  Norway.  His  wife’s  people  are  still 
prominent  in  Norway.  She  and  her  husband  left  the 
old  country  and  came  to  the  United  States  about 
1848,  settling  in  Iowa,  where  Nels  Nelson  was  a 
farmer.  Dr.  N.  A.  Nelson  was  born  in  Iowa  in 
1853,  was  educated  for  his  profession  at  St.  Louis, 
and  has  been  in  active  and  successful  practice  for 
thirty-two  years.  He  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  in  politics  a democrat.  He  was  married 
in  Benson,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Jennie  Boe,  who  was 
born  in  Norway  in  1855,  and  her  father  came  from 
Norway  to  the  United  States  in  time  to  serve  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  after  which  he  was  a 
farmer.  Doctor  Melvin  is  the  older  of  two  chil- 
dren, his  sister  Eleanor  being  principal  of  the  high 
school  at  Elk  River. 

Dr.  Melvin  S.  Nelson  received  his  early  education 
in  the  schools  at  Dawson,  where  his  parents  reside, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1902,  and  in  1906 
finished  the  regular  college  course  at  the  University 
of  Minnesota.  He  continued  at  Minneapolis  as  a 
student  of  medicine  in  the  university,  graduating 
M.  D.  in  1908,  and  during  the  following  year  had  an 
appointment  at  the  St.  Barnabas  Hospital. 

Doctor  Nelson  engaged  in  private  practice  at 
Mora,  where  he  remained  five  years,  and  had  a 
12-bed  hospital,  which  he  made  a very  successful 
institution.  He  sold  this  in  1914  with  the  intention 
of  pursuing  his  studies  abroad,,  but  had  to  give  up 
his  plans  on  account  of  the  war.  He  then  came  to 
Spring  Grove,  in  September,  1914,  and  during  the 
first  month  had  a practice  on  the  profit  side  of  the 
ledger. 

Doctor  Nelson  was  married  in  1908  to  Miss  Ethel 
Stansberry,  of  Minneapolis.  Their  one  child,  Mar- 
garet Jane,  died  in  the  spring  of  1914.  Mrs.  Nelson 
is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  lodge  and  chapter  of  Masonry. 
Politically  he  is  independent,  and  has  served  as 
county  coroner  and  county  health  officer.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Central  Minnesota  and  the  Minne- 
sota State  Medical  societies  and  the  American  Med- 
ical Association,  and  of  the  Sigma  Nu  college  fra- 
ternity, and  also  Nu  Sigma  Nu  medical  fraternity. 
Mrs.  Nelson’s  father  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Wright  County,  Minnesota,  fought  in  the  Indian 
troubles  and  for  four  years  in  the  Civil  war,  and 
was  also  prominent  in  politics,  having  served  in  the 
State  Senate. 

Thomas  H.  Shevlin.  A strong  and  noble  char- 
acter was  that  of  the  late  Thomas-  Henry  Shevlin, 
who  exerted  an  emphatic  and  benignant  influence  in 
connection  with  civic  and  industrial  affairs  in  Minne- 
sota during  the  course  of  a significantly  successful 
career,  his  life  having  been  conspicuous  for  the  mag- 
nitude and  variety  of  its  achievement,  for  steadfast- 
ness of  purpose,  for  exalted  integrity  and  for  the 
broad  humanitarian  spirit  that  made  him  apprecia- 
tive of  the  responsibilities  that  success  imposes.  He 
manifested  in  marked  degree  the  power  of  concen- 
trating the  resources  of  the  entire  individuality  and 
lifting  them  to  the  plane  of  high  achievement.  Along 
the  manifold  lines  in  which  he  directed  his  splendid 


energies,  as  a man  of  large  affairs,  as  a broad- 
minded and  loyal  citizen  and  as  a philanthropist  of 
the  best  type,  he  made  of  success  not  an  accident  but 
a logical  result.  Not  yet  have  sufficient  years  elapsed 
since  he  was  called  from  the  scene  of  his  fruitful 
labors,  to  enable  us  to  gain  a clear  definition  of  the 
perspective  of  his  life  and  thereby  determine  the  full 
benefit  of  his  services  to  the  world.  He  was  much 
to  Minnesota,  and  especially  its  metropolis,  the  fair 
City  of  Minneapolis,  and  the  state  and  city  were 
much  to  him.  No  history  of  Minnesota  can  be  con- 
sistent with  itself  if,  in  touching  its  civic  and  ma- 
terial development  and  upbuilding,  there  is  failure  to- 
render  a large  measure  of  grateful  recognition  to  him 
who  is  the  subject  of  this  brief  memoir. 

Thomas  Henry  Shevlin  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Albany,  New  York,  on  the  3d  of  January,  1852,  and 
his  death  occurred  at  Pasadena,  California,  on  the 
morning  of  January  15,  1912.  He  was  a son  of  John 
and  Matilda  (Leonard)  Shevlin,  and  his  lineage,  both 
agnatic  and  maternal,  traces  back  to  fine  old  Irish 
stock.  His  father  was  a merchant  in  the  capital 
city  of  the  Empire  State,  where  his  death  occurred, 
his  widow  having  survived  him  by  many  years. 
Thomas  H.  Shevlin  attended  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  city  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of 
fifteen  years,  when  he  initiated  his  association  with 
the  practical  affairs  of  life  and  began  to  make  his- 
own  way  forward  to  the  goal  of  large  and  worthy 
success,  for  to  him  was  to  come  that  sterling  title 
which  the  true  American  ever  holds  in  highest  honor, 
that  of  self-made  man.  At  the  age  noted  Mr.  Shevlin 
entered  the  employ  of  John  McGraw  & Company,  a 
lumber  firm  in  the  City  of  Albany,  and  this  early  ex- 
perience is  the  more  interesting  to  contemplate  by 
reason  of  the  fact  that  it  was  through  the  medium 
principally  of  the  great  lumber  industry  that  Mr. 
Shevlin  became  a man  of  large  wealth  and  important 
industrial  interests.  In  1879  Mr.  Shevlin  severed  his 
association  with  the  firm  mentioned  and  came  to  the 
West.  In  the  City  of  Chicago  he  was  employed  by 
Thomas  W.  Harvey,  a representative  lumberman,  to 
look  after  the  latter's  interests  at  Muskegon,  Michi- 
gan, in  which  city  he  established  his  residence.  In 
1882  he  there  became  treasurer  and  general  manager 
of  the  S.  C.  Hall  Lumber  Company,  and  it  was  in  the 
interests  of  this  corporation  that  he  finally  came  to 
Minnesota,  in  1884.  Concerning  the  progressive 
stages  in  his  career  no  better  record  can  be  evolved 
than  that  which  was  prepared  by  another  writer  and 
which  is  well  worthy  of  reproduction  in  this  review : 
“It  was  at  this  time  that  Mr.  Shevlin  began  to  look 
beyond  the  timber  supply  of  Michigan  for  sources 
upon  which  to  draw  in  lumbering  activities.  He 
began  to  make  timber  investments  for  his  company 
in  the  white  pine  woods  of  Minnesota,  and  in  1884 
he  organized  in  Minneapolis  a branch  company  for 
the  manufacture  of  lumber.  This  was  known  as  the 
North  Star  Lumber  Company.  Mr.  Shevlin  removed 
to  Minneapolis  early  in  1886  and  soon  afterward 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  The  Hall  & Ducey 
Lumber  Company.  The  following  spring  Mr.  Ducey 
sold  his  interest  to  the  other  partners  and  withdrew 
from  the  company.  In  the  fall  of  1887  The  Hall  & 
Shevlin  Lumber  Company  was  organized.  Mr.  Hall 
died  in  1889,  and  in  1892  E.  L.  Carpenter,  a member 
of  the  firm  of  Carpenter  Brothers,  purchased  an  in- 
terest in  the  business.  In  1893  The  Hall  & Ducey 
Lumber  Company  and  The  Hall  & Shevlin  Lumber 
Company  were  consolidated  and  succeeded  by  the 
Shevlin-Carpenter  Company,  with  Mr.  Shevlin  as 
president.  The  company  has  continued  operations  to 


1696 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


the  present  time  and  its  business  has  been  most  ex- 
tensive and  important. 

‘‘Mr.  Shevlin  did  not  confine  his  energies  to  this 
one  corporation.  In  1895  he  formed  a partnership 
with  J.  Neils,  of  Sauk  Rapids,  Minnesota,  and  they 
organized  tlie  J.  Neils  Lumber  Company,  its  Sauk 
Rapids  mill  sawing  15,000,000  feet  of  lumber  annu- 
ally. In  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1899-1900  the 
J.  Neils  Lumber  Company  built  a band  and  band- 
resaw  mill  at  Cass  Lake,  Minnesota,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  state,  and  this  was  later  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  a gang  saw,  thereby  increasing  the  com- 
pany's output  to  50,000,000  feet  per  annum.  Im- 
pressed with  the  advantage  of  manufacturing  near 
the  stump  as  well  as  near  the  consuming  territory, 
Mr.  Shevlin,  in  1896,  became  associated  with  Frank 
P.  Hixon,  of  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  in  the  purchase 
of  a large  amount  of.  timber  on  the  Red  Lake  Indian 
Reservation,  tributary  to  Clearwater  River,  and  or- 
ganized the  St.  Hilaire  Lumber  Company,  which 
built  a sawmill  with  a capacity  of  40,000,000  feet  a 
year.  A year  later  the  Shevlin  interests  bought  the 
sawmill  and  logs  of  the  Red  River  Lumber  Company, 
at  Crookston,  Minnesota,  together  with  all  its  tribu- 
tary timber  holdings,  and  effected  the  organization 
of  the  Crookston  Lumber  Company,  with  Mr.  Shevlin 
as  its  president.  In  1902-3  this  company  built  a 
large  mill  at  Bemidji,  with  an  annual  capacity  of 
70,000,000  feet.  To  supply  this  mill  with  logs  the 
company  constructed  a logging  spur  twelve  miles  in 
length,  penetrating  their  timber  east  of  Red  Lake  and 
connecting  with  the  Minnesota  & International  Rail- 
way at  Hovey  Junction,  the  St.  Hilaire  Lumber  Com- 
pany having  in  the  meanwhile  been  consolidated  with 
the  Crookston  Lumber  Company.  This  spur  line 
gave  direct  rail  transportation  from  the  company’s 
timber  to  their  mills  and  made  available  a large  body 
of  timber  that  had  previously  been  practically  inac- 
cessible. During  the  summer  of  1905  the  Crookston 
Lumber  Company  further  augmented  its  railroad 
facilities  for  the  transportation  of  logs,  by  the  con- 
struction of  a railroad  from  Wilton,  Minnesota,  on 
the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  to  Island  Lake,  a dis- 
tance of  about  twenty-five  miles.  In  January,  1904, 
the  general  offices  of  the  Crookston  Lumber  Com- 
pany were  removed  to  Bemidji,  and  since  that  time 
the  sales  from  the  three  plants  have  been  handled 
from  that  point.  In  connection  with  the  manufac- 
turing plants  a number  of  retail  yards  are  now  oper- 
ated. under  the  name  of  the  St.  Hilaire  Retail  Lum- 
ber Company.  In  1906  Crookston  Lumber  Company 
owned  about  400,000,000  feet  of  stumpage,  tributary 
to  its  various  plants,  and  though  definite  inroads  have 
since  been  made  on  this  vast  reserve  there  remains 
a sufficient  amount  to  insure  the  operation  of  the 
mills  for  many  years. 

“As  the  opportunities  for  investment  in  Minne- 
sota timber  became  more  limited,  Mr.  Shevlin  di- 
rected his  well  trained  organization  to  the  investiga- 
tion of  opportunities  in  other  localities.  A thorough 
investigation  of  the  timber  resources  and  lumber 
business  in  the  South  led  to  the  purchase  of  a large 
interest  in  the  Winn  Parish  Lumber  Company,  own- 
ing nearly  1,000,000,000  feet  of  virgin  pine  in  Louisi- 
ana and  operating  a mill  at  Pyburn,  that  state.  Like 
investigations  of  the  Pacific  Coast  territory  led  to  the 
purchase  by  Mr.  Shevlin  of  large  timber  boldines  in 
British  Columbia  In  the  autumn  of  1003  Mr.  Shev- 
lin and  his  associates  organized  the  Shevlin-Clarke 
Company.  Limited,  in  the  Province  of  Ontario. 
Canada,  and  purchased  a number  of  timber  berths 
from  the  Canadian  government,  aggregating  300.000.- 
000  feet  of  pine  stumpage.  In  the  same  year  the 


Rainy  River  Lumber  Company,  Limited,  was  organ- 
ized by  Mr.  Shevlin,  and  this  company  purchased 
from  the  Canadian  government  a large  amount  of 
timber,  and  in  the  winter  of  1903-4  the  company 
erected  at  Rainy  River,  Ontario,  one  of  the  most 
complete  sawmill  plants  in  the  world,  with  a capacity 
of  70,000,000  feet  annually.  The  products  of  this 
plant  have  found  a ready  demand  both  in  the  United 
States  and  the  Canadian  Northwest.  In  the  winter 
of  1905-6  Mr.  Shevlin  organized  the  Shevlin-Mathieu 
Lumber  Company,  and  the  company  erected  a large 
sawmill  at  Beaudette,  Minnesota,  just  across  the  in- 
ternational boundary  from  Rainy  River,  Ontario. 
The  various  lumber  companies  in  which  Mr.  Shevlin 
was  interested,  largely  under  his  effective  executive 
control,  had  a total  annual  output  in  excess  of  300,- 
000,000  feet  of  lumber.  His  genius  for  organization 
and  his  accurate  judgment  of  men  and  their  capaci- 
ties made  possible  the  successful  inception  and  opera- 
tion of  these  wide  and  varied  activities  and  the 
development  of  the  great  industry  of  which  he  was 
the  directing  spirit.’’ 

The  capacity  for  achievement  that  indicated  Mr. 
Shevlin  seemed  practically  illimitable,  and  in  all  of 
the  great  army  of  the  world’s  productive  workers 
none  has  more  fully  merited  than  did  he  the  title 
of  captain  of  industry.  Since  his  death  the  vast 
interests  which  he  so  long  and  ably  directed  have 
been  in  charge  of  his  only  son,  who  is  well  uphold- 
ing the  prestige  of  the  name  which  he  bears  and  who 
is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Minneapolis. 
Aside  from  the  extensive  association  which  Mr. 
Shevlin  maintained  with  lumbering  enterprise  he 
gave  also  his  capitalistic  support  to  many  other  lines 
of  business.  He  was  a heavy  stockholder  and  a 
director  of  the  Security  National  Bank  of  Minne- 
apolis at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Notwithstanding  the  exactions  placed  upon  him 
through  his  association  with  industrial  and  other 
business  affairs  of  broad  scope  and  importance,  Mr. 
Shevlin  was  thoroughly  alive  to  the  duties  of  citi- 
zenship and  was  a man  of  broad  intellectual  grasp, 
with  well  fortified  views  concerning  matters  of  gov- 
ernmental and  economic  import.  He  was  unwavering 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  republican  party  and  gave 
yeoman  service  in  support  of  its  cause.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Republican  National  Committee  from 
1900  to  1904,  inclusive,  and  in  the  national  campaign 
of  1900  he  was  specially  influential  in  furthering  the 
success  of  his  party.  In  1901  he  served  as  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Minnesota  State  Fair,  representing 
Minneapolis  on  its  board  of  managers.  Knowing 
the  well-spring  of  human  thought  and  action,  he  was 
tolerant  in  his  judgment  and  his  acts  of  charity  and 
benevolence  were  as  numerous  as  were  they  inva- 
riably unostentatious.  In  the  field  of  broader  and 
more  public  bequests  his  state  shall  ever  honor  him 
for  his  magnificent  gift  of  the  beautiful  women’s 
building  at  the  University  of  Minnesota,  this  building 
being  known  as  Alice  Shevlin  Hall  and  constituting 
a memorial  to  his  wife.  To  the  same  institution  he 
gave  also  five  scholarships  of  $10,000  each,  and  in 
Minneapolis  he  gave  liberal  support  to  the  various 
organized  charities  and  benevolences.  Mr.  Shevlin 
was  a man  of  fine  social  instincts  and  bearing,  and 
his  essential  strength  and  nobility  of  character  gained 
to  him  warm  friends  in  all  classes.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Union  League  clubs  of  both  New  York 
and  Chicae'o,  and  held  membership  also  in  the  Minne- 
apolis Club,  the  Minnesota  Club,  the  Manitoba  Club, 
and  various  other  social  organizations  of  minor 
order. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1882,  was  solemnized  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1697 


marriage  of  Mr.  Shevlin  to  Miss  Alice  A.  Hall,  and 
the  great  loss  and  bereavement  of  his  life  came  when 
his  loved  and  devoted  wife  was  summoned  to  eternal 
rest,  in  April,  1910.  They  are  survived  by  three  chil- 
dren— Thomas  Leonard,  Florence  and  Helen.  Thomas 
L.  Shevlin,  who  is  ably  carrying  forward  the  great 
business  enterprises  with  which  his  father  was  long- 
identified,  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Sherley,  of  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  and  they  have  one  daughter  and  one 
.son.  Florence  is  now  the  wife  of  David  D.  Tenney, 
•of  Minneapolis ; and  Helen  is  the  wife  of  George  C. 
Beckwith,  of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tenney 
have  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

Will  Curtis.  The  public  press  of  Minnesota, 
•outside  of  the  largest  cities,  has  no  more  conspicuous 
example  of  what  a newspaper  should  be,  both  as  to 
its  contents  and  its  business  management,  than  the 
St.  James  Plaindealer.  It  is  a clean  paper  in  its 
news  and  editorial  columns,  stands  for  the  advance- 
ment of  progressive  policies,  and  has  gained  an  influ- 
ence based  on  confidence  in  the  integrity  of  its  man- 
ae-ement.  The  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Plain- 
dealer  is  Will  Curtis,  a newspaper  man  of  long  and 
varied  experience  who  came  to  Minnesota  about 
seven  years  ago  from  Illinois,  where  he  had  been  an 
editor  and  publisher  for  a number  of  years.  The 
Plaindealer  was  established  at  St.  James  in  1891. 
Its  political  policy  is  progressive  republican.  The 
■offices  of  the  paper  are  in  the  Citizens  National 
Bank  Building,  and  as  to  circulation  it  enjoys  the 
widest  reading  of  any  paper  published  in  Watonwan 
County. 

Will  Curtis  was  born  at  Patch  Grove,  Wisconsin, 
January  18,  1865.  His  father,  James  A.  Curtis,  was 
born  at  Schenectady,  New  York,  in  1827  and  died 
at  Patch  Grove,  Wisconsin,  in  1893.  As  a young 
man  in  1852  he  moved  out  to  Wisconsin  and  settled 
in  the  wilderness  about  Patch  Grove,  locating  on 
land  which  he  developed  from  a virgin  condition. 
Successful  as  a farmer,  he  was  a man  of  more  than 
ordinary  influence  in  that  state,  was  regarded  as  an 
authority  on  grain  raising,  and  in  the  Association 
of  Farmers  took  an  active  part  and  read  numerous 
papers  at  their  meetings.  James  A.  Curtis  married 
Jane  Howe,  who  was  born  at  Utica,  New  York,  in 
1827,  and  died  at  Kewanee,  Illinois,  in  1903.  Their 
children  were : Herbert,  who  is  a photographer  at 

Magazine,  Arkansas;  Clara,  wife  of  John  Olinger, 
a Missouri  farmer ; Ella,  wife  of  Charles  Wolcott, 
owner  of  an  orange  grove  at  Redlands,  California; 
Will ; Clement,  a printer  at  Aurora,  Illinois ; Ethel- 
red,  an  optometrist,  practicing  his  profession  at  La- 
Porte,  Indiana;  Bertha,  wife  of  John  Moore,  a 
farmer  at  Patch  Grove,  Wisconsin ; and  Elwyn,  a 
merchant  at  Irvington,  Alabama. 

Will  Curtis  spent  his  boyhood  in  Wisconsin,  at- 
tended the  district  schools  at  Patch  Grove  and  the 
high  school  at  Bloomington,  and  with  an  ambition 
for  a higher  education  and  the  industry  necessary 
to  provide  the  means  to  obtain  it,  he  earned  his  way 
while  attending  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College 
at  Lansing,  and  was  graduated  there  with  the  class 
of  1889.  His  first  regular  work  was  as  teacher  at 
Bee  Town,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  principal  of 
the  schools  one  year,  and  in  1890  became  identified 
with  newspaper  work  at  Kewanee,  Illinois.  At  Ke- 
wanee Mr.  Curtis  bought  the  Star,  of  which  he  was 
editor  five  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the 
Star  and  the  Courier  were  combined  as  the  Star- 
Courier,  under  the  ownership  of  a stock  company, 
which  also  took  over  a job  printing  concern.  Mr. 
Curtis  remained  as  manager  of  this  combination 


until  1908.  In  the  meantime  he  had  become  a promi- 
nent figure  in  Illinois  press  circles,  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Illinois  Press  Association,  served  as 
secretary  of  the  Military  Tract  Press  Association, 
and  was  president  of  the  Inland  Daily  Press  Asso- 
ciation, comprising  the  daily,  papers  of  six  states. 
In  1907  Mr.  Curtis  was  treasurer  of  the  National 
Editorial  Association  during  its  convention  at  St. 
Paul,  and  that  was  his  first  visit  to  Minnesota.  The 
following  year,  in  1908,  he  left  Illinois  and  bought 
the  St.  James  Plaindealer  at  St.  James,  and  has 
since  been  its  editor  and  proprietor. 

Outside  of  his  newspaper  business  Mr.  Curtis  is 
also  active  in  real  estate,  and  is  secretary  and  man- 
ager of  the  Curtis-Sawyer  Land  Company.  In  in- 
dividual politics  he  is  classed  as  a republican.  Mr. 
Curtis  is  a member  and  steward  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  is  a past  noble  grand  in  the 
St.  James  Lodge  No.  207,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  also  affiliates  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 

In  1895  at  Kewanee  Mr.  Curtis  married  Lida 
Jane  Giffen.  Her  father  was  Rev.  John  Giffen, 
well  known  as  a Presbyterian  minister  and  now  de- 
ceased. To  their  marriage  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren : Harold,  who  graduated  with  the  1915  class 

of  the  St.  James  High  School;  Lucile,  in  the  junior 
year  of  high  school ; Leslie,  attending  the  local  public 
schools ; Elizabeth,  a public  school  student ; and 
Bruce,  three  years  of  age. 

The  Curtis  family  originally  came  from  England, 
and  Mr.  Curtis  had  ancestors  in  the  Revolutionary 
war. 

Johann  G.  Preibe.  The  assistant  city  attorney  of 
Minneapolis  is  a native  of  the  fine  city  that  he  is 
now  serving  efficiently  in  this  official  post,  and  he  is 
known  as  one  of  the  able  and  popular  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  of  the  Minnesota  metropolis,  besides 
being  a scion  of  a sterling  pioneer  family  of  the 
state. 

Johann  Gustav  Preibe  was  born  in  Minneapolis 
on  the  9th  of  May,  1886,  and  is  a son  of  Henry  G. 
and  Wilhelmina  (Schafer)  Preibe,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Greenwood  Township,  Hennepin 
County,  this  state,  of  staunch  German  lineage,  and 
the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of 
Baden,  Germany.  Martin  Preibe,  grandfather  of 
him  whose  name  introduces  this  article,  was  a native 
of  Germany  and  became  a pioneer  of  Minnesota,  as 
he  settled  near  Hanover,  Hennepin  County,  in  the 
’50s,  and  became  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of 
the  county,  within  the  limits  of  which  is  situated 
the  fair  metropolis  of  the  state.  He  made  loyal 
response  to  the  nation’s  call  at  the  time  of  the  Civil 
war,  as  he  enlisted  in  a Minnesota  volunteer  regi- 
ment, with  which  he  saw  active  service  and  gave 
splendid  account  of  himself  as  a gallant  soldier  of 
the  Union,  Minnesota  continuing  to  be  his  home  till 
death.  Henry  G.  Preibe  was  reared  to  maturity  on 
his  father’s  farm  and  he  continued  to  be  actively 
identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  in  Hennepin 
County  until  about  the  year  1884.  He  then  estab- 
lished his  residence  in  Minneapolis,  and  here  he  has 
been  an  efficient  and  valued  member  of  the  city  fire 
department  since  1894.  He  and  his  wife  are  the 
parents  of  three  children,  all  born  and  reared  in 
Minneapolis,  where  they  still  reside,  namely:  Mrs. 

E.  A.  Scherer.  Johann  G.  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Ibberson. 

Johann  G.  Preibe  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Minneapolis  until  he  had  completed  the  curriculum 
of  the  North  Side  High  School,  in  which  he  was 


1698 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


graduated  in  1907.  He  had  in  the  meanwhile  formu- 
lated a definite  plan  for  his  future  career,  and  in 
consonance  with  his  ambitious  purpose  he  was 
matriculated  in  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as 
a member  of  the  class  of  1910  and  from  which  he 
received  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  his  ex- 
penses in  the  university  having  been  defrayed  by 
himself,  showing  that  he  early  learned  the  lessons 
of  practical  industry  and  personal  responsibility. 
Under  the  civil  service  code  he  has  served  as  as- 
sistant city  attorney  during  virtually  the  entire  time 
since  he  was  graduated  and  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
he  has  proved  a most  capable  official,  the  while  he 
has  matured  his  powers  as  a skillful  trial  lawyer 
and  well-informed  counselor.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Minneapolis  Bar  Association  and  has  been  an 
efficient  and  influential  figure  in  the  local  activities 
of  the  republican  party.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
republican  convention  of  Hennepin  County  in  1912, 
and  was  manager  of  the  campaign  of  Hon.  Edward 
Young,  the  republican  candidate  for  governor  of  the 
state  in  that  year. 

Mr.  Preibe  is  a member  of  the  Tenth  Ward  Com- 
mercial Club,  has  attained  to  the  thirty-second  de- 
gree in  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  besides  holding  membership  in 
Zuhrah  Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  His  ancient-craft  af- 
filiation is  with  Khurum  Lodge  No.  in,  Ancient 
Free  & Accepted  Masons.  He  is,  in  1914.  esteemed 
lecturing  knight  of  Minneapolis  Lodge,  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Mr.  Preibe  is  a zeal- 
ous member  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  German  Lu- 
theran, and  as  a communicant  of  the  same  he  has 
been  active  in  other  departments  of  church  work. 
He  has  served  as  treasurer  of  the  English  Lutheran 
League  of  Minnesota  and  is  past  president  of  the 
Northwestern  German  Lutheran  League.  Mr.  Preibe 
is  still  a bachelor  and  remains  at  the  parental  home. 

John  O.  Ackerman.  A citizen  who  has  exerted 
much  influence  in  connection  with  the  civic  and 
industrial  advancement  of  the  fine  little  City  of 
Blastings,  judicial  center  of  Dakota  County,  Mr. 
Ackerman  is  serving  with  marked  acceptability  as 
postmaster  of  this  place.  He  has  been  a resident  of 
Dakota  County  from  boyhood  and  has  long  been 
active  in  business  affairs,  besides  having  served  four- 
teen years  as  register  of  deeds  of  the  county.  He 
is  known  as  one  of  the  most  liberal  and  progressive 
citizens  of  Hastings  and  his  various  official  prefer- 
ments indicate  the  high  estimate  placed  upon  him  in 
the  community  that  has  long  represented  his  home. 

John  Otto  Ackerman  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  on  the  2d  of  November, 
1865,  and  is  a son  of  Belshazzar  and  Magdaline 
(Jung)  Ackerman,  both  natives  of  Germany.  Bel- 
shazzar Ackerman  came  to  Minnesota  in  the  late  ’50s 
and  entered  claim  to  a tract  of  wild  land  near  the 
present  Village  of  Jordan,  Scott  County,  where  he 
instituted  the  reclamation  of  a farm.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  continued  to  devote  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  for  seven  years  and  then  removed 
to  the  City  of  Minneapolis,  after  having  lived  up  to 
the  full  tension  of  the  life  of  a pioneer  farmer.  In 
Minneapolis  he  was  engaged  in  the  operation  of  a 
sawmill  unti1  1869.  when  he  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Lakeville,  Dakota  County,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business,  besides  which  he 
there  erected  and  conducted  the  Union  Hotel.  With 
these  lines  of  enterprise  he  continued  to  be  actively 


identified  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  24th 
of  December,  1907,  at  which  time  he  was  eighty- 
two  years  of  age.  He  served  as  village  treasurer 
of  Lakeville  and  was  otherwise  prominent  and  in- 
fluential in  public  affairs  of  a local  order.  He  was 
a stalwart  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  democrat 
party  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  zealous  com- 
municants of  the  Catholic  Church,  the  faith  of 
which  is  strictly  held  also  by  their  children.  Mrs. 
Ackerman  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  July, 
1911,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Of  the 
twelve  children  one  died  in  infancy  and  all  of  the 
others  attained  to  adult  age:  Rosa  died  in  1885,  as 
a young  woman;  Anna  is  the  widow  of  Charles  F. 
Stieger  and  resides  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul;  Lena 
is  the  wife  of  John  Young,  a prosperous  farmer  of 
Lakeville  Township,  Dakota  County;  Celia  and 
Mary  conduct  the  Union  Hotel  at  Lakeville,  hav- 
ing assumed  charge  of  the  same  after  the  death  of 
their  father;  John  O.,  of  this  review,  was  the  next 
in  order  of  birth;  Augusta  is  the  wife  of  John 
Leach,  of  Seattle,  Washington ; Matilda  is  the  wife 
of  Anthony  Mahonald,  of  Newmarket,  Scott  County, 
Minnesota;  William  C.  resides  at  Lakeville,  the  old 
home  of  the  family;  Louis  J.  and  Louise  are  twins, 
the  former  being  a prosperous  merchant  at  North- 
field,  this  state,  and  Louise  being  the  wife  of  Peter 
Mahonald,  a brother  of  the  husband  of  her  sister 
Matilda. 

John  O.  Ackerman  was  about  four  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Lakeville, 
Dakota  County,  and  after  availing  himself  of  the 
advantages  of  the  district  schools  he  attended  the 
public  schools  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis  and  St. 
John  College,  in  Stearns  County.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  he  took  a course  in  a business  col- 
lege, in  which  he  devoted  special  attention  to  book- 
keeping. Thereafter  he  assisted  in  the  work  and 
management  of  his  father’s  store,  at  Lakeville,  until 
the  5th  of  January,  1895,  when  he  was  elected 
register  of  deeds  for  Dakota  County,  as  candidate 
on  the  democratic  ticket.  He  retained  this  impor- 
tant office  fourteen  consecutive  years,  through  regu- 
lar re-elections,  and  gave  an  administration  marked 
by  the  utmost  efficiency,  as  the  records  of  the  office 
fully  demonstrate.  He  retired  from  office  in  1905, 
and  in  the  meanwhile  he  had  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  Hastings,  in  which  city  he  estab- 
lished his  residence  at  the  time  of  assuming  the 
position  of  register  of  deeds.  In  1909  Mr.  Acker- 
man so’d  his  mercantile  establishment  and  effected 
the  organization  of  the  Brandt  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. This  corporation,  of  which  he  was  a director 
from  the  time  of  its  organization  until  he  disposed 
of  his  interests  in  the  business,  in  the  autumn  of 
1911,  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  fruit-tree 
sprayers,  and  the  enterprise,  still  successfully  con- 
tinued, has  proved  a potent  influence  in  furthering 
the  industrial  and  commercial  prestige  of  Hastings, 
the  company  giving  regular  employment  to  a force 
of  about  sixty  persons.  After  selling  his  interest 
in  this  business,  in  the  upbuilding  of  which  he 
wielded  much  influence,  Mr.  Ackerman  became  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  company  which  projected 
and  is  completing  an  electric  interurban  line  of  much 
importance,  the  same  extending  from  St.  Paul  to 
Rochester.  At  the  time  of  this  writing  eighteen 
miles  of  the  line  have  been  completed  and  regular 
service  is  established  between  St.  Paul  and  Hastings. 
Construction  work  on  the  extension  of  the  line  to 
Rochester  will  be  pushed  forward  and  the  road  will 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1699 


do  much  to  foster  the  progress  and  prosperity  of 
the  section  which  it  traverses. 

Mr.  Ackerman  has  ever  been  a loyal  and  enthu- 
siastic advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the 
democratic  party  and  has  been  an  active  worker  in 
its  local  ranks  in  Dakota  County.  This  fact,  coupled 
with  his  personal  popularity,  made  him  a specially 
eligible  candidate  for  the  office  of  postmaster  of 
Hastings,  to  which  position  he  was  appointed  on 
the  8th  of  July,  1914,  and  in  which  his  administra- 
tion is  fully  justifying  the  preferment  thus  granted 
to  him.  . He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  communi- 
cants of  the  Catholic  Church,  Mrs.  Ackerman  being 
active  in  church  and  charitable  work  and  a popular 
factor  in  the  representative  social  affairs  of  her 
home  city. 

At  Hastings,  on  the  4th  of  June,  1901,  was  solem- 
nized the  marriage  of  Mr.  Ackerman  to  Miss  Mag- 
daline  Heinan,  who  was  born  at  Vermillion,  Dakota 
County,  a daughter  of  the  late  Michael  and  Eliza- 
beth (Schwartz)  Heinan,  who  were  honored  pioneers 
of  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ackerman  became 
the  parents  of  three  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy,  the  one  surviving  child  being  Jerome  Otto, 
who  was  born  March  x,  1909. 

John  W.  Adsit.  A stockholder  of  the  Owatonna 
Hotel  Company,  Mr.  Adsit  has  also  the  distinction 
of  being  the  able  and  popular  manager  of  the  Owa- 
tonna Hotel,  which  is  owned  by  this  company  and 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  finest  hotels  to  be  found 
in  any  city  of  the  same  comparative  population  in 
Minnesota.  The  possession  of  such  a modern  and 
effectively  managed  hotel  is  a source  of  pride  to 
the  thriving  little  city  that  is  the  judicial  center  of 
'Steele  County  and  is  in  concrete  evidence  of  the 
progressiveness  and  public  spirit  of  the  enterprising 
citizens  who  erected  the  building  and  those  who 
now  own  and  control  the  property. 

Mr.  Adsit  was  born  in  Aurora  Township,  Steele 
County,  Minnesota,  on  the  12th  of  December,  1869, 
and  is  a son  of  Charles  and  Jeanette  (Woodruff) 
Adsit,  both  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York  and 
both  residents  of  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  at  the 
'time  of  their  death.  Charles  Adsit  was  born  in 
Jefferson  County,  New  York,  in  1841,  and  he  became 
a pioneer  settler  in  Steele  County,  Minnesota, 
-where  he  reclaimed  and  developed  a fine  farm,  in 
Aurora  Township.  On  this  homestead  he  continued 
to  reside  for  many  years,  as  an  honored  and  influen- 
tial citizen  of  the  community,  but  he  passed  the 
closing  period  of  his  life  at  Owatonna,  where  he  died 
in  1906,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  to  eternal 
rest.  The  lineage  of  the  Adsit  family  is  traced 
back  to  sterling  English  origin  and  the  first  represen- 
tatives . in  America  settled  in  Massachusetts  in  the 
colonial  days.  Members  of  the  family  were  found 
enrolled  as  patriot  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution, and  thus  the  subject  of  this  review  is  eligible 
for  membership  in  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution,  even  as  are  his  daughters  for 
affiliation  with  the  Society  of  the  Daughters  of 
the  American  Revolution. 

After  duly  availing  himself  of  the  advantages  of 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  John  W. 
Adsit  pursued  higher  studies  for  three  years  in 
Pillsbury  Academy.  When  about  twenty  years 
of  age  he  became  identified  with  the  buying  and 
shipping  of  live  stock,  and  thereafter  he  conducted 
a shoe  store  in  Owatonna  for  eight  years.  He  still 
has  secure  place  as  one  of  the  progressive  and  repre- 


sentative business  men  of  his  native  county,  to  which 
his  loyalty  is  unqualified.  Since  1907  Mr.  Adsit  has 
had  the  active  management  of  the  Owatonna  Hotel, 
and  after  assuming  this  position  he  retained  his 
interest  in  the  shoe  business  for  several  years, 
finally  selling  his  interest  in  the  latter  enterprise. 
He  is  one  of  the  two  interested  principals  in  the 
Owatonna  Hotel  Company,  in  which  his  associate 
is  Dr.  G.  G.  Morehouse,  of  whom  mention  is  made 
on  other  pages  of  this  work.  These  two  enterprising 
citizens  purchased  the  hotel  property  from  William 
Kingsley,  in  1907,  and  under  the  effective  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Adsit  many  improvements  have  been 
made  on  the  building  and  in  its  appointments,  the 
while  the  service  has  been  kept  up  to  the  best 
standard,  so  that  the  hotel  caters  to  a large  and 
appreciative  patronage  and  finds  its  capacity  so 
tested  that  an  enlargement  of  the  building  is  con- 
templated in  the  near  future. 

Mr.  Adsit  is  independent  of  strict  partisan  lines  in 
political  affairs  but  takes  a deep  concern  in  all  that 
touches  the  welfare  of  his  home  city,  where  he  has 
served  for  the  past  decade  as  a member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  public  library.  He  has  also  served 
as  a trustee  of  the  city  hospital.  In  a fraternal  way 
he  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Yeomen. 
Mr.  Adsit  has  a wide  acquaintanceship  with  the 
traveling  public  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  success- 
ful and  popular  hotel  men  of  Minnesota. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  1896,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Adsit  to  Miss  Effie  L.  More- 
house, daughter  of.  the  late  Dr.  Eli  M.  Morehouse, 
a pioneer  physician  and  honored  and  influential 
citizen  of  Owatonna,  more  definite  record  concern- 
ing him  being  given  in  the  sketch  dedicated  to  his 
son,  Dr.  G.  G.  Morehouse,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adsit  have  two  children,  Eugenie  and 
Irene,  both  of  whom  are  students  in  Pillsbury 
Academy. 

George  Harvey  Tyler.  In  no  other  professional 
field  of  endeavor  is  the  value  of  thorough  prepara- 
tion more  evident  than  in  the  legal  calling.  With 
the  ambition  to  rise  above  the  ranks  of  the  mediocre, 
the  young  man  finds  the  training  of  the  university 
a vital  necessity ; its  advantages  can  be  gained  in 
no  other  way.  Prior  to  entering  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  George  Harvey  Tyler,  of 
Elk  River,  Minnesota,  prepared  himself  with  patience 
and  thoroughness,  with  the  result  that  during  the 
comparatively  short  period  of  years  in  which  he  has 
been  engaged  in  professional  affairs  he  has  made 
decided  advance  towards  a substantial  practice,  and 
has  been  honored  by  election  to  responsible  positions, 
he  at  this  time  being  county  attorney  of  Sherburne 
County,  a position  which  he  has  held  since  1908. 

George  Harvey  Tyler  was  born  at  Willmar,  Kan- 
diyohi County,  Minnesota,  July  30,  1881,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  W.  and  Eulalia  (Brown)  Tyler.  His 
father,  who  came  to  Minnesota  many  years  ago,  was 
for  a long  period  connected  with  railroad  service 
and  had  runs  as  a locomotive  engineer  out  of  various 
points.  After  completing  his  elementary  studies  in 
the  public  schools  of  Willmar,  George  H.  Tyler 
entered  the  College  of  Northfield,  Minnesota,  and 
was  duly  graduated  therefrom.  He  had  early  de- 
cided upon  the  law  as  the  career  to  which  he  would 
devote  his  life,  and  accordingly  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1906  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws.  In  that  same  year  he  came  to 


1700 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Elk  River,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  engaged 
in  a general  professional  business,  and  this  city,  the 
county  seat  of  Sherburne  County,  has  continued  to 
be  his  home  and  field  of  endeavor  to  the  present 
time.  As  a lawyer  Mr.  Tyler  has  a good  standing 
at  the  bar.  His  eloquence,  his  strong  personality, 
his  constructive  ability,  his  knowledge  of  human 
affairs,  his  liberal  education  and  his  tact  as  an  advo- 
cate have  all  combined  to  give  him  a high  standing 
among  lawyers.  In  1908  Mr.  Tyler  was  elected 
county  attorney  of  Sherburne  County,  a position 
which  he  has  continued  to  fill  to  the  present  time  and 
as  an  incumbent  of  which  he  has  made  an  enviable 
record.  Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the 
Masonic  order  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Theta  Delta  Phi  and  Phi  Delta  Phi 
college  fraternities  and  the  Minneapolis  Athletic 
Club.  As  may  be  gathered  from  this  brief  sketch 
and  from  the  prominent  office  he  now  holds,  Mr. 
Tyler  is  a man  not  only  of  a high  order  of  talent, 
but  also  of  great  energy  and  perseverance,  while 
in  disposition  he  is  warm  and  kindly  and  his  manner 
is  never  failing  in  courtesy,  characteristics  which 
make  easily  understood  the  estimation  in  'which 
he  is  held  not  only  by  his  professional  associates, 
but  by  his  host  of  personal  friends. 

Mr.  Tyler  was  married  to  Miss  Carlotta  Bamber, 
of  Rochester,  Minnesota,  June  29,,  1912. 

John  Larson  Brown.  One  of  the  leading  lawyers 
of  Bemidji,  John  L.  Brown  is  a man  who  has  made 
the  best  of  his  opportunities  throughout  his  career. 
Largely  through  his  own  efforts  he  secured  a liberal 
education,  and  began  practice  fifteen  years  ago  not 
only  with  a scholarly  equipment  but  also  with  the 
self  reliance  and  training  which  come  from  sus- 
tained effort. 

John  Larson  Brown  is  a native  of  Norway,  in 
which  country  he  was  born  July  10,  1872,  a son  of 
Lars  and  Anna  (Bonntvedt)  Brown.  John  L. 
Brown  came  to  America  when  thirteen  years  of  age, 
in  1885,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Polk  County,  Iowa, 
where  he  finished  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Later  he  attended  a commercial  college  and  also 
took  a normal  course,  in  order  to  teach  school, 
which  was  a means  of  furthering  him  upon  his 
career.  Mr.  Brown  finally  entered  Drake  Univer- 
sity at  Des  Moines,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
law  department  with  the  degree  LL.  B.  in  1899.  For 
the  following  three  years  he  was  in  practice  at 
Kanawha,  Iowa,  and  then  in  Cambridge,  Iowa,  two 
years.  In  1908  he  removed  to  Bemidji,  and  has 
since  been  able  to  establish  a large  clientage  in  gen- 
eral practice.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minnesota 
State  Bar  Association. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  May  28,  1901,  to  Miss 
Belle  J.  Jacobson,  who  was  also  born  in  Norway. 
They  have  one  son,  Lewis  Anthony,  born  March 
8,  1902. 

Paul  A.  Schultz.  One  of  the  largest  retail  com- 
panies in  the  lumber  trade  at  St.  Paul  is  the  Louis 
F.  Schultz  Lumber  Company,  which  was  founded 
by  the  late  Louis  F.  Schultz  more  than  twenty-five 
years  ago.  This  is  a family  that  has  lived  in  Minne- 
sota for  many  years  and  has  had  important  relations 
with  commercial  affairs  at  St.  Paul. 

The  late  Louis  F.  Schultz  was  born  in  Mecklin- 
burg-Schwerin,  Germany,  a son  of  John  G.  and 
Augusta  (Kettlehohn)  Schultz.  Louis  F.  Schultz 
was  educated  in  the  German  schools,  and  before 
leaving  that  country  married  Minnie  Killingberg. 


He  brought  his  wife  to  the  United  States,  and  from 
New  York  City  proceeded  west  directly  to  Minne- 
sota, and  for  several  years  was  employed  as  a farm 
laborer  in  Scott  County.  During  1884-86  he  was 
engaged  in  the  meat  business  at  Pryor  Lake,  Minne- 
sota, and  in  1886  came  to  St.  Paul.  First  in  the  lum- 
ber trade,  he  soon  resumed  the  meat  business,  but 
sold  that  and  became  proprietor  of  the  L.  F.  Schultz 
Lumber  Company.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  that 
branch  of  commerce  from  1889  until  his  death  on 
February  12,  1915.  The  late  Mr.  Schultz  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  was  a popular  figure  in  both  social  and 
business  circles  at  St.  Paul. 

Paul  A.  Schultz,  who  is  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Louis  F.  Schultz  Lumber  Company,  was  one 
of  the  two  sons  of  the  founder  of  that  business. 
His  brother  is  John  W.  Schultz,  who  is  president 
of  the  company.  Their  mother  is  also  still  living  at 
St.  Paul.  Since  the  death  of  the  father  these  sons 
have  succeeded  to  and  have  continued  the  business. 
It  has  a well  established  trade  in  and  about  the  City 
of  St.  Paul,  and  the  firm  carries  a large  stock  of 
hard  and  soft  lumber  and  all  kinds  of  building 
material. 

In  1910  Paul  A.  Schultz  married  Miss  Martha 
Schultz,  a daughter  of  John  G.  Schultz,  of  the  same 
name  but  not  related.  They  have  a daughter,  Mar- 
garet N.  Mr.  Schultz  and  family  are  members  of 
the  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
most  representative  among  the  circle  of  younger 
business  leaders  in  St.  Paul. 

Edwin  Mattson.  An  old  soldier,  long  a resident 
of  Minnesota  and  active  in  business  and  politics  at 
Breckenridge,  Edwin  Mattson,  since  the  assembling 
of  the  present  Legislature,  the  Thirty-ninth  ses- 
sion, has  been  postmaster  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives at  St.  Paul. 

Edwin  Mattson  was  born  in  Delaware  County, 
Pennsylvania,  a descendant  of  the  early  Swede 
settlement  and  a son  of  Peter  W.  and  Evaline 
(Hannum)  Mattson,  both  also  natives  of  Delaware 
County.  His  father  was  one  of  the  prosperous  farm- 
ers in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  lived 
on  the  old  homestead  until  his  death.  The  early  life 
of  Edwin  Mattson  was  spent  on  the  farm,  receiving 
his  education  in  select  boarding  schools,  the  normal 
school  at  Chester  and  in  Crittenden#  College  at 
Philadelphia.  On  November  1,  1861,  the  common- 
place routine  of  the  farm  was  exchanged  for  the 
active  and  strenuous  life  of  a soldier.  He  enlisted 
as  a private  in  Company  A,  Second  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  and 
during  the  course  of  his  service  was  promoted  from 
time  to  time  through  the  grades  of  non-commis- 
sioned, second  and  first  lieutenant  and  appointed 
aide  on  General  Gregg's  staff  early  in  1864.  He 
was  severely  wounded  on  August  16,  1864,  near  Rich- 
mond, while  carrying  dispatches.  He  served  through 
all  the  campaigns,  excepting  the  early  three  months, 
through  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  for 
three  years  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the 
close  of  1864. 

After  returning  home  and  after  varied  experiences 
Mr.  Mattson  in  1879  located  in  Wilkin  County,  near 
Breckenridge,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  twenty- 
five  years,  was  also  active  in  local  affairs,  and  was 
a member  of  the  Legislature  in  1887-8,  represent- 
ing Wilkin,  Clay  and  Becker  counties.  For  eight 
years  he  was  postmaster  of  the  City  of  Breckenridge, 
his  first  appointment  occurring  in  1906  from  Pres- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1701 


ident  Roosevelt,  and  his  second,  from  President 
Taft,  in  1910.  He  has  long  been  active  in  repub- 
lican politics,  for  ten  years  was  a member  of  Con- 
gressman Halvor  Steenerson's  Committee  of  the 
Ninth  Congressional  District,  was  a member  of  the 
Republican  State  Central  Campaign  Committee  of 
1914,  and  was  an  alternate  delegate  to  the  Repub- 
lican National  Convention  at  Chicago  in  1912.  He 
also  served  as  major  on  Governor  Knute  Nelson’s 
staff. 

Mr.  Mattson  was  married  to  Miss  Hanna  Rebecca 
Gause,  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  May 
30,  1863,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  by  the  chaplain  of 
the  United  States  Senate,  the  Rev.  Byron  Sunder- 
land. Eight  children  were  born  to  this  union. 

Paul  D.  Neff.  One  of  the  oldest  newspapers 
in  Minnesota  under  one  continuous  family  owner- 
shin  and  management  is  the  Lake  Crystal  Union,  the 
present  editor  and  proprietor  of  which  is  Paul  D. 
Neff,  a son  of  the  founder.  During  the  thirty  odd 
years  of  its  existence  the  Union  has  enjoyed  increas- 
ing circulation  and  influence  in  Blue  Earth  and  sur- 
rounding county  and  both  the  paper  and  the  read- 
ing public  have  profited  through  the  continuity  of 
policy  and  ownership. 

Paul  D.  Neff,  who  has  a large  acquaintance  with 
newspapermen  over  the  state,  and  who  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Blue  Earth  County, 
was  born  at  Mankato  in  1871.  His  parents  were 
George  Washington  and  Sarah  Lucretia  (Fancher) 
Neff.  His  father  was  born  at  Allentown,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  29,  1844,  and  his  mother  was 
born  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  representing  an  old 
family  of  that  part  of  the  state,  and  is  still  living 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  Mr.  Neff’s  maternal  grand- 
father, Thomas  Campbell,  was  of  the  famous  Camp- 
bell clan  of  Scotland,  and  emigrated  from  his  native 
land  to  America  about  1812.  The  paternal  grand- 
mother was  living  near  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania, 
at  the  time  of  the  memorable  flood  of  1889,  and  she 
and  her  son  survived  that  calamity.  The  late  George 
Washington  Neff  established  at  Mankato  more  than 
forty  years  ago  the  Mankato  Free  Press,  and  was 
one  of  the  early  newspaper  men  in  Southern  Min- 
nesota. One  distinction  which  belongs  to  him  is 
that  he  printed  the  first  immigration  pamphlet  issued 
from  any  press  in  Minnesota.  George  W.  Neff  had 
a long  and  active  career.  During  his  residence  in 
Pennsylvania  he  served  four  years  in  the  Civil 
war  with  the  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and 
one  of  his  commanders  was  General  Rosecrans.  He 
participated  in  the  seven  days’  battle,  in  the  engage- 
ment at  Balls  Bluff  and  many  other  historic  battles. 
Tn  1882  he  removed  from  Mankato  to  Lake  Crystal 
and  in  that  year  established  the  Lake  Crystal  Union, 
which  was  under  his  control  and  editorship  until  his 
death,  at  which  time  he  was  its  mayor. 

Paul  D.  Neff  received  his  early  education  in  the 
Mankato  public  schools,  learned  the  printing  and 
newspaper  business  under  his  father,  and  has  been 
active  head  of  the  Lake  Crystal  LTnion  since  his 
father’s  death.  He  has  always  identified  himself 
with  local  affairs  in  a public  spirited  manner  and  at 
one  time  was  justice  of  the  peace  of  Lake  Crystal. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  with  Bethel  Lodge  No.  103,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  being  a past  master  of  this  lodge.  Mr.  Neff 
married  Marie  T.  Allon.  They  have  two  children. 
Lawrence  C.,  now  nineteen  years  of  age,  is  in  the 
United  States  navy,  serving  as  captain’s  gunner  on 


the  cruiser  Washington.  The  daughter  Margaret 
is  nine  years  old. 

Samuel  James  Renwick  McMillan.  One  of  the 
first  lawyers  to  practice  in  Minnesota  Territory, 
Judge  McMillan  in  the  course  of  forty  years  rose 
to  the  highest  position  in  the  state  judiciary  and  for 
two  terms  represented  Minnesota  in  the  United 
States  Senate.  He  was  easily  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  of  his  time  in  the  Northwest. 

The  McMillan  familv  to  which  he  belonged  was 
identified  with  the  early  settlement  of  Southwestern 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  name  has  been  associated 
with  official  positions  in  educational  affairs  and  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  with  many  civil  positions 
for  more  than  a century  and  a quarter.  A son  of 
Thomas  Long  and  Jane  (Gormley)  McMillan, 
Samuel  James  Renwick  McMillan  was  born  at 
Brownsville,  Pennsylvania,  February  22,  1826.  In 
1846  he  was  graduated  from  Duquesne  College, 
afterwards  merged  with  the  Western  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  from  the  latter  institution  he  re- 
ceived the  honorary  degree  LL.  D.  in  1891.  Judge 
McMillan  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Edwin  M. 
Stanton,  who  was  secretary  of  war  under  Abra- 
ham Lincoln.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1849  he  re- 
mained at  Pittsburg  in  practice  from  that  year  until 
1853.  He  then  came  to  Minnesota  Territory  and 
practiced  at  Stillwater  until  1856,  in  which  year  he 
removed  to  St.  Paul  and  upon  the  admission  of  Min- 
nesota to  the  Union  was  chosen  on  May  24,  1858, 
as  first  judge  of  the  First  Judicial  District  in  the  state 
judiciary.  He  served  in  that  office  until  July  1,  1854, 
resigning  to  accept  a position  as  associate  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state.  He  was  on  the  su- 
preme bench  as  an  associate  justice  until  1874,  and 
from  April  7th  of  that  year  to  March  10,  1875,  was 
chief  justice  of  Minnesota.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
been  elected  by  the  republican  party  as  United  States 
senator  and  took  his  seat  in  the  Senate  March  10, 
1873,  was  reelected  for  a second  term,  and  was  a 
prominent  man  in  the  Government  at  Washington 
until  March,  1887.  He  served  as  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  claims  and  succeeded  Roscoe  Conkling 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  commerce.  At  the 
close  of  his  second  term  as  senator  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  law  at  St.  Paul,  and  remained  an  honored 
resident  of  that  city  until  his  death  on  October  3, 
i897- 

A republican  in  politics  his  ideals  as  to  the  ethics 
of  the  judiciary  caused  him  to  hold  himself  aloof 
from  politics  or  from  any  political  expression  as 
long  as  he  was  on  the  bench.  Judge  McMillan  was 
a member  of  the  Scotch-Irish  Society  and  also  be- 
longed to  the  Minnesota  chapter  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Like  his  ancestors,  he  was 
prominent  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  served  as 
ruling  elder  in  the  Dayton  Avenue  Church  from  its 
organization.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  by  the 
general  assembly  as  a member  of  the  committee  for 
the  revision  of  the  confession  of  faith. 

In  the  Allegheny  Arsenal  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  October  31,  1850,  Senator  McMillan  mar- 
ried Harriet  Eizabeth  Butler,  a daughter  of  Major 
John  B.  Butler,  then  serving  as  paymaster  of  the 
LTnited  States  Army. 

Samuel  S.  Thorpe.  Realty  is  the  basis  of  all 
security  and  in  every  community  the  man  who  con- 
ducts substantial  and  honorable  operations  in  the 
handling  of  real  estate  plays  a large  and  positive  part 
in  the  furtherance  of  civic  and  industrial  progress 


1702 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


and  prosperity.  The  representative  Minneapolis 
citizen  whose  name  initiates  this  paragraph  has 
achieved  national  prestige  and  high  reputation  as 
the  leading  real-estate  operator  of  the  Northwest, 
and  his  status  in  his  chosen  sphere  of  endeavor  is 
measurably  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  was  for- 
merly president  of  the  National  Real  Estate  Associa- 
tion of  the  United  States.  Tie  has  made  a deep  and 
careful  study  of  real-estate  values  and  of  the 
general  data  and  policies  of  the  real-estate  business, 
so  that  he  is  a recognized  authority  in  the  line  to 
which  he  is  giving  his  attention  and  in  which  his 
achievement  has  been  prodigious  in  scope  and  benefi- 
cent results.  He  is  essentially  and  emphatically  one 
of  the  most  progressive  and  broad-minded  citizens 
of  the  Minnesota  metropolis,  and  his  character  and 
accomplishment  make  most  consistent  the  recogni- 
tion accorded  to  him  in  this  history  of  the  state. 

Samuel  S.  Thorpe  has  previously  been  made  the 
subject  of  the  following  merited  and  pertinent,  state- 
ments, which  are  well  worthy  of  perpetuation  in 
this  connection : “The  career  of  Mr.  Thorpe  affords 
a grand  example  of  the  success  which  may  be  ac- 
quired in  the  present  day  by  ceaseless  activity,  per- 
severance and  a determination  to  reach  the  front 
rank,  notwithstanding  the  obstacles  in  the  path  that 
is  necessary  to  travel  to  advance  to  that  goal.  To 
coin  a word,  ‘stick-to-it-iveness’  has  been  the  motto 
that  he  has  followed  through  life.  His  story  is 
the  more  wonderful  for  the  simple  reason  that, 
starting  in  business  without  a dollar  of  capital  and 
with  a very  limited  education,  his  first  desire  was 
for  knowledge,  and  after  earning  enough  money  for 
his  purpose  he  gave  up  business  for  a time,  went 
East  to  a leading  college,  and  after  his  graduation 
he  at  once  re-entered  business,  in  which  his  success 
has  been  simply  phenomenal.  He  is  to-day  one  of 
the  largest  handlers  of  real  estate  in  Minneapolis, 
and  the  volume  of  his  annual  business  will  compare 
very  favorably  with  that  of  anyone  in  his  line  in  the 
country.” 

Mr.  Thorpe  is  a native  son  of  Minnesota,  a scion 
of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  this  state, 
and  he  exemplifies  most  fully  the  substantial  personal 
values  and  progressive  spirit  that  are  so  character- 
istic of  the  West.  He  was  born  at  Red  Wing,  the 
judicial  center  of  Goodhue  County,  Minnesota,  on 
the  20th  of  April,  1864,  and  is  a son  of  Rev.  Samuel 
S.  and  Caroline  (Emory)  Thorpe,  both  representa- 
tives of  staunch  old  families  that  were  founded  in 
New  England  in  the  colonial  era  of  our  national 
history,  the  Emory  family  having  been  one  of  not 
a little  prominence  in  the  State  of  Maine  and  the 
Thorpe  family  having  been  established  in  the  State 
of  New  York  a number  of  generations  ago,  upon  re- 
moval of  a representative  from  New  England.  Rev. 
Samuel  S.  Thorpe  was  a man  of  fine  intellectual 
attainments  and  was  one  of  the  early  and  influential 
clergymen  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Minnesota,  where  he  also  served  for  a number  of 
years  as  a member  of  the  faculty  of  Hamline  Uni- 
versity, in  the  City  of  St.  Paul.  The  parents  names 
merit  a high  place  on  the  roll  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  Minnesota. 

Samuel  S.  Thorpe,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
review,  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  thereafter  attended  Hamline  University, 
in  which  his  father  was  at  that  time  a professor. 
As  a mere  boy  he  initiated  his  independent  career, 
by  selling  newspapers  on  the  streets  of  St.  Paul, 
and  in  1883  procured  a position  as  clerk  in  a hat 
store  in  the  Minnesota  capital  city.  Thereafter  he 


was  employed  for  two  years  in  a banking  institution, 
where  he  gained  valuable  discipline  and  knowledge. 
Mr.  Thorpe  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in 
an  independent  way,  and  his  energy,  discrimination 
and  ability  enabled  him  to  accumulate  about  $70,000 
in  two  years'  time.  At  the  expiration  of  this  period 
he  gave  distinctive  evidence  of  his  mature  judgment 
and  laudable  ambition  by  withdrawing  entirely  from 
business  for  the  purpose  of  supplementing  his  educa- 
tion. He  had  come  to  full  realization  of  the  prac- 
tical value  of  fuller  mental  training  than  had  been 
given  him,  and  the  young  business  man  accordingly 
entered  Princeton  University,  New  Jersey,  in  which 
he  continued  his  studies  for  two  years  and  in  which 
he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1889, 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 

With  this  additional  and  valuable  reinforcement 
for  the  practical  duties  and  responsibilities  of  life, 
Air.  Thorpe  returned  to  Minnesota  soon  after  his 
graduation,  and  in  the  City  of  Alinneapolis  he 
engaged  actively  in  the  real-estate  business,  in  part- 
nership with  his  younger  brother,  J.  R.  Thorpe  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  Thorpe  Brothers.  This  title 
is  still  retained,  though  the  business  was  finally  in- 
corporated, to  meet  the  demands  placed  upon  it  by 
rapid  and  substantial  expansion  of  operations. 
Thorpe  Brothers  have  played  a large  part  in  further- 
ing the  material  development  and  upbuilding  of 
Minneapolis,  where  they  have  erected  the  fine  build- 
ings occupied  by  many  leading  mercantile  and  job- 
bing houses,  besides  having  exploited  and  sold 
through  their  agency  many  of  the  large  properties 
of  Minneapolis.  Here  they  are  agents  for  the 
Andrus,  the  Palace  and  the  Plymouth  buildings,  and 
the  Dyckman  Hotel,  as  well  as  of  many  other  im- 
portant business  properties  in  the  city.  Samuel  S. 
Thorpe  is  president  of  the  real-estate  corporation 
of  Thorpe  Brothers,  and  since  1904  his  brother  has 
maintained  a home  in  Denver,  Colorado,  where  he 
is  successfully  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business, 
while  retaining  his  interests  in  Minneapolis. 

Samuel  S.  Thorpe  is  a man  of  broad  views  and 
distinct  initiative  and  administrative  ability.  He 
is  essentially  loyal  and  progressive  as  a citizen  and 
business  man  and  is  specially  prominent  in  the  Na- 
tional Real  Estate  Association,  of  which  he  served 
as  vice  president  and  to  the  presidency  of  which 
great  organization  he  was  elected  in  1911,  his  incum- 
bency of  this  office  continuing  for  one  year.  Pie 
served  for  five  years  as  a member  of  Company  B, 
First  Infantry  of  the  Minnesota  National  Guard, 
and  in  his  home  city  he  is  a valued  and  popular 
member  of  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Commercial 
Club,  the  Minikahda  Club,  and  the  University  Club, 
of  which  last  mentioned  he  is  president  in  1914.  He 
is  secretary  and  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  Plamline  University,  and  is  vice  president  of  the 
Asbury  Plospital  of  Alinneapolis.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Alethodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  they  are  popular  factors  in  the  repre- 
sentative social  activities  of  Minneapolis. 

In  the  year  1899  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Air.  Thorpe  to  Aliss  Alargaret  P.  Andrus,  a daughter 
of  the  late  Hon.  John  E.  Andrus,  of  Yonkers,  New 
York,  and  the  three  children  of  this  union  are  James 
R.,  Julia,  and  Samuel  S.,  Jr. 

John  F.  Beunhagen.  It  is  gratifying  to  note 
that  of  the  representative  members  of  the  Alinne- 
apolis bar  a very  appreciable  quota  finds  specific 
recognition  in  this  history,  and  well  entitled  to  such 
consideration  is  John  Frederick  Bernhagen,  who 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1703 


served  five  years  as  assistant  county  attorney  of 
Hennepin  County  and  who  now  controls  a substan- 
tial private  practice,  with  offices  in  Suite  605-7  Palace 
Building.  Further  interest  attaches  to  his  career 
by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  is  a native  of  Minne- 
sota, within  whose  gracious  borders  his  parents 
established  their  home  nearly  forty  years  ago. 

Mr.  Bernhagen  was  born  at  Waseca,  Minnesota, 
the  judicial  center  of  the  county  of  the  same  name, 
and  the  date  of  his  nativity  was  January  19,  1878. 
He  is  a son  of  John  and  Clara  A.  (Manthey)  Bern- 
hagen, both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany  and 
the  latter  of  whom  accompanied  her  parents  on 
their  immigration  to  America,  in  1871,  in  which  year 
the  family  settled  in  Minnesota,  where  was  solem- 
nized, a few  years  later,  her  marriage  to  John  Bern- 
hagen, who  came  to  the  United  States  from  the 
German  Fatherland  in  1857  and  who  became  closely 
associated  with  the  lumber  industry.  As  a lumber 
' cruiser  he  did  a large  amount  of  effective  service 
and  prior  to  his  marriage  he  had  visited  every  state 
in  the  union.  He  finally  settled  in  Waseca  County, 
Minnesota,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, having  been  a pioneer  of  that  section  of  the 
state  and  having  there  developed  a valuable  farm. 
He  continued  to  be  actively  identified  with  agricul- 
ture and  stock-growing  until  1893,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  lived  vir- 
tually retired  until  his  death,  in  1899.  His  widow 
survived  him  by  nearly  a decade  and  was  summoned 
to  eternal  rest  in  1907.  They  became  the  parents 
of  three  children,  of  whom  the  eldest  is  John  F., 
of  this  review ; Lewis  0.  is  a chemist  at  the  Min- 
neapolis municipal  filtration  plant ; and  Clara  H., 
who  is  a trained  nurse,  likewise  remains  in  Minne- 
apolis. 

After  gaining  his  preliminary  training  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  county  John  F.  Bernhagen 
entered  the  Pillsbury  Academy,  at  Owatonna,  this 
state,  and  in  this  institution  he  was  graduated  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1897.  Thereafter  he  com- 
pleted the  classical  course  in  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota, in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1901,  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  had  in  the  mean- 
while formulated  definite  plans  for  his  future  career 
and  in  harmony  therewith  he  began  the  study  of 
law,  making  rapid  progress  in  his  absorption  and 
assimilation  of  the  science  of  jurisprudence  and 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  state  in  190 3. 
He  forthwith  began  the  service  of  his  professional 
novitiate,  in  Minneapolis,  and  that  he  soon  proved 
his  powers  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  county  attorney  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Albert  J.  Smith.  He  served  five  years  in 
this  capacity  and  incidentally  his  work  did  much 
to  enhance  and  establish  firmly  his  reputation  as  a 
versatile  trial  lawyer.  Since  his  resignation  of  the 
position  noted  he  has  conducted  a general  practice 
in  an  individual  way,  though  he  shows  a tendency 
to  specialize  in  casualty  and  bond  insurance  and  lia- 
bility law,  along  which  lines  he  retains  a representa- 
tive clientage. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bernhagen  is  found  arrayed  as  an 
effective  and  unswerving  advocate  of  the  cause  of 
the  republican  party;  he  is  affiliated  with  various 
Masonic  bodies  in  his  home  city,  including  Zurah 
Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  and  he  holds  membership  in 
the  Town  and  Country  Club  and  the  University  Club. 
He  is  an  appreciative  member  of  the  Hennepin 
County  Bar  Association  and  the  Minnesota  State 
Bar  Association. 

Vol.  Ill— 28 


On  the  8th  of  August,  1907,  Mr.  Bernhagen  wed- 
ded Miss  Harriet  J.  Hutchinson,  of  Minneapolis, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  this  city,  their  ac- 
quaintanceship having  had  its  inception  when  both 
were  students  in  the  University  of  Minnesota,  in 
which  Mrs.  Bernhagen  was  graduated  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1903,  with  the  baccalaureate  degree. 
She  is  a daughter  of  Thomas  E.  and  Jane  H.  Hutch- 
inson, the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased.  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son was  born  and  reared  in  England,  where  he 
learned  the  miller’s  trade,  and  he  still  resides  in 
Minneapolis,  where  for  thirty-five  years  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  Northwestern  Milling  Company.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bernhagen  have  four  children. 

Daniel  Webster  Longfellow.  One  of  the  oldest 
native  sons  of  Minneapolis,  born  at  the  little  village 
around  St.  Anthony  Falls  more  than  sixty  years  ago, 
Daniel  W.  Longfellow  has  for  many  years  had  an 
active  career  in  the  business  and  civic  interests  of 
his  home  city,  and  in  business  circles  is  best  known 
as  treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the  Longfellow 
Brothers  Company,  wholesale  dealers  in  fruits  and 
other  provisions. 

Daniel  Webster  Longfellow,  who  was  named  for 
the  great  orator  and  statesman  by  his  grandfather, 
Washington  Getchell,  one  of  the  very  earliest  set- 
tlers at  St.  Anthony  Falls,  was  born  at  Minneapolis 
April  14,  1852,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Martha  Jane 
(Getchell)  Longfellow,  his  father  a prominent  lum- 
berman and  farmer  of  early  Minnesota.  Jacob  Long- 
fellow comes  of  an  old  New  England  family,  another 
branch  of  which  gave  to  the  world  the  poet  Long- 
fellow. Some  of  the  ancestors  had  an  exciting 
share  in  the  events  of  the  American  Revolution,  and 
this  branch  of  the  family  established  a home  at 
Mathias,  Maine.  Jacob  Longfellow  was  a lumber 
manufacturer  at  Mathias,  and  in  1851  came  to  St. 
Anthony  Falls,  where  his  wife’s  parents,  Washington 
and  Mary  (Berry)  Getchell,  had  located  in  1848. 
The  second  frame  residence  built  in  the  village  was 
erected  by  Washington  Getchell.  The  home  of  the 
Longfellows  was  at  Brooklyn  Center  in  Hennepin 
County  until  after  the  Civil  war,  and  Jacob  Long- 
fellow died  in  Minneapolis  in  1884. 

Daniel  W.  Longfellow  received  his  early  education 
in  the  country  schools  at  Brooklyn  Center  and  with 
two  years  in  the  state  university.  His  first  eighteen 
years  were  spent  on  a farm,  and  Mr.  Longfellow 
recalls  that  period  of  his  existence  as  one  in  which 
he  devoted  much  time  and  attention  to  the  peculiar 
habits  of  all  domestic  animals  and  of  wild  game, 
birds,  fishes  and  insects.  His  admission  that  very 
early  in  life  he  contracted  the  habit  of  getting  up 
early  in  the  morning,  eating  three  meals  a day  and 
going  to  bed  at  night,  to  be  a fact  not  without  its 
value  in  estimating  the  reasons  for  his  success  in 
business.  When  he  was  seven  years  of  age  he 
played  almost  a man’s  part  on  the  farm,  milking  five 
cows  night  and  morning,  feeding  the  pigs,  sheep, 
horses  and  other  stock,  cutting  wood  and  finding 
abundant  occupation  for  all  his  leisure  in  the  meadow 
or  in  the  fields.  Even  as  a boy  he  was  fond  of  fish- 
ing and  hunting,  and  in  his  later  busy  career  has 
now  and  then  found  time  to  indulge  that  taste.  After 
leaving  the  farm  his  first  work  was  in  teaching  the 
country  school,  and  he  says  he  was  attracted  to  that 
vocation  by  his  misunderstanding  as  to  the  easy  time 
a teacher  seemed  to  have. 

During  the  ’70s  Mr.  Longfellow  spent  several 
years  in  North  Dakota,  where  he  found  his  wife, 
and  on  his  return  to  Minneapolis  in  1881  joined  his 


1704 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


brother  Levi  in  the  fruit  and  produce  business,  be- 
coming a partner  in  the  firm  of  Longfellow  Brothers 
in  1883.  Later  the  business  was  incorporated  under 
its  present  title  of  the  Longfellow  Brothers  Company. 
For  a number  of  years  he  was  also  on  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Morse  Produce  Company  of  Gran- 
ite Falls,  Minnesota,  and  is  still  a stockholder  in 
that  corporation.  Mr.  Longfellow  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leading  authorities  and  factors  in  the  fruit 
and  produce  business  of  the  Northwest.  For  six 
years  he  was  president  of  the  Minneapolis  Produce 
Exchange,  and  for  one  year  was  president  of  the 
National  League  of  Commission  Merchants,  and  is 
now  a member  of  the  advisory  board  of  that  body, 
comprising  five  members  of  different  parts  of  the 
country  appointed  by  the  president  of  the  league. 
In  politics  Mr.  Longfellow  is  a republican,  was  a 
census  enumerator  in  North  Dakota  in  1880  and 
took  the  census  over  nearly  a half  of  that  state. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  a member  of  the  board 
of  Asbury  Hospital,  and  also  is  on  the  board  of  the 
Union  City  Mission.  Other  relations  include  the 
Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Association;  the 
Minneapolis  Automobile  Club;  Ark  Lodge  No.  176, 
A.  F.  & A.  M. ; the  consistory  of  the  Scottish  Rite; 
Durah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a mem- 
ber and  for  a number  of  years  was  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Simpson  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Minneapolis. 

At  Fort  Berthold,  North  Dakota,  June  4,  1879, 
Mr.  Longfellow  married  Myra  J.  Calhoun,  who  was 
born  in  Berkshire,  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  in  her  native  state,  graduating 
from  the  Western  Female  Seminary  at  Oxford, 
Ohio,  in  1876.  In  1878,  associated  with  Rev.  O.  L. 
Hall,  she  went  out  to  the  Indian  country  in  North 
Dakota  as  a missionary  and  was  engaged  in  that 
work  on  the  Fort  Berthold  Indian  Reservation.  Mr. 
Longfellow  had  located  there  in  1876,  and  was  en- 
gaged for  four  years  as  an  Indian  trader,  in  the 
meantime  meeting  Miss  Calhoun  and  making  her  his 
wife.  After  their  marriage  they  returned  to  Min- 
neapolis on  September  1,  1881.  Mrs.  Longfellow, 
who  was  one  of  the  prominent  women  in  church 
and  philanthropic  affairs  at  Minneapolis,  died  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1912.  She  was  a member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  Asbury  Hospital,  was  active  in  the 
Simpson  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  one 
of  the  first  women  in  Minneapolis  to  become  inter- 
ested in  the  free  kindergarten  movement,  and  at 
one  time  she  was  state  superintendent  of  the  W.  C. 
T.  LT.  Department  of  Work  Among  the  Indians.  Of 
the  five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Longfellow 
only  two  are  living,  both  natives  of  Minneapolis. 
The  son,  Dwight  W.,  who  has  charge  of  construc- 
tion of  concrete  bridges  all  over  the  state  under 
George  W.  Cooley,  head  of  the  State  Highway  Com- 
mission, is  a graduate  of  the  Central  High  School 
of  Minneapolis,  graduated  at  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota in  June,  1908,  and  on  commencement  day  left 
Minneapolis  for  the  Philippines,  where  he  was  lo- 
cated as  a civil  engineer  for  three  years.  Before 
leaving  the  Philippines  he  had  been  promoted  to 
district  engineer,  and  for  a time  had  charge  of  the 
northern  half  of  Panay  and  two  other  small  islands 
in  the  Philippine  group.  His  daughter,  Emily  Myra, 
who  lives  at  home  with  her  father,  is  now  in  "the  first 
year  of  her  high  school  course  at  the  New  Central 
High  School. 

Henry  T.  McColl.  A long  established  business 
man  of  St.  Paul,  Henry  T.  McColl  is  probably  best 


known  in  that  city  through  his  public  services.  He 
has  been  in  the  Legislature  several  terms,  has  sat  as 
a member  of  the  city  council,  and  at  the  present 
time  is  giving  a capable  administration  of  the  office 
of  commissioner  of  public  safety,  with  offices  in  the 
courthouse.  His  business  is  that  of  druggist  and  he 
has  a large  store  and  a thriving  business  at  1275 
West  Seventh  Street. 

Henry  T.  McColl  is  a native  of  Illinois,  born  in 
the  City  of  Chicago  March  2,  1866,  a son  of  Edward 
and  Mary  (Foley)  McColl.  His  parents  were  both 
born  in  Ireland,  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
lived  in  Chicago  for  a number  of  years,  and  in  1873 
established  their  home  in  St.  Paul.  His  father  was 
a shoemaker  by  trade  and  gave  the  best  years  of  his 
active  life  to  that  work.  Later  for  eight  years  he 
had  general  supervision  of  the  building  of  the  St. 
Paul  Cathedral.  He  died  in  1880. 

Henry  T.  McColl  was  seven  years  old  when  the 
family  removed  to  St.  Paul,  received  his  education 
in  the  parochial  and  public  schools,  and  when  a boy 
of  about  fourteen,  in  1880,  had  his  first  experience 
as  an  employe  of  a drug  store.  That  experience  he 
has  utilized  to  give  him  his  regular  business,  and 
since  1880  he  has  been  a merchant  in  this  line  for 
himself. 

Mr.  McColl  soon  after  reaching  his  majority  iden- 
tified himself  actively  with  the  democratic  party,  and 
has  been  more  or  less  a factor  in  democratic  politics 
in  St.  Paul  and  Ramsey  County  ever  since.  In  1902 
he  was  elected  as  a democrat  to  represent  the  Thirty- 
fourth  District  in  the  State  Legislature,  serving  dur- 
ing the  sessions  of  1903  and  1905,  and  was  again 
elected  and  served  in  the  sessions  of  1907  and  1909. 
Since  leaving  the  Legislature  Mr.  McColl  has  filled 
the  position  of  commissioner  of  public  safety  in 
Ramsey  County,  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
efficient  of  the  men  entrusted  with  public  responsi- 
bilities in  the  Ramsey  County  courthouse.  He  also 
served  three  years  as  an  alderman  from  the  Third 
Ward,  and  during  the  last  year  was  president  of  the 
city  council. 

Rev.  Alfred  0.  Johnson.  The  head  of  one  of 
the  largest  Lutheran  churches  in  Minnesota,  at 
Spring  Grove,  Reverend  Mr.  Johnson  has  spent  all 
his  active  life  in  the  ministry,  and  was  for  a number 
of  years  pastor  of  a Chicago  church  until  accepting 
the  call  to  the  congregation  at  Spring  Grove  about 
five  years  ago. 

A native  of  Minnesota,  Alfred  O.  Johnson  was 
born  at  Zumbrota,  May  12,  1871,  a son  of  Hans  and 
Julia  (Strand)  Johnson.  His  grandfather,  John 
Hanson,  was  a native  of  Norway  and  died  at  Red 
Wing  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  while  the  maternal 
grandfather  Asle  Strand,  was  for  a number  of 
years  a farmer  in  Goodhue  County.  Hans  Johnson 
was  born  in  Norway  in  1844,  and  was  brought  to 
America  in  1833,  while  his  wife  was  born  in  1849 
and  came  to  this  country  in  1855.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  Zumbrota  in  1868.  The  father  lived  in  Iowa 
until  the  Civil  war,  and  in  1862  enlisted  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  Iowa  Infantry  and  was  out  three 
years.  He  took  part  in  numerous  campaigns  and 
engagements,  and  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Louisiana,  was 
wounded,  and  that,  together  with  long  exposure  due 
to  his  lying  on  the  battlefield  for  days  together, 
brought  on  an  affliction  to  the  eyes  which  has  since 
become  total  blindness.  After  the  war  he  engaged 
successfully  in  merchandising  at  Zumbrota,  and  was 
elected  county  clerk  of  Goodhue  County  in  which 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1705 


office  he  served  for  twelve  years  but  had  to  resign 
on  account  of  his  eyes.  He  has  lived  retired 
for  the  last  twenty-five  years.  He  has  taken  an 
active  and  influential  part  in  republican  politics,  and 
though  dependent  on  his  own  exertions  for  most  of 
the  advantages  he  ever  received,  is  well  informed 
and  has  had  much  experience  with  men  and  affairs. 
He  and  wife  are  both  devout  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  ! They  became  the  parents  of  five 
children : Julius  Melvin  is  a farmer  near  Bowman, 

South  Dakota;  Alfred  O.  was  second  in  order  of 
birth;  Edwin  Casper  is  a dentist  at  Cannon  Falls, 
Minnesota ; Wilford  Alpheus  is  a minister  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  at  Capron,  Illinois ; Clara  Oline 
married  Rev.  N.  S.  Magelsen,  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  reared  in  Red  Wing,  and  from 
the  public  schools  took  collegiate  training  in  the 
Lutheran  College  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  graduating  in 
1891.  He  prepared  for  the  ministry  by  a theological 
course  in  the  Lutheran  Seminary  in  Minnesota,  and 
after  graduating  in  1895  his  first  work  was  at  Mor- 
risonville,  Wisconsin,  as  as§istant  to  Rt.  Rev.  H.  A. 
Preus,  then  president  of  the  Norwegian  Synod.  In 
1895  Reverend  Mr.  Johnson  was  called  to  the  Church 
of  Our  Savior,  at  Chicago,  and  was  pastor  of  that 
Norwegian  Lutheran  congregation  until  1910.  In  the 
latter  year  he  returned  to  Minnesota  to  take  charge 
of  the  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  at  Spring  Grove. 
This  is  the  only  church  in  that  town  with  a popula- 
tion of  800,  and  this  commodious  church  home  has 
a seating  capacity  of  1,000.  There  are  350  families 
who  have  membership  in  the  church,  being  one  of 
the  largest  churches  of  this  denomination  in  the 
state.  The  members  have  a high  regard  for  their 
pastor,  and  he  has  done  a very  important  work  since 
locating  here. 

Reverend  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  June  11,  1895, 
to  Miss  Bertina  Marie  Olson,  of  Red  Wing.  Her 
father,  Peter  Olson,  was  in  the  shoe  business  in  that 
city.  Seven  children  have  blessed  their  union,  five 
of  them  living:  Paul  Gerhard,  aged  eighteen,  is  a 

student  in  the  Lutheran  College  at  Decorah,  Iowa ; 
Bernard  Alfred  is  a student  in  the  same  college; 
Harold  Edward,  born  in  1902,  is  in  the  public 
schools ; Helen  Marie,  who  died  in  Chicago  in  1909, 
aged  five  years ; Clara  Ovedia,  who  is  eight  years 
old  and  in  school;  Alfred  O.,  Jr.,  aged  six  and  be- 
ginning his  studies ; and  Helen  Marie,  who  died  in 
1914  at  the  age  of  three  years.  In  politics  Mr.  John- 
son is  an  independent  republican,  but  all  his  time 
and  energy  are  taken  up  by  his  church  duties  and 
his  studies.  He  is  not  yet  in  the  prime  of  his  years 
and  powers,  and  has  the  promise  of  many  years  of 
continued  usefulness  in  his  high  calling. 

Saul  Goldberg.  Former  president,  treasurer  and 
manager  of  the  Hotel  Holland  Company  of  Duluth, 
Saul  Goldberg  has  been  more  or  less  actively  iden- 
tified with  the  City  of  Duluth  for  the  past  seventeen 
years. 

He  was  born  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  Illinois, 
August  1,  1876,  a son  of  David  and  Anna  Goldberg, 
of  an  old  and  honored  Russian  family.  The  father, 
who  still  lives  in  Chicago  and  is  a retired  manufac- 
turer of  tinware,  was  born  in  Russia  in  1841,  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  settling  first  in  Indianapolis  and  a short  time 
later  going  to  Chicago.  He  established  himself  in 
business  in  a small  way,  and  through  the  exercise 
of  native  energy,  industry  and  ability  became  the 
owner  of  a business  which  made  him  independent. 


Saul  Goldberg  as  a boy  attended  the  Chicago  pub- 
lic schools,  but  most  of  his  intellectual  training  has 
come  in  the  schools  of  hard  work  and  experience. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  laid  aside  his  books  to  take 
up  the  stern  duties  of  life  as  a worker,  at  that  time 
entering  his  father's  factory.  He  left  that  work  in 
1898  and  came  to  Duluth,  investing  a small  capital 
which  he  had  been  able  to  save  in  a general  mer- 
chandise business.  This  was  a profitable  venture, 
and  after  three  years  he  returned  to  Chicago  and 
engaged  in  the  importing  business  for  two  years. 
When  he  came  back  to  Duluth  in  1907  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  wholesale  and  retail  liquor  business, 
and  in  1910  became  president,  treasurer  and  manager 
of  the  Hotel  Holland  Company,  which  erected  the 
first  concrete,  fireproof  hotel  in  this  city,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Fifth  Avenue  West  and  Superior  Street. 
The  hotel  was  at  first  six  stories  and  subsequently 
four  more  stories  were  added,  providing  accommoda- 
tions for  400  guests.  While  in  the  hotel  business 
Mr.  Goldberg  was  a member  of  the  Hotel  Men’s 
Association  and  the  Hotel  Men’s  Mutual  Beneficial 
Association.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the 
Temple  Emanuel. 

Mr.  Goldberg  was  married  in  1902  in  Chicago  to 
Miss  Annie  Rosenfield,  daughter  of  Louis  Rosen- 
field,  now  living  retired  in  Chicago.  They  have  four 
children:  Jerome  and  Lawrence,  attending  the  In- 

diana School  at  Duluth ; Arthur ; and  Beatrice. 

Neill  Malcolm  Watson,  M.  D.  One  of  the  old- 
est physicians  and  surgeons  in  active  practice  in  the 
Red  River  Valley  is  Dr.  Neill  Malcolm  Watson,  of 
Red  Lake  Falls,  where  he  has  been  identified  with 
his  profession  for  over  twenty  years,  and  his  suc- 
cessful work  in  his  chosen  field  has  also  brought  him 
opportunities  for  influential  connection  with  business 
and  various  civic  and  political  movements. 

Neill  Malcolm  Watson  was  born  at  Williamstown 
in  Glengary  County,  Ontario,  August  20,  1865,  a son 
of  Rev.  Peter  and  Marjorie  (Monro)  Watson.  His 
father  was  a Presbyterian  minister.  Doctor  Watson 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Canada,  and 
then  entered  what  is  regarded  as  the  foremost  pro- 
fessional institution  of  Canada,  the  McGill  Univer- 
sity of  Montreal,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
medical  department  in  1891.  In  the  following  year, 
1892,  Doctor  Watson  located  at  Red  Lake  Falls, 
and  has  since  built  up  and  carried  on  a large  general 
practice  in  both  medicine  and  surgery. 

For  two  terms  he  held  the  office  of  mayor  of  his 
village,  and  for  a number  of  years  was  president  of 
the  school  board.  Both  politics  and  movements  af- 
fecting the  basic  welfare  of  this  section  of  Northern 
Minnesota  have  made  a strong  appeal  to  him.  He 
is  a former  president  of  the  Red  Lake  County  Agri- 
cultural Society,  is  a former  chairman  of  the  County 
Republican  Committee  and  a member  of  the  State 
Republican  Committee,  is  vice  president  of  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Red  Lake  Falls  and  a director  of  the 
Mutual  Investment  Company  of  St.  Paul.  Mr.  Wat- 
son is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  and  in  Minneapolis  belongs 
to  the  Athletic  Club.  He  has  professional  associa- 
tions with  the  Red  River  Valley  and  the  Minnesota 
State  Medical  societies  and  the  American  Medical 
Association. 

Eli  Southworth.  One  of  Minnesota’s  surviving 
veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  Eli  Southworth  has  lived 
in  this  state  nearly  sixty  years,  and  for  over  forty 


1706 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


years  has  been  a member  of  the  bar  and  the  posses- 
sor of  a large  practice  at  Shakopee.  While  in  his 
work  as  a lawyer  and  public  official  he  has  been 
intimately  identified  with  affairs  in  Scott  County 
for  many  years,  Mr.  Southworth,  through  his  long 
connection  with  the  State  Board  of  Law  Examiners, 
is  one  of  the  best  known  members  of  the  Minne- 
sota bar,  and  is  also  prominent  in  the  old  soldiers’ 
associations.  ( 

Eli  Southworth  is  a New  Englander,  and  was  born 
at  Mattepoisett,  Massachusetts,  September  4,  1844,  a 
son  of  Newton  and  Rhoda  (Sparrow)  Southworth. 
This  branch  of  the  family  have  been  particularly 
identified  with  the  profession  of  medicine.  Not  only 
was  his  father  a pioneer  Minnesota  physician,  but 
his  grandfather  Wilbur  was  also  of  the  same  profes- 
sion, and  spent  his  active  career  in  Massachusetts. 
The  great-grandfather,  also  named  Wilbur  South- 
worth,  was  a native  of  Massachusetts,  a physician, 
and  saw  active  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
The  Southworths  came  from  England  to  Massachu- 
setts in  the  year  1624.  Mr.  Southworth's  maternal 
grandfather,  Edward  Sparrow,  was  a native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts and  spent  his  life  there  as  a farmer, 
owning  a fine  estate  near  Rochester.  Dr.  Newton 
Southworth  was  born  in  Massachusetts  September  25, 
1803,  and  died  at  Shakopee,  in  Minnesota,  May  3, 
1863.  His  wife  was  born  at  Rochester,  Massachu- 
setts, May  13,  1811,  and  died  in  Minneapolis  May  n, 
1898,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-seven.  They 
were  married  at  Rochester  March  27,  1838,  and 
came  out  to  Minnesota  in  August,  1856,  spending 
a short  time  in  St.  Paul  and  reaching  Scott  County 
on  September  10th.  There  Doctor  Southworth 
bought  a farm  and  also  pre-empted  land  in  LeSueur 
County.  This  property  he  still  owned  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  had  received  medical  training 
back  East  under  his  father’s  direction,  and  had  prac- 
ticed as  a physician  both  in  Massachusetts  and  after 
coming  to  Minnesota,  where  he  did  much  service 
among  the  early  settlers,  tie  was  a democrat  and 
a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  his  wife 
back  in  her  native  state  had  worshiped  with  the 
Congregational  Church,  but  was  a Presbyterian  in 
Minnesota.  Of  their  six  children  three  died  young: 
Sophia  W.  is  the  widow  of  J.  G.  Kirkland,  of  White 
Bear  Lake ; the  second  is  Eli ; and  Susan  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  C.  Dyke,  a farmer  of  White  Bear 
Lake. 

Mr.  Eli  Southworth  spent  the  first  eleven  years 
of  his  life  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  attended  com- 
mon schools  and  had  three  terms  in  the  schools  at 
Belle  Plaine,  Minnesota.  He  was  not  yet  seventeen 
years  of  age  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  on 
September  26,  1861,  enlisted  in  Company  A of  the 
Fourth  Minnesota  Infantry.  He  was  with  his  regi- 
ment thirteen  months,  and  participated  in  the  siege 
of  Corinth.  His  honorable  discharge  came  on  ac- 
count of  sickness,  and  when  he  left  the  army  he 
weighed  only  no  pounds.  As  a result  of  the  hard- 
ships of  the  war  he  was  almost  an  invalid  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  part  of  the  time  was  clerk  in  a 
drug  store  for  two  years.  He  then  bought  a drug 
store  at  Anthony,  conducted  it  six  years,  and  after 
selling  out  took  up  the  study  of  law.  Mr.  South- 
worth  was  admitted  to  the  bar  June  16,  1874,  and 
since  that  date  has  been  in  active  practice  as  a lawyer 
at  Shakopee. 

On  April  24,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Lenora  Eliza 
Walter.  Her  father,  Andrews  B.  Walter,  was  a 
Virginian,  moved  to  Indiana,  and  thence  to  the 


northwestern  frontier,  where  he  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  in  Scott  County.  His  location  in 
this  state  was  in  1853.  He  also  was  a physician 
and  practiced  for  a number  of  years.  Of  the  two 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Southworth,  Walter 
Newton  is  an  attorney  and  has  been  for  a number 
of  years  in  active  association  with  his  father.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Shakopee, 
in  the  Shattuck  Military  School  and  in  the  state 
university,  and  for  two  years  played  halfback  on 
the  university  football  team.  He  was  graduated  in 
law  in  1895  and  for  the  greater  part  of  twenty 
years  has  been  partner  of  his  father.  For  eight 
years  he  served  as  county  attorney  and  is  now  city 
attorney  of  Shakopee.  The  second  child  is  Alice 
Virginia,  wife  of  Llarold  J.  Hard,  of  Thompson 
Falls,  Montana,  Mr.  Hard  being  a civil,  engineer. 

Mr.  Southworth  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  for  twenty  years  he  has 
served  as  vestryman  and  is  now  treasurer  of  the 
church,  in  the  work  of  which  his  wife  and  daughter 
take  a particularly  active  part.  During  1892-93  Mr. 
Southworth  was  grand  jnaster . workman  in  Minne- 
sota of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and 
is  also  affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. 

In  politics  he  has  long  been  aligned  with  the 
democratic  party,  has  made  many  speeches  in  vari- 
ous campaigns.  A number  of  years  ago  he  was  a 
law  partner  with  Mr.  McDonald  and  assisted  his 
partner  in  his  candidacy  for  Congress,  managing 
the  campaign.  He  has  also  given  service  as  county 
attorney,  and  for  fifteen  years  was  city  attorney. 
Through  all  the  forty  years  he  has  enjoyed  a good 
practice,  and  among  his  various  interests  the  law  is 
paramount  to  all  others. 

Mr.  Southworth  has  always  manifested  an  interest 
in  Grand  Army  affairs,  and  for  one  year  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Regiment  Associa- 
tion. He  was  elected  to  this  office  following  the 
death  of  Gen.  John  B.  Sanborn.  He  had  a responsi- 
ble part  in  the  placing  of  the  statues  on  the  capitol 
grounds  at  St.  Paul,  being  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee which  selected  and  placed  the  monuments.  This 
committee  consisted  of  two  members  of  the  Histo- 
rical Society  and  three  members  from  General  San- 
born's regiment,  one  of  them  being  former  Governor 
General  Hubbard.  Mr.  Southworth  and  General 
Hubbard  went  to  New  York  together  to  select  the 
statues  and  to. see  that  they  were  properly  executed 
and  given  appropriate  positions  on  the  capitol 
grounds. 

Mr.  Southworth  has  served  as  a member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Law  Examiners  in  Minnesota  since 
the  organization  of  that  board  in  1891,  and  is  now 
the  only  surviving  charter  member  left  on  the  board. 
He  was  president  of  the  board  in  1895-96,  and  has 
since  been  its  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Joseph  A.  Ring.  A former  mayor  of  Shakopee, 
Joseph  A.  Ring  has  been  successfully  identified  with 
business  in  that  county  for  many  years,  and  has  been 
a familiar  figure  and  leader  in  republican  politics  in 
this  section  of  the  state.  His  family  came  to  Min- 
nesota when  the  territory  was  in  process  of  being 
merged  into  a state,  and  he  is  himself  one  of  the 
older  native  sons  of  Scott  County,  where  he  was 
born  at  Newmarket.  February  19,  1866.  His  parents 
were  John  J.  and  Christina  (Baltes)  Ring,  both  na- 
tives of  Germany.  His  grandfather,  Anton  Ring, 
brought  his  family  from  Germany  in  1841  and  was 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1707 


an  early  settler  in  Wisconsin  Territory,  living  on  a 
farm  in  that  state  until  1857,  when  with  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  he  drove  with  wagon  and  team 
to  the  northwestern  frontier  and  located  in  Minne- 
sota. John  J.  Ring  was  born  in  Germany  in  1832 
and  died  in  1912,  while  his  wife,  who  was  born  in 
1835,  is  still  living.  He  was  about  nine  years  of  age 
when  his  father  settled  in  Wisconsin  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Kenosha  in  1836.  The  following  year  he 
came  to  Scott  County  and  identified  himself  with 
the  pioneer  farming  development  of  that  section. 
He  was  always  active  in  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
built  the  first  church  at  Newmarket.  He  was  also  a 
leader  in  democratic  politics,  served  as  county  com- 
missioner from  1866  to  1872,  for  eight  years  was 
county  treasurer  and  after  leaving  the  office  lived  in 
Shakopee.  He  acquired  considerable  means,  but 
towards  the  end  of  his  life  lost  most  of  his  prop- 
erty. 

Joseph  A.  Ring,  the  fourth  in  a family  of  ten 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living,  had  only  a com- 
mon school  education,  and  started  life  on  a gravel 
train.  Later  he  learned  the  printer’s  trade  and 
worked  at  it  for  three  years,  but  never  got  a cent  of 
pay  for  his  labor.  He  next  took  up  the  trade  of 
bricklayer,  and  found  steady  employment  at  that 
occupation  for  thirteen  years.  Finally  the  Hamms 
Brewing  Company  made  him  their  traveling  auditor, 
and  he  has  been  continuously  in  the  service  of  this 
company  for  the  past  twenty-two  years.  He  now 
manages  a branch  of  the  business  in  Shakopee  and 
supplies  all  the  retail  concerns  in  a radius  of  forty 
miles. 

In  1886  Mr.  Ring  married  Eva  Vierling  of  Shako- 
pee. Her  father,  Henry  Vierling,  was  one  of  the 
early  German  settlers  in  Scott  County  and  a profes- 
sional musician.  He  served  a number  of  years  as 
musician  in  the  United  States  navy,  and  on  receiving 
his  discharge  at  Boston  in  1865  came  out  to  Scott 
County,  where  he  was  long  familiarly  known  as 
leader  of  an  orchestra  or  band.  To  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ring  have  been  born  eight  children : 
Minnie,  wife  of  Hal  Huth,  of  Savage,  Minne- 
sota; Bertha,  wife  of  Pete  Barr,  of  Shakopee; 
Blanche,  who  lives  at  home  and  has  finished  the  high 
school  course ; Esther,  a teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Scott  County;  Elvira,  who  is  still  in  school; 
George,  Evelyn,  Joseph  A.,  Jr.,  also  pupils  in  the 
local  schools.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  Mr.  Ring  is  affiliated  with  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles  and  the  United  Commercial  Travelers. 
He  is  also  a member  of  the  Sons  of  Hermann,  and 
for  six  years  was  president  of  the  Minnesota  State 
Traveling  Men’s  Association. 

In  pub'ic  life  he  has  always  been  associated  with 
the  republican  party.  For  six  years  he  held  the 
office  of  mayor  of  Shakopee.  For  fifteen  years  he 
was  chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Committee, 
and  at  the  present  time  is  serving  in  the  city  council. 
His  interests  are  those  of  a broad  gauge  and  public- 
spirited  citizen.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  president 
of  the  County  Agricultural  Society,  and  has  also 
been  president  of  the  Good  Roads  Association  of  his 
home  county.  Though  starting  life  in  very  humble 
circumstances,  Mr.  Ring  has  gained  both  influential 
position  and  a large  degree  of  material  prosperity. 
He  owns  a large  farm  on  which  he  raises  corn  and 
alfalfa,  and  has  some  valuable  real  estate  in  Shako- 
pee. However,  all  his  best  energies  are  devoted  to 
the  management  of  the  brewing  company’s  business. 


William  Michael  O’Donnell.  Prominent  among 
the  men  whose  extensive  operations  have  given 
prestige  to  the  City  of  St.  Paul  as  a manufac- 
turing center  is  William  Michael  O’Donnell,  presi- 
dent of  the  O Donnell  Shoe  Company.  Few  mem- 
bers of  the  trade  have  a more  thorough  or  compre- 
hensive knowledge  of  the  shoe  business,  for  from 
the  time  he  entered  upon  his  active  career  Mr. 
O’Donnell  has  been  identified  with  the  business  of 
shoe  manufacturing.  In  his  present  enterprise  he 
has  met  with  phenomenal  success,  developing  his 
business  from  a humble  start  into  a concern  which 
makes  St.  Paul  the  largest  shoe  manufacturing  com- 
munity outside  of  New  England  and  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  O’Donnell  was  born  in  LeSueur  County,  Min- 
nesota, August  17,  1870,  and  is  a son  of  William  and 
Honora  O’Donnell,  natives  of  Ireland.  He  grew  up 
amid  rural  surroundings  and  received  his  education 
in  the  country  schools  of  LeSueur  County  and  the 
high  school  at  LeSueur,  but  it  was  not  his  intention 
to  become  a farmer,  preferring  a career  in  commer- 
cial pursuits.  Fie  had  early  decided  that  the  man 
who  would  succeed  in  the  world  is  not  he  who  has 
a_  little  knowledge  of  various  subjects,  but  the  indi- 
vidual who  is  a thorough  master  of  every  detail  of 
one  line  of  endeavor.  Accordingly,  when  he  came 
to  St.  Paul  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  he  found 
employment  with  a large  shoe  manufacturing  con- 
cern, with  which  he  remained  steadily  from  1887 
until  1907,  working  his  way  through  every  depart- 
ment until  in  the  year  1895  the  entire  management 
and  superintendency  of  this  large  establishment  was 
placed  in  his  hands.  In  1907  Mr.  O’Donnell  resigned 
his  position  with  the  house  with  which  he  had  been 
connected  so  long  and  started  to  organize  the  O’Don- 
nell Shoe  Company,  which  began  operations  in  1908 
in  its  building  at  Sixth  and  Sibley  streets,  where 
fifty  men  were  employed  in  the  making  of  men’s 
shoes.  The  splendid  success  enjoyed  by  the  concern 
from  that  time  to  the  present  is  largely  due  to  the 
excellence  of  its  product  and  also  to  the  thorough 
knowledge  of  all  the  minutiae  of  the  business  gained 
by  Mr.  O’Donnell  during  his  long  years  of  experi- 
ence. Not  long  after  its  inception  it  was  found 
necessary  to  erect  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Tenth 
and  Sibley  streets  a large,  modernly-equipped  fac- 
tory, covering  many  thousands  of  square  feet  of 
floor  space,  of  brick  construction  and  five  stories  in 
height,  this  being  completed  in  1910,  and  employing 
400  hands.  At  the  present  time,  on  the  opposite  cor- 
ner, there  is  in  process  of  construction  a new  factory, 
six  stories  in  height  and  covering  no  by  150  feet, 
which  will  be  of  brick  and  reinforced  concrete,  and 
fireproof  throughout.  This  is  located  on  property 
secured  from  the  Congress  Realty  Company,  will  be 
completed  about  January  1,  1915,  and  will  cost  in 
the  neighborhood  of  $150,000.  At  present  the 
O'Donnell  Shoe  Company  employs  400  hands  and 
when  the  new  building  is  done  between  600  and  700 
will  be  employed  in  both  factories.  The  establish- 
ment of  the  O’Donnell  Shoe  Company  in  its  two  big 
factories  will  make  St.  Paul  the  largest  shoe  manu- 
facturing center  in  the  United  States  outside  of 
St.  Louis  and  New  England,  and  hundreds  of  buyers 
now  visit  St.  Paul  instead  of  going  to  St.  Louis  or 
Chicago.  The  enlarged  O'Donnell  Shoe  Company 
will  give  St.  Paul  five  big  shoe  factories,  employing 
5,000  men.  The  directors  and  officers  of  the  O’Don- 
nell Shoe  Company  are  all  young  men  who  have 
grown  ud  in  the  business,  being  Mr.  O’Donnell, 
Charles  Patterson,  George  J.  Freeman  and  Andrew 


1708 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


J.  Schmitz.  The  corporation  has  a capital  of  $250,- 
000,  which  will  eventually  be  materially  increased. 
Forty  traveling  representatives  are  kept  constantly 
on  the  road,  and  the  product  of  the  company  is 
favorably  known  and  enjoys  a wide  sale  in  all  the 
western  states  right  up  to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Mr.  O’Donnell  is  essentially  a business  man,  with 
large  interests  devolving  upon  him,  but  he  has  al- 
ways found  the  time  and  the  inclination  to  devote  to 
public-spirited  enterprises  for  the  general  welfare. 
He  is  independent  in  his  political  views,  preferring 
to  choose  his  own  candidates  for  office  rather  than 
to  be  restricted  by  any  set  party  lines.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Association  of  Commerce,  and  is  well  and 
favorably  known  in  fraternal  and  social  circles,  be- 
longing to  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  the  University 
and  Town  and  Country  clubs.  His  diversion  is  golf, 
and  he  is  also  exceptionally  fond  of  travel,  in  which 
he  frequently  indulges.  A strictly  self-made  man,  he 
has  every  reason  to  be  proud  of  what  he  has 
achieved,  and  St.  Paul  has  every  reason  to  be  proud 
of  and  grateful  to  him. 

St.  Peter  Herald.  One  of  the  leading  demo- 
cratic newspapers  of  Southern  Minnesota,  and  one 
which  has  long  been  noted  for  its  loyalty  to  party 
principles,  is  the  St.  Peter  Herald,  published  at 
St.  Peter  by  the  firm  of  Essler  & Quane.  This  old 
and  reliable  sheet  has  ever  maintained  the  best 
ethics  of  journalism,  and  the  people  of  St.  Peter  and 
Nicollet  County  are  to  be  congratulated  that  it  is  in 
the  hands  of  such  trustworthy  citizens  as  its  present 
owners. 

Henry  J.  Essler  was  born  December  24,  1862,  a 
descendant  of  German  parents.  After  acquiring  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  he  commenced  his 
newspaper  career  at  the  case,  learning  the  printer's 
trade  in  the  office  of  the  St.  Peter  Tribune.  In 
October,  1884,  Mr.  Essler  associated  himself  with 
John  Blackiston,  under  the  firm  name  of  Blackiston 
& Essler,  but  later  Mr.  Blackiston  sold  his  interest 
to  John  A.  Johnson,  of  St.  Peter,  and  the  firm  be- 
came Essler  & Johnson,  publishers  of  the  St.  Peter 
Herald.  This  style  continued  until  1904,  when  the 
proprietorship  was  changed  to  Essler  & Quane,  its 
present  style.  The  paper  has  been  democratic  since 
its  inception  and  has  been  a powerful  force  in  ad- 
vancing democratic  interests  in  this  county.  It  has 
stood  for  cleanliness  and  progress  in  public  office, 
and  its  publishers  have  endeavored  to  give  its  read- 
ers an  interesting,  well-edited  sheet,  containing  all 
the  important  news,  both  national  and  local,  and 
pithy  editorials  on  the  live  subjects  of  the  day.  They 
have  evidently  succeeded  in  their  efforts  if  their  suc- 
cess may  be  gauged  by  the  measure  of  public  support 
in  circulation  and  advertising. 

Mr.  Essler  is  well  known  in  newspaper  circles 
throughout  the  state,  and  is  also  well  known  in  fra- 
ternal circles,  being  a member  of  St.  Peter  Lodge 
No.  54,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Minnie  L,  Stickney,  a daughter  of  J.  D. 
Stickney,  of  Potsdam,  New  York,  who  was  a co- 
worker in  the  democratic  party  for  a long  period 
with  Governor  Johnson  and  a personal  friend  of 
the  late  governor  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Oliver  J.  Quane,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Essler  & Quane,  was  born  at  Mankato,  Minnesota, 
December  21,  1879,  a son  of  J.  D.  Quane,  a promi- 


nent newspaper  man  of  that  city.  Educated  in  the 
public  schools  Mr.  Quane  began  his  career  on  his 
father's  newspaper  and  was  subsequently  connected 
with  the  Morning  Record,  Mankato;  the  Austin 
Daily  Mail;  the  Austin  Transcript  and  the  Janes- 
ville Argus,  and  then  went  to  New  Ulm,  where  he 
was  identified  with  the  Journal  and  Review  of  that 
city.  Mr.  Quane  came  to  St.  Peter  in  1904  and 
formed  a partnership  with  Mr.  Essler,  and  this  asso- 
ciation has  continued  to  the  present  time  with  mu- 
tual satisfaction  and  success,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  strong  newspaper  combinations  of  this  part 
of  the  state. 

Mr.  Quane,  like  his  partner,  is  well  known  in 
democratic  circles.  He  has  displayed  his  public 
spirit  on  numerous  occasions,  and  is  a friend  of 
civic  advancement  and  education,  and  has  served  as 
a member  of  the  school  board  of  St.  Peter  and  as  a 
member  of  the  State  Hospital  Commission.  He  has 
an  honorable  military  record,  having  joined  Com- 
pany D,  Fourteenth  Regiment,  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  in  1898,  with  which  he  participated  in  the 
Leech  Lake  Indian  campaign.  In  1908  he  was  com- 
missioned captain  of  the  Second  Regiment,  Minne- 
sota National  Guard,  and  this  was  followed  in  1913 
by  his  promotion  to  major,  a rank  which  he  has 
continued  to  hold  to  the  present.  His  acquaintance 
in  St.  Peter  is  extensive,  and  his  friends  are  numer- 
ous. 

Paul  C.  Cooper.  The  activities  of  the  successful 
lawyer  and  public-spirited  relations  with  the  com- 
munity have  employed  Paul  C.  Cooper  at  Truman 
for  a dozen  years  or  more,  and  he  holds  a position 
of  influence  and  assured  success  in  that  section  of 
Martin  County. 

Representing  a pioneer  family  in  this  section  of 
Minnesota,  Paul  C.  Cooper  was  born  in  Blue  Earth 
County,  September  7,  1875.  He  is  a son  of  S.  A. 
and  Guila  (Williams)  Cooper.  The  Coopers  are 
English,  while  the  mother  is  a direct  descendant 
of  Oliver  Cromwell,  the  ancestors  of  both  families 
having  left  England  and  settled  in  New  England  dur- 
ing Colonial  times.  S.  A.  Cooper  was  born  in  New 
York  in  1832,  and  is  now  living  retired  at  Ceylon, 
Minnesota.  As  one  of  the  early  settlers  he  located 
in  Watonwan  County  in  1865,  later  moved  to  the 
Village  of  Madelia  and  from  there  to  Ceylon,  and 
has  now  been  retired  from  active  affairs  about  thirty 
years.  His  wife  was  born  in  Vermont.  Their  chil- 
dren are  as  follows : E.  A.  Cooper,  who  is  in  the 
grain  business  at  Dunnell,  Minnesota ; F.  E.  Cooper, 
a hardware  merchant  at  Vernon  Center,  Minnesota; 
Albert  W.,  who  is  president  and  sole  proprietor  of  a 
business  college  at  Marysville,  Missouri ; Paul  C. ; 
and  Earl,  a farmer  in  Ceylon. 

Paul  C.  Cooper  has  spent  nearly  all  his  life  in 
that  part  of  Minnesota  which  was  his  birthplace, 
was  educated  in  Blue  Earth  County  public  schools 
and  in  the  Madelia  High  School  and  finished  his 
education  in  the  University  of  Minnesota,  where, 
after  a special  course,  he  attended  the  Law  Depart- 
ment and  was  graduated  LL.  B.  with  the  class  of 
1901.  Beginning  practice  in  the  same  year,  he  lo- 
cated at  Truman,  and  his  work  as  a lawyer  has 
been  one  of  steadily  increasing  proportions  in  both 
general  civil  and  criminal  practice.  He  is  secretary 
of  the  Martin  County  Bar  Association,  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  State  Bar  Association,  and  an  active  re- 
publican. Mr.  Cooper  has  served  on  the  village 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1709 


council  of  Truman  and  is  now  village  attorney,  and 
is  also  secretary  of  the  school  board. 

Outside  of  his  profession  and  his  public  duties 
Mr.  Cooper  finds  both  recreation  and  profit  in  farm- 
ing. He  is  the  owner  of  a quarter  section  of  land 
in  Martin  County,  and  operates  it  through  tenants 
in  diversified  agriculture.  This  farm  is  situated  in 
Waverly  Township.  Mr.  Cooper  is  affiliated  with 
Truman  Lodge  No.  251  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

In  1905  at  Minneapolis  he  married  Miss  Anna 
Brown,  daughter  of  George  A.  Brown,  a retired 
millwright  living  in  Minneapolis.  They  have  three 
children : Arloine  and  Curtis,  both  attending  the 

public  schools  at  Truman;  and  Dorothy. 

Gerhard  A.  Dahl,  M.  D.  A Mankato  physician 
and  surgeon  who  has  won  his  way  to  front  rank  by 
proficiency  and  ability.  Dr.  Gerhard  A.  Dahl  is  a na- 
tive Minnesotan,  and  has  been  in  active  practice  for 
seventeen  years.  He  is  a former  president  of  the 
Blue  Earth  County  Medical  Society,  and  is  the  type 
of  the  modern  doctor  who  keeps  up  his  associations 
with  his  colleagues  and  avails  himself  of  every  op- 
portunity for  individual  advancement. 

Gerhard  A.  Dahl  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  County, 
Minnesota,  June  23,  1872.  His  parents  were  Rev. 
T.  H.  and  Mathia  (Teige)  Dahl,  both  natives  of 
Norway.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Torger  Dahl, 
came  to  the  United  States  and  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life  as  a farmer  in  Wisconsin.  The  maternal  grand- 
father was  killed  in  one  of  the  first  battles  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  for  the  Union  cause.  Rev.  T.  H. 
Dahl  was  born  June  21,  1843,  and  was  brought  to 
the  United  States  in  1855.  He  came  to  Minnesota 
in  1869,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a minister  of 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church,  and  at  the  present 
time  lives  in  Minneapolis  and  serves  two  congrega- 
tions near  that  city.  His  wife,  who  was  born  April 
1,  1846,  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of 
eight  years,  and  they  were  married  in  Wisconsin. 
Of  nine  children  only  three  are  now  living.  Mrs. 
Ola  Hagoes  is  the  wife  of  a Lutheran  minister  at 
Tacoma.  Washington,  and  the  other  daughter,  Mag- 
dalene, is  a stenographer  in  Minneapolis.  Reverend 
Mr.  Dahl  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Doctor  Dahl  grew  up  in  Minnesota  and  took  his 
degree  A.  B.  "from  Luther  College  at  Decorah, 
Iowa,  in  1893.  Preliminary  to  college  he  had  at- 
tended schools  in  Nebraska.  In  1894  he  entered  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Chicago  and  was 
graduated  M.  D.  in  1897.  Since  then  he  has  prac- 
ticed at  Mankato,  and  while  his  chief  work  is  in 
general  medical  practice,  he  has  many  appointments 
as  a surgeon  in  both  the  city  hospitals. 

Doctor  Dahl  was  married  in  1903  to  Alma  Hanson, 
daughter  of  E.  L.  Hanson,  of  Mankato,  a carpenter 
of  that  city.  Doctor  Dahl  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  is  a member  and 
medical  examiner  for  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen, 
and  the  Degree  of  Honor.  Politically  he  is  a re- 
publican. He  has  been  interested  in  politics  only  to 
the  extent  he  could  be  of  service  through  his  pro- 
fession. and  for  two  terms  held  the  place  of  health 
officer  at  Mankato.  He  was  honored  with  the  office 
of  president  of  the  Blue  Earth  County  Medical 
Society  in  1914,  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Southern 
Minnesota  and  the  Minnesota  State  Homeopathic 
Medical  Society. 


M.  L.  Klein.  One  of  the  prominent  enterprises 
which  is  contributing  to  the  commercial  importance 
of  the  City  of  St.  Peter,  Minnesota,  is  the  furniture 
and  undertaking  establishment  of  the  Klein  Com- 
pany, a business  which  has  been  located  here  for 
many  years  and  which  has  always  retained  the 
patronage  and  confidence  of  the  people.  The  active 
directing  head  of  this  business  is  M.  L.  Klein,  a man 
of  broad  experience,  progressive  views  and  much 
business  ability.  The  son  of  the  founder,  he  pos- 
sesses much  of  the  initiative  that  characterized  the 
elder  man,  and  is,  like  him,  a public-spirited  and 
helpful  citizen. 

M.  L.  Klein  was  born  February  28,  1870,  at  St. 
Peter,  Minnesota,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Shultz)  Klein,  the  former  a native  of  Germany 
and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  came 
to  the  United  States  as  a young  man  in  1852,  locat- 
ing for  a short  time  at  Seneca  Falls,  where  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  furniture  business.  In  1855, 
however,  seeking  a more  western  field,  he  came  to 
St.  Peter  and  here  embarked  in  the  same  line  of 
business,  in  addition  to  which  he  carried  on  opera- 
tions as  a contractor,  building  many-  of  this  city’s 
early  structures  and  winning  a reputation  for  honest 
dealing  and  fidelity  to  engagements.  He  also  manu- 
factured the  furniture  in  which  he  dealt,  character- 
ized it  by  his  good  workmanship,  and  attracted  to 
his  factory  an  excellent  trade  from  all  over  the  sur- 
rounding country.  When  he  died,  April  9,  1888, 
St.  Peter  lost  an  able  business  man,  a citizen  who 
had  the  full  confidence  of  the  people  with  whom 
he  came  into  contact,  and  a devout  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  He  was  a firm  believer  in  the 
principles  of  the  democratic  party,  which  he  sup- 
ported on  every  occasion,  although  he  was  not  a 
seeker  after  personal  preferment.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  four 
are  living. 

After  the  death  of  William  Klein  the  business  was 
conducted  for  a time  by  one  of  Mr.  Klein’s  brothers, 
but  eventually  he  purchased  the  interests,  and  the 
business  is  now  known  as  the  Klein  Company,  being 
the  leading  dealer  in  furniture,  as  well  as  the  leading 
undertaker,  of  St.  Peter.  After  the  elder  man’s 
death  the  manufacturing  end  of  the  business  was 
sold,  but  the  other  departments  have  expanded  so 
rapidly  that  recently  it  was  found  necessary  to 
erect  a new  building  in  which  to  house  the  large 
and  up-to-date  stock  of  furniture,  and  the  store- 
room is  not  surpassed  by  any  of  the  stores  of  the 
larger  cities.  The  undertaking  department  is  mod- 
ern in  every  respect,  furnishing  the  latest  equipment 
for  the  respectful  handling  of  the  dead. 

Mr.  Klein  has  been  well  known  in  public  life  at 
St.  Peter,  having  served  for  ten  years  as  a member 
of  the  city  council,  where  his  services  did  much  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  community.  Formerly 
a republican,  he  was  for  seventeen  years  chairman  of 
the  Republican  County  Committee,  but  in  more  re- 
cent years  has  acted  independently  of  any  party 
lines.  * His  acquaintance  is  extensive  throughout  the 
city,  and  his  friends  are  numerous  and  loyal. 

Dr.  Julian  A.  Hielscher.  In  Julian  A.  Hiel- 
scher,  M.  D.,  is  found  one  who  has  attained  to  dis- 
tinction in  the  line  of  his  profession,  who  has  been 
an  earnest  and  discriminating  student,  and  who  holds 
a position  of  due  relative  importance  among  the 
medical  practitioners  of  Mankato,  Minnesota.  He 
came  to  this  city  in  modest  circumstances,  and  with 


1710 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


little  to  aid  him  save  his  talent  and  ambition,  and 
by  ceaseless  effort  and  endeavor  he  has  attained  a 
marked  success  in  professional  life,  has  gained  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  men,  and  is  accounted  one 
of  the  distinctively  representative  citizens  of  his 
adopted  community. 

Doctor  Hielscher  was  born  at  LeSueur  Center, 
LeSueur  County,  Minnesota,  October  21,  1864,  and 
is  a son  of  Ernst  Julius  and  Barbara  (Lohrig) 
Hielscher.  His  grandfather,  William  Hielscher,  was 
a miller  at  Liegnitz,  Germany,  was  one  of  the 
peasant  patriots  of  1848,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1887  left  a moderate  estate,  gained  through  long 
years  of  honest  toil.  Ernst  Julius  Hielscher  was 
born  in  Germany,  August  12,  1826,  and  as  a young 
man  entered  the  German  army,  in  which  he  was 
serving  as  an  officer  when  the  peasants  arose  in  1848. 
With  his  command  he  was  ordered  to  capture  the 
Town  of  Liegnitz,  but  upon  his  arrival  at  that 
point  found  his  father  among  the  defenders,  and 
accordingly  refused  to  take  action  against  the  little 
force  of  patriots.  For  this  he  was  courtmartialed 
and  sent  to  the  military  prison,  but  after  five  years 
managed  to  make  his  escape  to  England,  from 
whence,  in  1853,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
Many  years  later,  in  1897,  he  was  pardoned  and  re- 
turned to  his  native  country  to  settle  up  his  father’s 
estate,  but  this  accomplished  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  during  the  same  year. 

In  1857  Ernst  Julius  Hielscher  came  to  LeSueur 
County,  Minnesota,  making  the  journey  by  rail  to 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  thence  by  boat  inland.  He  took 
up  a homestead  at  LeSueur  Center,  on  which  he 
resided  until  1868,  but  in  the  meantime  joined  the 
ministry  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  and  from  that 
time  forward  lived  at  various  places,  including  New 
Ulm  and  Blue  Earth,  and  experienced  all  the  vicissi- 
tudes that  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  early  preachers  of 
this  region.  He  was  one  of  the  first  county  com- 
missioners of  LeSueur  County  and  served  as  county 
coroner  for  a number  of  years,  and  wielded  a wide 
influence  throughout  this  region,  standing  high  in 
the  councils  of  the  republican  party.  Mr.  Hielscher 
died,  honored  and  respected  by  all,  December  19, 
1914,  at  which  time  he  left  to  his  descendants  a 
handsome  estate.  Mr.  Hielscher  was  married  at 
Altoona,  Pennsylvania,  in  1855,  to  Miss  Barbara 
Lohrig,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  October  30, 
1827,  and  died  at  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota,  September 
3,  1895,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
as  follows:  George  W.,  of  St.  Paul,  a minister  of 

the  Evangelical  Church ; Augusta,  who  married  Mr. 
Kienholz,  of  Big  Stone  County,  South  Dakota,  a 
retired  farmer;  Dr.  Julian  A.,  of  this  review;  John 
F.,  now  a resident  of  Seattle,  Washington,  who  dur- 
ing the  early  days  of  gold  discovery  in  Alaska  made 
frequent  trips  to  that  country,  and  at  one  time 
brought  into  Dawson  City  136  hogs,  the  first  live 
hogs  brought  there,  which  he  sold  at  $1.35  per  pound; 
Mary  E.,  who  is  single ; and  Lydia  E.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Alfred  Riehl,  a farmer  of  Preston, 
Minnesota. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of  LeSueur 
County,  Julian  A.  Hielscher  entered  the  Minneapolis 
High  School,  from  which  he  was  duly  graduated. 
He  next  entered  Northwestern  College,  at  Naper- 
ville, Illinois,  being  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1888, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  entered  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota, from  which  he  received  his  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine  in  June,  1891.  In  that  same  year  Doctor 


Hielscher  opened  a modest  office  and  began  prac- 
tice at  Mankato,  and  here  he  has  continued  to  the 
present  time,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent 
at  Rolla,  Missouri,  where  he  attended  the  School  of 
Mines  and  Meteorology  during  the  winter  months 
and  graduated  in  1912.  He  has  been  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a constantly  increasing  practice,  is  a close 
student  of  his  profession,  and  keeps  fully  abreast 
of  the  advancement  that  is  continually  being  made 
therein.  His  knowledge  is  comprehensive  and  ac- 
curate, and  his  skill  is  demonstrated  in  the  excellent 
success  which  has  followed  his  efforts  in  the  sick 
room.  Doctor  Hielscher  is  a member  of  the  Dis- 
trict Medical  Society,  the  Blue  Earth  County  Med- 
ical Society,  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society  and 
the  American  Medical  Association,  and  observes 
most  closely  the  ethics  of  the  unwritten  professional 
code.  From  1902  until  1906  he  was  health  officer  of 
Mankato.  A democrat  in  politics,  Doctor  Hielscher 
was  alternate  delegate  to  the  first  convention  of  his 
party  which  nominated  William  J.  Bryan  for  the 
presidency.  His  offices  are  located  in  the  National 
City  Bank  Building.  Fraternally  Doctor  Hielscher 
belongs  to  the  Masons. 

On  May  2,  1910,  Doctor  Hielscher  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Dr.  Helen  Hughes,  a graduate  of  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota, class  of  1896,  who  was  engaged  in  practice  at 
Blue  Earth  until  1905,  when  she  came  to  Mankato, 
where  she  is  now  in  practice  with  her  husband.  She 
is  a member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

George  T.  Olsen.  A native  son  of  Nicollet 
County,  and  incumbent  of  the  county  attorney’s 
office  during  the  past  seven  years,  George  T.  Olsen 
occupies  a recognized  position  at  the  Minnesota  bar. 
His  training  has  been  thorough  and  comprehensive 
and  the  abilities  which  he  has  displayed  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  have  been  developed  by  close 
application  and  connection  with  some  important  cases 
of  jurisprudence.  Mr.  Olsen  was  born  in  Nicollet 
County,  Minnesota,  June  24,  1871,  and  is  a son  of 
Mathias  Olsen,  a native  of  Sweden  who  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1865  and  settled  at  St.  Peter.  For 
a number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  became  known  as  one  of  his  locality’s 
substantial  and  reliable  men,  a good  farmer  and  a 
public-spirited  citizen.  He  was  the  father  of  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  of  these 
George  T.  is  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth. 

George  T.  Olsen  secured  his  primary  educational 
training  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county, 
following  which  he  attended  Gustavus  Adolphus 
College  of  St.  Peter.  Subsequently  he  pursued  a 
seminary  course,  at  Minneapolis,  and  then  entered 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  being  graduated  from 
the  law  department  of  that  institution  in  1893.  In 
that  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
immediately  entered  practice  at  Springfield,  Minne- 
sota, and  while  residing  at  that  place  held  the  office 
of  county  attorney  of  Brown  County  for  two  terms, 
or  from  January  1,  1899,  to  January  1,  1903.  In 
the  latter  year  Mr.  Olsen  came  to  St.  Peter  and 
opened  an  office,  continuing  in  general  practice  until 
1907,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  county  attorney’s 
office.  The  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the 
duties  of  this  important  position  has  thoroughly 
established  him  in  the  confidence  of  the  people  of 
Nicollet  County,  and  few  men  have  worked  more 
helpfully  in  behalf  of  the  community’s  interests. 
Mr.  Olsen  is  also  known  as  a friend  of  education, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1711 


and  since  1910  has  been  president  of  the  library 
board  of  St.  Peter.  He  hold  membership  in  the 
Commercial  Club,  and  in  politics  is  a nonpartisan. 

Mr.  Olsen  was  married  February  17,  1899,  to  Miss 
Stella  J.  Brown,  of  Springfield,  Minnesota. 

Elbert  L.  Carpenter.  A directory  of  Minnesota’s 
lumbermen  would  include  a large  proportion  of  the 
most  forceful  and  successful  men  of  affairs  from 
the  earliest  days  of  the  territory  to  the  present. 
Among  those  whose  achievements  and  associations 
are  sufficient  to  justify  his  mention  in  such  a list  is 
Elbert  Lawrence  Carpenter,  for  many  years  a resi- 
dent of  Minneapolis,  and  not  only  a business  man 
of  the  highest  standing  but  a citizen  of  varied  use- 
fulness and  public  spirit.  Mr.  Carpenter,  whose 
offices  are  in  the  Palace  Building  at  Minneapolis,  is 
vice  president  of  the  Shevlin,  Carpenter  & Clarke 
Company;  treasurer  of  the  Shevlin-Carpenter  Lum- 
ber Company,  the  Shevlin-Clarke  Company,  Limited, 
the  Shevlin-Mathieu  Lumber  Company,  and  has 
many  other  financial  and  business  associations  in 
the  Northwest. 

Elbert  L.  Carpenter  was  born  at  Rochelle,  Ogle 
County,  Illinois,  March  6,  1862,  a son  of  Judson  E. 
and  Olivia  (Detwiler)  Carpenter.  His  father  is  now 
living  retired  at  the  age  of  eighty  years  in  Pasadena, 
California.  The  mother  died  in  1884.,  Of  the  seven 
children  two  died  in  childhood,  while  E.  J.  and 
F.  H.  Carpenter  live  in  Minneapolis;  S.  J.  Carpen- 
ter is  a southern  lumberman  with  home  and  business 
headquarters  at  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and  the  young- 
est son  is  Elbert  L.  The  only  daughter  is  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam J.  Murphy,  of  Pasadena,  California. 

Judson  E.  Carpenter  has  been  an  influential  fig- 
ure in  the  lumber  industry  for  many  years,  and 
though  at  advanced  age  still  has  extensive  holdings. 
He  was  born  in  New  York  State,  went  to  Illinois 
when  a young  man,  and  from  there  came  to  Minne- 
sota, and  during  his  residence  in  Minneapolis  for 
about  twelve  years  made  himself  a large  figure  in 
the  lumber  industry.  He  is  still  president  of  the 
Carpenter-Lamb  Lumber  Company  of  Minneapolis 
and  a stockholder  in  various  Minneapolis  corpora- 
tions, and  has  extensive  interests  in  the  McCloud 
Lumber  Company  at  McCloud,  Siskiyou  County, 
California.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis 
Club,  the  Minikahda  Club  and  various  civic  organ- 
izations in  Minneapolis. 

Elbert  L.  Carpenter  during  his  youth  had  those 
opportunities  which  come  from  a home  of  means 
and  was  able  to  choose  his  career  with  deliberation 
and  started  under  auspicious  circumstances.  He  had 
an  excellent  education,  and  learned  the  details  of 
lumbering  in  connection  with  his  father's  operations. 
In  1887  he  became  an  independent  factor  in  the 
lumber  industry  in  Minneapolis  and  has  since  devel- 
oped the  relations  with  the  prominent  organizations 
already  mentioned.  He  is  also  a director  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Minneapolis,  of  the  Min- 
neapolis Trust  Company  and  the  Northwestern  Na- 
tional Life  Insurance  Company.  His  support  and 
influence  have  been  behind  some  of  the  institutions 
by  which  Minneapolis  is  best  known  to  the  outside 
world.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Civic 
and  Commerce  Association,  and  is  president  of  the 
Minneapolis  Orchestra  Association  and  of  the  North 
Shore  Good  Roads  Association.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  some  of  his  clubs  are  the  Minneapolis 
Club  and  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the  Mini- 
kahda Club,  the  Lafayette  Club  and  the  Interlachen 


Club.  Mrs.  Carpenter  is  likewise  active  in  club  and 
social  work,  and  is  a member  of  the  Woman's  Club 
of  Minneapolis  and  of  the  College  Women’s  Club 
of  New  York  City. 

On  June  4,  1890,  Mr.  Carpenter  married  Miss 
Florence  Isabelle  Welles,  of  Clinton,  Iowa.  Mr. 
Carpenter  himself  was  a former  resident  of  Clinton 
and  attended  school  there.  Mrs.  Carpenter  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Edwin  P.  Welles,  mentioned 
on  other  pages.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born 
two  children : Lawrence  Welles  and  Leonard  Gris- 
wold. The  oldest  son  attended  the  Minneapolis  pub- 
lic schools  and  the  Hotchkiss  Preparatory  School  at 
Lakeville,  Connecticut,  and  in  1914  graduated  from 
Yale  University  with  the  degree  Bachelor  of  Arts. 
The  younger  son  is  now  a student  in  the  Blake 
School,  near  Minneapolis. 

Edwin  P.  Welles.  The  late  Edwin  P.  Welles, 
who  died  at  Minneapolis  October  14,  1904,  began 
the  operations  which  brought  him  wealth  and  promi- 
nence as  a lumberman  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  about 
the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  and  for  the  last  ten 
years  of  his  life  has  lived  at  Minneapolis,  where  he 
was  treasurer  of  the  Brainerd  Lumber  Company  and 
otherwise  well  known  for  his  business  and  financial 
associations. 

He  came  of  an  illustrious  New  England  family, 
and  was  a descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  from 
Thomas  Welles,  the  first  governor  of  the  Province 
of  Connecticut.  Governor  Welles  had  emigrated 
from  England  to  America  in  1635.  One  of  his 
descendants  was  Gideon  Welles,  who  was  secretary 
of  the  navy  in  the  cabinet  of  President  Lincoln. 

Edwin  P.  Welles  was  born  at  Wethersfield,  Hart- 
ford County,  Connecticut,  in  1835,  and  lived  to  be 
nearly  three  score  and  ten  years  of  age.  His  father. 
Leonard  Welles,  was  a manufacturer  of  edged  tools 
and  a well  known  citizen  of  Wethersfield,  Con- 
necticut. Leonard  Welles  married  a member  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Pillsbury  family,  which  has  given 
some  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  to  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Welles  had  such  educational  advantages  as 
the  normal  youth  of  a prosperous  New  England 
family  received  in  his  generation,  and  in  1855,  at 
the  age  of  twenty,  came  west  and  began  his  busi- 
ness career  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  About  1865 
he  became  actively  connected  with  lumbering  and 
for  many  years  had  his  home  at  Clinton,  Iowa,  from 
which  point  he  directed  his  broad  business  interests 
as  a lumberman  extending  over  several  states.  His 
success  as  a business  man  is  indicated  by  his  rating 
prior  to  his  death  as  a millionaire.  He  possessed 
many  of  the  best  qualities  of  the  old-time  lumber 
kings.  He  had  the  rugged  virtues  of  New  England 
manhood,  possessed  initiative  and  constructive  abil- 
ity, was  a leader  of  men,  and  knew  how  to  direct  the 
operations  involving  large  capital  and  compact  or- 
ganizations of  equipment  and  men.  From  1894  until 
his  death  he  lived  in  Minneapolis,  where  lie  was 
treasurer  of  the  Brainerd  Lumber  Company,  one  of 
the  most  extensive  logging  companies  in  Minnesota. 
His  enterprise  was  largely  responsible  for  the  devel- 
opment of  the  Brainerd  & Northern  Railroad.  He 
was  also  a director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Minneapolis,  and  his  support  was  freely  given  to 
every  movement  for  the  general  good  of  the  com- 
munity. Like  all  strong  men,  he  was  simple  and 
unassuming  in  manner,  and  the  worth  of  his  char- 
acter commanded  for  him  the  respect  and  high  re- 
gard of  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  in  the 
varied  relations  of  life.  He  was  a stanch  republican. 


1712 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


and  for  forty  years  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

In  1857  Mr.  Welles  married  Miss  Isabelle  Gris- 
wold, who,  nearly  sixty  years  since  her  marriage,  is 
still  living  and  has  her  home  in  Minneapolis.  The 
two  daughters  who  survive  their  father  are : Mary 

Alice,  wife  of  William  F.  .Coan,  cashier  of  the  Clin- 
ton National  Bank  of  Clinton,  Iowa;  and  Florence 
Isabelle,  wife  of  Elbert  L.  Carpenter,  of  Min- 
neapolis. 

Hon.  Fred  F.  Brown.  Soon  after  his  admission 
to  the  bar  of  St.  Paul,  and  while  vigorously  em- 
ployed in  building  up  a good  practice,  Mr.  Brown 
was  drawn  into  politics,  has  been  one  of  the  active 
workers  on  the  democratic  side,  and  in  1914  was 
honored  with  the  nomination  and  subsequently  with 
election  as  a member  of  the  Lower  House  from  the 
Forty-first  Legislative  District.  Mr.  Brown  is  now 
one  of  the  capable  young  legislators  in  the  session 
of  1915,  having  taken  his  oath  of  office  January  5, 
1915.  Mr.  Brown  has  also  served  as  a member  of 
the  Democratic  Central  Committee. 

Fred  F.  Brown  was  born  in  the  City  of  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  May  28,  1882.  His  parents,  Martin  and  Beulah 
E.  (O'Reilly)  Brown,  were  both  natives  of  Ireland 
and  came  to  the  United  States  when  young.  Martin 
Brown  located  in  Iowa,  where  he  .married,  and  for 
a number  of  years  was  a farmer  in  the  vicinity  of 
Dubuque.  He  subsequently  removed  to  St.  Paul  and 
died  in  that  city  in  1884,  while  his  wife  passed  away 
in  1909. 

Fred  F.  Brown  attended  the  public  schools  of  St. 
Paul,  advancing  his  education  in  a select  school,  and 
finally  comp’eted  a course  in  St.  Paul  College.  His 
first  work  after  leaving  college  was  teaching,  and  in 
the  meantime  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  and  in 
1911  was  admitted  to  the  Ramsey  County  bar.  Mr. 
Brown  began  active  practice  in  1912  and  has  already 
won  a good  reputation  in  the  Ramsey  County  bar. 
He  is  unmarried  and  makes  his  home  with  his  sister 
on  Bates  Street.  Mr.  Brown  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Columbus. 

Lars  O.  Thorpe.  During  a long  and  active  busi- 
ness career  Lars  O.  Thorpe  has  experienced  the 
many  vicissitudes  which  occur  in  the  life  of  an  indi- 
vidual whose  ambition  and  energy  lead  him  into 
various  fields  for  endeavor.  He  was  a youth  of 
seventeen  years  when  he  first  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  his  initial  attempts  to  gain  a foothold 
were  marked  by  much  hard  labor  and  numerous  dis- 
couragements, but  he  kept  working  persistently,  and 
his  perseverance  and  industry  were  finally  rewarded 
by  a success  such  as  comes  to  but  few  men.  During 
his  long  residence  at  Willmar,  he  has  been  identified 
with  various  business  and  financial  ventures,  in  which 
his  fine  abilities  were  instrumental  in  the  develop- 
ment of  various  concerns,  while  in  public  life  he  has 
acted  in  numerous  official  capacities  to  the  eventual 
benefit  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Thorpe  was  born  in  Norway,  December  24, 
1847,  and  is  a son  of  Olaf  and  Britha  (Skaar) 
Thorpe,  and  a grandson  of  Trond  Thorp  and  Jan 
Skaar,  the  grandfathers  both  passing  their  entire 
lives  in  Norway  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Olaf  Thorpe 
followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  and  took 
up  farming  in  his  youth,  in  addition  to  which  he 
was  for  many  years  a schoolteacher.  He  and  the 
mother  both  passed  away  in  their  native  land,  in 
the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  the  work  of 


which  both  had  been  very  active.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children : Mikel,  who  is  a success- 
ful real  estate  man  of  Willmar;  and  Lars  O. 

Lars  O.  Thorpe  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Norway,  and  early  displayed  an  industrious 
spirit,  starting  to  work  when  he  was  only  nine  years 
of  age.  As  a lad  he  became  convinced  that  better 
opportunities  awaited  him  in  the  United  States,  and 
finally  received  his  parents’  consent  to  come  to  this 
country,  but  only  under  the  condition  that  he  return 
after  four  years.  Accordingly,  in  1864,  he  arrived 
in  America  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Jefferson 
Prairie,  Wisconsin,  where  he  secured  employment 
as  a farm  laborer,  but  in  March,  1865,  removed  to 
Winona  County,  Minnesota,  and  subsequently  spent 
short  periods  in  Olmsted  and  Dodge  counties.  In 
the  fall  of  1867,  to  redeem  his  promise  to  his  parents, 
he  returned  to  Norway,  but  he  had  become  so  im- 
pressed by  the  advantages  of  American  life,  that 
in  the  spring  of  1868  he  again  came  to  this  country 
and  for  a short  time  worked  as  a farm  hand  and 
in  the  harvest  fields.  In  1869  he  went  to  the  West 
in  search  of  employment,  and  while  there  secured 
a railroad  contract  under  General  DeGraft,  from 
whom  he  sub-contracted,  but  in  the  same  year  re- 
turned to  Minnesota  and  took  up  a homestead  in 
Kandiyohi  County.  The  following  winter  was 
passed  in  Dodge  County,  and  he  next  went  to 
Minneapolis,  where  he  learned  typesetting,  and  for 
a period  worked  on  the  Minneapolis  Budstiken.  In 
the  same  line,  in  1871,  Mr.  Thorpe  went  to  Kandiyohi 
and  set  type  for  the  Reveille,  but  in  the  fall,  when 
the  county  seat  was  moved  to  Willmar,  the  paper 
suspended  operations  and  Mr.  Thorpe  found  himself 
out  of  employment.  Returning  to  the  farm,  he  had 
an  unfortunate  experience  in  agriculture,  as  heavy 
hailstorms  destroyed  a large  part  of  his  crops,  and 
what  grain  was  left  turned  out  badly,  causing  him 
to  lose  the  greater  amount  of  his  means  that  he  had 
labored  so  faithfully  to  attain. 

In  1875  Mr.  Thorpe  was  elected  register  of  deeds, 
an  office  in  which  he  served  capably  for  three  terms. 
He  had  always  been  a stanch  republican,  and  in  1880 
was  made  presidential  elector.  Since  that  time  he 
has  served  in  various  capacities,  in  each  of  which 
he  has  demonstrated  the  possession  of  strong  execu- 
tive and  administrative  ability.  Elected  state  senator 
in  1894,  he  served  in  the  sessions  of  1895,  1897,  1903, 
1907  and  1909,  and  in  that  body  was  known  as  a 
forceful  worker  in  behalf  of  the  rights  of  . his  con- 
stituents and  his  district,  and  a stanch  friend  and 
supporter  of  beneficial  legislation.  In  1881  Mr. 
Thorpe  became  cashier  of  the  Kandiyohi  County 
Bank,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  a period  of 
thirty-three  years,  resigning  in  1914  because  of 
advancing  years  and  the  increasing  demands  of  his 
large  business  interests.  He  still  retains  holdings 
in  the  bank,  however,  and  continues  to  act  in  an 
official  capacity,  being  vice  president  of  the  institu- 
tion which  he  built  up  from  a small  concern  into  a 
substantial  enterprise,  with  capital  of  $135,000,  and 
average  deposits  of  $750,000.  Mr.  Thorpe  in  addi- 
tion to  being  a property  owner  in  Willmar  and  Kan- 
diyohi and  adjacent  counties,  is  president  of  the 
Willmar  Seminary,  a school  under  the  direction  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  which  was  organized  in  1881 
and  which  has  a large  attendance.  _ He  has  been 
liberal  in  his  support  of  movements  initiated  by  the 
Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a member  . 
since  boyhood.  Mr.  Thorpe  is  eminently  entitled  to 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


] 713 


be  known  as  a self-made  man,  for  every  dollar  he 
possesses  has  come  to  him  as  a result  of  his  own 
industry.  His  standing  in  business  and  financial 
circles  is  of  the  highest,  and  his  record  in  public 
and  private  life  is  -one  on  which  there  is  not  the 
slightest  stain  or  blemish. 

In  1870  Mr.  Thorpe  was  married  to  Miss  Martha 
Quale,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  May  30,  1851, 
a daughter  of  Ellend  Quale,  and  to  this  union  there 
have  been  born  five  children : Edward  Lawrence, 
a graduate  of  Willmar  Seminary  and  the  State  Agri- 
cultural College,  and  now  cashier  of  the  State  Bank 
of  Pennock,  Minnesota;  Rev.  C.  S.,  a graduate  of 
the  Lutheran  College,  and  now  minister  of  Hope 
Lutheran  Church,  Minneapolis;  Edith,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  C.  O.  Estrem,  a practicing  physician  of 
Fergus  Falls,  Minnesota;  Miss  Jane,  who  resides  at 
home  and  is  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Kan- 
diyohi County;  and  Miss  Bertha,  a graduate  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  who  is  a teacher  in  the 
Farmington  High  School. 

John  S.  Bangs.  One  of  the  prominent  men  in 
that  great  industrial  section,  South  St.  Paul,  is 
John  S.  Bangs,  manager  for  Swift  & Company,  vice 
president . of  the  Stock  Yards  National  Bank  and 
vice  president  St.  Paul  Union  Stock  Yards  Co. 
Swift  & Company  operates  the  largest  packing 
houses  in  South  St.  Paul,  and  is  one  of  the  largest 
industries  of  the  kind  in  the  Northwest.  Closely 
affiliated  with  this  large  corporation  is  the  St.  Paul 
LTnion  Stock  Yards  Company.  It  will  not  be  out 
of  place  to  mention  some  of  the  figures  which  will 
serve  to  measure  this  great  market  center  of  Min- 
nesota. The  stockyards  have  a yarding  accommoda- 
tion for  40,000  hogs,  20,000  cattle  and  45,000  sheep, 
and  there  are  sheds  sufficient  for  the  feeding  at 
one  time  of  72,000  sheep.  Modern  brick  barns  pro- 
vide accommodations  for  400  horses  and  mules.  The 
annual  value  of  the  live  stock  received  at  South  St. 
Paul  will  average  $45,000,000.  The  yearly  receipts 
approximate  6,000  mules  and  horses,  550,000  cattle, 

600.000  sheep  and  1,500,000  hogs.  The  daily  re- 
quirements of  the  packing  houses  located  in  the 
South  St.  Paul  district  amounts  to  2,000  cattle, 

3.000  sheep  and  8,000  hogs.  The  annual  pay  roll 
in  the  packing  houses,  stockyards  and  kindred  indus- 
tries aggregates  about  $2,000,000  and  some  4,000  per- 
sons are  employed.  The  immense  trade  in  live  stock 
in  South  St.  Paul  is  handled  chiefly  by  nineteen 
commission  firms,  each  of  which  is  bonded  in  the 
sum  of  $20,000  for  the  protection  of  its  customers. 
It  is  a fact  not  generally  known  that  South  St.  Paul 
Is  the  largest  market  in  the  United  States  for  feeder 
and  milch  cows. 

John  S.  Bangs,  who  has  been  connected  with  the 
Swift  & Company  business  at  South  St.  Paul  since 
1897,  was  born  at  Eastham,  Massachusetts,  in  De- 
cember, 1861,  a son  of  John  H.  and  Laura  P. 
(Horton)  Bangs,  the  father  being  a house  builder 
and  carpenter  of  that  place.  His  early  education 
was  received  from  a district  school  and  afterward 
he  attended  the  schools  of  Chelsea,  Massachusetts, 
up  to  his  sixteenth  year.  In  his  early  manhood  Mr. 
Bangs  became  identified  with  Swift  & Company  at 
their  Chicago  plant,  and  during  the  eight  years  he 
was  employed  there  received  many  promotions.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  company’s  plant  at  South 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  remained  there  until  1897,  in 
which  year  he  was  elected  by  Swift  & Company  to 
take  the  management  of  the  South  St.  Paul  plant. 


Mr.  Bangs  is  also  a stockholder  and  director  and 
the  vice  president  of  the  Stock  Yards  National  Bank 
and  the  St.  Paul  Cattle  Loan  Company,  which  serve 
the  large  financial  interests  represented  in  South  St. 
Paul. 

Mr.  Bangs  married  Miss  Bessie  F.  Swift,  a niece 
of  the  founder  of  the  packing  company  of  Swift. 
They  are  the  parents  of  six  children : Laura  B., 
Florence  A.,  Nathaniel  S.,  J.  Milton,  Mildred  and 
Bessie  S. 

Mr.  Bangs  is  well  known  in  social  circles  in  St. 
Paul,  is  a member  of  the  Town  and  Country  Club, 
of  the  Automobile  Club,  of  the  Commercial  Club 
and  the  Association  of  Commerce,  and  in  Masonry 
is  affiliated  with  Mizpah  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and 
with  Delta  Chapter  of  the  Royal  Arch,  both  of  Chi- 
cago, and  Paladin  Commandery,  of  St.  Paul. 

John  Earl  Palmer.  One  of  the  ablest  and  best 
known  lawyers  of  Martin  County  is  John  Earl 
Palmer  of  Fairmont.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1899,  and  had  already  been  a useful  worker 
through  the  avenue  of  teaching.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a 
man  of  forcible  ability  in  the  everyday  work  of  his 
profession  and  out  of  the  richness  of  his  experience 
and  his  broad  knowledge  has  become  one  of  the 
most  successful  members  of  the  bar,  as  well  as  one 
of  the  most  gifted  public  speakers  in  Southern  Min- 
nesota. 

He  represents  good  old  New  England  stock,  and 
was  born  at  Boothbay  in  the  State  of  Maine,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1,873'  He  is  a son  of  John  F.  and 
Rebecca  W.  (Loring)  Palmer.  Great-grandfather 
Palmer  emigrated  from  England  and  settled  at  Wis- 
casset,  Maine,  while  on  his  mother’s  side  Mr.  Palmer 
is  descended  from  ancestors  who  located  in  New 
England  during  the  colonial  times,  his  mother's 
grandmother  having  been  a Hancock,  a member  of 
the  same  family  which  gave  the  great  general  and 
statesman,  John  Hancock.  John  F.  Palmer,  the 
father,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine,  in  1834,  and 
died  at  Fairmont,  Minnesota,  in  1913.  His  birth- 
place was  Wiscasset  in  Lincoln  County,  Maine,  and 
during  his  residence  along  the  Atlantic  coast  he  was 
a sea  captain  and  mail  contractor,  and  after  coming- 
west  and  locating  in  Fairmont  in  1882  followed  mail 
contracting  and  placed  the  first  steamers  on  the 
chain  of  lakes  at  Fairmont  and  vicinity.  John  F. 
Palmer  married  Miss  Rebecca  W.  Loring,  who  was 
born  in  East  Otisfield,  Maine,  in  1840  and  died  at 
Fairmont  in  1900.  Her  father,  Rev.  Joseph  Loring, 
was  a graduate  from  Bowdoin  College  as  a classmate 
with  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  became  an  early  Congre- 
gational minister  and  preached  at  Yarmouth,  Port- 
land, Edgecomb,  Pownal,  and  other  places.  John  F. 
Palmer  and  wife  had  the  following  children:  J.  L., 
who  is  a chauffeur,  living  at  Fairmont;  Maude  F., 
who  married  William  Lepine,  of  Welcome,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  is  a prosperous  farmer  and  mail  car- 
rier; John  E.,  who  comes  next  in  order;  Ellen  C., 
wife  of  C.  D.  Welcome,  living  on  a farm  at  Wel- 
come, Minnesota ; Roy  W.,  who  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Palmer-Edwards  Company  at  Fair- 
mont; E.  D.,  who  is  a mail  carrier  living  at  Fair- 
mont; and  Margaret  B.,  a teacher  by  profession  but 
now  a student  in  Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul. 

John  E.  Palmer  has  been  a worker  and  student 
from  boyhood  days,  and  has  made  his  position  largely 
through  his  own  efforts.  The  public  schools  fur- 
nished him  his  early  training,  and  after  leaving  the 
high  school  at  Fairmont  he  entered  the  state  normal 


1714 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


school  at  Mankato  and  finished  there  with  the  class 
of  1894.  The  following  three  years  were  spent  in 
active  school  work  as  principal  of  graded  schools 
in  Carver,  Martin  and  Scott  counties.  His  ambition 
was  for  the  law,  and  while  engaged  in  other  duties 
he  was  also  a stenographer  in  law  offices  in  Fair- 
mont and  carrying  on  active  preparations  until  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1899.  Mr.  Palmer  was  first  asso- 
ciated with  E.  C.  Dean  under  the  firm  name  of  Dean 
& Palmer,  a partnership  which  continued  for  thir- 
teen years  with  mutual  satisfaction  and  profit.  In 
the  fall  of  1912  Mr.  Palmer  opened  law  offices  for 
himself  in  the  Sinclair  Block  at  Fairmont,  and 
has  since  looked  after  a large  general  practice,  and 
at  the  same  time  a number  of  business  affairs  and 
relations  which  have  accumulated.  Mr.  Palmer  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Palmer-Edwards  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  vice  president  and  counsel,  a 
company  that  does  an  extensive  business  throughout 
Southern  Minnesota  in  real  estate,  loans,  insurance, 
abstracts,  etc.  In  1892  Mr.  Palmer  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  county  attorney  of  Martin  County,  and 
filled  that  office  continuously  for  eight  years,  and 
was  again  reappointed  and  served  from  1909  to 
1912.  Since  the  fall  of  1912  he  has  been  city  attor- 
ney of  Fairmont'  and  is  treasurer  of  the  school 
board.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a republican,  is  a member  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  and  chairman  of 
its  board,  and  has  numerous  fraternal  affiliations, 
with  Chain  Lake  Lodge  No.  64,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; 
Fairmont  Chapter  No.  50,  R.  A.  M. ; with  Fair- 
mont Lodge  No.  154,  Knights  of  Pythias;  with  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

In  September,  1898,  at  Mankato,  Mr.  Palmer 
married  Miss  Winnifred  Ibertson,  also  a student  of 
the  Mankato  Normal  School  and  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage a teacher  in  the  Martin  County  public  schools. 
Mr.  Palmer  and  wife  have  the  following  children  : 
Ray  G.,  who  is  a member  of  the  sophomore  class  in 
the  Fairmont  High  School ; Harold  D.  and  John 
Marshall,  both  in  the  grammar  schools  at  Fair- 
mont. 

Carl  Henry  Wessel.  The  majority  of  citizens 
in  Martin  County  at  once  recognize  Carl  H.  Wessel 
as  one  of  the  interested  principals  in  the  large  land 
company  with  offices  at  Fairmont.  Mr.  Wessel  is 
a real  estate  man  who  has  invested  both  capital 
and  experience  in  the  business  and  with  his  partner 
handles  a large  aggregate  of  farm  land  both  in  his 
home  state  and  in  other  states,  and  owns  much  of 
the  property  handled  through  his  company.  Mr. 
Wessel  is  a practical  farmer  both  in  Illinois  and  in 
Minnesota,  and  on  the  subject  of  Minnesota  lands 
has  an  experience  and  judgment  rarely  if  ever  at 
fault. 

Carl  Henry  Wessel  was  born  in  Woodford  County, 
Illinois,  August  13,  1873.  His  father  was  Henry 
Wessel,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1845  and  was 
brought  to  America  by  grandfather  Carl  Wessel  in 
1859.  Carl  Wessel  settled  in  Woodford  County, 
became  a pioneer  there,  and  the  family  through  thiee 
generations  have  been  identified  with  that  section 
of  the  Prairie  State.  The  wife  of  grandfather  Carl 
Wessel  had  died  in  Germany  before  the  emigration. 
Henry  Wessel  now  lives  in  Secor,  Woodford  County. 
He  was  married  in  Woodford  County  to  Carrie 
Loger,  who  was  born  in  Germany.  Their  children 
are:  Mary,  who  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  her 
parents;  Lena,  wife  of  George  Ludemann,  a large 


land  owner  and  land  speculator  with  residence  at 
Chillicothe,  Texas ; Carl  Henry ; William,  who  is  a 
horse  buyer  and  farmer  at  Brunnie,  Nebraska;  Car- 
rie, wife  of  William  Rippel,  a farmer  at  Secor,  Illi- 
nois ; Herman,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  at 
Secor,  Illinois ; Anetta,  wife  of  Louis  Clausen,  a 
farmer  at  Secor;  and  Henry  M.,  Jr.,  on  a farm  ad- 
joining the  old  home  farm  place. 

Carl  Henry  Wessel  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Woodford  County,  and  his 
life  was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  The  following  six  years  he  was  an 
independent  farmer  in  Woodford  County,  and  in 
1900  moved  to  Roanoke,  Illinois,  and  operated  a 
threshing  outfit  and  corn  sheller  for  two  seasons.  In 
the  spring  of  1902,  having  returned  to  his  farm, 
he  spent  one  more  year  as  an  Illinois  farmer,  and 
in  October  of  the  same  year  came  out  to  Minnesota 
and  located  at  Manyaska  Station  in  Martin  County. 
That  was  the  scene  of  his  practical  farming  opera- 
tions until  1905,  in  which  year  he  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  in  Ceylon,  and  was  a merchant 
and  also  in  the  real  estate  business  there  for  five 
years.  In  October,  1911,  Mr.  Wessel  transferred 
his  business  headquarters  to  Fairmont,  and  has  since 
been  identified  with  land  operations.  His  partner  is 
Mr.  A.  D.  Alton.  They  handle  chiefly  farm  lands 
in  Minnesota,  but  also  have  agencies  for  Texas 
and  North  Dakota  tracts.  Mr.  Wessel  has  in- 
dividual holdings  in  land  and  real  estate,  and  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ceylon. 

Mr.  Wessel  is  a republican  in  politics  and  attends 
the  German  Lutheran  Church.  In  1896  in  Wood- 
ford County,  Illinois,  he  married  Miss  Minnie  Been- 
ders.  Her  father,  the  late  Claus  Beenders,  was  a 
Woodford  County  farmer.  Mr.  Wessel  and  wife 
have  the  following  children  : Lenora,  who  is  a stu- 
dent in  the  Fairmont  High  School;  Alma,  Walter, 
Arthur,  Paul  and  Esther,  who  are  attending  the 
grammar  schools ; while  Vera,  Garnet  and  Gwen- 
dolyn are  not  yet  of  school  age. 

Ezra  Carter  Dean.  Now  serving  as  county  at- 
torney of  Martin  County,  and  in  practice  at  Fair- 
mont, Ezra  Carter  Dean  has  spent  all  his  profes- 
sional career  in  Minnesota,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  when  a very  young  man,  and  has  practiced  suc- 
cessfully in  Pipestone  and  Martin  counties  for  more 
than  thirty  years. 

Ezra  Carter  Dean  was  born  at  LaMoille,  Illinois, 
March  22,  1858.  His  father,  Jonathan  P.  Dean,  was 
born  in  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  in  1817,  and  died 
at  LaMoille  in  1897.  He  married  Julia  Durland, 
who  was  born  in  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  in  1816, 
and  died  in  1877.  The  Deans  are  of  English  and 
Welsh  ancestry,  while  the  Durlands  are  Dutch. 
Grandfather  Jonathan  Dean,  who  died  at  Morris- 
town, New  Jersey,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  iron 
industry,  had  seen  service  as  a soldier  and  officer 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Jonathan  P.  Dean  moved 
out  to  Illinois  in  1834,  locating  in  Canton,  and  in 
1857  establishing  a home  in  the  rich  farming  dis- 
trict about  LaMoille.  He  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children : Electa,  who  died 
at  LaMoille,  aged  seventy-two ; Daniel  R.,  who  died 
in  Montezuma,  Iowa,  having  followed  business  as  a 
stock  buyer  and  farmer;  Julia,  the  widow  of  James 
FI.  Lloyd,  who  was  a merchant,  now  resides  in 
Nevada,  Missouri;  Lewis  was  a furniture  merchant 
and  died  at  Spring  Valley,  Illinois;  I.  D.  is  a farmer 
at  Arlington,  Illinois ; George  is  a real  estate  broker 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1715 


at  LaMoille;  Serepta  is  the  wife  of  Frank  A. 
King,  a hardware  merchant  at  LaMoille. 

Ezra  Carter  Dean,  the  youngest  in  the  family, 
grew  up  in  the  town  and  vicinity  of  LaMoille,  at- 
tended the  public  schools  through  high  school,  and 
in  1877  took  his  degree  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  the 
University  of  Illinois.  Two  years  later,  in  1879, 
Mr.  Dean  was  graduated  LL.  B.  from  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Iowa.  His  college 
fraternity  was  the  Delta  Tau  Delta. 

Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881  Mr.  Dean  at  once 
located  in  Pipestone,  Minnesota,  and  successfully 
handled  an  increasing  business  in  the  courts  of  that 
city  and  county  until  1898.  Since  then  his  home  has 
been  in  Fairmont,  where  his  reputation  followed 
him  and  where  he  has  acquired  a good  general  prac- 
tice. His  offices  are  in  the  First  National  Bank 
Building.  Mr.  Dean  is  a member  of  the  Seventeenth 
Judicial  District  Bar  Association.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Pipestone  County  he  was  elected  county 
attorney  in  1880, -soon  after  locating  there,  and  held 
the  office  continuously  for  ten  years.  In  1912  a sim- 
ilar honor  was  paid  him  in  Martin  County,  and  in 
1914  he  had  no  opposition  to  his  candidacy. 

For  two  years  Mr.  Dean  has  served  as  president 
of  the  Fairmont  Commercial  Club.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Fairmont  Library  Board.  Mr.  Dean 
is  a member  of  the  official  board  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  is  affiliated  with  Chain  Lake 
Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  has  served  as  captain  of 
hosts  in  Fairmont  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  is  also 
affiliated  with  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  a director 
of  the  Building  and  Loan  Association  at  Fairmont. 

In  1883  at  LaMoille,  Illinois,  Mr.  Dean  married 
Miss  Minnie  L.  Lewis,  daughter  of  W.  W.  Lewis, 
now  deceased,  who  was  a stock  buyer  at  LaMoille. 
Their  children  are : Robert  L.,  who  is  now  a stu- 
dent in  the  Armour  Institute  of  Technology  at  Chi- 
cago. and  Marjorie  L.,  attending  Oberlin  College 
in  Ohio. 

Henry  C.  Nolxe.  In  the  election  of  Henry  C. 
Nolte  to  the  office  of  county  auditor  in  1912,  the 
citizens  of  Martin  County  honored  a man  whose 
record  for  many  years  has  been  distinguished  for 
a high  degree  of  .public  service  and  efficiency  both 
in  office  and  in  private  affairs.  He  was  formerly  a 
merchant,  and  more  than  twelve  years  ago  entered 
the  office  of  county  auditor  in  a subordinate  capacity, 
and  his  thorough  experience  in  the  practical  man- 
agement of  the  office  gave  him  exceptional  qualifica- 
tions for  his  responsibilities  as  elective  chief  of  the 
position. 

Henry  C.  Nolte  was  born  at  Downers  Grove,  Illi- 
nois, April  15,  1872.  His  father,  Carl  Nolte,  was 
born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  Germany,  in 
1841,  and  is  now  living  a retired  farmer  at 
Fairmont,  Minnesota.  In  1868  he  emigrated  from 
Germany  to  America,  lived  at  Downers  Grove,  Illi- 
nois, in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago,  for  seventeen  years, 
and  in  1885  moved  to  a farm  in  Martin  County. 
His  wife’s  maiden  name  was  Louisa  Meyer,  who  was 
also  born  in  Hanover  in  1848  and  is  still  living. 
They  became  the  parents  of  a large  family  of  chil- 
dren whose  names  and  a brief  mention  of  their 
positions  in  life  are  given  as  follows:  Emma,  wife 

of  Henry  Oltman,  a farmer  in  Ottertail  County, 
Minnesota:  Henry  C..  who  is  second  in  order  of 
birth ; William,  who  is  a minister  of  the  German 
Lutheran  faith  and  now  residing  at  Elmore,  Minne- 
sota; Carl,  a twin  brother  of  William,  lives  at  Fair- 


mont, a farmer;  Adolph  and  Gustav,  both  of  whom 
are  farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  Fairmont;  Matilda, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Emanuel  Haertel,  in  the  monu- 
ment business  at  Fairmont;  Emilie,  wife  of  Edward 
Eversman,  a farmer  at  Fairmont;  Louis,  who  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Martin  County;  Louisa, 
wife  of  L.  Poppe,  a farmer  near  Fairmont;  Amanda, 
the  wife  of  Ed.  Wessel,  and  Fred,  a farmer  at  Fair- 
mont. 

Henr.v  C.  Nolte  grew  up  on  a farm  and  attended 
public  schools  at  Lagrange,  Illinois,  and  after  com- 
ing to  Martin  County,  being  a student  in  the  high 
school  at  Fairmont  and  pursuing  a two  years’  course 
in  the  Mendota  Business  College.  Leaving  college 
in  1896  Mr.  Nolte  worked  for  one  year  in  the  law 
offices  of  Vories  & Mathwig  at  Fairmont,  and  from 
1898  to  1901  was  a salesman  and  bookkeeper  for 
J.  H.  Gorman’s  implement  house  at  Fairmont.  Dur- 
ing 1902  he  conducted  an  implement  business  at  Dun- 
nell,  Minnesota,  but  gave  up  the  business  on  receiv- 
ing an  appointment  in  the  office  of  the  county 
auditor  at  Fairmont.  He  had  practical  manage- 
ment of  the  office  there  for  ten  years  and  in  1912 
was  elected  county  auditor,  and  in  1914  had  no  oppo- 
sition for  re-election  to  the  extended  term  of  four 
years.  Mr.  Nolte  has  always  been  a ready  servant 
of  the  public,  and  during  his  residence  at  Dunnell 
served  as  a member  of  the  village  council.  He  is 
active  in  business  affairs  and  is  vice  president  and 
treasurer  of  the  Fairmont  Mercantile  Company  and 
is  a director  in  the  Martin  County  National  Bank, 
also  member  of  the  Water  & Light  Commission, 
of  Fairmont. 

In  politics  he  is  a republican.  Mr.  Nolte  has 
been  collector  for  the  German  Lutheran  Church 
during  the  past  eight  years  and  is  active  in  church 
affairs.  In  1897  in  Fairmont  he  married  Minnie 
Brodt,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  J.  Brodt,  who 
was  a farmer  at  Fairmont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nolte 
have  the  following  children : Lester  and  Harold, 
both  of  whom  are  students  in  the  high  school  at 
Fairmont;  Sylvan,  Roland,  Alice  and  Ralph,  who 
attend  the  grammar  schools  at  Fairmont;  while 
Lucile,  Esgar  and  Floyd  are  young  children  still 
at  home. 

John  Frederick  Haeckel.  One  of  the  most  pop- 
ular members  in  the  official  group  in  the  court- 
house at  Fairmont  is  John  F.  Haeckel,  the  present 
county  treasurer  of  Martin  County.  From  early 
boyhood  he  grew  up  on  a farm  in  this  county,  has 
been  known  to  the  people  of  this  section  for  many 
years  and  always  with  a high  esteem,  and  after  serv- 
ing for  several  years  in  the  office  of  deputy  county 
treasurer  he  well  deserved  the  confidence  of  the 
people  bestowed  upon  him  when  he  was  elected  to 
the  regu'ar  term  as  count)'  treasurer. 

John  Frederick  Haeckel  was  born  in  Lake  County, 
Illinois,  February  19,  1880,  a son  of  Louis  Haeckel. 
Louis  Haeckel  was  born  in  1849,  in  Alsace,  then  a 
province  of  France,  but  since  1870  a portion  of  the 
German  Empire.  Louis  Haeckel  left  his  native  land 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  came  to  America  and  set- 
tled in  Lake  County.  Illinois,  and  in  1893  moved  out 
to  Martin  County,  Minnesota.  He  followed  his  trade 
as  blacksmith  until  1893.  and  after  coming  to  Martin 
County  cultivated  a farm  until  1912,  in  which 
year  he  retired  and  now  lives  in  Fairmont.  When 
a young  man  in  Alsace  he  saw  the  regular  period  of 
service  in  the  army.  He  married  Sophia  Sauer,  who 
was  born  in  Lake  County.  Illinois,  of  German  parent- 


1716 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


age.  She  is  still  living,  and  their  children  are: 
John  Frederick;  Laura  Sophia,  wife  of  D.  N.  Spee, 
living  on  a farm  in  Martin  County,  Minnesota;  Vic- 
tor Albert,  a farmer  in  Stevens  County,  Minnesota ; 
Christopher  Adam,  who  is  a bookkeeper  and  stenog- 
rapher for  the  Stacy  Fruit  Company  at  Valley 
City,  North  Dakota;  Cora  May,  wife  of  Nicholas 
Juhl,  a farmer  in  Martin  County;  Sarah,  who  lives 
at  home ; and  Ella,  also  unmarried  and  living  at 
home. 

John  Frederick  Flaeckel  acquired  his  education 
first  in  the  public  schools  of  Lake  County,  Illinois, 
and  was  thirteen  years  old  when  the  family  moved 
to  the  farm  in  Martin  County,  Minnesota.  Here 
he  continued  to  attend  school,  and  for  several  terms 
was  in  the  schools  at  Fairmont,  and  in  1904  grad- 
uated from  Sweet’s  Business  College  at  Fairmont. 
The  first  twenty-five  years  of  his  life  Mr.  Haeckel 
spent  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  actively  identified 
with  farm  operations.  He  then  received  an  appoint- 
ment as  deputy  county  treasurer  of  Martin  County 
and  gave  all  his  time  and  attention  to  the  duties  of 
that  office  and  that  led  up  in  the  fall  of  1910  to 
his  election  as  chief  of  the  office  of  county  treasurer. 
In  1914  Mr.  Haeckel  had  no  opposition  and  was  re- 
elected county  treasurer  for  another  term  of  four 
years. 

He  is  a director  of  the  Fairmont  Building  & Loan 
Association,  is  affiliated  with  Sylvania  Camp  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Fairmont,  with 
Chain  Lake  Lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at 
Fairmont,  and  is  a member  and  secretary  of  the 
Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen.  Mr.  Haeckel 
attends  the  Congregational  Church. 

In  March,  1907,  at  Fairmont,  he  married  Miss 
Effie  Hengen,  daughter  of  Peter  Hengen,  who  was 
formerly  a section  foreman  with  the  Omaha  Rail- 
road, and  now  lives  in  Fairmont.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Haeckel  have  four  children,  as  follows : Fay  Eliza- 
beth, Raymond  Louis,  Hazel  Barber  and  Warren 
Peter. 

William  S.  Carver.  Now  serving  in  his  second 
term  as  sheriff  of  Martin  County,  William  S.  Carver 
has  had  a career  which  well  justifies  the  confidence 
of  the  citizens  displayed  in  choosing  him  as  sheriff, 
and  in  the  management  of  his  private  affairs  and  the 
administration  of  public  office  has  evinced  good 
judgment,  efficiency,  thorough  honesty  and  a rare 
insight  and  courage  with  his  dealings  with  men. 

William  S.  Carver  was  born  in  Martin  County, 
Minnesota,  July  14,  1868,  and  represents  a pioneer 
name  in  Southern  Minnesota.  His  father,  the  late 
S.  H.  Carver,  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  in  1824,  and 
died  at  the  Soldiers  Home  in  Minneapolis  in  1894. 
He  was  descended  from  one  of  three  brothers  who 
came  from  England  long  before  the  Revolutionary 
war,  settled  in  New  England,  and  his  particular 
branch  of  the  name  subsequently  was  carried  out  to 
Wisconsin,  and  thence  transplanted  in  Minnesota. 
S.  H.  Carver  in  1859  moved  from  Wisconsin  to  Ten- 
haffen  Township  in  Martin  County,  Minnesota,  home- 
steaded a tract  of  land  there,  and  lived  the  life 
of  a pioneer  until  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war. 
He  then  enlisted  with  the  Union  forces  after  being 
raised  along  the  northwestern  frontier,  and  saw 
three  years  of  active  service  during  the  war,  and 
afterwards  drew  a pension.  S.  H.  Carver  married 
Nettie  Babcock,  who  was  born  in  Michigan  and 
lives  in  Fairmont,  Minnesota.  Their  children  are: 
Henry  R.,  who  is  a farmer  in  Stanley  County,  South 


Dakota;  John  H.,  who  lives  on  a farm  in  Tenhaffen 
Township  of  Martin  County;  Ellen,  whose  first  hus- 
band was  George  Cook,  a Martin  County  farmer, 
and  after  his  death  she  married  Conrad  Brutsch, 
formerly  a farmer  and  now  a carpenter  and  builder 
living  in  Ceylon,  Minnesota;  William  S.;  Lottie,  wife 
of  Charles  Personius,  who  manages  a summer  resort 
at  Center  Chain,  Minnesota ; and  Lucy,  who  mar- 
ried Frank  Theobald,  chief  of  police  at  Ceylon,  Min- 
nesota. 

William  S.  Carver  was  reared  in  Martin  County 
and  lived  on  his  father’s  farm  until  eighteen  years 
of  age,  and  his  education  was  that  supplied  by  the 
public  schools  of  the  locality.  After  leaving  school 
and  arriving  at  maturity  he  took  up  farming  for 
himself  in  Martin  County  and  was  actively  engaged 
along  those  lines  until  1904.  Eight  years  had  been 
spent  in  the  Far  West  in  the  State  of  Oregon  as  a 
farmer,  but  the  rest  of  the  time  he  was  a resident 
of  Martin  County.  In  1904  Mr.  Carver  engaged  in 
stock  buying  and  butchering  in  Fairmont,  and  con- 
tinued along  that  line  until  1911.  During  1911-12 
he  was  manager  for  the  Ward  & Company  Packing 
House,  and  his  election  to  the  office  of  sheriff 
in  1912  caused  him  to  relinquish  practically  all  busi- 
ness affairs  in  favor  of  his  public  duties.  In  1914 
Mr.  Carver  had  no  opposition  as  candidate  for  the 
office  of  sheriff,  and  was  re-elected  for  a period 
of  four  years. 

Mr.  Carver  has  various  fraternal  relations,  being 
affiliated  with  Chain  Lake  Lodge  No.  64,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ; Fairmont  Chapter  No.  50,  R.  A.  M. ; Knights 
of  Pythias  at  Fairmont;  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  in 
the  same  place,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Pythian 
Sisters  and  the  Order  of  Eastern  Star.  He  has  never 
aspired  to  offices  in  these  organizations,  though  sev- 
eral times  elected  to  different  posts.  Mr.  Carver 
attends  the  Congregational  Church.  In  1899  in  the 
State  of  Oregon  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Lilly,  who 
was  a daughter  of  S.  N.  Lilly,  a farmer  at  Cor- 
vallis, Oregon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carver  have  no  chil- 
dren. 

Hon.  James  A.  Everett.  A career  of  unusual 
experience  and  service  has  been  that  of  James  A. 
Everett,  of  Fairmont.  His  early  life  was  spent  in 
the  Pine  Tree  State  of  Maine,  from  which  he  went 
out  to  serve  in  the  ranks  of  the  Union  and  was 
raised  from  private  to  the  rank  of  captain.  Soon 
after  that  great  struggle  he  came  to  the  Northwest 
and  for  more  than  forty  years  has  lived  in  Martin 
County.  Mr.  Everett  was  a homesteader  in  the 
early  days,  and  has  filled  nearly  every  office  in  the 
gift  of  the  people  and  is  now  acting  as  justice  of 
the  peace  at  Fairmont. 

James  A.  Everett  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine 
January  16,  1843,  and  has  now  passed  the  age  of 
three  score  and  ten.  The  Everett  family  came 
originally  from  Wales,  and  settled  in  America  in 
the  early  colonial  times.  His  great-grandfather 
Josiah  Everett,  was  a soldier  with  the  American 
troops  in  the  Revolution,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years  in  New  Portland,  Maine,  when 
James  A.  Everett  was  a small  child.  Josiah  Everett 
was  a sailor  and  later  a farmer,  and  for  the  last 
twenty  years  of  his  life  was  crippled.  William  A. 
Everett,  father  of  James  A.,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Maine  in  1799  and  died  at  a good  old  age  in 
Manyaska  in  Martin  County,  Minnesota,  in  1880. 
He  came  West  in  1863,  first  settling  in  Allamakee 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1717 


County,  Iowa,  but  in  1876  moved  to  Martin  County, 
Minnesota,  where  he  was  a farmer.  William  A. 
Everett’s  first  wife  was  a Miss  Churchill,  and  her 
children  are  all  deceased.  His  second  wife  was  Mary 
E.  Twitchell,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine  in 
1808  and  died  in  Manyaska  Township  in  Martin 
County  in  1878.  Her  children  were:  James  A.;  and 
Charles,  who  died  at  Hibbing,  Minnesota,  in  1909, 
having  followed  farming  for  many  years  and  at 
Hibbing  was  a contractor  and  speculator. 

James  A.  Everett  grew  up  in  his  native  state,  was 
reared  on  a farm,  and  attended  district  schools.  He 
was  still  under  age  when  the  war  broke  out,  and 
almost  at  the  beginning  of  that  struggle  he  enlisted 
in  Company  F of  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  Maine 
Infantry,  and  was  not  mustered  out  until  February, 
1865.  Going  in  as  a private  he  had  many  unusual 
experiences.  At  the  time  of  his  enlistment  he  was 
between  eighteen  and  nineteen  years  of  age.  In 
less  than  six  months  he  was  raised  to  corporal.  His 
impetuous  and  hot-headed  temperament  soon  caused 
a reduction  to  the  rank  of  private.  Another  six 
months  and  he  was  made  sergeant,  and  shortly 
afterwards  again  reduced  to  the  ranks.  On  May 
3,  1864,  Mr.  Everett  was  given  a sergeant’s  commis- 
sion, and  on  May  18th  of  the  same  year  was  made 
first  sergeant.  On  July  9th  he  was  commissioned  sec- 
ond lieutenant  and  on  August  5th  was  advanced  to 
first  lieutenant  and  on  August  21st  received  a cap- 
tain’s commission,  having  received  three  promotions 
in  about  six  weeks.  On  the  day  that  he  was  com- 
missioned a captain  during  a minor  skirmish  near 
Charleston,  West  Virginia,  he  was  shot  and  sent 
to  a hospital,  and  was  finally  mustered  out  for  dis- 
ability. During  his  service  he  was  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  and  his  regiment  was  attached  to  the 
Sixth  Army  Corps.  He  also  took  part  in  the  cam- 
paign ;n  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  fought  at  Antietam 
and  in  the  Wilderness  campaign. 

In  March,  1865,  following  his  discharge  from  the 
army,  Captain  Everett  came  west  to  Houston  County. 
Minnesota,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and 
helped  to  develop  the  wild  land  in  that  district  into 
cultivated  areas.  He  followed  farming  there  until 
the  fall  of  1869  and  then  took  up  his  residence  on  a 
homestead  in  Martin  County.  This  county  has  been 
his  home  now  for  forty-five  years.  He  followed 
farming  until  the  spring  of  1876,  and  then  moved  to 
the  county  seat  at  Fairmont.  His  residence  is  on 
Lake  Avenue.  On  coming  to  Fairmont  Mr.  Everett 
entered  a law  office  and  did  a collection  business  and 
handled  insurance.  Then  came  appointment  to  the 
office  of  postmaster,  and  for  seven  years  he  was  in 
charge  of  the  Fairmont  postoffice,  but  finally  resigned 
in  order  to  go  on  the  road  as  representative  for  the 
Northwestern  Life  Insurance  Company.  For  thir- 
teen years  Mr.  Everett  represented  this  company 
and  in  that  time  sold  a large  amount  of  insurance 
over  his  assigned  district.  In  1896  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  newspaper  field,  buying  the  Fair- 
mont News,  and  was  its  owner  until  1904.  Ill  health 
kept  him  out  of  the  harness  for  a time,  but  his  elec- 
tion to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  gave  him 
employment  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  and  he 
also  did  considerable  business  in  the  insurance  field. 
Governor  Eberhart  appointed  Mr.  Everett  deputy  oil 
inspector,  for  four  years. 

As  a republican  he  has  long  been  identified  with 
public  affairs  in  Minnesota  and  has  served  in  many 
capacities  aside  from  those  already  mentioned.  He 
was  elected  a member  of  the  Legislature  and  served 


during  the  session  of  1876.  In  1870  he  assisted  in 
the  organization  of  Manyaska  Township  in  Martin 
County  and  was  chairman  of  the  first  board  and  for 
the  following  seven  years  was  either  a member  of 
the  board  or  town  clerk  in  Manyaska.  In  Fair- 
mont Mr.  Everett  has  served  as  city  treasurer  and 
as  clerk  of  the  school  board.  He  has  long  been  iden- 
tified with  the  military  organizations,  and  is  con- 
nected with  the  Minnesota  Commandery  of  the 
Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  has  been  commander 
of  Phil  Kearney  Post  No.  18  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  and  was  commander  of  the  State  Grand 
Army  in  1911.  Mr.  Everett  is  also  one  of  the  board 
of  trustees  that  have  charge  of  the  Soldiers'  Home 
at  Minneapolis.  Other  affiliations  connect  Captain 
Everett  with  Chain  Lodge  No.  54,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; 
Fairmont  Chapter  No.  50,  R.  A.  M. 

On  January  31,  1864,  in  New  Vineyard,  Maine, 
Captain  Everett  married  Miss  Sally  E.  Moody,  whose 
father,  David  Moody,  was  a farmer  at  New  Vine- 
yard. Captain  Everett  and  wife  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Susie,  wife  of  Wilbur  E. 
Brown,  who  lives  on  a farm  two  miles  from  Fair- 
mont; Hattie  E.,  wife  of  Fred  C.  Gould,  who  also 
lives  on  a farm  two  miles  from  Fairmont;  and  Roy 
A.,  who  is  a farmer  in  the  Province  of  Alberta,  Can- 
ada. 

Geokge  Henry  Warren,  of  Minneapolis,  was  one 
of  the  early  schoolteachers  in  Minnesota,  but  soon 
left  that  vocation  for  the  more  practical  and  adven- 
turous occupation  of  lumberman.  During  the  decade 
of  the  ’70s,  as  a surveyor  and  locater  of  timber 
lands,  he  traversed  the  unexplored  forest  regions  of 
a large  part  of  the  Northwest,  in  the  states  of  Wis- 
consin and  Minnesota.  For  more  than  forty  years 
he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  land  and  general 
real  estate  business,  with  residence  at  Minneapolis 
since  1872. 

Mr.  Warren  was  born  at  Oakfield,  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 16,  1845,  a son  of  James  and  Sarah  (March) 
Warren.  His  grandfather,  Henry  Warren,  was  a 
descendant  of  the  Varrennes  or  Warren  (ne)s, 
who  were  Normans  and  went  to  England  with  Wil- 
liam the  Conqueror,  and  from  the  old  family  seat 
in  Devonshire  some  later  descendants  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Stafford,  New  York.  Grand- 
father Henry  Warren  was  the  inventor  of  the  first 
grain  separator  then  known  in  New  York  and  prob- 
ably in  America.  James  Warren,  the  father,  was 
also  a manufacturer  of  threshing  machines,  car- 
riages and  sleighs,  combined  with  farming. 

George  Henry  Warren  had  his  early  experience 
in  Western  New  York  in  his  father's  factory  and 
in  the  timber  woods.  He  thus  received  an  early 
training  in  the  selection  of  kinds  and  qualities  of 
woods  and  of  trees  that  proved  valuable  in  later 
years.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  Oakfield 
common  schools,  he  prepared  for  college  at  the 
Cary  Collegiate  Seminary  in  Oakfield  and  at  the 
Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Lima.  New  York. 
In  1866  he  graduated  Bachelor  of  Science  from 
Genesee  College,  then  located  at  Lima  but  now  Syra- 
cuse University  at  Syracuse.  In  1872  his  alma  mater 
conferred  upon  him  "the  Master’s  degree  in  science.  _ 

Mr.  Warren  came  to  Minnesota  directly  after  his 
graduation  from  college,  and  in  1867-68  was  principal 
of  the  high  school  at  Hastings.  For  the  two  j^ears 
following  he  was  principal  of  the  high  school  and 
superintendent  of  public  schools  at  Faribault.  The 
work  of  educator,  in  which  he  was  very  successful. 


1718 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


was  not  to  hold  his  energies  long,  since  on  coming 
to  the  state  he  was  greatly  impressed  with  the  timber 
resources  and  the  magnificent  opportunities  for  the 
lumber  industry.  In  1870  he  accepted  an  attractive 
offer  to  enter  the  timber  land  business  in  the  North- 
west. His  work  as  surveyor  and  timber  land  ex- 
aminer began  in  1871  in  the  pine  forests  of  Wiscon- 
sin. He  was  engaged  in  this  line  of  work  for  a 
number  of  years.  At  that  time  it  was  pioneer  work, 
and  now  there  is  hardly  a place  in  the  world  which 
requires  the  peculiar  services  performed  by  those  old 
time  timber  cruisers.  Mr.  Warren  has  written  con- 
cerning the  work  of  the  pioneer  woodsmen  in  an 
effort  to  preserve  some  of  the  facts  concerning  a 
class  of  people  whose  services  were  invaluable  in 
opening  up  a new  country  but  who  as  a class  are 
now  practically  extinct.  While  in  his  writings  Mr. 
Warren  describes  the  work  and  experience  of  others 
as  much  as  of  himself,  a few  sentences  quoted  from 
his  writings  will  serve  to  illustrate  this  early  chap- 
ter in  his  individual  career,  and  the  quotation  is 
only  a deserved  tribute  to  the  hardy  woodsmen  of 
the  Northwest  of  whom  he  was  one  example  among 
many. 

“The  occupation  of  the  pioneer  woodsman,”  writes 
Mr.  Warren,  “as  he  is  related  to  lumbering  in  the 
Northwest  is  one  which  demands  many  of  the 
highest  attributes  of  man.  He  must  be  skillful 
enough  as  a surveyor  to  always  know  which  de- 
scription of  land  he  is  on,  and  where  he  is  on  that 
description.  He  must  be  a good  judge  of  timber, 
able  to  discern  the  difference  between  a sound  tree 
and  a defective  one,  as  well  as  to  estimate  closely 
the  quantity  and  quality  of  lumber,  reckoned  in  piece, 
board  measure,  each  tree  will  likely  produce  when 
sawed  at  the  mill.  He  must  examine  the  contour  of 
the  country  where  the  timber  is,  and  make  calcula- 
tions how  the  timber  is  to  be  gotten  out,  either  by 
water  or  by  rail,  and  estimate  how  much  money  per 
thousand  feet  it  will  cost  to  bring  the  logs  to  market. 
The  value  of  the  standing  pine  or  other  timber  in 
the  woods  is  dependent  on  all  these  conditions, 
which  must  be  reckoned  in  arriving  at  an  estimate 
of  the  desirability  of  each  tract  of  timber  as  an  in- 
vestment for  himself  or  for  whomsoever  he  may 
represent.  Possessing  these  qualifications  he  must 
also  be  honest ; he  must  be  industrious ; he  must 
be  courageous.  He  must  gain  the  other  side  of 
rivers  that  have  no  bridges  over  them,  and  he  must 
cross  lakes  on  which  there  are  no  boats.  He  must 
find  shelter  when  he  has  no  tent,  and  make  moccasins 
when  his  shoes  are  worn  out  and  no  longer  of 
service,  and  new  ones  are  not  to  be  obtained ; he 
must  be  indefatigable,  for  he  will  often  be  tempted 
to  leave  some  work  half  finished  rather  than  over- 
come the  physical  obstacles  that  lay  between  hifn 
and  the  completion  of  his  task.  On  the  character 
of  this  man  and  on  his  faithfulness,  his  honesty,  his 
conscientiousness,  and  on  the  correctness  of  his 
knowledge  concerning  the  quality,  quantity  and  situa- 
tion as  to  marketing  the  timber  he  examines,  depends 
the  value  of  the  investment.  Hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars  are  invested  on  the  word  of  this  man, 
after  he  has  disappeared  into  the  wilderness  and 
emerged  with  his  report  of  what  he  has  seen.  The 
requisitions  of  manhood  for  this  work  are  of  a 
very  high  degree,  and  when  such  a man  is  found  he 
is  entitled  to  all  of  the  esteem  that  is  ever  accorded 
to  an  honest,  faithful,  conscientious  cashier,  banker 
or  administrator  of  a large  estate.” 

Since  1872  Mr.  Warren  has  been  a resident  and 


loyal  citizen  of  Minneapolis,  actively  interested  in 
civic  and  educational  conditions.  In  1889  he  was 
elected  a member  of  the  city  council  for  the  Thir- 
teenth Ward  and  was  made  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  railroads.  At  that  time  the  street  railway 
was  required  to  change  its  system  of  motive  power 
from  horse  to  electric,  and  as  chairman  of  the  coun- 
cil committee  Mr.  Warren  took  a prominent  part  in 
the  framing  of  ordinances  relating  to  the  electrifica- 
tion and  to  the  control  of  the  local  traction  system. 

In  the  days  of  the  Business  Men’s  Union,  the  pre- 
decessor of  the  Commercial  Club,  and  of  the  Athletic 
Club,  Mr.  Warren  was  active  in  promoting  the  civic 
and  educational  interests  of  Minneapolis.  In  1892, 
because  of  an  acquaintance  with  men  of  affairs 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  state  that  gave  him 
inside  information  regarding  a movement  to  se- 
cure the  School  of  Mines  for  Duluth,  he  was  able 
to  do  a most  valuable  service  both  to  the  city  and  the 
state  university.  Knowing  that  the  outcome  of  a 
fight  with  Duluth  for  this  school  would  be  uncer- 
tain, Mr.  Warren  urged  the  Business  Men’s  Union 
to  appoint  a committee  to  raise  money  for  a build- 
ing for  an  ore  testing  plant  at  the  university.  As 
chairman  of  the  committee  which  the  Business  Men’s 
Union  appointed,  he  raised  the  funds  for  the  build- 
ing and  kept  the  School  of  Mines  at  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Warren  is  a member  and  supporter  of  the 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association  and  of  the  Society 
of  Fine  Arts.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  American 
Institute  of  Mining  Engineers  and  of  the  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences,  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
of  the  Psi  Upsilon.  He  belongs  to  the  University, 
Athletic,  Minneapolis  and  Minikahda  clubs  of  Min- 
neapolis. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  Mr.  Warren’s 
contribution  to  the  literature  of  the  northwestern 
woods.  The  title  of  his  book,  which  was  published 
in  1914,  is  “The  Pioneer  Woodsman  as  He  is  Related 
to  Lumbering  in  the  Northwest,”  a book  of  184 
pages,  handsomely  illustrated,  and  copyrighted  by  the 
author.  Mr.  Warren  dedicates  the  book  “To  the 
Memory  of  William  S.  Patrick,  guiding  friend  and 
helpful  counselor  of  my  earlier  manhood  years.”  In 
addition  to  the  quotation  which  has  already  been 
made  as  descriptive  of  some  phases  of  the  experience 
which  Mr.  Warren  shared  forty  years  or  more  ago, 
the  following  sentences  from  the  Foreword  may 
serve  to  attract  deserved  attention  to  this  interesting 
historical  and  descriptive  account  of  the  northwest- 
ern timber  woods  and  the  early  woodsmen : “The 

aim  of  this  book  is  to  take  the  reader  along  on  the 
journey  of  the  pioneer  woodsman  from  comfort- 
able hearthstone,  from  family,  friends,  books,  maga- 
zines and  daily  papers,  and  to  disappear  with  him 
from  all  evidence  of  civilization  and  from  all  human 
companionship  save,  ordinarily,  that  of  one  helper 
who  not  infrequently  is  an  Indian,  and  to  live  for 
weeks  at  a time  in  the  unbroken  forests,  seldom 
sleeping  more  than  a single  night  in  one  place.  The 
woodsman  and  his  one  companion  must  carry  cook- 
ing utensils,  axes,  raw  provisions  of  flour,  meat, 
beans,  coffee,  sugar,  rice,  pepper  and  salt;  maps, 
plats,  books  for  field  notes ; the  simplest  and  lightest 
possible  equipment  of  surveying  implements ; and, 
lastly,  tent  and  blankets  for  shelter  and  covering  at 
night  to  protect  them  from  storm  and  cold.  Inci- 
dents of  the  daily  life  of  these  two  voluntary  re- 
clusionists,  as  they  occurred  to  the  author  and  some 
of  the  results  obtained,  will  be  told  to  the  reader  in 
the  pages  of  this  work.” 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1719 


Mr.  Warren  was  married  on  November  6,  1872, 
to  Miss  Jennie  L.  Conkey,  a daughter  of  the  late 
J.  H.  Conkey,  whose  sketch  is  found  on  other  pages. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  became  the  parents  of  two 
children : Aurie  Sarah,  who  was  born  September  13, 
1873,  and  died  March  28,  1876;  and  Frank  Merton, 
born  December  1,  1875,  and  now  associated  with 
his  father  in  business. 

James  Henry  Conkey.  About  1880  a number  of 
Minneapolis  men,  all  of  them  at  that  time  sixty 
years  of  age,  formed  a little  social  organization 
known  as  the  “1820  Club.”  While  similarity  in  age 
was  the  superficial  bond  uniting  them,  they  had  also 
other  common  ties  and  interests,  and  all  of  them 
were  men  who  had  been  in  various  ways  closely  and 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  and  civic 
life  of  the  Northwest.  Of  this  little  group  the  last 
survivor  was  James  Henry  Conkey,  who  had  resided 
in  Minneapolis  for  thirty-five  years,  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  railroad  men  of  the  West,  and  who  died 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  George  H.  War- 
ren, 3443  Irving  Avenue  South,  on  April  11,  1908. 
Among  other  members  of  this  1820  Club  were 
Col.  John  H.  Stevens,  Judge  E.  B.  Ames,  Win- 
throp  Young,  Sumner  Farnham,  Capt.  John  Mar- 
tin and  R.  P.  Russell,  all  names  that  are  firmly  linked 
with  the  beginning  of  Minnesota  and  particularly 
with  the  pioneer  settlement  at  St.  Anthony  Fall's. 

James  Henry  Conkey  was  born  at  Plattsburg, 
New  York,  December  25,  1820.  His  father,  Lucius 
Conkey,  moved  to  Massena,  New  York,  when  the 
son  was  nine  years  old.  There  in  the  common 
schools  he  received  his  education.  He  became  a 
civil  engineer,  and  in  that  capacity  was  employed 
on  the  Vermont  Central  in  1846.  While  surveying 
across  the  farm  of  Seth  Langdon,  in  Vermont,  he 
by  chance  met  one  of  that  prosperous  farmer's  beau- 
tiful daughters,  Martha  A.  Langdon,  a sister  of  the 
late  Robert  B.  Langdon,  a sketch  of  whom  appears 
on  other  pages  of  this  publication.  These  young 
people  were  married  in  1848. 

Mr.  Conkey  removed  to  Burlington,  Wisconsin, 
and  in  1850  laid  the  first  rails  of  the  Milwaukee  & 
St.  Paul  railway  between  Milwaukee  and  Waukesha. 
The  following  year  he  laid  track  on  the  Cincinnati 
& Dayton  Railway  in  Ohio. 

The  late  Mr.  Conkey  identified  himself  with  Min- 
nesota in  1864,  and  was  thus  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  state.  His  first  location  was  at  Faribault,  and 
it  is  recalled  that  he  and  his  family  made  the  jour- 
ney from  Mendota  to  that  city  on  the  first  passenger 
train  entering  Faribault  over  the  Milwaukee  Rail- 
way. Mr.  Conkey  was  for  many  years  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  flour  at  Faribault,  and  during  the 
winter  of  1864-65  manufactured  and  shipped  to  Men- 
dota the  first  cargo  of  flour  ever  sent  out  of  Fari- 
bault. In  1872  he  removed  to  Minneapolis,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  planing  of  lumber  until  his  re- 
tirement from  business  in  1894.  After  that  he  and 
his  wife  lived  with  their  daughter,  Mrs.  George  H. 
Warren,  and  Mrs.  Conkey  is  still  living  in  the  War- 
ren home  at  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Warren  is  the  only 
survivor  of  the  children.  The  oldest  son,  Frank 
L.  Conkey,  is  buried  at  Khartoum,  Africa,  while 
Robert  Bruce  Conkey  and  the  daughter,  Emma  L. 
Conkey,  are  buried  in  Minneapolis,  at  Lakewood, 
where  the  body  of  Mr.  Conkey  was  also  interred. 

The  late  Mr.  Conkey  served  as  an  alderman  at 
Minneapolis  in  1876-77,  and  among  his  associates  in 
the  council  at  that  time  were  Solon  Armstrong, 

"Vol.  m— 29 


Thomas  F.  Andrews,  Maj.  George  A.  Camp,  N.  R. 
Thompson  and  Frank  Griswold.  Eugene  M.  Wil- 
son was  city  attorney,  Gen.  Thomas  L.  Rosser,  city 
engineer,  and  Robert  Angst  assistant  engineer.  All 
of  these  men,  who  helped  to  make  Minneapolis  his- 
tory, passed  away  before  Mr.  Conkey.  Mr.  Conkey 
was  for  half  a century  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity. 

Hon.  Albert  Pfaender.  One  of  the  strong  and 
forceful  figures  of  Brown  County,  Albert  Pfaender 
has  always  used  his  high  legal  attainments  in  the 
furtherance  of  those  movements  which  he  has  con- 
ceived to  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the  community, 
combining  the  two  'characters  of  lawyer  and  citizen 
in  such  a manner  that  he  is  generally  recognized  as 
an  important  and  helpful  factor  in  his  community’s 
life.  Possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  executive 
capacity,  he  has  been  called  at  times  to  positions  of 
high  public  trust,  and  from  1909  until  1915  repre- 
sented the  people  of  New  Ulm  and  the  surrounding 
country  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Mr.  Pfaender  was  born  at  New  Ulm,  Brown  County, 
Minnesota,  September  9,  1873,  and  is  a son  of 
Col.  William  and  Catherine  (Pfau)  Pfaender.  His 
father  was  born  in  Wuertemberg,  Germany,  in  1826, 
and  as  a young  man  of  twenty-two  years  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  settling  first  in  the  City  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  in  1856  moving  on  to  Minnesota 
as  a pioneer  farmer  of  Brown  County.  He  was  thus 
engaged  at  the  outreak  of  the  Civil  war,  and  in 
1861  enlisted  in  the  First  Minnesota  Battery  of  Light 
Artillery,  as  first  lieutenant.  With  this-  battery  he 
participated  in  a number  of  engagements  including 
the  Hornet’s  Nest  at  Shiloh,  and  after  the  Indian 
Massacre  at  New  Ulm  was  transferred  to  Fort 
Ridgely,  in  Nicollet  County,  Minnesota,  where  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
served  with  the  Mounted  Rangers  who  operated 
against  the  Indians.  Upon  receiving  his  honorable 
discharge,  in  1867.  Colonel  Pfaender  returned  to  his 
farm  in  Brown  County,  and  later  removed  to  New 
Lrlm,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  insurance  and 
real  estate  business  and  where  his  death  occurred 
in  1905,  when  he  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-nine  years.  For  many  years  he  took  a prom- 
inent and  leading  participation  in  republican  politics 
in  Brown  County,  and  from  1877  until  1881  served 
in  the  capacity  of  state  treasurer.  Colonel  Pfaender 
was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Pfau  who  was  born 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1833,  and  who  died  at  New 
LTlm,  Minnesota,  in  1892.  They  became  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  as  follows : William,  a resident  of 

New  LPm,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  the 
nursery  business ; Kate,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Charles  Albrecht,  a furrier  of  St.  Paul;  Louisa,  the 
wife  of  Dr.  A.  Stamm,  a practicing  physician  of  that 
city;  Josephine,  who  is  unmarried  and  resides  at 
New  Ulm;  Fred,  now  postmaster  of  this  city;  Ama- 
lia, who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  L.  A.  Fritsche,  a sketch 
of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work; 
Emma,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Hauser,  a maltster 
of  St.  Paul ; Minnie,  who  became  the  wife  of  Hein 
Loenholdt,  a contractor,  and  resides  in  the  City 
of  Homburg  vor  der  Hoehe,  Germany;  Herman, 
who  is  carrying  on  operations  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Brown  County;  and  Albert  of  this  review. 

Albert  Pfaender  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools,  graduating  from  the  New  Ulm 
High  School  with  the  class  of  1891  and  from  the 
Mankato  Normal  School  in  1892.  At  that  time  he 


1720 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


commenced  his  career  as  a school  teacher,  and  spent 
two  years  in  charge  of  a class  at  New  Ulm,  thus 
earning  the  means  wherewith  to  enter  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  from  which  institution  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1897. 
After  his  first  year  in  the  university  he  was  assistant 
in  the  office  of  the  registrar,  E.  B.  Johnson,  thus 
making  his  own  way  through  college.  Turning  his 
attention  to  his  chosen  profession  at  that  time,  Mr. 
Pfaender  devoted  two  years  to  study  in  the  legal 
department  of  the  university,  then  entering  the  office 
of  Joseph  A.  Eckstein,  of  New  Ulm,  under  whose 
preceptorship  he  completed  his  preparation  for  prac- 
tice. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1900,  and  from 
that  time  to  the  present  has  been  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a constantly  increasing  professional  business. 
The  character  of  his  practice  is  general  and  broad 
in  its  scope,  he  having  confined  himself  to  no  special 
line,  and  he  practices  in  all  the  courts,  where  his 
connection  with  a number  of  important  cases  has 
made  him  a well  known  figure.  He  maintains  offices 
in  the  Olson  Building.  Aside  from  his  profession, 
he  has  interested  himself  in  a number  of  business 
ventures,  among  which  is  the  Pfaender  Realty  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  secretary.  He  is  also  interested 
in  military  matters,  having  been  a member  of  the 
Second  Regiment,  Minnesota  National  Guard,  since 
1901,  and  now  serving  as  major  in  that  organization. 

Mr.  Pfaender  has  been  a supporter  of  democratic 
principles,  and  after  his  first  term  in  the  Minnesota 
House  of  Representatives  was  recognized  as  the 
minority  leader  of  that  body.  He  has  served  as 
city  attorney  of  New  Ulm  for  three  years,  and  was 
lately  re-appointed  to  that  office,  and  was  represen- 
tative from  his  district  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives for  three  terms,  or  from  1909  until  1915.  While 
in  that  body  he  showed  himself  an  active  and  work- 
ing member,  and  was  credited  with  some  very  conr- 
mendable  work  in  behalf  of  his  constituents’  inter- 
ests, serving  as  a member  of  the  committees  on 
Judiciary,  Appropriations,  University  of  Minnesota 
and  Military  Affairs,  and,  during  his  last  term,  being 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  Crimes  and  Punish- 
ments. In  matters  religious,  Mr.  Pfaender  is  very 
liberal,  inclining  towards  Unitarianism,  but  at  pres- 
ent is  a member  only  of  the  Men’s  Congregational 
Club  of  New  Ulm.  He  is  fraternally  connected  with 
the  state  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Theta  Delta 
Chi  Greek  letter  college  fraternity,  and  also  holds 
membership  in  the  New  Ulm  Commercial  Club.  He 
is  interested  in  athletics,  wherein  he  received  train- 
ing in  the  classes  of  the  New  Ulm  Turnverein.  His 
support  has  never  been  withheld  from  good  and 
beneficial  measures. 

Mr.  Pfaender  was  married  at  New  Ulm,  Minne- 
sota, in  1907,  to  Miss  Marie  T.  Neumann,  daughter 
of  John  F.  Neumann,  a successful  merchant  of  this 
city,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been  born  two 
children : John  Albert  and  Marion  Alberta. 

M.  W.  Grimes  is  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Le 
Sueur  News  at  Le  Sueur,  Minnesota.  He  has  been 
located  at  that  place,  as  a publisher,  since  1895.  He 
was  born  in  Sibley  County  on  September  21,  1861. 
He  is  married  and  his  wife  is  a native  of  Wisconsin. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  them,  eight  of  whom 
are  living. 

Adolph  Frederickson.  The  career  of  Adolph 
Frederickson,  county  attorney  of  Brown  County, 


has  in  many  respects  been  similar  to  that  of  other 
men  who  have  gained  prominence  at  the  Minnesota 
bar.  The  common  type  brings  to  mind  an  ambitious 
and  gifted  youth,  born  in  moderate  circumstances, 
giving  his  early  thoughts  to  the  acquisition  of  an 
academic  or  collegiate  training,  and  in  the  mean- 
time working  at  the  pursuits  which  lie  at  hand.  An 
interval  of  labor,  not  seldom  in  the  schoolroom,  fol- 
lows, this  opening  an  entrance  into  professional 
schools,  and  after  a call  to  the  bar  comes  the  secur- 
ing of  a foothold  in  practice  by  slow  and  painful 
steps.  After  a few  years  of  more  marked  prosper- 
ity comes  a selection  for  official  honors,  and  then  a 
service  of  conscientious  devotion,  of  which  the  high- 
est praise  is  that  of  duty  done.  Mr.  Frederickson’s 
career  has  departed  little  from  this  type.  He  won 
a liberal  education  through  his  own  labor,  spent  years 
in  the  schoolroom  before  being  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  has  gained  recognition  and  official  preference 
through  the  display  of  his  inherent  abilities. 

Mr.  Frederickson  is  a native  of  Denmark,  born 
May  25,  1869,  a son  of  Lars  and  Olina  (Johansen) 
Frederickson.  His  father,  born  in  Denmark  in  1834, 
brought  the  family  to  the  United  States  in  1881,  and 
settled  first  in  Brown  County  and  later  in  Redwood 
County,  Minnesota,  where  he  continued  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  his  death  in  1890.  Mrs.  Fred- 
erickson, who  was  born  in  Denmark  in  1836,  died 
in  North  Dakota,  in  1913.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  as  follows : Matina,  whose  death 
occurred  in  the  State  of  Idaho,  in  1904;  C.  H„  who 
is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Redwood 
County,  Minnesota ; Regina,  who  remained  in  Den- 
mark and  died  there  after  the  family  emigrated  to 
the  United  States;  Adolph,  of  this  notice;  Molly, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Jens  Peterson,  a farmer  of 
North  Dakota;  Peter,  who  follows  farming  on  his 
well-cultivated  property  in  Redwood  County;  Laura, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Jorgen  Rusmussen,  a North  Da- 
kota farmer  and  stockraiser ; and  Harry,  who  also 
follows  farming  in  that  state. 

Adolph  Frederickson  began  to  attend  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  land  when  he  was  seven  years 
of  age,  and  continued  as  a pupil  there  until  the 
family  started  on  their  journey  to  the  United  States, 
he  then  having  reached  the  age  of  twelve.  After  the 
settlement  of  the  family  in  Brown  County,  he  con- 
tinued his  education  in  the  district  schools,  and  after 
attending  the  high  school  at  Sleepy  Eye  became  a 
school  teacher,  continuing  as  such  for  six  years  in 
Brown  and  Redwood  counties.  During  this  time  he 
had  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  law,  and  when 
he  ceased  his  educational  work  he  became  a student 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota,  being  graduated 
from  the  law  department  of  that  institution  in  1896, 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  In  1896  he 
entered  active  practice  at  Springfield,  and  here  has 
continued  to  the  present  time,  building  up  an  ever- 
increasing  professional  business  of  a general  civil 
and  criminal  nature.  Mr.  Frederickson  has  con- 
tinued as  an  earnest  and  assiduous  student  of  his 
calling,  and  maintains  membership  in  the  Brown: 
County  and  Minnesota  State  Bar  associations.  His 
well-appointed  offices  are  located  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  Building.  Studious,  broad-minded,  log- 
ical and  judicial  in  his  perceptions  and  practice,  Mr. 
Frederickson  has  attracted  to  himself  the  best  kind 
of  practice  that  may  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  lawyer. 

Politically  a republican,  he  has  served  fifteen  years 
as  a member  of  the  school  board  and  twelve  years, 
on  the  city  council,  and  is  now  acting  efficiently  as- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1721 


attorney  of  Brown  County.  He  belongs  to  Machine 
Gun  Companyj  Second  Regiment,  Minnesota  Na- 
tional Guard,  stationed  at  New  Ulm.  Fraternally  he 
is  popularly  known  and  has  numerous  connections, 
being  past  master  of  Zenith  Lodge  No.  200,  A.  F. 
& A.  M.,  and  past  high  priest  of  McKinley  Chapter 
No.  69,  R.  A.  M.,  patron  of  Ionic  Chapter,  No.  84, 
O.  E.  S.,  and  holding  membership  also  in  DeMolay 
Commandery  No.  28,  K.  T. ; Zurah  Temple,  A.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S.;  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  the  Modern 
Brotherhood  of  America.  With  his  family  he  at- 
tends the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Frederickson  was  married  in  Redwood  County, 
Minnesota,  in  1896,  to  Miss  Jennie  Jensen,  daughter 
of  Theodore  Jensen,  a farmer  of  that  county,  and  to 
this  union  there  have  been  born  four  children,  as 
follows:  Muriel,  who  resides  at  home;  Myrtle, 

a sophomore  at  the  University  of  Minnesota;  and 
Hubert  and  Cyrus,  who  are  attending  the  Springfield 
public  schools. 


Henry  C.  Belden.  Exemplifying  in  his  character 
and  bearing  the  best  traditions  and  principles  of  his 
native  New  England,  that  cradle  of  much  of  our 
national  history,  Judge  Belden  has  lent  dignity  and 
honor  to  the  bench  and  bar  of  Minnesota,  where  he 
has  been  a representative  exponent  of  the  highest 
ethics  of  his  profession  for  the  long  period  of  thirty 
years.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  honored 
members  of  the  bar  of  the  Minnesota  metropolis, 
where  he  has  maintained  his  residence  since  1884. 

Judge  Henry  Clay  Belden  is  a native  of  the  old 
Green  Mountain  State  and  in  both  the  agnatic  and 
maternal  lines  is  a scion  of  Colonial  stock  in  New 
England.  He  was  born  at  Burke  Hallow,  Caledonia 
County,  Vermont,  on  the  30th  of  August,  1841,  and 
at  the  age  of  five  years  he  became  a pupil  in  the  vil- 
lage school  at  East  Haven,  in  Essex  County,  Ver- 
mont, where  he  continued  his  studies  about  six  years, 
after  which  he  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of 
a well  ordered  private  school  at  Burke  Hollow,  his 
native  town.  While  attending  this  institution  he 
found  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  add  to  his  financial 
resources  and  assist  in  the  defraying  of  his  incidental 
expenses,  and  this  object  was  realized  through  his 
work  in  the  hay  fields  for  a compensation  of  $1 
a day.  It  may  well  be  understood  that  through 
such  varied  discipline  the  youth  waxed  strong  in 
both  mental  and  physical  vigor  and  doubly  fortified 
himself  for  the  duties  and  responsibilities  that  were 
later  to  devolve  upon  him  in  a workaday  world. 
For  a time  he  attended  school  at  East  Burke,  in  his 
native  county,  and  in  the  meanwhile  found  generous 
hospice  in  the  home  of  his  uncle,  Woodruff  Belden, 
a representative  citizen  of  that  place.  In  1859,  when 
about  eighteen  years  of  age,  Judge  Belden  became  a 
student  at  Barnston  Academy,  an  excellent  institu- 
tion of  its  day,  located  at  Barnston,  Stanstead  County, 
in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada.  There  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  higher  academic  studies  for  a period 
of  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  was 
graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  and  as  its  vale- 
dictorian, the  institution  having  had  at  the  time  a 
student  body  of  300  persons.*  After  his  graduation 
he  was  retained  as  a teacher  in  the  schools  of  Comp- 
ton, and  he  received  $150  for  his  pedagogic  services 
for  the  term,  this  being  the  largest  amount  of  money 
he  had  ever  had  in  his  possession  or  even  had  the 
privilege  of  viewing.  From  Compton  the  judge 
finally  returned  to  his  native  county,  and  at  Lyndon 


he  began  reading  law,  devoting  two  years  to  careful 
and  determined  study  of  Blaekstone’s  Commentaries 
and  a little  interpretive  volume  known  as  Twiney’s 
Blackstone.  On  the  9th  of  December,  1863,  he 
proved  that  his  absorption  and  assimilation  of  the 
involved  science  of  jurisprudence  had  made  him 
eligible  for  admittance  to  the  bar  of  Vermont,  and 
this  distinction  was  conferred  upon  him  on  that 
day,  after  he  had  passed  a duly  critical  examination. 
On  the  15th  of  July  of  the  following  year  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  Federal  Court  of  his 
native  state.  He  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vermont,  and  eventually 
became  eligible  for  practice  in  all  of  the  courts  of 
the  state,  including  its  Supreme  Court  and  the  Fed- 
eral courts.  He  recalls  that  he  was  admitted  to  the 
United  States  Circuit  Court,  at  Windsor,  Vermont, 
on  the  25th  of  July,  1872 — the  day  that  witnessed 
the  nomination  of  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Reed  for  repre- 
sentative in  Congress,-  in  which  national  legislative 
body  he  was  destined  to  rise  to  the  office  of  speaker 
and  to  become  known  as  “Czar  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives.” 

Judge  Belden  soon  gained  prestige  as  one  of  the 
able  and  representative  younger  members  of  the 
Vermont  bar,  and  he  became  also  an  influential  figure 
in  political  affairs,  as  a stalwart  in  the  camp  of 
the  republican  party.  In  1880  he  was  a member  of 
the  Vermont  delegation  through  which  Gen.  James 
A.  Garfield  was  nominated  for  the  presidency  of 
the  United  States,  and  he  represented  his  delegation 
in  nominating  the  chairman  of  the  national  conven- 
tion of  that  year.  In  1878  Judge  Belden  was  elected 
a member  of  the  State  Senate  of  Vermont,  and  in 
the  ensuing  session  he  had  the  distinction  of  being 
the  youngest  man  who  had  even  been  chosen  chair- 
man of  the  Senate  Judiciary  Committee  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  state.  He  continued  to  be  engaged  in  the 
successful  practice  of  his  profession  at  St.  Johns- 
bury, judicial  center  of  his  native  county,  until  the 
time  of  his  removal  to  Minnesota,  in  1884,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  prominent  attorneys  and  influential 
citizens  of  Caledonia  County. 

It  may  further  be  noted  that  many  influential  citi- 
zens of  his  native  state  wrote  to  Judge  Belden  let- 
ters of  protest,  when  he  announced  his  intention  of 
removing  to  the  West,  and  while  he  retains  a deep 
appreciation  of  the  sentiments  thus  expressed  and 
an  abiding  affection  for  the  old  Green  Mountain 
State,  he  has  entered  fully  into  the  spirit  of  the  West 
and  has  no  regret  for  the  decision  that  led  him 
to  establish  his  home  in  Minneapolis.  The  Cale- 
donia bar  tendered  to  Judge  Belden  a farewell  supper 
and  reception  on  the  eve  of  his  departure  for  the 
West,  and  unanimously  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lutions : "Resolved,  That  it  is  with  sincere  regret 

that  we  part  with  our  brother,  Henry  Clay  Belden. 
as  a member  of  the  Caledonia  County  bar,  on  his 
departure  for  a new  field  of  labor  and  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession  in  the  comparatively  new  and 
growing  Northwest.  Resolved,  That  we  cheerfully 
bear  testimony  to  the  ability,  energy,  skill  and  devo- 
tion to  the  principles  of  justice,  as  well  as  to  the 
interests  of  his  clients,  with  which  he  has  practiced 
his  profession  as  a member  of  this  bar,  in  a large, 
varied  and  growing  practice,  for  more  than  twenty 
years.  Resolved,  That  we  heartily  commend  him 
to  his  brethren  in  his  new  field  of  labor  as  an  honor- 
able, high-minded  man,  a learned,  skillful  and  ju- 
dicious counselor  and  advisor,  and  an  energetic,  de- 
voted practitioner  of  the  law.  And  we  earnestly 


1722 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


hope  that  amid  new  scenes  and  in  new  surroundings 
he  may  fully  recover  his  pristine  health  and  vigor, 
and  win  new  laurels,  and  gather  larger  fruitage  in 
his  new  field  of  labor.” 

Judge  Belden  arrived  in  Minneapolis  on  the  13th 
of  December,  1884,  and  in  the  following  spring  he 
was  here  admitted  to  the  Minnesota  bar.  He  soon 
became  a member  of  the  law  firm  of  Gilfillan,  Belden 
& Willard,  and  this  relation  he  sustained  until  the 
failure  of  the  Guarantee  Loan  Company,  when  he 
withdrew  from  the  firm  and  gave  his  attention  to 
adjusting  the  affairs  of  the  corporation  mentioned, 
his  efforts  assisting  in  the  avoidance  of  more  than 
nominal  financial  loss  to  the  various  persons  inter- 
ested in  the  company.  In  the  autumn  of  1894  Judge 
Belden  was  elected  to  the  bench  of  the  Fourth  Ju- 
dicial District,  and  he  assumed  office  in  the  following 
January,  retaining  the  incumbency  until  his  resigna- 
tion, on  the  5th  of  May,  1897.  On  the  bench  he  ex- 
emplified fine  judicial  acumen  and  few  of  his  deci- 
sions met  with  reversal  by  the  courts  of  higher 
j urisdiction. 

After  his  retirement  from  the  bench  Judge  Belden 
became  a member  of  the  law  firm  of  Hahn,  Belden 
& Halley,  and  this  alliance  continued  two  and  one- 
half  years.  In  1911  he  formed  a partnership  with 
Orrin  E.  Safford,  under  the  firm  title  of  Belden  & 
Safford,  with  offices  in  Suite  448,  McKnight  Building. 
In  the  earlier  years  of  his  residence  in  Minneapolis 
the  practice  of  Judge  Belden  called  him  into  all  parts 
of  the  state,  and  he  relates  many  graphic  reminis- 
cences concerning  the  courts  and  lawyers  of  that 
period.  He  is  a staunch  and  effective  advocate  of 
the  principles  for  which  the  republican  party  has 
ever  stood  sponsor,  but  during  his  residence  in  Min- 
nesota he  has  not  consented  to  appear  as  a candidate 
for  political  office.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Minneapolis  Board  of  Trade  and  the  Commercial 
Club,  and  in  all  that  pertains  to  good  citizenship  he 
stands  forward  as  an  exponent  of  public  spirit  and 
utmost  civic  loyalty. 

Floyd  David  Minium.  Having  charge  of  the  con- 
struction, maintenance  and  operation  of  bridges, 
waterworks,  sewers  and  pavements,  and  the  duties 
which  require  the  skill  and  experience  of  a civil 
engineer,  the  city  engineer  of  any  thriving  com- 
munity holds  a position  of  responsibility  which  con- 
cerns the  people  as  closely  as  that  of  any  other  de- 
partment of  the  public  service.  When  added  to 
these  duties  are  those  connected  with  the  office  of 
county  surveyor,  the  incumbent  of  which  is  required 
to  make  all  official  surveys  in  the  county,  the  task 
becomes  a doubly  arduous  and  laborious  one.  In  the 
discharge  of  the  responsibilities  of  city  engineer  of 
New  Ulm  and  county  surveyor  of  Brown  County 
Floyd  David  Minium  so  ably  and  satisfactorily  con- 
ducted himself  during  his  first  term  of  office  that 
in  1914  he  was  re-elected  by  the  people  for  four  years 
more.  Still  a young  man,  his  advancement  from  the 
time  he  left  college  has  been  rapid  and  consistent,  so 
that  today  he  occupies  a high  and  important  place 
in  his  profession. 

Mr.  Minium  was  born  in  Juniata  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  20,  1886,  a member  of  an  old  and 
honored  family  of  that  state  and  a son  of  J.  D.  and 
Lydia  (Barner)  Minium.  His  father,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  county  in  1861,  brought  the  family  West 
in  1887.  settling  first  at  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grain  and  agricultural 
implement  business,  and  in  1904  removed  to  Clear 
Lake,  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides,  being  employed 


as  agent  for  a large  commission  house  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Minium  is  also  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  has  been  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren, namely : Floyd  David,  of  this  review ; Nora, 

who  is  unmarried  and  resides  at  Clear  Lake,  Iowa; 
Maude,  who  married  A.  R.  Woods,  who  is  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  vicinity  of  Fielding, 
Indiana;  and  Evelyn,  who  resides  with  her  parents. 

Floyd  D.  Minium  was  an  infant  when  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota,  and  there 
his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent,  his  early  educa- 
tion being  secured  in  the  graded  and  high  schools. 
After  his  graduation  from  the  latter  he  entered  the 
South  Dakota  College,  where  he  spent  three  and  one- 
half  years  in  study  for  the  profession  of  civil  engi- 
neering. His  first  practical  experience  came  to  him 
in  February,  1906,  when,  as  a rodman,  he  became 
engaged  in  work  with  the  Great  Northern  Railway 
on  its  location  in  the  Cascade  Mountains.  After 
eleven  months  spent  thus  Mr.  Minium  returned  to 
Sioux  Falls,  and  in  January,  1907,  went  to  work  as 
instrument  man  for  the  South  Dakota  Central  Rail- 
way, being  identified  with  that  line  until  November, 
1908,  when  he  was  appointed  assistant  engineer  to 
the  city  engineer  of  Sioux  Falls.  There  he  gained 
much  valuable  experience  and  remained  in  that 
capacity  until  April,  1909,  then  becoming  identified 
with  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis  Railroad  in  its  lo- 
cation west  of  the  Missouri  River,  on  the  Cheyenne 
Indian  Reservation.  Mr.  Minium  continued  as  in- 
strument man  on  this  important  piece  of  railroad 
building  until  September  of  the  same  year,  his  next 
employment  being  in  a different  field,  irrigation,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Greeley,  Colorado,  he  remaining  in 
that  state  until  May,  1910,  and  then  going  to  Denver, 
Colorado.  There  he  became  instrument  man  on 
terminal  yard  work  for  the  Denver,  Laramie  & 
Northwestern  Railroad,  where  he  continued  until 
August  1,  1910.  Succeeding  this  he  became  super- 
intendent of  sewers  and  concrete  work  at  Water- 
town,  South  Dakota,  a position  which  he  held  until 
November,  1910,  and  then  returned  again  to  Sioux 
Falls  as  deputy  county  surveyor.  In  August,  1911, 
he  went  back  to  Watertown  as  superintendent  of 
construction  work,  and  when  his  labors  there  were 
finished,  in  May,  1912,  came  to  New  Ulm. 

Mr.  Minium's  reputation  as  a thoroughly  skilled 
and  experienced  civil  engineer  had  preceded  him, 
and  in  May  of  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  city 
engineer  of  New  Ulm,  this  appointment  being  fol- 
lowed shortly  afterward  by  that  which  placed  him 
in  the  office  of  county  surveyor.  Here  he  demon- 
strated his  abilities  so  forcibly  that  November  3, 
1914,  he  was  elected  to  county  office  for  a term  of 
four  years,  and  was  reappointed  as  city  engineer  in 
April,  1913,.  1914  and  1915,  by  the  city  council.  While 
his  duties  are  many  and  arduous,  Mr.  Minium  has 
also  found  time  to  carry  on  the  superintendency  of 
drainage  work  for  Renville  County,  Minnesota.  He 
is  a young  man  of  energy,  enterprise  and  resource, 
capable  of  handling  the  most  intricate  problems,  and 
with  an  enthusiasm  which  he  is  able  to  communicate 
to  his  assistants.  He  is  a stalwart  republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  his  religious  connection  is  with  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  Water- 
town  (South  Dakota)  Lodge  No.  838,  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  Charity  Lodge  No.  98, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  New  Ulm. 

On  March  14,  1911,  Mr.  Minium  was  married  to 
Miss  Marjorie  Fletcher,  daughter  of  H.  S.  Fletcher, 
one  of  the  owners  and  manager  of  the  Watertown 
Gas  Company,,  of  Watertown,  South  Dakota. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1723 


Fred  J.  Von  Bohland,  M.  D.  During  more  than 
twenty  years  of  residence  at  Belle  Plaine,  Doctor 
Von  Bohland  has  acquired  not  only  a large  private 
practice  as  a physician  and  surgeon,  but  on  the  basis 
of  his  experience  and  skill  has  been  entrusted  with 
the  responsibilities  of  a director  of  the  public  health 
and  has  gained  a substantial  station  in  the  com- 
munity as  business  man  and  citizen. 

Fred  J.  Von  Bohland  is  a native  of  Germany,  born 
in  Bremerhafen,  December  29,  1866.  His  parents 
were  Louis  and  Frieda  (Klatte)  Von  Bohland,  and 
his  grandfather  was  August  Von  Bohland,  who  spent 
his  life  in  Germany  as  a extensive  land  owner. 
Louis  Von  Bohland  was  born  in  Germany  in  1833, 
and  died  in  1884.  His  wife  was  born  in  1830,  and 
died  in  1882.  They  were  married  in  1865,  and  of 
their  three  children  Doctor  Von  Bohland  is  the  only 
one  living,  his  brothers  William  and  Otto  having- 
died  young.  The  father  spent  all  his  active  career 
as  a chief  engineer  on  one  of  the  largest  passenger 
steamers  in  the  North  German  Lloyd  Line.  Both 
parents  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  faith. 

Doctor  Von  Bohland  received  his  early  education 
in  Germany  and  came  to  America  in  1884  at  the  age 
of  eighteen.  He  pursued  his  medical  studies  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  where  he  was  graduated 
M.  D.  in  1891,  and  spent  the  following  year  in  Ger- 
many attending  the  clinics  of  some  of  the  celebrated 
hospitals.  In  the  university  he  was  assistant  to  the 
professor  of  anatomy,  but  resigned  this  position  in 
order  to  take  up  his  private  practice.  In  1892,  after 
his  return  from  abroad,  Doctor  Von  Bohland  located 
at  Belle  Plaine,  and  has  since  been  steadily  engaged 
in  looking  after  his  extensive  practice. 

In  1891  Doctor  Von  Bohland  married  Sophia  Mil- 
ler, a native  of  Germany.  Their  son,  Frederick  D., 
is  now  studying  dentistry  in  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota. The  daughter,  Juanita,  has  completed  the 
high  school  course  and  entered  the  University  of 
Minnesota  in  1915.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  Doctor  Von  Bohland  has 
served  as  junior  and  senior  warden  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  also,  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter. 
For  a number  of  years  he  has  been  active  as  a re- 
publican, and  is  chairman  of  the  Scott  County  com- 
mittee, a member  of  the  state  central  committee. 
He  has  been  a member  of  the  Board  of  Health  of 
Scott  County  and  at  the  present  time  is  county 
physician,  and  is  also  physician  to  the  Home  of  the 
Aged  and  Orphans.  He  is  a member  of  the  Scott 
and  Carver  Counties  Medical  Society,  the  Southern 
Minnesota  and  the  State  Medical  societies,  and  the 
American  Medical  Association.  At  one  time  Doctor 
Von  Bohland  was  vice  president  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Belle  Plaine. 

Clarence  H.  Deane.  The  record  of  successful 
business  men  needs  no  introductory  preface  among 
the  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  their  activi- 
ties have  been  carried  on  for  more  than  three 
decades,  and  Clarence  H.  Deane,  of  Minneapolis,  is 
a member  of  the  class  just  referred  to.  By  his 
strict  personal  integrity  and  honorable  dealings,  com- 
bined with  good  business  qualifications,  he  has  be- 
come not  only  one.  of  the  leading  business  men,  but 
also  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  and  valued 
citizens  of  his  city. 

Mr.  Deane  was  born  in  Meigs  County,  Ohio,  near 
the  Town  of  Pomeroy,  and  is  a son  of  Gaston  and 
Martha  (Wiley)  Deane,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  was  a farmer  and  stockman,  and  bought 


and  shipped  cattle  extensively,  and  died  about  the 
year  1867.  Owing  to  a disability  he  was  not  an 
active  participant  in  the  Civil  war,  but  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Home  Guards.  Mrs.  Deane  was  mar- 
ried a second  time,  and  came  to  Champlin,  Minne- 
sota, where  she  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life,  pass- 
ing away  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  There  were 
five  children  in  the  family : Elmer  G.,  who  died  at 

Champlin,  Minnesota,  at  the  age  of  nine  years ; Airs. 
Edward  J.  Davis,  a resident  of  Minneapolis;  Mrs. 
Frank  Elwell ; Clarence  H.,  of  this  review;  and 
Mrs.  William  H.  Hanscom,  of  St.  Mary’s,  Idaho,  all 
of  whom  were  born  in  Ohio. 

The  public  schools  of  Champlin  and  St.  Cloud  fur- 
nished Clarence  H.  Deane  with  his  primary  educa- 
tion, and  following  his  graduation  from  the  high 
school  of  the  former  place  he  enrolled  as  a student 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota.  He  never  attended 
that  institution,  however,  as  he  was  offered  and 
accepted  a position  in  the  building  of  Fort  Assini- 
boin,  Montana,  under  Colonel  Lee,  who  commanded 
the  post  there  at  that  time.  Air.  Deane  was  there 
for  one  year,  then  going  through  the  Yellowstone 
Park  country  and  returning  to  Alinneapolis,  but  later 
went  to  Denver,  Colorado,  and  for  one  and  one-half 
years  was  interested  in  mining  ventures.  Returning 
to  Minneapolis  again,  he  was  married  to  Aliss  Emma 
S.  Quanstrom,  of  this  city,  who  was  born  in  Scott 
County,  Minnesota,  and  there  educated.  She  was 
a daughter  of  C.  P.  Quanstrom,  of  that  locality. 

For  about  five  years  Mr.  Deane  was  largely  in- 
terested in  the  milling  and  flour  business,  wholesal- 
ing to  the  trade.  When  he  disposed  of  his  interests 
in  that  enterprise  he  turned  his  attention  to  the 
mortgage  loan  and  building  business,  and  erected 
many  structures  in  Alinneapolis.  At  the  present 
time  he  gives  more  attention  to  the  mortgage  end  of 
the  business,  although  he  continues  to  do  some 
building.  Air.  Deane  possesses  superior  natural  en- 
dowments, and  these  have  been  broadened  by  con- 
tact with  the  business  affairs  of  life  from  early  man- 
hood. Fraternally  Air.  Deane  belongs  to  Lodge  No. 
44.  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of 
Minneapolis. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deane  have  one  daughter : Hazel 

M.,  who  was  born  in  Minneapolis  and  is  a graduate 
of  the  West  High  School  and  Pomona  College,  of 
Claremont,  California.  Miss  Deane  is  a popular 
member  of  the  Thursday  Musical  Club.  The  pleas- 
ant family  home  of  the  Deanes  is  located  at  No.  2616 
Colfax  Avenue,  South.  Alinneapolis. 

John  W.  Irwin.  One  of  the  institutions  by  which 
a city  is  judged  is  its  hotels.  Any  city  that  is  more 
than  a residence  and  local  trading  center  has  rela- 
tions with  the  great  outside  world  of  affairs,  and 
must  furnish  accommodations  for  that  important 
transient  population  that  come  and  go  through  its 
gates.  For  these  reasons  the  St.  Louis  Hotel  at 
Duluth  is  an  institution  which  helped  to  give  a fair 
fame  to  the  city  along  with  its  tremendous  commer- 
cial enterprises  and  transportation  facilities.  The 
president  of  the  St.  Louis  Hotel  Company  is  John  W. 
Irwin,  who  in  recent  years  has  made  it  an  object  of 
care  and  ambition  to  give  Duluth  one  of  the  best 
hotels  in  the  Northwest,  and  whose  name  has  long 
been  associated  prominently  with  the  lumber  indus- 
try and  with  other  affairs  which  are  distinctive  of 
the  commercial  life  centering  at  Duluth. 

John  Wesley  Irwin  was  born  in  the  Province  of 
New  Brunswick,  Canada,  February  12,  1862.  The 


1724 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Irwin  family  many  generations  ago  left  their  native 
Scotland  and  established  their  home  in  the  north 
of  Ireland,  where  it  was  prominent  for  many  gen- 
erations. Thomas  Irwin,  father  of  John  W.,  was 
born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1832,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  land,  and  then  emigrated 
to  America  and  settled  in  New  Brunswick,  where  he 
was  both  a farmer  and  lumberman  and  where  he 
now  lives  retired,  having  passed  his  eightieth  year. 
He  was  married  in  New  Brunswick  to  Lucy  Jane 
Humphreys,  who  was  born  in  New  Brunswick. 

John  YV.  Irwin  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Canada  and  in  the  Caton  Business  College.  A 
valuable  part  of  his  early  training  was  derived  from 
work  on  the  farm  and  in  the  lumber  woods.  In 
1881,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  coming  to  Minneapolis, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Thomas  B.  Walker,  and 
for  fourteen  years  was  in  his  service  as  a lumber 
estimator.  Since  1895  Mr.  Irwin  has  been  an  inde- 
pendent operator  in  timber  lands  and  lumbering, 
having  been  associated  with  William  O’Brien,  of  St. 
Paul.  This  farm  has  conducted  extensive  operations 
in  the  buying  of  timber  lands  and  in  lumber  manu- 
facturing. 

Since  1911  Mr.  Irwin  has  had  his  permanent  home 
in  Duluth,  which  city  is  also  the  headquarters  of  his 
various  business  interests.  The  St.  Louis  Hotel, 
managed  by  the  company  of  which  he  is  president, 
has  for  twenty  years  been  one  of  the  leading  hostel- 
ries  of  ■ Duluth,  and  its  favorable  reputation  is  in 
itself  a large  commercial  asset.  The  house  has  a 
location  known  to  every  traveler  through  the  North- 
west, in  the  heart  of  the  business  district,  between 
Second  and  Third  avenues  West.  It  is  a 5-story 
building,  with  accommodations  for  300  guests,  and 
has  long  furnished  political  headquarters  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  and  is  the  favored  Duluth  home  of 
the  traveling  business  public. 

Mr.  Irwin  is  one  of  the  progressive  business  men 
of  Duluth,  and  has  always  given  his  greatest  support 
to  enterprises  projected  for  the  general  good  of  the 
city.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Duluth  Com- 
mercial Club,  is  a republican  in  politics,  is  a charter 
member  of  Bemidji  Lodge  No.  1052,  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  his  church  is  the 
Methodist.  Mr.  Irwin  was  married  at  Montreal, 
Canada,  in  December,  1908,  to  Miss  Sadie  Irene 
Epps,  daughter  of  Henry  Epps,  who  was  long  and 
prominently  identified  with  lumbering  in  the  Province 
of  New  Brunswick,  where  he  is  now  living  retired. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irwin  have  one  son,  John  Paul.  They 
reside  at  the  St.  Louis  Hotel. 

Calvin  H.  Draper.  One  of  the  best  known 
bankers  of  Faribault  County  is  Calvin  H.  Draper, 
now  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Wells. 
Mr.  Draper  has  had  a long  and  varied  experience  as 
a citizen  of  Minnesota,  was  in  early  life  a teacher 
and  has  a number  of  important  relations  both  with 
business  and  civic  affairs  in  Wells  and  surrounding 
country. 

Calvin  H.  Draper  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan,  April  29,  1865,  and  belongs  to  a pioneer 
family  in  that  old  section  of  Southern  Michigan. 
His  grandfather,  Hiram  Draper,  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire  in  1808  and  died  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan,  in  1893.  He  was  one  of  the  many  New 
England  men  who  were  the  first  settlers  in  St. 
Joseph  County.  A civil  engineer  by  profession,  he 
later  took  up  farming,  and  acquired  large  bodies 
of  land  in  St.  Joseph  and  other  sections  of  Michigan. 


M.  R.  Draper,  father  of  Calvin  H.,  was  born  in  St. 
Joseph  County,  Michigan,  in  1843,  on  a farm,  and 
has  spent  all  his  life  in  that  section  of  the  state, 
being  now  past  three  score  and  ten  years,  and  a 
farmer  all  his  active  career.  He  married  Sarah  J. 
Fogelman,  who  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania. 

Calvin  H.‘ Draper  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  in  1884  graduated 
from  Kalamazoo  College  in  that  state.  His  work 
for  several  years  was  that  of  an  educator,  and  besides 
teaching  he  was  in  various  lines  of  business,  and 
eventually  became  identified  with  Faribault  County 
in  Southern  Minnesota.  In  1902  Mr.  Draper  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Wells,  and  after  twelve  years  in  that  office 
was  elected,  in  January,  1914,  president  of  the  bank. 
The  First  National  Bank  of  Wells  was  established 
in  1887,  and  organized  with  a national  charter  in 
1892.  It  is  located  on  C Street,  the  main  business 
thoroughfare  of  the  city,  has  a capital  stock  of 
$50,000,  aiid  a special  evidence  of  its  strength  and 
good  management  is  the  surplus,  now  aggregating 
$50,000.  Mr.  Draper  is  also  president  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Matawan,  Minnesota,  is  secretary  of  the 
Building  & Loan  Association  of  Wells,  and  president 
of  the  South  Minnesota  Improvement  Association. 

Politically  a republican  he  served  fourteen  years 
as  town  clerk  of  Wells,  and  has  been  a member  of 
the  school  board  twelve  years  and  is  president  of 
the  Wells  Library  Board.  His  fraternal  affiliations 
are  with  Wells  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Wells,  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  YVorkmen  in  that  town,  and  the 
Modern  Brotherhood  of  America. 

In  October,  1889,  Mr.  Draper  married  Miss  Julie 
Hall,  daughter  of  A.  D.  Hall,  now  deceased,  who  for 
a number  of  years  was  in  the  brokerage  business 
in  Chicago.  Mr.  Draper's  children  are : Dorothy, 

who  is  a teacher  in  the  Mapleton  High  School  in 
Minnesota;  Marjorie,  a student  in  Carlton  College; 
Miles  H.,  also  a student  in  Carleton ; and  Barbara, 
living  at  home. 

George  E.  Lynott  was  born  in  the  City  of  Otta- 
wa, Canada,  March  31,  1878,  a son  of  Bernard  and 
Bridget  Murphy  Lynott.  His  parents  have  lived  in 
Duluth  since  1887,  where  he  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Catholic  schools  of  the  city  and  began 
his  business  career  as  an  insurance  solicitor  and 
real  estate  salesman.  In  1909  he  was  one  of  the 
group  of  men  who  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  Alliance  Real  Estate  Company,  of  which  he 
is  general  manager. 

Mr.  Lynott  is  a member  of  the  Commercial  Club, 
Duluth  Boat  Club,  Duluth  Curling  Club,  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  belongs  to  the 
Catholic  church.  In  1911  he  married  Miss  Maude 
Dardis  of  Duluth.  They  have  two  children,  George 
E„  Jr.,  born  December  1,  1912,  and  Dorothy,  born 
September  15,  1914. 

Philip  Joseph  Brady,  M.  D.  While  his  active 
practice  in  his  native  City  of  Hastings  has  covered 
less  than  four  years,  Doctor  Brady  is  generally  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  practitioners  in  the  city. 
His  technical  skill,  broad  experience  and  extensive 
training  have  enabled  him  to  win  a reputation  and 
practice  such  as  would  be  creditable  to  an  active 
career  of  many  years. 

Philip  Joseph  Brady  was  born  at  Hastings,  April 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1725 


19,  1882,  a son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Catherine  (Austin) 
Brady.  The  family  have  been  identified  with  Minne- 
sota since  pioneer  times.  The  doctor’s  grandfather, 
Philip  Brady,  a native  of  New  York  State,  settled  in 
Wisconsin  a short  time  before  the  Civil  war,  and 
with  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  enlisted  in  Company 
K of  the  Fifth  Wisconsin  Regiment  of  Infantry,  and 
continued  in  active  service  with  the  army  until  1864. 
On  his  discharge  he  moved  out  to  Minnesota,  and 
had  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  Nininger  Township  of  Dakota  County.  Isolated 
from  neighbors,  he  began  a career  which  eventually 
made  him  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  and 
esteemed  residents  of  the  township.  He  reared  a 
fine  family  of  children,  was  an  active  democrat,  and 
for  a number  of  years  served  as  county  overseer  of 
the  poor.  He  was  a devout  member  of  the  Catholic 
faith.  His  death  occurred  in  1894  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  Thomas  J.  Brady,  the  father,  grew  up  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Dakota  County,  took  up  farm- 
ing as  his  occupation  and,  like  his  father,  served  for 
several  years  as  the  county's  overseer  of  the  poor. 
He  continued  the  management  of  the  old  farm  until 
1894,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father  sold  the  prop- 
erty and  brought  his  family  to  Hastings,  where  for  the 
past  twenty  years  he  has  been  successfully  engaged 
in  the  agricultural  implement  business.  His  wife  is 
a native  of  Vermont.  The  father  is  a democrat. 
There  were  three  sons.  Dr.  Philip  J.  of  this  sketch 
is  the  second  oldest.  His  brother,  the  late  Dr.  Rich- 
ard Brady,  born  in  Hastings,  July  29,  1884,  was 
educated  in  the  public  and  parochial  schools  of  that 
city;  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Phila- 
delphia; graduated  M.  D.  in  the  class  of  1909,  and 
had  already  made  a reputation  for  himself  as  a phy- 
sician in  his  native  city  when  he  was  stricken  with 
pneumonia  and  died  November  26,  1912.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  serving  as  deputy  county  coroner. 
The  other  son,  William  Brady,  also  a native  of  Has- 
tings. is  now  associated  with  his  father  in  business, 
and  during  the  last  year  has  taken  over  the  Interna- 
tional Harvester  line  and  like  his  father  is  making 
good  at  his  new  venture.  He  is  known  in  the  vicinity 
as  the  I.  H.  C.  man. 

Philip  J.  Brady  grew  up  in  Hastings,  was  educated 
in  the  parochial  and  district  schools  of  Nininger 
Township,  and  in  1902  graduated  B.  A.  from  St. 
Thomas  College,  Merriam  Park,  Minnesota.  He  pur- 
sued his  medical  studies  in  the  old  and  noted  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  gradu- 
ated M.  D.  in  1909  in  the  same  class  with  his  brother. 
Both  before  and  after  his  graduation  Dr.  Brady  was 
active  as  an  interne  and  in  general  hospital  work,  and 
accepted  every  opportunity  for  experience  and  devel- 
opment of  his  skill  in  his  chosen  vocation.  He  was 
an  interne  at  St.  Joseph’s  Hospital  in  St.  Paul  and 
at  St.  Luke’s  Hospital  in  Spokane,  Washington.  In 
1911  Doctor  Brady  took  uo  the  active  practice  of 
medicine  at  Rosemount,  in  Dakota  County,  but  after 
the  death  of  his  brother  at  Hastings  moved  to  that 
city  and  assumed  his  practice. 

Doctor  Brady  is  a member  of  the  Ramsey  County 
Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, is  city  health  officer  of  Hastings,  and  during 
1910-12  served  as  Dakota  County  coroner.  He  is  a 
Catholic,  and  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus and  A.  O.  H„  Division  No.  1,  Dakota  County, 
the  American  Yeomen,  the  Booster  Club  and  the 
Commercial  Club.  Doctor  Brady  is  a vigorous,  red- 
blooded  young  man,  fond  of  outdoor  sports,  a hunter 
and  fisherman,  belongs  to  the  Hastings  Gun  Club, 


and  drives  the  fastest  racing  automobile  in  the 
county.  He  has  the  qualities  which  make  him  popu- 
lar with  all  classes  of  people,  while  his  professional 
ability  is  such  as  to  open  a wide  field  for  increasing 
service  to  humanity. 

Thomas  C.  Heneghan  holds  the  responsible  posi- 
tion of  cashier  of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  State 
Bank  at  West  Concord,  Dodge  County,  and  is  known 
as  one  of  the  progressive  and  representative  young 
business  men  of  this  section  of  his  native  state,  his 
parents  having  been  numbered  among  the  sterling 
pioneers  of  Minnesota,  where  his  father  so  admirably 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunities  presented  that 
he  achieved  definite  independence  and  prosperity,  the 
while  he  so  lived  as  to  merit  and  receive  the  implicit 
confidence  of  his  fellow-men. 

Thomas  Charles  Heneghan  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  of  hi&  father,  in  Olmsted  County, 
Minnesota,  and  the  date  of  his  nativity  was  July  28, 
1880.  He  is  a son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  ( Pitts) 
Heneghan,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Ireland, 
in  1841,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  in  1845.  The  subject  of  this  review 
was  about  fourteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
father’s  death,  in  1894,  and  the  devoted  mother  sur- 
vived her  husband  by  more  than  a decade,  her  death 
having  occurred  in  the  year  1908.  James  Heneghan 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  he  severed  the  ties  that  bound 
him  to  the  fair  old  Emerald  Isle  and  set  forth  to  seek 
his  fortunes  in  the  United  States,  his  parents  having 
continued  their  residence  in  Ireland  until  their  death. 
He  had  neither  fortuitous  influence  nor  financial  re- 
sources to  foster  his  success  in  America,  but  his 
native  ability  and  determined  efforts  enabled  him  to 
achieve  the  prosperity  which  he  merited  and  which 
caused  him  to  pay  unfaltering  allegiance  and  loyalty 
to  the  land  of  his  adoption.  He  remained  for  some 
time  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war  he  gave  emphatic  proof  of  his  loyalty 
by  tendering  his  aid  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He 
served  as  a member  of  a New  York  regiment  of 
volunteer  infantry,  took  part  in  numerous  engage- 
ments, and  received  injuries  that  permanently  crip- 
pled him  and  eventually  caused  his  death,  though  he 
lived  many  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  and 
proved  himself  a most  productive  worker,  notwith- 
standing his  physical  infirmity.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  Mr.  Heneghan  came  to  Minnesota,  and  for  a 
time  he  was  a resident  of  St.  Paul,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Rochester,  the  judicial  center  of  Olmstead 
County,  his  attention  at  this  time  having  been  given 
principally  to  work  at  the  carpenter’s  trade,  as  he 
had  marked  skill  as  a mechanic.  Finally  he  pur- 
chased a tract  of  land  near  Rochester,  and  there  he 
developed  one  of  the  excellent  farms  of  Olmstead 
County,  this  homestead  continuing  to  be  his  place  of 
abode"  until  his  death.  He  was  significantly  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  his  life  was  char- 
acterized by  industry  and  inflexible_  integrity  of  pur- 
pose. He  continued  to  give  considerable  attention 
to  mechanical  work  for  several  years  after  he  had 
established  bis  residence  on  his  farm,  and  the  build- 
ing of  St.  Bridget’s  Church,  near  Rochester,  was 
one  of  the  structures  erected  by  him  in  Olmsted 
County.  He  was  a republican  in  politics,  was  affili- 
ated with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  were  devout  communicants  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  They  became  the  parents  of  twelve 


1726 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


children,  of  whom  ten  are  living,  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

Thomas  C.  Heneghan  passed  the  days  of  his  child- 
hood and  youth  on  the  old  homestead  farm  and  was 
afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools  of  the 
City  of  Rochester.  He  was  but  a lad  at  the  time 
of  his  father's  death,  as  previously  noted,  and  he 
continued  to  operate  the  home  farm  for  his  mother 
from  the  time  he  left  school  until  he  had  attained 
to  his  legal  majority.  At  this  juncture  in  his  career, 
after  the  sale  of  the  farm  upon  which  he  had  been 
reared,  he  became  associated  with  one  of  his  brothers 
in  the  purchase  of  a farm  in  Grant  County,  but  three 
years  later  he  went  to  North  Dakota,  where  he 
entered  a homestead  claim  and  became  one  of  the 
popular  settlers  of  McKenzie  County.  He  perfected 
his  title  to  his  farm,  which  he  still  owns  and  which 
is  now  a productive  estate  of  definite  value. 

On  the  ist  of  January,  1912,  Mr.  vHeneghan  as- 
sumed the  position  of  cashier  of  the  Farmers  and 
Merchants  State  Bank  of  West  Concord,  and  in  this 
executive  office  he  has  since  continued  his  efficient 
service,  the  while  he  has  won  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  the  people  of  the  community  and  is  known 
for  his  progressiveness  and  public  spirit  in  connec- 
tion with  local  affairs.  The  bank  of  which  he  is 
cashier  has  a capital  stock  of  $10,000  and  its  average 
deposits  aggregate  $100,000.  He  is  a stockholder  of 
this  institution,  and  other  tangible  evidence  of  the 
success  that  he  has  achieved  through  his  own  ability 
and  efforts  is  his  ownership  of  five  farms  in  North 
Dakota.  He  has  depended  upon  his  own  resources 
from  his  boyhood  days  and  has  made  excellent  ac- 
count of  himself  as  one  of  the  world’s,  productive 
workers.  While  a resident  of  North  Dakota  Mr. 
Heneghan  conducted  for  some  time  a prosperous 
business  in  the  handling  of  real  estate,  and  he  gave 
efficient  service  in  the  position  of  chief  of  police 
at  Williston,  Williams  County,  that  state. 

By  training  and  baptismal  rite  Mr.  Heneghan  is 
a member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  While  he  has 
no  ambition  for  political  preferment,  Mr.  Heneghan 
accords  a stalwart  allegiance  to  the  republican  party. 

The  year  1902  gave  record  of  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Heneghan  to  Miss  Lillian  Osman,  daughter  of  Henry 
Osman,  of  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  and  of  the  two 
children  of  this  union  one  died  in  infancy,  the  sur- 
viving child  being  Florence,  who  is  now  attending 
the  public  schools. 

George  H.  Gerlich,  Jr.  Since  beginning  practice 
at  St.  Paul  in  1907  Mr.  Gerlich  has  gained  the  dis- 
posal of  a large  and  choice  clientage,  has  repre- 
sented many  important  cases  in  the  courts  and  as 
counsel,  and  also  has  influential  commercial  connec- 
tions in  that  city.  His  reputation  as  a high  grade 
lawyer  and  business  man  is  well  founded. 

George  H.  Gerlich  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  County, 
Minnesota,  February  24,  1878,  and  is  the  second  son 
of  George  H.  Gerlich,  Sr.,  who  for  many  years  was 
identified  with  railway  construction  enterprise  and  is 
now  living  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul.  The  mother’s 
maiden  name  was  Miss  Minnie  Dolan,  who  was  born 
in  Berlin,  Germany,  spent  part  of  her  girlhood  in 
that  city,  and  then  came  to  Minnesota. 

George  H.  Gerlich,  Jr.,  was  educated  in  the  St. 
Paul  public  schools,  was  a student  in  the  St.  Paul 
College,  and  in  1906  passed  a successful  examination 
for  the  bar.  Previous  to  taking  up  law  he  served 


eight  years  as  deputy  clerk  of  the  District  Court.  In 
1907  he  opened  a law  office  in  St.  Paul,  with  offices 
in  the  Globe  Building,  and  since  1910  his  office  has 
been  in  the  New  York  Life  Building,  where  he  has 
a well  selected  law  library  and  all  the  facilities  for 
ready  and  capable  service  to  his  growing  list  of 
clients.  Mr.  Gerlich  is  also  president  of  the  Star 
West  Ware  Land  Company. 

In  1890  Mr.  Gerlich  married  Miss  Myrtle  Ham- 
mond, of  Detroit,  daughter  of  Captain  Hammond,  a 
prominent  Detroit  citizen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerlich 
have  four  children : Harold  B.,  Russell  R.,  Flora  E. 
and  Laura.  Mr.  Gerlich  is  a member  of  the  St.  Paul 
Commercial  Club. 

Michael  Reimringer.  One  of  the  oldest  residents 
of  St.  Paul  was  the  late  Michael  Reimringer,  who 
knew  that  city  when  it  was  a frontier  village  during 
the  middle  ’50s,  and  who  died  at  his,  home  at  413 
North  Exchange  Street,  February  27,  1915,  at  the 
extreme  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

Michael  Reimringer  was  born  in  Lorraine,  a prov- 
ince which  at  that  time  was  part  of  France,  on  April 
2,  1823.  His  parents  spent  their  lives  in  the  same 
locality.  After  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  country  Michael  Reimringer  worked  at  farm- 
ing in  Lorraine  and  about  1855  emigrated  to  America 
and  settled  in  St.  Louis.  He  soon  afterwards  came 
to  St.  Paul  and  became  engaged  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness. For  about  twenty  years  he  was  foreman  for 
the  street  commissioner,  Schmitz,  and  in  every  rela- 
tion of  life  proved  himself  vigorous,  faithful  and 
conscientious  in  performance.  The  last  twenty-two 
years  of  his  life  he  lived  retired. 

While  in  France  he  served  in  the  regular  army,  but 
had  no  military  record  in  this  country  and  belonged 
to  no  lodges.  However,  he  was  a member  of  St. 
Peter’s  Society  and  a member  of  the  Assumption 
Catholic  Church  in  St.  Paul.  His  tastes  were  for  the 
quiet  and  orderly  activities  of  life,  and  he  evinced 
great  fondness  for  hunting  and  for  dogs  and  all 
kinds  of  animals. 

In  St.  Paul,  in  September,  1856,  Mr.  Reimringer 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Davis)  Tayson,  a widow, 
daughter  of  Frank  and  Mary  Davis,  who  were  both 
natives  of  Prussia.  Mrs.  Reimringer  came  to  St. 
Paul  in  1855.  She  is  now  seventy-eight  years  of  age, 
and  still  preserves  good  health  and  spirits.  By  this 
union  was  born  one  child,  Camilla  Margaret  Reim- 
ringer, who  is  unmarried  and  lives  at  the  home  of  her 
mother. 

George  M.  Miller.  Through  his  profession  as 
engineer,  and  in  the  capacity  of  county  surveyor  and 
city  engineer  of  Fairmont,  George  M.  Miller  has  per- 
formed a broad  and  valuable  service  to  the  public 
for  many  years  in  Martin  and  adjacent  counties. 
Mr.  Miller  in  his  career  has  relied  on  the  principle 
of  self  help  to  a large  extent  and  has  equipped  him- 
self for  the  larger  opportunities  of  service. 

George  M.  Miller  was  born  in  Columbia  County, 
Wisconsin,  June  27,  1835.  a son  of  John  and 
Samantha  (Woodard)  Miller.  The  Miller  family 
was  established  in  the  LTnited  States  by  the  grand- 
father, who  was  a musician  in  the  English  army 
during  the  War  of  1812,  and  after  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain 
chose  to  remain  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  John 
Miller,  the  father,  was  born  at  Sackett’s  Harbor, 
New  York,  a place  that  figured  conspicuously  in  the 
War  of  1812.  He  was  born  in  T8i4,  and  died  in 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1727 


Freeborn  County,  Minnesota,  in  1906.  In  1848  he 
pioneered  to  Wisconsin,  and  in  1864  again  moved 
out  to  the  frontier  in  Minnesota  and  became  a 
pioneer  farmer.  His  wife,  Samantha  Woodard,  was 
born  in  1824  in  New  York  State',  also  in  the  vicinity 
of  Sackett’s  Harbor,  and  died  in  Freeborn  County, 
Minnesota,  in  1909. 

George  M.  Miller  was  about  nine  years  of  age 
when  the  family  lhoved  to  Minnesota,  and  had  begun 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Columbia 
County,  continuing  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 
Freeborn,  and  was  also  a student  in  the  Mankato 
Normal  School.  His  years  up  to  nineteen  were  spent 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  he  then  began  the  vocation 
of  teaching,  an  occupation  he  followed  five  years  in 
Freeborn  County.  Mr.  Miller  has  been  a student 
and  a worker  for  broader  ends  ever  since  boyhood, 
and  has  never  been  content  with  his  present  state  of 
progress.  After  teaching  he  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing in  Steele  County  for  a period  of  six  years,  and 
then  for  some  time  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  builder  during  the  summer  seasons  and  taught 
school  in  the  winter  months.  In  1893  Mr.  Miller 
began  a line  of  work  which  kept  him  busy  more  or 
less  for  a number  of  years.  From  1893  to  1900  he 
was  manager  of  the  creamery  in  Freeborn  Village, 
and  then  became  manager  of  the  creamery  at  Wells 
and  remained  in  that  city  until  1910.  In  Freeborn  he 
was  for  a number  of  years  county  surveyor  while 
managing  the  creamery  there,  and  when  he  removed 
to  Fairmont  in  September,  1910,  he  turned  all  his 
professional  attention  to  the  duties  of  public  office 
and  to  service  in  the  drainage  interests  in  Martin 
County.  In  1912  he  was  appointed  city  engineer,  and 
in  1914  was  elected  county  survej'or,  and  now  holds 
both  offices.  Mr.  Miller  educated  himself  for  his 
profession  as  surveyor,  and  is  a man  of  thorough 
equipment.  During  a residence  in  Carlston,  Free- 
born County,  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
was  chairman  of  the  town  board  a number  of  years. 
At  Wells,  besides  his  work  as  manager  of  the  cream- 
ery, he  spent  several  years  as  city  engineer. 

Mr.  Miller  is  affiliated  with  Doric  Lodge  No.  87, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  at  Wells;  Wells  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; 
the  .Camp  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at 
Wells;  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  and 
the  Mutual  Benefit  Association  of  Freeborn.  In 
1877,  in  Freeborn  Village,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss 
Abbie  L.  Scoville,  daughter  of  D.  A.  Scoville,  now 
deceased,  who,  for  many  years  was  the  village  black- 
smith at  Freeborn.  Mr.  Miller  and  wife  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children : George  Edward, 
who  is  an  engineer  practicing  his  profession  with  his 
father  and  living  at  Fairmont;  John  C.,  a farmer  in 
Freebor.n  County;  Gertrude,  who  is  the  wife  of  Otis 
Gilmore,  who  has  been  a merchant  up  to  1914,  but  is 
now  a Freeborn  County  farmer;  Florence  Spirling, 
who  resides  with  her  husband  on  a farm  in  Idaho, 
and  Ralph,  who  is  a farmer  with  his  brother  John. 

Theodor  Bratrud,  M.  D.,  F.  A.  C.  S.  Holding 
prestige  in  the  ranks  of  the  Marshall  County  medical 
profession  by  reason  of  superior  natural  ability, 
aided  by  a thorough  training,  broad  experience  and  a 
comprehensive  understanding  of  human  nature,  Dr. 
Theodor  Bratrud  has  firmly  established  himself  in 
the  confidence  of  the  people  of  Warren.  Engaged  in 
practice  here  since  1900,  he  has  not  only  built  up  a 
large  general  medical  and  surgical  practice,  but  was 
the  founder  and  builder  of  the  Warren  Hospital,  of 
which  he  is  now  at  the  head. 


Doctor  Bratrud  was  born  in  Fillmore  County,  Min- 
nesota, February  14,  1874,  and  is  a son  of  Ole  and 
Elsie  (Torginson)  Bratrud,  natives  of  Norway.  The 
parents  came  to  the  United  States  in  1848  and  to 
Minnesota  in  1850,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Theodor  Bratrud 
received  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Fill- 
more County,  and  after  his  graduation  from  the 
Spring  Valley  High  School  entered  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  being  graduated  from  the  medical  de- 
partment of  that  institution  in  1899.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  he  came  to  Warren  and  established  an  office 
for  the  general  practice  of  medicine,  but  since  that 
time  had  gradually  limited  his  practice  to  surgery, 
in  which  he  has  gained  a well-merited  reputation. 
In  addition  to  his  large  private  practice,  he  is  sur- 
geon for  the  Soo  Railway,  and  in  1905  founded  and 
built  the  Warren  Hospital,  a thoroughly  equipped 
institution,  with  thirty-five  beds.  Doctor  Bratrud  is 
a member  of  the  Red  River  Valley  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society  and  the 
American  Medical  Association,  and  is  a Fellow  of  the 
American  College  of  Surgeons.  His  fraternal  con- 
nection is  with  the  Masons.  He  has  various  inter- 
ests aside  from  his  professional  duties,  and  is  the 
owner  of  a valuable  farming  property  in  the  vicinity 
of  Warren.  As  a citizen  he  has  allied  himself  to 
every  enterprise  which  has  been  founded  with  the 
idea  of  bettering  the  community  in  any  way,  and  his 
services  to  Warren  have  been  of  a decidedly  helpful 
character. 

William  S.  Anderson,  M.  D.,  who  is  associated  with 
Dr.  Theodor  Bratrud  at  Warren,  was  born  in  Hous- 
ton County,  Minnesota,  in  1875,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools.  Following  this,  he 
attended  Saint  Olaf’s  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1898,  and  after  some  further  preparation 
entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota.  He  received  his  doctor’s  degree  there 
with  the  class  of  1903,  and  in  that  year  came  to 
Warren  and  associated  himself  with  Dr.  Theodor 
Bratrud,  with  whom  he  has  continued  in  practice. 
From  the  inception  of  the  Warren  Hospital  he  has 
been  physician  of  this  institution  and  has  shared 
with  Doctor  Bratrud  the  credit  for  building  up  and 
developing  this  helpful  asset  to  Warren.  Doctor  An- 
derson is  chairman  of  the  Marshall  County  Sanitary 
Commission,  and  a member  of  the  Red  River  Valley 
Medical  Association,  the  Southern  Minnesota  Med- 
ical Association,  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society 
and  the  American  Medical  Association.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a Mason  and  a Pythian  Knight.  Doctor  Ander- 
son was  married  in  June,  1907,  at  Chicago,  Illinois, 
to  Miss  Anna  Anderson,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren : Almida  and  Sigurd. 

Henry  Montgomery  Serle.  While  the  City_  of 
Fairmont  has  no  more  useful  and  public  spirited 
citizen  than  Henry  Montgomery  Serle,  the  present 
mayor,  it  probably  has  no  resident  more  thoroughly 
cosmopolitan  and  whose  experiences  and  travels  in 
the  world  have  been  more  extensive.  Mr.  Serle 
has  been  identified  with  Fairmont  for  more  than 
thirty-five  years,  is  prominent  in  business  affairs,  and 
probably  deserves  greater  credit  than  any  other  indi- 
vidual for  the  development  of  municipal  improve- 
ments. 

Henry  Montgomery  Serle  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Madras,  in  the  East  Indies,  May  25,  1855.  His 
father,  William  Ambrose  Serle,  was  born  in  Paris, 
France,  about  1804,  and  died  at  the  City  of  Madras 


1728 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  i860.  Though  a native  of  Paris,  he  was  of  High- 
land Scotch  ancestors,  and  spent  practically  all  his 
career  in  the  East  Indian  Civil  Service  and  was  reg- 
ister of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Madras  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  William  A.  Serle  married  Miss  Helen 
McKenzie,  who  was  born  in  the  City  of  Inverness, 
Scotland,  in  1833,  and  died  at  Windsor,  England,  in 
1904,  She  was  his  second  wife.  Their  children  were: 
Anna,  widow  of  Captain  Armstrong,  a captain  of 
infantry  stationed  at  Madras,  and  she  now  lives  in 
Folkstone,  England;  William,  who  died  at  Mankato, 
Minnesota,  was  for  many  years  a locomotive  engi- 
neer with  the  Milwaukee  Railway ; Alexander,  who 
died  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  was  at  one  time  a lieutenant 
in  the  English  navy ; Emily  married  Colonel  Plant 
of  the  Royal  Artillery,  and  she  lives  at  Gloucester- 
shire, England;  Henry  M.  was  the  fifth  among  the 
children;  Charles  lives  in  Santa  Anna,  California; 
while  Margaret  died  in  England  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one. 

Henry  M.  Serle  was  educated  in  England,  whither 
his  mother  returned  after  the  death  of  his  father. 
At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  began  his  active  career, 
and  followed  the  sea  until  1876.  In  1875  he  landed 
at  San  Francisco,  and  then  made  the  long  voyage 
around  the  Horn  to  England.  In  1876  he  came  to 
America  again,  locating  in  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  in 
1877  came  to  Fairmont,  Minnesota.  The  first  year  he 
spent  driving  a stage  between  Fairmont  and  Winne- 
bago. Then  a year  was  spent  in  railroading,  and  he 
was  a practical  farmer  in  Martin  County  up  to  1883, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  ice  business,  of  which  he  has 
had  a monopoly  in  Fairmont  for  fully  thirty  years. 
His  ice  houses  are  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  Budd 
Lake,  and  has  a capacity  of  3,600  tons. 

Mr.  Serle  has  been  best  known  to  Fairmont  citizens 
for  his  efficient  public  service.  In  1883  he  organized 
the  fire  department  at  Fairmont,  and  largely  due  to 
his  public  spirit  and  energy  has  made  the  department 
second  to  none  in  efficiency  in  the  state  for  towns  of 
the  size.  In  1914  Fairmont  had  the  State  Firemen’s 
Convention.  Years  ago  Mr.  Serle  served  as  chief 
of  the  department,  and  for  the  past  eight  years  has 
held  the  same  office.  Fairmont  has  engine  head- 
quarters, forty-nine  regular  members  of  the  depart- 
ment, a team  and  combination  wagon  with  a 35-gallon 
chemical,  1,200  feet  of  hose,  a Seagrave  hook  and 
ladder  truck,  and  the  normal  water  pressure  for  fire 
protection  is  eighty  pounds,  but  it  is  possible  to  get 
175  pounds  when  needed.  In  April,  1913,  Mr.  Serle 
was  elected  mayor  of  Fairmont  for  a term  of  two 
years.  Previously  lie  had  served  as  a member  of  the 
city  council  ten  years,  and  for  ten  years  had  per- 
formed the  voluntary  and  unremunerated  service  of 
deputy  game  warden.  Mr.  Serle  is  a democrat  in 
politics.  He  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  has  fraternal  affiliations  with  Chain  Lake  Lodge 
No.  64,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Fairmont  Chapter  No.  50, 
R.  A.  M. ; Fairmont  Commandery  No.  27,  K.  T. ; 
Zuhrah  Temple  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine; 
Fairmont  Lodge  No.  70,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; Fairmont  Lodge 
No.  154,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  lodge  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  at  Fairmont, 
having  been  master  workman  four  years. 

Mr.  Serle  was  married  in  Fairmont  in  1880  to 
Miss  Mary  Goldsmith,  daughter  of  S.  F.  Goldsmith, 
for  many  years  a merchant  at  Fairmont,  but  now 
deceased.  They  have  two  children:  Helen,  wife  of 
Frank  Zalesky,  who  is  engaged  in  the  ice  business 
with  his  father-in-law  in  Fairmont,  and  Maude,  wife 


of  William  Dietz,  who  is  a merchant  at  Ceylon, 
Minnesota. 

Edward  M.  Zuel.  Mankato’s  successful  citizen- 
ship is  well  represented  by  Edward  M.  Zuel,  who  has 
been  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  in  that 
city  for  many  years,  and  is  now  chiefly  identified 
with  the  insurance  department,  and  as  representative 
of  the  general  classes  of  insurance  has  acquired  and 
built  up  a fine  business.  His  success  is  his  own, 
since  he  made  his  start  in  life  with  no  better  equip- 
ment or  advantages  than  thousands  of  other  young 
men,  but  has  succeeded  in  outdistancing  most  of 
those  with  whom  he  started  on  even  terms. 

Edward  M.  Zuel  was  born  in  Wilmington,  Illinois, 
February  24,  1872,  a son  of  Archibald  and  Alice 
(Cross)  Zuel.  His  father  was  born  in  Scotland  in 
1838  and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  at  the  age 
of  six  months,  the  family  settling  first  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  New  York,  and  from  that  state  he 
came  out  to  Illinois  when  young.  He  was  a farmer 
by  occupation,  and  from  Illinois  removed  in  1879  to 
Kansas,  where  he  bought  a farm  and  remained  until 
his  death  in  1884.  His  wife  was  born  in  Zanesville. 
Ohio,  in  1851.  They  were  married  in  Illinois,  and 
she  died  also  in  1884.  They  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  in  which  the  mother  was  par- 
ticularly active,  and  he  was  a republican  in  politics. 
Three  of  their  four  children  are  still  living:  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Olney  Monroe,  of  Kansas  ; Olive,  wife 
of  W.  J.  Case,  of  Kansas,  and  Edward  M. 

Edward  M.  Zuel  acquired  his  general  education  by 
attending  several  different  institutions.  For  a time 
he  was  a student  in  the  Wilder  Episcopal  College  at 
Wilder,  Minnesota,  later  in  the  Omaha  Commercial 
College  in  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  spent  one  year  in 
the  college  at  Winfield,  Kansas,  where  his  father 
lived  for  a time. 

In  1894  Mr.  Zuel  engaged  in  the  farm  implement 
business  with  his  cousin,  R.  W.  Zuel,  at  Windom, 
Minnesota,  and  remained  there  until  1896.  Having 
sold  out  his  interests  he  took  a traveling  agency  as 
representative  of  the  D.  M.  Osborn  & Company,  and 
sold  their  machinery  and  implements  all  over  the  ter- 
ritory covering  Southwestern  Minnesota  and  Eastern 
South  Dakota.  He  continued  on  the  road  until  De- 
cember, 1899.  having  in  the  meantime  removed  his 
residence  to  Mankato  in  1897.  In  1899  he  opened  an 
office  as  a real  estate  and  insurance  man,  and  that  has 
been  his  primary  interest  in  business  affairs  since. 
More  and  more  he  has  concentrated 'his  efforts  in 
building  up  an  insurance  business.  He  is  a special 
agent  over  fifty-two  counties  in  Southeastern  Minne- 
sota, and  writes  all  kinds  of  insurance — life  insur- 
ance, fire,  accident,  health,  industrial,  hail  and  tor- 
nado, and  steam  boiler,  plate  glass,  and  other  forms 
of  insurance  adapted  to  special  lines  of  business  and 
for  special  purposes.  Among  other  companies  he 
represents  the  Northwest  National  Fire  of  Milwau- 
wee,  the  Anglo  Insurance  Company  of  Chicago,  the 
Travelers  Life  Company,  etc.,  Mr.  Zuel  also  owns 
some  lands  in  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota. 

In  1895  he  married  Myrtle  Cheadle,  who  died  in 
1897,  leaving  one  son,  Archibald  C.,  who  is  now 
seventeen  years  of  age  and  is  in  the  service  of  the 
Lffiited  States  navy,  with  assignment  to  the  battle- 
ship New  Jersey.  On  November  19,  1902.  Mr.  Zuel 
married  Louise  E.  Dykes  of  LeSueur,  Minnesota. 
He  is  .a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  is  affili- 
ated with  Lodge  No.  12,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  in 
politics  is  a republican.  For  one  year  he  was  sec- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1729 


retary  of  the  Mankato  Automobile  Club,  is  a member 
of  the  Commercial  Club,  and  also  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

I 

Edwin  G.  Gove.  In  the  little  City  of  Madelia  a 
number  of  the  most  important  and  commercial  inter- 
ests are  concentrated  in  Edwin  G.  Gove.  When  Mr. 
Gove  sold  out  the  lumber  business  in  which  he  had 
been  engaged  for  a number  of  years,  in  1914,  he  was 
ready  to  accept  the  office  of  mayor,  to  which  he  was 
elected  at  that  time,  and  being  relieved  temporarily 
from  the  pressure  of  business  affairs  has  devoted 
his  time  with  characteristic  public  spirit  to  looking 
after  the  welfare  and  improvement  of  his  home  com- 
munity. Mr.  Gove  is  president  of  the  Madelia  Com- 
mercial Club,  is  president  of  the  Armstrong  Tele- 
phone and  Exchange  Company,  and  is  a director  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Madelia. 

A member  of  an  old  family  in  Minnesota,  he  was 
born  in  Watonwan  County,  February  5,  1871.  The 
first  representatives  of  the  Gove  name  came  from 
Scotland,  and  were  early  settlers  in  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont. Luther  C.  Gove,  father  of  the  Madelia  mayor, 
came  from  the  East  and  brought  his  family  to 
Watonwan  County  in  1865,  where  he  was  one  of  the 
prominent  pioneer  farmers.  Charles  Gove,  father  of 
Edwin  G.,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1848,  and  is  now 
living  retired  in  Minneapolis.  Fie  grew  to  manhood 
on  a farm  in  Watonwan  County  and  was  long  identi- 
fied with  business  affairs  in  this  vicinity.  In  1881 
he  established  a lumber  business  at  Madelia,  having 
previously  for  a year  and  a half  been  in  the  milling 
business.  In  1896  he  sold  out  his  lumber  interests 
and  has  since  lived  retired.  Charles  Gove  married 
Alvira  Crandall,  a native  of  Wisconsin.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Edwin  G. ; Ella,  wife  of  Henry  Lamm,  a 
Minneapolis  grocer,  and  Loren,  living  with  his 
parents. 

Edwin  G.  Gove  as  a boy  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Watonwan  County,  and  also  the  public 
schools  at  Madelia,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  left  his 
books  to  take  part  in  active  affairs.  His  first  work 
was  in  operating:  an  elevator  and  in  the  buying  of 
grain.  In  1891,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  Mr.  Gove 
embarked  in  the  lumber  business  with  his  father  at 
Madelia,  and  on  the  retirement  of  the  elder  Gove 
acquired  all  the  interests  in  the  business  and  con- 
ducted an  extensive  establishment  supplying  lumber 
and  building  matrials  all  over  this  section  until  the 
spring  of  1914.  Mr.  Gove  then  sold  out,  and  at  the 
present  time  has  only  the  interests  which  have 
already  been  indicated.  He  is  independent  in  politics 
and  first  served  the  Town  oi  Madelia  as  maj'or  in 
1894.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  town  board 
from  1912  to  1914,  and  was  elected  mayor  in  April 
of  the  latter  year. 

His  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  Madelia  Lodge 
No.  116,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; with  the  Rebekahs ; with  the 
M.  B.  A.,  and  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen. 
In  1892  he  was  married  in  Madelia  to  Miss  Nellie 
M.  Estes,  daughter  of  S.  B.  Estes,  who  is  now 
retired  from  business  and  a resident  of  Madelia. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children : Iola  B.,  a 
graduate  of  the  Madelia  High  School  and  living  at 
home;  Charles,  a student  in  the  high  school,  and 
Marlow,  attending  the  public  schools. 

William  D.  Hinchon.  Though  a lawyer  by  pro- 
fession, William  D.  Hinchon  has  been  best  known 
in  Madelia  as  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Tirnes- 
Messenger.  The  Times  was  established  at  Madelia 
in  1873,  as  a republican  newspaper,  while  the  Mes- 


senger came  into  existence  a number  of  years  later, 
advocating  the  same  brand  of  politics.  Later  the  two 
were  consolidated  as  the  Times-Messenger.  This  is 
now  a paper  of  established  influence,  with  a circu- 
lation throughout  Watonwan  County  and  extending 
into  Blue  Earth  County.  It  has  a large  and  well 
equipped  plant,  located  in  the  center  of  the  busi- 
ness district  on  Main  Street,  and  occupying  all  the 
ground  floor  of  a large  brick  building. 

William  D.  Hinchon  was  born  at  Lansing,  Iowa, 
July  21,  1877.  His  father,  J.  W.  Hinchon,  who  was 
born  in  1854  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  was  a child 
when  the  grandparents  left  the  old  country  and  set- 
tled in  Allamakee  County,  Iowa.  He  grew  up  in  that 
state,  attended  public  schools  there,  and  for  a number 
of  years  was  identified  with  educational  work.  He 
became  superintendent  of  the  city  schools  at  Lansing, 
and  afterwards  was  county  superintendent  of  schools 
in  Allamakee  County.  From  school  work  he  went 
into  the  newspaper  business  at  Waukon,  Iowa,  in 
1880,  and  in  1887  moved  to  Algona,  in  that  state, 
where  he  is  now  proprietor  of  the  Algona  Courier. 
J.  W.  Hinchon  married  Jennie  Hastings,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  State  and  died  at  Algona  in  1888. 

William  D.  Hinchon  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  in  Waukon  and  Algona,  Iowa,  attend- 
ing high  school  in  the  latter  place  and  finishing  with 
one  year  in  St.  John’s  University  at  Collegeville,  Min- 
nesota, and  three  years  in  special  work  in  the  Aca- 
demic Department  of  the  Iowa  State  University  at 
Iowa  City.  Mr.  Hinchon  prepared  for  his  profession 
by  two  years  in  the  Law  Department  of  the  LTniver- 
sity  of  Iowa,  graduating  LL.  B.  in  the  class  of  1901. 
Admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  same  year,  being  licensed 
to  practice  in  both  State  and  Federal  Courts,  he  spent 
two  years  in  the  work  of  his  profession  at  Algona. 
Mr.  Hinchon  in  1905  came  to  Madelia  and  bought  the 
Times-Messenger,  of  which  he  has  been  editor  and 
proprietor. 

He  is  a republican  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  In  January,  1909,  at  Madelia, 
he  married  Miss  Pearl  Christensen,  whose,  father, 
C.  S.  Christensen,  is  proprietor  of  the  Madelia  Flour 
Mills.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinchon  have  one  child,  Ruth 
Pearl. 

Charles  P.  Montgomery.  Manager  of  the  Hack- 
ney Investment  Company  of  St.  Paul,  Charles  P. 
Montgomery  has  for  ten  years  or  more  been  one 
of  the  active  business  men  of  the  capital  city  and  has 
also  taken  an  active  part  in  local  affairs  and  politics. 

Charles  P.  Montgomery  was  born  at  St.  Peter. 
Minnesota,  December  30,  1872,  being  the  second  son 
of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Pummell)  Montgomery.  His 
father  was  born  in  Ireland,  spent  his  boyhood  and 
received  his  education'  there,  and  on  emigrating  to 
America  spent  some  time  in  Canada,  but  in  1855 
became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Minnesota  Territory. 
After  a short  residence  at  St.  Cloud,  he  moved  to 
St.  Peter  and  located  on  a farm  that  is  now  included 
within  the  city  limits  of  that  city.  He  was  a.  car- 
penter by  trade,  developed  his  trade  into  a business 
as  contractor  and  builder,  and  afterwards  was  in  real 
estate  business  until  1890.  During  his  residence  at 
St.  Peter  he  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of 
public  works,  and  after  coming  to  St.  Paul  took 
charge  of  the  office  of  public  works  and  held  that 
position  about  twenty  vears.  For  four  years  he 
represented  the  Tenth  Ward  in  the  City  Council  of 
St.  Paul,  being  a republican,  and  for  a number  of 
years  was  a member  of  the  St.  Paul  School  Board. 


1730 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Thomas  Montgomery  died  at  St.  Paul,  June  7,  1907- 
He  was  a man  of  thorough  integrity,  had  a fine 
record  both  in  private  business  and  in  public  affairs, 
and  left  behind  him  an  honored  name.  Plis  widow 
is  still  living,  with  home  at  1494  Capitol  Avenue. 

Charles  P.  Montgomery  acquired  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  graduating  from  the  St.  Peter 
High  School  in  1891 ; was  for  two  years  a student  in 
Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul,  and  then  entered  the 
dental  college  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
where  he  was  graduated.  Mr.  Montgomery  practiced 
dentistry  in  St.  Paul  until  1902,  but  has  since  been 
engaged  in  business  affairs,  having  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Hackney  Investment  Company,  later 
becoming  manager  of  the  investment  and  bond  de- 
partment. This  is  one  of  the  old  and  solid  concerns 
of  the  kind  in  the  Northwest,  and  Mr.  Montgomery 
has  proved  the  possession  of  qualities  which  make 
him  an  expert  in  the  handling  of  this  department. 
The  offices  of  the  company  are  in  the  Hackney 
Building. 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Meachan  of  St.  Paul,  daughter  of  A.  J.  Meachan, 
an  old  resident  of  Ramsey  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Montgomery  have  one  daughter,  Ruth.  For  six 
years,  from  1898  to  1904,  Mr.  Montgomery  was  an 
alderman  from  the  same  ward  which  his  father  had 
represented  at  an  earlier  time,  the  Tenth  Ward  of 
St.  Paul.  In  1914  he  was  a candidate  for  the  Legis- 
lature. Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No. 
185,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Palmyra  Chapter  No.  55,  R. 
A.  M. ; St.  Paul  Council  No.  1,  R.  & S.  M. ; Damas- 
cus Commandery  No.  1,  K.  T.,  and  Osman  Temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

Litton  E.  Shields.  For  many  years  identified  with 
the  development  of  the  Northwest  through  his  busi- 
ness as  a railw’ay  construction  contractor,  and  now 
living  retired  at  St.  Paul,  Litton  E.  Shields  is  one 
of  the  old  and  honored  residents  of  Minnesota. 

He  was  born  August  30,  1852,  at  Altmore,  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland.  His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Hannah 
Shields,  and  the  family  had  resided  long  at  Altmore, 
having  settled  there  about  the  beginning  of  the  eight- 
eenth century. 

Having  many  relatives  in  America,  some  of  whom 
were  quite  prominent,  his  mind  was  naturally  filled 
with  the  desire  to  go  there.  Consequently  at  a very 
early  age  he  migrated  to  this  country,  arriving  in  New 
York  in  1869.  After  spending  a year  in  New  York,  he 
pushed  on  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  about  a 
year,  finally  reaching  Minnesota,  where  two  of  his 
brothers  had  preceded  him.  After  trying  his  hand 
at  many  things  he  finally  had  an  opportunity  to  join 
a party  of  engineers  going  out  on  the  location  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway  between  the  Red  River  and 
the  Yellowstone  in  Montana  under  General  Rosser, 
then  chief  engineer  of  that  line.  In  this  occupation 
he  spent  the  seasons  of  1872  and  1873,  returning  to 
Minnesota  in  the  fall  of  1873. 

Having  been  in  correspondence  with  his  uncle,  Gen. 
James  Shields,  then  a resident  of  Carrollton,  Mis- 
souri. he  accepted  an  invitation  to  visit  him.  After 
visiting  a while,  his  uncle  persuaded  him  to  take  up 
the  study  of  law  with  him,  as  he  needed  a young 
man  in  his  office.  This  gave  young  Shields  an  op- 
portunity to  improve  his  education,  and  although  he 
was  not  admitted  to  the  bar,  the  knowledge  of  the 
law  he  acquired  was  invaluable  to  him  in  after  life, 
as  he  was  able  to  draw  up  legal  papers  when  neces- 
sary for  the  protection  of  his  business  interests. 


After  becoming  satisfied  that  he  was  not  cut  out 
for  the  practice  of  law,  Mr.  Shields  decided  to  try 
his  fortune  in  the  gold  fields  of  the  Black  Hills, 
then  much  talked  about,  although  on  account  of 
Indians  it  was  a dangerous  country  for  white  men. 
He  joined  a party  in  March,  1876,  and  after  an 
eventful  trip  found  himself  in  the  Black  Hills  region. 
It  was  soon  evident  that  this  was  not  a poor  man’s 
mining  country — prices  were  very  high  and  it  was 
hard  to  live  on  wages.  There  seemed  to  be  more 
profit  in  hauling  supplies  to  the  hills  than  in  min- 
ing, and  eventually  he  went  into  freighting  for  the 
Northwestern  Stage  and  Transportation  Company, 
located  at  Bismarck,  North  Dakota.  Gradually  em- 
barking in  business  for  himself,  he  had  acquired  ten 
teams  when  the  railroad  began  building  into  the 
Black  Hills  and  destroyed  the  freighting  industry. 
This  compelled  him  to  look  around  for  other  occu- 
pation for  his  transportation  facilities. 

The  Northern  Pacific  was  now  starting  to  build 
from  Bismarck  west.  This  gave  Mr.  Shields  an 
opportunity  to  engage  in  railroad  building,  which 
proved  to  lie  his  proper  sphere  of  action.  He  formed 
a partnership  with  Peter  Larson,  who  afterwards 
became  a prominent  figure  in  the  Northwest.  They 
built  a part  of  the  first  hundred  miles  of  road  from 
Mandan  to  Green  River,  Dakota.  After  working  for 
three  years  on  the  Northern  Pacific,  Mr.  Shields 
went  to  Canada,  where  General  Rosser  was  now 
chief  engineer  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad, 
building  through  to  the  coast.  There  he  again  met 
Mr.  Peter  Siems  of  St.  Paul,  with  whom  he  had 
worked  for  the  old  stage  company  at  Bismarck,  and 
joined  him  on  a contract  for  construction  of  part  of 
the  Canadian  Pacific.  After  working  two  years  on 
that  transcontinental  road  he  came  back  to  Dakota 
and  built  the  “Jim  River’’  Road  from  Oakes  to 
Jamestown. 

Mr.  Shields  riow  joined  Langdon  & Company, 
who  were  just  starting  to  build  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie 
Line  west  from  Minneapolis,  and  while  connected 
with  this  firm  he  superintended  the  building  of  sev- 
eral hundred  miles  and  helped  to  double-track  most 
of  the  line  from  Chicago  to  Belle  Plaine,  Iowa,  for 
the  Northwestern  Railway.  In  1892  he  became  as- 
sociated with  Shepherd,  Siems  & Company,  who  were 
then  the  largest  contracting  firm  in  America.  After 
the  retirement  of  Mr.  D.  C.  Shepherd  the  new  firm 
of  Siems  & Shields  was  formed  and  continued  until 
1909,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  Mr. 
Shields  wishing  to  retire  from  active  business.  Dur- 
ing this  partnership  the  firm  built  most  of  the  lines 
in  the  West  for  the  Great  Northern  and  the  North- 
ern Pacific,  and  completed  some  of  the  heaviest  con- 
tracts ever  performed  in  the  country,  in  all  amount- 
ing to  over  $50,000,000. 

This  detailed  statement  of  the  useful  activities  of 
Mr.  Shields  during  over  thirty  eventful  years  of 
Northwestern  development  shows  how  much  the 
country  owes  to  the  intelligence  and  energy  of  such 
men  for  its  present  prosperity.  They  were  the  real 
“empire  builders,”  the  advance  agents  of  settlement 
and  civilization.  Since  his  retirement  Mr.  Shields 
has  interested  himself  largely  in  looking  after  his 
private  interests  and  traveling. 

He  has  visited  almost  every  country  in  Europe, 
but  has  not  forgotten  the  motto  “see  America  first,” 
having  traveled  in  forty-four  of  the  forty-eight 
states  in  our  nation.  He  is  enjoying  his  well-earned 
rest  as  much  as  possible,  living  at  present  quietly  at 
his  home  on  Lincoln  Avenue,  St.  Paul,  showing  an 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1731 


active  and  helpful  interest  in  public  affairs  and  ever 
ready  to  encourage  or  assist  any  worthy  enterprise. 
Life  stories  of  men  like  him,  in  themselves,  consti- 
tute a history  of  Minnesota  as  well  as  of  her  daugh- 
ter commonwealths  and  provinces,  which  have  been 
built  up  by  their  industry. 

Mr.  Shields  was  married  to  Anna  Bell  Caughren  at 
Bismarck,  Dakota,  April  13,  1880.  He  has  four  chil- 
dren living — Mabel,  Ethel,  Lytton  and  Florence,  all 
born  and  educated  in  St.  Paul,  and  all  of  them  went 
through  the  Central  High  School  and  spent  some 
time  at  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Lytton  after- 
wards studied  two  years  at  Yale  in  the  Sheffield 
Scientific  School,  is  now  president  of  the  Electric 
Manufacturing  Company  doing  business  at  162-164 
West  Sixth  Street,  St.  Paul,  in  wholesale  and  job- 
bing automobile  and  electric  supplies,  and  is  favor- 
ably known  over  the  Northwest.’ 

William  R.  Hodges.  A resident  of  Sleepy  Eye, 
Minnesota,  during  a quarter  of  a century,  in  which 
time  he  has  exercised  a broad  dominating  and  bene- 
ficial influence  as  proprietor  and  editor  of  the  oldest 
newspaper  in  Brown  County,  William  R.  Hodges  is 
one  of  the  best  known  figures  in-  journalism  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state.  His  connection  with 
newspaper  life  began  in  1882,  when,  fresh  from  col- 
lege halls,  he  accepted  a position  in  a minor  capacity 
with  a Moorhead  publication,  and  from  that  time  to 
the  present  his  activities  have  been  confined  to>  the 
work  of  his  profession  and  his  labors  have  tended  at 
all  times  to  preserve  the  high  ideals  of  the  craft. 

Mr.  Hodges  was  born  in  the  City  of  Winnipeg, 
Canada,  August  5,  1862,  and  is  a son  of  George  W. 
and  Catherine  (DeMers)  Hodges.  While  of  Cana- 
dian birth,  he  belongs  on  his  father's  side  to  a family 
which  for  a number  of  years  made  its  home  in  the 
United  States,  the  progenitor  coming  from  Scotland 
and  settling  in  Virginia  during  colonial  times. 
George  W.  Hodges  was  born  in  the  City  of  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  in  1818,  and  there  grew  to  manhood 
amid  agricultural  surroundings.  When  war  was  de- 
clared between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  he 
enlisted  in  the  army,  served  throughout  the  short- 
lived struggle,  and  established  an  excellent  military 
record.  Some  years  later  he  went  to  Canada,  and 
while  there  met  and  married  Catherine  DeMers,  who 
was  born  in  that  country,  of  French  descent,  in  1827. 
They  moved  to  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota,  in  1868,  and  to 
Moorhead  four  years  later,  settling  as  pioneer 
farmers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodges  continued  to  be  in- 
terested in  the  pursuits  of  the  soil  during  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives,  the  mother  dying  in  1903,  at 
Moorhead,  and  the  father  two  years  later  at  the 
same  place. 

William  R.  Hodges  was  but  six  years  of  age  when 
taken  by  his  parents  to  St.  Cloud,  and  there  his 
education  was  commenced  in  the  public  schools.  He 
completed  his  primary  training  in  the  Moorhead  High 
School,  following  which  he  entered  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  but  left  that  institution  in  1882  to  accept 
a position  with  the  Moorhead  Daily  News,  and  was 
connected  with  that  publication  for  a period  of  seven 
years.  Following  a short  experience  in  the  same 
Business  at  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  Mr.  Hodges  came 
to  Sleepy  Eye,  in  1890,  and  here  purchased  Senator 
Thomas  Bowen’s  paper,  the  Herald,  the  oldest  news- 
paper in  Brown  County,  which  had  been  established 
in  1880.  This  he  conducted  until  1907,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  Dispatch  and  combined  the  two  under  the 
name  of  the  Herald-Dispatch,  the  present  style  of  the 


publication.  Mr.  Hodges  is  giving  his  readers  an 
excellent  newspaper,  which  is  well  worthy  of  the 
support,  both  in  subscriptions  and  advertisements, 
that  is  being  given  it.  He  has  a large,  modern  and 
well  equipped  plant  on  Main  Street,  in  the  center  of 
the  business  district,  and  in  connection  with  his 
newspaper  maintains  an  up-to-date  job  printing  office. 
As  a molder  of  public  opinion.  Mr.  Hodges  supports 
energetically  and  enthusiastically  every  movement 
which  promises  to  make  for  progress  and  civic  bet- 
terment, and  his  labors  have  done  much  to  add 
prestige  to  the  thriving  city  of  Sleepy  Eye.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  his  political  views  and  has  taken  some 
part  in  helping  his  party  to  success.  As  a friend  of 
education  he  has  done  everything  in  his  power  to 
better  the  school  system  of  Brown  County,  and  for 
the  past  eighteen  years  has  served  as  a member  of 
the  school  board  of  his  adopted  place.  Fraternally, 
Mr.  Flodges  is  well  and  favorably  known,  being  a 
member  of  Keystone  Lodge  No.  94,  A.  F.  & A.  M.  • 
Albert  Chapter  No.  34,  R.  A.  M. ; New  Ulm  Com- 
mandery,  K.  T.,  and  Zurah  Shrine,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S., 
all  of  the  Masonic  order;  and  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Knights  of’  the 
Maccabees  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, all  of  Sleepy  Eye;  and  Mankato  Lodge  No.  225, 
Benevolent  and.  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of  Man- 
kato, Minnesota. 

Mr.  Hodges  was  married  December  1,  1887,  at 
Moorhead,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Minnie  M.  Higgins, 
daughter  of  William  H.  Higgins,  deceased,  formerly 
a contractor  of  Moorhead. 

Charles  W.  Schoregge,  M.  D.  In  the  medical 
profession  of  Sibley  County,  Charles  W.  Schoregge, 
while  one  of  the  younger  men,  is  recognized  as  a 
physician  and  surgeon  of  thorough  ability  and  of  the 
highest  standing,  and  has  already  developed  a suc- 
cessful practice  about  his  home  town  of  Henderson. 

Dr.  Charles  W.  Schoregge  was  born  at  Sleepy  Eye, 
Brown  Countv,  Minnesota,  a son  of  Charles  H.  and 
Ida  ( Behnke)  Schoregge.  His  father  was  born  at 
Olivia,.  in  Renville  County.  Minnesota,  in  1861,  and 
until  his  death  was  engaged  in  business  as  a druggist 
at  Sleepy  Eye.  Both  the  Schoregge  and  Behnke 
families  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Minnesota,  and 
the  paternal  grandfather  was  a successful  physician 
at  Beaver  Falls  and  in  Olivia  in  Randall  County. 
The  maternal  grandfather  fought  in  the  Indian  wars 
and  was  at  the  massacre  at  New  Ulm.  The  mother 
was  born  at  New  Ulm  in  1861.  Dr.  Schoregge  had 
a brother  who  was  killed  in  the  well  remembered 
explosion  of  the  battleship  Bennington,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two. 

Charles  W.  Schoregge  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools,  graduated  from  the  high  school 
at  New  Ulm  in  1907,  and  then  entered  the  University 
of  Michigan,  where  he  was  graduated  M.  D.  in  1911. 
For  the  following  year  he  was  house  physician  of 
the  Asbury  Flospital  in  Minneapolis,  and  since  1912 
has  been  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  profession  at 
Henderson.  Besides  his  professional  associations, 
Dr.  Schoregge  is  affiliated  with  Charity  Lodge  No. 
98,  A.  F.  & A.  M.._  at  New  Ulm,  and  with  the  Uni- 
versity Club  of  Minneapolis. 

Dr.  Olaf  Th.  Sherptng.  There  is  no  profession 
to  which  men  devote  themselves  more  dignified  in 
its  ethics  or  more  reasonably  helpful  to  the  world 
than  that  of  medicine  and  surgery.  Similar  claims 


1732 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


have  been  made  by  the  church  and  by  the  law,  but 
they  are  based  on  other  foundations,  although  essen- 
tially true  enough.  The  healing  art  demands  of  its 
followers  that  natural  reverence  for  the  dignity  of 
the  human  body  that  commands  the  exercise  of  all 
the  skill  that  years  of  study  and  training  have 
brought  to  them  to  cure  its  ills ; its  discoveries  of  a 
scientific  nature  and  the  skill  with  which  its  devotees 
wield  their  instruments  have  not  only  eased  the  for- 
mer bed  of  torture,  but  have  found  a cure  for  almost 
every  bodily  affliction.  Justly  is  this  noble  profes- 
sion in  the  forefront.  Methods  may  differ,  systems 
may  not  be  quite  alike,  and  personality  counts  for 
much,  but  the  aim  and  principle  remain  the  same. 
Among  the  capable  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Min- 
nesota, one  who  has  gained  more  than  a local  repu- 
tation in  the  latter  branch  of  the  calling  is  Dr.  Olaf 
Th.  Sherping,  surgeon  of  the  famous  St.  Luke’s  Hos- 
pital of  Fergus  Falls,  whose  skill  and  faithfulness, 
together  with  his  determined  hopefulness  and  cheer- 
fulness, have  gained  him  the  gratitude  and  affection 
of  those  who  have  come  under  his  care. 

Doctor  Sherping  was  born  at  Hallingdal,  Norway, 
August  6,  1861,  and  is  a son  of  Thorsten  and  Mar- 
garet (Opheim)  Sherping,  natives  of  the  same  local- 
ity, where  the  father  was  born  in  1804  and  the  mother 
in  1815.  In  his  youth  Thorsten  Sherping  served  his 
regular  time  in  thei  army  of  his  country,  and  then 
engaged  in  dealing  in  timber  lands,  but  in  his  later 
years  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  continued  to  be  engaged  therein  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  died  in  1898,  an  honored  and 
respected  member  of  his  community,  with  a substan- 
tial property.  Mrs.  Sherping  passed  away  in  1881. 

Olaf  Th.  Sherping  was  given  good  educational  ad- 
vantages in  his  own  country,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  and  a university  and  obtained  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Sciences,  but  in  May,  1884, 
desiring  to  verify  the  stories  which  he  had  heard  in 
regard  to  the  opportunities  for  success  to  be  found 
in  America,  boarded  a vessel  for  this  country,  and 
in  May  of  that  year  arrived  at  Canton,  South  Dakota. 
There  for  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  general  work, 
and  the  next  four  years  were  passed  at  Wittenburg, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  continued  in  the  same  line.  At 
the  end  of  that  period  he  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
which  was  his  home  for  three  and  one-half  years, 
during  which  time  he  studied  medicine  in  the  Keokuk 
Medical  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1894,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  a constant  student  and  earnest 
investigator,  and  has  taken  post-graduate  work  at 
Chicago  and  at  Vienna,  Austria,  with  Dr.  Anton  von 
Eiselsberg. 

Doctor  Sherping  began  practice  at  Enderlin,  North 
Dakota,  at  the  time  of  his  graduation  from  the  med- 
ical college,  in  1894,  and  there  remained  for  eight 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  came  to  Fergus 
Falls,  where  he  has  continued  to  practice,  specializing 
in  surgery.  When  he  came  to  Fergus  Falls  in  1902, 
he  found  no  hospital  here,  and,  realizing  the  com- 
munity's need,  he  made  preparations  to  build  a pri- 
vate institution.  However,  the  Norwegians  at  Fergus 
Falls  and  vicinity  offered  to  build  a hospital,  and 
thus  was  founded  St.  Luke’s,  now  known  all  over 
this  part  of  the  country,  the  hospital  being  built  by 
public  subscriptions  and  donations.  Dr.  Sherping 
personally  donated  $2,000.  The  institution  was  com- 
pleted and  ready  for  service  in  1904,  and  since  that 
time  an  addition  has  been  built,  so  that  it  now  accom- 
modates thirty-five  patients,  has  all  up-to-date  equip- 


ment, appliances,  instruments  and  inventions,  and  is 
worth  at  least  $45,000,  has  paid  for  itself,  and  now 
has  sufficient  money  in  the  treasury  to  build  a nurses’ 
home.  The  hospital  is  located  on  Mill  Street,  five 
blocks  from  the,  principal  business  district,  and  its 
officers  are:  Rev.  Mr.  Skyberg,  of  Aastad,  Minne- 

sota, president;  Oliver  Olson,  manager,  and  Dr.  Olaf 
Th.  Sherping,  surgeon.  Five  other  physicians  of 
Fergus  Falls  are  on  the  staff.  Dr.  Sherping  main- 
tains offices  in  the  Scandia  Bank  Building.  He 
belongs  to  the  Ottertail  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Minnesota  State  Medipal  Society  and  the  American 
Medical  Association,  and  has  served  as  a member  of 
the  state  board  of  health  of  Minnesota. 

Politically  a republican,  while  a resident  of  Ender- 
lin, North  Dakota,  Dr.  Sherping  served  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  mayor.  He  has  always  taken  a helpful 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education  and  has  served 
as  a member  of  the  normal  school  board.  His  re- 
ligious belief  is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Church.  Dr.  Sherping  is  well  known  in  fraternal 
circles  and  belongs  to  Liberty  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
Enderlin,  North  Dakota;  Lisbon  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; 
Fergus  Falls  Commandery,  K.  T.,  and  Fargo  Temple,. 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  Fargo,  North  Dakota;  to  Lodge 
No.  1093,  Benevolent  .and^  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
of  Fergus  Falls,  and  to  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  of  this  city.  He  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  a financial  way,  and  has  interested  himself 
in  several  of  the  large  business  ventures  of  this- 
section,  being  president  of  the  Scandia  State  Bank 
of  Fergus  Falls,  president  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank 
of  Ypsilanti,  North  Dakota,  and  a stockholder  in 
the  First  State  Bank  of  Southart,  North  Dakota. 
Dr.  Sherping  is  also  president  of  the  Hallinglay 
Society  Norway,  an  organization  for  social  purposes,, 
as  well  as  for  collecting  data  for  the  history  of  the 
emigration  from  that  part  of  Norway. 

Doctor  Sherping  was  married  in  1895  at  Enderlin, 
North  Dakota,  to  Miss  Ma)'  M.  Sollin,  daughter  of 
C.  A.  Sollin,  who  resides  at  Valley  City,  North 
Dakota.  To  this  union  there  has  come  one  son,. 
Ralph  V.,  a cadet  in  the  military  school  at  Delafield, 
Wisconsin,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant. 

John  S.  Robbins.  The  active  career  of  John  S. 
Robbins  is  a part  of  the  yesterday  of  Kandiyohi 
County,  but  his  substantial  industrial  and  financial 
efforts  are  brought  constantly  to  mind  by  his  familiar 
presence  at  Willmar,  where  he  has  been  living  in 
retirement  since  iqii.  Mr.  Robbins  was  born  at 
Phillins,  Franklin  County,  Maine,  December  28.  1849, 
and  is  a son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Shaw)  Robbins, 
a grandson  of  John  Shaw,  and  a great-grandson  of 
Colonel  Shaw,  who  participated  in  the  Revolutionary 
war. 

Daniel  Robbins  was  born  in  Maine,  was  there 
reared  and  educated,  and  married  Mary  Shaw,  also 
a native  of  that  state.  'When  their  son  John  S.  was 
but  a child  they  migrated  to  Minnesota,  settling  first 
at  St.  Anthony  for  one  year  and  then  moving  to 
Anoka,  where  the  father  spent  the  remaining  years' 
of  his  life.  He  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
and  also  operated  sawmills,  and  built  one  of  the  first 
steam  sawmills  in  the  state.  Through  a life  of 
industry  and  well-directed  effort  he  accumulated  a 
comfortable  fortune,  although  he  was  ever  liberal 
with  his  means  and  would  never  refused  support  to 
a worthy  cause.  Politically  he  was  a republican,  and 
for  some  years  took  an  active  part  in  the  ranks  of  his' 
party,  being  a man  of  much  influence  in  his  com- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1733 


munity.  He  was  a Hard  Shell  Baptist  in  his  religious 
belief,  and  for  a number  of  years  served  as  deacon 
in  the  church.  Six  children  were  born  to  Daniel 
and  Mary  Robbins,  but  only  two  are  now  living : 
Emily  F.  Hennion,  who  is  a widow  and  resides  at 
Minneapolis,  and  John  S. 

After  attending  the  graded  and  high  schools  of 
Anoka,  John  S.  Robbins  entered  upon  his  career  as 
an  employe  of  Merril  Ryder,  of  St.  Paul,  in  the  fur 
business,  and  continued  to  be  thus  engaged  for  one 
and  one-half  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he 
went  to  work  for  Couley,  House  & Edgerton,  and  for 
three  years  conducted  the  Portage  La  Prairie  trading 
post,  with  headquarters  at  White  Horse  Plains,  Can- 
ada, and  when  he  left  the  employ  of  that  concern 
came  to  Minnesota  and  began  to  deal  in  horses  in 
partnership  with  his  brother,  D.  M.  Robbins.  This 
business  was  carried  on  so  energetically,  systemat- 
ically and  intelligently  that  at  the  end  of  three  years, 
when  the  business  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Robbins  found 
himself  in  possession  of  a capital  of  $4,000,  but  did 
not  at  that  time  see  an  opening  for  a business  enter- 
prise. Accordingly,  he  accepted  a position  with  the 
St.  Paul  & Pacific  Railway,  having  charge  of  their 
freight  house  at  Minneapolis  for  two  years,  and  in 
1874  resigned  that  position  to  enter  the  lumber  and 
farming  implement  business  at  Willm'ar,  [Minnesota. 
In  this  he  continued  through  the  balance  of  his  active 
career  and,  like  in  his  other  ventures,  in  it  he  attained 
an  eminent  degree  of  success.  He  disposed  of  his 
lumber  interests  in  1911  to  the  Standard  Lumber 
Company,  and  since  that  time  has  been  living  in  semi- 
retirement,  although  he  still  takes  care  of  his  large 
landed  interests  and  his  Minneapolis  property,  which 
latter  is  worth  in  the  neighborhood  of  $40,000.  He 
also  continues  to  take  a keen  and  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  Willmar  and  Kandiyohi  County,  and  will 
always  be  found  among  the  list  of  contributors  to 
good  and  beneficial  measures  and  movements. 

Mr.  Robbins  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Ella  S. 
Prescott,  daughter  of  George  Prescott,  who  was  first 
the  operator  of  a locomotive  and  later  a stationary 
engineer  with  the  St.  Paul  & Pacific  Railroad.  To 
this  union  there  has  been  born  one  son,  George  M., 
who  lives  at  Willmar  and  is  successfully  engaged  in 
the  automobile  business.  Mrs.  Robbins,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  died  in  1896. 
Mr.  Robbins  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Lodge  No.  952,  and  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  of  which  he  is 
past  master  workman.  A republican  in  politics,  his 
public  services  have  included  one  term  of  effective 
and  faithful  service  as  a member  of  the  city  council. 
Among  other  interests,  he  is  a director  of  the  Bank 
of  Willmar,  of  which  his  brother,  A.  B.  Robbins,  was 
the  founder.  Mr.  Robbins  is  held  in  high  esteem  by 
a wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 

Joseph  J.  Moriarty.  With  growing  distinctions 
as  an  able  and  successful  lawyer  at  Shakopee,  Joseph 
J.  Moriarty,  soon  after  beginning  his  practice  as  a 
lawyer,  also  entered  democratic  politics,  and  in  1910 
was  elected  a member  of  the  Legislature,  serving 
during  the  session  of  1911.  In  that  Legislature  he 
was  marked  among  his  colleagues  as  the  youngest 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

Representing  a family  of  Minnesota  pioneer's, 
Joseph  J.  Moriarty  was  born  at  Belle  Plaine,  Minne- 
sota. March  23,  1884,  a son  of  Michael  and  Catherine 
(Daily)  Moriarty.  His  father  and  mother  both  were 
born  in  Ireland,  and  the  grandparents  on  both  sides, 


Morris  Moriarty  and  Cornelius  Daily,  were  Irish 
sailors, _ and  spent  their  lives  in  Ireland.  Cornelius 
Daily  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  nine  years  of  age, 
and  as  his  parents  are  both  in  venerable  years  Mr. 
Moriarty  is  evidently  of  hardy  and  long-lived  stock. 
His  father  was  born  in  1827  and  his  mother  in  1839, 
and  both  are  still  alive.  They  came  to  Minnesota  in 
the  early  days  and  were  married  at  St.  Paul  in  1857. 
Soon  afterwards  Michael  Moriarty  located  a home- 
stead claim  in  Belle  Plaine  Township,  and  though  at 
the  beginning  he  had  nothing  but  the  industry  of  his 
willing  hands,  he  eventually  acquired  a large  estate 
and  was  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  community. 
Before  he  retired  from  farming  he  owned  540  acres, 
and  divided  that  among  his  children.  The  parents 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  the  father 
is  a democrat.  Nine  of  the  eleven  children  are  still 
living,  and  Joseph  was  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth. 

. His  youth  was  spent  on  a farm,  with  an  education 
in  the  country  schools,  after  which  he  attended  St. 
Thomas  College  and  the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law, 
and  in  1910  he  took  the  state  bar  examinations  and 
was  admitted  to  practice,  and  his  first  year  as  a 
lawyer  was  spent  in  Belle  Plaine.  Since  June,  1911, 
he  has  his  offices  in  Shakopee  and  is  associated  with 
H.  J.  Peck  in  the  firm  of  Peck  & Moriarty. 

_ Mr.  Moriarty  was  married  June  20,  1911,  to  Hen- 
rietta McGuire  of  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota. 
Their  one  son,  Patrick,  was  born  April  23,  1913.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr. 
Moriarty  is  president  of  the  Scott  County  Fair  Asso- 
ciation and  during  the  past  year  this  fair  was  cred- 
ited with  being  the  second  best  in  the  entire  state. 

Milton  B.  Wood.  The  distinction  of  being  the  old- 
est member  of  the  dental  profession  at  Mankato,  in 
continuous  service,  belongs  to  Milton  B.  Wood,  who 
began  practice  there  more  than  thirty-five  years  ago. 
Mr.  Wood  is  also  an  acknowledged  authority  as  a 
Guernsey  cattle  breeder  and  a dairy  expert,  and 
among  dairymen  in  the  Northwest  is  probably  best 
known  for  his  proficiency  and  long  experience  in 
this  field. 

Milton  B.  Wood  is  a native  of  Providence,  Rhode 
Island,  though  most  of  his  life  has  been  passed  in 
Minnesota.  He  was  born  June  26,  1853,  a son  of 
Phares  and  Pheopa  A.  (Cole)  Wood.  Through  both 
lines  his  ancestry  goes  back  to  colonial  times.  The 
first  Wood  was  an  Englishman,  who  received  a grant 
of  land  from  King  George  the  third,  and  that  land 
remained  in  the  family  until  1868,  when  an  uncle  of 
Doctor  Wood  sold  it.  William  Wood,  Jr.,  gentle- 
man, lived  during  the  reign  of  King  George  the  third, 
had  his  home  at  Warwick,  Rhode  Island,  and  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  with  the  rank  of  ensign. 
Stukeley  Wood,  son  of  the  last  mentioned,  and 
grandfather  of  Doctor  Wood,  was  a soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  also  lived  at  Warwick,  Rhode 
Island,  where  he  combined  the  vocations  of  shoe- 
maker and  farmer.  Stukeley  Wood  married  Free- 
land Gerauld.  Phares  Wood  continues  the  military 
activities  of  the  family,  since  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  B of  the  Twelfth 
Rhode  Island  Volunteers,  and  saw  thirteen  months 
of  active  service,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg. After  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment 
he  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  sold  out  his  interests 
there,  and  in  November,  1864,  arrived  with  his  family 
in  Minnesota,  locating  in  Winona  County  and  later 
in  Faribault,  and  in  1867  came  to  Mankato.  In  1870 
he  and  his  wife  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  and  lived 


1734 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


there  until  they  died.  He  was  a carpenter  by  occu- 
pation, a republican  in  politics,  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  - while  his  wife  was  a Baptist. 
His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Benjamin  Miller  Cole, 
who  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  and  spent  his  life 
in  that  state.  Benjamin  M.  Cole  was  a son  of  Col. 
Benjamin  Cole,  who  served  with  that  rank  and  title 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  twice  taken  a 
prisoner,  and  the  first  time  was  sent  to  Jamaica,  made 
his  escape,  and  was  again  captured  and  spent  several 
months  on  the  prison  ship  the  Jersey  in  New  York 
harbor.  The  Cole  family  has  an  American  lineage 
going  back  to  an  ancestor  who  came  to  the  colonies 
between  1640  and  1650,  and  was  a surveyor  at  Swan- 
sea, Massachusetts. 

Milton  B.  Wood  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and 
Mankato,  taking  a two-year  course  in  the  Mankato 
Normal  School.  For  three  years  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  in  dentistry.  In  1877  he  opened  his  office  and 
began  practice  as  a dentist  in  Mankato,  and  his  rec- 
ord in  that  profession  has  been  continuous  since  that 
time.  He  has  always  enjoyed  an  excellent  patronage. 

In  1879  Doctor  Wood  married  Minnie  B.  Monks  of 
Winchester,  Indiana.  Three  children  have  been  born 
to  their  marriage : Leander  J.  is  a shoe  dealer  in 
Mankato;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Bowen  is  the  wife  of  a travel- 
ing man  whose  home  is  in  Mankato ; Mrs.  E.  A.  Lip- 
pert  is  the  wife  of  the  manager  of  a clothing  store 
in  Minnesota.  The  family  worship  in  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  Doctor  Wood  is  in  politics  a republican 
and  served  three  years  as  an  alderman  and  for  six 
years  was  on  the  library  board  and  was  president 
of  the  board  at  the  time  the  appropriation  was 
secured  from  Mr.  Carnegie  for  the  new  library 
building. 

It  was  in  1884  that  Doctor  Wood  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Guernsey  cattle  as  a breeder,  and  has 
continued  his  work  along  that  line  ever  since.  He 
has  been  a purchasing  agent  for  Mr.  Loring  of  Min- 
nesota, and  has  twice  gone  abroad  for  the  purchase 
of  blooded  stock.  Doctor  Wood  is  considered  the 
best  judge  in  Minnesota  of  this  class  of  cattle,  and 
for  fifteen  years  was  judge  of  dairy  breeds  at  the 
Minnesota  State  Fair.  He  was  also  the  chief  judge 
at  the  First  National  Dairy  Show  held  in  Chicago  in 
1906. 

Charles  E.  Campton.  The  men  to  whom  is  en- 
trusted the  responsibility  of  educating  the  youth  of 
the  land  today  are  called  upon  to  meet  and  overcome 
manv  obstacles  with  which  those  of  an  oider  genera- 
tion were  unacquainted.  The  enlarging  of  the  cur- 
riculum of  the  public  schools  necessitates  a long  and 
careful  training,  with  constant  study,  research  and 
investigation,  and  popular  demand  has  resulted  in 
the  production  of  a class  of  men  who  as  educators 
have  had  no  superiors  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
The  position  of  superintendent  of  schools  in  any  live 
and  growing  community  calls  for  the  exhibition  of  a 
profound  knowledge  of  educational  work  and  a broad 
fund  of  general  information,  together  with  a mind 
capable  of  handling  the  business  affairs  connected 
with  the  office.  It  is  the  possession  of  these  quali- 
ties that  has  made  Charles  E.  Campton  one  of  the 
most  popular  and  efficient  officials  of  Brown  County 
in  the  line  of  educational  labors,  and  as  superintend- 
ent of  schools  of  Sleepy  Eye,  he  has  succeeded  in 
building  up  a system  that  compares  favorably  with 
those  of  any  city  of  its  size  in  the  state. 


Mr.  Campton  was  born  at  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 27,  1876,  and  is  a son  of  Amos  and  Helen  (Ames) 
Campton.  The  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction, 
was  founded  in  America  during  colonial  times,  and 
the  great-grandfather  of  Charles  E.  Campton  took 
up  a homestead  at  an  early  day  on  the  site  of  the 
present  City  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  grandfather, 
William  Campton,  was  for  many  years  a resident  of 
Hillsboro,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business 
as  a cooper,  butl  in  his  declining  years  retired  and 
moved  to  Hubbard,  Minnesota,  where  he  passed 
away.  Amos  Campton  was  born  at  Hillsboro,  Ohio, 
in  1851,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  coming  to  Hub- 
bard, Minnesota,  March  20,  1880,  and  settling  as  a 
farmer  among  the  pioneers.  Here  he  continued  to 
be  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  career,  and  died  at  Hubbard  in  1894, 
at  the  age  of  forty-three  years.  He  married  Helen 
Ames,  who  was  horn  at  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  in  1850, 
and  she  still  survives  him  and  makes  her  home  at 
Menahga,  Wadena  County,  Minnesota.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Amos  and  Helen  Campton, 
namely : Charles  E.,  of  this  review ; and  George  C., 
who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Menahga. 

Charles  E.  Campton  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Hubbard,  Minnesota,  to  which 
place  he  had  been  brought  as  a child  of  four  years, 
and  in  his  youth  began  his  career  as  an  educator, 
teaching  for  several  years  in  the  rural  schools.  To 
further  his  training,  he  subsequently  took  the  ele- 
mentary course  in  the  St.  Cloud  Normal  School, 
being  graduated  in  1901,  and  thus  prepared  secured  a 
position  as  teacher  in  the  graded  schools  of  Hubbard. 
Thus  he  secured  the  means  necessary  to  re-enter  the 
normal  school  at  St.  Cloud,  being  graduated  from 
the  advanced  course  in  1906,  and  in  that  same  year 
went  to  Westbrook,  Minnesota,  as  principal  of 
graded  schools,  remaining  there  five  years.  During 
the  terms  of  1911,  1912  and  1913,  he  attended  the 
LTniversity  of  Minnesota,  taking  a special  course  in 
agricultural  work,  and  in  1913  was  given  his  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts  by  that  institution.  In  the  lat- 
ter year  he  was  called  to  Sleepy  Eye  to  take  the 
position  of  superintendent  of  schools,  and  his  con- 
tract here  has  still  three  years  to  run.  Mr.  Campton 
has  fifteen  teachers  under  his  direction,  and  his 
earnest  and  enthusiastic  spirit  has  been  communi- 
cated to  them,  so  that  the  school  system  here  has 
advanced  rapidly  during  his  administration.  The 
large  high  school  building,  in  which  his  office  is  lo- 
cated, is  a handsome  structure,  erected  in  1895. 
While  his  duties  during  the  last  six  years  have  been 
exceptionally  heavy,  he  has  found  the  time  and  incli- 
nation to  serve  in  other  capacities,  and  for  two 
years  taught  during  the  summer  months  in  the  train- 
ing schools,  and  for  the  past  four  years  has  devoted 
the  summer  months  to  teaching  in  the  training  school 
at  the  University  Farm  College,  at  St.  Paul.  Pie 
has  high  standing  among  the  educators  of  Southern 
Minnesota,  and  his  reputation  in  his  profession  is 
all  the  more  creditable  in  that  his  position  and  suc- 
cess have  been  gained  entirely  through  the  medium 
of  his  own  unaided  efforts.  Professor  Campton  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is 
somewhat  interested  in  fraternal  work,  being  a mem- 
ber of  Keystone  Lodge  No.  94,  A.  F.  & A.  M„  and 
Sleepjr  Eye  Lake  Lodge  No.  8t,  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Sleepy  Eye  Commercial  Club. 

On  December  26,  1903,  at  Selby,  South  Dakota, 
Professor  Campton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1735 


Esther  M.  Elfrink,  daughter  of  J.  J.  Elfrink,  of  that 
city,  a well  known  and  successful  merchant. 

Otto  Petersen.  A practical  and  experienced 
farmer  himself,  Otto  Petersen  has  made  that  experi- 
ence the  foundation  for  a valuable  service  as  a dealer 
in  farm  lands  in  Minnesota.  He  is  now  conducting 
a business  under  the  name  Petersen  Land  Company 
at  Mankato,  and  does  a large  business  in  both  im- 
proved and  unimproved  farm  lands,  and  also  handles 
city  property  and  writes  both  life  and  fire  insurance, 
representing  the  German  Underwriters  and  the 
Equitable  Life  Insurance  Company. 

Otto  Petersen  was  born  in  DeWitt,  Iowa,  May  21, 
1879,  a son  of  Peter  and  Anna  (Howe)  Petersen. 
Both  parents  were  natives  qf  Denmark.  Grandfather 
Petersen  also  came  to  America,  but  finally  returned 
to  his  native  land  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three.  Peter  Petersen  was  born  in  1839  and  died 
January  16,  1915.  His  wife  was  born  in  1849  and 
died  January  15,  1905.  They  were  married  in  Den- 
mark, where  most  of  their  children  were  born,  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1877,  settling  in 
Iowa  on  a farm.  In  1879  they  removed  to  Minnesota, 
and  located  two  and  a half  miles  from  Amboy, 
where  Peter  Petersen  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  as  a 
successful  farmer.  He  was  a man  of  good  citizen- 
ship as  well  as  of  substantial  qualities  in  other  direc- 
tions, was  a friend  of  church  and  school,  affiliated 
with  the  Lutheran  Church  and  in  politics  was  a demo- 
crat. Otto  was  the  ninth  of  ten  children,  and  only 
four  are  now  living,  the  other  three  being:  C.  L. 
Petersen,  at  Thief  River  Falls,  Minnesota ; Kate 
Petersen,  who  lives  on  the  homestead;  and  Tilda,  also 
on  the  old  home  farm. 

Otto  Petersen  has  spent  practically  all  his  life  in 
Minnesota,  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  near 
the  old  farm  at  Amboy,  and  the  training  he  received 
as  a boy  he  turned  to  practical  usefulness  in  his  own 
work  as  a farmer  up  till  1912.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  been  handling  farm  property.  He  finally  re- 
moved to  Mankato,  and  since  April  5,  1914,  has  main- 
tained an  office  there  and  now  gives  all  his  time  to 
the  real  estate  business.  He  buys  and  sells  all  kinds 
of  farm  land  and  his  transactions  are  not  confined 
to  any  one  locality  of  Minnesota.  He  owns  eighteen 
or  twenty  farms,  and  his  advice  in  real  estate  mat- 
ters is  thoroughly  reliable  and  has  practical  ex- 
perience as  well  as  business  integrity  behind  every 
deal  he  makes. 

November  22,  1900,  Mr.  Petersen  married  Martha 
L.  Bakken  of  Martin  County,  Minnesota.  They  have 
four  sons : Peter,  aged  thirteen ; Melvin,  aged  eight ; 
Russell,  aged  six ; and  Robert,  aged  four.  Mr.  Peter- 
sen worships  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  and  in 
politics  is  a republican.  He  is  active  in  citizenship, 
and  is  one  of  the  progressive  members  of  the  Man- 
kato Commercial  Club. 

Jens  L.  Lobben.  Now  regarded  as  one  of  the 
ablest  members  of  the  bar  at  St.  James,  Jens  L.  Lob- 
ben has  made  himself  useful  since  early  manhood, 
as  a teacher,  clerk,  and  for  the  past  twenty  years  in 
the  active  practice  of  law.  Throughout  his  career 
he  has  lived  in  close  touch  with  the  people,  and  along 
with  ability  in  the  law  has  manifested  an  integrity 
which  has  gained  for  him  the  complete  confidence  of 

Vol.  in— 30 


his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Lobben  is  the  present  mayor 
of  St.  James. 

A native  of  Norway,  Jens  L.  Lobben,  was  born 
in  the  Parish  of  Eker  near  Drammen,  August  1,  1862. 
His  father  was  the  late  Rev.  Anders  L.  Lobben,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  parish  in  Norway  in  1832  and 
who  died  at  St.  James,  Minnesota,  in  1904.  Emigrat- 
ing to  America  in  1875,  he  first  located  in  Jackson 
County,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1879  established  his  home 
at  St.  James.  He  is  well  remembered  as  a devoted 
and  useful  worker  in  the  ministry  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  Synod  of  America.  Reverend  Lobben  mar- 
ried Sophie  Stangeby,  who  was  born  at  Tonsberg, 
Norway,  in  1837,  and  died  at  St.  James  in  1909.  They 
were  the  parents  of  a large  family  of  children,  the 
first  being  Jens  L. ; L.  L.,  the  second,  is  manager 
of  a lumber  yard  at  Brooten,  Minnesota.  The 
son  Olaf  died  several  years  ago.  Dorothy,  now  de- 
ceased, married  H.  M.  Serkland,  who  up  to  about 
eight  years  ago  was  cashier  of  the  Citizens  National 
Bank  of  St.  James  and  is  now  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  at  Gridley,  California.  The  daughter 
Marie  is  now  the  second  wife  of  H.  M.  Serkland. 
The  son  Anders  L.  died  young.  Peter  S.  is  a rail- 
way mail  clerk,  on  a run  between  Minneapolis  and 
Omaha,  and  resides  at  Shakopee,  Minnesota.  Carl 
M.,  the  eighth  child,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven, 
unmarried. 

Jens  L.  Lobben,  about  twelve  years  of  age  when 
his  family  came  to  America,  acquired  training  in  the 
English  schools  in  Jackson  County,  Wisconsin.  For 
his  higher  education  he  took  the  preparatory  course 
at  Luther  College  in  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  for  three 
years  was  a student  in  the  regular  academic  course 
in  the  same  institution.  Following  school  he  taught 
one  year,  worked  on  a farm,  clerked  in  stores,  and 
took  up  the  study  of  law  with  John  W.  Seager  at  St. 
James.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1896,  Mr.  Lobben 
for  six  years  was  associated  in  practice  with  his  for- 
mer preceptor,  Mr.  Seager,  and  since  that  time  has 
looked  after  a large  and  growing  general  practice  as 
an  individual  lawyer,  with  offices  in  the  Miller  Glass 
Block,  on  First  Avenue  in  St.  James.  While  most 
of  his  time  has  been  spent  in  the  strict  lines  of  his 
profession,  Mr.  Lobben  served  as  city  attorney  of 
St.  James  nine  years,  and  in  April,  1914,  was  the 
choice  of  the  municipality  for  the  office  of  mayor, 
where  his  progressive  administration  is  now  making 
itself  felt  in  many  ways  for  the  advancement  and 
betterment  of  the  communty.  He  also  served  during 
1900-1903  as  a member  of  the  St.  James  Board  of 
Education. 

Mr.  Lobben  is  a republican,  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  has  fraternal  affiliations  with 
Libanus  Lodge  No.  96,  A.  F.  & A.  M„  St.  James; 
with  Concordia  Chapter  No.  25,  R.  A.  M.,  St.  James; 
with  De  Molay  Commandery  No.  26,  Knights 
Templar,  New  Film ; with  Watonwan  Lodge  No.  207, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  with  St.  James  Lodge  No.  64  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  with  Camp 
No.  1538  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  both 
of  St.  James.  For  some  time  he  was  a stockholder 
and  director  in  the  St.  James  Telephone  Company. 
Mr.  Lobben  married  at  Linden,  Brown  County,  Min- 
nesota, May  7,  1884,  Miss  Julia  Anderson,  daughter 
of  Hans  Anderson,  now  deceased,  who  was  a Brown 
County  farmer. 

Ernest  W.  Campbell.  One  of  the  leading  lawyers 
of  Western  Minnesota  is  Ernest  W.  Campbell,  who 
was  graduated  from  the  law  school  of  Yale  Univer- 


1736 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


sity  twenty  years  ago  and  has  since  gained  a high 
standing  both  in  legal  circles  and  as  a business  man 
and  public  official.  He  is  a learned  lawyer  and 
scholarly  gentleman  and  a citizen  in  whose  character 
the  community  has  implicit  trust  and  confidence. 

Ernest  W.  Campbell  was  born  in  Meeker  County, 
Minnesota,  in  1870,  a date  which  indicates  that  his 
family  were  among  the  pioneers  of  that  section.  His 
father  is  Otho  H.  Campbell  who  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut in  1845,  and  coming  out  to  Minnesota  in 
1868  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  at  Clearwater.  For 
many  years  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a mer- 
chant, and  is  now  vice  president  of  the  Bank  of 
Litchfield  and  interested  in  several  other  financial  in- 
stitutions in  various  parts  of  the  state.  He  is  an 
active  republican,  a Knight  Templar  Mason,  and  a 
man  of  high  standing  and  influence  in  Meeker 
County.  Otho  H.  Campbell  married  Isa  Creath,  who 
was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine  in  1848  and  is  still 
living  at  Litchfield. 

Ernest  W.  Campbell  finished  his  course  in  high 
school  in  1891,  and  then  went  East  and  entered  the 
Yale  Law  School  where  he  was  graduated  with  his 
Bachelor’s  degree  in  1893,  and  in  1894  was  awarded 
the  degree  Master  of  Laws.  Since  then  he  has  been 
actively  identified  either  with  his  profession  or  with 
business  and  office.  During  the  Spanish-American 
war  he  enlisted  and  was  made  first  sergeant  in  Com- 
pany C of  the  Fifteenth  Minnesota  Volunteers,  sub- 
sequently being  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  of  the 
same  company.  His  father  also  has  a military  record, 
having  served  as  a private  during  the  Civil  war.  Mr. 
Campbell  was  appointed  by  Judge  William  C.  Loch- 
ran  as  referee  in  bankruptcy  for  the  United  States 
District  Court  in  1899,  and  has  given  a capable  ad- 
ministration of  the  affairs  coming  before  that  court 
for  over  fifteen  years.  Since  locating  at  Litchfield, 
and  in  addition  to  his  large  private  practice,  he 
served  two  terms  as  county  attorney  of  Meeker 
County.  He  is  a director  of  the  Bank  of  Litchfield 
and  politically  is  a republican. 

Mr.  Campbell  married  Marian  R.  Roraback,  daugh- 
ter of  Uriah  Roraback.  They  have  one  child,  Myra, 
tw.elve  years  of  age. 

( 

Charles  W.  Wagner.  As  lawyer,  banker,  editor, 
Charles  W.  Wagner  has  made  himself  almost  an  in- 
dispensable factor  in  the  life  and  affairs  of  Litchfield, 
with  which  community  he  has  been  identified  for 
upwards  of  twenty  years.  Mr.  Wagner  is  a native  of 
Minnesota,  and  has  made  himself  useful  in  some 
capacity  or  other  since  early  youth. 

He  was  born  in  Waseca  County  in  1869,  a son  of 
Christopher  and  Marie  (Zieger)  Wagner.  His  father 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1842  and  died  in  1894.  He 
came  to  America  when  a young  man  and  was  here 
in  time  to  serve  three  years  as  a private  in  the  Union 
army.  He  was  in  the  army  under  General  Banks  and 
in  one  battle  was  wounded.  He  became  a pioneer 
farmer  in  Waseca  County,  Minnesota,  in  1867,  and 
under  his  energetic  labors  his  land  holdings  grew 
from  160  acres  to  360  acres.  He  was  also  in  the 
lumber  business  for  a time  at  New  Richland,  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  and  president  of  the  State 
Bank  of  New  Richland.  He  was  one  of  the  leading 
men  in  Waseca  County,  and  in  1881  represented  his 
district  in  the  Legislature  and  held  various  local 
offices.  Politically  he  was  a republican.  His  wife, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1842  and  came  to  this 
country  in  1854,  is  now  living  at  New  Richland.  She 
was  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  and  the  eight  still 


living  are : Charles  W. ; Mrs.  Emma  Echternach  of 
New  Richland;  Della  A.  Lange  of  New  Richland; 
Ida  M.  of  New  Richland;  Bertha  M.  of  New  Rich- 
land; Alma  H.  Archer  of  Princeton,  Minnesota; 
Elsie  D.  Hemmingway  of  Waseca;  and  Otto  H.  of 
Minneapolis.  All  the  children  are  well  located  and 
of  independent  means. 

Charles  W.  Wagner  received  his  education  in  rural 
schools  while  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Waseca 
County,  afterwards  attended  the  Mankato  Normal 
School,  and  in  1894  was  graduated  from  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  pursued  an  active  career  as  a 
teacher.  He  was  superintendent  of  schools  at  New 
Richland  four  years  and  county  superintendent,  of 
Waseca  County  schools  four  years.  After  locating 
in  Litchfield  he  bought  the  Litchfield  Review  in  1898, 
and  has  since  been  its  owner  and  editor,  and,  has 
made  this  paper  not  only  an  influential  organ  of 
opinion  and  a medium  of  news  but  also  a profitable 
business  enterprise.  It  now  has  a circulation  of 
2,000,  all  over  Meeker  and  adjoining  counties.  Mr. 
Wagner  aside  from  his  newspaper  business  and  his 
law  practice  is  director  of  the  Bank  of  Litchfield 
and  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Grove  City. 

Politically  he  has  always  identified  himself  with 
the  republican  party.  He  is  president  of  the  board 
of  education  of  Litchfield,  and  for  four  years  served 
in  the  city  council.  In  1906  he  married  Emma  V. 
Chandler.  They  have  one  daughter,  Harriet,  thirteen 
years  of  age. 

Charles  Devereaux  Gould  was  born  at  Garland, 
Warren  County,  Pennsylvania,  June  4,  1867,  and  is  a 
son  of  Theodore  L.  and  Louise  (Devereaux)  Gould, 
natives  of  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania.  His  father,  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 
He  served  throughout  the  Peninsular  campaign  and 
in  many  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  the  great 
struggle.  At  the  end  of  three  years  he  was  in- 
capacitated by  sickness  and  was  compelled  to  leave 
the  army  and  was  honorably  discharged  as  lieutenant. 
Returning  to  his  home  in  Springfield,  Pennsylvania, 
he  remained  there  until  1869,  and  at  that  time  came 
to  Minnesota,  settling  at  Spring  Valley,  where  he 
established  himself  in  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness, in  connection  with  which  he  operated  a farm 
until  1886,  then  coming  to  Minneapolis,  where  he 
died  two  years  later.  The  mother  resides  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Harry  H.  Harding,  of  Hudson, 
Wisconsin.  Several  of  Mrs.  Gould’s  brothers  served 
in  the  Civil  war,  one  being  killed  in  battle.  Theodore 
L.  and  Louise  Gould  were  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren : Charles  Devereaux ; one  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Mrs.  Harry  H.  Harding,  of  Hudson,  Wisconsin. 

Charles  Devereaux  Gould  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  Spring  Valley  Public  School,  graduating 
from  the  high  school  there  in  1886.  At  that  time  he 
entered  the  University  of  Minnesota  and  spent  two 
years  in  the  academic  department.  Later  he  entered 
the  law  department  and  was  graduated  in  1891  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  and  in  July  of  that 
year  commenced  practice  in  Minneapolis  with  George 
H.  Selover,  with  whom  he  continued  for  two  years 
under  the  style  of  Selover  & Gould.  Subsequently  this 
firm  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Gould  became  associated 
with  Lincoln  J.  Bodge,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1897  as  Bodge  & Gould  and  since  that  time  Mr. 
Gould  has  continued  alone.  Mr.  Gould’s  offices  were 
in  the  Boston  Block  on  Hennepin  Avenue  for  some 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1737 


fifteen  years,  or  until  the  building  of  the  Security 
Bank  Building,  where  he  has  since  maintained  offices 
and  carried  on  a general  practice.  Mr.  Gould  belongs 
to  the  Minneapolis,  Minnesota  and  American  Bar 
associations. 

For  a number  of  years  Mr.  Gould  has  been  promi- 
nent in  political  matters,  and  his  activities  in  civic 
matters  have  brought  him  favorably  before  the  pub- 
lic. As  alderman  of  the  largest  ward  in  the  city, 
the  Fourth,  located  in  the  down  town  district,  from 
January  i,  1900,  until  January  1,  1913,  he  was  in  close 
touch  with  many  important  municipal  developments, 
and  was  exceedingly  active  in  behalf  of  his  city’s 
best  interests.  He  served  as  chairman  of  the  water 
board,  and  it  was  largely  through  his  continuous  and 
untiring  efforts  and  the  efforts  of  the  city  council 
of  which  he  was  a member  that  Minneapolis  secured 
its  filtration  plant,  which  had  been  so  badly  needed 
for  years. 

In  1912  Mr.  Gould  became  a candidate  for  mayor 
of  Minneapolis,  and  he  and  Hon.  Wallace  G.  Nye, 
now  mayor  of  the  city,  were  the  candidates  nomi- 
nated out  of  eleven  who  announced  their  candidacy. 
Here  followed  events  which  at  once  stamped  Mr. 
Gould  as  one  of  his  city’s  most  public-spirited  men. 
They  are  well  explained  in  an  article  which  appeared 
in  November,  1912,  in  the  University  .of  Minnesota 
Alumni,  the  annual  number  of  the  Minnesota  Alumni 
Weekly.  Mr.  Gould  feels  justly  proud  of  this  article, 
coming  from  the  source  it  did  and  without  any 
solicitation  on  his  part.  Under  the  caption  “An 
Honor  to  his  Alma  Mater,”  it  said : “In  order  to 
understand  the  action  of  Charles  D.  Gould,  law  ’91, 
in  retiring  from  the  race  for  the  mayoralty  of  this 
city,  it  is  necessary  to  say  a few  words  as  to  the 
situation  here.  Mr.  Gould  was  second  man  in  the 
primary,  he  and  Mr.  Selover  running  neck  and  neck 
close  up  to  the  leader  in  the  race,  Mr.  Nye.  Mr. 
Gould  and  Mr.  Selover  both  appealed  to  the  same 
class  of  voters  and  had  either  one  been  out  of  the 
race,  the  other  would  have  won  by  a handsome 
plurality.  The  socialist  candidate,  taking  advantage 
of  an  oversight  in  the  law,  determined  to  make  sure 
of  a divided  opposition  and  came  into  the  race  later, 
by  petition. 

“It  was  seen  that  there  was  danger  of  the  election 
of  a socialist,  if  both  Mr.  Gould  and  Mr.  Nye  should 
remain  in  the  field,  and  both  men  consented  to  submit 
the  matter  to  a group  of  citizens  for  advice.  The 
advice  of  this  group  was  that  Mr.  Gould  should 
retire  from  the  race,  in  order  that  there  might  be  a 
clean-cut  issue  to  be  decided  between  socialism  and 
those  opposed  to  socialism.  This  action  has  aroused 
the  most  bitter  attacks  on  Mr.  Gould  by  the  socialists 
and  some  of  his  former  supporters. 

“In  consenting  to  eliminate  himself,  Mr.  Gould  has 
shown  sturdy  qualities  of  patriotism  and  manhood 
that  have  brought  him  greater  honor  than  the  win- 
ning of  the  election  would  have  brought.  Though 
intensely  disappointed,  more  largely  on  account  of 
his  family  and  friends  than  on  his  own  account,  Mr. 
Gould  made  no  half-way  work  of  his  action  and  has 
thrown  all  of  his  influence  in  favor  of  his  former 
and  only  legitimate  opponent.” 

In  July,  1914,  Mr.  Gould  was  elected  city  attorney 
of  Minneapolis,  thereby  making  him  the  head  of  the 
legal  department  of  the  city,  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  of  Judge  Daniel  Fish,  appointed  to  the  District 
Court  bench. 

In  January,  1915,  Mr.  Gould  was  re-elected  as 
city  attorney  for  a term  of  two  years.  The  duties  of 


that  office  have  been  faithfully  and  successfully  dis- 
charged by  him. 

Mr.  Gould  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Ath- 
letic Club  and  is  also  well  known  in  fraternal  circles, 
belonging  to  Minnesota  Lodge  No.  224,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past  master;  and  Zurah  Tem- 
ple of  the  Mystic  Shrine ; also  a member  of  the  Psi 
Upsilon  college  fraternity.  He  holds  membership 
also  in  the  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commerce  Asso- 
ciation, and  with  his  family  attends  the  Trinity  Bap- 
tist Church. 

On  January  9,  1897,  at  Minneapolis,  Mr.  Gould 
was  united  in  marriage,  with  Miss  Viola  C.  Cauvet, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Edward  C.  Cauvet,  who  was  cap- 
tain of  the  famous  Tammy  News  Boys  Regiment  of 
New  York  City.  He  died  in  Minneapolis  February 
26,  1896.  Captain  Cauvet,  who  was  on  General  Han- 
cock’s staff,  was  born  in  New  York,  but  was  of  pure 
French  stock,  his  parents  being  both  born  in  France. 
He  married  Emma  Knight,  who  was  born  in  Brook- 
lyn, New  York,  of  English  parents,  and  she  died  in 
Minneapolis  on  Easter  day,  1910.  Mrs.  Gould  was 
born  in  New  York  City  and  .received  her  early  edu- 
cation in  Minneapolis,  subsequently  spending  one  year 
in  Pratt  Institute,  a noted  art  school  of  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  and  later  completing  a musical  education 
in  Minneapolis.  Two  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould,  both  in  Minneapolis,  Marjorie 
C.  and  Edward  C. 

Edward  P.  Peterson  represents  one  of  the  earliest 
families  to  become  identified  with  the  development 
and  settlement  of  Meeker  County,  and  not  only  has 
the  distinction  of  early  residence  but  also  that  of 
long  and  effective  co-operation  with  local  affairs. 
Mr.  Peterson  is  a lawyer  of  more  than  thirty  years’ 
standing  and  in  many  ways  has  been  a valuable 
leader,  not  only  in  politics  but  in  the  economic  affairs 
of  his  locality. 

Edward  P.  Peterson  is  a native  of  Minnesota,  born 
when  it  was  a territory,  at  White  Rock  in  Goodhue 
County  in  1855.  His  parents  were  Olaf  and  Johanna 
(Akerson)  Peterson.  Both  parents  were  natives  of 
Sweden,  his  father  born  in  1827  and  coming  to  Min- 
nesota in  1853,  five  years  before  the  admission  of 
Minnesota  to  the  Union.  His  death  occurred  in  1911. 
He  was  an  early  settler  and  farmer  in  Goodhue 
County,  and  in  1867  brought  his  family  to  Meeker 
County  and  took  up  a homestead  of  eighty  acres.  He 
was  quite  active  in  local  politics  as  a republican.  In 
1903  he  sold  his  property  in  Meeker  County,  went  to 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  farmed  for  a time  near  Ames 
in  that  state,  and  then  lived  retired  at  Des  Moines 
until  his  death.  His  wife  was  born  in  1829  and  died 
in  1864.  Of  their  children  the  three  living  are  Ed- 
ward P. ; Henry  I.,  who  is  editor  and  owner  of  the 
Litchfield  Independent;  and  Albin  M.,  who  is  also 
connected  with  the  Litchfield  Independent. 

Edward  P.  Peterson  has  lived  in  Meeker  County 
since  he  was  twelve  years  of  age.  After  beginning 
his  education  he  began  making  himself  serviceable 
to  others  in  the  capacity  of  teacher,  an  occupation 
he  followed  four  years  in  Meeker  County.  He  was 
a student  of  law  under  E.  A.  Campbell  and  L.  C. 
Spooner,  and  also  attended  the  State  University  one 
year,  but  was  compelled  to  leave  on  account  of  ill 
health.  Mr.  Peterson  was  admitted  to  the  Minnesota 
bar  in  1883,  and  since  that  time,  for  a period  of  more 
than  thirty  years,  has  been  in  active  practice  at  Litch- 
field, the  county  seat  of  Meeker  County.  For  seven 
years  he  held  the  office  of  county  attorney,  and  the 


1738 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


record  he  made  in  that  office  was  the  basis  for  his 
promotion  in  1910  to  the  State  Senate.  He  is  now 
serving  his  second  term  as  senator.  Politically  he  is 
a democrat.  Mr.  Peterson  is  also  vice  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Litchfield. 

In  1886  he  married  Miss  Jennie  Crowe,  who  died 
in  1909.  She  was  a daughter  of  George  J.  and  Jane 
Crowe,  also  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Meeker 
County.  Mr.  Peterson  has  two  daughters : Marie, 
aged  twenty-one,  is  a member  of  the  class  of  1915 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota;  while  Frances,  aged 
eighteen,  is  now  in  her  freshman  year  at  the 
university. 

William  P.  Allred,  Jr.,  was  born  of  American 
parentage  near  Seymour,  Iowa,  September  1,  1879. 
Choosing  architecture  as  a profession,  he  secured 
employment  with  a competent  contractor,  working  a 
number  of  years  at  the  carpenter  trade.  During  this 
time  he  took  a complete  architectural  course  with  the 
International  Correspondence  School  of  Scranton, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  awarded  high  honors  for 
scholarship.  Thus  he  is  equipped  thoroughly  with 
practical  as  well  as  technical  knowledge. 

He  was  first  employed  in  the  architectural  profes- 
sion by  Libby,  Nourse  & Rassmussen  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  Mr.  Libby  being  the  state  architect.  Later  he 
joined  the  office  force  of  W.  R.  Parsons  & Son  Com- 
pany also  of  Des  Moines.  A year  after  he  joined 
this  firm,  having  proven  his  ability,  he  was  appointed 
to  take  charge  of  their  branch  office  in  Duluth,  Min- 
nesota. Leaving  the  employment  of  the  W.  R.  Par- 
sons & Son  Company,  Mr.  Allred,  on  January  1, 
1909,  formed  a partnership  with  Frank  L.  Young,  of 
Duluth,  the  company  being  known  as  Frank  L.  Young 
& Company.  During  this  association,  many  promi- 
nent buildings  were  designed  for  Duluth  and  North- 
ern Minnesota. 

Mr.  Young,  retiring,  the  association  was  discon- 
tinued' after  the  fourth  year.  Mr.  Allred  has  since 
continued  practicing  under  his  personal  supervision. 
He  has  proven  himself  one  of  Duluth’s  able  archi- 
tects. A set  of  plans  from  his  office  will  have  every 
detail  studied  from  the  utilitarian  as  well  as  the 
artistic  side.  Much  of  his  time  is  given  to  the  de- 
signing of  school  buildings  and  those  recently  de- 
signed for  and  erected  in  Northern  Minnesota  receive 
high  commendation  from  state  officials  and  edu- 
cators. Mr.  Allred  came  to  Minnesota  in  1906,  resid- 
ing in  Duluth. 


John"  W.  Barber  is  a successful  business  man  at 
Spring  Valley  who  graduated  from  a long  career 
in  the  railroad  service  into  his  present  occupation  as 
a banker.  Mr.  Barber  began  life  with  nothing,  ex- 
cept his  native  industry1  and  talent  for  hard  work, 
and  has  gained  those  things  which  ambitious  men 
most  desire,  an  honored  place  in  the  community  and 
a satisfying  degree  of  material  prosperitv. 

John  W.  Barber  was  born  in  LaCrosse  County, 
Wisconsin.  August  26,  1865,  a son  of  M.  and  Lydia 
(Kirkland)  Barber.  The  grandfather  was  Elkanah 
Barber,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  which  state 
the  Barber  family  was  established  after  coming  from 
England  in  1530.  The  emigrant  ancestor  was  Elihu 
Barber,  who  was  a ship  contractor  by  trade,  and  is 
said  to  have  built  one  of  the  first  church  houses  in 
Connecticut.  Mr.  Barber’s  great-grandfather  served 
as  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  father 
was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1830  and  is  still  living. 


He  came  to  Wisconsin  in  1854,  being  a millwright 
and  carpenter  by  trade,  and  was  married  in  that  state 
in  LaCrosse  County  to  Miss  Kirkland,  who  was  born 
in  New  York  State  in  1823  and  died  in  1902.  After 
his  marriage  the  father  gave  up  his  trade  and  moved 
to  a farm,  and  was  one  of  the  substantial  farmers 
of  LaCrosse  County  for  many  years.  Fie  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  LaCrosse  and 
in  politics  a republican.  His  success  was  quietly  won, 
and  he  is  now  living  retired  at  a good  old  age.  There 
were  only  two  children,  and  the  son  George  is  in  the 
plumbing  business  at  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin. 

John  W.  Barber  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
at  LaCrosse,  and  as  soon  as  he  had  completed  the 
common  schools  began  learning  telegraphy  at  the  age 
of  sixteen.  He  was  soon  appointed  to  the  responsi- 
bilities of  telegraph  operator,  and  for  many  years 
performed  all  the  duties  of  telegrapher,  train  dis- 
patcher, agent,  and  was  for  twenty-six  years  con- 
nected with  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St.  Paui  Rail- 
way Company.  For  a large  part  of  this  time  he  was 
stationed  at  Spring  Valley  as  agent,  and  resigned 
his  position  there  on  January  1,  1910,  to  accept  the 
position  of  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Spring  Valley.  He  was  promoted  to  cashier 
September  1,  1914,  and  many  of  the  important  execu- 
tive responsibilities  now  devolve  upon  him.  The 
First  National  Bank  of  Spring  Valley  is  a prosper- 
ous institution  with  a capital  of  $50,000,  surplus  $10,- 
000,  and  carries  deposits  averaging  about  $400,000. 

In  1885  Mr.  Barber  married  Susan  S.  Baxter, 
daughter  of  B.  F.  Baxter,  who  was  an  early  settler 
and  carpenter  at  Bangor,  Wisconsin.  Three  of  the 
five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barber  are  living : 
Eva  B.,  who  is  a teacher  in  Superior,  Wyoming; 
Charles  F.,  express  agent  at  Spring  Valley;  and 
John  W.,  still  in  school.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Conngregational  Church.  Mr.  Barber  has 
taken  much  interest  in  Masonry,  is  a past  master 
of  his  Blue  Lodge  and  secretary  of  the  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  and  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Knight  Tem- 
plar Commandery  and  the  Osman  Temple  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine.  Politically  his  party  is  the  republi- 
can. His  substantial  success  is  not  only  represented 
by  his  position  as  cashier  of  the  bank,  but  also  in  the 
ownership  of  a nice  home  in  Spring  Valley  and  a 
farm  in  North  Dakota. 

William  M.  Meixner.  It  is  in  the  printing  busi- 
ness that  William  M.  Meixner  has  found  his  position 
among  the  world’s  workers  and  though  still  a young 
man  in  his  twenties  is  proprietor  of  a successful  and 
well  patronized  establishment  at  Mankato. 

William  M.  Meixner  was  born  at  Mankato  May 
25,  1887,  a son  of  Vincent  and  Anna  (Ramert)  Meix- 
ner. Both  his  parents  were  born  in  Germany  and 
his  father  died  in  1897.  They  were  married  in  their 
native  land,  and  came  to  the  United  States  about  1880 
locating  in  Mankato.  Here  the  father  followed  his 
trade  of  blacksmith  until  his  death.  They  were  both 
members  of  Sts.  Peter  and  Paul  Catholic  Church. 
Of  the  four  children,  three  are  now  living:  Vincent, 
who  is  in  the  Tower  House  at  Mankato;  Charles, 
associated  with  his  brother  William  in  the  printing 
business. 

William  M.  Meixner  was  educated  in  both  the 
parochial  and  the  public  schools  at  Mankato,  and 
when  a boy  began  an  apprenticeship  in  a local  printing 
shop  and  is  a master  of  the  printing  trade.  Owing  to 
his  proficiency  he  was  advanced  to  a foremansliip 
in  the  job  department  of  a local  concern,  and  from 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1739 


that  went  into  business  for  himself,  establishing  his 
present  shop  in  November,  1913.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  high  class  work,  particularly  in  com- 
mercial printing  and  the  printing  of  books. 

Mr.  Meixner  is  affiliated  with  Mankato  Lodge  No. 
225  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
and  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  Politically  he 
is  independent.  All  his  time  is  given  to  his  printing 
business,  and  for  one  who  began  life  without  partic- 
ular advantages,  without  wealth  or  influential  friends, 
he  has  done  exceedingly  well  in  the  twenty-eight 
years  since  his  birth. 

William  Charles  Humphrey.  A career  of  quiet 
but  faithful  performance  of  duty  was  that  of  William 
Charles  Humphrey,  who  was  a resident  of  St.  Paul 
for  many  years,  and  the  closing  period  of  his  life 
was  spent  as  custodian  of  the  Minnesota  Supreme 
Court.  As  a young  man  he  spent  three  years  in  the 
Union  army,  where  he  became  noted  among  his  com- 
rades for  his  fearlessness  and  dashing  courage.  In 
spite  of  the  wounds  received  in  that  conflict  he  was 
afterward  a capable  business  man  for  many  years  at 
Detroit,  Michigan,  and  St.  Paul,  and  had  almost  at- 
tained the  psalmist’s  span  of  years  when  death  came 
suddenly  to  him  on  December  12,  1913.  In  every  re- 
lation of  life  he  discharged  the  score  of  every  re- 
sponsibility with  credit,  though  he  never  desired  the 
abundant  reward  of  wealth.  He  was  a Minnesotan 
whose  name  and  career  have  a fine  fitness  in  the 
records  of  the  state. 

William  Charles  Humphrey  was  born  in  Phillips- 
burg,  Ontario,  Canada,  June  12,  1804,  but  from  an 
early  age  lived  in  the  United  States.  His  parents 
were  Austin  and  Harriet  Humphrey,  who,  when 
William  C.  was  about  twelve  years  of  age,  removed 
to  St.  Albans,  Vermont,  where  the  father  continued 
his  vocation  as  a carpenter.  William  C.  Humphrey 
received  the  most  of  his  education  in  Canada,  and 
after  the  age  of  twelve  employed  most  of  his  time 
in  getting  a business  experience  and  paying  his  own 
way.  He  worked  as  clerk  in  a book  store  at  St. 
Albans,  and  was  there  five  years.  He  was  only  seven- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  ran  away  from  home  and 
joined  the  army,  and  had  been  fighting  eight  months 
before  his  enlistment  on  the  battlefield,  July  1,  1862. 
For  his  brave  act  at  Port  Royal,  Virginia,  July  1, 
1862,  the  captain  sent  for  him  and  asked  his  age. 
Mr.  Humphrey  replied  that  he  had  just  turned  eight- 
een on  the  12th  of  June,  and  then  said  the  captain, 
“you  have  been  fighting  long  enough  for  nothing, 
you  are  this  day  enlisted.”  He  became  a member  of 
the  First  Vermont  Cavalry,  and  was  with  his  com- 
mand for  three  years  and  eight  months,  having  been 
present  at  Appomattox  when  Lee  surrendered  in 
1865,  and  was  hardly  at  his  majority  when  he  re- 
turned home  a veteran  soldier.  His  father  and  two 
brothers  were  also  in  the  Civil  war,  in  Vermont  regi- 
ments, while  another  brother,  who  was  living  in  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  fought  on  the  Confederate  side.  The 
First  Vermont  Cavalry  had  the  distinction  of  en- 
gaging in  sixty-eight  battles  or  skirmishes  during  the 
war.  Mr.  Humphrey  participated  at  Gettysburg  and 
the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  may  other  historic 
conflicts,  and  it  was  his  valor  and  faithfulness  that 
brought  him  promotion  from  the  ranks  to  quarter- 
master sergeant.  On  one,  occasion,  at  Port  Royal, 
Virginia,  July  1,  1862,  his  regiment  was  making  a 
retreat  across  a bridge  which  had  been  covered  with 
oil  by  the  Confederates,  and  it  was  only  by  an 
intrepid  act  of  cool  judgment  and  heroism  on  the 


part  of  Mr.  Humphrey  that  the  enemy  were  prevented 
from  destroying  the  bridge  before  the  Union  forces 
succeeded  in  crossing  it  to  safety.  Among  his  com- 
rades for  this  and  other  acts  he  received  the  sobriquet 
of  “Daredevil  Bill."  He  was  twice  taken  prisoner 
on  the  battlefield,  but  both  times  escaped.  In  the 
first  instance  quite  a number  of  captured  Union 
soldiers  were  being  marched  through  a field,  and  Mr. 
Humphrey  noticing  a neck  of  woods  that  they  were 
approaching  nudged  a comrade  in  front  of  him,  who 
understood  the  signal,  and  when  the  critical  moment 
came  they  both  ran  through  the  woods,  with  many 
volleys  fired  after  them,  but  after  several  hours  made 
good  their  escape.  On  another  occasion  they  located 
tire  enemy  in  a big  barn,  and  it  being  April  the  first 
they  thought  to  fool  them,  but  were  fooled  them- 
selves because  the  enemy  came  out  of  the  barn  as 
thick  as  bees;  outnumbering  the  Union  soldiers  three 
to  one.  W hile  trying  to  escape  Mr.  Humphrey  was 
greeted  with  “Halt  you  Yankee,”  which  he  did,  hand- 
ing over  his  pistols,  but  the  Confederate,  in  his  ex- 
citement to  capture  another  soldier,  overlooked  his 
sabre,  and  spurring  up  his  horse  until  he  was  by  the 
side  of  the  Confederate,  Mr.  Plumphrey  with  one 
mighty  blow  of  his  sabre  knocked  him  from  his 
horse  and  joined  his  comrades,  with  whom  he  made 
his  escape.  On  another  occasion,  when  shot  through 
the  leg  and  knocked  off  his  horse  in  a battle  in  which 
the  Union  forces  were  being  defeated,  a comrade 
named  Edmund  Yates  picked  him  up,  tied  him  on  his 
own  horse  and  both  succeeded  in  making  good  their 
escape. 

After  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Humphrey  removed  to 
Detroit,  Michigan,  and  spent  seven  years  with  the 
Hargrave  Manufacturing  Company.  He  then  kept  a 
tea  store  on  Michigan  Avenue  in  Detroit  for  seven- 
teen years,  and  in  October,  1888,  removed  to  St. 
Paul  and  for  several  years  conducted  a tea  store  in 
the  market  house.  He  later  studied  medicine  and 
conducted  a pill  business,  having  the  pills  manu- 
factured by  Parke  Davis  & Company,  of  Detroit.  In 
1907  Mr.  Humphrey  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Johnson  as  custodian  to  the  Supreme  Court.  This 
was  a position  requiring  extreme  discretion  and  judg- 
ment, as  well  as  courage  in  resisting  importunate  re- 
quests and  in  guarding  carefully  every  court  secret. 
His  faithful  performance  of  these  responsibilities 
gained  him  the  high  commendation  of  the  justices, 
and  there  was  no  more  popular  employe  around  the 
capitol  building  than  William  C.  Humphrey. 

Mr.  Humphrey  refused  to  attend  the  Gettysburg 
convention  in  July,  1913,  as  a guest  of  the  state,  and 
in  explanation  of  his  refusal  he  showed  a deep  scar 
on  his  chest,  and  said  he  had  no  desire  ever  to  see. 
that  battlefield  again.  He  had  also  received  a wound 
in  the  leg  during  another  engagement.  The  army 
surgeon  wanted  to  amputate,  but  a comrade,  a 
Frenchman,  exclaimed  that  he  would  shoot  the  doctor 
if  he  cut  the  boy’s  leg  off,  and  Mr.  Humphrey  used 
that  member  all  the  rest  of  his  life.  For  forty-four 
years  he  was  active  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having 
been  affiliated  with  the  order  in  Detroit,  and  be- 
longed to  Detroit  Chapter  No.  2 of  the  Royal  Arch 
Masons.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  Ancient  Or- 
der of  United  Workmen  in  Detroit.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Central  Park  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  St.  Paul,  and  in  politics  an  ardent  republican. 
While  strictly  attentive  to  business  the  late  Mr. 
Humphrey  indulged  his  interest  in  the  great  national 
pastime  of  base  ball  as  frequently  as  possible,  was 
also  fond  of  trotting  horses,  and  frequently  took  ex- 


1740 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


cursions  into  the  woods  of  Minnesota  and  Michigan 
during  the  shooting  season.  When  Mr.  Humphrey 
died  it  was  very  suddenly  and  while  on  duty  in  the 
capitol  in  Chief  Justice  C.  L.  Brown’s  chambers. 
His  funeral  was  conducted  under  the  auspices  of 
Garfield  Post,  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  and  his  body  was  also 
followed  by  a guard  composed  of  capitol  officials. 

At  Detroit,  May  19,  1868,  Mr.  Humphrey  married 
Mary  Webster  Naismith,  who  had  lived  in  Detroit 
from  the  age  of  two  years.  Her  father,  Ebenezer 
Naismith,  was  a worker  in  the  coal  mines  in  Scot- 
land. Her  mother  was  Isabelle  (Reid)  Naismith. 
Of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Humphrey 
one,  Charles  Leslie,  died  in  early  childhood.  The 
four  still  living  are : Lillian  Belle,  wife  of  R.  O. 
Barnard,  who  for  a number  of  years  was  treasurer 
with  the  Great  Western  Railroad,  is  the  mother  of 
two  children,  Olive  Belle  and  Raymond  H.  Louise 
A.,  who  is  an  artist  in  St.  Paul,  has  two  children, 
Evelyn  Marie,  aged  seven  and  Florence  Viola,  aged 
five.  Clara  M.  is  the,  wife  of  Loyal  A.  Partridge, 
who  owns  a dental  supply  house  and  is  at  Seattle, 
and  their  two  children  are  Ruth  E.,  aged  thirteen, 
and  Evelyn  D.,  aged  five.  George  E.,  the  youngest 
of  the  living  children,  is  a telegraph  operator  of  St. 
Paul  with  the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  and  has  six 
children,  Vera  M.  and  Lillian  M.,  twins,  aged  twelve, 
and  Charles  Edmund,  Nellie  M.,  and  George  D.  and 
Louis  R.,  the  last  two  named  being  also  twins.  Mrs. 
Humphrey,  who  survives  her  husband,  resides  in  St. 
Paul,  at  187  E.  Thirteenth  Street. 

Newton  Horace  Winchell.  One  of  the  highest 
places  in  American  scholarship  was  enjoyed  by  the 
late  Newton  Horace  Winchell,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  on  May  2,  1914.  With  the  science  of 
geology,  in  both  its  theoretical  and  practical  phases, 
no  other  American  name  has  more  distinguished  as- 
sociations, a fact  that  is  due  not  only  to  the  many 
achievements  of  Newton  H.  Winchell  but  also  to  the 
attainments  in  the  same  field  of  his  two  sons,  Elorace 
V.,  who  for  many  years  has  practiced  his  profession 
as  economic  geologist  and  mining  engineer  at  Min- 
neapolis, and  Alexander  N.  Winchell,  who  has  been 
recipient  of  many  scholastic  honors  and  for  the  past 
seven  years  has  occupied  a chair  in  the  University  of 
Wisconsin.  The  late  Newton  H.  Winchell  deserves 
particular  mention  in  a history  of  Minnesota  because 
of  his  service  through  twenty-eight  years  as  state 
geologist,  and  in  the  closing  years  of  his  life  as 
archaeologist  to  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society. 

Newton  Horace  Winchell  was  born  at  North  East, 
Dutchess  County,  New  York,  December  17,  1839,  a 
.son  of  Horace  and  Caroline  (McAllister)  Winchell. 
He  had  early  aspirations  to  a life  of  scholarship,  and 
in  1866  was  graduated  A.  B.  from  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  received  the  degree  Master  of  Arts 
from  the  same  institution  in  1869.  From  1866  to 
1869  he  was  superintendent  of  public  schools  at 
Adrian,  Michigan,  and  then  became  assistant  state 
geologist  of  Michigan  during  1869-70.  He  was  as- 
sistant to  the  geological  survey  of  Ohio  from  1870 
toi  1872,  and  in  the  latter  year  was  appointed  state 
geologist  to  Minnesota,  an  office  he  held  continuously 
until  1900.  During  the  greater  part  of  his  time, 
from  1873  to  1900,  he  was  also  professor  of  geology 
and  mineralogy  in  the  University  of  Minnesota.  In 
May,  1906,  Professor  Winchell  became  archseologist 
to  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society,  and  his  duties 
in  that  position  only  ended  with  his  death. 

Professor  Winchell  was  a member  of  the  United 


States  Assay  Commission  in  1887.  He  was  the 
founder  of  the  American  Geologist  and  its  editor 
from  1888  to  1905.  He  was  a fellow  and  in  1884 
vice  president  of  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science,  and  in  1902  was  president 
of  the  Geological  Society  of  America.  He  also  had 
membership  m the  foreign  societies  in  this  depart- 
ment of  science,  was  a member  of  the  American 
Anthropological  Association,  one  of  the  founders  and 
three  times  president  of  the  Minnesota  Academy  of 
Sciences,  a member  of  the  New  York  Academy  of 
Sciences,  the  Washington  Academy  of  Sciences,  the 
American  Geographic  Society,  the  Minnesota  His- 
torical Society,  the  Mississippi  Valley  Historical 
Association,  the  Buffalo  Society  of  Natural  History, 
the  Lake  Superior  Mining  Institute,  and  on  the  score 
of  his  own  ancestry  was  a member  of  the  Sons  of 
the  American  Revolution. 

On  other  pages  in  this  publication  the  author  has 
spoken  of  some  of  his  special  contributions  to  the 
fund  of  knowledge  regarding  Minnesota’s  geology 
and  archaeology,  and  his  authorship  had  a wide 
range.  Among  other  writings  representing  his 
many  years  of  research  were : Catalog  of  the  Plants 
of  the  State  of  Michigan,  1861 ; Geology  of  Ohio 
and  Minnesota,  1872-1900 ; The  Iron  Ores  of  Min- 
nesota, prepared  in  collaboration  with  his  son, 
Horace  V.,  in  1891 ; Elements  of  Optical  Mineralogy 
prepared  with  his  son,  Alexander  N.,  1909;  The  Ab- 
origines of  Minnesota. 

Professor  Winchell  died  at  his  home  at  501  Esat 
River  Road,  Minneapolis.  He  was  married  at  Gales- 
burg, Michigan,  August  24,  1864,  to  Charlotte  Sophia 
Imus,  who  still  survives. 

Albert  J.  Payant,  a general  contractor,  of  Fari- 
bault, represents  a family  that  has  been  iden- 
tified with  this  section  of  Minnesota  for  nearly  half 
a century.  He  has  a thorough  and  broad  ex- 
perience in  the  line  of  his  present  business,  learned 
the  carpenter  trade  when  a young  man,  and  en- 
tered into  partnership  relations  with  Mr.  Kingsley, 
advanced  from  journeyman  carpenter  to  superin- 
tendent of  construction  labor,  and  continued  in  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Kingsley  until  February  20,  1915. 
Since  that  time  he  has  continued  operations  alone. 

Albert  J.  Payant  was  born  at  Faribault,  Minnesota, 
October  3,  1875,  a son  of  Joseph  Payant,  who  was 
born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1833,  and  belonged  to 
an  old  French  Canadian  family  that  had  been  iden- 
tified with  Canada  for  generations.  Joseph  Payant 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1862,  spent  two  years 
in  the  State  of  Minnesota,  and  then  went  west  to 
California,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a 
commission  merchant.  Returning  to  Minnesota  in 
1866,  he  located  at  Faribault,  and  from  that  time  until 
his  death  in  1912  was  engaged  in  business  as  a con- 
tractor. In  18 66  Joseph  Payant  married  Georgiana 
Tetrault,  who  was  born  at  Quebec,  Canada,  and  now 
lives  at  Faribault.  Their  children  were : Ernestine, 
wife  of  William  Lynch,  who  is  a plumbing  and  heat- 
ing contractor  at  Faribault;  Ernest,  who  is  unmar- 
ried and  is  in  the  employ  of  J.  Patten,  the  well  known 
grain  speculator  of  Chicago;  Thais,  widow  of  Wesley 
Taylor,  who  formerly  was  engaged  in  the  transfer 
business  at  Faribault,  while  Mrs.  Taylor  now  resides 
at  Minneapolis ; Albert  J. ; Isabel,  wife  of  Charles 
Le  Brash,  a fire  extinguisher  contractor  at  Minne- 
apolis ; Arthur,  who  is  employed  by  the  firm  of 
Kingsley  & Payant  at  Faribault;  Martha,  wife  of 
William  Thomm,  a carpenter  at  Faribault;  and 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1741 


Felix,  who  is  a professor  in  the  University  of  Ohio 
and  resides  at  Cincinnati. 

Albert  J.  Payant  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  left  high  school  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and 
after  learning  the  carpenter’s  trade  followed  that  em- 
ployment as  a journeyman  for  three  years.  His  next 
work  was  as  superintendent  of  building  construction 
in  Oklahoma,  but  at  the  end  of  two  years  he  re- 
turned to  Faribault  in  1908  and  formed  his  present 
partnership  with  William  S.  Kingsley,  general  con- 
tractor. A sketch  of  Mr.  Kingsley  appears  on  other 
pages  of  this  work,  and  also  some  account  of  the 
extensive  building  operations  carried  on  by  this  firm. 

Mr.  Payant  is  a democrat,  a member  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Col- 
umbus, the  Faribault  Lodge  No.  1166  of  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  Mr.  Payant  was  married 
July  25,  1899,  at  Faribault,  to  Miss  Catherine  Vogele, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Yogele,  now  deceased,  who  was  a 
farmer  in  Rice  County.  Mr.  Payant  and  wife  have 
the  following  children : Margaret,  who  is  in  the 

Faribault  High  School  ; Florence,  attending  the  grade 
school;  and  Victor.  The  family  home  is  at  400 
East  Division  Street. 

William  A.  Hunt,  M.  D.  For  more  than  thirty 
years  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Northfield,  Doctor  Hunt  is  an  excellent  type  of  the 
modern  and  successful  American  physician.  Through 
his  practice  he  has  contributed  a large  amount  of 
individual  service,  at  the  same  time  has  taken  part 
in  the  organized  activities  of  the  profession  and 
served  in  a professional  capacity  on  several  boards 
and  organizations,  and  in  business  affairs  has  exer- 
cised a judgment  that  has  brought  liberal  material 
prosperity. 

Probably,  however,  Doctor  Hunt’s  most  conspicu- 
ous service,  and  the  one  with  which  his  name  is 
most  identified  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  North- 
field,  was  his  splendid  administration  of  the  city  in 
the  office  of  mayor  during  the  years  1910,  1911,  1912, 
1913.  It  has  been  a persistent  tradition  and  con- 
stantly quoted  argument  in  hundreds  of  American 
communities  that  an  efficient  municipal  government 
could  not  be  carried  on  without  the  revenues  derived 
from  liquor  license.  This  has  been  disputed  both  by 
theory  and  practical  example,  but  perhaps  nowhere 
so  effectively  as  in  the  prosperous  and  progressive 
little  city  of  Northfield.  Doctor  Hunt  became  mayor 
of  Northfield  in  1910.  About  six  months  after  the 
city  council  had  voted  out  saloons  from  the  city. 
Thus  Doctor  Hunt  entered  upon  his  duties  at  a 
critical  time,  when  it  was  apparent  that  a strict 
economy  and  the  utmost  efficiency  in  the  use  of 
means  were  necessary  in  order  to  carry  on  the 
government  with  the  reduced  revenues;  Without 
entering  into  all  the  details  of  the  situation,  it  is 
sufficient  to  state  that  not  only  did  the  City  of  North- 
field  conduct  a wholesome  municipal  government 
during  the  next  four  years  and  make  notable  progress 
in  municipal  improvement,  but  at  the  same  time  with 
an  actually  reduced  cost  to  the  taxpayers.  The  mu- 
nicipal tax  at  Northfield  in  1910  was  10.91  mills,  in 
1 91 1,  9.88  mills,  and  in  1912,  9.27  mills.  Confidence 
in  the  ability  of  the  city  to  carry  on  its  business  at 
reduced  cost  having  been  restored,  during  the  third 
-year  of  Mayor  Hunt’s  administration  there  was 
undertaken  a plan  of  important  improvement,  and 
notwithstanding  the  increased  expenditures  on  this 
account  the  municipal  tax  in  1913  was  only  10.82 


mills,  less  than  the  tax  for  1910.  During  the  last 
year  in  which  the  city  had  the  revenues  from  saloons 
the  city  tax  was  11.37  mills.  Among  the  noteworthy 
improvements  undertaken  and  carried  out  during 
the  last  year  of  Doctor  Hunt's  term  were  the  paving 
of  West  Third  Street,  the  improvement  of  the  city 
lighting  service,  and  the  new  bridge,  which  was  com- 
pleted the  following  year.  The  record  of  the  entire 
administration  is  an  important  contribution  to  the 
annals  of  municipal  government  in  America,  and  a 
salutary  lesson  to  those  who  insist  that  liquor  reve- 
nues are  necessary  to  a community's  prosperity  and 
progress. 

Dr.  William  A.  Hunt  was  born  in  Northfield,  Min- 
nesota, January  2,  1858,  and  his  loyalty  is  therefore 
in  part  due  to  the  fact  that  this  city  has  been  his 
home  from  childhood.  His  father,  Joseph  A.  Hunt, 
was  one  of  Northfield’s  pioneer  citizens.  He  was 
born  in  Franklin  County,  Massachusetts,  in  1823,  and 
died  at  Northfield  in  1909.  The  Hunt  family  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  America  before  the 
Revolution,  having  been  founded  by  three  brothers 
who  located  in  New  England.  Joseph  A.  Hunt  came 
out  to  Northfield  in  the  spring  of  1856,  when  Minne- 
sota was  a territory,  and  was  one  of  the  three  mem- 
bers of  the  first  board  of  Supervisors  of  the  Town 
of  Northfield.  He  took  up  a homestead,  became  a 
pioneer  farmer,  and  was  long  active  in  local  affairs. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
was  affiliated  with  Social  Lodge  No.  41,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  married  Mandana  L.  Hicks,  who  was 
born  in  Reedsboro,  Vermont,  in  1825,  and  died  at 
Northfield  in  1901.  Their  oldest  son,  Hiram  A.,  who 
died  in  Seattle,  Washington,  in  1912,  had  an  interest 
in  a fleet  of  twenty-two  steamboats  operating  on  the 
Puget  Sound.  The  one  daughter,  Olive,  died  in 
infancy. 

Dr.  William  A.  Hunt  grew  up  in  Northfield,  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  after 
finishing  the  high  school  course  became  a student 
in  Carlton  College,  graduating  A.  B.  in  the  class  of 
1878.  His  studies  in  medicine  were  continued  in  the 
University  of  Michigan,  where  he  was  graduated 
M.  D.  in  1882.  Doctor  Hunt  is  a member  of 
the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  Greek  Letter  Fraternity.  Though 
the  old  saying  that  a “Prophet  is  not  without  honor 
save  in  his  own  country”  would  apply  most  of  all  to 
a young  physician  endeavoring  to  secure  practice  in 
the  community  where  he  was  born  and  reared, 
Doctor  Hunt  quickly  refuted  this  adage  so  far  as 
himself  was  concerned,  and  for  many  years  has  been 
successfully  engaged  in  his  duties  as  a physician  and 
surgeon.  Four  times  since  leaving  medical  college 
he  has  taken  post-graduate  courses,  twice  in  New 
York  City  and  twice  in  Chicago.  Doctor  Hunt  is 
a republican  in  politics.  Besides  his  service  as 
mayor  he  has  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  a public 
way  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  public  school  system  of 
Northfield.  In  1892  he  was  elected  a member  of  the 
school  board  and  in  1893  elected  president  to  fill 
an  unexpired  term  caused  by  the  death  of  Hon.  O. 
F.  Perkins.  For  four  consecutive  terms  served  as 
president,  and  centered  his  efforts  on  the  develop- 
ment of  the  high  school  department.  He  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  his  efforts  rewarded  in  the 
increase  of  high  school  enrollment  from  56  to  228. 
Many  friends  and  admirers  who  had  followed  Doc- 
tor Hunt’s  work  in  civic  affairs,  in  promoting  the 
educational,  civic  and  welfare  of  his  city,  were 
loath  to  see  his  activity  discontinued  at  the  close 
of  his  term  as  mayor,  and  as  a result  of  their  impor- 


1742 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


tunings  Doctor  Hunt  became  a candidate  for  the 
State  Legislature  in  1914.  Doctor  Hunt  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  county,  state  and  American  medical 
organizations,  and  has  a general  medical  and  sur- 
gical practice  in  Northfield  and  vicinity.  His  fra- 
ternal relations  are  with  Social  Lodge  No.  41,  A.  F. 
& A.  M.,  of  which  he  has  been  worshipful  master; 
with  Corinthian  Chapter  No.  33,  R.  A.  M. ; with 
Faribault  Commandery  No.  8,  K.  T. ; Osman  Temple 
of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  with  North- 
field  Lodge  No.  50,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; with  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United'  Workmen ; the  Brotherhood  of 
American  Yeomen;  with  the  Equitable  Fraternal 
Union,  and  the  Degree  of  Honor. 

Doctor  Hunt  was  married  in  1893  at  Hillsdale  to 
Miss  Florence  M.  Bishop,  daughter  of  William 
Bishop,  now  deceased,  formerly  a farmer  at  Hills- 
dale. Doctor  Hunt  has  three  children : William  B., 

a student  in  Carlton  College;  Harold  J.,  a member 
of  the  Northfield  High  School  class  of  1915;  and 
Arthur  B.,  now  in  the  grade  schools.  Doctor  Hunt 
resides  at  310  Union  Street. 

Wilbur  F.  Booth  was  born  at  Seymour,  New 
Haven  County,  Connecticut,  August  22,  1861,  and  is 
of  New  England  ancestry  and  training.  His  parents, 
Rev.  Albert  and  Louisa  T.  Booth,  still  live  in  Con- 
necticut at  Bridgeport  in  Fairfield  County.  Rev. 
Albert  Booth  celebrated  his  eighty-ninth  birthday 
August  22,  1914,  that  being  also  the  birthday  anni- 
versary of  his  son,  Judge  Booth.  Mrs.  Louisa  T. 
Booth  was  eighty-five  years  of  age  on  June  29,  1914. 
Of  their  eight  children  two  died  in  infancy,  while 
all  the  others  grew  to  maturity.  The  only  one  now 
deceased  is  Samuel  A.,  who  was  a prominent  Min- 
nesota lawyer  and  associated  with  his  brother,  Judge 
Booth,  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Minneapolis  for 
some  time  prior  to  his  death  on  December  3,  1898. 
Rev.  Albert  Booth  consecrated  his  life  to  the  min- 
istry of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  for  sev- 
eral years  has  lived  retired  and  his  career  has  been 
a long  and  fruitful  one. 

Concerning  his  early  life  Judge  Booth,  at  the  time 
of  his  appointment  as  United  States  District  Judge, 
replied  to  the  queries  of  some  newspaper  men  as 
follows : “I  remember  father  changed  pastorates 

about  every  three  years,  so  I had  no  little  variety 
in  my  experience  in  attending  country  and  village 
schools,  and  later  I continued  my  studies  in  the 
Cheshire  Military  Academy  at  Cheshire,  Connecti- 
cut.” With  this  as  his  early  preparation.  Judge 
Booth  in  the  fall  of  1880  entered  Yale  University, 
where  he  graduated  with  the  class  of  1884.  He  con- 
tinued at  Yale  in  post-graduate  studies  for  two  years, 
and  in  1886  entered  the  Yale  Law  School,  graduat- 
ing in  1888  LL.  B.  His  last  four  years  in  college 
he  defrayed  his  university  expenses  by  teaching  in 
the  Hopkins  Grammar  School  at  New  Haven,  and 
was  also  employed  as  a private  tutor. 

Admitted  to  the  Connecticut  Bar  in  the  fall  of 
1888,  Judge  Booth  soon  afterwards  came  to  Min- 
nesota, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  this  state 
early  in  1889.  After  about  one  year  of  practice  at 
St.  Paul,  he  removed  to  Minneapolis  and  became 
assistant  counsel  of  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis  Rail- 
road Company,  and  occupied  that  position  from  1890 
to  the  spring  of  1898.  He  then  became  associated 
in  general  practice  with  his  brother,  Samuel  A.,  and 
the  firm  of  Booth  & Booth  continued  until  it  was 
dissolved  by  the  death  of  Samuel  Booth.  Judge 
Booth  then  continued  in  individual  practice  until 


the  spring  of  1904,  when  he  became  the  partner  of 
Charles  J.  Tryon  under  the  name  Tryon  & Booth. 
This  partnership  continued  until  Judge  Booth’s  ele- 
vation to  the  bench. 

The  late  Gov.  John  A.  Johnson  appointed  Judge 
Booth  to  the  district  bench  in  Hennepin  County  May 
20,  1909.  It  was  one  of  a number  of  appointments 
by  Governor  Johnson  that  met  with  general  ap- 
proval by  all  persons  irrespective  of  politics.  Judge 
Booth  quickly  gained  the  thorough  respect  of  both 
the  bench  and  bar.  It  was  his  record  as  a district 
judge  in  the  state  courts  that  lent  him  the  prestige 
which  called  for  higher  honors  when  a vacancy  oc- 
curred in  the  United  States  District  Court  by  the 
death  of  Judge  Charles  A.  Willard.  There  was  then 
a general  movement  among  the  members  of  the 
bench  and  bar  to  have  the  name  of  Judge  Booth 
placed  before  the  president.  All  of  the  judges  of 
the  Hennepin  County  District  Bench  wrote  letters 
urging  that  he  be  appointed  to  the  new  and  larger 
field. 

President  Wilson  recommended  in  April,  1914,  to 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States  the  appointment  of 
Judge  Booth  to  the  bench  of  the  Federal  District 
Court  in  Minneapolis,  and  the  President’s  nomination 
was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  May  4,  1914.  His  term 
as  judge  of  Hennepin  County  District  Court  would 
have  expired  January  1,  1917. 

Judge  Booth  has  devoted  a lifetime  to  his  pro- 
fession. In  politics  he  has  always  been  a democrat. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Asso- 
ciation and  the  American  Bar  Association.  He  is 
a bachelor,  has  a wide  circle  of  friends  in  Minnesota, 
and  is  a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Club,  the  Uni- 
versity Club,  the  Minneapolis  Athletic  Club,  the 
Minikahda  Club,  the  Town  and  Country  Club  and 
an  honorary  member  of  the  Minneapolis  Automobile 
Club. 

William  John  Yanz.  There  is  no  institution  of 
the  state  that  needs  finer  qualifications  in  breadth  of 
character,  sympathy  and  honest  and  disinterested 
service  than  the  position  of  general  superintendent  of 
the  State  Insane  Asylum.  The  asylum  at  Hastings, 
Minnesota,  is  peculiarly  fortunate  in  the  possession 
of  such  a superintendent  as  William  John  Yanz,  who 
has  been  identified  with  his  present  office  for  the 
past  thirteen  years.  Measured  either  by  the  strict 
standards  of  the  most  advanced  ideas  in  the  manage- 
ment of  charitable  institutions,  or  according  to  the 
practical  ideals  of  broad  humanitarianism,  the  record 
of  Mr.  Yanz  has  invited  inspection,  and  it  is  agreed 
his  management  and  administration  are  competent, 
efficient  and  kindly. 

Supt.  William  John  Yanz  is  a native  of 
Dakota  County,  born  on  a farm  not  far  from  Hast 
ings,  August  6,  1867.  He  represents  one  of  the  early 
families  that  settled  in  this  section  of  Minnesota., 
His  parents  were  Frank  and  Mary  (Memmer)  Yanz. 
His  father  and  grandfather  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many, and  the  former  was  a child  when  the  grand- 
father settled  in  Pennsylvania.  The  mother  was  also- 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  After  their  marriage  they 
moved  out  to  Indiana,  spent  several  years  as  farmers 
in  that  state,  and  in  1864  came  as  pioneers  to  the 
Northwest  and  located  at  Miesville  in  Dakota  County. 
The  father  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Hast- 
ings, and  was  a successful  merchant  of  that  city  until 
1895.  At  that  time  he  sold  out  his  interests  in 
Minnesota,  retired  from  active  life,  and  subsequently 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1743 


he  and  his  wife  moved  to  Lodi,  California,  where 
they  now  reside.  During  his  residence  in  Hastings 
Frank  Yanz  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  commercial 
and  civic  development  of  the  community,  and  left  as 
a monument  to  his  enterprise  the  opera  house  and 
business  block  that  now  bears  his  name,  and  one  of 
the  good  residences  of  the  city,  while  he  also  shared 
in  industrial  enterprise.  For  one  term  he  served  as 
mayor,  and  was  an  active  man  in  democratic  politics. 
He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  His  record  as  a business  man  and  citizen 
is  one  that  will  be  long  remembered  in  Hastings. 
There  were  three  sons,  of  whom  William  J.  was  the 
oldest.  Jacob  Yanz,  born  in  Hastings,  is  now  asso- 
ciated with  the  Batcher  Lumber  & Mercantile  Com- 
pany at  Staples,  Minnesota.  Frank  Yanz,  the  young- 
est, was  born  in  Hastings  and  now  lives  with  his 
parents  in  Lodi,  California. 

William  John  Yanz,  though  born  on  a farm  in 
Dakota  County,  was  reared  in  Hastings  and  acquired 
his  education  in  the  parochial  and  public  schools, 
and  afterwards  at  St.  John’s  University  in  Stearns 
County.  His  first  employment  was  as  clerk  in  the 
register  of  deeds  office  at  Hastings  under  John 
Heinen,  the  register.  He  also  clerked  in  his  father’s 
store,  and  for  seven  years  was  cashier  at  the  Gard- 
ner Milling  Company,  and  then  continued  the  retail 
grocery  business  of  his  father  with  his  brother 
Jacob  in  Hastings.  In  1898,  on  account  of  the 
financial  panic,  he  closed  out  his  business  and  became 
clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  the  State  Insane  Asylum 
at  Hastings.  Three  years  later  came  his  appoint- 
ment as  superintendent  of  the  institution,  and  in  its 
management  he  has  found  the  work  for  which  he  is 
best  fitted.  His  chief  aim  throughout  the  thirteen 
years  of  his  superintendency  has  been  the  comfort 
of  the  700  or  more  patients  that  are  inmates  of  the 
asylum,  coming  from  all  parts  of  the  state.  With  a 
natural  endowment  of  tenderness  and  kindness,  he 
has  a capacity  for  work  equal  to  the  bigness  of  his 
heart,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a man  whose 
qualifications  were  more  admirable  for  this  distinctive 
and  important  responsibility. 

Mr.  Yanz  is  a republican  in  politics,  is  a member 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of 
Columbus  and  the  Catholic  Order  of.  Foresters,  and 
is  a charter  member  and  director  of  the  Hastings 
Commercial  Club.  He  was  married  at  Hastings, 
May  14,  1891,  to  Anna  M.  Volk,  who  was  born  in 
St.  Paul,  a daughter  , of  Joseph  H.  and  Mary  M. 
(Dreis)  Volk.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Germany, 
and  were  pioneers  of  Minnesota,  settling  in  1858  at 
Jordan  in  Scott  County.  When  her  father  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  with  a company  of 
Minnesota  infantry  and  saw  active  service  until  the 
close  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Mr.  Yanz  and 
wife  are  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom 
were  born  in  Hastings.  Mary  B„  born  May  1,  1893, 
died  June  19,  1909;  Frank,  born  August  23,  1895; 
Madeline  F.,  born  April  20,  1898;  Norbert,  born  Sep- 
tember 13,  1900;  Martha,  born  December  11,  1901; 
Agatha,  born  September  22,  1902 ; Henry,  born 

November  16,  1904,  died  March  5,  1905;  Rita,  born 
February  9,  1906;  Joseph,  born  August  27,  1908; 
Dorothea  and  Roman,  twins,  born  April  29,  1909, 
the  former  dying  in  October,  1909. 

Frank  Leslie  Bosworth.  In  any  mention  of  the 
men  who  in  the  past  quarter  of  a century  have  been 
most  prominent  in  the  upbuilding  and  development 
of  the  wholesale  trade  interests  of  the  Twin  Cities, 


the  name  of  the  late  Frank  L.  Bosworth  claims  a 
large  share  of  attention.  His  was  a record  of  re- 
markable activity,  a mingling  of  sound  business  prin- 
ciples, shrewd  judgment,  and  incessant  energy,  and 
those  qualities  brought  him  to  a well  deserved  leader- 
ship among  the  wholesale  jewelry  men  of  the  Middle 
West  and  Northwest. 

Frank  Leslie  Bosworth  was  born  at  Spring  Hill, 
Pennsylvania,  October  28,  1859,  and  died  at  his  home 
in  St.  Paul,  July  14,  1914,  when  in  his  fifty-fifth  year. 
His  parents  were  Stewart  and  Sophia  (Ackley)  Bos- 
worth. For  a number  of  years  his  father  was  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing  in  Pennsylvania,  and  later 
removed  to  a farm  near  Marshalltown,  Iowa.  Frank 
L.  Bosworth  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  at  Spring  Hill,  and  was  about  seven- 
teen years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Iowa.  There  his  business  training  was  continued 
with  experience  as  clerk  in  the  hardware  store  of 
J.  C.  Bullock  at  Marshalltown.  After  several  years 
of  employment  in  1889  he  went  to  work  on  the  road, 
traveling  for  Coulter  & Proctor,  a firm  of  Illinois 
stove  manufacturers  at  Peoria.  He  spent  about  three 
years  covering  the  territory  of  Minnesota  for  this 
firm,  and  then  left  the  road  to  organize  the  New 
Jersey  Silverware  Company  of  Minneapolis,  a busi- 
ness which  occupied  his  time  and  attention  for  three 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Chicago  and  for  a similar 
time  was  connected  with  the  S.  & H.  Trading  Stamp 
Company.  In  1900  he  organized  the  F.  L.  Bosworth 
Wholesale  Silverware  Company  in  the  Boston  Block 
in  Minneapolis.  In  a short  time  the  business  had 
outgrown  its  quarters,  and  was  removed  to  23-25. 
North  Fourth  Street  in  Minneapolis,  and  some  years 
later  continued  expansion  of  the  trade  caused  a 
removal  to  17-19  South  Third  Street,  where  the 
company  is  still  engaged  in  a large  business,  and  is 
one  of  the  important  corporations  of  the  Twin  Cities. 
It  is  continued  under  the  old  name  of  Fi  L.  Bosworth 
Company,  of  which  the  late  Mr.  Bosworth  was  secre- 
tary, treasurer  and  manager. 

Mr.  Bosworth  was  a resident  of  St.  Paul  nearly 
a quarter  of  a century,  excepting  the  three  years 
spent  in  Chicago.  Living  in  that  city,  he  directed 
his  business  affairs  which  were  largely  centered  in 
Minneapolis.  As  to  his  political  manifestations  he 
was  classified  as  an  independent  republican,  but  had 
only  a voter's  part  in  politics.  As  a boy  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  Mrs.  Bos- 
worth attends  the  Christian  Science  Church.  He  was 
active  in  Masonry,  belonging  to  Lodge  No.  224, 
Ark  Chapter,  No.  43,  R.  A.  M.,  but  beyond  paying  his. 
dues  and  practicing  the  principles  of  the  order  he 
was  not  a regular  attendant  at  the  lodge  meetings. 

In  1912  Mr.  Bosworth  took  the  leading  part  in  the 
organization  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Association  of  Wholesale  Jewelers  of 
Minnesota,  and  also  one  of  the  directors.  At  Mar- 
shalltown, Iowa,  October  6,  1886,  he  married  Louise 
Colyer,  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Emily  (Goff) 
Colyer.  Her  father,  who  is  still  living  and  a member 
of  the  Bosworth  household  at  St.  Paul,  was  for 
many  years  in  business  at  Marshalltown,  at  first  in 
the  confectionery  business  and  later  as  a flour  and 
feed  merchant.  Pie  removed  to  Minnesota  about  a 
year  before  Mr.  Bosworth  did.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bos- 
worth were  the  parents  of  two  children : Lillian. 

Marie  and  Dorothy  Lorain,  both  of  whom  live  with 
their  mother  at  2312  Alden  Avenue  in  St.  Paul. 

The  late  Mr.  Bosworth  was  a man  of  many  popular 
and  genial  qualities,  lived  up  to  the  strictest  standards. 


1744 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  business  integrity,  believed  in  providing  every 
comfort  and  every  attainable  luxury  for  his  family, 
and  the  tremendous  energy  with  which  he  prose- 
cuted his  business  affairs  undoubtedly  shortened  his 
life.  His  chief  interest  in  outside  recreations  was 
in  the  national  pastime  of  baseball.  His  last  illness 
was  of  five  months  duration,  he  having  taken  sick  on 
February  14th  and  passing  away  July  14th. 

Gustave  M.  Helland,  M.  D.  One  of  the  best 
known  physicians  of  Houston  County  is  Doctor  Hel- 
land, whose  work  both  in  his  profession  and  as  a 
citizen  at  Spring  Grove  has  shown  ability,  training 
and  a public-spirited  interest  in  the  community  and 
its  welfare.  Doctor  Helland  was  graduated  in  medi- 
cine in  1908,  and  gives  his  time  to  a general  practice. 

Gustave  M.  Helland  was  born  in  Illinois,  December 
23,  1876,  a son  of  Ole  M.  and  Ragnhild  (Ki. ingle' 
Helland.  Both  parents  were  natives  of  Norway,  the 
father  born  in  1842  and  died  in  1912,  and  the  mother 
born  in  1846  and  still  living.  They  were  married 
at  Black  Earth,  Wisconsin.  Ole  M.  Helland,  who 
came  to  America  at  the  age  of  sixteen  and  settled 
in  Wisconsin,  did  his  greatest  service  as  an  educator, 
and  especially  among  the  Americans  of  foreign  birth 
like  himself.  He  was  well  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  land,  and  after  coming  to  this  country 
attended  the  Albion  Academy  in  Wisconsin,  where 
one  of  his  classmates  was  the  distinguished  Minne- 
sotan, Knute  Nelson.  Four  years  after  his  arrival 
in  Wisconsin  he  began  teaching  in  the  English 
schools,  and  that  was  his  vocation  most  of  his  active 
career.  While  in  Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  he  was 
elected  on  the  republican  ticket  to  the  office  of  county 
treasurer,  but  his  ardent  support  of  the  prohibition 
cause  subsequently  caused  him  to  take  his  place  in 
the  prohibition  party.  He  exercised  a worthy  influ- 
ence in  behalf  of  temperance,  and  as  an  educator 
many  young  people  of  foreign  origin  were  trained 
for  usefulness  and  effectiveness  under  his  instruc- 
tion. He  was  very  active  in  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  in  various  ways  took  an  official  part.  Most  of 
his  active  life  was  spent  near  Black  Earth,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  was  held  in  especial  esteem,  while  his  last 
days  were  passed  at  Mount  IToreb.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Anners  Kringle,  who  came  from  Norway 
and  lived  many  years  in  Wisconsin.  Doctor  Helland 
was  the  seventh  in  a family  of  thirteen  children, 
eleven  of  them  still  living. 

He  had  his  early  education  from  the  country 
schools  of  Vermont  Township,  Wisconsin,  and  the 
high  school  at  Black  Earth.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
went  to  Chicago  intending  to  study  pharmacy,  at- 
tended classes  and  at  the  same  time  worked  in  a drug 
store  and  later  as  prescription  clerk,  and  finally  re- 
turned to  Wisconsin  and  started  a drug  store.  About 
that  time  his  plan  was  formed  to  study  medicine, 
which  he  began  while  in  the  drug  business,  and  in 
1908  graduatedaM.  D.  from  the  medical  department 
of  Marquette  University  at  Milwaukee.  Doctor  Hel- 
land practiced  one  year  at  Mount  Horeb  and  one 
year  at  Alban}',  and  then,  on  January  4,  1910,  arrived 
at  Spring  Grove.  A large  and  valuable  practice  has 
since  rewarded  his  efforts  in  this  community. 

Doctor  Helland  is  a member  of  the  examining 
board  of  pensions,  and  is  the  president  of  the  Spring 
Grove  School  Board.  He  takes  much  interest  in  the 
various  medical  societies,  having  membership  in  the 
Houston  and  Fillmore  Counties  Medical  Society,  the 
Southern  Minnesota  and  the  Minnesota  State  Medical 
Society,  and  the  American  Medical  Association.  In 


politics  he  is  a democrat,  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  has  affiliations  with  the  Masons  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Doctor  Helland  was 
married  in  July,  1895,  to  Miss  Ada  Claire  Campbell, 
of  Norwood,  Illinois.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  them,  and  the  four  living  are : Gynith,  aged 

fifteen;  Virginia,  aged  thirteen.;  Hope,  eleven;  and 
Kenneth,  nine,  all  of  them  in  school. 

Aaron  Franklin  Schmitt,  M.  D.  Among  the 
men  of  large  ability  and  splendid  professional  and 
intellectual  attainments  who  have  served  to  give  the 
Minnesota  medical  fraternity  a reputation  second  to 
none  among  all  the  states  of  the  Union,  Dr.  A.  F. 
Schmitt  of  Mankato  deserves  mention  as  one  who 
has  achieved  special  honors  in  the  field  of  surgery. 
In  the  estimation  of  those  best  qualified  to  judge  he 
is  one  of  the  most  skilled  practitioners  in  the  state, 
and  exemplifies  the  American  spirit  of  energy  and 
progressiveness  with  the  Old  World  spirit  of 
thoroughness. 

Aaron  Franklin  Schmitt  was  born  at  New  Trier, 
Dakota  County,  Minnesota,  February  12,  1870,  a son 
of  John  and  Maria  C.  (Lipp)  Schmitt.  His  grand- 
father, Christian  Schmitt,  came  from  Alsace  Lorraine 
to  the  United  States  during  the  decade  of  the  ’3°sj 
and  died  in  Dodge  County,  Minnesota.  Doctor 
Schmitt’s  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1831, 
moved  out  to  Iowa  in  1864,  and  having  been  educated 
for  the  ministry  was  for  many  years  a prominent 
worker  in  the  German  Evangelical  Church.  Because 
of  his  vocation  he  did  not  serve  in  the  Civil  war, 
but  one  of  his  brothers,  George,  met  a soldier’s  death 
on  the  battlefield  while  fighting  for  the  Union  cause. 
Rev.  John  Schmitt  was  a devout  and  zealous  man, 
held  some  of  the  best  churches  in  Minnesota,  to 
which  state  he  removed  about  1877,  and  died  while 
still  at  his  work  at  Waseca  in  1889.  He  was  a 
republican  in  politics.  Rev.  John  Schmitt  was  mar- 
ried near  New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  to  Maria  C.  Lipp, 
who  was  born  at  Hohenstaufen,  Germany,  in  1843, 
daughter  of  Ulrich  Lipp,  who  was  a sheep  raiser  in 
Germany,  but  on  coming  to  the  United  States  became 
a farmer,  first  in  Wisconsin  and  later  at  New  Ulm, 
Minnesota,  to  which  place  he  had  gone  as  a pioneer, 
making  the  journey  with  ox  team.  Mrs.  John 
Schmitt,  who  is  still  living,  was  the  mother  of  seven 
children : George  W.,  who  holds  the  chair  of 

French  and  German  at  Lake  Forest  University,  Illi- 
nois, and  is  also  owner  of  a farm  in  Wisconsin; 
Harrison  L.,  a well  known  lawyer  at  Mankato ; Mary, 
who  married  Mr.  Ivienholtz,  and  lives  on  a farm  in 
Wisconsin ; Dr.  Aaron  F. ; Dr.  Samuel  C.,  of  Min- 
neapolis; John  W.,  an  attorney  associated  with  his 
brother  Harrison ; and  Lillian,  wife  of  Mr.  Bailey, 
assistant  superintendent  of  schools  at  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania. 

Aaron  Franklin  Schmitt  spent  his  early  life  in 
several  different  towns  in  Minnesota,  where  his 
father  was  located  as  a minister,  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  graduated  from  the  high  school  at 
Mankato  in  1891,  and  during  the  following  year  was 
principal  of  the  Franklin  School  in  Mankato.  He 
was  superintendent  of  city  schools  at  Jackson,  Min- 
nesota, from  1892  to  1898,  and  for  about  six  years 
was  an  instructor  in  the  State  Teachers’  Training 
School.  His  work  as  a teacher,  important  though  it 
was,  was  only  a stepping  stone  to  his  chosen  field 
of  work.  Doctor  Schmitt  spent  two  years  as  a 
student  of  the  medical  science  in  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  and  followed  that  with  two  years  of 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1745 


clinical  work  in  the  Rush  Medical  College,  of  the 
University  of  Chicago.  He  received  his  degree  M.  D. 
from  Rush  College  in  June,  1902,  and  spent  the 
following  three  years  in  general  practice  at  Wells, 
Minnesota.  Since  1905  Doctor  Schmitt  has  been 
located  at  Mankato,  where  as  a surgeon  he  ranks 
second  to  none  and  has  practically  all  his  profes- 
sional time  engaged  in  hospital  work.  During  1910 
he  spent  six  months  abroad  in  clinical  work  in 
Berlin,  Vienna,  Berne,  Switzerland,  and  in  London. 
As  a surgeon  he  is  on  the  staff  of  both  the  St.  Joseph 
and  the  Emanuel  hospitals  of  Mankato. 

Doctor  Schmitt  was  married  in  1895  to  Elizabeth 
Baugerter  of  Mankato.  Her  father,  Benedict 
Baugerter,  was  a native  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  and 
came  to  Mankato  in  1856,  as  one  of  the  pioneers.  He 
was  successful  as  a merchant  and  shoe  dealer. 
Doctor  Schmitt  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Margaret  Elizabeth,  born  June  21,  1897; 

Mertyce  Marie,  born  in  1903 ; and  Genevieve 
Catherine,  born  in  1905.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Doctor  Schmitt  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  12  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  also  with  the  Knights 
Templar  Commandery  and  with  Osman  Temple  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 
He  is  a member  of  the  county,  the  Southern  Minne- 
sota and  the  state  societies  and  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  and  has  taken  much  interest 
in  the  work  of  medical  organizations,  and  has  fre- 
quently contributed  to  the  discussions  and  the  litera- 
ture, largely  the  results  of  observation  and  experi- 
ence in  his  own  work  as  surgeon. 

John  A.  Anderson.  One  of  the  leading  manu- 
facturing enterprises  of  Willmar,  Minnesota,  is  the 
Willmar  Tractor  Company,  an  industry  which  has 
been  built  up  through  the  mechanical  genius,  prgan- 
izing  power  and  business  ability  of  its  founder,  presi- 
dent and  general  manager,  John  A.  Anderson.  While 
this  concern  has  been  located  at  Willmar  only  since 
1914,  it  has  already  contributed  greatly  to  the  prestige 
of  this  city  as  a center  of  manufacturing  activity, 
while  its  proprietor  has  shown  himself  a substantial, 
solid  business  man  who  will  assist  other  public- 
spirited  men  in  the  attainment  of  civic  and  business 
advancement. 

John  A.  Anderson  was  born  at  Dalsland,  Sweden, 
February  26,  1858,  a son  of  Andrew  and  Christina 
(Johnson)  Anderson.  His  father  was  born  Sep- 
tember 29,  1833,  in  Sweden,  and  his  mother,  Decem- 
ber 15,  1837,  and  they  were  married  in  their  native 
land  in  1857.  They  immigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1883,  settling  in  Stillwater,  Minnesota,  where  the 
father  secured  employment  in  the  thresher  works 
and  continued  to  be  so  engaged  until  moving  to 
St.  Paul.  There  he  rounded  out  a long,  useful  and 
successful  career,  and  died  March  1,  1914,  the  mother 
having  passed  away  September  27,  1906.  Mr.  Ander- 
son was  a republican  in  his  political  views,  and  he 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  which  they  joined  in  childhood 
and  in  which  they  were  always  active  workers.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  three 
are  still  living:  John  A.,  of  this  notice;  Alex  T.,  a 

foreman  engaged  in  state  business  at  Stillwater,  Min- 
nesota; and  Freda,  who  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Olson, 
a patternmaker  of  St.  Paul. 

John  A.  Anderson  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  this  was 
subsequently  supplemented  after  he  came  to  the 


United  States  by  attendance  at  the  schools  of 
Houston  County,  Minnesota,  where  he  gained  a 
knowledge  of  the  English  language.  He  entered 
upon  his  career  as  a worker  in.  the  shops  at  Still- 
water, where  he  was  brought  into  daily  contact  with 
the  manufacture  of  threshing  machinery,  and  there, 
probably,  were  born  the  ideas  which  later  developed 
into  the  foundation  of  his  present  extensive  business. 
He  remained  in  the  shops  at  Stillwater  from  1881 
until  1890,  and  in  the  latter  year  accepted  an  offer 
from  the  Duluth  Iron  Shop,  where  for  two  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  building  of  mining  machinery. 
Following  this  he  went  to  Marinette,  Wisconsin, 
entering  the  Marinette  Iron  Works,  and  then  to 
Duluth,  where  he  erected  some  massive  mining 
machinery,  including  a number  of  engines  for  cus- 
tomers in  England,  one  piece  of  work  in  particular 
being  a masterly  example  of  construction,  an  engine 
of  2^600  horsepower.  Following  this  experience  came 
the  manufacture  of  waterworks  machinery  in  the 
shops,  at  Duluth,  and  Mr.  Anderson  then  returned 
to  Stillwater  to  take  charge  of  the  shops.  At  that 
time  the  system  of  employing  convict  labor  was 
eliminated,  and  Mr.  Anderson  started  the  plant  work- 
ing independently,  remaining  there  from  1897  until 
1909.  In  the  latter  year  he  went  to  St.  Paul  and 
entered  the  threshing  machine  and  tractor  business, 
being  associated  with  the  Russell  Grader  Company 
and  the  Hackney  Manufacturing  Company.  Event- 
ually Mr.  Anderson  devised  an  improved  tractor  of 
his  own,  on  which  he  has  patents  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  began  the  manufacture  of 
this  superior  article  on  his  own  account.  He  did 
very  well  at  St.  Paul  and  this  encouraged  him  to 
enlarge  his  business  and  remove  his  plant  to  Willmar, 
where  he  was  offered  better  facilities  for  manufacture 
and  for  the  transportation  of  his  product.  This  now 
finds  a ready  and  constant  market  throughout  the 
West,  and  the  sales  are  increasing  annually.  The 
Willmar  Tractor  Company  is  capitalized  at  $500,000, 
with  John  A.  Anderson  as  president  and  general 
manager  and  Andrew  Bjorsell,  another  substantial 
business  man  of  Willmar,  as  secretary  and  treasurer. 

While  essentially  a business  man,  Mr.  Anderson 
has  taken  a keen  interest  in  political  affairs  and  has 
been  an  active  and  influential  worker  in  the  ranks 
of  the  republican  party.  He  has  various  fraternal 
and  social  connections,  and  is  personally  as  popular 
as  he  is  highly  respected  in  business  circles.  With 
his  family  he  attends  the  Lutheran  Mission  Church, 
in  the  work  of  which  he  has  taken  a helpful  part. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss 
Andrena  Hanson  of  Christiana,  Norway,  and  to  this 
union  there  have  come  ten  children,  born  as  follows : 
Hilda  Mary,  1882 ; Alfred  W.,  1885,  and  now  fore- 
man of  his  father's  factory;  Jennie,  1887;  Agnes, 
1889;  Nellie,  1890;  Dagmar,  1893;  Stanley,  1897; 
Conrad,  1901 ; Florence,  1903 ; and  Gordon,  1905. 

William  W.  Mayo,  M.  D.  The  name  of  Dr.  Wil- 
liam W.  Mayo  is  found  indelibly  inscribed  high  on 
the  roster  of  those  who  have  achieved  distinction  in 
medical  science  in  Minnesota.  His  long  and  faithful 
devotion  to  the  highest  tenets  of  his  calling,  his  con- 
tribution to  its  advancement  and  development,  and 
the  honored  positions  to  which  he  was  called  by  his 
fellow  practitioners,  make  his  name  synonymous  with 
all  that  is  best  in  medical  science.  He  was  born 
May  31,  1819,  in  Lancashire.  England,  and  was  a son 
of  James  and  Ann  (Bousal)  Mayo,  members  of  an 
old  and  honored  English  family  whose  ancestry  is 


1746 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


traced  back  to  the  year  1527.  James  Mayo,  his 
father,  followed  the  sea  for  many  years  as  a voca- 
tion, with  the  rank  of  captain. 

During  the  boyljood  days  of  Dr.  William  , W. 
Mayo  occurred  the  persecution  of  those  who  had 
assisted  or  sympathized  with  Napoleon,  and  the 
doctor’s  instructor  in  Greek  and  Latin  was  an  ex- 
patriated French  nobleman.  He  was  a pupil  and 
protege  of  the  famous  physicist,  John  Dalton,  un- 
der whose  direction  he  was  trained  as  a physicist 
and  chemist  in  Manchester,  England. 

He  emigrated  to  New  York  City  in  1845,  where 
he  worked  for  two  years  as  a chemist.  In  1847  he 
went  to  Lafayette,  Indiana,  where  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  and  where  he  continued  its  prac- 
tice with  his  preceptor,  Doctor  Deming,  of  Lafay- 
ette, after  graduating  from  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Missouri  in  1854.  At  the  Uni- 
versity of  Missouri  he  was  a pupil  of  the  great 
surgeon,  Hodges.  In  the  fall  of  1854,  while  suffer- 
ing from  fever  and  ague,  he  hitched  a team  to  his 
buggy  and  left  his  home  with  the  intention  of  trav- 
eling until  his  malady  was  cured.  On  arriving  at 
Galena,  Illinois,  he  left  his  horse  and  buggy  and  re- 
turned to  Lafayette  for  his  family  and  household 
effects,  and  upon  his  return  to  Galena  boarded  a 
boat  for  St.  Paul.  While  on  this  vessel  he  success- 
fully treated  several  cases  of  Asiatic  cholera,  which 
was  so  prevalent  during  that  year.  In  January,  1855, 
leaving  his  family  at  St.  Paul,  Doctor  Mayo,  accom- 
panied by  a companion,  traveled  with  a pack  on  his 
back  to  Duluth,  filed  on  a claim  in  St.  Louis  County, 
on  the  present  site  of  West  Duluth.  While  there  he 
was  made  chairman  of  the  first  board  of  county  com- 
missioners. In  the  spring  of  1856  he  returned  to 
St.  Paul  and  resided  in  Nicollet  County  until  1859, 
when  he  moved  to  LeSueur.  During  the  Sioux  In- 
dian war  he  was  a surgeon  at  New  Ulm,  and 
remained  there  through  the  great  Indian  Massacre 
of  1862.  In  the  following  year  he  was  made  provost 
surgeon  of  Southern  Minnesota  and  secured  his 
first  view  of  Rochester  while  engaged  in  the  recruit- 
ing services.  Being  favorably  impressed  with  the 
locality,  in  1863  he  settled  in  Rochester  where  he 
continued  to  practice  medicine  until  his  retirement. 

During  the  winter  of  1870-71,  Doctor  Mayo  at- 
tended Bellevue  Medical  College,  New  York,  taking 
there  an  addendum  degree.  Pie  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Minnesota  Medical  Society  in  1873.  In 
1881  he  became  the  organizer  of  the  Olmsted  County 
Medical  Society,  with  which  he  continued  to  be 
identified  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  For 
fifty  years  he  held  membership  in  the  American 
Medical  Association,  and  at  various  times  was  hon- 
ored by  the  profession  because  of  his  noteworthy 
accomplishments  and  his  frequent  contributions  to 
medical  science.  He  was  liberal  in  his  religious 
views,  but  was  a Christian  and  generously  supported 
religious  and  charitable  institutions.  In  politics  a 
democrat,  Doctor  Mayo  was  for  some  years  promi- 
nent in  public  affairs,  and  served  several  times  as 
mayor  of  Rochester,  and  two  terms  as  state  sena- 
tor. His  life  was  a useful  and  active  one,  and  was 
crowned  with  success  in  his  beloved  calling  and  the 
love  and  reverence  of  those  who  had  occasion  to 
come  in  contact  with  him'  in  any  way. 

In  1851  Doctor  Mayo  was  married  to  Miss  Louise 
A.  Wright,  of  Scotch  descent,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  as  follows : Gertrude,  who 
is  now  Mrs.  D.  M.  Berkman ; Dr.  William  J.  and 
Dr.  Charles  H.,  distinguished  physicians  of  Roches- 


ter; Phoebe,  who  died  in  1885;  and  two  children 
who  died  in  infancy. 

William  J.  Mayo,  M.  D.  In  the  annals  of  med- 
ical science  in  Minnesota,  there  is  probably  no  name 
better  known  than  that  of  Mayo.  Members  of  this 
family  have  been  engaged  in  practice  here  for  more 
than  half  a century,  and  through  their  high  accom- 
plishments and  distinguished  abilities  have  been  ele- 
vated to  the  highest  positions  in  the  profession. 

William  J.  Mayo,  M.  D.,  of  Rochester,  is  ranked 
among  the  leading  surgeons  of  the  world,  and  evi- 
dence of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by 
members  of  the  calling  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
he  has  been  granted  the  highest  honors  that  may 
be  conferred  upon  a member  of  his  profession:  the 
presidency  of  the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society 
in  1895,  the  presidency  of  the  American  Medical 
Association  in  1905,  the  presidency  of  the  Society 
of  Clinical  Surgery  in  1911,  and  the  presidency  of 
the  American  Surgical  Association  in  1913. 

Doctor  Mayo  was  born  at  Le  Sueur,  Minnesota, 
June  29,  1861,  a son  of  the  late  distinguished  Dr.  Wil- 
liam W.  Mayo.  He  came  to  Rochester  with  his  fa- 
ther's family  as  a child  of  two  years.  He  early  adopt- 
ed the  profession  of  medicine,  graduating  from  the 
University  of  Michigan  in  1883.  For  more  than 
thirty  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
surgery  at  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  Rochester,  and  his 
advancement  has  been  commensurate  with  his  high 
attainments  and  accomplishments. 

Doctor  Mayo  continues  to  carry  on  his  large  prac- 
tice and  to  make  extensive  investigations  which  have 
contributed  materially  to  the  advancement  of  sur- 
gery. He  holds  membership  in  the  various  organiza- 
tions of  his  calling,  is  frequently  called  into  consul- 
tation by  his  brother  practitioners,  and  by  them 
has  been  honored  on  numerous  occasions.  Both 
as  a physician  and  citizen  he  has  capably  discharged 
every  duty  devolving  upon  him,  and  it  is  safe  to- 
say  that  Rochester  has  no  more  distinguished  resi- 
dent. 

November  20,  1884,  Doctor  Mayo  was  married  to 
Miss  Hattie  May,  daughter  of  Eleazer  Damon,  of 
Rochester,  Minnesota.  They  have  two  daughters, 
Mrs.  Carrie  I.  Mayo  Balfour  and  Miss  Phoebe  C. 
Mayo. 

Doctor  Mayo  had  conferred  upon  him  the  follow- 
ing degrees:  M.  D.,  University  of  Michigan,  1883; 
A.  M.,  University  of  Michigan,  1889;  F.  R.  C.  S., 
University  of  Edinburgh,  1905;  LL.  D.,  University 
of  Toronto,  1906;  LL.  D.,  University  of  Maryland, 
1907;  D.  Sc.,  University  of  Michigan,  1908;  D.  Sc., 
University  of  Columbia,  1910;  LL.  D.,  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  1912;  F.  R.  C.  S.,  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons  of  England,  1913;  F.  A.  C.  S.,  American 
College  of  Surgeons,  1913. 

He  is  a member  of  the  following  learned  bodies: 
American  Medical  Association,  its  president  in 
1903-06;  American  Surgical  Association,  its  president 
in  19x3-14 ; Society  of  Clinical  Surgery,  its  presi- 
dent in  1911-12;  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society,  its 
president  in  1895-96;  Clinical  Congress  of  Surgeons 
of  North  America;  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  of 
Scotland;  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  of  England; 
Societe  de  Chirurgie  de  Paris;  Academie  de  Mede- 
cine  de  Paris,  corresponding  member  in  1913 ; Amer- 
ican College  of  Surgeons;  board  of  regents  of  the- 
LTniversity  of  Minnesota. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1747 


Charles  H.  Mayo,  M.  D.,  youngest  son  of  William 
Worrel  and  Louise  Abigail'  (Wright)  Mayo,  and 
brother  of  William  J.  Mayo,  was  born  in  Rochester, 
July  19,  i8£>5»  and  here  secured  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  graded  and  high  schools.  He  graduated 
in  medicine  from  the  Chicago  Medical  College  in 
1888,  and  in  that  same  year  entered  practice  at 
Rochester  where  he  soon  came  to  be  numbered 
among  the  leading  members  of  his  profession. 

In  1902  Dr.  Charles  H.  Mayo  received  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  Northwest- 
ern University  and,  in  1909,  Doctor  of  Laws  from  the 
University  of  Maryland.  He  was  one  of  the  foun- 
ders of  the  American  College  of  Surgeons,  and  was 
made  regent  of  that  society  in  1913. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Mayo  is  a most  skillful  and  versa- 
tile surgeon,  operating  with  equal  facility  on  every 
part  of  the  body.  A great  European  surgeon,  wit- 
nessing his  operations,  said:  “He  has  the  soul  and 
the  hand  of  the  artist.”  He  has  made  many  original 
contributions  to  surgery  and  has  developed  new  oper- 
ations for  a number  of  conditions. 

In  1893  Dr.  Charles  H.  Mayo  married  Miss  Edith 
Graham,  of  Rochester,  Minnesota,  and  to  them  seven 
children  have  been  born : Dorothy,  Charles,  Edith, 
Joseph,  Louise,  Rachel  and  Esther. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Mayo  has  had  conferred  upon  him 
the  following  degrees:  M.  D.,  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity, 1888;  A.  M.,  Northwestern  LTniversity,  1902; 
LL.  D.,  University  of  Maryland,  1909;  F.  A.  C.  S., 
American  College  of  Surgeons,  1913. 

He  is  a member  of  the  following  societies : Amer- 
ican Medical  Association,  Section  on  Surgery,  its 
president  in  1912 ; Minnesota  State  Medical  So- 
ciety, its  president  in  1903;  Western  Surgical  & 
Gynecological  Society,  its  president  in  1904-05 ; Inter- 
national Congress  on  Tuberculosis,  Section  on 
Surgery,  its  president  in  1908-09;  American  College 
of  Surgeons,  its  regent  in  1913 ; Clinical  Congress 
of  Surgeons  of  North  America,  its  president  in 
1914-15 ; Southern  Surgical  & Gynecological  Society; 
American  Association  of  Railway  Surgeons. 

Aaron  E.  Henslin,  M.  D.,  C.  M.  As  a physician 
and  surgeon  no  member' of  the  profession  in  Mower 
County  has  a better  reputation  and  larger  practice 
and  has  given  abler  services  to  that  community  than 
Doctor  Henslin. 

Doctor  Henslin  was  born  at  Racine  in  Mower 
County,  Minnesota,  June  20,  1865.  His  parents  were 
Frederick  and  Ernestine  (Weckworth)  Henslin. 
They  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  the  father 
born  in  1830  and  the  mother  in  1841.  The  father 
died  in  1904  and  the  mother  in  1891.  Fred- 
erick Henslin,  Doctor  Henslin’s  father,  came  to  this 
country  at  the  age  of  twenty,  and  worked  on  a rail- 
road to  pay  for  his  passage.  He  scent  some  time 
in  Wisconsin,  was  employed  at  different  lines  of 
work,  and  finally  made  enough  to  buy  a sma'l  farm. 
In  1858  Frederick  Henslin  married  at  Princeton. 
Wisconsin,  and  in  the  same  year  brought  his  bride 
to  Minnesota,  locating  at  Brownsdale.  In  1863  he 
moved  to  Racine  and  spent  his  last  3'ears  at  Sargent. 
He  was  a successful  farmer,  and  about  igoo  retired 
from  business.  He  was  a member  of  the  Evangelical 
Association  and  in  politics  a republican.  He  and  his 
wife  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  and  the  seven 
now  living  are : Mrs.  Christina  Pfuhl,  Dr.  Aaron  E., 
Mrs.  Emma  Rein,  Mrs.  Sarah  Davis,  Julius,  Mrs. 
Bertha  Schroder,  and  Miss  Marie. 


Doctor  Henslin  acquired  his  early  education  while 
living  on  the  farm,  in  the  district  schools  and  in 
the  Spring  Valley  High  Schdol.  For  three  years 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching.  In  1888  Doctor  Henslin 
entered  the  medical  college  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  gradu- 
ating in  1891.  During  the  following  year  he  took 
post-graduate  work  at  Rush  Medical  College  in 
Chicago,'  in  1893  took  another  course  in  the  Chicago 
Policlinic,  and  in  1894  and  1895  spent  a year  in  post- 
graduate work  at  Milwaukee.  Doctor  Henslin  in 
1891  located  at  Adams,  and  from  there  moved  to 
Leroy.  For  a number  of  years  he  has  enjoyed  a 
large  and  extended  practice.  He  is  a member  of  the 
county  and  state  medical  societies  and  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association,  also  of  the  Austin  Flint 
Cedar  Valley  Medical  Society  in  Iowa,  and  has 
served  as  president  of  his  county  society.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  serving  as  coroner  of  Mower 
County. 

On  June  1,  1895,  Doctor  Henslin  married  Mary 
L.  Pinckney,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Wood) 
Pinckney.  Her  parents  came  from  New  York  and 
settled  in  Hamilton,  Fillmore  County,  Minnesota. 
Doctor  Henslin  and  wife  have  one  living  child. 
Merrill  Edgar,  now  four  years  of  age.  The  doctor 
is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  has 
passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge  and  is  past  chief  patriarch.  He  was  the 
organized  of  the  Lero}'-  Telephone  Comparn^,  and 
has  served  as  its  treasurer  and  is  still  owner  of 
considerable  stock.  Outside  of  his  present  office  he 
has  also  served  on  the  town  council. 

Alva  R.  Hunt.  During  his  twenty-five  years  of 
active  membership  in  the  Minnesota  bar,  Alva  R. 
Hunt  has  enjoyed  not  only  the  usual  successes  of 
a lawyer  of  first-rate  ability,  but  is  known  to  the 
profession  in  general  through  his  contributions  as  a 
legal  author. 

He  was  born  in  1862  in  Coles  County,  Illinois,  a 
son  of  John  and  Eliza  J.  (Gowin)  Hunt.  His 
father  was  born  in  1837  in  Ohio  and  died  in  Illinois 
in  1885.  after  a successful  career  as  a merchant. 
He  was  a democrat  in  politics.  The  mother  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  in  1837  and  died  in  1886. 
The  two  living  children  are  Alva  R.  and  Orris,  the 
latter  a resident  of  California. 

Mr.  Hunt  grew  up  in  Coles  County,  was  gradu- 
ated from  high  school  in  1881.  and  later  for  one 
year  was  a student  in  Lee’s  Academy  at  Loxa  in 
Coles  County.  Coming  out  to  Minnesota  in  rS86, 
at  Benson  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  with  S.  H. 
Hudson.  Later  for  one  year  he  was  in  the  office 
of  the  late  T.  F.  Young.  In  the  spring  of  1889  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Montevideo,  being  ex- 
amined in  open  court  before  the  Hon.  C.  L.  Brown. 
In  July  of  the  same  year  he  opened  a law  office  in 
Montevideo,  but  in  the  fall  of  1890  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  where 
his*  previous  reading  and  experience  enab'ed  him 
to  finish  the  law  course  and  to  graduate  LL.  B.  in 
1891.  Following  his  graduation  Mr.  Hunt  was  for 
eight  years  in  practice  at  St.  Paul,  hut  in  the  spring 
of  1899  located  at  Litchfield  in  Meeker  County.  For 
six  terms  he  filled  the  office  of  city  attorney  at 
Litchfield. 

His  contributions  to  legal  literature  have  been  co- 
incident with  his  residence  at  Litchfield.  All  his 
spare  time  has  been  devoted  to  study  and  writing 


1748 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


on  legal  subjects.  He  is  the  author  of  “Hunt  on 
Tender,  Bringing  Money  into  Court  and  Offer  of 
Judgment,-'  published'  in  1904;  of  “Accord  and  Sat- 
isfaction Compromise  and  Composition  at  Common 
Law,”  published  in  1912.  He  is  one  of  the  con- 
tributors to  the  “Cyc,”  the  well  known  encyclopedia 
of  law  and  procedure. 

At  St.  Paul,  in  1895,  Mr.  Hunt  married  Alice  M. 
Adams,  a native  of  New  Brunswick,  Canada.  They 
are  the  parents  of  two  children:  John  Roscoe,  born 
in  1899,  and  Phillip  Douglas,  born  in  1901,  both  stu- 
dents in  the  high  school. 

Claus  O.  Giere.  Though  he  claims  the  Badger 
State  as  the  place  of  his  nativity,  Mr.  Giere  gives, 
through  conviction  and  long  association,  the  greater 
loyalty  to  Minnesota,  which  has  been  his  home  since 
boyhood,  his  parents  having  been  sterling  pioneers 
of  this  state,  as  were  they  also  representatives  of 
the  pioneer  element  in  Wisconsin.  He  whose  name 
initiates  this  review  is  now  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business,  with  residence  and  office  headquar- 
ters in  the  Village  of  Hayfield,  Dodge  County,  and 
he  gives  special  attention  to  the  handling  of  farm 
lands,  both  in  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin.  He  is  one 
of  the  substantial  business  men  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Dodge  County  and  is  fully  entitled  to 
specific  recognition  in  this  history. 

Mr.  Giere  was  born  in  Dane  County,  Wisconsin, 
on  the  1 1 th  of  April,  1862,  his  native  county  being 
one  of  the  most  opulent  and  picturesque  in  the  en- 
tire state  and  within  its  borders  being  situated  the 
fair  City  of  Madison,  capital  of  Wisconsin  and  seat 
of  the  great  university  of  the  state.  Mr.  Giere  is  a 
son  of  Ole  Nelson  and  Inger  (Himley)  Giere,  both 
natives  of  Norway,  where  the  former  was  born  in 
1824  and  the  latter  in  1828,  their  marriage  having 
been  solemnized  in  Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1850. 
Ole  N.  Giere  was  a son  of  Nels  Giere,  and  the  family 
immigrated  to  America  in  1846,  establishing  a home 
in  Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  this  being  the  year  that 
state  was  admitted  to  the  Union.  Ole  N.  Giere  devel- 
oped one  of  the  productive  pioneer  farms  in  Dane 
County  and  there  operated  one  of  the  first  flour  mills 
in  that  section  of  the  state.  He  operated  this  mill 
three  years  and  thereafter  gave  his  attention  to  the 
management  of  his  farm  until  1868,  when  he  sold  the 
property  and  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  family,  his 
venerable  father  accompanying  him  and  passing  the 
residue  of  his  life  in  this  state.  Mr.  Giere  obtained 
a tract  of  land  in  Olmsted  County  and  developed  one 
of  the  model  farms  of  the  county,  this  homestead 
continuing  to  be  his  place  of  residence  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  year  1893,  his  venerable  widow 
being  still  a resident  of  the  same  county.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Claus  Himley,  who  likewise  immigrated 
from  Norway  and  became  a pioneer  of  Wisconsin, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  fifth  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  except 
one.  The  father  was  a man  of  sterling  character 
and  his  life  was  marked  by  industry  and  unassum- 
ing loyalty  to  the  land  of  his  adoption,  his  political 
support  having  been  given  to  the  republican  party 
and  his  religious  faith  having  been  that  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church,  of  which  his  widow  also  is  a devout 
member. 

Claus  O.  Giere  was  a lad  of  about  six  years  at 
the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Minnesota  and 
he  was  reared  to  adult  age  on  the  old  homestead 
farm,  the  while  he  availed  himself  of  the  advantages 


of  the  public  schools  of  the  vicinity.  As  a young  man 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  responsibility, 
and  for  a long  period  of  years  he  was  numbered 
among  the  enterprising  and  successful  agriculturists 
and  stock-growers  of  Dodge  County.  He  continued 
his  operations  in  these  lines  until  1892,  when  he 
established  his  residence  in  the  Village  of  Hayfield 
and  engaged  in  the  hardware  and  agricultural-imple- 
ment business.  He  built  up  a substantial  and  repre- 
sentative trade  and  continued  to  give  it  his  atten- 
tion for  a decade,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in  1912, 
he  sold  his  stock  and  business.  In  the  spring  of 
1914  he  instituted  his  active  operations  in  the  buy- 
ing and  selling  of  real  estate,  and  in  this  field  of 
enterprise  he  is  meeting  with  distinctive  success,  es- 
pecially in  the  handling  of  farm  lands,  his  valuation 
of  which  is  recognized  as  authoritative.  He  is  the 
owntr  of  farm  lands  not  only  in  Minnesota,  but 
also  in  Wisconsin  and  North  Dakota. 

Mr.  Giere  is  aligned  as  a loyal  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  the  republican  party,  and  while  he  has 
always  shown  vital  interest  in  public  affairs,  espe- 
cially those  of  a local  order,  he  has  manifested  no 
ambition  for  official  preferment.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

In  the  year  1889  Mr.  Giere  wedded  Miss  Carolena 
Fingerson,  whose  parents  came  to  America  from 
Norway.  The  two  children  of  this  union  are  Cyril, 
who  is  attending  a commercial  college  at  the  time 
of  this  writing,  in  1914,  and  Esther,  who  is  a student 
in  the  Hayfield  High  School. 

Thomas  Tollefson.  Most  thoroughly  have  the 
finest  of  the  Scandinavian  traditions  and  sentiments 
been  assimilated  in  the  complex  social  fabric  of  the 
United  States,  which  has  had  much  to  gain  and  noth- 
ing to  lose  through  the  winning  of  its  sturdy  ele- 
ment of  citizenship  from  the  far  Norseland.  He 
whose  name  introduces  this  review  was  an  infant 
at  the  time  of  his  parents’  immigration  from  Nor- 
way to  the  United  States,  and  they  became  pioneers 
of  Minnesota,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  and  proved  worthy  exemplars  of  the 
best  in  the  Scandinavian  contingent  that  has  figured 
prominently  and  effectively  in  the  development  and 
progress  of  the  various  states  of  the  great  North- 
west. Thomas  Tollefson  has  had  secure  status  as 
one  of  the  representative  agriculturists  and  influential 
citizens  of  Dodge  County,  is  serving,  in  1914,  his  sec- 
ond term  as  mayor  of  West  Concord,  in  which 
village  he  has  resided  since  his  retirement  from  his 
farm,  and  further  evidence  of  his  popularity  in  his 
home  community  has  been  shown  in  the  loyal  sup- 
port given  him  in  his  candidacy  for  member  of  the 
State  Legislature. 

Mr.  Tollefson  was  born  in  Norway,  on  the  17th 
of  March,  1852,  and  in  the  following  year  his  par- 
ents immigrated  to  America  and  established  their 
residence  in  Goodhue  County,  Minnesota.  He  is  a 
son  of  Olef  and  Olina  (Olson)  Tollefson,  repre- 
sentatives of  sterling  old  families  of  Norway,  where 
the  father  was  born  in  the  year  1824  and  the  mother 
in  1827.  In  his  native  land  Olef  Tollefson  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade,  which  he  there  followed  as  a 
vocation  until  he  came  to  the  United  States.  Upon 
coming  to  Minnesota  he  numbered  himself  among 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Goodhue  County,  where  he 
entered  a pre-emption  claim  to  Government  land.  He 
instituted,  with  all  of  energy  and  industry,  the  im- 
provement of  his  farm,  but  he  was  not  spared  to 
see  the  fruition  of  his  efforts,  as  he  was  called  from 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1749 


the  stage  of  life's  mortal  endeavors  about  five  years 
after  he  had  established  his  home  in  Minnesota.  His 
death  occurred  in  1863  and  his  wife  survived  him  by 
more  than  forty  years,  she  having  been  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal  in  1906  and  both  having  been 
devoted  communicants  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Of 
the  six  children,  Thomas,  of  this  review,  is  the 
oldest  of  the  four  surviving;  Betsey  is  the  wife  of 
John  Erickson  and  they  reside  in  North  Dakota; 
Mrs.  Geo.  Lyon  is  a resident  of  Faribault,  Minne- 
sota; Olef  maintains  his  home  at  Thief  River  Falls, 
this  state. 

Thomas  Tollefson  was  reared  to  adult  age  in 
Goodhue  County  and  there  availed  himself  of  the 
advantages  of  the  public  schools,  thus  laying  a firm 
foundation  for  the  substantial  superstructure  of  lib- 
eral education  that  he  has  developed  through  self- 
application and  association  with  the  practical  affairs 
of  life.  He  was  a mere  boy  at  the  time  of  his 
father’s  death  and  his  earliest  experiences  were  in 
connection  with  the  farm  and  its  manifold  activities. 
It  was  thus  but  natural  that  in  working  out  his  plans 
for  the  winning  of  success  and  independence  he 
should  continue  to  pay  allegiance  to  the  great  basic 
industry  of  agriculture,  in  connection  with  which  he 
has  long  been  known  as  one  of  the  representative 
farmers  and  stock-growers  of  Dodge  'County,  where 
he  still  owns  a well  improved  and  valuable  farm  of 
160  acres,  though  he  has  maintained  his  residence 
in  the  Village  of  West  Concord  since  1896.  At  West 
Concord  he  erected  an  excellent  cold-storage  plant, 
but  he  disposed  of  the  same  after  having  conducted 
a successful  business  for  four  years. 

Mr.  Tollefson  has  shown  a broad-minded  and  loyal 
interest  in  public  affairs  of  a local  order  and  has 
been  a zealous  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  repub- 
lican party.  He  has  given  admirable  service  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Ellington 
Township,  and  was  for  some  time  its  chairman. 
Vitally  interested  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of 
his  home  village,  Mr.  Tollefson  has  given  a most 
effective  administration  as  head  of  the  municipal 
government,  his  second  term  as  mayor  of  West  Con- 
cord expiring  in  1915.  He  was  the  republican  can- 
didate for  representative  of  Dodge  County  in  the 
State  Legislature  in  the  election  of  1912,  and  though 
political  conditions  were  of  unusual  order  during 
the  national  campaign  of  that  year  and  party  lines 
were  broken  in  Minnesota  as  elsewhere,  Mr.  Tollef- 
son was  defeated  by  only  sixteen  votes.  He  appeared 
as  candidate  for  the  same  office  in  the  election  of 
November,  1914.  Mr.  Tollefson  is  actively  affiliated 
with  both  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  in  each  of 
which  he  has  held  the  highest  official  preferments, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  year  1877  Mr.  Tollefson  wedded  Miss 
Martha  Reberg,  daughter  of  the  late  John  P.  Reberg, 
a native  of  Norway.  The  one  child  of  this  union 
is  Carrie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Ivan  Quackenbush, 
their  home  being  in  the  northern  part  of  Minnesota. 

Hon.  John  Frank.  Among  those  figures  who 
deserve  distinctive  mention  as  pioneers  in  Southern 
Minnesota,  Mower  County,  has  no  name  more 
familiar  because  of  its  widely  extended  activities 
and  influences  in  the  larger  civic  and  business  life 
of  the  community  than  that  of  Frank.  The  late  Hon. 
John  Frank  came  to  Minnesota  about  five  years 
before  the  Civil  war.  He  was  a pioneer  settler, 


a soldier  of  long  and  active  experience,  a farmer, 
extensive  land  holder  and  held  many  offices  which 
measured  the  high  esteem  accorded  him  by  his  fel- 
low citizens.  In  the  present  active  generation  one 
of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  family  is  Wil- 
liam M.  Frank,  the  well  known  banker  of  Leroy, 
who  is  mentioned  on  following  pages. 

The  late  John  Frank  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Wuertemberg,  Germany,  February  13,  1834,  the 

youngest  of  seven  children  of  Jacob  F.  and  Fred- 
erika  (Jeds)  Frank.  The  parents  were  middle-class 
German  farmers,  prosperous  and  thrifty  people.  The 
father  died  when  this  son  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  the  mother  had  died  three  years  previously.  John 
Frank  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  land, 
acquired  a substantial  education  and  training  for 
life,  and  on  June  4,  1854,  arrived  in  New  York  City 
to  win  his  fortune  in  the  New  World.  Several 
months  were  spent  in  the  East,  the  summer  of  1855 
was  passed  as  a clerk  in  a store  at  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois, and  in  September  of  that  year  he  moved  on  to 
the  extreme  frontier  of  the  Northwest,  spending  the 
winter  in  Howard  County.  Iowa,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1856  reaching  Mower  County,  Minnesota.  Only 
in  small  communities  had  the  wave  of  westward 
expansion  extended  to  this  territory,  and  John  Frank 
had  all  the  qualities  requisite  for  pioneer  endeavor 
and  usefulness  in  the  front  rank  of  emigration.  He 
preempted  a quarter  of  section  of  wild  land  in  sec- 
tion 30  of  Leroy  Township,  and  from  that  time,  until 
his  death,  more  than  half  a century  later,  continued 
to  call  Mower  County  his  residence.  With  increas- 
ing years  came  added  prosperity  and  larger  honors 
as  a citizen.  On  his  arrival  he  erected  a log  cabin, 
kept  house  for  himself  a time,  but  as  soon  as  his 
prospects  were  fairly  well  established  he  returned  to 
Rockford,  Illinois,  and  married  Catherine  E.  Lachele. 
Miss  Lachele  was  born  in  Geisingen,  Wuertemberg, 
Germany,  October  30,  1833,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  a well-to-do  family.  In  1854  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  having  lost  her  mother  and  her  father  having 
married  again,  she  and  a sister  left  Germany  and 
came  to  America.  At  Forest  City,  Ohio,  she  spent 
a time,  and  in  Cleveland  met  John  Frank,  her  fellow 
countryman.  Their  acquaintance  ripened  into  the 
affection  which  subsequently  at  Rockford  resulted  in 
their  marriage.  Mrs.  Frank  was  well  fitted  for  the 
duties  of  a pioneer  wife,  and  for  many  years  they 
traveled  life’s  highway  together.  She  was  a shrewd, 
frugal  and  capable  woman,  and  contributed  in  many 
ways  to  the  success  of  her  husband.  In  the  course 
of  time  they  enlarged  their  original  homestead  to  an 
area  of  1,580  acres.  The  log  cabin  was  replaced  by 
a modern  home,  and  it  was  a house  of  hospitality 
and  good  cheer,  known  to  all  the  older  and  later 
residents  of  Mower  County. 

A few  years  after  John  Frank  had  located  in 
Mower  County  he  took  up  arms  as  a soldier  in 
behalf  of  his  adopted  country.  In  October,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  K of  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Vol- 
unteer Infantry  for  three  years.  At  the  end  of  his 
three  years  he  re-enlisted  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
serving  until  the  summer  of  1865  and  mustered  out 
at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  He  was  discharged  at  Fort 
Snelling,  but  continued  to  serve  as  sutler’s  clerk  for 
two  years  and  was  then  appointed  sutler  and  con- 
tinued in  that  office  until  1877.  During  the  war  he 
was  with  his  regiment  in  all  its  battles  and  cam- 
paigns and  well  exemplified  the  faithfulness,  courage 
and  devotion  to  duty  which  were  characteristic  of 
the  German-American  volunteers  in  our  Civil  war. 


1750 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


In  1877  he  returned  to  the  farm  and  lived  there  until 
his  death.  In  1899,  having  accumulated  abundant 
prosperity,  and  rich  in  the  honors  of  a long  life,  he 
retired  from  active  business,  and  remained  on  the 
old  homestead  until  his  death  on  April  2,  1913,  when 
nearly  eighty  years  of  age. 

The  late  John  Frank  was  a democrat  from  the 
time  he  acquired  his  American  citizenship.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  in  18S2,  and  for 
twenty-five  years  was  clerk  of  his  school  board  and 
gave  his  services  to  the  town  in  many  other  capaci- 
ties, as  supervisor  and  road  overseer.  In  1886  his 
name  was  placed  on  his  party’s  ticket  as  candidate 
for  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor,  and  it  added 
much  to  the  strength  of  the  minority  party.  In  1884 
he  was  a presidential  elector.  Mr.  Frank  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  was  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason,  and  was  always  a popular 
figure  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

John  Frank  and  wife  became  the  parents  of  three 
children : Louisa,  who  married  John  Le  Borius,  a 
Hennepin  County  farmer;  William  Monroe;  and 
Irene  M.,  wife  of  W.  D.  Bassler,  a merchant  of 
Austin. 

William  M.  Frank,  who  continues  the  substantial 
and  honorable  influence  of  his  father  in  business  and 
civic  affairs,  was  born  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota, 
May  9,  1866.  He  has  had  a wide  and  varied  ex- 
perience in  business.  After  a thorough  public  school 
education  he  attended  Shattuck  Military  Academy  in 
Faribault,  and  then  went  East  and  for  a year  was 
employed  in  a real  estate  office  in  New  York  City. 
His  next  work  was  with  W.  IT.  Goadby  and  Com- 
pany, Wall  Street  bankers  in  New  York  City,  and 
after  two  years  there,  which  gave  him  a thorough 
metropolitan  experience,  he  returned  to  Minnesota 
and  entered  the  bank  at  Glencoe  as  bookkeeper.  Two 
years  later,  in  1885,  with  Hon.  M.  H.  Dunnell,  he 
started  a bank  at  New  Rockford,  and  was  its  cashier 
for  two  years.  He  then  became  cashier  for  the  Pow- 
ers Wholesale  Dry  Goods  House  in  St.  Paul,  was 
there  four  years,  and  returning  to  Leroy  in  1894  be- 
came assistant  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank. 
That  was  his  work  seven  years,  and  in  that  time  he 
gained  a largely  extended  acquaintance  among  the 
bankers  of  the  state.  With  the  mature  qualifications 
acquired  by  this  varied  training,  Mr.  Frank  then  es- 
tablished the  Citizens  Bank  of  Leroy,  and  served 
as  its  cashier  until  it  was  merged  with  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  in  1904.  Mr.  Frank  then  became  cashier 
of  the  larger  institution,  and  has  since  held  that  office 
and  has  been  prominently  identified  with  its  man- 
agement. 

Mr.  Frank,  like  his  father,  has  manifested  a high 
degree  of  public  spirit  and  is  always  willing  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  his  community.  He  has  served 
as  village  treasurer  of  Leroy  from  1897  to  1903,  but 
in  politics  maintains  an  independent  attitude  and 
votes  for  good  government  and  the  best  man  rather 
than  according  to  strict  partisan  lines.  Mr.  Frank 
is  prominently  affiliated  with  Masonry,  being  a 
Knight  Templar  and  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish 
Rite  Mason.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  che  Benevolent  & 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  is  a member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church. 

Walter  Johns.  Throughout  Minnesota  and  in 
the  Dakotas  and  other  sections  of  the  Northwest, 
Walter  Johns  has  a name  and  reputation  that  are 
valuable  business  assets.  Mr.  Johns  has  for  more 


than  thirty  years  been  identified  with  the  dry  goods 
business,  luegan  as  a clerk  in  a wholesale  house  at 
St.  Paul,  went  on  the  road  as  salesman,  and  for 
many  years  now  has  traveled  about  the  country 
placing  goods  with  retail  merchants  and  jobbers,  and 
has  built  up  a business  which  is  in  reality  a “going 
concern."  No  man  in  the  dry  goods  trade  in  the 
Northwest  has  earned  such  a high  reputation  for 
honest  service,  square  dealing  and  authoritative 
knowledge. 

Walter  Johns  was  born  in  Lake  City,  Minnesota, 
October  11,  1859,  son  of  Martin  and  Mary  A. 
(Frantz)  Johns.  His  family  were  pioneers  in  Min- 
nesota and  were  established  in  America  back  in  the 
Colonial  days.  Both  parents  were  natives  of  Lan- 
caster County,  Pennsylvania.  The  Johns  family  has 
lived  there  since  1692  and  the  Frantz  name  has  been 
identified  with  the  same  section  since  1696.  The  an- 
cestors on  both  sides  were  German  Quakers  or  Dunk- 
ards,  and  left  Germany  on  account  of  religious  per- 
secution for  their  peculiar  faith,  and  found  homes  in 
free  America.  Martin  Johns  and  his  wife  were  mar- 
ried at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1853,  and  in 
1857  pioneered  to  Minnesota  and  settled  at  Lake 
City.  The  first  boot  and  shoe  store  in  Lake  City 
was  opened  and  conducted  by  Martin  Johns.  He  was 
successfully  engaged  in  business  there  until  his  death 
in  1866  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  Civil  war  he  attempted  to  enlist  but  was  de- 
barred on  account  of  physical  disability.  His  widow 
on  August  8,  1872,  married  A.  W.  Ditmars,  a well- 
to-do  business  man  of  Lake  City,  who  died  there 
in  1882.  Mrs.  Ditmars  in  1882  moved  to  St.  Paul 
and  thereafter  had  her  home  with  her  son  Walter 
until  her  death  in  1911  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  ' 

Mary  A.  (Frantz)  Johns  during  her  early  life  was 
a Dunkard,  but  after  locating  in  Lake  City  joined 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  thereafter  was  prominent 
in  the  affairs  of  her  home  church.  While  on  the 
frontier  and  also  after  her  removal  to  St.  Paul  she 
was  admired  and  loved  by  a large  circle  on  account 
of  her  generous  and  kindly  character,  her  willing- 
ness to  assist  her  neighbors  in  distress  or  need,  and 
she  was  one  of  the  fine  women  of  the  older  genera- 
tion. The  old  Frantz  family  homestead, . in  which 
she  was  born  and  reared,  is  at  Oregon,  Pennsylvania, 
a suburb  of  Lancaster.  It  was  built  by  her  great- 
grandfather in  1762.  Both  her  grandfather  and 
father  lived  and  died  in  the  old  home,  and  it  also 
sheltered  her  until  she  went  out  to  the  Minnesota 
frontier  with  her  husband.  The  house  is  a solidly 
built  stone  structure,  with  a s'ate  roof,  and  is  in  an 
excellent  state  of  preservation  and  will  last  another 
century.  Mr.  Walter  Johns  recently  visited  the  old 
homestead,  and ’found  the  private  burying  ground 
on  the  farm,  with  twenty-five  graves,  all  of  them 
marked  by  tombstones.  At  his  own  expense  he  had 
the  grounds  beautified  and  a new  fence  built  around 
the  cemetery.,  Martin  Johns  and  wife  had  five  chil- 
dren : Horace  F.  Johns,  the  oldest,  who  was  born  in 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  April  8,  1855,  is  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  Lake  City.  He  served  several 
terms  as  city  recorder  there  and  refused  the  office 
of  mayor  which  was  tendered  him  without  opposi- 
tion. He  is  one  of  the  partners  in  the  Neal-Johns 
Wagon  Manufacturing  Company.  At  the  age  of  fif- 
teen he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Neal  Company, 
learned  the  business  in  all  its  details,  subsequently 
became  a partner,  and  the  concern  is  now  one  of 
the  largest  institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  em- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1751 


ploying  over  a hundred  men.  William  F.  Johns,  the 
second  son,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania, 
July  8,  1857,  is  a member  of  the  firm  of  Meyer  & 
Johns,  leading  merchants  in  Lake  City.  The  third 
child  is  Walter  Johns.  Elizabeth  F.  Johns,  born  at 
Lake  City  in  1863,  died  when  a year  and  a half  of 
age.  John  Franklin  Johns  was  born  at  Lake  City 
December  23,  1864,  and  died  November  18,  1881. 

Walter  Johns  is  a graduate  of  the  Lake  City  Pub- 
lic Schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  became  a 
clerk  in  a Lake  City  store,  and  in  1880  arrived  in  St. 
Paul  and  found  work  in  a minor  capacity  with  the 
William  Lee  & Company’s  wholesale  dry  goods  es- 
tablishment. In  1882  this  firm  sent  him  out  as  its 
traveling  representative  in  Minnesota  and  South  Da- 
kota, and  he  sold  the  first  goods  for  the  firm  in 
South  Dakota.  The  firm  went  out  of  business  in 
1884,  and  his  services  were  then  transferred  to  the 
Finch  Auerbach  Wholesale  Dry  Goods  Company. 
Several  years  were  spent  in  the  employ  of  this  firm 
in  covering  the  same  territory,  and  Mr.  Johns  has 
continued  to  sell  dry  goods  over  the  Northwest  for 
an  aggregate  of  thirty-two  years.  Few  traveling 
men  anywhere  have  so  well  established  and  reliable 
a clientele. 

Mr.  Johns  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs  in 
the  United  Commercial  Travelers,  is  a member  of 
the  Christ  Episcopal  Church  at  St.  Paul,  is  promi- 
nent in  the  St.  Paul  Commercial  Club,  and  in  poli- 
tics a republican,  and  especially  interested  in  national 
politics.  He  owns  a pleasant  home  and  other  real 
estate  in  St.  Paul,  his  residence  being  at  339  Selby 
Avenue.  Mr.  Johns  is  unmarried. 

Judge  James  H.  Quinn.  As  judge  of  the  courts 
for  the  district  comprising  Faribault,  Martin  and 
Jackson  counties,  Judge  Quinn  is  one  of  the  older 
members  of  the  bench  and  bar  in  Southern  Minne- 
sota, has  practiced  law  upwards  of  thirty  years,  and 
for  more  than  half  of  that  time  has  sat  on  the 
district  bench.  Possessed  of  scrupulous  honesty  and 
a fine  sense  of  justice,  his  friends  and  associates 
unite  in  declaring  him  one  of  the  most  competent 
-men  who  have  held  court  in  this  district. 

James  H.  Quinn  was  born  in  Kilbourn  City,  Wis- 
consin, June  23,  1857.  His  grandfather  was  James 
Quinn,  a land  owner  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
where  he  died.  Andrew  Quinn,  father  of  the  judge, 
was  born  in  County  Tyrone  in  1823,  and  in  1837  left 
his  native  land,  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Columbia  County,  Wisconsin,  was  a farmer  all  his 
life  and  died  at  Medo  in  Blue  Earth  County,  Min- 
nesota, in  1897.  He  married  Hannah  . Mountford, 
who  was  born  in  England  and  brought  as  a child  by 
her  parents  to  Columbia  County,  Wisconsin.  She 
was  born  in  1828  and  died  in  1896.  Their  children 
were:  H.  M.,  who  is  a hardware  merchant  at 

Mapleton,  Minnesota;  Sarah,  wife  of  P.  G.  Johnson, 
a retired  merchant  now  living  at  South  Shore,  South 
Dakota;  Judge  James  H. ; Thomas,  who  was  a 
farmer  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty-four  in  De- 
troit, Minnesota ; Walter  A.,  who  was  a grain  buy- 
er at  Flandreau,  South  Dakota ; Ella  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Avery,  a machinist  residing  in  New  York 
State ;' Carrie  is  assistant  postmaster  at  Wells,  Min- 
nesota; and  William  A.  is  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  at  Exeter,  California. 

When  Judge  Quinn  was  six  years  of  age  his 
parents  brought  him,  in  June,  1863,  to  Blue  Earth 
County,  Minnesota,  and  a year  later  they  established 
a home  in  Medo  Township  of  that  county.  However, 
"Voi.  ra— 31 


he  returned  to  his  home  county  in  Wisconsin  for 
most  of  his  education,  and  attended  the  public 
schools  at  Poynette  in  Columbia  County,  and  was 
graduated  from  an  academy  in  that  town  in  1880. 
Then  returning  to  Blue  Earth  County,  he  took  up 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  William  N.  Plymat 
at  Mapleton  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1885  at 
Mankato  before  M.  J.  Severance.  In  the  same  year 
Judge  Quinn  began  practice  in  Faribault  County,  and 
almost  at  once  was  drawn  into  the  responsibilities 
of  public  office,  and  for  five  successive  terms,  alto- 
gether ten  years,  served  as  county  attorney.  During 
which  time  his  home  was  in  Wells.  He  resigned  the 
office  of  county  attorney  on  his  appointment  to  judge 
of  the  district  bench  on  March  19,  1897.  After  serv- 
ing the  unexpired  term,  he  was  regularly  elected 
district  judge,  and  is  now  in  his  third  elective  term 
of  service.  In  April,  1900,  Judge  Quinn  removed 
from  Wells  in  Faribault  County  to  Fairmont  in  Mar- 
tin County. 

Judge  Quinn  is  a republican.  He  is  a director  in 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Wells,  and  is  now  the 
only  one  of  the  original  incorporators  represented  on 
the  board  of  directors.  Judge  Quinn  was  married 
in  1881  at  Mapleton,  Minnesota,  to  Miss  Sarah  M. 
Annis,  who  was  born  at  Mapleton,  her  father,  Ira 
Annis,  now  deceased,  having  been  a farmer  in  that 
locality.  Judge  Quinn  and  wife  have  three  children: 
Cecelia  L.,  born  September  16,  1891,  educated  in 
Hamline  University  at  St.  Paul,  and  now  wife  of 
Fred  Bingham,  of  Minneapolis ; Roswell  J.,  born  Sep- 
tember 24,  1897,  a student  in  the  Fairmont  High 
School;  and  Donald  A.,  born  March  20,  1899,  and  a 
student  in  the  Culver  Military  Academy,  Indiana. 

John  C.  Marlow.  One  of  the  more  recent  addi- 
tions to  the  business  life  of  Mankato,  and  one  which 
has  already  contributed  materially  to  the  commer- 
cial prestige  of  the  city,  is  the  Hinman  Milking 
Machine  Company,  the  offices  and  salesrooms  of 
which,  at  No.  508  South  Front  Street,  are  under  the 
capable  management  of  John  C.  Marlow,  general 
manager  of  the  company  for  North  and  South 
Dakota  and  Minnesota.  Mr.  Marlow,  previous  to 
coming  to  Mankato,  in  March,  1914,  was  engaged  in 
the  selling  of  the  Hinman  milking  machine  in  Wis- 
consin, where  he  had  formerly  sold  imported  horses 
and  engaged  in  farming.  He  is  essentially  a self- 
made  man,  and  one  whose  progressive  ideas  and 
energetic  spirit  will  prove  of  the  greatest  benefit  to 
the  city  of  his  adoption. 

John  C.  Marlow  was  born  in  Grant  County,  Wis- 
consin, October  29,  1878,  and  is  a son  of  George  W. 
and  Angeline  (Druen)  Marlow.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  a very  early  settler  of  Wisconsin,  to  which 
state  he  removed  from  Pennsylvania,  and  continued 
as  a farmer  all  his  life,  and  the  grandfather  on  the 
maternal  side  was  Samuel  Druen,  a native  of  Eng- 
land, who  located  in  Wisconsin  and  there  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  George  W.  Marlow  was  born 
in  Wisconsin  in  1841,  and  there  has  passed  his  en- 
tire career  as  a tiller  of  the  soil,  still  being  engaged 
in  active  pursuits  on  the  old  homestead  formerly 
owmed  by  his  father.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served 
two  years  as  a member  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  Wis- 
consin Volunteer  Infantry.  He  is  a republican  in 
politics  and  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  Marlow  was  married  in  Wisconsin  to 
Miss  Angeline  Druen,  who  was  born  in  that  state 


1752 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


in  1847  and  also  survives,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  survive:  _ Dr. 
George  C.,  who  is  a dental  practitioner  of  San  Diego, 
California;  Clara,  who  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Kinney, 
engaged  in  the  land  business  at  Lancaster,  Wisconsin; 
Alanson,  who  is  a dental  practitioner  of  Bloomington, 
Wisconsin;  Vernon,  who  is  engaged  in  the  electrical 
business  at  Calgary,  Canada;  John  C.,  of  this  notice; 
and  Melvin,  who  is  carrying  on  farming  operations 
in  Grant  County,  Wisconsin. 

John  C.  Marlow  was  educated  at  Lancaster,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  was  graduated  from  the  high  school 
in  1891,  and  following  this  was  engaged  in  farming 
for  a number  of  years.  Subsequently  he  went  on 
the  road  as  a salesman  of  imported  horses,  and  was 
thus  engaged  for  six  years,  when  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Hinman  milking  machine  and  began 
traveling  in  behalf  of  the  interests  of  that  concern. 
After  representing  the  Hinman  Milking  Machine 
Company  in  Wisconsin  for  a number  of  years,  Mr. 
Marlow  secured  the  exclusive  agency  for  Minnesota, 
and  North  and  South  Dakota,  and  in  March,  1914, 
came  to  Mankato  and  in  the  following  month  opened 
up  his  place  of  business.  Mr.  Marlow  is  conducting 
his  business  under  a special  arrangement,  through 
which  he  furnished  the  capital  and  has  sole  charge 
of  his  operations.  His  business  has  grown  rapidly 
under  his  progressive  and  enterprising  methods,  and 
the  greater  part  of  his  time  is  devoted  to  its  manage- 
ment, although  he  is  also  the  owner  of  a valuable 
farm  in  Wisconsin.  A short  description  of  the  Hin- 
man invention  may  not  prove  out  of  place  here. 
With  this  milking  machine  one  man  can  easily  do 
the  work  of  three  and  can  do  it  better  and  in  a far 
more  sanitary  manner,  and  its  construction  is  so 
simple  that  it  may  be  operated  by  a fourteen-year-old 
boy.  In  the  Hinman  the  vacuum  is  confined  to  the 
chamber  in  the  pump,  and  not  the  pail,  thus  requir- 
ing a smaller  amount  of  vacuum  to  operate  and  re- 
quiring less  horsepower.  It  is  absolutely  noiseless 
and  automatically  regulates  itself  and  its  pressure. 
It  has  only  two  moving  parts — the  pump  piston  and 
chamber  valve.  No  springs  or  weights  are  used  in 
its  construction,  while  the  cups  are  sprung  from 
metal  and  are  perfectly  smooth  inside  and  without 
seams.  At  present  Mr.  Marlow  has  several  men  on 
the  road,  while  he  manages  the  business  from  the 
Mankato  office.  Mr.  Marlow  has  identified  himself 
with  the  social  and  civic  life  of  Mankato,  is  a mem- 
ber of  Mankato  Lodge,  No.  12,  A.  F.  & A..  M.,  and 
a republican  in  his  political  views.  With  his  family 
he  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1900  Mr.  Marlow  was  married  to  Miss  Ursa 
B.  Salis,  of  Grant  County,  Wisconsin,  and  they  have 
three  children  : Beulah  Marie,  aged  thirteen  years ; 

Beva  Margerine,  eleven  years  of  age ; and  Dorothy 
Grace,  who  is  eight  years  of  age.  All  are  attending 
the  Mankato  public  schools. 

Mose  S.  Winthrop.  This  well  known  Minneapolis 
lawyer  and  leader  in  democratic  politics  first  be- 
came known  to  the  public  under  the  title  “boy 
orator’’  during  the  presidential  campaign  of  1896, 
when,  a high  school  youth  in  his  eighteenth  year, 
he  traveled  over  many  states  and  spoke  with 
effective  brilliance  and  eloquence  in  behalf  of 
William  Jennings  Bryan.  Mr.  Winthrop  has  had 
a somewhat  remarkable  career,  is  a native  of 
Southern  Russia,  has  lived  in  America  since  he  was 
thirteen,  and  has  exercised  his  versatile  gifts  to 


promote  himself  in  spite  of  handicaps  to  prominence 
in  his  adopted  land. 

Mose  S.  Winthrop  was  born  in  Odessa,  Russia, 
September  15,  1878.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Pearl 
(Cossack)  Winthrop,  came  from  Odessa  to  the 
United  States  in  1891,  landing  in  New  York  and 
proceeding  directly  to  Minneapolis,  where  Samuel 
Winthrop  was  for  a number  of  years  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  and  retail  meat  business,  but  is  now 
retired,  he  and  his  wife  living  in  Minneapolis.  There 
were  four  sons  and  three  daughters  in  the  family, 
and  all  now  live  in  Minneapolis. 

The  oldest  of  the  family,  Mose  S.  Winthrop,  ac- 
quired most  of  his  education  in  Minneapolis,  and 
is  a graduate  of  the  South  Side  High  School  with 
the  class  of  1895.  After  a varied  experience  in 
public  office  and  other  lines  of  work,  and  in  the 
study  of  law  with  the  firm  of  Hall  & Collins,  he 
took  three  years  in  the  University  of  Minnesota  law 
department,  and  since  his  admission  to  the  bar  in 
1908  has  been  engaged  in  a general  practice  with 
offices  in  the  Temple  Court  Building.  Mr.  Winthrop 
is  state  lecturer  for  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  also  represents  several  local  corpora- 
tions. He  has  had  no  partners  in  practice  and  has 
always  been  noted  for  his  independence,  self- 
reliance  and  determined  work  in  any  cause  that 
engages  his  attention. 

Mr.  Winthrop  was  an  officer  of  the  police  court 
under  the  late  ex-Mayor  James  C.  Haynes  during 
his  first  administration  from  1901  to  1904.  In  the 
latter  year  he  made  the  race  for  the  State  Legislature 
against  the  late  John  Lunn,  and  was  beaten  by  only 
570  votes.  During  the  recent  municipal  campaign 
Mr.  Winthrop’s  name  appeared  as  candidate  for  the 
office  of  municipal  judge,  and  he  failed  of  election 
by  only  102  votes.  The  late  Governor  Johnson  had 
his  services  for  two  years  as  game  and  fish  commis- 
sioner. Many  people  have  marked  with  admiration 
his  work  in  politics  and  particularly  as  an  orator 
and  effective  campaigner.  During  the  campaign  of 
1896,  when  Mr.  Bryan  was  first  running  for  presi- 
dent, young  Winthrop  was  the  boy  orator  of  the 
party  conducted  by  United  States  Senator  Jones, 
and  toured  all  of  Minnesota  and  neighboring  states. 
Mr.  Winthrop  had  been  in  this  country  only  five 
years,  and  was  a high  school  student,  and  when 
school  opened  in  September  the  principal  of  the 
South  Side  High  School  commanded  his  pupil  to 
return  on  pain  of  expulsion.  The  principal  was. 
Charles  Sawyer,  who  is  now  a member  of  the  State 
Legislature.  In  1900  Mr.  Winthrop’s  services  were 
again  of  value  to  his  party,  and  he  spoke  in  nearly 
all  the  principal  parts  of  Minnesota  and  in  nearly 
half  the  states  of  the  Union.  In  the  spring  of  1914 
Mr.  Winthrop  made  the  nominating  speech  for  W.  S. 
Hammond  for  governor  of  Minnesota  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket,  and  his  first  formal  speech  in  a con- 
vention was  in  St.  Paul  in  1900,  at  what  is  known 
as  the  Lind  convention  held  in  the  old  Auditorium, 
and  his  address  was  regarded  as  the  hit  of  the  con- 
vention, and  at  that  time  favored  Mr.  Hammond. 

Mr.  Winthrop  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  the  Knights  of  the  Modern  Macca- 
bees, the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Order  of 
Owls,  the  Yeomen,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  June,  1914, 
he  was  a delegate  to  the  national  convention  of 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Toledo,  Ohio. 
Other  relations  connect  him  with  the  Minneapolis*. 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association,  the  Metropolitan 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1753 


Art  Society,  and  the  Hennepin  County  Bar  Asso- 
ciation. On  June  20,  1904,  Mr.  Winthrop  married 
Miss  Jennie  Karatz  of  Minneapolis,  where  she  was 
born  and  educated,  a daughter  of  I.  Karatz,  who  is 
a metal  dealer. 

Carl  Johan  Petri,  D.  D.  One  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished Lutheran  clergymen  in  the  Northwest  is 
Rev.  Carl  Johan  Petri  of  Minneapolis.  Doctor 
Petri  was  a member  of  the  first  graduating  class  of 
Augustana  College  in  Illinois,  was  at  that  time 
conspicuous  for  his  scholarship,  and  his  early  studies 
were  directed  in  the  plan  in  view  of  becoming  per- 
manently identified  with  the  profession  of  educator. 
Thirty-five  years  ago  he  was  ordained  to  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  ministry  and  for  many  years  has  com- 
bined his  activities  as  pastor  with  those  of  an  edu- 
cational leader. 

Carl  Johan  Petri  was  born  in  Rockford.  Illinois, 
June  16,  1856.  His  father  was  a tailor  in  Rockford, 
and  the  son  attended  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
He  then  entered  the  Augustana  College  at  Paxton, 
Illinois,  and  was  graduated  A.  B.  with  the  class  of 
1877,  the  first  class  sent  out  from  that  college.  In 
1884  the  degree  A.  M.  was  given  him  by  the  same 
institution,  and  in  1899  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Rock  Island  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  Doctor 
of  Divinity.  During  his  college  work  he  showed 
special  efficiency  in  the  modern  and  classical  lan- 
guages and  history,  and  paid  particular  attention  to 
classical  English.  On  graduating  from  Augustana 
he  came  to  Minneapolis,  with  the  intention  of  con- 
tinuing his  English  studies  and  eventually  becoming, 
at  the  request  of  the  board  of  directors,  an  instructor 
in  that  subject  at  Augustana  College.  He  entered 
and  spent  one  year  in  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
giving  his  attention  primarily  to  English  and  Anglo- 
Saxon.  He  then  went  East  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  accepted  a call  as  pastor  of  a Swedish  Lutheran 
congregation.  He  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in 
1880.  While  a pastor  in  Philadelphia  he  continued 
his  studies  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  paying 
attention  to  English  and  history.  While  in  that  city 
he  also  attended  Doctor  Krauth’s  lectures  on 
philosophy. 

From  1884  to  1888  Doctor  Petri  was  a member  of 
the  faculty  of  Gustavus  Adolphus  College  at  St. 
Peter,  Minnesota,  being  an  instructor  in  history.  He 
was  called  to  Minneapolis  to  assume  the  responsi- 
bilities of  pastor  over  the  largest  congregation  in 
his  denomination  in  the  city,  the  Augustana  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a 
long  and  successful  pastorate  which  has  now  con- 
tinued more  than  a quarter  of  a century. 

During  his  residence  in  Minneapolis  Doctor  Petri 
has  been  active  both  in  educational  and  public  affairs. 
He  has  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  Gustavus  Adolphus  College,  and  was  a member  of 
the  first  board  of  directors  of  the  Minnesota  College 
at  Minneapolis  and  still  serves  on  that  body,  being 
now  vice  president.  For  a number  of  years  he  has 
been  vice  president  of  the  Minnesota  conference  of 
the  Swedish  Augustana  Synod,  and  is  now  secretary 
of  the  board  of  missions  of  the  conference.  In  1881 
he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Augustana 
Observer,  a Lutheran  religious  paper,  the  first  of  its 
kind  to  be  published  by  the  Swedish  people  in  the 
English  language  in  America.  At  a later  time  he 
was  also  associated  with  the  editorial  department 
of  an  English  Sunday  school  paper  issued  under  the 
direction  of  the  church,  and  is  now  a member  of 


the  board  of  publication  of  the  synod  at  Rock 
Island.  Doctor  Petri  was  the  originator  and  took 
the  lead  in  promoting  the  celebration  in  1888  at 
Minneapolis  of  the  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary of  the  landing  of  the  Swedes  in  America.  He 
was  likewise  active  in  arranging  the  celebration  in 
1893  of  the  three  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
Upsala  Decree,  and  was  the  first  scholar  to  trans- 
late that  decree  into  the  English  language.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  a member  of  the  advisory  council 
of  the  Religious  Congress  at  the  Chicago  World’s 
Fair. 

Doctor  Petri  is  a member  of  the  Institute  of 
Civics,  and  was  one  of  the  most  influential  in  organ- 
izing the  Swedish  Hospital  in  1898,  being  the  first 
president  of  the  board  of  the  hospital  association. 
Aside  from  the  literary  work  involved  in  his  min- 
istry, Doctor  Petri  has  written  much  for  the  public 
press,  and  has  delivered  many  formal  lectures 
throughout  the  Northwest.  In  1880  Doctor  Petri 
and  Miss  Christine  Anderson  were  married  in  the 
historic  old  Swedes’  church,  or  the  Gloria  Dei 
Church,  in  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Petri  comes  from 
Rattvik,  Delarne,  Sweden.  To  their  marriage  have 
been  born  six  children. 

Hon.  Magnus  Johnson.  The  citizens  of  any 
stirring  and  growing  community,  in  making  their 
choice  of  the  man  who  shall  occupy  the  highest  civic 
office  within  the  gift  of  the  municipality,  may  gen- 
erally be  trusted  to  settle  upon  an  individual  who 
has  proven  his  worth  and  ability  in  his  private 
affairs,  his  fitness  for  handling  important  issues  and 
his  fidelity  to  the  welfare  of  his  section.  The  diver- 
sified and  complex  duties  connected  with  the  office 
of  mayor  of  a thriving  city  are  such  as  to  call  for 
a high  order  of  courage,  absolute  integrity  in  civic 
affairs,  and  enterprise  tempered  with  conservatism, 
for  a community  is  not  infrequently  judged  by  the 
character  and  actions  of  its  chief  executive  and  the 
stand  he  takes  in  matters  of  issue.  The  present 
incumbent  of  the  mayoralty  chair  of  Rushford, 
Magnus  Johnson,  has  shown  himself  not  only  a 
man  of  excellent  judgment  and  executive  abilities 
in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  but  is  also 
widely  known  in  business  circles  and  particularly  in 
the  grain  trade. 

Mayor  Johnson  was  born  in  Sweden,  September  5, 
1871,  and  is  a son  of  Martin  and  Ellen  (Munson) 
Johnson,  natives  of  that  country,  where  the  father 
was.  born  in  1842  and  the  mother  in  1838.  The 
family  came  to  the  United  States  in  1891,  settling 
in  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  where  the  father 
was  for  some  years  engaged  in  successful  farming 
operations,  but  is  now  living  in  quiet  retirement  at 
his  home  at  Stewartville.  He  is  a republican  in 
politics,  but  has  taken  no  active  participation  in 
public  affairs.  Mrs.  Johnson  died  in  1907,  in  Olmsted 
County,  and,  like  her  husband,  was  a devout  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  six  are  now  living:  Ellen, 

who  married  John  Erickson,  of  Stewartville,  Min- 
nesota; Magnus,  of  this  review;  Andrew,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Balaton,  Min- 
nesota; Olaf,  who  lives  in  Colorado,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  mining  ventures ; Hilda,  who  is  now  Mrs. 
McElliott,  of  Great  Falls,  Minnesota;  and  Matilda, 
who  is  the  wife  of  John  Wickstart,  and  resides  at 
Spokane,  Washington. 

.Magnus  Johnson  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  country,  this  being 


1754 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


supplemented  by  a course  in  a military  institution, 
and  following  this  he  devoted  two  years  to  service 
in  the  standing  army  of  his  country.  He  was  twenty 
years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  the  family  to 
America,  and  at  Stewartville,  Minnesota,  spent  two 
years  in  school,  thus  familiarizing  himself  with  the 
American  language.  For  a short  period  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  farming  pursuits  at  Stewart- 
ville, where  he  served  as  marshal  for  one  year,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  time  turned  his  attention  to  the 
grain  business,  in  which  he  has  since  achieved  an 
enviable  success.  Mr.  Johnson  came  to  Rushford, 
Fillmore  County,  in  1904,  and  established  himself  as 
the  proprietor  of  the  grain  business  known  as  the 
Farmers  Elevator,  and  this  he  conducted  for  about 
nine  years,  or  until  1912,  when  he  purchased  his 
present  plant.  He  has  built  up  an  excellent  elevator 
business,  and  sells  coal,  feed  and  grain,  his  cus- 
tomers being  attracted  from  all  over  this  part  of 
the  county.  While  the  greater  part  of  his  attention 
has  been  devoted  to  this  enterprise,  he  has  also  had 
an  interest  in  other  ventures,  and  at  present  is 
president  of  the  Citizens  and  Farmers  Telephone 
Company,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  in 
1907.  Mr.  Johnson  entered  upon  his  career  a's  a 
poor  youth,  and  has  made  his  own  way  to  inde- 
pendence and  position,  receiving  no  outside  assist- 
ance. He  has  maintained  at  all  times  an  excellent 
reputation  for  integrity  in  business  life  and  probity 
in  his  private  affairs,  and  this,  coupled  with  the 
evidence  of  his  excellent  services  in  the  capacity  of 
alderman,  made  him  the  choice  of  his  party  for  the 
mayoralty  in  1914,  a position  to  which  he  was  elected 
by  a handsome  majority.  While  he  has  been  in  office 
only  a comparatively  short  time,  he  has  already 
shown  good  faith  in  looking  after  the  people’s  in- 
terests, and  his  administration,  conducted  upon  busi- 
ness lines,  will  probably  be  one  of  the  best  Rush- 
ford  has  known.  Mr.  Johnson  has  always  been  a 
stanch  republican.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and  at  the  present  time  is  serving  his  second 
term  as  master  of  Omistic  Star  Lodge,  No.  69, 
A.  F.  & A.  M. 

In  1900  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Erickson,  of  Olmsted  County,  Minnesota,  and 
to  this  union  there  has  been  born  one  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  who  was  born  in  I9i2._  Mayor  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  are  attendants  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  liberal  contributors  to  its  movements. 

Hon.  Jens  J.  Opsahl.  There  are  in  every  com- 
munity men  of  great  force  of  character  who  by 
reason  of  their  leadership  become  recognized  as 
foremost  citizens,  and  bear  a most  important  part 
in  public  affairs.  Such  a man  in  Northern  Min- 
nesota is  Jens  J.  Opsahl,  who  for  fifteen  years  or 
more  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  larger 
movements  of  development  and  improvement  in  his 
section  of  the  state.  Every  enterprise  requires  a 
leader,  and  when  leadership  is  combined  with  such 
public  spirit  and  unselfishness  as  Mr.  Opsahl  has 
manifested  it  means  practical  benefit  to  every  resi- 
dent and  sharer  in  community  progress. 

Jens  P.  Opsahl  is,  a Norwegian  by  birth,  born  at 
Eidsvold,  December  21,  1865.  In  1867  his  parents 
emigrated  to  America  and  located  in  Monroe 
County,  Wisconsin,  on  a farm.  The  farm  was  his 
environment  until  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  he 
started  life  with  a common  school  education.  On 
leaving  the  farm  he  was  in  construction  work  on 
the  St.  Paul  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 


Quincy  Railway,  and  in  the  fall  of  1888  arrived  in 
Todd  County,  Minnesota.  He  became  an  expert 
timber  cruiser,  and  followed  that  vocation  for  a 
number  of  years  either  independently  or  in  con- 
nection with  other  lines  of  business.  From  1892  to 
1897  he  was  engaged  in  the  retail  lumber  business 
at  Moorhead,  and  then  at  Felton  until  1901.  Mr. 
Opsahl  has  been  a resident  of  Bemidji  since  1901, 
and  since  then  much  of  his  time  is  taken  up  with 
the  real  estate  business  and  the  farming  develop- 
ment of  Northern  Minnesota.  He  is  a representa- 
tive of  the  extensive  land  and  timber  interests  con- 
trolled by  T.  B.  Walker  of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Opsahl 
settled  upon  and  developed  a homestead  in  Northern 
Minnesota,  and  improved  his  land  while  working  as 
a timber  cruiser.  For  a time  he  was  on  the  govern- 
ment survey  in  the  Red  Lake  District,  and  from 
this  varied  experience  got  the  ideas  for  roads  and 
ditches  which  have  been  developed  under  his  leader- 
ship. At  the  present  time  there  are  over  10,000  miles 
of  roads  and  ditches  in  Northern  Minnesota,  and 
no  one  man  has  deserved  more  credit  for  their 
construction  and  the  consequent  development  of  the 
country  than  Mr.  Opsahl.  As  a result  of  the  move- 
ment which  he  started  and  led,  Northern  Minnesota 
during  the  past  seven  years  has  spent  over  $2,000,000 
annually  in  development  work.  Since  1903  he  has 
had  his  permanent  business  headquarters  at  Bemidji, 
and  through  his  real  estate  office  there  has  been 
transferred  from  one  owner  to  another  at  least 
90,000  acres  of  Northern  Minnesota  lands. 

For  two  terms  Mr.  Opsahl  has  represented  the 
Sixty-first  District  in  the  Minnesota  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, and  in  his  campaign  for  re-election  polled 
practically  75  per  cent  of  the  votes.  In  the  Legisla- 
ture he  was  a member  of  the  house  committee  that 
created  the  State  Board  of  Emigration,  and  was 
very  earnestly  concerned  in  laying  the  foundation 
for  the  work  and  usefulness  of  that  important  state 
body.  The  State  Emigration  Bureau  has  carried  on 
a wisely  planned  campaign  of  publicity  concerning 
the  resources  of  Minnesota,  has  gathered  statistics 
concerning  agricultural,  mineral  and  other  resources, 
and  has  accomplished  a great  work  in  developing 
regions  hitherto  unexploited  and  in  introducing  into 
the  state  industrious  and  thrifty  people  from  other 
sections. 

As  a real  estate  man  Mr.  Opsahl  has  in  many 
ways  led  the  van  of  improvement  and  has  shown 
faith  and  courage  in  undertaking  improvements 
Vhich  without  his  leadership  could  never  have  been 
successfully  carried  out.  On  coming  to  Beltrami 
County  he  began  buying  up  farm  land  and  timber 
tracts  and  finally  brought  about  the  organization 
of  the  Selke  Land  Company,  which  has  undertaken 
the  development  of  a large  number  of  farms  and 
timber  tracts.  Mr.  Opsahl  has  platted  and  developed 
the  resort  known  as  Lavinia  six  miles  from  Bemidji, 
and  also  the  Riverside  addition  to  Bemidji.  It  is 
said  that  Mr.  Opsahl  has  consummated  more  trans- 
actions in  realty  than  any  other  man  in  Beltrami 
County,  and  the  material  benefits  of  his  work  are 
reflected  in  increased  population,  general  develop- 
ment, and  the  rise  of  values  in  both  city  and  town 
property  to  an  average  of  more  than  100  per  cent. 

Mr.  Opsahl  is  a member  of  the  Bemidji  Commer- 
cial Club  and  chairman  of  its  development  com- 
mittee, and  is  also  president  of  the  Minnesota  Potato 
Growers’  Association.  He  is  a member  of  the  1865 
Treaty  Association.  In  May,  1898,  he  married  Miss 
Clara  Swanson,  of  Fargo,  North  Dakota.  Their 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1755 


four  children  are : Roy,  Leo,  Morris  and  Vera. 

Mr.  Opsahl  has  fraternal  affiliations  with  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  and  the  lum- 
bermen’s social  organization  the  “PIoo-Hoos.” 

John  G.  Gerlich.  Of  the  tillers  of  the  soil  who 
have  been  called  to  positions  of  prominence  in  the 
government  of  the  state,  John  G.  Gerlich,  prosperous 
farmer  and  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  from 
Blue  Earth  County,  is  an  excellent  example.  Bear- 
ing an  unsullied  reputation  in  the  trade  circles  of 
his  native  state,  where  his  integrity  and  honesty 
have  gained  him  the  unqualified  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  into  contact,  he  manages  large 
business  interests  and  is  compelled  to  devote  his 
attention  largely  to  the  control  of  his  property,  yet 
he  still  finds  opportunity  to  discharge  faithfully 
every  duty  of  citizenship  and  to  lend  active  support 
and  co-operation  to  every  movement  for  the  public 
good. 

Mr.  Gerlich  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  County,  Min- 
nesota, October  18,  1871,  and  is  a son  of  B.  H.  and 
Catherine  (Haag)  Gerlich.  The  family  originated 
in  Germany,  but  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  Gerlich 
was  taken  as  a child  to  Holland,  where,  as  a mere 
lad,  he  was  put  to  work  on  the  dykes.  About  the 
year  1825  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  settling 
first  in  Ohio  and  then  moving  to  Wisconsin  as  a 
pioneer,  and  while  thus  engaged  was  for  some  time 
employed  by  one  of  the  early  railroads  running  to 
Chicago.  He  passed  away  in  Wisconsin  in  advanced 
years.  B.  H.  Gerlich,  father  of  John  G.  Gerlich, 
was  born  October  3,  1834,  in  the  City  of  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  received 
his  education.  In  1869  he  moved  to  Minnesota  and 
settled  on  a farm  in  Blue  Earth  County,  buying  640 
acres  from  the  United  States  Government.  Through 
many  years  of  hard  and  industrious  labor  he  accumu- 
lated a competency,  and  when  he  retired  from 
active  pursuits  divided  a large  estate  among  his 
children.  He  was  a republican  in  his  political  views, 
and  took  a keen  and  active  interest  in  the  success 
of  his  party,  although  he  never  consented  to  hold 
office,  preferring  to  devote  himself  to  his  labors  as 
an  agriculturist.  He  was  fraternally  connected  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which 
order  he  passed  through  the  chairs.  When  he  retired 
from  active  life  he  removed  to  Portland,  Oregon, 
and  there  his  last  years  were  spent,  he  passing  away 
there  January  1,  1912.  Mr.  Gerlich  married  Miss 
Catherine  Haag,  who  was  born  at  Lair,  Baden,  Ger- 
many, December  5,  1836,  and  she  died  in  June,  1905, 
having  been  the  mother  of  six  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living:  Mrs.  George  E.  Hoerr,  the  wife 

of  a well-known  lumberman  of  Lebanon,  Oregon ; 
John  G.,  of  this  review;  Clara,  who  became  the  wife 
of  John  M.  Edwards,  M.  D.,  a practicing  physician 
of  Portland,  Oregon;  and  Henry,  who  is  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  that  city. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerlich  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  the  faith  of  which  the 
children  were  reared. 

John  G.  Gerlich  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father’s 
farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the  graded 
schools  of  Mankato,  this  being  supplemented  by  two 
years  in  the  Mankato  High  School.  He  then  laid 
aside  his  studies  to  turn  his  whole  attention  to 
farming,  and  in  this  he  has  continued  to  be  engaged 
to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Gerlich  is  now  the  owner 
of  214  acres  of  finely  cultivated  land,  located  not  far 
from  Mankato,  and  in  addition  to  general  farming 


he  has  devoted  a good  deal  of  attention  to  the  breed- 
ing of  thoroughbred  Poland-China  hogs  and  pure 
Holstein  cattle  with  such  success  that  in  1914  he 
had  the  grand  champion  son  of  the  state,  receiving 
first  prize  at  the  State  Fair,  in  addition  to  numerous 
other  premiums.  He  has  a fine  set  of  buildings,  with 
every  modern  appliance  and  equipment  known  to 
twentieth  century  farming,  and  his  farm  clearly  evi- 
dences the  presence  of  farming  ability  and  good 
business  management. 

Politically  a republican,  Mr  Gerlich  has  long 
taken  an  active  part  in  city  and  county  politics, 
and  is  an  acknowledged  leader  in  his  section  of 
the  state.  From  the  time  he  reached  his  majority 
he  has  labored  faithfully  in  behalf  of  his  party’s 
interests,  and  his  reward  has  come  from  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  the  form  of  a number  of  important  offices. 
For  several  years  he  has  been  serving  in  the  capacity 
of  city  commissioner  of  Mankato,  and  in  November, 
1914,  he  was  sent  as  representative  to  the  State 
Legislature,  where  he  has  since  become  known  as 
a working  member.  He  is  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  transportation,  and  a member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  banks  and  banking,  corporations,  other 
than  municipal  elections,  and  tax  and  tax  laws.  He 
has  worked  faithfully  for  his  constituents  and  has 
been  able  to  secure  for  his  community  some  very 
helpful  legislation.  Mr.  Gerlich  has  always  been  a 
stirring  “booster”  for  Mankato  and  its  many  activi- 
ties and  industries,  and  has  been  particularly  active 
in  promoting  its  fairs  and  fair  associations.  He  is 
widely  known  in  fraternal  circles,  having  been  a 
member  of  Schiller  Lodge,  No.  29,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  for  the  past  twenty-two 
years,  and  also  holding  membership  in  Lodge  No. 
225,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  in 
which  he  is  chairman  of  the  house  committee;  and 
to  Lodge  No.  12,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  No.  7,  R.  A.  M. ; Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T. ; 
and  Zurah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  He  is  secre- 
tary of  his  Blue  Lodge.  In  all  these  orders  Mr. 
Gerlich  has  numerous  friends,  as  he  has,  indeed, 
in  every  walk  of  life. 

Mr.  Gerlich  was  married  April  8,  1896,  to  Miss 
Tillie  Hoerr,  also  a native  of  Blue  Earth  County, 
and  a daughter  of  George  P.  Hoerr,  who  came  to 
this  region  in  1853  and  engaged  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness, becoming  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  land. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerlich  there  has  been  born  one 
daughter : Marie  Elizabeth',  born  July  18,  1901, 

who  is  now  attending  the  public  schools  of  Man- 
kato. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerlich  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  have  supported  the  vari- 
ous movements  of  the  church  at  Mankato. 

Henry  Robel,  Sr.  A representative  of  one  of  the 
honored  pioneer  families  of  Southern  Minnesota 
Mr.  Robel  has  been  a resident  of  this  state  from 
the  time  of  his  nativity  and  is  today  known  as  one 
of  the  most  progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens 
of  the  thriving  City  of  North  Mankato,  Nicollet 
County,  his  vocation  being  that  of  traveling  com- 
mercial salesman.  He  was  born  at  Mankato,  Blue 
Earth  County,  in  the  year  i860,  and  is  a son  of 
Gottfried  Robel,  who  was  born  in  Prussia  in  1820, 
and  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  about  1854,  when 
he  immigrated  to  America  and  numbered  himself 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  present  Blue  Earth 
County,  Minnesota,  where  he  obtained  a tract  of 
Government  land  and  became  one  of  the  prosperous 
agriculturists  of  this  part  of  the  state.  In  the  early 


1756 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


days  he  did  also  a successful  business  in  the  burning 
of  charcoal  and  he  was  one  of  the  honored  and 
influential  citizens  of  Blue  Earth  County  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1880.  His  political  allegiance 
was  given  to  the  democratic  party,  he  was  affiliated 
with  the  leading  German  social  organization  of  Man- 
kato, and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  earnest  com- 
municants of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mrs.  Robel, 
who  was  born  in  France,  in  1826,  was  married  to 
Gottfried  Robel  shortly  after  she  came  to  Mankato, 
about  the  year  1855,  and  she  long  survived  her  hus- 
band, her  death  having  occurred  in  1911.  Of  their 
eight  children  five  are  living,  and  of  the  number  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest,  all  of  the  others 
being  married  and  having  children  and  all  being 
well  established  in  life,  namely:  Mrs.  Frances  Son- 
tag,  Leon,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Heckel,  and  Gottfried,  Jr. 

Reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of  the  home  farm 
and  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  pioneer  schools, 
Henry  Robel,  Sr.,  waxed  strong  in  mind  and  body 
and  after  severing  his  association  with  agricultural 
pursuits  he  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness. Later  he  became  a traveling  salesman  for  one 
of  the  representative  wholesale  houses  of  Minnesota 
and  in  this  capacity  he  has  continued  to  be  em- 
ployed as  one  of  the  resourceful  and  successful  com- 
mercial men  of  the  West.  During  his  many  years 
of  residence  in  North  Mankato,  Mr.  Robel  has  been 
prominent  and  influential  in  political  and  general 
public  affairs,  and  he  has  been  zealous  and  inde- 
fatigable in  the  furtherance  of  enterprises  and  meas- 
ures advanced  for  the  general  good  of  the  com- 
munity, notably  in  connection  with  the  promotion 
and  building  of  the  admirable  dike  which  protects 
North  Mankato  from  the  annual  overflow  of  the 
river,  this  improvement  having  been  made  at  a cost 
of  $6,000.  Mr.  Robel  is  known  as  the  father  of  the 
waterworks  system  of  North  Mankato,  and  .it  was 
principally  due  to  his  suggestions  and  influence  that 
the  water  storage  tank  was  constructed  on  a neigh- 
boring hill,  at  such  elevation  as  to  afford  ample 
gravity  pressure  without  recourse  to  the  stand-pipe 
system,  the  advocates  of  which  waged  a vigorous 
fight.  He  is  chairman  of  the  bridge  committee  of 
the  North  Mankato  Commercial  Club,  and  this  com- 
mittee and  the  club  have  put  forth  successful  efforts 
which  are  destined  to  result  in  the  construction  of  a 
new  bridge  for  the  city  within  the  year  1915,  at  an 
expenditure  of  about  $80,000.  Mr.  Robel’s  son  and 
namesake,  Henry,  Jr.,  is  known  as  a young  man  of 
remarkable  mechanical  and  mathematical  ability  and 
is  frequently  called  upon  to  formulate  estimates  on 
important  public  improvements,  including  bridge 
proj  ects. 

In  politics  Mr.  Robel  accords  ' stanch  allegiance 
to  the  republican  party,  he  and  his  wife  are  com- 
municants of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  prominent  representatives  in  Minnesota  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  for  which  he  has 
organized  eighteen  courts  in  this  state. 

In  the  year  1881  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Robel  to  Miss  Caroline  Ulman,  who  was  born 
in  Mankato,  in  1859,  and  whose  father,  Mathias 
Ulman,  was  one  of  the  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the  state,  he  having 
owned  and  conducted  the  first  hotel  in  the  City  of 
Mankato.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robel  became  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  namely: 
Henry,  Jr.,  who  resides  in  North  Mankato,  married 
Miss  Lucille  Velson;  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Judge 
Phynat,  of  North  Mankato,  and  they  have  one  child; 
Annie  is  the  wife  of  Doctor  Chaplin,  and  they  reside 


at  Orange,  California ; Leo  wedded  Miss  Ruby 
Estrand  and  they  reside  at  Canton,  South  Dakota; 
and  Florence,  who  remains  at  the  parental  home, 
is  a student  in  the  high  school. 

Henry  Wetzel.  Probate  judge  of  LeSueur 
County,  Henry  Wetzel  has  spent  all  his  life  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known 
by  the  people  of  his  home  county,  where  he  has 
been  a farmer,  business  man,  and  in  his  present 
office  has  given  a most  capable  administration  of  its 
affairs. 

Henry  Wetzel  was  born  on  a farm  in  LeSueur 
County,  Minnesota,  June  27,  1869.  His  father  is 
Joseph  Wetzel,  who  was  . born  in  Germany  in  1833 
and  is  now  living  at  Waterville  in  LeSueur  County 
at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-two.  He  came  to 
America  and  located  in  Illinois  in  1852,  was  married 
in  that  state,  and  in  1862  became  one  of  the  early 
settlers  in  LeSueur  County.  By  trade  he  was  a 
cooper,  but  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer  in  LeSueur  County.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  while  his  wife  is  a Lutheran, 
and  in  politics  he  is  a republican. 

Judge  Wetzel,  the  sixth  in  a family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, grew  up  in  the  country  districts  of  LeSueur 
County,  attended  the  local  schools,  and  was  an  active 
farmer  until  the  age  of  thirty-seven.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  at  LeSueur  Center  for  one 
year,  returned  to  the  farm  for  four  years,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1910  the  peoole  of  the  county  gave  him 
the  special  honor  of  election  to  the  office  of  probate 
judge.  He  has  since  been  regularly  re-elected,  and 
now  gives  all  his  time  to  the  duties  of  his  office. 

On  October  22,  1907,  Judge  Wetzel  married  Ethel 
F.  Whipps,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Frances  (Katley) 
Whipps.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ohio  and  her 
mother  in  Iowa,  and  they  came  to  Minnesota  in 
1880.  Mrs.  Wetzel  was  born  at  LeSueur  Center  in 
1882.  To  their  union  has  been  born  one  son,  Louis 
Henry  Wetzel,  now  two  and  a half  years  of  age. 
Mrs.  Wetzel  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
Judge  Wetzel  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs. 

Martin  J.  O’Malley.  A citizen  of  Ramsey 
County  with  a host  of  friends  and  qualified  by  a 
long  experience  in  general  business  management  and 
accountancy,  Martin  J.  O’Malley  was  well  chosen 
for  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  and  since  the 
beginning  of  1915  has  given  a capable  and  thoroughly 
methodical  administration  of  his  official  duties  in  the 
St.  Paul  courthouse. 

Martin  J.  O’Malley  was  born  at  Mackinaw, 
Alichigan,  February  15,  1878,  a son  of  Anthony  and 
Elizabeth  (McDonald)  O’Malley.  The  parents  were 
born  in  the  City  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  where 
the  father  had  his  early  experience  in  the  wholesale 
fish  business,  moved  from  there  to  Michigan,  and 
later  to  Chicago,  where  he  established  himself  in 
the  fish  business.  He  died  soon  afterwards,  leaving 
his  son  Martin  J.  O’Malley  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  now  resides 
with  her  son  Mr.  O’Malley  in  St.  Paul. 

Martin  J.  O’Malley  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Chicago,  and  at  an  early 
age  left  school  to  take  up  the  practical  work  of 
life.  After  a course  in  a commercial  college,  he 
found  employment  as  a bookkeeper  with  the  Morris 
Packing  Company,  and  for  ten  years  was  with  that 
firm  of  meat  packers,  and  for  about  twelve  months 
was  with  Armour  & Company.  While  these  com- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1757 


panies  employ  thousands  of  men,  promotion  and 
advancement  are  almost  invariably  bestowed  upon 
efficiency  and  industry,  and  Mr.  O’Malley’s  long  and 
faithful  service  in  the  general  offices  finally  brought 
him  promotion  to  the  position  of  manager  of  the 
Armour  & Company’s  branch  house  at  Oskaloosa, 
Iowa.  He  was  also  for  a time  traffic  manager  for 
the  St.  Paul  Foundry  Company. 

In  1914  Mr.  O’Malley  was  the  nominee  at  the 
primaries  for  treasurer  of  Ramsey  County,  and  in 
the  general  election  of  November  contested  the 
place  with  two  opposing  candidates  and  was  elected 
by  a substantial  plurality  on  the  non-partisan  ticket. 
He  assumed  the  duties  of  his  office  January  4,  1915. 

Mr.  O’Malley  was  married  in  1903  to  Mary 
Sebastian  of  St.  Paul,  where  she  was  born  and 
reared  and  educated. 

Frank  C.  Irwin.  In  the  history  of  that  section 
of  Scott  County  of  which  Belle  Plaine  is  the  com- 
mercial center,  the  names  of  the  most  prominent 
early  families  are  those  of  Irwin  and  Chatfield.  One 
member  of  the  family  is  named  above,  Frank  C. 
Irwin,  who  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
white  child  born  in  the  Village  of  Belle  Plaine,  and 
for  nearly  thirty  years  one  of  the  leading  members 
of  the  bar.  On  Main  Street  of  that  village  there 
still  stands  what  is  known  as  the  oldest  structure 
in  the  village,  a landmark  of  early  days,  the  old 
Chatfield  home,  which  belonged  to  Mr.  Irwin's 
maternal  grandfather,  Judge  Andrew  G.  Chatfield. 

To  speak  of  the  family  relationship  more  in 
detail,  Frank  C.  Irwin  was  born  at  Belle  Plaine, 
April  15,  1857,  when  Minnesota  was  still  a territory. 
His  parents  were  Robert  A.  and  Celia  C.  (Chatfield) 
Irwin.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  Alexander  J. 
Irwin,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Northern 
Wisconsin,  having  located  about  the  shores  of 
Green  Bay  in  1810.  He  was  one  of  the  early  fur 
traders  and  was  at  one  time  associated  with  General 
Sibley.  In  the  very  early  days  when  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota  were  both  territories  he  served  as  the 
United  States  marshal  with  jurisdiction  over  por- 
tions of  both  the  present  states. 

The  maternal  grandfather,  Andrew  G.  Chatfield, 
was  born  January  27,  1810,  in  Otsego  County,  New 
York,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1837,  and  soon 
afterwards  located  in  Kenosha,  Wisconsin.  In  1853 
he  was  appointed  territorial  judge  for  the  Territory 
of  Minnesota,  and  at  that  time  removed  to  Mendota, 
where  he  lived  in  the  stone  house  next  to  the 
General  Sibley  home.  In  the  exercise  of  his  duties 
as  territorial  judge  he  finally  removed  to  Belle 
Plaine,  and  was  the  first  settler  of  that  village.  In 
1870  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  newly  created 
Eighth  Judicial  District,  and  in  that  capacity  held 
the  first  courts  in  Scott,  Sibley,  Carver,  LeSueur, 
Nicollet,  Blue  Earth,  Wright,  Dakota,  Hennepin  and 
Winona  counties.  In  June,  1836,  Judge  Chatfield 
married  Eunice  E.  Beeman,  who  came  with  her  hus- 
band to  Belle  Plaine  in  1854.  Judge  Chatfield  died 
in  1875,  and  for  almost  twenty  years  Mrs.  Chatfield 
held  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Belle  Plaine.  She 
died  in  October,  1902. 

Robert  A.  Irwin,  father  of  Frank  C.,  was  born 
in  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin,  February  14,  1833,  and 
died  October  17,  1891.  His  wife  was  born  in  Addi- 
son, New  York,  in  July,  1837,  and  died  January  19, 
1915.  Theirs  was  the  first  marriage  celebrated  in 


the  Village  of  Belle  Plaine.  Robert  Irwin  moved  to 
Belle  Plaine  on  May  5,  1855.  In  Wisconsin  he  had 
attended  common  schools  and  had  read  law  under 
the  direction  of  his  father-in-law,  Judge  Chatfield, 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1864,  and  thereafter 
following  his  profession.  He  served  as  clerk  of 
court  of  Scott  County  from  1861  to  1863,  and  for 
a short  time  was  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
Civil  war,  but  was  discharged  on  account  of  illness. 
As  a lawyer  he  always  enjoyed  a substantial  practice 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a partner  of  his. 
son  Frank.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a democrat. 
Of  the  eight  children,  five  are  now  living:  Frank; 

Andrew  G.,  a farmer  and  engaged  in  conducting 
a summer  resort  in  Hubbard  County;  Charles  W., 
who  runs  a restaurant ; Alex  J.,  who  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Belle  Plaine  and  read  law 
with  his  brother  Frank,  being  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1907  and  since  engaged  in  practice  with  his  older 
brother;  Elvira  F.,  wife  of  William  Martin,  a St. 
Paul  real  estate  man. 

Frank  C.  Irwin  received  his  early  training  in  the 
Belle  Plaine  schools,  and  spent  one  year  in  school 
at  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin.  He  took  up  the  study 
of  law  under  his  father,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  April,  1S86.  In  1892  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  in  the  District 
Federal  Court  in  1900,  and  in  the  United  States 
Court  of  Appeals  in  1903. 

In  October,  1878,  Mr.  Irwin  married  Elizabeth  C. 
Bay,  who  was  born  in  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania, 
May  26,  1855.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born 
two  children.  Francis  C.,  who  finished  the  course 
in  the  Belle  Plaine  High  School  and  the  Mankato 
Normal,  is  now  teaching  in  the  country  school  of 
Scott  County.  Harry  A.,  born  September  27,  1887, 
is  a graduate  of  the  local  high  school,  finished  his 
law  course  in  the  University  of  Minnesota  in  1910, 
with  post-graduate  studies  during  1911,  and  is  now 
located  in  St.  Paul  as  an  editorial  writer  for  the 
Lawyers’  Co-operative  Publishing  Company. 

Mr.  Irwin  and  wife  are  both  active  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  and  for  a number  of  years 
he  served  as  warden.  For  three  years  he  was  head 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters  in  Minnesota, 
and  is  now  attorney  for  that  order.  Politically  his 
actions  have  been  in  line  with  the  democratic  party, 
and  for  thirteen  years  he  served  as  mayor  of  Belle 
Plaine,  and  out  of  seventeen  years’  service  on  the 
school  board  was  president  eight  years.  A large 
clientage  have  entrusted  their  legal  business  to  his 
charge,  and  at  this  writing  he  has  twenty  cases  set 
for  the  present  term  of  court. 

Hans  M.  Orfield.  The  Scandinavian  element  in 
the  great  Northwest  has  contributed  much  to  a pro- 
gressive and  uplifting  civilization,  and  from  this 
source  the  American  republic  has  had  much  to  gain 
and  nothing  to  lose.  Great  have  been  the  gifts  of 
the  sons  of  the  Norseland  to  Minnesota  and  great 
should  be  the  appreciation  on  the  part  of  this  favored 
commonwealth.  Prominent  among  those  of  Scandi- 
navian birth  or  extraction  who  have  not  only  achieved 
distinctive  success  in  connection  with  the  civic  and 
industrial  activities  of  Minnesota  stands  Hans  Mar- 
tin Orfield,  whose  fine  initiative  power,  ambitious 
purpose  and  progressive  policies  have  made  him  one 
of  the  influential  representatives  of  the  real  estate 
business  in  the  Minnesota  metropolis  and  also  promi- 
nent in  public  affairs.  He  has  aided  materially  in 
forwarding  the  sturdy  march  of  progress  in  this 


1758 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


state  and  in  the  handling  of  Minnesota  lands  his 
operations  have  been  extensive  and  fruitful,  with 
admirable  results  in  bringing  about  industrial  de- 
velopment and  general  civic  advancement.  Mr. 
Orfield’s  family  name  was  Olson,  from  which  it 
was  changed  to  the  present  form  in  the  spring  of 
1914,  as  indicated  in  the  following  quotation,  taken 
from  a Minneapolis  paper: 

“During  the  last  few  years  it  has  become  a very 
common  practice  among  Scandinavians  to  adopt  the 
‘gaardsnavn’  or  name  of  the  farm  or  place  from 
which  the  family  originally  hailed.  These  changes 
are  very  frequent  in  Christiania,  and  in  Denmark  a 
national  law  has  been  passed  which  will  abolish 
most  of  the  names  ending  in  ‘son’  or  ‘sen.’  H.  M. 
Olson  and  D.  J.  Olson,  who  have  been  known  here 
in  real  estate  circles  for  a number  of  years,  have 
just  received  an  order  from  the  District  Court 
authorizing  the  changing  of  their  name  to  Orfield, 
a name  adopted  from  the  place  in  Norway  where 
they  were  born.  Their  brother,  Dr.  M.  N.  Olson,  an 
instructor  of  the  State  University,  and  their  father, 
Lars  J.  Olson,  also  made  the  change  at  the  same 
time.  There  still  remain  4,000  Olsons  in  Min- 
neapolis.” 

Hans  Martin  Orfield  (Olson)  was  born  in  North- 
ern Norway,  within  a short  range  of  the  Arctic 
Circle,  on  the  4th  of  October,  1875,  and  is  a son  of 
Lars  J.  Orfield.  He  was  seven  yeats  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  family  immigration  to  America  and  his 
parents  now  reside  in  Minneapolis,  where  his  father 
is  living  retired,  after  having  gained  independence 
and  prosperity  through  his  well  ordered  endeavors 
as  a farmer  in  Minnesota.  There  are  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  are  residents  of  this  state,  and  the 
subject  of  this  review  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 
Qf  the  sons  it  may  be  noted  that  Dr.  M.  N.  Orfield 
is  a teacher  of  political  science  in  the  University  of 
Minnesota  and  that  D.  J.,  who  was  graduated  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota  and  devoted  a number  of 
years  to  teaching  in  the  public  schools,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  in  Minneapolis.  Nels 
E.,  the  youngest  son,  remains  at  the  parental  home. 
Of  the  daughters,  Lydia  A.,  who  has  been  a success- 
ful and  popular  teacher,  was  graduated  in  one  of 
the  state  normal  schools  of  Minnesota ; and  another 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Henry  J.  Rice,  of  Benson,  Swift 
County. 

The  district  schools  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old 
homestead  farm  afforded  Hans  M.  Orfield  his  early 
educational  privileges,  and  in  1900  he  was  graduated 
in  the  Minnesota  State  Normal  School  at.  Mankato. 
He  then  entered  the  academic  department  of  the 
University  of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  1903  and  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  thereafter  com- 
pleted the  prescribed  curriculum  in  the  law  depart- 
ment of  his  alma  mater,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1905,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  a 
subsequent  post-graduate  course  giving  to  him  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Laws.  Mr.  Orfield  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  on  the  21st  of  February,  1905,  and 
while  well  fortified  for  the  practice  of  law,  he  has 
found  it  expedient  to  divert  his  attention  into  other 
fields  and  has  achieved  pronounced  success  and 
prestige  as  an  enterprising  and  reliable  representa- 
tive of  the  real  estate  business.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Minneapolis  Real  Estate  Board  and  has  given 
special  attention  to  the  handling  of  fine  tracts  of 
unimproved  prairie  land  in  Roseau,  Kittson  and 
Marshall  counties.  On  his  books  are  represented 
at  all  times  the  most  desirable  of  investments  in 


Minnesota  farm  lands  of  the  best  order,  and  every 
transaction  made  through  his  agency  is  certain  to  be 
fair  and  honorable,  all  titles  being  guaranteed  and 
easy  terms  offered  to  those  who  wish  to  develop  land 
and  make  for  themselves  desirable  homes.  Mr. 
Orfield  has  authoritative  knowledge  of  land  values, 
both  through  extensive  travel  and  observation 
through  the  Northwest,  and  practical  experience  in 
farming.  He  has  sold  land  in  thirty-three  counties 
in  Minnesota  and  is  familiar  with  the  resources  and 
advantages  of  the  different  sections  of  the  state. 

In  completing  his  courses  in  the  university,  Mr. 
Orfield  depended  upon  his  own  resources  in  defray- 
ing his  expenses  of  all  kinds,  and  his  law  course 
was  taken  in  the  night  classes,  while  he  devoted  the 
days  to  the  handling  of  real  estate.  He  has  never 
abated  his  ambition  to  engage  in  the  active  practice 
of  law,  and  while  he  still  continues  to  give  close 
attention  to  his  extensive  real  estate  business,  he 
has  recently,  in  1914,  become  associated  with  his 
brother,  Dr.  M.  N.  Orfield,  in  establishing  a law 
office  in  Minneapolis,  under  the  firm  name  of  Or- 
field & Orfield,  Doctor  Orfield  having  been  graduated 
in  the  law  department  of  the  State  University  in 
June,  1914.  Since  1912  Mr.  Orfield  has  also  con- 
ducted a successful  general  merchandise  business  in 
a fine  rural  section  near  Irving,  Kandiyohi  County, 
the  store  being  under  the  active  management  of 
Charles  Sorbye. 

In  politics  Mr.  Orfield  is  a stalwart  advocate  of 
the  principles  of  the  republican  party  and  he  has 
been  an  active  worker  in  behalf  of  its  cause.  In 
1910  he  was  republican  candidate  for  the  State  Sen- 
ate, but  was  defeated,  and  in  the  election  of  Novem- 
ber, 1914,  he  appeared  as  candidate  for  representa- 
tive of  the  Thirty-third  District,  comprising  the 
Seventh  and  Thirteenth  wards  of  Minneapolis,  in 
the  lower  house  of  the  Legislature.  Mr.  Orfield  is 
affiliated  with  Anchor  Lodge,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows ; Hennepin  Council,  Royal  Arcanum ; 
the  Sons  of  Norway;  and  the  Odin  Club.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Minneapolis  Bar  Association  and 
the  Minnesota  State  Bar  Association,  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Saturday  Lunch  Club  and  of  the  Thu- 
lanian  Club  of  the  University  of  Minnesota. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1911,  Mr.  Orfield  wedded  Miss 
Alice  Paulson,  who  likewise  was  afforded  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  her  home 
prior  to  her  marriage  having  been  at  Cottonwood, 
Lyon  County.  She  is  a daughter  of  Ole  Paulson, 
who  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the 
City  of  Chicago  prior  to  his  removal  to  Minnesota, 
where  he  became  a successful  farmer  and  where 
both  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orfield  have  two  children,  Alice 
Virginia  and  Horace  Maxwell. 

Josiah  Leavitt.  For  a little  more  than  thirty 
years,  until  his  death  at  Minneapolis,  January  4, 
1895,  Josiah  Leavitt  was  one  of  the  principal  figures 
in  the  lumber  and  logging  industry,  associated  with 
his  son,  Rensselaer  C.,  and  with  his  son-in-law, 
Augustus  E.  Horr,  and  with  other  notable  pioneer 
lumbermen,  including  the  Pillsburys,  Chases,  the 
Havens  and  others. 

Josiah  Leavitt  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine  in 
1808  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  eighty-seven 
years  of  age.  He  grew  up  in  the  Pine  Tree  State, 
and  when  he  came  to  the  Northwest  as  a pioneer 
brought  with  him  long  and  successful  experience  as 
a Maine  lumberman.  He  was  married  in  1831  to 
Miss  Sallie  Hill  of  Waterboro,  Maine,  and  soon 
afterwards  began  his  active  operations  as  a logger 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1759' 


and  lumberman.  His  business  operations  in  that 
field  were  continued  for  over  thirty  years. 

In  1864  Josiah  Leavitt  came  to  St.  Anthony,  Min- 
nesota, to  visit  his  son,  R.  C.  Leavitt,  and  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Augustus  E.  Horr,  who  had  located 
here  about  a year  before.  So  impressed  was  the  vet- 
eran lumberman  with  St.  Anthony  that  he  soon  re- 
turned East,  wound  up  his  business  affairs  there,  and 
in  1865  began  a residence  and  business  activity  in 
Minneapolis  which  were  only  terminated  by  his 
death.  In  connection  with  his  son  and  Mr.  Augustus 
E.  Horr  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  and 
bought  the  sawmill  of  Todd  & Haven.  Jonathan 
Chase  was  soon  admitted  to  the  firm,  which  went 
under  the  name  of  Leavitt,  Chase  & Company.  In 
1876  this  partnership  was  dissolved  and  a new  firm 
known  as  Chase,  Pillsbury  & Company  was  formed, 
with  Mr.  Leavitt,  his  son  and  son-in-law,  as  partners. 
Three  years  later  was  organized  the  still  larger  cor- 
poration, the  Gull  River  Lumber  Company,  in  which 
Josiah  Leavitt  had  a holding  interest  until  his  death. 

Mrs.  Leavitt  died  in  1877  and  his  remaining  years 
were  spent  with  his  children  and  grandchildren.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  there  was  a great-grandchild, 
a son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  W.  Backus,  four  years  of 
age.  Josiah  Leavitt,  though  more  than  ordinarily 
successful  as  a business  man,  was  devoted  to  his 
home,  and  was  proud  of  his  children  and  particularly 
of  his  little  great-grandson.  Almost  until  the  last  he 
retained  the  vigor  of  mind  and  body  which  had  been 
his  chief  asset  in  the  successful  accomplishments  of 
his  business  career.  His  is  one  of  the  names  that  will 
always  deserve  recognition  among  the  pioneer  busi- 
ness men  of  Minnesota. 

Rensselaer  C.  Leavitt.  In  the  death  of  Rens- 
selaer C.  Leavitt,  which  occurred  at  San  Diego, 
California,  December  3,  1897,  while  spending  the 
winter  in  that  city  for  his  health,  there  passed  away 
one  of  the  men  whose  work  and  influence  had  been 
most  conspicuous  in  the  development  of  the  early  and 
later  fortunes  of  Minneapolis  and  the  Northwest.  He 
was  a pioneer  lumberman,  a man  with  whom  hard 
work  was  a native  characteristic,  was  an  excellent 
manager  of  men,  a keen  and  resourceful  business 
man  and  faithful  and  efficient  in  the  performance 
of  his  civic  responsibilities.  Years  before  his  death 
he  had  worked  his  business  activities  into  the  perma- 
nent structure  of  Minneapolis  commerce,  and  while 
the  material  resources  of  his  career  are  likely  to 
endure  for  many  years,  he  left  an  even  greater 
fortune  in  the  memory  of  his  sterling  character,  and 
a name  of  unimpeachable  integrity. 

Rensselaer  C.  Leavitt  was  born  at  Naples,  Maine, 
May  5,  1835,  and  was  one  of  a number  of  notable 
figures,  possessed  of  the  rugged  virtues  and  business 
efficiency  associated  with  their  native  state  who  sub- 
sequently filled  a prominent  part  in  the  development 
of  the  Northwest,  particularly  in  the  lumber  fields. 
In  his  native  state  he  spent  his  young  manhood, 
farming  and  lumbering  with  his  father,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six  moved  to  Boston  and  for  two 
years  was  engaged  in  the  ice  and  fish  business.  Mr. 
Leavitt  came  to  St.  Anthony  in  1863,  and  Minneapolis 
was  his  home  and  business  headquarters  until  his 
death. 

From  1863  until  1875  he  was  engaged  in  the  buy- 
ing and  selling  of  pine  lands  and  logging  operations 
as  head  of  the  firm  of  Leavitt,  Horr  & Company, 
the  members  of  which  were  his  father  (Josiah 
Leavitt),  Augustus  E.  Horr  and  himself.  In  1875  Mr. 


Leavitt  former  a partnership  with  his  father, 
Augustus  E.  Horr,  S.  D.  Todd,  C.  D.  Haven  and 
John  Chase  under  t)ie  firm  name  of  Todd,  Haven, 
Leavitt  & Company.  This  firm  operated  a sawmill 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river  at  the  falls  until  1879. 
In  1879  was  organized  one  of  the  foremost  lumber 
companies  of  the  Northwest,  the  Gull  River  Lum- 
ber Company,  the  chief  organizers  of  which  were 
Mr.  Augustus  Horr.  Mr.  Chase,  R.  C.  Leavitt  and 
George  A.,  John  S.  and  C.  A.  Pillsbury.  Mr. 
Leavitt  was  secretary  of  this  organization  until  his 
death.  In  1894  he  became  one  of  the  incorporators 
of  E.  W.  Backus  Lumber  Company,  which  is  now 
the  Backus-Brooks  Company,  and  remained  one  of 
the  largest  stockholders  and  vice  president  of  the 
company  until  his  death.  He  was  also  president  of 
the  Sylvan  Lake  Live  Stock  Company.  To  anyone 
at  all  familiar  with  the  lumber  manufacturing  in- 
dustry of  Minnesota  and  the  Northwest  during  the 
past  thirty  or  forty  years,  this  mere  mention  of 
Mr.  Leavitt’s  business  connection  is  sufficient  to  in- 
dicate his  high  standing  as  a business  and  industrial 
leader. 

Mr.  Leavitt’s  widow,  Annette  E.  Leavitt,  survived 
her  husband  and  made  her  home  at  the  old  Leavitt 
homestead,  425  Fourth  Street,  S.  E.,  with  Mrs. 
Augustus  E.  Horr,  until  her  death,  December  27, 
1914.  They  had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy,  but 
always  showed  a parental  affection  and  regard  for 
the  children  of  Mr.  Leavitt’s  sister,  Mrs.  Augustus 
E.  Horr,  the  wife  of  his  lifetime  friend  and  associate 
in  business.  These  two  children  are  Mrs.  E.  W. 
Backus  and  Rensselaer  L.  Horr,  both  of  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Leavitt  was  a prominent  Mason.  During  his 
long  residence  in  Minneapolis  he  exercised  a faculty 
almost  as  prominent  as  his  ability  in  business  in  the 
making  of  friendships,  and  was  a man  of  many  asso- 
ciations with  Minneapolis’  leading  men  and  was  a 
well  known  figure  throughout  the  Northwest.  All 
who  knew  him  recognized  his  true  gentlehood  and 
honorable  character  in  business  as  in  social  affairs. 
His  life  was  lived  without  reproach  and  his  record 
is  one  that  affords  inspiration  and  encouragement 
because  his  achievements  were  never  associated  with 
anything  but  the  most  blameless  integrity. 

Augustus  E.  Horr.  The  late  Augustus  E.  Horr 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  leaders  in  the  lumber  and 
logging  industry  in  Minnesota,  coming  to  St.  An- 
thony in  1865,  immediately  after  the  close  of  the  Civil 
war.  He  was  a member  of  the  old  lumbering  firm  of 
Leavitt,  Horr  & Company  until  1878,  when  an  asso- 
ciation with  J.  S.  Pillsbury  and  others  was  formed 
under  the  name  of  the  Gull  River  Lumber  Company, 
Mr.  Horr  serving  as  its  treasurer. 

He  also  became  interested  with  his  son-in-law, 
Mr.  E.  W.  Backus,  in  what  is  now  the  Backus-Brooks 
Company,  lumber  manufacturers  and  merchants  of 
Minneapolis.  Mr.  Horr  was  vice  president  of  the 
latter  organization  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Minneapolis  September  15,  1908,  after 
an  illness  of  more  than  two  years.  His  high  ideals, 
simplicity  and  straightforwardness  of  character  in 
his  everyday  life  made  his  name  synonymous  with 
business  integrity  for  nearly  fifty  years  in  Minneapo- 
lis commercial  circles. 

Augustus  E.  Horr  was  born  at  Waterford,  Maine, 
in  1838.  A native  of  the  Pine  Tree  State,  he  pos- 
sessed the  rugged  qualities  of  its  hills  and  forests 
and  came  almost  naturally  into  lumbering  as  a busi- 
ness, and  it  is  a noteworthy  fact  that  many  of  the 


1760 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


ablest  characters  in  not  only  the  lumbering  but  other 
industrial  lines  of  the  Northwest  have  been  from 
Maine  and  adjacent  states  of  New  England. 

In  1861  Augustus  E.  Horr  enlisted  in  Company  G, 
First  Maine  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  saw  active 
service  with  that  regiment,  contracting  while  in  the 
service  a malignant  form  of  measles,  which  left  his 
eyes  in  a very  weak  condition.  However,  immedi- 
ately upon  being  released  from  the  hospital  he  re- 
joined his  regiment,  and  as  a result,  entirely  lost  the 
sight  of  one  eye.  He  was  an  ardent  patriot  and  for 
many  years  was  identified  with  the  Rawlins  Post  No. 
126  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  Minneapo- 
lis. For  many  years  he  was  also  a trustee  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Horr’s  associates  knew  him  to  be  a man  with 
whom  hard  work  was  a native  characteristic,  straight- 
forward in  all  his  dealings,  a keen  and  efficient  busi- 
ness man  of  scrupulous  honesty  whose  word  was  as 
good  as  his  bond  and  the  mere  mention  of  his  name 
in  connection  with  any  business  or  enterprise  was 
sufficient  guaranty  of  its  worthiness. 

Mr.  Horr  is  survived  by  his  widow,  Emily  Leavitt 
Horr,  a daughter  of  Josiah  Leavitt,  and  by  two  chil- 
dren-— a daughter,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Backus,  and  a son, 
Mr.  Renselaer  Leavitt  Horr.  Mrs.  Horr  still  resides 
at  the  old  homestead,  No.  421  Fourth  Street,  S.  E., 
Minneapolis,  and  her  son,  Mr.  Renselaer  L.  Horr, 
resides  at  No.  419  Fourth  Street,  S.  E.,  next  door 
to  the  place  where  he  was  born.  He  has  followed  in 
his  father's  footsteps  in  the  lumber  business  and  is 
one  of  Minneapolis’  progressive  business  men. 

Carl  H.  Finseth.  The  Citizens  State  Bank  of 
Hayfield,  Dodge  County,  is  fortunate  in  having 
gained  the  co-operation  of  so  well  disciplined, 
efficient  and  sterling  an  executive  officer  as  its  pres- 
ent cashier,  Mr.  Finseth,  who  has  been  actively 
identified  with  the  banking  business  since  early 
youth  and  whose  career  has  been  marked  by  con- 
secutive advancement  as  well  as  by  a high  sense  of 
responsibility  and  a clear  conception  of  the  principles 
on  which  all  business  should  be  founded.  He  is  a 
native  of  Minnesota  and  a scion  of  a sterling  pioneer 
family  of  this  state,  where  both  his  paternal  and 
maternal  grandfathers  settled  in  an  early  day,  here 
passing  the  residue  of  their  lives. 

Carl  H.  Finseth  was  born  in  Goodhue  County, 
Minnesota,  on  the  20th  of  November,  1883,  and  is  a 
son  of  A.  K.  and  Karen  (Haugen)  Finseth,  both 
natives  of  Norway,  where  the  former  was  born  in 
1834  and  the  latter  in  1846,  their  marriage  having 
been  solemnized  in  Minnesota,  where  the  respective 
families  settled  upon  their  immigration  from  Nor- 
way. A.  K.  Finseth  was  a young  man  at  the  time 
when  he  came  to  America,  in  company  with  his 
father,  Knut  Finseth,  who  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  Minnesota.  The  son  became  one  of  the 
representative  farmers  and  influential  citizens  of 
Goodhue  County,  where  he  accumulated  a large 
estate  and  finally  became  a prominent  factor  in  local 
banking  operations,  as  president  of  the  Citizens 
State  Bank  of  Kenyon.  He  was  a leader  in  the 
activities  of  the  republican  party  in  his  section  of 
the  state,  and  he  served  two  or  more  terms  as  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate.  He  was  a resident  of 
Kenyon  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
May,  1913,  and  there  his  widow  still  maintains  her 
home,  she  being  a zealous  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  as  was  also  her  honored  husband.  Of  the 
the  eleven  children,  nine  survive  the  father,  and  of 


the  number  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  tenth 
in  order  of  birth. 

Carl  H.  Finseth  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools 
of  Kenyon  for  his  early  educational  discipline,  and 
was  there  graduated  in  the  high  school  as  a member 
of  the  class  of  1903.  Thereafter  he  completed  the 
studies  of  the  sophomore  year  in  Luther  College,  at 
Decorah,  Iowa,  and  he  initiated  his  business  career 
by  assuming  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  of  Nerestrand,  Rice  County, 
Minnesota.  A few  years  later  he  became  cashier  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Lafayette,  Nicollet  County,  an 
incumbency  which  he  retained  three  and  one-half 
years.  He  then  resigned  his  position  to  accept  that 
of  cashier  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  of  Hayfield, 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1914.  He  is  proving  the  right 
man  in  the  right  place  and  is  most  effectively  direct- 
ing the  practical  executive  affairs  of  this  bank,  which 
was  organized  in  1910,  and  which  is  incorporated 
with  a capital  stock  of  $15,000,  its  deposits  now  being 
in  excess  of  $175,000. 

Mr.  Finseth  is  essentially  progressive  and  loyal  as 
a citizen,  but  has  had  no  desire  for  public  office. 
His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  republican 
party,  he  is  a communicant  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  his  wife  holds  membership  in  the  Congregational 
Church. 

In  the  year  1910  Mr.  Finseth  wedded  Miss  Lutitia 
Priscilla  Landers,  daughter  of  Frank  Samuel 
Landers,  of  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  the  one  child  of  this 
union  is  a son,  Frank  Landers  Finseth,  born  in  the 
year  1911. 

Hon.  Sydney  Anderson.  The  career  of  Hon. 
Sydney  Anderson,  congressman  from  the  First  Dis- 
trict of  Minnesota,  has  been  a remarkable  one  in 
many  ways.  Elected  first  to  his  present  office  in 
1900,  as  the  youngest  member  of  this  distinguished 
body,  he  established  such  a record  for  faithful  and 
conscientious  service,  that  in  1914  he  was  re-elected 
by  a majority  of  10,000  votes.  From  boyhood,  when 
he  began  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and  to 
educate  himself  for  the  profession  of  law,  his  labors 
have  been  characterized  by  steady  progress,  and,  still 
in  his  early  ’30s,  he  has  attracted  to  himself  the 
attention  of  statesmen  all  over  the  country  and  a 
reputation  that  is  nation-wide  in  its  scope. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  born  at  Zumbrota,  Goodhue 
County,  Minnesota,  September  17,  1882,  and  is  a son 
of  Charles  B.  and  Anna  Knudsdatter  (Strand) 
Anderson.  His  father  was  born  in  1842,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Gothenburg,  Sweden,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1867,  settling  at  Zumbrota, 
Minnesota,  where  he  served  for  several  years  in  the 
capacity  of  postmaster.  He  is  a harnessmaker  by 
trade,  and  has  been  reasonably  successful  in  a 
financial  way,  and  now  makes  his  home  at  Ocean 
Park,  California.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat,  and 
his  fraternal  connections  are  with  the  Blue  Lodge 
and  Chapter  of  Masonry,  while  his  religious  affilia- 
tion is  with  the  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  Mrs. 
Anderson  was  also  identified.  She  was  born  in  1851, 
in  the  Valley  of  Hallingdal,  Norway,  married  Mr. 
Anderson  in  Minnesota,  and  died  in  1901.  She  was 
a daughter  of  Knut  Strand,  who  died  in  Norway. 
Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson, 
namely : Adolph,  who  is  a mail  carrier  and  resides 

at  Denver,  Colorado ; Herman,  a fruit  farmer  of 
Jeffersonville,  Kentucky;  Dr.  Oscar,  a physician  of 
Ocean  Park,  California;  Leonard,  a linotype  oper- 
ator; Carl,  a clerk  of  Ocean  Park,  California;  and 
Sydney,  of  this  review. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1761 


Reared  by  a father  who  believed  that  the  best 
education  a lad  could  receive  was  to  be  obtained  in 
the  schools  of  hard  work  and  practical  experience, 
Sydney  Anderson  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  began 
to  spend  his  summer  vacations  in  working  on  a farm. 
From  that  time  forward  steady  work  and  study  were 
his  constant  companions.  While  he  was  still  at- 
tending the  high  school  at  Zumbrota,  the  Spanish- 
American  war  broke  out,  and  although  he  was  but 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  secured  his  parents’  consent 
to  his  enlistment  as  a volunteer.  For  some  time  he 
had  been  a member  of  the  local  state  militia,  and 
May  8,  1898,  he  was  made  a non-commissioned 
officer  in  Company  D,  Fourteenth  Regiment,  Min- 
nesota Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  served 
until  November  18th  of  that  year.  While  the  regi- 
ment got  no  further  than  Chickamauga  Park,  and 
did  not  see  active  fighting,  its  members  found  plenty 
to  do  to  occupy  themselves  in  battling  the  enemies 
of  malaria  and  typhoid  fever.  When  he  received 
his  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Anderson  returned  to 
high  school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1899, 
and  at  that  time  decided  to  study  law.  He  was 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and  had  to  depend 
entirely  upon  himself,  but  he  had  carefully  saved 
the  money  he  had  earned  in  farming  and  as  a soldier, 
and  was  able  to  spend  the  winter  of  1899-1900  in 
attending  the  Highland  Park  College,  at  Des  Moines, 
Iowa. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
June  16,  1901,  to  Miss  Florence  Douglas,  whose 
parents  had  originally  come  from  Maine,  but  whose 
widowed  mother  was  at  that  time  living  at  Little 
Falls,  Minnesota.  Immediately  after  his  marriage, 
he  accepted  employment  as  a laborer  in  a sawmill 
at  Little  Falls,  and  with  the  money  earned  that 
summer  entered  the  night  school  at  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  in  December,  1901,  and  during  the  day 
time  worked  in  a minor  capacity  in  a law  office.  In 
June,  1903,  he  took  the  examination  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  for  a few  months  carried  on 
a rather  precarious  practice  at  Minneapolis.  In  the 
same  fall  he  was  offered  and  accepted  a position  with 
a law  firm  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  but  after  a 
winter  there  found  that  the  climate  did  not  agree 
with  his  health,  and  he  accordingly  came  to  Lanes- 
boro.  There  was  much  competition  here  and  it  was 
difficult  for  the  young  legist  to  get  himself  estab- 
lished, but  he  persevered  and  finally  attracted  to 
himself  a professional  business  that  has  since  grown 
to  large  proportions.  During  the  first  several  years 
he  added  to  his  income  by  acting  in  the  capacity  of 
secretary  of  the  Fillmore  County  Business  Men’s 
Association,  continuing  in  that  position  until  1911. 
In  the  meantime,  in  1908,  he  had  made  the  race  for 
county  attorney,  but  lost  after  a bitter  three-cornered 
fight.  In  1910  he  became  the  candidate  of  the 
republican  party  for  Congress  from  the  First  Dis- 
trict against  the  Hon.  J.  A.  Tawney,  who  had  for 
eighteen  years  represented  that  district,  and  as  a 
campaigner  and  public  speaker  swept  this  part  of 
the  state.  At  the  primary  election  in  September  of 
that  year  he  was  nominated  over  Mr.  Tawney  by 
nearly  2,700  votes,  and  at  the  general  election  which 
followed  defeated  his  democratic  opponent  by  3,500 
votes,  taking  his  seat  in  Congress  in  March,  1911. 
There  he  immediately  began  to  show  his  fellow 
members  that  he  had  come  there  to  accomplish 
things.  One  of  his  first  acts  was  the  introduction 
of  a bill  for  the  construction  of  a national  railroad 
in  the  Territory  of  Alaska,  a measure  which  has 
attracted  nation-wide  interest,  and  is  being  en- 


dorsed by  all  who  are  interested  in  developing  the 
immense  and  treasure-filled  American  territory. 

When  Mr.  Anderson  entered  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives it  was  under  exceedingly  difficult  cir- 
cumstances. He  was  its  youngest  and  most  inex- 
perienced member,  followed  a man  who  had  attained 
a position  of  great  power  and  influence,  and  found 
the  House  controlled  by  the  opposite  political  party. 
That  he  was  given  somewhat  unusual  recognition 
is  shown  by  the  fact  that  at  the  beginning  of  his 
second  term  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Ways  and  Means,  which  was  then  about 
to  frame  a revenue  bill.  He  resigned  from  that 
committee  to  emphasize  and  give  point  to  his  objec- 
tions and  protest  against  a system  of  legislation 
which  he  felt  deprived  northern  representatives  of 
any  effective  voice  in  making  the  laws.  Subsequently 
he  was  elected  a member  of  the  Committee  on  Agri- 
culture, a position  for  which  there  are  more  applica- 
tions than  for  any  other,  and  in  that  capacity  was 
of  the  greatest  service  to  the  district  and  state,  both 
of  which  are  predominantly  agricultural.  In  his 
legislative  work  he  studies  each  bill  presented  with 
a view  to  understanding  its  effect  in  operation  and 
its  results  when  its  details  shall  be  applied  to  the 
facts  and  conditions  of  every-day  life  to  which  it  is 
related.  He  has  done  his  own  thinking,  formed  his 
own  conclusions  and  cast  his  own  votes,  yet  he  has 
likewise  taken  every  opportunity  of  ascertaining  the 
views  of  his  constituents  upon  the  general  policies 
to  be  followed,  and  has  not  hesitated  to  inquire  of 
those  whose  business  situation  has  made  them  con- 
versant with  the  facts  as  to  what  effect  the  proposed 
election  would  have  upon  the  people  and  industries 
of  the  district  and  the  state.  His  entire  record  has 
been  one  of  straightforward  and  conscientious  efforts 
to  conserve  the  interests  of  the  people,  and  recog- 
nizing this  fact,  they  have  given  him  their  unswerv- 
ing and  unfaltering  support. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  are  the  parents  of  two 
children:  Sydney  Douglas,  born  July  18,  1905;  and 
Derrice  Ernestine,  born  December  19,  1909.  They 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  An- 
derson is  a well-known  Mason,  and  has  passed 
through  the  chairs  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

Daniel  S.  Prinzing.  Those  employments  or  call- 
ings of  mankind  which  have  to  do  with  the  personal 
rights  and  welfare  of  humanity  are  among  the  most 
highly  regarded  occupations,  and  one  of  these  which 
stands  pre-eminent  is  the  profession  of  law.  Deal- 
ing with  the  property  rights  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
their  personal  freedom,  their  public  responsibility 
relative  to  others,  and  the  ways  and  means  of  con- 
serving our  material  resources,  the  lawyer  must  also 
be  in  touch  with  commercialism,  with  industrial  activ- 
ity and  with  civic  enterprise.  In  this  most  difficult 
of  callings,  Daniel  S.  Prinzing,  of  Rushford,  has  won 
a firmly-established  position  among  the  men  of  Fill- 
more County.  His  success  has  been  a matter  of 
personal  achievement,  as  at  all  times  he  has  relied 
upon  his  own  talents  and  enterprise  for  his  advance- 
ment, and  his  career  may  be  said  to  be  an  exemplifi- 
cation of  the  value  of  the  traits  of  perseverance  and 
industry. 

Mr.  Prinzing  was  born  at  Glassboro,  Gloucester 
County,  New  Jersey,  April  24,  1867,  and  is  a son  of 
Daniel  S.  and  Jeannette  (Espenmiller)  Prinzing, 
natives  of  Germany.  The  father  was  born  in  1836, 
and  after  the  death  of  his  father  in  Germany,  left 
that  country  with  his  mother,  who  later  died  at 
Millersburg,  Rice  County,  Minnesota.  When  the 


1762 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Civil  war  broke  out,  Daniel  S.  Prinzing  was  a resi- 
dent of  New  Jersey,  and  there  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  G,  Fifth  Regiment,  New  Jersey 
Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  served  until  re- 
ceiving a serious  wound  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run. 
Fie  was  taken  to  the  hospital  and  after  his  recovery, 
eight  months  later,  rejoined  his  command,  only  to 
receive  a second  serious  wound  at  the  terrific  en- 
gagement at  Fair  Oaks,  from  which  he  never  fully 
recovered,  his  death  occurring  May  6,  1876.  His 
army  service  covered  a period  of  two  and  one-half 
years,  and  he  established  an  excellent  war  record 
as  a brave  and  faithful  soldier  of  the  Union.  He 
was  a republican  in  his  political  views,  and  his  re- 
ligious faith  was  that  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr. 
Prinzing  was  married  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1866,  to  Miss  Jeannette  Espenmiller,  who  was  born 
in  1837,  and  she  died  in  1892.  Of  their  children,  all 
but  one  are  still  living  and  are  as  follows : Daniel 

S.,  of  this  notice;  Wilhelmina,  who  married  John 
Houston  and  resides  at  Springbrook,  North  Dakota; 
Charles,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  at  Faribault, 
Minnesota;  Dr.  Jacob,  a practicing  physician  of  On- 
tario, Oregon ; and  Mary,  who  married  Mr.  Richard- 
son and  lives  at  Bemidji,  Minnesota. 

The  primary  education  of  Daniel  S.  Prinzing  was 
secured  in  the  public  schools  of  Faribault,  Minnesota, 
to  which  city  he  was  taken  as  a child,  and  subse- 
quently he  attended  the  St.  Paul  schools,  after  leav- 
ing which  he  obtained  employment  as  a mail  clerk 
and  carrier  in  the  latter  city,  occupations  which  he 
followed  for  a period  of  twenty-one  years.  Eventu- 
ally he  turned  his  attention  to  "the  study  of  law,  and 
after  some  preparation  entered  the  St.  Paul  College 
of  Law,  an  institution  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  his  degree  in  1908.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  during  the  same  year  and  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  St.  Paul, 
but  after  two  years  there  moved  to  Preston,  and 
from  the  latter  place  came  to  Rushford,  where  he 
has  since  been  successful  in  building  up  an  excellent 
practice.  At  the  present  time  he  is  serving  as  city 
attorney  of  Rushford,  in  addition  to  which  he  is  a 
member  of  the  library  board  and  board 'of  education 
and  secretary  of  the  Rushford  Commercial  Club. 
His  practice  is  broad  and  general  in  its  character,  he 
has  been  a close  and  assiduous  student,  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  various  organizations  of  his  profession,  in 
which  he  has  gained  a standing  commensurate  with 
his  acknowledged  talents.  Mr.  Prinzing’.s  hobby  is 
the  raising  of  bees,  but  he  has  made  it  something 
more  than  a mere  recreation,  for  he  has  devoted 
much  time  to  the  study  of  the  subject,  has  a large 
library  devoted  to  bee  raising,  and  maintains  a large 
apiary  in  the  City  of  Rushford,  where  he  has  a pleas- 
ant modern  home.  That  he  is  recognized  as  an 
authority  upon  the  subject  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
for  several  years  he  has  held  the  position  of  state 
inspector  of  apiaries. 

Mr.  Prinzing  was  married  in  1898  to  Miss  Lina 
Shillock,  daughter  of  John  C.  Shillock,  a farmer 
of  Mound,  Minnesota,  and  to  this  union  there  have 
been  born  six  children : Gladys  and  Lucille,  who  are 
attending  high  school ; Daniel  S.  and  Mildred  and 
Glenwynne,  who  are  in  the  graded  schools ; and 
Ardis.  Mr.  Prinzing  is  an  interested  and  valued 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  belonging  to  the 
Blue  Lodge,  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  Knights  Templar 
and  Osman  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

Edward  Buttrick  Graves.  A St.  Paul  lawyer, 
with  offices  in  the  New  York  Life  Building,  Edward 
Buttrick  Graves  came  to  this  city  in  1887,  a few 


years  after  finishing  his  course  in  Yale  Law  School, 
and  has  long  enjoyed  a practice  of  most  substantial 
character  and  influential  relations  with  the  general 
citizenship. 

Mr.  Graves  represents  the  best  traditions  and 
family  stocks  of  New  England — early  colonial  set- 
tlers, upholders  of  religious  and  civil  freedom,  In- 
dian fighters,  participants  in  early  wars  and  civic 
affairs,  and  exponents  of  the  rugged  virtues  and  cul- 
ture that  are  generally  associated  with  the  oldest 
and  best  families  of  the  northeastern  states. 

He  was  born  at  Rutland,  Vermont,  June  22,  1859, 
a son  of  Charles  Emmett  and  Sarah  Lawrence  (Butt- 
rick) Graves.  The  Graves  family  is  of  Norman- 
English  origin,  and  is  descended  from  Thomas 
Graves,  who  came  to  this  country  about  1640,  from 
England,  and  settled  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  He 
thought  the  church  there  had  “leanings  toward  Pres- 
byterianism,’’ and  as  he  would  not  stand  for  that, 
being  an  Independent  (or  Congregationalist),  about 
1660,  though  then  an  old  man,  he  headed  a band  which 
were  known  as  the  “Engagers,”  among  whom  were 
his  two  sons  and  their  families,  and  leaving  Hart- 
ford pushed  up  into  the  wilderness  and  settled  on 
the'  Connecticut  River  in  Massachusetts,  at  what  is 
now  known  as  Hadley,  where  his  only  two  sons 
were  promptly  killed  by  the  Indians.  Of  these  sons, 
Tsaac  was  the  direct  ancestor  of  the  St.  Paul  lawyer. 
The  descendants  of  Thomas  Graves  are  very  nu- 
merous and  are  scattered  all  through  the  Connecti- 
cut Valley  and  the  Berkshire  Hills,  Graves  being 
one  of  the  most  common  names  there.  Nineteen  of 
these  descendants  were  in  the  French  and  Indian 
wars,  and  eleven  of  them  were  killed  during  those 
hostilities,  while  fifty-six  of  the  descendants  were 
soldiers  or  officers  in  the  colonial  forces  during  the 
Revolution. 

Nathan  Graves,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  Mr. 
E.  B.  Graves,  moved  to  Whately,  Massachusetts,  and 
settled  on  the  top  of  a high  hill  known  as  Chestnut 
or  Whately  Mountain.  The  youngest  of  his  nine 
sons  was  Daniel,  the  great-grandfather.  Nathan 
was  a soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  and 
the  local  town  histories  say  “he  and  his  sons  were 
noted  hunters  and  marksmen.”  Six  of  these  sons, 
all  those  living  and  old  enough  at  the  time,  were 
soldiers  on  the  American  side  in  the  Revolution. 
However,  despite  this  wealth  of  military  lineage,  Mr. 
Graves  had  no  direct  ancestor  of  that  name  in  the 
Revolution.  This  was  due  to  the  fact  that  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  Nathan  Graves  was  over  sixty, 
while  his  son  Daniel  was  only  six.  When  a very 
young  man  Daniel,  the  great-grandfather,  moved  to 
Ira,  Vermont,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  there, 
serving  at  various  times  in  the  Vermont  Legislature 
and  honored  with  other  public  offices.  Ira  was  the 
birthplace  of  both  the  grandfather  and  father  of 
Mr.  Graves.  The  grandfather  was  George  Graves, 
who  in  early  manhood  moved  to  Rutland,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death  in  1875.  He  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  business,  and  was  a prominent  abolitionist 
in  that  vicinity.  George  Graves  married  Lucretia 
Adeline  Collins,  a native  of  Ira,  Vermont. 

Charles  Emmett  Graves,  the  father,  was  born  De- 
cember 10,  1830,  at  Ira,  Vermont,  but  was  very  young 
when  his  father  moved  to  Rutland.  After  spending 
two  years  in  Middlebury  College  at  Middlebury, 
Vermont,  he  entered  the  junior  year  at  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  graduated  A.  B. 
with  the  class  of  1850.  The  honorary  M.  A.  was., 
given  him  by  Trinity  about  1859,  and  he  received 
from  the  same  source  the  LL.  D.  in  1905,  and  it  is 
thought  that  Middlebury  also  made  him  M.  A. 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1763 


After  his  graduation  he  spent  a year  or  so  in  the 
West,  most  of  the  time  in  Iowa,  having  gone  out 
with  the  expectation  of  settling  permanently.  His 
home  after  that  was  at  Rutland  except  during  the 
Civil  war  and  a year  or  two  afterward,  while  he 
held  a government  position  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
though  even  then  Rutland  was  considered  the  family 
residence.  In  1867  he  moved  his  family  to  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  which  city  was  his  home  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  By  profession  he  was  a 
lawyer,  but  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war 
was  not  engaged  in  active  general  practice.  He  had 
business  interests  in  the  chemical  works  at  New 
Haven,  being  an  officer  in  the  corporation,  and  for 
that  reason  established  his  residence  in  the  city. 
After  giving  up  those  interests,  he  was  engaged  in 
looking  after  his  private  affairs  and  the  interests  of 
others,  and  among  other  things  was  for  thirty-five 
years  treasurer  of  Trinity  College  at  Hartford. 
While  temporarily  resident  of  Dansville,  New  York, 
he  died  April  12,  1906. 

Sarah  Lawrence  Buttrick,  his  wife,  was  born  June 
20,  1829,  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  of  English 
origin.  She  is  descended  from  William  Buttrick, 
who  sailed  to  America  from  England  on  the  ship 
Planter,  in  1835,  landing  in  Boston,  and  after  the 
founding  of  Concord  settled  there.-  The  line  of 
descent  is  through  his  son  Samuel,  who  married  a 
daughter  of  Maj.  Simon  Willard.  The  latter  was 
the  chief  founder  of  Concord,  Massachusetts,  a 
colonial  soldier  and  statesman,  an  officer  in  the 
French  and  Indian  wars,  and  for  forty  years  a mem- 
ber of  the  Massachusetts  General  Court.  Other 
Buttrick  ancestors  were  in  the  French  and  Indian 
wars.  The  great-grandfather  of  Sarah  L.  Buttrick 
was  another  Samuel  Buttrick,  who  was  a “minute- 
man”  at  the  battles  of  Lexington  and  Concord,  and 
whose  brother,  Maj.  John  Buttrick,  commanded  the 
American  forces  in  those  battles,  and  was  the  one 
who,  at  Concord  Bridge,  said,  “For  God’s  sake,  fire, 
boys,”  when  was  “fired  that  shot  heard  around  the 
world.”  The  Buttrick  family  have  always  kept  up 
their  connection  with  Concord. 

Sarah  L.  Buttrick’s  father  was  Ephraim  Buttrick, 
who  was  born  at  Concord,  but  after  his  graduation 
from  college  moved  to  Cambridge  and  lived  there 
all  his  life.  He  was  a lawyer  in  very  active  prac- 
tice, and  a leader  of  the  bar  in  Middlesex  County, 
as  the  frequency  with  which  his  name  appears  in 
the  early  Massachusetts  Reports  will  show.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  King.  Her  father,  Samuel  King,  and  his 
father,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  espoused  the  English  side,  and  at  the  time  the 
Colonial  forces  drove  Howe  out  of  Boston,  went 
with  him  to  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  where  Mary  King 
was  born.  After  the  war  and  in  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century,  Samuel  King  returned  to 
Massachusetts,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
Cambridge. 

Concerning  this  interesting  ancestral  record,  it 
may  be  said  in  summary  that  all  of  Mr.  Graves’ 
ancestors  were  English  or  of  English  stock  settled 
in  New  England  at  a very  early  date,  and  Mr.  Graves 
himself  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  live  perma- 
nently out  of  New  England,  and  he  confesses  that 
Vermont  is  the  state  of  which  he  is  fondest  and  to 
which  he  peculiarly  owes  allegiance.  The  family  has 
also  had  many  college  men.  His  maternal  grand- 
father was  a Harvard  graduate,  an  uncle  was  of  the 
same  school,  his  father  and  another  uncle  attended 
Trinity  College,  while  two  of  his  brothers  finished 
at  Yale  and  two  at  Trinity. 

Edward  Buttrick  Graves  had  his  home  in  Rutland 


until  March,  1867,  though  a considerable  part  of 
those  first  eight  years  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Wash- 
ington, while  his  father  was  in  the  Government  serv- 
ice, and  also  with  his  grandparents  at  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts.  His  father  moving  to  New  Haven  in 
1867,  that  city  was  his  home  for  about  twenty  years. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  attended  primary  school, 
and  from  the  age  of  eleven  spent  six  years  in  the 
Hopkins  Grammar  School  at  New  Haven.  A dif- 
ference with  the  school  authorities  caused  him  to 
leave  during  his  senior  year,  and  he  studied  for  a 
time  with  a cousin,  a clergyman,  at  Littleton,  New 
Hampshire,  and  alone  at  New  Haven,  until  entering 
the  class  of  1881  in  the  freshman  year  at  Yale.  His 
collegiate  career  was  passed  without  special  inci- 
dent, save  that  he  managed  to  hold  the  lightweight 
wrestling  championship  during  most  of  the  time. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Delta  Kappa  in  the  fresh- 
man year,  and  of  the  Linonia  Society.  After  gradu- 
ating, B.  A.,  in  1881,  he  went  to  Stetsonville,  a little 
lumbering  town  in  Wisconsin,  and  was  employed 
about  a year  and  three  months  in  outside  work  by 
the  owner  of  a lumber  mill.  He  then  returned  to 
New  Haven  and  entered  the  Yale  Law  School, 
graduating  LL.  B.  in  the  class  of  1884.  He  was  on 
the  honor  list  in  the  junior  year,  and  in  the  senior 
year  stood  at  the  head  of  the  class,  graduated  “cum 
magna  laude,”  and  took  the  Jewell  prize  for  best 
examinations  at  graduation. 

Beginning  practice  at  New  Haven,  in  1885  he  went 
into  partnership  with  Cornelius  T.  Driscoll,  then 
corporation  counsel  of  the  city,  under  the  name  of 
Driscoll  & Graves.  In  September,  1887,  Mr.  Graves 
came  out  to  St.  Paul  and  for  the  first  six  months 
was  a salaried  employe  on  the  legal  staff  of  the  St 
Paul  Title  Insurance  Company.  In  March,  1888, 
was  formed  a partnership  with  Robert  C.  Hine, 
also  of  the  class  of  ’81  at  Yale,  and  for  three  years 
the  firm  of  Hine  & Graves  was  in  general  practice, 
with  growing  success.  The  partnership  was  dis- 
solved owing  to  Mr.  Hine’s  intention  to  leave  the 
law  and  enter  business,  an  idea  that  he  afterwards 
abandoned.  The  former  partners  maintained  most 
cordial  relations  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Hine.  For 
the  past  twenty-three  years  Mr.  Graves  has  con- 
tinued as  an  individual  in  general  practice  at  St. 
Paul.  For  the  most  part  he  has  found  his  work 
congenial,  profitable  and  an  ideal  way  of  serving 
himself  and  others  in  the  sphere  for  which  he  is 
best  fitted,  and  his  associates  regard  him  as  one  of 
the  most  admirably  equipped  lawyers  of  the  capital 
city.  Outside  of  his  profession  he  has  formed  few 
business  connections,  except  as  attorney  for  various 
companies. 

Mr.  Graves  has  always  affiliated  with  the  repub- 
lican party,  though  he  has  not  agreed  with  it  on  the 
tariff  question,  and  has  exercised  independence  in 
voting  for  candidates  for  state,  county  and  municipal 
offices,  and  has  been  strictly  non-partisan  as  to  can- 
didates for  judicial  position  He  was  baptized  in 
infancy  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  has 
always  kept  up  his  connection  with  this  church,  and 
is  a member  of  Christ  Church  at  St.  Paul.  Mr. 
Graves  is  a member  of  the  Commercial  Culb  and  of 
a few  other  social  organizations.  He  is  married 
and  resides  at  147  Western  Avenue,  North  St.  Paul. 

Lyndon  A.  Smitji.  To  the  responsible  duties  of 
the  attorney-general’s  office,  in  which  he  has  served 
as  assistant  and  later  as  chief  for  the  past  five 
years,  Mr.  Smith  brought  an  exceptional  training  and 
experience,  the  results  of  a New  England  education, 
a business  and  professional  training  in  eastern  uni- 


1764 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


versities  and  cities,  and  as  a successful  attorney  and 
public  official  in  Minnesota  for  nearly  thirty  years. 

Lyndon  A.  Smith  was  born  at  Boscawen,  Merri- 
mack County,  New  Hampshire,  July  15,  1854,  a son 
of  Ambrose  and  Cynthia  M.  (Edgerton)  Smith,  who 
married  in  Vermont  in  May,  1846.  His  father  was 
born  July  9,  1820,  in  New  Hampshire,  was  a clergy- 
man in  the  Congregational  Church  at  Boscawen  from 
1852  until  his  death  on  October  3,  1862,  and  the 
mother  was  born  January  2,  1821,  and  died  in  April, 
1S99. 

Reared  in  a home  of  culture,  and  of  high  ideals, 
Lyndon  A.  Smith  received  his  early  education  in  the 
Pembroke  Academy  of  New  Hampshire  and  the 
Norwich  Academy  of  Vermont,  was  graduated  Bach- 
elor of  Arts  in  1880  from  Dartmouth  College,  and 
during  the  following  five  years,  spent  as  assistant 
to  the  United  States  commissioner  of  education  at 
Washington,  he  was  a student  in  the  law  department 
of  Georgetown  University  and  received  the  degrees 
LL.  B.  and  LL.  M. 

Mr.  Smith  began  practice  at  Montevideo  in  Chip- 
pewa County,  Minnesota,  in  1886,  and  was  a lawyer 
with  rising  reputation  and  secure  success  in  that 
section  of  the  state  until  1909.  Mr.  Smith  served 
as  county  attorney  of  Chippewa  County  from  1889 
to  1890  and  again  from  1903  to  1909.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Village  of  Montevideo  during  1894-95 
and  again  held  the  same  office  from  1904  to  1906. 
He  has  also  been  active  in  business  affairs,  and  has 
been  vice  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Montevideo  since  its  organization,  and  from  1905  to 
1908  was  president  of  the  Montevideo  Telephone 
Exchange. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Smith  has  been  prominent  in 
the  republican  party,  and  his  name  first  acquired  a 
state-wide  significance  with  his  election  to  the  office 
of  lieutenant-governor,  in  which  he  served  from 
1899  to  1903.  Mr.  Smith  was  appointed  assistant 
attorney-general  on  January  4,  1909,  and  on  the  resig- 
nation of  General  Simpson  from  office  on  January 
1,  1911,  was  promoted  to  the  vacancy  by  Governor 
Eberhart.  He  was  nominated  and  elected  to  the 
office  for  the  regular  term  at  the  primaries  and 
general  election  of  1912. 

Mr.  Smith  has  membership  in  the  Ramsey  County, 
the  Minnesota  and  American  Bar  associations ; has 
taken  thirty-two  degrees  in  Scottish  Rite  Masonry, 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men ; belongs  to  the  Montevideo  Commercial  Club 
and  the  St.  Paul  University  Club;  and  is  a member 
of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  at  St.  Paul  February  3, 
1886,  to  Dora  Rogers,  a daughter  of  John  Rogers  of 
Kittery,  Maine,  and  a granddaughter  of  Joseph  Cox, 
who  was  connected  with  the  United  States  navy 
either  actively  or  on  the  retired  list  for  sixty-two 
years.  Mr.  Smith  and  wife  have  one  daughter, 
Charlotte,  born  at  Montevideo,  Minnesota,  graduated 
from  the  state  university  in  1910,  and  in  1912  was 
given  the  degree  Master  of  Arts  at  Columbia  Uni- 
versity in  New  York. 

Charles  E.  Fuller.  As  postmaster  at  St.  James 
for  the  past  fifteen  years,  Charles  E.  Fuller  is  one 
of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Watonwan  County, 
has  performed  a large  amount  of  useful  public  serv- 
ice, and  outside  of  his  public  duties  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  and  has  other  interests  in  his 
home  town.  Most  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  Min- 
nesota, and  he  has  witnessed  the  development  of 
this  state  since  pioneer  times. 


Charles  E.  Fuller  was  born  at  Ogdensburg,  New 
York,  September  7,  1855.  His  father,  Edwin  Fuller, 
was  born  in  Vermont  in  1827,  and  is  still  living,  at 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-seven,  in  Minneapolis. 
The  Fuller  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  New  Eng- 
land, its  first  ancestor  having  come  over  in  the 
Mayflower  very  early  in  the  seventeenth  century. 
Edwin  Fuller  grew  up  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  New 
York,  and  early  in  his  career  went  West,  locating 
in  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1866  becoming 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Blue  Earth  County,  Min- 
nesota. His  active  career  was  all  spent  in  farming, 
and  when  he  finally  retired  it  was  with  ample  fruits 
in  material  circumstances  so  that  he  now  enjoys 
peace  and  comfort  in  his  old  age.  Edwin  Fuller  mar- 
ried Sarah  Medcalf,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1831  and  died  at  St.  James,  Minnesota,  in 
1904.  The  first  of  their  children  was  Sarah,  who 
married  Emery  Drew,  both  of  them  now  deceased ; 
Susie  married  William  Lambert,  and  she  is  now  de- 
ceased, her  husband  residing  on  a farm  near  Seattle, 
Washington;  Charles  E. ; Lillian  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam E.  Odenwald,  a painter  and  decorator  at  Min- 
neapolis; Elroy  C.  is  a rancher  at  Bend,  Oregon; 
Alice  is  the  wife  of  Capt.  William  Denny,  a painter 
and  decorator  at  Minneapolis. 

Charles  E.  Fuller  spent  part  of  his  boyhood  in 
Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  attended  public  schools  in 
that  city,  and  was  about  eleven  years  of  age  when 
his  father  came  to  Blue  Earth  County,  where  he 
attended  schools,  finishing  his  education  in  the  St. 
James  High  School.  Leaving  school  when  about 
sixteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Fuller  spent  the  remaining 
years  of  his  minority  at  work  on  a farm.  His  career 
has  been  one  of  varied  and  useful  activity  for  the 
past  forty  years.  In  1876  he  began  clerking  in  a 
store  at  Byron,  Minnesota,  and  employed  himself  in 
mercantile  lines,  while  his  winters  were  spent  in 
the  arduous  and  active  life  of  the  pineries  until  1881. 
Mr.  Fuller  is  an  old  railroad  man,  and  for  sixteen 
years  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Omaha  Railway,  with 
headquarters  at  St.  James.  In  1897  he  left  railroad- 
ing and  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  business,  con- 
ducting a successful  establishment  in  that  line  until 
March,  1899.  That  was  the  date  of  the  beginning  of 
his  first  term  as  postmaster  of  St.  James,  under  ap- 
pointment from  President  McKinley.  He  has  been 
reappointed  to  this  office  three  times,  and  is  now  in 
his  fourth  term,  which  expires  in  1915.  He  also 
handles  a large  amount  of  real  estate  and  is  presi- 
dent of  the  St.  James  Telephone  Company. 

Mr.  Fuller  is  a republican,  and  is  affiliated  with 
Lodge  No.  207  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen  at  St.  James.  . 

March  5,  1882,  at  St.  James,  Miss  Lillian  Pedvin 
became  his  wife.  Her  father  was  the  late  Daniel 
Pedvin,  a farmer  at  Riverdale,  Minnesota.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fuller  are  the  parents  of  six  children:  Edna 

is  the  wife  of  John  R.  Schoffman,  a merchant  at 
St.  James;  Fred  is  a farmer  at  Truman,  Minnesota; 
Grace  is  the  wife  of  Hugo  Stumm,  a train  dispatcher 
employed  by  the  Omaha  Railway  at  St.  James;  Nina, 
wife  of  C.  W.  Johnson,  who  is  in  the  book  business, 
with  residence  at  Chicago ; Harry,  attending  high 
school  at  St.  James;  and  Grant,  also  a student  in 
the  St.  James  public  schools. 

George  McKenzie,  Jr.  The  McKenzie  family  have 
been  identified  with  Minnesota  as  pioneer  settlers,- 
lawyers,  legislators  and  bankers,  and  always  in  rela- 
tions which  have  meant  value  to  the  community  as 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1765 


well  as  to  their  individual  welfare.  George  Mc- 
Kenzie, Jr.,  is  prominent  as  a banker  at  Gaylord. 

He  was  born  at  Gaylord  in  1889,  and  is  a son  of 
George  A.  McKenzie,  who  was  born  in  Illinois  in 
1857,  and  has  long  been  prominent  in  Minnesota  as 
a lawyer.  This  branch  of  the  McKenzie  family  is 
closely  related  with  the  noted  Alexander  McKenzie, 
who  was  an  explorer  in  the  wilds  of  Western  Can- 
ada and  discovered  the  river  which  bears  his  name. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Malcolm  McKenzie,  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Lesueur  County,  Min- 
nesota, and  represented  his  district  in  the  Minnesota 
Legislature  in  1877.  George  A.  McKenzie  was  three 
times  a member  of  the  Legislature,  and  is  remem- 
bered as  the  persistent  and  finally  successful  advocate 
of  the  legislative  measure  providing  for  the  abolition 
of  capital  punishment  in  the  state,  having  introduced 
a bill  to  that  effect  three  times  before  he  secured  its 
passage.  He  also  served  four  terms  as  county  at- 
torney of  Sibley  -County,  and  is  still  in  active  prac- 
tice. He  is  a republican,  and  has  been  prominent  in 
politics  for  the  last  thirty  years,  has  been  associated 
with  many  of  the  state  leaders  in  the  republican 
party,  and  a number  of  years  ago  was  a guest  at 
the  Roosevelt  and  Marquis  de  Moris  ranches  in 
North  Dakota.  George  A.  McKenzie  married 
Martha  Oblinger,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1862, 
and  was  brought  to  Minnesota  about  1870  by  her 
father,  Samuel  Oblinger,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
about  Lake  Sakatah  in  Lesueur  County.  George  A. 
McKenzie  and  wife  were  married  at  Waterville  in 
Lesueur  County,  in  1879.  They  were  the  parents  of 
three  children.  One  of  the  daughters  is  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Westcott. 

George  McKenzie,  Jr.,  acquired  a substantial  train- 
ing at  home  and  in  school  when  a boy,  and  banking 
has  been  his  chief  experience  in  business  affairs.  He 
was  assistant  cashier  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  at 
Schafer,  North  Dakota,  later  was  elected  cashier  of 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  at  Lester  Prairie,  in  Min- 
nesota, and  in  May,  1914,  bought  the  controlling  in- 
terest in  the  First  State  Bank  at  Gaylord,  and  is 
now  its  president.  He  is  a factor  in  local  affairs,  and 
besides  the  banking  position  he  holds  is  also  secre- 
tary of  the  Sibley  County  Road  Improvement  Asso- 
ciation. Like  his  father,  he  affiliates  with  the  repub- 
lican party.  In  June,  1914,  Mr.  McKenzie  married 
Myrtle  H.  Barger,  a daughter  of  Louis  Barger,  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  at  Henderson,  Minnesota. 

Jason  Lee  Lewis.  Among  men  everywhere  there 
must  always  be  leaders.  Persons  not  naturally  demon- 
strative in  too  great  a degree,  with  a high  regard 
for  the  rights  of  others,  and  possessing  proper  ideas 
as  to  the  best  method  of  advancing  the  interests  of 
their  communities,  are  doubtless  best  fitted  for 
leadership.  They  do  not  always  attain  to  that  posi- 
tion, but  when  they  do  their  very  characters  serve 
as  a guarantee  that  the  tasks  entrusted  to  them  will 
be  well  and  faithfully  performed,  and  that  community 
that  comes  under  their  influence  will  be  materially 
bettered  in  its  condition  because  of  their  labors.  The 
possessor  in  a marked  degree  of  the  qualities  that 
fit  one  for  leadership  among  his  fellows,  Jason  Lee 
Lewis  has  steadily  risen  to  a position  of  prominence, 
and  in  the  capacity  of  general  publicity  agent  has 
rendered  signal  services  to  the  Village  of  Hibbing. 
That  village  has  been  his  home  for  the  past  five 
years  and  from  the  restricted  sphere  of  one  locality 
he  has  recently  been  appointed  to  the  larger  respon- 
sibilities of  state  service,  becoming  a special  examiner 
for  the  State  of  Minnesota  in  the  insurance  depart- 


ment under  Commissioner  Sam  D.  Works  in  March, 
1915- 

Like  many  of  the  leading  men  of  Minnesota,  Mr. 
Lewis  is  the  product  of  an  agricultural  community, 
having  been  born  on  his  father’s  homestead  place  in 
Furnas  County,  Nebraska,  March  3,  1880,  a son  of 
John  and  Louisa  (Rosa)  Lewis.  His  father  was  a 
prominent  farmer  and  stock  dealer  of  that  locality 
and  still  holds  large  agricultural  interests  in  Western 
Nebraska.  After  attending  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  his  native  vicinity,  Jason  L.  Lewis  be- 
came a student  in  the  Northwestern  Business  and  Nor- 
mal School  at  Beatrice,  Nebraska,  graduating  from 
the  business  and  normal  departments.  When  he  em- 
barked upon  his  independent  career  he  adopted  the 
vocation  of  educator,  and  for  two  years  taught  in 
the  country  schools  of  Nebraska,  then  going  to  Su- 
perior, Wisconsin,  to  accept  the  position  as  in- 
structor in  a business  college.  From  this  work  he 
drifted  into  the  banking  business,  being  for  seven 
years  teller  and  chief  clerk  in  different  institutions 
at  Superior.  In  1909  he  came  to  Hibbing  as  cashier 
of  the  Merchants  and  Miners  Bank,  a position  he 
held  five  years,  resigning  in  1914  when  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  Commercial  Club  and  manager  of  the 
publicity  department  of  the  Village  of  Hibbing. 

Air.  Lewis  has  always  been  foremost  in  movements 
of  a progressive  and  beneficial  character,  and  has 
been  ready  at  all  times  to  sacrifice  his  own  inter- 
ests in  order  to  secure  time  to  assist  in  serving  on 
committees  and  doing  like  service.  His  high  abilities 
in  this  direction  have  led  to  his  election  to  various 
positions  of  civic  and  business  importance,  and  it 
will  be  appropriate  to  mention  several  of  his  con- 
nections with  local  affairs  at  Hibbing  and  in  St. 
Louis  County.  He  has  been  secretary  of  the  Busi- 
ness Men's  Treaty  Association;  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Mesaba  Gun  Club ; secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  St.  Louis  County  Club;  a member 
of  various  farmers’  organizations;  belongs  to  the 
lodge  and  chapter  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and 
has  held  the  rank  of  Archon,  the  highest  local  office, 
in  the  Royal  League,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Be- 
nevolent & Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Always  taking 
a great  interest  in  the  National  Guard,  he  served  in 
that  organization  in  Nebraska,  Wisconsin  and  Min- 
nesota, and  at  the  present  writing  is  first  lieutenant 
of  Company  M,  Third  Regiment,  M.  N.  G.  Few 
men  have  a larger  acquaintance  in  this  part  of  the 
state  and  none  a wider  circle  of  sincere  friends. 

On  December  20,  1909,  Mr.  Lewis  married  Miss 
Jessie  May  McLeod  of  Duluth,  Minnesota,  daughter 
of  Capt.  M.  McLeod,  who  for  thirty  years  was  mas- 
ter of  vessels  on  the  Great  Lakes.  To  this  union  has 
come  one  son,  John  Randall,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 16,  1910. 

Anthony  M.  Bayer,  a Minneapolis  lawyer,  and 
since  1907  connected  with  the  firm  of  Barnes  Bros., 
was  born  in  Minneapolis  June  10,  1876,  a son  of 
Andrew  and  Anna  (Berndgen)  Bayer.  His  father 
came  to  Minnesota  in  1858,  and  his  mother  to  Min- 
nesota Territory  in  1856.  From  1859  until  his  death 
in  September,  1892,  Andrew  Bayer  was  in  business 
in  Minneapolis.  He  was  a soldier  of  the  Civil  war, 
having  enlisted  in  the  first  company  organized  in 
Minnesota  in  response  to  Lincoln’s  first  call  for 
volunteers.  He  was  a private  in  Companj^  F,  First 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  and  his  wife 
were  married  in  Scott  County,  Minnesota,  and  the 
latter  died  in  1882.  Their  children  were:  John 


1766 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Henry  Robert,  George  G.,  Lucy,  Anthony  M.,  and 
Mathew  F.  X. 

After  graduating  from  the  South  High  School  in 
1893,  Mr.  Bayer  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
John  Day  Smith,  and  in  1898  graduated  from  the 
law  department  of  the  state  university.  For  three 
years  he  was  a member  of  the  firm  of  Bayer,  Phelps 
& Hand,  but  since  1908  has  had  charge  of  the  legal 
department  of  Barnes  Bros.,  the  prominent  Min- 
neapolis farm  mortgage  loan  concern,  whose  busi- 
ness record  covers  more  than  a quarter  of  a century, 
during  which  time  no  client  has  ever  lost  any  interest 
■or  principal  through  investment  placed  by  this  firm. 

Mr.  Bayer  married  November  11,  1906,  Miss  Agnes 
A.  Bouska  of  Duluth.  She  was  born  at  Prairie  du 
Chien,  Wisconsin,  but  was ' reared  and  educated  in 
Minnesota.  Her  parents,  Emanuel  J.  and  Josephine 
Bouska,  have  for  many  years  lived  in  Duluth.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bayer  have  four  children : Lucile  Ann, 
Margaret  Agnes,  Anthony  Bell  and  Ann  Helen. 

Andreas  P.  Lommen,  M.  D.  The  Town  of  Lanes- 
boro, in  Fillmore  County,  has  had  the  professional 
services  of  Doctor  Lommen  for  the  past  eighteen 
years.  He  is  a physician  and  surgeon  of  proved 
ability  and  experience,  and  while  his  work  has  been 
mainly  along  professional  lines  he  has  also  prospered 
in  a business  way  and  is  a man  of  influence  in  local 
affairs.  While  Doctor  Lommen  represents  one  of 
the  substantial  pioneer  families  of  Minnesota,  he 
chose  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  since 
his  early  training  has  depended  upon  himself  for 
advancement  and  success. 

Andreas  P.  Lommen  was  born  in  Spring  Grove, 
Minnesota,  May  10,  1867,  a son  of  Peder  J.  and 
Maria  (Engelstuen)  Lommen.  Both  parents  were 
Torn  in  Norway,  and  according  to  the  best  available 
information  the  family  (on  mother’s  side)  originally 
lived  in  Germany  or  Denmark  and  from  there  settled 
in  Norway.  One  of  the  ancestors  of  Doctor  Lommen 
was  an  officer  in  the  Danish  army  and  later  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Norway.  Peder  J.  Lommen  was 
born  in  Norway  in  1822  and  died  in  1888.  His  wife 
was  born  in  1832  and  died  in  1901.  He  came  to 
Minnesota  in  1851,  locating  on  wild  land  in  Houston 
County,  and  for  several  years  lived  on  almost  the 
■ extreme  verge  of  settlement..  He  married  his  sec- 
ond wife  after  coming  to  Minnesota,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  homestead. 
He  succeeded  in  accumulating  a good  property  and 
with  success  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  all  the  people  in 
Houston  County,  and  was  always  very  liberal  with 
his  practical  service  and  with  his  means.  In  politics 
he  was  a republican  and  with  his  wife  worshipped 
in  the  Lutheran  faith.  The  father  was  twice  mar- 
ried and  had  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. Doctor  Lommen  was  the  second  of  four  chil- 
dren born  to  his  mother.  His  brother,  Christian  P., 
was  educated  in  the  University  of  Minnesota  and  at 
Berlin,  Germany,  and  is  now  dean  of  the  medical 
department  in  the  State  University  of  South  Dakota ; 
Mrs.  Sarah  Eley  is  the  wife  of  a Chicago  attor- 
ney; and  Ingeborg  is  an  instructor  in  the  Iowa  Agri- 
cultural College  at  Ames. 

Dr.  A.  P.  Lommen  received  his  early  education 
in  the  schools  of  Houston  County  and  had  two  years 
of  academic  instruction  in  Gale  College  of  Wiscon- 
sin, largely  worked  his  way  through  college,  and  was 
graduated  in  medicine  in  1895.  For  2)4  years  he 
practiced  at  Mable,  Minnesota,  and  then  in  1897 
established  his  home  and  office  at  Lanesboro.  Al- 
most from  the  beginning  he  had  a paying  practice, 


and  now  ranks  as  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
thoroughly  successful  physicians  and  surgeons  in 
Fillmore  County. 

In  1897  Doctor  Lommen  married  Stella  C.  John- 
son, a daughter  of  Rasmus  P.  Johnson,  who  was  an 
early  settler  and  farmer  in  Fillmore  County.  To 
their  marriage  have  been  born  three  children : Helen 
M.,  aged  twelve ; Robert  M.,  aged  four ; and  Andrew 
P.,  aged  six  months.  Doctor  Lommen  attends  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  fraternally  is  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Order  of  Yeomen. 
Politically  he  is  a republican,  quite  active  in  party 
affairs,  being  chairman  of  the  First  District  Congres- 
sional Committee.  It  was  Doctor  Lommen  who 
first  suggested  the  name  of  Mr.  Anderson  for  Con- 
gress from  this  district.  At  the  present  time  Doctor 
Lommen  is  giving  much  of  his  time  to  the  office  of 
mayor  of  Lanesboro  and  is  also  president  of  the 
school  board,  having  served  in  that  capacity  for  the 
past  four  years.  He  is  a member  of  the  Houston  and 
Fillmore  Counties  Medical  Society,  the  Minnesota 
State  Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Doctor  Lommen  and  family  occupy 
one  of  the  finest  homes  in  Lanesboro  and  he  also  has 
some  farm  land.  He  is  a stockholder  and  director 
in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Lanesboro. 

Charles  S.  Bigelow,  M.  D.  Engaged  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession  for  more  than  forty  years, 
Doctor  Bigelow  has  kept  abreast  of  the  advances 
made  in  medical  and  surgical  science.  His  labors 
have  been  ofttimes  arduous,  but  his  zeal  and  fidelity 
have  not  faltered  in  the  face  of  the  cares  and  respon- 
sibilities that  ever  devolve  upon  a physician  prac- 
ticing in  a community  where  his  work  is  largely  in 
rural  districts,  and  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative physicians  and  surgeons  of  Dodge  County, 
where  he  has  maintained  his  residence  in  the  Vil- 
lages of  Claremont  and  Dodge  Center  since  1881. 

Doctor  Bigelow  claims  the  Buckeye  State  as  the 
place  of  his  nativity  and  is  a representative  of 
sterling  pioneer  families  of  that  commonwealth,  his 
paternal  ancestors  having  settled  in  New  England  in 
the  colonial  days  and  the  lineage  being  traced  back 
to  sturdy  Scotch  origin.  The  maternal  ancestors  in 
America  early  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  The  doctor 
was  born  in  Middleberry,  now  East  Akron,  the 
judicial  center  and  metropolis,  of  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  15th  of  December,  1845,  and  is  a son 
of  Thomas  S.  and  Clarissa  (Jacobs)  Bigelow,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Vermont,  in  1808, 
and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Erie,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1810,  and  their  marriage  having  been 
solemnized  at  Middleberry,  Portage  County,  Ohio,  in 
1834.  Thomas  S. -Bigelow  was  a son  of  Elisha  Bige- 
low and  Eliza  P.  Sumner,  who  was  a cousin  of 
Charles  Sumner,  formerly  United  States  senator  of 
Massachusetts,  and  a cousin  of  Judge  Charles  Sum- 
ner, who,  with  his  brothers,  settled  at  Akron,  Ohio, 
in  early  days..  He  was  a boy  at  the  time  of  the 
family  removal  to  Ohio,  where  his  father  became 
a successful  hardware  merchant  and  continued  his 
residence  until  death,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Berkshire  County,  Massachusetts.  Thomas  S. 
Bigelow  acquired  his  early  education  in  Ohio  and 
supplemented  this  discipline  by  a collegiate  course 
in  the  City  of  Pittsburgh  and  a medical  course  in 
Philadelphia.  He  was  a man  of  superior  intel- 
lectuality and  of  great  mechanical  genius.  While  at- 
tending school  at  Pittsburgh  he  invented  and  put  in 
successful  operation  the  first  machine  for  cutting 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1767 


and  heading  nails — the  heading  of  nails  formerly 
being  done  by  hand. 

For  many  years  of  his  active  career  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  jewelry  business  in  Ohio.  One  of  his 
most  important  inventions  was  the  double  seamer 
tin  machine  for  putting  tight  bottoms  on  tinware, 
which  came  into  general  use.  He  also  invented  the 
chain  paddlewheel  for  use  principally  on  canal  boats 
to  prevent  washing  the  banks.  A machine  for  the 
manufacture  of  the  “Patent  brick,”  having  the  re- 
volving platform.  When  sorghum  was  being  raised 
to  a great  extent  in  the  North  at  the  time  of  the 
Civil  war  he  invented,  and  with  the  aid  of  Luther  E. 
Porter  of  Lake  Mills,  Wisconsin,  put  into  practical 
operation  a sorghum  mill  with  self-adjustable  hori- 
zontal rollers.  A few  years  before  his  death  he 
perfected  an  improved  machine  for  cutting  and  head- 
ing tacks  and  nails  from  the  cold  steel  plate.  In 
1849  lie  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  died  while  mak- 
ing a visit  to  his  son,  Charles  S.,  of  this  review, 
having  passed  away  at  Buffalo  Prairie,  Illinois,  on  the 
20th  of  November,  1878  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
He  was  originally  a democrat  in  politics  but  at  the 
time  of  the  imminence  of  the  Civil  war  he  trans- 
ferred his  allegiance  to  the  republican  party,  with 
which  he  continued  to  be  aligned  until  his  death. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  zealous  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the 
mother  of  Doctor  Bigelow  having  been  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal  in  1848,  when  he  was  two  and  a 
half  years  of  age.  Of  the  eight  children  the  doctor 
is  the  youngest  of  the  two  now  living,  the  eldest 
being  Dr.  Edward  E.  Bigelow,  who  is  a resident 
of  Owatonna,  Steel  County,  Minnesota. 

Doctor  Bigelow  was  about  four  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  father’s  removal  to  Wisconsin,  the 
devoted  mother  having  died  the  preceding  year.  The 
doctor  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools  at  Lake  Mills,  Jefferson  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, in  which  state  he  was  reared  to  adult  age,  and 
he  prosecuted  higher  branches  of  study  in  Milton 
Academy  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  In  prep- 
aration for  his  chosen  profession  he  entered  the 
medical  department  of  the  great  University  of  Michi- 
gan, at  Ann  Arbor,  in  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1873  and 
from  which  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine.  For  the  ensuing  eight  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  he 
then,  in  1881,  came  to  Minnesota,  where  he  has 
continued  to  follow  the  work  of  his  profession  dur- 
ing the  long  intervening  period  of  more  than  thirty 
years  and  where  his  success  has  been  in  consonance 
with  his  recognized  technical  ability  and  his  unselfish 
devotion  to  the  alleviation  of  human  suffering  and 
distress.  He  was  engaged  in  practice  at  Claremont, 
Dodge  County,  until  1892,  when  he  removed  to  Dodge 
Center,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home  and 
continued  his  faithful  and  zealous  services.  He  is 
well  known  throughout  the  county  that  has  long  rep- 
resented his  home  and  is  held  in  affectionate  regard 
by  the  many  families  to  whom  he  has  ministered, 
in  many  of  them  even  to  the  third  generation.  In 
this  county  he  has  had  a large  and  representative 
practice,  and  he  has  at  all  times  stood  exponent  of 
the  highest  professional  ideals  and  of  the  most  loyal 
citizenship.  The  doctor  served  one  year  as  a soldier 
of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war,  as  a member  of  Com- 
pany F,  Third  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
the  loyal  memories  of  his  military  career  are  per- 
petuated through  his  affiliation  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

Vol.  n— 32 


Doctor  Bigelow  is  a stalwart  republican  and  has 
implicit  faith  in  the  basic  principles  that  have  ever 
been  held  by  his  party.  He  holds  membership  in 
the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Society,  the  Southern 
Minnesota  Medical  Society,  and  the  Dodge  County 
Medical  Society;  is  affiliated  with  the  Dodge  Center 
Lodge  of  Ancient  Free  & Accepted  Masons,  and  is 
a member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  as  was 
also  his  wife,  who  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal 
in  1910. 

In  the  year  1873  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Doctor  Bigelow  to  Miss  Alma  A.  Pierce,  and  their 
companionship  continued  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century.  Mrs.  Bigelow  was  born  in  Mercer  County, 
Illinois,  and  was  a daughter  of  Charles  T.  Pierce, 
who  removed  from  Maine  to  that  state  and  became 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county  mentioned. 
He  was  a farmer  by  vocation  and  was  a resident  of 
Kansas  at  the  time  of  his  death,  two  of  his  sons 
having  sacrificed  their  lives  when  serving  as  soldiers 
in  the  Civil  war.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Bigelow  became 
the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  four  are  liv- 
ing. Delia  is  the  wife  of  George  A.  Young  and 
they  reside  at  Albion,  Indiana.  Amy  G.  remains  with 
her  father.  Dr.  Charles  Edward  is  a successful 
physician  and  surgeon  engaged  in  practice  at  Dodge 
Center,  where  he  is  fully  upholding  the  profes- 
sional prestige  of  the  name  which  he  bears;  and 
Albert  S.  graduated  in  June,  1909,  at  Pillsbury  Acad- 
emy, at  Owatonna,  Minnesota,  with  highest  honors, 
at  the  head  of  his  class,  and  was  major  of  the  cadet 
brigade  during  his  senior  year.  In  the  following 
autumn  he  entered  the  College  of  Arts  and  Science 
of  the  University  of  Chicago  and  after  remaining 
in  attendance  for  three  years,  the  spring  of  1912 
was  elected  assistant  professor  and  commandant  in 
Pillsbury  Academy,  where  he  served  acceptably  for 
two  years,  when  he  resigned,  in  1914,  to  accept  the 
position  of  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Hiawatha, 
Kansas,  and  was  re-elected  for  the  following  year. 
During  these  three  years  of  teaching  he  has  kept 
up  his  senior  work  during  the  summer  vacations  at 
the  University  of  Chicago  and  expects  to  receive  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  the  fall  of  1915.  Since 
1907  he  has  kept  up  his  membership  in  Company  I, 
Second  Minnesota  National  Guard,  going  into  camp 
each  year  and  performing  honorable  service. 

John  B.  Richards.  With  an  active  experience  of 
thirty  years  merchandising  in  Mankato,  John  B. 
Richards  and  daughter  now  have  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal dry  goods  establishments  of  the  city  and  in 
many  ways  one  of  the  distinctive  stores  engaged  in 
the  exclusive  handling  of  dry  goods  in  Southern 
Minnesota.  Mr.  Richards  has  made  a success  by 
devoting  himself  unreservedly  to  business,  and  while 
a public-spirited  and  willing  worker  for  anything 
that  means  a better  and  greater  Mankato,  quite 
rigidly  adhered  to  the  principal  that  in  concentra- 
tion lies  the  best  success. 

John  B.  Richards  was  born  near  Utica,  New  York, 
December  15,  1857,  a son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Margaret 
(Owen)  Richards.  Both  his  parents  were  born  in 
Wales,  his  father  in  1809  and  he  died  in  1893,  and 
his  mother  in  1816  and  died  in  1879.  They  were 
married  in  Wales  and  came  to  this  country  about 
1850  in  a sailing  vessel  that  was  six  weeks  on  the 
ocean.  During  the  voyage  they  buried  a little 
daughter.  The  father  was  a stone  mason  by  trade, 
and  in  New  York  State  worked  as  a farmer  and 
was  also  employed  in  lime  kilns.  In  1859  the  family 
went  out  to  Wisconsin,  and  from  there  moved  to 


1768 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Minnesota  in  1868.  The  father  bought  a farm  in 
Blue  Earth  County  and  continued  its  management 
and  cultivation  and  owned  it  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  a man  of  honest  intentions,  and  did 
his  work  well,  but  never  sought  any  of  the  con- 
spicuous places  in  the  world.  He  and  his  wife  were 
active  members  of  the  Welsh  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  for  many  years  he  served  as  a deacon  in  that 
denomination.  In  politics  he  was  a republican.  Of 
the  twelve  children  born  to  their  union  only  three  are 
now  living:  Mrs.  J.  J.  Edwards,  wife  of  a retired 

merchant  at  Mankato ; -David  Richards,  associated 
with  his  brother  in  business. 

John  B.  Richards  was  educated  in  the  Mankato 
public  schools  and  the  State  Normal,  and  his  first 
business  experience  was  as  clerk  in  a grocery  store. 
He  later  became  identified  with  a dry  goods  store  and 
for  four  years  traveled  out  of  Minneapolis  as  the 
representative  of  a wholesale  dry  goods  house.  In 
1885  Mr.  Richards  opened  a business  in  Mankato 
under  the  firm  name  of  Frink  & Richards.  With  his 
brother  David  he  bought  this  business  in  1889  and 
since  that  date  the  firm  of  J.  B.  and  D.  Richards  has 
been  in  existence  as  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
progressive  mercantile  concerns  in  the  city.  While 
their  business  has  been  steadily  growing  and  their 
reputation  as  reliable  merchants  expanding  over  a 
larger  territory,  they  have  also  had  their  setbacks 
and  vicissitudes,  and  in  1906  their  store  was  burned 
with  a total  loss.  They  then  constructed  a large 
building  at  402-404  South  Front  Street,  and  were 
once  more  serving  their  trade  by  the  month  of 
October.  They  have  operated  as  an  exclusive  dry 
goods  store.  Their  stock  will  compare  favorably 
with  any  stock  carried  in  the  large  dry  goods 
stores  of  the  Twin  Cities.  The  building  in  which 
their  store  is  located  is  a large  three-story  build- 
ing and  is  owned  by  the  company. 

In  1886  John  B.  Richards  married  Jennie  Williams 
of  Cambria,  Wisconsin.  Her  father,  Dr.  J.  L.  L. 
Williams,  was  an  early  settler  in  that  section  of 
Wisconsin  and  was  prominent  both  as  a physician 
and  a citizen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richards  have  one 
daughter,  Edith,  who  is  a graduate  nurse  from  a 
Chicago  hospital  training  school  and  is  now  follow- 
ing her  profession  in  Mankato.  Mrs.  Richards  and 
her  daughter  are  both  active  members  of  the  Welsh 
Church  at  Mankato.  Mr.  Richards  is  a past  exalted 
ruler  of  Mankato  Lodge,  No.  225,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  is  past 
chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  also 
past  grand  vice  chancellor  of  the  state  lodge  of 
Knights  of  Pythias.  In  politics  he  is  a republican, 
but  his  business  has  allowed  him  only  little  partici- 
pation in  politics. 

Judge  J.  N.  Edwards.  Twenty  years  of  continu- 
ous service  as  probate  judge  of  Swift  County,  the 
holding  of  many  offices  in  the  village  and  City  of 
Benson,  and  the  prosecution  of  varied  interests  in 
business  affairs,  have  been  the  chief  points  in  the 
career  of  Judge  Edwards,  now  for  thirty-eight  years 
a continuous  resident  of  Benson,  and  one  of  the 
most  influential  as  well  as  the  oldest  of  local  citi- 
zens. A rare  fidelity  to  duty  and  a quick  responsive- 
ness to  the  demands  for  action  have  characterized 
him  throughout  his  active  life  and  these  charac- 
teristics readily  account  for  the  various  honors  which 
his  fellow-citizens  have  paid  him. 

James  Newton  Edwards  was  born  in  Warren 
County,  Illinois,  October  18,  1846.  The  family  is  of 
Welsh  origin.  Berry  W.  Edwards,  his  father,  was 


born  in  Tennessee  and  when  six  years  of  age  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Illinois.  His  grandfather 
was  Thomas  Edwards,  who  served  in  the  War  of 
1812-13,  married  a Miss  Sweet  both  being  natives  of 
Tennessee.  In  Illinois  the  family  first  lived  on  a 
farm  in  Fayette  County,  where  Berry  W.  Edwards 
was  reared  to  manhood,  with  a common  school  edu- 
cation. He  followed  farming,  and  was  also  in  busi- 
ness as  a miller  and  merchant.  He  married  for  his 
first  wife  Sarah  Bivens,  who  was  born  in  Indiana 
but  reared  in  Illinois.  She  died  in  young  woman- 
hood, and  had  only  two  sons,  the  younger  being 
Judge  Edwards,  while  the  older  was  William 
Jasper,  who  served  four  years  as  a soldier  of  the 
Union  during  the  Civil  war  and  died  in  1879.  Berry 
W.  Edwards,  who  died  in  1867  at  the  age  of  forty- 
four,  married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah  A.  Ervin, 
and  by  that  union  there  is  one  daughter  now  living, 
Isabella  Bennyhoff  of  St.  Elmo,  Illinois. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Judge  Edwards  were  spent 
in  Fayette  County,  Illinois,  having  moved  from  War- 
ren County  when  a babe.  His  early  education  was 
the  result  of  attending  the  common  schools.  His 
business  experience  began  as  a clerk  in  a general 
store.  He  was  not  yet  fifteen  years  of  age  when 
the  Civil  war  broke  out,  but  had  a brief  taste  of 
military  life  before  its  conclusion.  His  service  was 
in  Company  E of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He  then  re- 
turned to  his  Illinois  home,  worked  on  a farm,  made 
rails,  cut  cordwood  and  grubbed  out  a small  field 
in  the  timber,  made  ties  and  cut  hoop-poles ; then 
resumed  his  business  as  a clerk.  In  1877,  with  a 
considerable  experience  in  business  and  with  a very 
small  amount  of  capital  he  arrived  in  Minnesota, 
spending  the  first  two  years  in  the  townships  of 
Hegbert  and  Moyer  on  a farm  and  then  taking  up 
the  residence  which  has  proved  to  be  a permanent 
one  at  Benson.  For  about  three  years  he  was  em- 
ployed by  Captain  Thornton  in  the  hardware,  coal 
and  lumber  trade,  and  in  1882  entered  the  United 
States  land  office  and  was  connected  with  that  de- 
partment until  1886.  For  the  following  nine  years 
be  was  connected  with  the  Swift  County  Bank,  but 
in  the  meantime,  in  1894,  was  elected  judge  of 
probate  of  Swift  County,  and  gave  up  his  business 
as  a banker  in  1896. 

The  twenty  years  spent  in  the  office  of  probate 
judge  is  the  service  for  which  Mr.  Edwards  has  his 
most  widespread  popularity  and  esteem,  but  it  has 
been  by  no  means  his  only  public  service.  For  about 
eight  years  he  was  a member  of  the  school  board 
and  treasurer  of  the  board  of  education  several 
years,  was  also  on  the  village  council,  was  presi- 
dent of  the  village  when  it  was  incorporated  as  a 
city,  and  was  the  first  man  to  be  honored  by  elec- 
tion as  mayor,  an  office  he  held  two  terms.  Was  also 
city  treasurer  several  years. 

In  1879  Judge  Edwards  married  Ellen  Kocher,  who 
died  in  1890.  The  children  of  this  union  are:  Eugene 
N. ; Inez,  wife  of  S.  H.  Cozzens;  Zula,  widow  of 
Ross  Hodgkinson;  May,  wife  of  Albert  Leslie;  and 
Eunice,  who  died  in  1887.  Judge  Edwards  married 
for  his  second  wife  Mary  E.  Hunter,  who  died  in 
1899.  The  present  Mrs.  Edwards  was  before  her 
marriage  Alvira  Turner. 

Judge  Edwards  has  enjoyed  many  interesting  asso- 
ciations with  social  and  civic  organizations.  He  has 
always  been  a stanch  republican  and  a valuable 
worker  in  the  interests  of  his  party.  His  chief  activity 


JUDGE  J.  N.  EDWARDS 


f 


ft 


ANSEL  OPPENHEIM 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1769 


in  fraternal  work  has  been  in  the  Masonic  order. 
He  is  a member  of  Swift  Lodge,  No.  129,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ; Mount  Lebanon  Chapter,  No.  4 7,  R.  A.  M., 
at  Morris;  is  worthy  patron  of  Chapter  No.  157  of 
the  Order  of  Eastern  Star,  and  has  been  identified 
with  the  Masonic  order  since  1882.  He  joined  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  1870,  and  is 
a member  of  Benson  Lodge,  No.  114,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
His  associations  with  his  old  army  comrades  are 
with  McPherson  Post  No.  17,  G.  A.  R. 

Ansel  Oppenheim.  Not  every  man  who  followed 
the  advice  of  Horace  Greeley  and  went  West  suc- 
ceeded. One  who  did  succeed,  however,  and  to  an 
extraordinary  degree,  was  Ansel  Oppenheim,  of 
New  York  and  St.  Paul,  former  vice  president  of 
the  Chicago  Great  Western  Railway,  real  estate 
operator,  and  financier  with  a reputation  on  two 
continents.  To  the  new  field  he  brought  an 
intelligent  appreciation  of  the  opportunities  it 
afforded  and  an  insight  into  conditions,  present  and 
future,  that  amounted  to  positive  genius.  He  was 
energetic  and  forceful,  and  by  enterprising  and 
progressive  methods  became  in  comparatively  short 
time  an  important  factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
great  Northwest. 

Ansel  Oppenheim  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
January  5,  1847,  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Henrietta 
Oppenheim.  His  parents  came  to  this  country  from 
Germany  in  1842,  and  settled  in  New  York  City, 
where  his  father  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
amassing  a fair  competency  prior  to  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1879.  Mr.  Oppenheim’s  educational 
advantages  were  excellent  for  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  the  Free  Academy,  and  later  the  College  of 
the  City  of  New  York.  At  an  early  age  he  was  sent 
West  on  a matter  of  business  for  his  father.  On 
this  trip  he  went  to  Sparta,  Wisconsin.  At  that 
time,  Herman  Greve,  who  later  removed  to  St. 
Paul  and  became  known  as  one  of  that  city's  largest 
real  estate  holders  and  most  prominent  men,  was 
living  in  Sparta  and  held  a well  established  position 
and  high  reputation  throughout  the  state.  Mr. 
Oppenheim  met  and  fell  in  love  with  Josie  Greve, 
daughter  of  Herman  Greve,  who  combined  with  an 
exquisite  and  charming  personality  intellectual  gifts 
of  a high  order.  They  were  married  June  21,  1869. 

After  a few  years  spent  in  New  York,  the  young 
couple  came  back  to  Sparta  in  order  that  Mrs. 
Oppenheim  might  be  near  her  father,  who  was  at 
that  time  in  poor  health.  Mr.  Oppenheim  took  up 
the  study  of  law  and  after  a short  time  removed  to 
St.  Paul,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  St.  Paul 
bar  in  1878,  becoming  almost  from  the  start  one 
of  its  distinguished  members.  He  formed  a law 
partnership  with  Judge  John  Brisbin  and  the  firm 
was  soon  in  possession  of  an  enviable  practice  and 
reputation.  But  the  keen  insight  and  judicial  mind 
which  made  Mr.  Oppenheim  a successful  lawyer  soon 
led  him  to  an  appreciation  of  the  opportunities 
afforded  by  this  wonderful  Western  land  and  his 
temperament  demanded  a more  active  and  vigorous 
life  than  his  profession  permitted.  A study  of  con- 
ditions convinced  him  of  the  exceptional  advantages 
on  every  hand  and  he  abandoned  the  law  for  real 
estate.  With  his  father-in-law  he  organized  the 
firm  of  H.  Greve  & Co.  This  firm  put  through  some 
of  the  most  extensive  and  important  real  estate  deals 
ever  made  in  St.  Paul.  In  1880,  the  firm  purchased 
the  St.  Paul  City  Railway  from  the  bond  holders 
and  from  this  time  on  Mr.  Oppenheim  began  to 


give  the  larger  share  of  his  attention  to  railway 
interests. 

He  became  actively  interested  in  many  things ; and 
some  of  the  largest  enterprises  ever  launched  in  the 
Minnesota  capital  were  sponsored  by  Ansel  Oppen- 
heim. He  was  one  of  the  number  of  public  spirited 
investors  who  built  the  Metropolitan  Opera  House 
in  St.  Paul,  which  is  still  regarded  as  the  finest 
structure  of  its  kind  in  the  Northwest;  and  he  was 
president  of  the  Union  Stock  Yards  of  St.  Paul 
when  they  were  first  built  Among  the  railroads  in 
which  he  was  interested  was  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul 
& Kansas  City  Railroad,  afterwards  merged  into  the 
Chicago  Great  Western  Railway,  and  of  which  he 
was  vice  president  and  director.  Although  he  has 
spent  the  most  of  the  past  fifteen  years  in  New  York 
City  and  abroad,  Mr.  Oppenheim  is  still  interested  as 
director  in  numerous  corporations  in  St.  Paul, 
including  the  Interstate  Trustee  Company,  Ltd.,  of 
which  he  is  vice  president.  He  is  also  a director 
of  Wm.  Jessopp’s  Sons,  Ltd.,  of  New  York  and 
London,  and  of  the  Computing  Tabulating  Company. 

It  is  as  a financier  that  Mr.  Oppenheim  has 
achieved  his  greatest  success.  His  connections  in 
the  financial  world  are  far-reaching  and  important, 
and  he  is  not  intimately  associated  with  the  most 
notable  financiers  of  the  East  and  West,  but  has 
valuable  connections  abroad.  He  has  crossed  the 
ocean  more  than  a hundred  times,  and  is  not  only 
a well  known  figure  in  the  offices  of  the  great 
bankers  and  financiers  of  England,  but  a welcome 
guest  in  the  homes  of  the  most  prominent  men  on 
the  other  side.  No  man  is  better  versed  in  values 
and  investments  than  he,  and  he  has  long  been  con- 
sidered an  authority  on  these  subjects,  especially  on 
financial  conditions  in  the  Northwest.  He  is 
frequently  interviewed  by  the  financial  papers  of 
New  York  and  has  written  several  articles  on 
Minnesota  and  the  Northwest  for  the  London 
financial  journals.  On  his  return  from  England  at 
the  beginning  of  the  great  war  of  1914,  his  opinions 
were  much  sought  and  he  wrote  several  articles  on 
the  subject  of  European  financial  conditions  as  he 
viewed  them,  for  the  New  York  papers. 

Aside  from  his  important  business  connections, 
Mr.  Oppenheim  has  always  found  time  for  public 
spirited  effort  in  behalf  of  anything  that  related  to 
the  public  welfare.  Before  he  left  New  York  for  the 
West  he  had  served  as  a member  of  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Regiment  of  the  New  York  State  National 
Guard.  In  the  West,  his  belief  in  the  great  future 
of  his  adopted  state  and  city  impelled  him  to  take 
an  active  interest  in  political  and  municipal  affairs. 
In  1880,  shortly  after  coming  to  St.  Paul,  he  was 
appointed  a member  of  the  board  of  equalization  of 
the  State  of  Minnesota.  In  1890,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  assembly  of  the  City  of  St.  Paul. 
He  is  a democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and 
served  as  chairman  of  the  Democratic  County  Com- 
mittee of  Ramsey  County,  Minnesota,  with  head- 
quarters at  St.  Paul.  He  was  chairman  of  the  State 
Democratic  Committee  of  Minnesota,  and  one  of  the 
secretaries  of  the  National  Democratic  Convention 
which  met  at  Chicago  in  1884,  and  nominated  Grover 
Cleveland  for  his  first  presidential  term. 

A born  story  teller  and  a notably  good  one,  the 
possessor  of  a keen  intellect  and  strong  in  his  con- 
victions, Mr.  Oppenheim  is  a welcome  visitor  in  any 
social  circle.  His  love  for  music  amounts  to  a 
passion.  He  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  famous  men 
who  used  to  gather  in  the  well  remembered  “Amen 


1770 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Corner”  of  the  old  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  He  is  a 
member  of  a number  of  clubs  and  societies,  among 
them,  the  Town  and  Country  Club  of  St.  Paul;  the 
Minnesota  Club  of  New  York,  and  the  Historical 
Club  of  Minnesota.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
National  Democratic  Club  of  New  York,  and  is  a 
Mason.  His  New  York  office  is  located  at  No.  50 
Broad  Street,  and  in  St.  Paul  he  makes  his  head- 
quarters in  the  Oppenheim  Building. 

During  his  long  career,  Mr.  Oppenheim  has  had 
the  advantage  of  possessing  that  most  valuable  aid 
to  happiness  and  success — a congenial  and  sympa- 
thetic wife.  Mrs.  Oppenheim  herself  is  worthy  of 
deep  interest,  not  only  as  a potent  influence  in  her 
husband’s  life,  but  as  a leader  in  the  various  circles 
in  which  she  has  lived.  Her  mother  was  Marie 
Lindemann,  and  on  both  sides  she  came  of  Prussian 
parentage.  Her  father,  Herman  Greve,  was  a man 
of  unusual  personality,  being  a combination  of  the 
visionary  and  the  keen  business  man.  Mrs.  Oppen- 
heim inherited  many  of  his  traits  of  character  and 
was  his  favorite  daughter  and  close  companion.  In 
addition  to  this  advantage  she  was  given  a very 
superior  education.  While  she  devoted  herself 
mostly  to  the  forwarding  of  her  husband’s  interests, 
she  -is  the  author  of  several  interesting  books  and 
has  contributed  much  charming  verse  to  the  mag- 
azines. Her  novel,  “Evelyn,”  written  early  in  her 
married  life,  is  remarkable  both  for  its  philosophical 
insight  and  marked  literary  excellence.  She  was  a 
leader  in  St.  Paul  society,  but  gave  much  time  and 
energy  to  practical  and  helpful  civic  and  charitable 
movements.  She  reorganized  the  Free  Dispensary 
of  St.  Paul,  and  for  eight  years  was  its  president. 
She  was  also  the  organizer  and  the  leading  figure  in 
the  Ladies  Auxilliary  of  the  Northwest  Manufac- 
turers Association.  She  spent  one  winter  in  Wash- 
ington where  she  was  a social  favorite,  and  on  long 
visits  abroad  with  her  husband  she  has  seen  much 
of  social  life  of  England  and  the  Continent.  During 
her  residence  in  New  York  she  has  been  prominent 
in  literary  circles  of  the  city. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oppen- 
heirs.  The  oldest,  Herman,  born  July  19,  1870, 
followed  his  father’s  profession  and  served  as 
assistant  corporation  attorney  of  St.  Paul.  He 
always  had  a preference  for  country  life  and  bought 
a farm  near  Bound  Brook,  New  Jersey,  where  he 
died  from  pneumonia,  December  18,  1913.  The 
second  son,  Lucius  Julius  Oppenheim,  is  a member 
of  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  and  in  1906  mar- 
ried Miss  Genevieve  Thomas  of  Baltimore.  The 
third  son,  Greve  Oppenheim,  resides  in  St.  Paul.  He 
married,  October  12,  1910,  Miss  Lillian  King  of 
Minneapolis,  and  has  one  child,  Josephine. 

For  many  years  past  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oppenheim 
have  resided  in  New  York,  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  public  service  which 
Mr.  Ansel  Oppenheim  rendered  to  the  State  of 
Minnesota  was  his  able  and  enthusiastic  co-opera- 
tion, more  than  thirty  years  ago,  with  Mr.  A.  B. 
Stickney  and  others,  in  the  establishment  of  the 
packing  industries  and  live  stock  market  at  South 
St.  Paul.  The  value  of  this  great  enterprise  to  the 
state  and  to  the  entire  Northwestern  country  has 
been  set  forth  in  the  historical  chapters  of  this  work. 
No  pen  can  exaggerate  its  present  importance  nor 
predict  its  future  magnitude.  In  its  very  beginning, 
Mr.  Oppenheim  was  a firm  believer  in  its  merits 
and  tireless  in  working  out  all  its  numerous  details 
of  operation.  South  St.  Paul  is  one  of  his  prom- 
inent Minnesota  monuments. 


Joseph  S.  Collins,  M.  D.  A physician  and 
surgeon  whose  work  has  commended  him  to  the 
community  in  and  about  Caledonia,  and  who  is  the 
proprietor  of  a well  equipped  hospital  and  sanitar- 
ium, Dr.  Joseph  S.  Collins  is  one  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  medical  profession  in  Minnesota, 
but  possesses  the  qualifications  and  native  ability  and 
thorough  training  which  have  brought  high  rank  to 
many  young  men  in  this  profession. 

Joseph  S.  Collins  was  born  on  a farm  at  Geneseo, 
Illinois,  March  23,  1882.  His  parents  were  John  S. 
and  Catherine  (Meagher)  Collins,  both  natives  of 
Ireland.  His  father  was  born  in  1834  and  his  mother 
in  1846.  John  S.  Collins,  who  died  in  1908,  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1856,  and  after  a brief  residence 
in  Connecticut  moved  out  to  Illinois,  and  with  no 
capital  except  willing  hands  started  to  acquire  a 
competence  for  himself  and  family.  He  possessed 
excellent  business  judgment,  and  in  time  acquired 
an  estate  of  540  acres  in  the  rich  Illinois  farming 
district  of  Henry  County.  He  fed  cattle  and  was 
a large  shipper  for  a number  of  years.  A roan  of 
education  and  combining  broad  reading  with  prac- 
tical business  enterprise,  he  enjoyed  large  influence 
in  the  community,  and  was  a frequent  writer  for 
local  papers.  Politically  his  associations  were  with 
the  democratic  party.  His  widow,  who  came  to  the 
United  States  after  her  husband,  is  still  living  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Illinois. 

Dr.  Joseph  S.  Collins  was  educated  in  Illinois,  and 
was  graduated  M.  D.  from  the  University  of  Iowa 
in  1905.  The  first  three  years  in  practice  were  spent 
at  Atkinson,  Illinois,  and  in  1908  he  came  to  Cale- 
donia and  established  an  office  for  general  practice. 
For  some  time  he  was  associated  with  Doctor 
Murphy,  and  finally  bought  out  his  interests  and  has 
since  practiced  alone.  In  1908  Doctor  Collins  bought 
a hospital  at  Caledonia,  and  now  has  accommoda- 
tions for  seventeen  patients.  He  has  well  equipped 
operating  rooms,  and  maintains  the  institution 
largely  as  a sanitarium. 

Doctor  Collins  is  at  the  present  time  county 
physician,  and  resigned  the  office  of  county  coroner 
to  accept  that  post.  He  is  a member  of  the  County 
Medical  Society  and  the  Southern  Minnesota 
Medical  Association  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Among  other  interests  Doctor  Collins 
has  farm  lands  in  Illinois.  In  1908  he  married  Mary 
Finley  of  Faribault,  Minnesota.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  he  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  is  a democrat  in 
politics. 

Leslie  Loran  Sloniger.  A Minnesota  educator 
of  the  progressive  type,  whose  work  is  best  illustrated 
by  the  present  conditions  of  the  Hastings  High 
School,  Professor  Sloniger  has  been  identified  with 
that  institution  for  the  past  six  years.  When  he  took 
charge  the  Blastings  High  School  measured  up  to 
the  usual  standards  of  such  institutions,  but  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Sloniger  and  with  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  board  the  course  has  been  greatly 
broadened  and  adapted  to  the  varied  needs  of  its 
pupils  and  a new  vitality  has  been  instilled  into  all 
the  work.  The  first  noteworthy  improvement  was 
the  introduction  of  a manual  training  department, 
following  which  came  a course  in  agriculture,  and 
now  the  school  has  domestic  science  and  household 
art.  The  agricultural  course  takes  the  student 
through  four  years,  beginning  with  agronomy  and 
offering  opportunities  for  the  study  of  animal 
husbandry,  dairying,  soils,  horticulture,  and  general 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1771 


farm  management.  The  course  in  mechanics  is 
equally  comprehensive,  while  the  girls  are  offered 
training  in  cooking,  sewing  and  other  useful  domestic 
arts.  The  school  also  has  a normal  course  for  the 
training  of  teachers. 

Leslie  Loran  Sloniger  was  born  at  Moorefield, 
Nebraska,  February  27,  1886,  a son  of  Commodore 
Perry  and  Margaret  (Urmson)  Sloniger.  The 
Sloniger  family  originated  in  Germany,  and  the 
great-grandfather  came  from  Berlin  about  1800  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather,  Commo- 
dore Oliver  H.  P.  Sloniger,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  in  1904  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 
Professor  Sloniger’s  father  is  a prominent  real 
estate  man  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  for  a number 
of  years  has  taken  much  part  in  city  and  state 
affairs.  In  1875  the  Sloniger  family  settled  in 
Eastern  Nebraska,  moved  out  to  Western  Nebraska 
in  1885  and  was  subsequently  located  in  Lincoln. 

Professor  Sloniger,  the  oldest  in  a family  of 
nine  children,  was  educated  in  the  Moorefield 
graded  schools,  in  a preparatory  academy  at  Crete, 
Nebraska,  and  in  1904  entered  Doane  College  and 
was  graduated  Bachelor  of  Science  in  1908.  In  that 
year  he  did  his  first  work  as  an  educator  as  teacher 
of  science  at  Madelia,  Minnesota,  and  in  1910 
accepted  the  principarlship  of  the  Hastings  High 
School.  The  year  following  he  was  elected  superin- 
tendent of  the  high  school,  and  his  administration 
has  done  more  than  anything  else  to  bring  this  high 
school  into  the  front  rank  of  similar  institutions  in 
the  state.  It  now  has  an  enrollment  of  more  than 
650  pupils,  and  the  work  of  the  school  has  been  so 
diversified  as  to  offer  every  one  adequate  training 
for  useful  citizenship.  Among  other  improvements 
which  Mr.  Sloniger  has  introduced  is  the  savings 
deposit  system  among  the  high  school  pupils,  in  co- 
operation with  a local  bank.  At  the  present  time 
there  are  about  300  depositors  among  the  pupils  of 
the  public  school,  and  the  total  of  deposits  amount  to 
more  than  $2,000.  Mr.  Sloniger  has  also  organized 
the  high  school  literary  association,  and  this  associa- 
tion publishes  a monthly  journal  known  as  The  Moc- 
casin, which  has  completed  its  fifth  volume,  and  is  a 
well  edited  and  illustrated  school  magazine,  furnish- 
ing opportunities  for  literary  and  editorial  work 
among  the  pupils,  and  keeping  the  general  public 
and  the  alumni  of  the  school  informed  as  to  progres- 
sive developments. 

Mr.  Sloniger  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason,  a mem- 
ber of  the  Hastings  Commercial  Club,  and  is  a man 
of  broad  and  generous  interests  and  active  both  in 
and  out  of  his  special  profession.  He  is  a past  presi- 
dent of  the  Hastings  Beethoven  Club  and  a member 
of  the  library  board.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Chautauqua  and  Lyceum  at  Hastings,  and  has 
done  a great  deal  of  work  in  Lyceum  and  Chautau- 
qua circles,  as  an  organizer.  He  is  secretary  of  the 
Southeastern  Minnesota  Educational  Association. 
In  politics  he  is  a republican  on  national  issues, 
but  independent  in  state,  county  and  municipal  affairs 
and  gives  his  support  to  the  man  best  qualified  for 
office.  On  June  19,  1912,  Mr.  Sloniger  was  married  at 
Hastings  to  Miss  Florence  Beatrice  Hanson,  who 
was  born  in  Hastings,  a daughter  of  Charles  and 
Hilda  (Erickson)  Hanson.  Her  family  were  among 
the  pioneer  settlers  during  the  early  ’60s  of  Dakota 
County.  They  have  one  son,  George  Esmond,  born 
at  Hastings  July  1,  1913. 

Winfield  Scott  Hammond.  At  the  general  elec- 
tion of  November,  1914,  the  people  of  Minnesota 


expressed  both  a personal  and  political  choice  in 
electing  Winfield  Scott  Hammond  of  St.  James  to 
the  governor’s  chair.  Mr.  Hammond  had  many 
qualifications  and  experiences  to  commend  him  for 
this  high  honor.  He  made  a clean,  vigorous  cam- 
paign against  his  competitors  and  went  into  office 
after  a striking  expression  of  the  people’s  will. 

Winfield  Scott  Hammond  was  born  in  South- 
borough,  Worcester  County,  Massachusetts,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1863,  a son  of  John  W.  and  Ellen  (Panton) 
Hammond.  He  grew  up  and  received  his  early 
education  in  his  native  town,  graduating  from  the 
Peters  High  School  in  June,  1880.  The  same  year  he 
entered  Dartmouth  College,  and  was  graduated  A.  B. 
in  June,  1884.  He  received  his  master’s  degree  from 
Dartmouth  in  1889.  Governor  Hammond  has  been 
identified  with  Minnesota  for  thirty  years,  having 
come  to  the  Northwest  soon  after  his  graduation 
and  served  as  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Man- 
kato from  September,  1884,  to  June,  1885.  He  was 
superintendent  of  schools  at  Madelia,  Minnesota, 
fr.om  1885  to  1890,  and  in  the  meantime  had  pursued 
the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1891.  He  began  his  practice  at  Madelia,  where  he 
remained  until  1895,  and  since  May  of  the  latter 
year  has  been  a popular  citizen  and  an  able  lawyer 
at  St.  James,  in  the  same  county. 

Governor  Hammond  first  entered  practical  politics 
soon  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  having  beenN 
democratic  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Second 
Minnesota  District  in  1892.  He  was  county  attorney 
of  Watonwan  County  during  1895-96,  and  again 
from  1900  to  1905.  In  1898  Governor  Lind  appointed 
him  a member  of  the  board  of  directors  for  state 
normal  schools  of  Minnesota,  and  under  re-appoint- 
ment from  Governor  Van  Sant  he  served  as  a 
normal  school  director  for  eight  years.  He  was 
president  of  the  board  of  education  at  St.  James 
from  1898  to  1903.  He  is  a member  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Bar  Association,  and  for  a number  of 
years  has  been  one  of  the  state  managers  of  the 
Sons  of  the  Revolution.  In  1906  Governor  Ham- 
mond again  became  a candidate  for  Congress,  and 
this  time  was  successful  at  the  general  election, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1908,  1910  and  1912,  serving 
continuously  frojn  1907  to  1913.  In  1914,  as  above 
stated,  he  was  elected  governor  of  Minnesota  to 
succeed  Gov.  A.  O.  Eberhart,  and  he  was  duly 
inaugurated,  in  the  presence  of  a joint  session  of 
the  Legislature,  January,  1915. 

The  career  of  Governor  Hammond  vividly  illus- 
trates the  opportunities  open  to  American  citizens, 
especially  in  Minnesota,  for  advancement,  provided 
they  have  the  required  ability,  force  of  character  and 
elements  of  genial  personality,  which  commend  them 
to  popular  approval.  Governor  Hammond  came  to 
this  state  from  the  Atlantic  Coast  a very  young  man 
and  a stranger.  He  was  not  an  aggressive  self- 
seeker,  but  his  solid  merits  were  at  once  recognized. 
By  performing,  with  energy  and  intelligence  every 
task  assigned  him,  he  has  risen,  successively,  from 
one  position  to  a higher  one,  until  now,  he  stands  at 
the  apex  of  honor  and  responsibility  the  worthy  peer 
of  many  illustrious  predecessors. 

St.  Cloud  Public  Library.  The  nucleus  of  the 
present  flourishing  and  well  equipped  public  library 
of  the  City  of  St.  Cloud  was  formed  June  8,  1865, 
by  a number  of  ladies  who  organized  what  was 
known  as  a Library  Association,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  and  maintaining  a library  and  reading 
room. 


1772 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


One  hundred  and  fifty  volumes,  belonging  to  the 
old  Everett  School,  originally  donated  by  Edward 
Everett,  of  Massachusetts,  after  whom  the  school 
was  named,  were  added  to  those  purchased  with  a 
fund  raised  by  the  association  through  sewing  cir- 
cles, tea  parties,  and  suppers. 

The  books  were  housed  in  various  rooms,  and 
store  buildings,  and  several  times  were  stored  away, 
once  almost  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  old  Library  Association,  through  many  vicis- 
situdes, tenaciously  kept  it  in  existence  until  their 
organization  was  merged  into  the  present  Ladies’ 
Reading  Room  Society,  incorporated  December  2, 
1872. 

It  continued  to  maintain  a library,  where  books 
were  issued  upon  the  payment  of  a very  small  fee, 
and  a free  reading  room,  until  March  31,  1883,  when 
the  books  were  turned  over  to  the  city,  to  be  sup- 
ported by  an  annual  tax  levy,  and  made  entirely  free 
to  the  public,  administered  by  a library  board  ap- 
pointed by  the  mayor. 

The  library  was  then  incorporated  under  the  name 
of  the  St.  Cloud  Public  Library  and  Free  Reading 
Room.  It  was  situated  in  a room  on  the  second 
floor  above  Carter’s  Drug  Store,  on  St.  Germain 
Street,  whence  it  was  moved  in  a few  years  to  the 
room  on  the  first  floor  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  West  House,  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and 
First  Street  South. 

These  quarters  soon  proved  inadequate  and  the 
library  was  established  in  the  old  lobby  of  the  same 
building,  occupying  the  two  commodious  rooms, 
joined  by  large  arches,  on  the  northwest  corner. 
The  Reading  Room  Society  contributed  $500  to  the 
annual  appropriation  toward  paying  rent  and  heat. 

These  quarters  bid  fair  soon  to  become  too  small 
also,  when  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  on 
the  morning  of  February  8,  1901,  necessitating  a 
hasty  removal  to  the  store  building,  between  St. 
Germain  Street  and  First  Street  South,  on  the  west 
side  of  Fifth  Avenue,  known  as  the  Schultz  Build- 
ing. 

All  the  fixtures,  including  the  newly  installed 
steel  library  stacks,  were  destroyed,  but  all  but  300 
of  the  books  were  saved,  owing  to  the  magnificent 
work  rendered  by  citizens. 

February  9,  Alvah  Eastman  and  H.  C.  Ervin,  with- 
out each  other’s  knowledge,  wrote  a letter  to  Mr. 
Andrew  Carnegie,  who  was  just  beginning  his  mag- 
nificent contributions  toward  library  buildings,  in  an- 
swer to  a letter,  setting  forth  the  resources  of  the 
city  and  its  needs  of  a library  building,  since  the 
destruction  of  the  old,  its  want  of  a suitable  loca- 
tion, etc. 

A few  days  later  an  answer  was  received  offering 
$25,000  for  a building,  on  condition  that  the  city 
contributed  a desirable  site  and  10  per  cent  of  the 
gift  annually  for  its  maintenance. 

The  generous  gift  was  accepted.  The  Reading 
Room  Society,  that  up  to  this  had  generously  added 
sums  to  the  annual  appropriation,  gave  the  present 
beautiful  site,  at  a cost  of  $5,000,  of  which  $2,000 
was  donated  by  J.  J.  Hill. 

The  building,  which  was  completed  in  1902,  sit- 
uated on  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  South  and 
Second  Street,  is  constructed  of  Roman  pressed 
brick  and  the  native  red  granite,  with  two  magnifi- 
cent, tall,  polished  red  granite  pillars  gracing  each 
side  of  the  handsome  entrance.  Above  the  doorway 
is  a metal  tablet  with  the  following  inscription : 
“This  Tablet  Is  Inscribed  to  Andrew  Carnegie, 


Through  Whose  Generosity  This  Building  Has  Been 
Erected  Upon  a Site  Donated  by  the  Ladies  Read- 
ing Room  Society  1902.”  The  four  granite  pillars, 
in  the  interior,  were  given  by  the  Reading  Room 
Society,  as  were  also  the  substantial  mission'  tables 
and  chairs,  and  the  valuable  Arundle  Prints.  This 
society  continues  its  contributions,  as  the  library 
needs  them,  and  up  to  this  date  has  given  about 
$15,000  to  the  institution  since  its  organization  in 
1872. 

The  present  library  is  a thoroughly  up-to-date, 
exceedingly  progressive  institution,  with  an  unusu- 
ally well  selected,  practical  equipment  of  books  num- 
bering over  12,600  volumes,  in  the  circulating  and 
reference  departments. 

Its  circulating  department  includes  about  2,000 
volumes  of  German  and  Swedish  books.  Non-resi- 
dents have  the  privileges  of  the  library  by  paying  a 
very  small  annual  fee. 

There  are  about  150  current  magazines  and  papers 
in  the  reading  room.  The  children’s  room,  used  ex- 
tensively, is  supplied  with  attractive  well  filled 
shelves. 

The  reference  department  is  used  daily  by  a great 
number  of  normal  and  high  school  students  as  well 
as  the  general  public. 

The  basement  is  used  for  classes  in  the  Minnesota 
University  Extension  Course  lectures  and  the 
monthly  meeting  of  the  G.  A.  R.  veterans.  The  first 
librarian  was  N.  F.  Barnes.  The  present  efficient 
librarian,  Mrs.  Marie  E.  Brick,  was  appointed  in 
1895- 

William  E.  Browning,  M.  D.,  has  practiced  medi- 
cine and  surgery  in  Caledonia  during  the  past  fifteen 
years. 

His  fine  ability,  amiable  disposition  and  close  ap- 
plication to  his  profession  have  gained  for  him  pros- 
perity and  the  respect  of  the  community.  Soon  after 
coming  to  Caledonia  he  took  the  medical  examina- 
tion before  the  state  board,  and  among  all  the  ap- 
plicants he  took  the  first  premium,  his  general  aver- 
age being  above  ninety-three  per  cent. 

Dr.  William  E.  Browning  comes  from  a family  of 
physicians  and  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  July 
31,  1873,  a son  of  J.  W.  and  Nellie  (Cash)  Brown- 
ing. His  father  was  born  in  Somerset,  England,  in 
1845,  a son  of  William  Joseph  Browning,  who  emi- 
grated to  Canada  and  followed  his  trade  as  watch- 
maker there  until  his  death.  Doctor  Browning’s 
mother  was  born  in  Ontario  in  1848  and  died  in 
1875.  Her  father,  David  Cash,  was  born  in  England 
and  settled  in  Ontario  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacturing  business.  J.  W.  Browning  has  had 
a long  career  as  a physician,  was  graduated  from 
the  Victoria  University  of  Toronto  in  medicine  and 
has  since  practiced  at  Exeter,  Ontario.  While  all  his 
time  is  devoted  to  his  practice,  he  is  the  owner  of 
a drug  business  in  Exeter.  He  belongs  to  the  re- 
form party  in  politics,  served  as  president  of  the. 
County  Reform  Association,  but  has  never  sought 
office  for  himself.  By  his  marriage  to  Miss  Cash 
there  were  two  children : Mrs.  Addie  Mahaffy,  who 
lives  in  Medicine  Hat,  Alberta;  and  Dr.  William  E. 
By  his  second  marriage  his  five  children  are:  H.  J. 
Browning,  who  is  a physician  practicing  in  Manitoba; 
Mrs.  George  Hawkins  of  Exeter,  Ontario;  P.  H. 
Browning,  who  is  connected  with  the  American  Rub- 
ber Company  at  Hamilton,  Ontario ; E.  F.  Browning, 
a hardware  merchant  at  Niagara,  Canada;  and  Mrs. 
Ollie  Becker  at  New  Hamburg,  Ontario. 


c 


CALEDONIA  HOSPITAL 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1773 


Dr.  W.  E.  Browning  was  educated  in  his  home 
town  of  Exeter  and  is  a graduate  in  medicine  from 
McGill  University  of  Montreal,  having  taken  his 
degree  in  1899.  He  had  a brief  experience  at  Exeter 
in  his  father’s  office,  but  arrived  in  Caledonia,  Min- 
nesota, Christmas,  1899,  and  has  since  been  in  active 
practice.  He  soon  became  interested  in  a small  hos- 
pital, but  later  bought  the  splendid  site  occupied  by 
the  Caledonia  Hospital,  and  in  1908  erected  the  fine 
structure  above  described. 

In  1900  Doctor  Browning  married  Dorothy  J. 
Gould  of  Exeter,  Ontario.  They  have  one  child,  E. 
Reginald.  Mrs.  Browning  has  long  been  an  invalid 
and  since  1902  has  been  in  the  Oak  Grove  Sanitarium 
at  Flint,  Michigan.  Doctor  Browning  is  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  is  actively  interested 
in  Masonry,  is  a past  master  and  now  presides  as 
high  priest  in  the  local  chapter;  is  a Knight  Tem- 
plar, having  affiliations  with  the  commandery  at 
Preston,  the  Consistory  at  Winona,  and  the  Temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  St.  Paul. 

Doctor  Browning  has  long  been  active  in  medical 
societies,  served  for  several  years  as  president  of  the 
Houston-Fillmore  Counties  Medical  Societies,  is  an 
ex-vice  president  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  Medical 
Society,  and  has  membership  in  the  State  Medical 
Society,  the  American  Medical  Association,  the  Brit- 
ish Medical  Society,  and  Association  of  Railway 
Surgeons  of  America.  He  is  serving  as  surgeon  for 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railway.  Doctor 
Browning  is  president  of  the  local  pension  board  and 
is  health  officer  at  Caledonia.  For  a number  of  years 
he  was  vice  president  and  is  now  president  of  the 
Commercial  Club.  Everything  in  connection  with 
the'  forward  movement  in  Caledonia  is  a matter  of 
interest  to  him.  He  is  a “Good  Roads”  booster  and 
after  serving  as  chairman  of  the  “Roads  Committee” 
of  the  Caledonia  Commercial  Club,  and  the  Houston 
County  Automobile  Association,  is  now  president  of 
the  latter  organization  and  is  one  of  the  public- 
spirited  of  the  local  citizens.  His  intellectual  inter- 
ests extend  beyond  his  profession  and  his  work  as  a 
citizen  and  his  avocations  have  some  interesting  evi- 
dences at  his  downtown  office  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  Abbotts  Block.  He  has  what  is  conceded  to 
be  one  of  the1  best  collections  of  Indian  relics  and 
curios  in  the  state,  and  has  also  gathered  together 
a large  number  of  rare  fossils.  These  collections 
are  found  in  his  reception  room,  and  have  proved  a 
source  of  entertainment  and  instruction  to  his  pa- 
tients and  his  friends  and  other  visitors.  He  is  also 
a philatelist  of  no  mean  distinction,  and  his  collec- 
tion of  coins  has  been  gathered  from  practically  all 
the  civilized  nations  of  the  world,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  complete  found  in  the  northwestern  states. 

Caledonia  Hospital.  One  of  the  institutions 
which  might  well  prove  a source  of  pride  to  any 
town  or  community  is  the  Caledonia  Hospital,  at 
Caledonia,  of  which  Dr.  William  E.  Browning  is 
resident  physician  and  proprietor.  Few  hospitals 
anywhere  have  a more  complete  equipment  and  more 
attractive  surroundings.  To  a large  group  of  pa- 
tients who  find  it  necessary  to  resort  to  hospitals 
and  sanitaria  the  surroundings  and  the  atmosphere 
are  of  greater  importance  in  effecting  a cure  than  the 
purely  mechanical  equipment.  This  fact  has  been 
kept  in  mind  by  Doctor  Browning  ever  since  he  es- 
tablished Caledonia  Hospital  in  1903.  The  hospital 
occupies  a handsome  building,  as  far  removed  as 
possible  from  the  associations  and  appearance  of  an 
institution,  and  yet  is  built  with  the  modern  fire- 


proof features  and  equipment  of  the  best  establish- 
ments of  its  kind.  A three-story  structure,  sur- 
rounded by  trees,  with  its  outer  walls  overgrown 
with  ivy,  approached  by  a curving  driveway,  sur- 
rounded by  iolA  acres  of  land  adorned  with 
shrubs  and  flowers — the  aspect  is  such  as  to  sug- 
gest rather  the  atmosphere  of  a beautiful  country 
home  than  a hospital.  Among  the  details  of  con- 
struction may  be  noted  a hydraulic  elevator,  hot 
water  and  steam  heat,  electric  light,  private  gas  plant 
for  lighting  and  for.  heating,  five  large  bathrooms, 
tile  floors  and  walls,  marble  partitions,  and  with 
other  most  approved  arrangements,  all  of  them  meas- 
uring up  to  the  best  standards  of  sanitation  and  con- 
venience. 

The  service  of  the  Caledonia  Hospital  affords  not 
only  the  usual  facilities  found  in  the  average  of 
such  institutions,  but  also  is  a place  for  people  to 
be  cured  and  completely  restored  to  health,  and  thus 
partakes  in  a measure  of  the  service  furnished  in 
the  best  sanitaria  of  the  country.  It  has  accommo- 
dations for  twenty  patients  and  the  staff  consists  of 
one  hospital  trained  graduate  physician  as  interne 
and  three  regular  nurses,  while  others  are  employed 
as  needed.  While  Doctor  Browning  is  proprietor  of 
the  hospital  its  equipment  is  for  the  use  of  other 
legitimate  physicians,  and  it  is  really  a public  insti- 
tution and  of  much  importance  to  Caledonia  and 
vicinity. 

Francis  John  Hanzel.  For  several  years  Francis 
John  Hanzel  has  had  the  reputation  of  being  one 
of  the  most  scholarly,  hard  working,  and  thoroughly 
equipped  lawyers  of  Le  Sueur  County,  and  is  now 
serving  in  his  third  term  as  prosecuting  attorney. 
His  relations  with  the  State  of  Minnesota  are  those 
of  a native  son,  his  family  were  pioneers,  and  his 
own  career  has  been  a steady  progress  from  a youth 
in  which  hard  work,  ill  health  and  a steadfast 
ambition  were  factors  until  he  now  is  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Montgomery. 

Francis  John  Hanzel  was  born  at  New  Prague, 
in  Scott  County,  Minnesota,  January  21,  1883.  He 
comes  of  a community  of  thrifty  Chech  people 
who  settled  about  the  Town  of  New  Prague  in  Scott 
County,  and  is  a son  of  Thomas  and  Barbara 
(Kubat)  Hanzel,  wrho  still  live  in  New  Prague,  his 
father  being  a retired  lumberman  and  farmer.  The 
grandfather,  Thomas  Hanzel,  was  born  in  Chechy, 
Austria,  and  his  son,  Thomas,  was  likewise  a native 
of  that  country,  and  about  1855  brought  the  family  to 
the  United  States.  The  grandfather  first  settled  in 
Illinois,  and  later  moved  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  then 
came  to  New  Prague,  Minnesota,  and  joined  the 
colony  of  his  fellow  countrymen  who  were  early 
settlers  in  that  vicinity.  The  grandfather  met  an 
accidental  death.  Thomas  Hanzel,  the  father,  lived 
in  Dubuque  for  two  years  after  his  parents  went  on 
to  Minnesota,  worked  on  farms  in  Iowa,  and  on 
s.etting  out  for  Minnesota  walked  all  the  distance 
from  Dubuque  to  New  Prague,  finally  reaching  the 
home  of  his  parents.  In  Scott  County  he  operated 
the  first  sawmill,  and  remained  a lumber  manu- 
facturer until  the  supply  of  timber  was  exhausted. 
He  gave  up  the  sawmilling  industry  in  1900,  but  in 
the  meantime  had  for  a number  of  years  been  a 
lumber  merchant.  By  strict  honesty  and  hard  work 
he  became  a man  of  more  than  ordinary  consequence 
in  that  community.  John  Kubat,  the  maternal 
grandfather,  was  a native  of  Chechy,  learned  the 
trade  of  master  carpenter  in  that  country,  and  sub- 
sequently founded  his  family  in  Minnesota.  He 


1774 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  while  his  wife, 
Josephine,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 
All  members  of  the  family  have  been  devout  adher- 
ents of  the  Catholic  faith.  Thomas  and  Barbara 
(Kubat)  Hanzel  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
and  all  are  now  deceased  except  Francis  J. 

The  latter  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
and  parochial  schools  of  New  Prague,  and  his 
studious  disposition  inclined  him  when  a boy  toward 
a learned  profession,  and  he  never  lost  sight  of  this 
aim  until  it  was  accomplished.  He  was  graduated 
from  Iowa  City  Academy  in  1902,  and  subsequently 
became  a student  in  the  law  department  of  Notre 
Dame  University  at  South  Bend,  Indiana.  His 
studies  there  were  interrupted  by  ill  health,  but  he 
persisted  and  was  graduated  from  the  law  school  in 

1906.  He  continued  his  studies  in  the  law  office  of 
Hon.  A.  J.  Edgerton  of  New  Prague  and  after  a 
thorough  course  of  reading  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  by  the  state  board  of  examiners  in  January, 

1907. 

For  the  past  eight  years  Mr.  Hanzel  has  been 
in  active  practice  at  Montgomery,  in  Lesueur  County. 
For  three  years  he  served  as  city  attorney,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1908  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney 
for  the  county,  and  has  served  his  third  consecutive 
term.  In  1910  he  resigned  his  office  as  city  attorney 
owing  to  his  increased  responsibilities  in  the  county 
office.  An  active  republican,  Mr.  Hanzel  has  the 
interesting  distinction  of  having  made  a house  to 
house  canvass  of  the  entire  county  four  different 
times  in  the  interests  of  the  republican  ticket.  He 
is  a Catholic,  and  has  served  two  years  as  Grand 
Knight  of  the  local  lodge  of  Knights  of  Columbus, 
and  one  year  as  chancellor.  He  belongs  to  the 
Town  and  Country  Club,  and  hunting  and  fishing  are 
among  his  favorite  pastimes.  Mr.  Hanzel  possesses 
a good  professional  and  general  library,  and  is  a 
constant  student.  He  is  a member  of  the  Eighth 
Judicial  District  Bar  Association. 

However,  apart  from  his  profession,  his  chief 
interest  is  dairy  farming.  Mr.  Hanzel  owns  320 
acres  of  land,  and  has  made  his  one  of  the  model 
farms,  specializing  in  fine  Holstein  cattle.  His  estate 
is  located  in  Rice  County,  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Shields,  2P2  miles  from  Shieldsville.  Shieldsville,  it 
should  be  noted,  was  named  in  honor  of  General 
Shields,  the  founder  of  the  town,  an  officer  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  a United  States  senator  from  four 
different  states.  Mr.  Hanzel’s  farm  is  nine  miles 
from  Montgomery.  In  the  latter  place  he  resides  in 
a pleasant  home,  and  has  a fine  family. 

On  November  22,  1910,  at  Montgomery,  Mr.  Han- 
zel married  Miss  Charlotte  Bolton.  She  was  born 
at  Wegatchie,  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York,  a 
daughter  of  Frank  E.  and  Margaret  (Carr)  Bolton. 
Her  grandfather  Carr  is  now  living  at  Ox  Bow, 
New  York,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Mrs. 
Hanzel’s  parents  live  at  Mankato,  Minnesota,  where 
her  father  is  head  miller  of  the  Hubbard  Milling 
Company,  while  for  nine  years  he  was  head  miller  at 
Montgomery.  Mrs.  Hanzel  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Altar  Society  of  the  Catholic  Church  of 
Montgomery.  Their  three  children  were  all  born  in 
Montgomery,  as  follows : Cecelia,  born  November 

30,  1911;  Francis  John,  Jr.,  April  9,  1913,  and  Marie, 
born  September  19,  1914. 

John  N.  Gayner.  One  of  the  leading  lawyers 
and  business  men  of  Meeker  County  is  John  N. 


Gayner,  who  has  for  many  years  been  identified 
with  public  affairs,  and  his  business  in  real  estate 
has  also  shared  with  his  activities  as  a lawyer. 

John  N.  Gayner  was  born  in  Sweden  in  1861,  but 
has  lived  in  Minnesota  since  1877.  His  parents  were 
Nelson  and  Kerna  Gayner,  both  natives  of  Sweden. 
The  father  died  in  that  country,  and  the  widowed 
mother,  who  was  born  in  1822,  brought  her  family 
to  Minnesota  in  1877-  She  died  in  this  state  in  1908. 
There  are  four  children  still  living:  Louis  N.,  who 
is  a retired  real  estate  man  at  Minneapolis;  Swan 
Dassel,  a merchant;  John  N.,  and  Elna,  who  is  still 
living  in  Sweden. 

John  N.  Gayner  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Sweden,  and  afterwards  attended 
the  English  schools  in  Minneapolis.  As  a young 
man  he  took  a correspondence  course  in  pharmacy, 
and  while  a registered  pharmacist  does  not  practice. 
His  first  regular  occupation  was  as  clerk  in  a store, 
and  after  coming  to  Meeker  County  he  was  elected 
and  served,  four  successive  terms  in  the  office  of 
county  auditor.  It  was  while  in  that  public  office 
that  he  took  up  the  study  of  law,  at  first  by  corre- 
spondence, and  later  as  a student  under  E.  W. 
Campbell.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1908,  and 
has  since  maintained  both  a law  and  real  estate  office. 
Mr.  Gayner  is  secretary  of  the  Litchfield  Land  Com- 
pany. For  three  years  he  served  as  a special  ex- 
aminer of  the  state.  He  is  active  in  Masonic  circles, 
being  affiliated  with  the  Knight  Templar  Com- 
mandery  and  is  financier  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  Politically  he  is  a democrat. 

In  1896  Mr.  Gayner  married  Thilda  Olson,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Olson,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in 
Carver  County.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born 
three  children:  Arthur,  aged  twenty-four;  Lillian, 

aged  twenty-three,  and  Leroy,  aged  twenty-one. 

Dana  T.  Colby.  Editor  and  owner  with  his 
brother,  Everett  C.,  of  the  Barnesville  Headlight, 
Dana  T.  Colby  is  one  of  the  younger  representatives 
of  the  newspaper  profession  in  Minnesota,  and  as. 
might  be  suspected  from  his  name  his  father  was 
likewise  of  the  guild  of  printers,  though  now  identi- 
fied with  a.  large  and  successful  real  estate  business 
at  Barnesville. 

Dana  T.  Colby  was  born  at  West  Duluth,  Minne- 
sota, November  30,  1891,  his  father,  Charles  E.  Colby, 
has  spent  a number  of  years  in  Barnesville  and 
has  done  much  toward  making  that  a thriving  village 
of  Clay  County.  The  Colby  family  is  of  Scotch- 
English  descent,  the  Colbys  having  come  to  New 
York  State  in  colonial  times.  Through  the  mother 
of  Charles  E.  Colby  the  ancestry  goes  back  to  the 
time  of  the  Mayflower. 

The  family  was  established  in  Minnesota  by  the 
grandfather,  George  H.  Colby,  who  came  to  this  state 
from  New  .York.  He  was  for  two  years  a Union 
soldier  during  the  Civil  war.  For  many  years  he 
lived  in  the  Town  of  Plainview,  in  Wabasha  County, 
subsequently  removed  to  Glencoe,  and  finally  to  the 
vicinity  of  Hector,  Minnesota,  where  he  died  Novem- 
ber, 1912.  George  H.  Colby  was  one  of  the  oldest 
members  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  the  Northwest 
at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Charles  E.  Colby  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Plain- 
field,  Wabasha  County,  Minnesota,  October  21,  1865, 
and  at  Glencoe  finished  the  course  of  the  local  high 
school,  and  was  subsequently  a student  in  the  Archi- 
bald Business  College  at  Minneapolis.  Prior  to 
entering  college  he  had  had  some  experience  in  a 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1775 


printing  office,  and  was  more  or  less  closely  identified 
with  that  trade  from  the  time  he  was  thirteen  yeais 
of  age.  In  1884  he  moved  to  Groton,  South  Dakota, 
spent  the  next  four  years  as  clerk  in  the  postoffice 
and  as  mailing  clerk  in  the  railway  postal  service. 
In  1888  he  bought  the  Glencoe  Enterprise  was  its 
editor  and  manager  two  years,  and  sold  the  news- 
paper in  order  to  establish  a job  printing-  office  in 
Duluth.  He  conducted  this  printing  business  until 
1893.  During  his  residence  in  Duluth  Charles  E. 
Colby  married  Anna  Termath,  who  was  born  at 
LeSueur,  Minnesota,  of  American  parents  but  of 
German  stock.  In  1893  Mr.  Colby  left  Duluth  to 
become  foreman  of  the  Magnet  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Minnesota,  and  was  connected  with  that  plant  until 
1896.  In  January,  1897,  he  established  the  Baines- 
ville  Record,  a republican  paper,  which  was  sub- 
sequently consolidated  with  the  Review,  and  m 1903 
he  sold  this  consolidated  journal  to  a stock  company. 
The  following  two  years  were  spent  as  a salesman 
traveling  in  Western  Canada.  Mr.  Colby  then  re- 
sumed the  foremanship  of  the  Record-Review  at 
Barnesville,  and  only  gave  up  that  position  m April, 
1913.  Though  he  now  gives  some  assistance  and 
attention  to  the  management  of  the  Barnesville  Head- 
light, he  is  chiefly  concerned  with  the  handling  ol  a 
°rowing  real  estate  business,  in  which  he  has  been 
engaged  more  or  less  actively  since  coming  to  Barnes- 
ville He  has  handled  farm  lands  all  over  Minne- 
sota and  North  Dakota.  Charles  E.  Colby  and  wife 
have  two  sons,  already  mentioned  as  joint  owners 
of  the  Headlight.  The  son,  Everett  Charles,  who  was 
born  in  Duluth,  March  17,  1893,  graduated  from  the 
Barnesville  High  School  in  1913,  spent  one  year  at 
Fargo  College  in  North  Dakota,  and  in  both  schools 
was  prominent  in  baseball,  football  and  general 
athletics.  He  is  now  active  manager  of  the  jobbing 
and  mechanical  department  of  the  Headlight.  He 
is  a member  of  the  college  fraternity  Eta  Chi  Omega, 
of  Pierson  Lodge  No.  169,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  the 
Modern  Brotherhood  of  America. 

Dana  T.  Colby  is  a graduate  of  the  Barnesville 
High  School  of  the  class  of  1911,  following  which 
he  had  two  years  of  study  in  Fargo  College,  in 
1913  he  became  proofreader  and  reporter  for  the 
Fargo  Courier-News,  and  had  paid  his  way  through 
high  school  by  reporting  for  Twin  City  papers  and 
through  college  in  a similar  way.  June  IS  1913, 
the  family  established  the  Barnesville  Headlight, 
with  Dana  Colby  in  charge  of  the  editorial  depart- 
ment. On  July  18,  1914-  the  Headlight  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Moorhead  Independent,  and  the 
property  is  now  jointly  owned  by  Dana  and  Everett 
Colby.  The . business  headquarters  are  on  Mam 
street,  and  the  paper  has  a circulation  in  Clay  and 
Wilkin  counties,  with  a large  foreign  list.  It  main- 
tains an  independent  position  in  politics. 

Mr.  Dana  Colby  is  himself  an  independent  re- 
publican, and  in  religious  matters  . Jeans  to  the 
Christian  Science  faith.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  Colfax  Lodge,  in  which 
he  is  taking  the  chairs  successively,  and  is  a member 
and  has  been  secretary  of  Lincoln  Camp  of  the  Sons 
of  Veterans.  He  is  also  an  active  member  of  the 
High  School  Alumni  Association  at  Barnesville. 


Edward  Clarence  Kiley.  Editor  and  publisher, 
postmaster,  former  probate  judge,  influential  citizen, 
Edward  C.  Kiley  has  been  a man  of  prominence  in 
Minnesota  for  twenty-two  years.  He  is  a veteran 


newspaper  man  and  has  published  papers  or  worked 
in  the  stations  of  reporter  and  editor  with  many 
journals  in  many  different  localities  of  the  North- 
west. In  1913,  he  was  president  of  the  Northern 
Minnesota  Editorial  Association  and  served  a num- 
ber of  years  as  president  of  the  Grand  Rapids  Com- 
mercial Club.. 

Edward  Clarence  Kiley  is  of  Irish  parentage,  and 
was  born  February  28,  1865,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  the  son  of  James  and  Agnes  (McNulty) 
Kiley.  When  he  was  two  years  of  age  his  parents 
came  west  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Grant  County, 
Wisconsin.  The  father’s  death  occurred  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1878,  the  mother's  a year  and  a half  earlier. 
Being  thus  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years 
with  no  resource  except  the  application  of  his  own 
industry,  he  first  turned  his  attention  to  the  only 
occupation  of  which  he  had  any  knowledge — that 
of  employment  on  a farm.  His  first  earnings  were 
at  the  rate  of  $6  per  month  and  board.  After 
having  earned  a living  at  various  employments  until 
May,  1880,  young  Kiley  went  into  the  office  of 
Odebolt  Observer  at  Odebolt,  Iowa,  and  commenced 
to  learn  the  printing  trade.  That  he  was  especially 
adapted  to  newspaper  work,  is  attested  by  the  fact 
that  two  years  later,  when  but  seventeen  years  old, 
he  was  offered  and  accepted  the  position  of  editor 
and  manager  of  the  McCook  County  News  at  Salem, 
South  Dakota,  a democratic  paper  of  considerable 
influence.  From  Salem,  Mr.  Kiley  removed  to  North- 
wood,  North  Dakota,  where  he  purchased  the  Head- 
light. He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Northwood 
by  President  Cleveland,  but  there  being  little  op- 
portunity to  build  up  a business  in  that  town,  he 
went  to  Grafton,  North  Dakota,  where  he  pur- 
chased the  Grafton  Herald.  He  conducted  this  paper 
for  a time  when  he  sold  out  and  for  the  next  two- 
years  traveled  extensively  throughout  the  United 
States,  doing  reportorial  work  on  various  metropol- 
itan papers.  In  1890,  he  was  managing  editor  of 
the  Daily  Union,  a paper  established  in  Duluth  by  the 
journeymen  printers,  who  were  at  that  time  involved 
in  a strike.  Later  he  became  identified  with  the 
Progressive  Age  at  Duluth,  a democratic  paper 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  laboring  classes.  He 
spent  the  following  year  in  the  upper  peninsula  of 
Michigan,  where  he  was  married  at  Marquette,  July 
30,  1892,  to  Mrs.  Wilhelmina  Desjardins  Yates, 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Desjardins,  a prominent 
physician  of  that  place.  In  January,  1893,  Mr.  Kiley 
located  at  Grand  Rapids,  Minnesota,  where  for  a 
time  he  was  identified  with  one  of  the  local  papers. 
On  February  15,  1894,  he  established  the  Grand 
Rapids  Herald.  To  most  men  the  outlook  for  the 
success  of  this  venture  would  not  have  appeared 
inviting,  as  two  papers  already  occupied  the  field. 
But  Mr.  Kiley  assumed  that  such  a paper  as  he 
determined  to  publish  would  find  a permanent  place 
in  the  new  County  of  Itasca.  He  endeavored  to- 
outrank  his  competitors  by  producing  a bright,  at- 
tractive and  aggressive  paper.  In  May,  1896,  he  pur- 
chased the  Review  and  consolidated  the  two  pub- 
lications. In  politics,  Mr.  Kiley  has  always  been  a 
consistent  democrat.  He  was  a delegate  to  the 
National  Democratic  Convention  held  in  Chicago  in 
1896,  when  Bryan  was  first  nominated  for  the  pres- 
idency. In  the  campaign  of  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  judge  of  probate  of  Itasca  County.  He  has 
served  a number  of  terms  as  a member  of  the 
Democratic  State  Central  Committee  and  as  chair- 


1776 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


man  of  the  Itasca  County  Democratic  Committee. 
On  March  3,  1914,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Grand  Rapids  by  President  Wilson.  Fraternally  he 
is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks. 

While  Mr.  Kiley  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  politics  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders 
of  his  party  in  the  state,  it  is  as  an  editorial  writer 
and  newspaper  manager  that  he  is  most  distin- 
guished. The  Herald-Review  is  recognized  by  men 
of  the  fraternity  as  a model  typographically;  force- 
ful, clean  and  influential  editorially  and  as  main- 
taining a high  standard  in  its  news  efficiency. 

Irving  A.  Caswell.  An  able  member  of  the  bar 
of  his  native  state,  Mr.  Caswell  was  engaged  in  the 
active  practice  of  his  profession  at  Anoka,  judicial 
center  of  the  county  of  the  same  name,  until  he 
was  appointed  deputy  clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Minnesota  in  1909,  his  election  to  the  office  of  clerk 
of  this  tribunal  occurring  in  the  following  year,  and 
his  incumbency  of  the  exacting  and  important  office 
having  continued  to  the  present  time.  He  is  one 
■of  the  well  known  and  popular  citizens  of  St.  Paul, 
is  a member  of  a sterling  pioneer  family  of  the  state 
and  his  character  and  services  fully  entitle  him  to 
specific  recognition  in  this  history. 

Mr.  Caswell  was  born  on  a farm  in  Anoka  County, 
Minnesota,  on  the  25th  of  February,  1870,  and  is  a 
son  of  Albert  J.  and  Martha  A.  (Hayden)  Caswell, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  Province  of 
Ontario,  Canada,  and  the  latter  in  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire.  The  parents  came  to  Minnesota  in  the 
year  1857  and  first  settled  in  Meeker  County  and  later 
Albert  J.  Caswell  became  one  of  the  representative 
farmers  and  successful  business  men  of  Anoka 
County,  the  closing  period  of  his  life  having  been 
passed  in  the  attractive  little  City  of  Anoka,  where 
he  died  in  the  year  1892.  His  widow  still  maintains 
her  home  at  Anoka,  though  she  passes  a portion 
of  her  time  in  California  since  the  death  of  her 
honored  husband,  who  was  one  of  the  influential 
citizens  of  Anoka  County  and  who  ever  commanded 
the  unqualified  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  him. 

Irving  A.  Caswell  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Anoka  until  he  had  completed  the  curriculum  of  the 
high  school  and  as  a youth  he  became  identified  with 
the  newspaper  business  in  his  home  city,  where  for 
•several  years  he  was  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Anoka  Herald.  In  preparation  for  the  profession  of 
his  choice  he  finally  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  was 
graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1904  and  from 
which  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws. 
After  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  engaged  in  active 
practice  at  Anoka,  where  he  built  up  a substantial  law 
business,  and  he  there  continued  in  general  practice 
until  1909,  when  Charles  A.  Pidgeon  appointed  him 
deputy  clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state. 
Mr.  Pidgeon  resigned  the  office  of  clerk  on  the  1st 
of  December  of  the  same  year,  and  his  deputy  was 
chosen  as  his  successor,  holding  the  office  under 
appointment  until  his  formal  election  to  the  position, 
on  the  8th  of  November,  1910,  he  having  been 
nominated  for  the  office  at  the  Republican  State 
Convention  in  the  preceding  June  and  having  had 
no  opponent  in  the  ensuing  election. 

Mr.  Caswell  has  given  a most  careful  and  effective 
administration  of  the  affairs  of  his  office  and  his 
reports  have  been  model  documents  in  their  line. 


He  has  been  unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to  the 
republican  party  and  has  been  active  in  the  further- 
ance of  its  interests  in  his  state.  Mr.  Caswell  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
being  affiliated  with  the  lodge  and  chapter  of  the 
York  Rite  and  also  with  Zurah  Temple  of  the  Ancient 
Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
besides  which  he  holds  membership  in  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World.  At  the  time  of  the  Spanish- American 
war  he  enlisted  as  a member  of  the  Fourteenth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant,  his  command  having  been 
held  in  one  of  the  reserve  camps  in  the  South  and 
having  not  been  called  into  definite  action  at  the 
front. 

In  1897  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Cas- 
well to  Miss  Mary  Woodbury,  daughter  of  Dwight 
Woodbury,  a prominent  citizen  of  Anoka,  and  the 
one  child  of  this  union  is  Dwight  W. 

S.  F.  Jarvis.  The  Beardsley  News  at  Beardsley, 
in  Bigstone  County,  was  established  in  1907  and  its 
present  editor  and  proprietor  is  S.  F.  Jarvis,  a prac- 
tical printer  and  newspaper  man,  young  in  years 
but  with  an  experience  in  printing  shops  and  news- 
papers covering  fully  half  his  lifetime.  The  News 
maintains  an  independent  position  in  politics,  and  has 
a large  subscription  list  in  Bigstone  and  Travers 
counties,  and  also  is  mailed  to  many  patrons  outside 
the  state. 

S.  F.  Jarvis  was  born  at  Blunt,  Hughes  County, 
South  Dakota,  April  24,  1885.  Jarvis  is  an  old  New 
England  family  name,  identified  with  America  since 
the  Revolutionary  days.  His  father,  S.  F.  Jarvis, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine,  January  20, 
1835,  and  is  now  living  a retired  farmer  at  Blunt, 
South  Dakota.  His  parents  moved  out  to  Illinois 
when  he  was  young,  and  from  there  he  came  to 
Blunt  in  1883  as  one  of  the  pioneers  and  has  since 
had  his  home  on  the  ranch  which  he  improved  from 
the  raw  prairie.  While  a resident  of  Illinois  in  early 
manhood,  in  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-third 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  a soldier  during  the  rest 
of  the  war.  S.  F.  Jarvis,  Sr.,  married  Martha  Free- 
land, a native  of  Indiana.  Their  children  are : Clara, 
wife  of  John  Frederick,  a farmer  at  Sturgis,  South 
Dakota;  William,  a farmer  at  Blunt,  South  Dakota; 
Emma,  wife  of  C.  H.  Garravrant,  a farmer  at  Blunt; 
Jeanette,  wife  of  L.  G.  Lillibridge,  who  is  a minister 
of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Doland,  South  Dakota, 
and  S.  F.  Jarvis,  Jr. 

Mr.  Jarvis  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  the  North- 
west, was  reared  and  attended  common  schools  near 
Blunt,  South  Dakota,  and  at  the  early  age  of  twelve 
began  an  apprenticeship  in  the  newspaper  and  print- 
ing business  in  the  offices  of  the  Blunt  Advocate. 
In  the  meantime  he  continued  attending  school  a 
term  or  two  each  year,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
entered  a business  college  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa. 
Returning  to  Blunt  after  this  course  he  was  employed 
a year  and  a half  on  the  Advocate,  then  for  a simi- 
lar time  on  a paper  at  Jessup,  Iowa,  and  another 
year  on  the  Watchman  at  Oneida,  South  Dakota. 
Mr.  Jarvis  was  next  with  the  State  Publishing  Com- 
pany at  Pierre,  South  Dakota,  and  in  various  towns 
in  South  Dakota  and  Wyoming,  always  working  at 
his  trade,  until  March,  1907.  He  returned  to  Blunt 
for  a time,  then  was  connected  with  a paper  at 
Oneida  for  one  year,  and  for  a year  and  a half 
managed  the  Agar  Argus  at  Agar,  South  Dakota. 
Just  prior  to  his  removal  to  Beardsley,  Mr.  Jarvis 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1777 


was  connected  with  the  Pioneer  Printing  Company 
of  St.  Paul  until  February  9,  1912,  at  which  date  he 
accepted  a place  in  the  office  of  the  Beardsley  News. 
A year  and  a half  later  Mr.  Jarvis  bought  the  News, 
and  has  since  employed  his  broad  experience  and 
•capabilities  as  a newspaper  man  in  making  this  a 
well  expressed  medium  of  public  intelligence  in  Big- 
stone  County. 

Mr.  Jarvis  is  a republican  in  politics.  In  1907,  at 
Pierre,  South  Dakota,  he  married  Miss  Zoa  Stur- 
geon. Her  father,  H.  Z.  Sturgeon,  is  a farmer  living 
at  White  Bear,  Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jarvis  are 
the  parents  of  three  young  children : Clarence,  Paul 

and  Robert. 

Elmer  E.  McDonald,  who  for  many  years  has 
practiced  law  successfully  in  Northern  Minnesota 
and  is  a resident  of  Bemidji,  is  a native  of  Wiscon- 
sin, born  at  New  Richmond,  June  15,  1861,  a son  of 
William  C.  and  Louvisa  Jane  McDonald.  His  father 
was  a Wisconsin  farmer.  Mr.  McDonald  is  also 
descended  from  Clyde  McDonald,  who  was  an  early 
settler  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  having  located 
there  upon  land  acquired  under  a grant  from  King 
George  III. 

Reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state,  spending 
his  early  days  on  his  father’s  farm,  Elmer  E.  Mc- 
Donald was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin, and  has  been  a resident  of  Minnesota  more 
than  twenty-five  years,  and  during  the  greater  part 
of  that  time  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  bar. 
He  was  a resident  of  St.  Paul  a number  of  years 
and  while  there  served  as  a member  of  the  school 
board,  and  in  1897  was  elected  a member  of  the 
State  Legislature.  Mr.  McDonald  is  a republican  in 
politics.  He  was  married  at  St.  Paul,  November  18, 
1891. 

Bert  S.  Colton.  A business  man  of  long  and 
tried  experience  in  Martin  County,  for  many  years 
a resident  of  Fairmont,  and  now  proprietor  of  a 
drug  store  and  postmaster  at  Granada,  Bert  S.  Col- 
ton has  been  a resident  of  Minnesota  more  than 
forty-five  years,  nearly  the  entire  period  of  his  life- 
time. He  comes  of  good  family  stock,  his  father 
having  been  a pioneer  both  in  Wisconsin  and  in 
Minnesota,  and  in  New  England  the  first  Colton  was 
a man  of  note  during  the  colonial  settlement. 

Bert  S.  Colton  was  born  at  Lowell  in  Dodge 
County,  Wisconsin,  April  30,  1863.  His  father,  H. 
W.  Colton,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1820,  and  died 
in  Fairmont,  Minnesota,  in  1885,  having  moved  west 
to  Wisconsin  about  1850  and  in  1868  pursued  his 
westward  migration  as  far  as  Minnesota,  and  in 
1871  located  at  Fairmont  among  the  early  settlers 
of  that  village.  He  was  by  trade  a harness  maker. 
The  emigrant  ancestor  was  George  Colton,  and 
tradition  says  that  his  birthplace  was  the  town  of 
Sutton,  Coldfield  in  County  Warwick,  England.  He 
was  first  married  about  1644  to  Deborah  Gardner 
of  Hartford,  Connecticut.  She  died  September  5, 
1689,  and  in  1692  he  married  a widow,  Lydia 
(Wright)  Lamb,  daughter  of  Deacon  Samuel  Wright. 
From  military  service  George  Colton  derived  the 
rank  of  quartermaster.  As  early  as  1644  he  had  lo- 
cated in  the  Springfield  settlement,  and  assisted  in 
laying  out  and  establishing  the  Town  of  Suffield,  a 
work  which  was  begun  March  20,  1672.  His  death 
occurred  before  1722,  since  in  that  year  fifty  acres 
of  land  were  laid  out  in  Suffield  to  the  assigns  of 
George  Colton. 


H.  W.  Colton  was  married  to  Amelia  Rhoda  Man- 
zer,  who  was  born  at  S wanton,  Vermont,  in  1822 
and  died  at  Fairmont  in  1904.  Their  children  were : 
Anna,  who  married  M.  Pratt  and  lived  in  Portland, 
Oregon;  Edward  H.,  who  was  an  engineer  with  the 
Milwaukee  railway  and  died  at  LaCrosse,  Wiscon- 
sin, in  1908;  Charles  M.,  a policeman,  who  died  in 
New  York  city  in  1909;  Ella,  who  married  G.  H. 
Reed,  a physician  at  Evansville,  Wisconsin,  and 
both  are  now  deceased ; William  H.,  who  is  a farmer 
at  Fairmont;  J.  B.,  a merchant  at  Fairmont;  and 
Bert  S. 

Bert.  S.  Colton,  who  has  never  married,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  at  Fairmont,  for  two 
years  was  a student  at  Carleton  College  at  North- 
field.  On  leaving  that  institution  he  spent  a year 
as  teacher  in  West.  Fairmont,  and  then  in  1884 
identified  himself  with  the  drug  trade  as  an  em- 
ploye in  Edwards  store  at  Fairmont.  While  his  in- 
terests acquired  broadening  scope  and  much  of  his 
time  is  taken  up  with  official  affairs.  Mr.  Colton 
remained  with  his  first  business  association  for 
fully  twenty  years,  up  to  1904,  in  which  year  he 
established  a drug  store  of  his  own  at  Granada. 
This  store  is  well  situated  and  has  a good  stock  and 
being  the  only  store  of  its  kind  in  the  village,  has  a 
monopoly  on  the  drug  trade  in  the  town  and  sur- 
rounding country.  Recently  Mr.  Colton  received 
appointment  as  postmaster  of  Granada,  his  com- 
mission being  signed  by  President  Wilson. 

Mr.  Colton  is  a democrat  and  has  been  identified 
with  that  party  in  his  public  service.  For  four  years 
he  served  as  a county  commissioner.  His  fraternal 
relations  are  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Fairmont. 

Eugene  E.  Lane.  The  activities  and  enterprise  of 
Eugene  E.  Lane  as  one  of  Southern  Minnesota’s 
leading  editors  and  publishers  have  been  concen- 
trated at  Sherburn  for  the  past  thirteen  or  fourteen 
years.  Mr.  Lane  has  been  more  or  less  closely  as- 
sociated with  printing  and  publishing  and  editorial 
work  since  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  is  a veteran 
in  that  profession,  although  not  yet  in  the  prime  of 
his  years.  At  Sherburn  Mr.  Lane  is  editor  of  the 
Advanced  Standard  and  is  also  postmaster. 

Eugene  E.  Lane  was  born  July  12,  1872,  in  Fari- 
bault County,  Minnesota,  and  belongs  to  a family  of 
pioneer  settlers  in  that  section  of  the  state.  His 
father  was  Alonzo  Lane,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1846  of  a family  long  settled  in  that 
state.  He  came  out  to  Minnesota  as  an  early  set- 
tler in  Faribault  County  and  died  there  of  typhoid 
fever  in  1874.  He  was  a carpenter  and  builder  by 
trade,  but  followed  farming  for  the  most  part  in 
Faribault  County.  He  married  Susan  Young,  who 
was  born  in  Wisconsin  in  1843  and  died  in  Delavan, 
Minnesota,  in  1910.  The  children  of  their  marriage 
were : Frank  M.,  who  is  secretary  of  the  Scranton 

Coal  Company  at  Tacoma,  Washington;  and 
Eugene  E.  The  mother  during  her  widowhood  mar- 
ried T.  J.  Andrews,  a dentist,  now  deceased,  and 
her  only  child  by  this  union  was  Charles  E.,  who 
was  killed  in  a railroad  accident  in  1910. 

Eugene  E.  Lane  grew  up  and  attended  the  schools 
at  Delavan,  and  his  school  days  were  finished  at  the 
age  of  fourteen.  Already  he  had  acquired  some  ex- 
perience in  the  printing  office  of  the  Herald  at 
Delavan,  and  his  first  four  years  in  regular  employ- 
ment was  with  the  Mankato  Journal.  Mr.  Lane  was 
then  with  the  Windom  Citizen  three  and  a half 


1778 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  bought  the  Moun- 
tain Lake  View  at  Mountain  Lake,  and  edited  this 
paper  until  May,  1901.  In  that  month  he  moved  to 
Sherburn,  bought  the  Sherburn  Standard,  and  in 
1905  acquired  the  opposition  paper,  the  Sherburn 
Advance,  and  the  consolidation  has  resulted  in  the 
Sherburn  Advance  Standard,  a newspaper  that  is  a 
profitable  financial  enterprise  and  enjoys  a large  cir- 
culation and  influence  in  Sherburn  and  tributary 
vicinity.  The  newspaper  plant  is  located  on  Main 
Street  at  the  rear  of  the  postoffice.  Mr.  Lane  is  an 
independent  republican  in  politics,  and  in  1908  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Sherburn 
and  still  holds  that  position. 

Other  relations  with  the  community  are  as  stock- 
holder in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  at  Sher- 
burn, as  a member  of  the  Sherburn  Commercial 
Club,  and  for  one  year  he  was  a member  of  the 
school  board.  Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  Man- 
kato Lodge  No.  225  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks  and  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows at  Sherburn.  Mr.  Lane  was  married  at  Sterling 
Center  in  Blue  Earth  County  to  Miss  Sadie  A.  Dobie, 
a daughter  of  Joseph  Dobie,  now  deceased,  who  for 
many  years  was  a farmer  at  Sterling  Center.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lane  have  two  children : Floyd  M.,  a stu- 
dent in  the  Mankato  Commercial  College;  and  Fern 
A.,  a student  in  the  Sherburn  High  School. 

Joseph  Edward  Lynds.  Among  the  men  foremost 
in  Cloquet  as  identified  with  Minnesota  industrial 
enterprises,  those  who  have  become  known  far  and 
wide  by  reason  of  the  breadth  of  their  operations 
and  the  importance  of  their  business  connections, 
none  is  there  whose  career  has  been  more  impressive 
as  an  object  lesson  of  public-spirited  citizenship  than 
Joseph  Edward  Lynds.  A man  whose  interests  are 
of  such  an  extensive  character  as  to  demand  his 
almost  constant  attention,  he  has  still  found  the 
leisure  and  the  desire  to  contribute  .of  his  energy 
and  ability  to  those  movements  which  have  made 
for  civic  advancement,  and  his  services  have  done 
much  to  give  the  city  of  his  adoption  a reputation 
among  Northeastern  Minnesota  communities. 

Born  December  9,  1854,  at  Sterling,  Massachusetts, 
Mr.  Lynds  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
community  and  completed  his  education  with  a me- 
chanical engineering  course  at  Worcester  Polytechnic 
Institute,  where  he  was  graduated  with  his  degree  in 
1875.  His  advent  in  Cloquet  occurred  in  August, 
1886,  when  he  became  general  manager  of  the  store 
connected  with  the  Cloquet  Lumber  Company,  a posi- 
tion which  he  retained  until  1900,  in  the  meantime, 
in  1896,  being  made  treasurer  of  the  company.  This 
latter  office  he  still  holds.  Aside  from  his  connection 
with  this  concern,  his  business  interests  are  important 
and  embrace  a wide  range  of  enterprises.  He  is  vice 
president  of  two  of  the  Cloquet  Electric  companies, 
president  of  the  Reliable  Investment  Company  and 
treasurer  of  the  Duluth  and  Northeastern  Railroad. 
By  his  own  energy  and  labor  Mr.  Lynds  has  suc- 
ceeded in  achieving  a high  position,  and  what  he 
has  accomplished  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  am- 
bitious nature,  his  patient  endeavor,  and  his  un- 
wearying application.  Systematic  methods,  prompt 
and  decisive  action  under  all  circumstances,  good 
judgment  and  tact  united  to  a high  sense  of  honesty, 
and  an  absolute  fidelity  in  every  undertaking  have, 
when  in  such  combination,  placed  Mr.  Lynds  in  his 
present  position  and  given  him  the  reputation  of 
being  a truly  worthy  citizen  and  a thoroughly  repre- 


sentative Minnesotan.  While  his  leisure  moments 
have  been  few  and  far  between,  he  has  still  found 
time  to  devote  to  worthy  civic  interests.  A zealous 
friend  of  education,  he  served  as  a member  of  the 
school  board  for  six  years,  did  more,  perhaps  to  se- 
cure the  public  library  for  his  city  than  any  other 
man,  and  has  served  on  its  board  from  its  inception. 
He  has  also  served  one  term  as  a member  of  the  city 
council,  and  in  1899  was  sent  as  the  representative 
of  his  district  to  the  State  Legislature.  His  public 
career  has  at  all  times  been  characterized  by  a high 
ideal  of  the  responsibilities  of  office,  and  his  reputa- 
tion gained  in  business  circles  has  been  but  strength- 
ened by  his  services  as  a public  servant. 

On  January  14,  1886,  Mr.  Lynds  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Shaw,  who  comes  of  Revolutionary 
stock  and  is  a daughter  of  George  S.  and  Mary 
(Ross)  Shaw.  One  son  has  been  born  to  this  union  : 
Edward  Shaw,  who  is  connected  with  a leading 
wholesale  grocery  concern  of  Duluth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.. 
Lynds  spend  their  vacations  in  travel,  and  have  been 
fortunate  enough  to  visit  all  parts  of  the  world  but 
invariably  return  feeling  that  the  United  States  is. 
the  true  and  only  place  to  call  home. 

Hon.  Fred  Douglas  Vibert.  Among  the  men  of 
Northeastern  Minnesota  who,  as  public  servants,, 
have  made  enviable  records  for  their  faithful,  earnest 
and  successful  efforts  in  securing  beneficial  and  wise 
legislation,  none  is  better  or  more  favorably  known 
than  Fred  Douglas  Vibert,  mayor  of  the  thriving, 
and  prosperous  City  of  Cloquet.  An  earnest  worker 
for  the  advancement  of  his  party’s  interests,  he  yet. 
has  never  allowed  his  partnership  to  interfere  with 
his  efforts  in  the  advancement  of  what  he  has  con- 
sidered best  for  the  interests  of  his  city  and  its- 
people;  and  in  every  walk  of  life,  whether  public  or 
private,  the  same  high  principles  have  been  found 
to  govern  his  actions.  Aside  from  his  public  affairs, 
Mr.  Vibert  has  a wide  reputation  in  the  field  of 
journalism,  as  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Pine 
Knot,  one  of  the  leading  newspapers  of  Carlton 
County,  and  in  business  circles,  being  connected  with, 
a number  of  enterprises  which  contribute  to  the  com- 
mercial importance  of  Cloquet. 

Fred  Douglas  Vibert  was  born  November  14,  1874, 
at  Gaspereaux,  Canada,  and  is  a son  of  Douglas 
and  Helen  (Hallick)  Vibert.  The  parents  are  natives 
of  England,  returned  to  that  country  after  the  birth 
of  Fred  D.,  and  then  came  to  the  United  States,, 
settling  at  Cloquet,  Minnesota,  in  1883.  The  father, 
who  had  been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  in- 
surance business  in  Canada,  became  identified  with 
the  lumber  interests  of  Minnesota  upon  locating  here, 
and  continued  to  follow  that  line  during  the  active 
period  of  his  career.  The  early  education  of 
Fred  Douglas  Vibert  was  secured  in  the  public 
schools  of  England,  where  he  was  taken  as  a child, 
and  after  the  return  of  the  family  to  America  he 
completed  his  studies  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana.  When 
he  left  the  school  room  he  began  to  learn  the 
printer’s  trade,  at  which  he  worked  as  a journeyman 
until  1896,  in  that  year  purchasing  the  Pine  Knot, 
at  Cloquet,  a newspaper  which  had  been  established 
here  in  1884.  He  has  continued  as  the  editor  and 
publisher  of  this  newspaper  to  the  present  time  and 
is  giving  his  readers  a reliable  and  interesting  paper, 
which,  while  its  principles  are  republican  in.  char- 
acter, aims  to  present  a fair  and  unbiased  review  of 
conditions  and  important  subjects.  Since  he  as- 
sumed control  of  this  organ,  Mr.  Vibert  has  been 
successful  in  greatly  increasing  its  circulation,  and' 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1779 


it  is  known  as  one  of  the  best  advertising  mediums 
in  the  county.  In  connection  with  the  plant  a first- 
class  printing  establishment  is  maintained.  Mr. 
Vibert  has  been  identified  with  a number  of  business 
enterprises  of  the  city,  is  vice  president  of  the 
Reliable  Investment  Company,  and  is  president  of 
the  Cloquet  Building  and  Loan  Association.  From 
the  time  he  reached  his  majority  he  has  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  republican  party, 
and  at  various  times  has  been  called  upon  to  serve 
in  public  office,  being  an  ex-member  of  the  library 
board,  and  a member  of  the  park  board  for  a number 
of  years.  On  January  i,  1914,  he  was  his  party’s 
successful  candidate  for  the  office  of  mayor,  and 
already  his  administration  has  been  marked  by  im- 
provements that  evidence  Mr.  Vibert’s  earnest  desire 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  city  both  in  a civic 
and  business  way.  For  several  years  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  commercial  club,  and  still  holds  mem- 
bership in  that  organization,  being  one  of  Cloquet’s 
most  enthusiastic  “boosters.”  His  fraternal  connec- 
tion is  with  the  Blue  Lodge  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. 

On  May  8,  1897,  Mayor  Vibert  was  married  to 
Miss  Amelia  Roney,  of  Cloquet,  Minnesota.  Mayor 
and  Mrs.  Vibert  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  is  at  present  serving 
as  warden. 

1 

Frederick  A.  Pike.  A St.  Paul  lawyer  who  has 
lived  in  that  city  and  practiced  his  profession  for 
more  than  a quarter  of  a century,  Frederick  A. 
Pike  has  been  well  known  as  an  attorney,  in  business 
affairs  and  in  politics,  and  is  now  special  assistant 
to  the  LTnited  States  attorney  general.  His  offices 
are  in  the  Globe  Building  at  St.  Paul. 

Frederick  A.  Pike  was  born  at  Oshkosh.  Wiscon- 
sin, July  16,  1863,  fourth  son  of  Charles  E.  and  Mary 
A.  (Bowls)  Pike.  Both  parents  were  natives  of 
Maine,  and  grew  up  in  that  state.  In  1859  they  re- 
moved to  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  and  later  to  Northern 
Minnesota,  where  they  spent  several  years  on  a 
farm.  Charles  E.  Pike  was  a contractor  and  builder, 
and  his  interests  in  politics  finally  led  to  his  appoint- 
ment as  internal  revenue  collector  with  headquarters 
at  Washington,  D.  C.  In  1889  he  returned  to_  Min- 
nesota, and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  his  eighty- 
third  year.  His  widow  still  survives  and  is  now 
eighty-two  years  of  age. 

Frederick  A.  Pike  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  at  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  and  on 
leaving  high  school  entered  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin at  Madison  and  was  graduated  in  the  literary 
department  in  1885.  He  continued  his  work  in  the 
law  school,  and  was  graduated  LL.  B.  in  1888.  That 
year  marked  his  coming  to  St.  Paul,  and  he  was  soon 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  active  practice.  For 
twelve  years  he  was  a member  of  the  firm  of 
Hutchinson  & Pike,  but  otherwise  has  practiced  alone 
for  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  In  1892  he  was 
appointed  city  attorney  of  St.  Paul  and  held  that 
office  two  years.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Minnesota  Surety  Company. 

He  has  been  especially  well  known  in  democratic 
politics.  He  did  some  active  campaigning  in  1896 
for  Mr.  Bryan,  and  in  1904  was  chairman  of  the 
city  and  county  democratic  organizations,  and  did 
much  stump  speeching  himself.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council  from  1908  to  1912.  In 
June,  1913,  Mr.  Pike  was  appointed  special  assistant 
to  Atty.  Gen.  J.  C.  McReynolds,  and  much  of  his 


official  work  has  been  in  connection  with  the  adjust- 
ment of  land  allotments  in  the  White  Earth  Indian 
Reservation. 

Mr.  Pike  was  married  in  1895  to  Miss  Stella 
Sheldon  of  Otterville,  Minnesota,  daughter  of  D.  J. 
Sheldon.  They  have  the  following  children : Fred- 
erick A.,  Jr.,  Bertie  B.,  Robert  S.  and  Marion  H., 
all  of  them  in  school. 

Henry  J.  Frundt.  In  the  acme  of  virile  strength, 
with  well  disciplined  mind,  with  high  civic  ideals, 
with  unfaltering  progressiveness  and  public  spirit, 
Mr.  Frundt  js  a citizen  whose  influence  has  extended 
into  many  fields  and  invariably  proved  helpful  and 
benignant.  He  is  one  of  the  representative  members 
of  the  bar  of  Faribault  County,  is  well  known, in 
connection  with  public  affairs  in  Minnesota,  and  he 
has  given  a most  admirable  administration  in  the 
office  of  mayor  of  Blue  Earth,  a position  from  which 
he  retired  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1915,  his  resig- 
nation having  been  impelled  by  the  fact  that  he  then 
assumed  the  office  of  county  attorney  of  Faribault 
County,  a position  to  which  he  had  been  elected  in 
the  preceding  autumn.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Blue  Earth  since  1907, 
with  offices  in  the  Eder  Building. 

Henry  John  Frundt  was  born  in  the  City  of 
Waterloo,  judicial  center  of  Blackhawk  County, 
Iowa,  on  Christmas  day  of  the  year  1879  and  is  a 
son  of  John  Henry  Frundt  and  Julia  (Saul)  Frundt, 
both  natives  of  Germany,  the  former  having  been 
born  in  Mecklenburg,  in  1840,  and  the  latter  in  the 
Province  of  Pommern,  or  Pomerania,  Prussia,  in 
1848.  The  parents  passed  the  closing  years  of  their 
lives  in  the  City  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  where  the 
father  died  in  October.  1886,  and  where  the  mother 
was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  the  9th  day  of 
September,  1910,  both  having  been  earnest  members 
of  the  German  Evangelical  Association.  John  H. 
Frundt  was  a son  of  Henry  John  Frundt,  who  like- 
wise was  born  in  Mecklenburg,  and  who  immigrated 
with  his  family  to  the  United  States  in  1854,  his  home 
having  been  established  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  which 
then  gave  slight  evidence  of  its  future  prestige  as  a 
great  metropolitan  center.  There  he  engaged  in  the 
work  of  his  trade,  that  of  carpenter,  and  he  became 
one  of  the  prominent  and  representative  contractors 
and  builders  of  the  city,  continuing  his  residence  in 
Chicago  for  nearly  half  a century  and  having  been 
one  of  its  venerable  pioneer  business  men  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  August,  1898,  his  age  at  the 
time  having  been  eighty-two  years,  eight  months 
and  twenty  days. 

John  H.  Frundt  acquired  his  rudimentary  educa- 
tion in  his  native  land  and  was  a lad  of  about  four- 
teen years  at  the  time  of  the  family  immigration  to 
America.  He  was  reared  in  Chicago,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  1859  when  he  numbered 
himself  among  the  vigorous  young  pioneers  of  the 
State  of  Iowa.  He  established  his  home  on  an 
embryonic  farm  near  the  present  City  of  Daven- 
port, and  in  that  state  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  deep  spirit  of  loyalty  prompted  him  to  go  forth 
in  defense  of  the  Union,  then  in  the  throes  of 
Civil  war.  On  the  2d  of  August,  1862,  he  enlisted 
as  a private  in  Company  B,  Thirty-first  Iowa  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  with  this  gallant  command 
he  continued  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
save  for  periods  of  incapacitation  from  wounds  re- 
ceived in  battle.  Mr.  Frundt  participated  in  thirty- 
six  spirited  engagements,  including  the  memorable 


1780 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


second  charge  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  he 
was  with  Sherman’s  forces  in  the  Atlanta  Campaign 
and  the  historic  march  to  the  sea.  That  he  lived 
up  to  the  full  tension  of  the  great  conflict  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  he  received  wounds  from  which 
resulted  thirty  scars  that  remained  in  evidence  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  mustered  out  on  the 
27th  of  June,  1865,  with  a record  that  reflects  en- 
during honor  upon  his  name. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Frundt  returned 
to  Iowa  and  engaged  in  the  blacksmithing  and  car- 
riage-making business  at  Waterloo,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1882,  when  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Minnesota  and  established  his  home  in  St.  Paul. 
He  entered  the  service  of  the  city  in  the  capacity 
of  bridge  builder  until  his  death,  which  resulted 
from  a fracture  of  the  skull  when  he  fell  from  the 
Como  Avenue  Bridge,  on  which  he  was  working 
at  the  time.  He  was  a man  of  sterling  character 
and  well  fortified  opinions,  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  and 
was  affiliated  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
Of  the  children  the  eldest  is  Luella,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Otto  A.  Nordnann,  of  St.  Paul,  where  he  is  in  the 
employ  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad  Company; 
Sophia  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  E.  La  Bross, 
who  is  foreman  of  the  lithographing  department 
in  the  publishing  establishment  of  Brown  & Bigelow, 
of  St.  Paul;  Lena  died  at  Waterloo,  Iowa,  at  the 
age  of  nine  years;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Albert  H. 
Nicholai,  employed  as  a skilled  box-maker  in  the 
City  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri ; Henry  J.,  of  this  re- 
view, was  the  next  in  order  of  birth ; and  Samuel 
C.,  a traveling  salesman  by  vocation,  resides  in  St. 
Paul. 

Henry  J.  Frundt  was  about  three  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  the  family  removal  from  Iowa  to  St. 
Paul,  and  in  the  public  schools  of  Minnesota’s  capital 
city  he  acquired  his  early  educational  discipline. 
After  feeling  the  spur  of  ambition  and  formulating 
definite  plans  for  a future  career,  Mr.  Frundt  en- 
tered the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law,  and  in  this  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1905,  with  coincident  admission  to  the  Minnesota 
bar.  His  novitiate  in  the  active  work  of  his  pro- 
fession was  served  at  St.  Paul,  where  he  continued 
his  residence  until  1907,  when  he  removed  to  Blue 
Earth,  the  county  seat  of  Faribault  County,  where 
he  has  since  continued  in  the  active  work  of  his  pro- 
fession and  attained  to  high  standing. 

From  the  time  of  his  majority  to  the  present  Mr. 
Frundt  has  shown  no  wavering  in  his  allegiance 
to  the  republican  party,  and  he  has  been  a zealous 
and  effective  advocate  of  its  cause.  During  the 
session  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1907  he  served 
as  clerk  of  the  judiciary  committee  of  the  house, 
and  during  the  session  of  1909  he  was  private  secre- 
tary to  the  speaker  of  the  house,  Hon.  Andrew  J. 
Rockne.  A specially  noteworthy  service  rendered 
by  Mr.  Frundt  was  that  given  in  position  of  secre- 
tary of  the  commission  appointed  by  Governor  Eber- 
hart  to  consider  and  provide  measures  for  the  ad- 
justment in  Minnesota  of  the  compensation  of  work- 
ing men.  In  this  position  he  was  sent  to  Europe, 
where  he  passed  three  months  in  investigating  labor 
conditions  and  policies  in  England.  Belgium,  Ger- 
many and  France,  members  of  the  commission  prose- 
cuting similar  investigations  in  Scotland,  Austria 
and  Switzerland.  In  more  recent  days  he  cannot  but 
contrast  with  unmitigated  sorrow  the  peaceful  con- 
ditions and  prosperity  that  prevailed  in  the  countries 


which  he  visited  and  which  have  since  been  in  the 
midst  of  the  most  devasting  war  in  the  history  of 
the  world. 

In  April,  1913,  Mr.  Frundt  was  elected  mayor  of 
Blue  Earth,  and  assisted  in  giving  Blue  Earth  a pro- 
gressive administration.  He  has  served  also  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  public  library 
of  Blue  Earth.  Mr.  Frundt  is  a director  of  the  Blue 
Earth  State  National  Bank  and  the  State  Bank 
of  Frost,  Faribault  County,  and  is  a stockholder 
also  in  each  of  the  following  named  Minnesota 
financial  corporations:  Citizens  State  Bank  of 

Guckeen,  First  National  Bank  of  Elmore,  and  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Bricelyn,  besides  which  he  is 
a stockholder  in  the  bonding  and  loan  corporation  of 
Schanke  and  Company,  of  Mason  City,  Iowa.  In 
the  Masonic  fraternity  Mr..  Frundt  is  affiliated  with 
a St.  Paul  lodge  of  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  with  the  Blue  Earth  Chapter  of  Royal 
Arch  Masons.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
German  Evangelical  Association. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1911,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Frundt  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Graham, 
daughter  of  John  M.  and  Catherine  D.  Graham,  of 
Blue  Earth;  the  mother  is  now  deceased  and  Mr. 
Graham  is  a resident  of  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado, 
where  he  is  the  owner  of  the  largest  livery  and 
feed  stables  in  the  celebrated  resort  city.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Frundt  have  one  child,  John  Henry,  named 
with  the  generation  transposition  of  the  two  given 
names  that  has  been  followed  for  a number  of 
generations  in  the  Frundt  family. 

Clarence  Augustus  French.  During  the  thirty 
years  of  his  residence  at  Monticello,  Clarence 
Augustus  French  has  seen  this  thriving  Minnesota 
city  grow  and  prosper,  and  through  his  personal 
activities  has  contributed  greatly  to  its  development 
and  progress.  A veteran  publisher  and  editor,  he 
is  widely  known  among  the  craft  in  this  part  of  the 
Northwest,  and  since  1912  has  been  conducting  the 
News,  which  is  rapidly  becoming  one  of  the  influen- 
tial sheets  of  Wright  County.  Mr.  French’s  private 
interests  have  been  large  and  their  duties  exacting, 
but  he  has  always  found  time  to  discharge  the 
responsibilities  of  offices  to  which  he  has  been  called 
by  his  fellow-citizens,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  one 
man  has  accomplished  more  for  the  advancement  of 
education  and  good  citizenship. 

Clarence  Augustus  French  was  born  in  Ports- 
mouth Harbor,  England,  on  board  the  American  ves- 
sel Caroline  Read,  of  which  his  father  was  captain 
and  part  owner,  March  1,  1853,  the  parents  being 
Capt.  William  Wallace  and  Elizabeth  D.  (Burleigh) 
French.  Captain  French  was  born  at  Eastport, 
Maine,  and  as  a youth  followed  the  trade  of  machin- 
ist, but  eventually  went  to  sea  with  his  brother,  Capt. 
Nathaniel  E.  French,  of  Walpole,  Massachusetts,  and 
during  the  years  that  followed  rose  from  the  rank 
of  common  seaman  to  that  of  master  of  a vessel  and 
part  owner  thereof.  He  had  been  identified  with  the 
same  vessel  for  twenty  years,  when,  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight  years,  in  1865,  as  captain  of  the  ship 
Madurese,  in  the  harbor  of  Pernambuco,  South 
America,  a mutiny  broke  out  upon  his  ship  and  he 
was  stabbed  to  death  while  asleep  in  his  cabin.  Mrs. 
French  was  born  at  Sanbornton,  Belknap  County, 
New  Hampshire,  and  died  August  8,  1899,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-nine  years,  at  Brentwood,  that  state.*  She 
went  to  sea  with  her  husband  for  about  eight  years, 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1781 


circumnavigating  the  globe  twice.  Four  children  were 
born  to  her  and  Captain  French,  three  at  sea:  Wil- 
liam Frank,  who  is  deceased;  Clarence  Augustus,  of 
this  review;  and  Charles  H.,  whose  death  occurred 
in  1904.  and  Clara  B.,  who  died  at  Exeter,  New 
Hampshire,  at  the  age  of  2)4  years. 

Clarence  Augustus  French  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Newfield,  New  Hampshire,  and  was  but 
twelve  years  of  age  when  his  father  died.  When 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of 
printer,  at  Harwich,  Massachusetts,  on  the  Press,  a 
paper  which  has  long  since  been  discontinued.  In 
1869  his  ventures  went  to  Minneapolis,  the  train  trip 
taking  four  days,  and  there  secured  emplojunent  as 
a printer  with  Edward  A.  Stevens,  in  whose  employ 
he  continued  for  two  years,  later  going  with  David 
Ramaley.  In  1872  Mr.  French  again  became  identi- 
fied with  newspaper  work  when  he  secured  a posi- 
tion as  compositor  with  the  Dispatch,  of  St.  Paul,  of 
which  H.  P.  Hall  was  then  editor,  and  in  1876  went 
with  the  Minneapolis  Tribune,  as  assistant  proof- 
reader. In  1879  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Minneapolis  Evening  Journal,  which  he  assisted  in 
establishing,  with  Charles  H.  Stevens,  Frank  E.  Cur- 
tis and  J.  Hastings  Rowell.  Later  Mr.  French  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Rowell  in  his  position,  and  conducted  the 
paper  until  1881,  the  venture  proving  a very  profitable 
one  until  the  plant  was  burned  in  the  serious  fire 
which  destroyed  Brackett’s  Block.  The  good  will  of 
the  paper  was  sold  by  the  partners  to  Nimmocks 
Brothers  and  George  K.  Shaw,  for  whom  Mr.  French 
worked  for  some  time  as  foreman,  with  seventeen 
men  in  his  employ,  but,  desiring  to  be  at  the  head  of 
an  enterprise  of  his  own,  resigned  his  position  in 
1885  and  came  to  Monticello.  Here,  in  October  of 
that  year,  he  purchased  the  Times,  from  George  W. 
McDonald,  this  being  a small  local  paper  with  a cir- 
culation of  250,  which  Mr.  French  built  up  to  1,000, 
making  it  one  of  the  prominent  papers  of  Wright 
County.  This  was  conducted  as  a republican  organ 
until  1900,  when  he  changed  its  policy  to  an  inde- 
pendent standing,  giving  his  support  to  men  and 
principles  rather  than  to  party.  In  1912  this  paper 
was  sold  to  O.  G.  Bates,  its  present  owner,  and  Mr. 
French  founded  the  News,  October  7th.  So  highly 
had  his  efforts  in  the  past  been  appreciated  that  dur- 
ing the  first  week  he  was  able  to  secure  200  subscrip- 
tions for  his  new  paper,  and  this  has  since  grown  to 
600.  With  an  excellent,  up-to-date  equipment,  Mr. 
French  is  conducting  a thoroughly  modern  and  pro- 
gressive newspaper.  He  is  endeavoring,  as  in  the 
past,  to  give  his  readers  reliable  information  as  to  all 
the  news  of  all  the  world,  and  his  columns  have  been 
freely  given  to  the  support  of  helpful  and  beneficial 
movements.  That  he  is  progressive  in  his  ideas  and 
methods  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  was  second 
in  Wright  County  in  placing  a cylinder  press  into 
operation.  He  is  widely  and  favorably  known  among 
newspaper  men.  in  the  state,  is  a member  of  the 
Northern  Minnesota  Editorial  Association,  and  is 
also  connected  with  the  Minnesota  Editorial  Associa- 
tion, of  which  he  has  served  as  vice  president. 

Mr.  French's  public  services  have  been  numerous 
and  helpful.  In  1889  he  was  elected  record  clerk  of 
the  State  Legislature,  an  office  in  which  he  served 
two  terms  and  was  re-elected  in  1891,  has  served  on 
the  Monticello  council  as  trustee,  and  for  eighteen 
years  was  a member  of  the  board  of  education, 
resigning  in  1912  after  a number  of  years  as  presi- 
dent and  clerk  of  that  body,  an  office  to  which  he  was 


first  elected  in  1898.  He  is  the  only  charter  member 
left  in  Monticello  of  Garfield  Lodge  No.  145,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  past  noble  grand 
and  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Minnesota,  and 
has  attended  several  assemblies.  Mrs.  French  is  also 
prominent  socially,  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the 
public  library,  and  has  been  particularly  active  in 
the  work  of  the  Women's  Relief  Corps  and  the 
W.  C.  T.  U. 

On  July  14,  1881,  Mr.  French  was  married  at  Ply- 
mouth Church,  Minneapolis,  to  Miss  Loretta  S. 
Stevens,  daughter  of  John  Hucks  Stevens,  a New 
York  inventor,  who  designed  the  modern  match,  in 
1856,  and  died  in  i860.  He  was  a brother  of  William 
Stevens  of  England,  and  his  wife  was  a native  of 
that  country.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  French:  Clara  B..  Edith  Elizabeth,  Clar- 
ence Edwin  and  William  Wallace,  the  two  latter 
dying  in  infancy.  Clara  married  Dr.  Percy  T.  Wat- 
son. a graduate  of  Johns  Hopkins  University  and 
Carleton  College,  Northfield,  Minnesota,  and  during 
the  past  six  years  they  have  resided  at  Feu  Chow  Fu, 
China,  where  Doctor  Watson  has  a hospital  under 
the  direction  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions.  They  have  three  children  : Edith,  William 
Wallace  and  Janet.  Edith  Elizabeth  French  was 
graduated  from  Monticello  High  School  in  1901,  and 
then  attended  Carleton  College  one  year,  after  wffiich 
she  became  proprietress  of  the  Big  Lake  Herald, 
which  had  been  established  by  her  father  and  pre- 
sented to  her,  and  which  she  successfully  conducted 
until  her  marriage,  June  4,  1908,  to  Hubert  Mac 
Miller,  of  Big  Lake,  the  proprietor  of  a successful 
grain  and  feed  business.  Airs.  Mac  Miller  died 
March  2,  1909,  leaving  one  daughter,  Dorothy  C., 
born  February  27,  1909,  who  has  been  taken  by  her 
grandfather,  Air.  French. 

Hon.  John  Moonan.  One  of  the  native  sons  of 
Waseca  County,  was  born  in  Waseca  County,  Alinne- 
sota,  February  9,  1866.  and  is  a son  of  Patrick  and 
Alary  Ann  (Delaney)  Moonan.  His  father,  a native 
of  County  Louth,  Ireland,  was  born  in  1812,  and  as 
a young  man  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  Rock  County,  Wisconsin,  where  for  some 
years  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
1853  sensing  greater  opportunities  in  Alinnesota  he 
came  to  this  state,  taking  up  a farm  nine  miles  north 
of  Waseca,  and  here  passed  the  remaining  years  of 
his  life  in  the  pursuits  of  the  soil,  passing  away  at 
Waseca  in  1900.  He  was  a man  of  industry  and 
energy,  and  through  a long  life  of  earnest  endeavor 
accumulated  a handsome  competency,  so  that  his 
declining  years  were  spent  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
well  earned  reward.  Mr.  Moonan  married  Alary 
Ann  Delaney,  who  was  also  a native  of  Ireland,  and 
she  survived  him  ten  years,  dying  at  Waseca  in  1910. 

John  Moonan  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  L. 
Brownell  of  Waseca,  applying  himself  so  assiduously 
to  his  studies  that  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1887  the  year  he  attained  his  majority.  Mr.  Aloonan 
at  once  opened  offices  in  Waseca,  and  here  for  more 
than  a quarter  of  a century  has  been  engaged  in  a 
general  civil  and  criminal  practice.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Waseca  County  Bar  Association,  the 
Minnesota  State  Bar  Association,  and  the  American 
Bar  Association.  Politically  a democrat  he  has  long 
been  active  in  the  ranks  of  his  party,  has  served  as 
county  attorney  two  terms,  and  as  mayor  of  W aseca, 
and  in  1907  was  elected  state  senator,  and  was  re- 


1782 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


elected  without  opposition  in  1911,  his  present  term 
expiring  in  1915.  In  the  Senate  he  has  become  known 
as  one  of  the  working  members  of  that  distinguished 
body,  and  has  acted  on  various  committees,  including 
those  on  judiciary,  railroads,  and  general  legisla- 
tion. The  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  high  office  has  won  the  universal  com- 
mendation of  his  constituents.  With  his  family  Mr. 
Moonan  attends  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  He  is 
fraternally  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees. 

In  1890  Mr.  Moonan  was  married  at  Waseca  to 
Miss  Rose  Mary  Breen,  daughter  of  the  late  Nicholas 
Breen,  who  at  various  times  was  engaged  in  black- 
smithing,  manufacturing  oatmeal  and  farming,  and 
is  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moonan  have  seven 
children  and  reside  at  their  pleasant  home  on  Second 
Street,  Waseca. 

Gustav  Carl  Dreier.  The  late  Gustav  Carl 
Dreier  is  well  remembered  in  Duluth,  of  which  city 
be  was  a resident  a number  of  years,  as  a successful 
business  man,  a citizen  who  exerted  a quiet  but  up- 
lifting influence  in  his  community  and  a man  of 
many  valuable  attributes  of  character. 

Gustav  Carl  Dreier  was  born  November  27,  1852, 
and  died  in  Duluth  June  26,  1911.  His  birthplace  was 
Copenhagen,  Denmark,  where  his  parents  lived,  Dr. 
Frederick  E.  and  Ida  (Ederoth)  Dreier.  Both  were 
natives  of  Denmark,  and  the  Dreier  family  is  of  a 
long  line  of  Danish  descent.  The  late  Mr.  Dreier’s 
uncle  was  a representative  of  the  Danish  govern- 
ment in  the  United  States  for  over  thirty  years. 

Gustav  C.  Dreier  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  also  under  private  tuition  in  his  native 
city.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  1870,  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  from  that  time  forward  was  en- 
gaged in  general  contracting  and  building.  He  had 
his  headquarters  in  several  states  at  several  different 
times,  and  did  a large  business,  represented  by  many 
business  and  private  structures  and  other  kinds  of 
structural  work.  He  was  in  active  business  almost 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  and  for  several  years 
had  his  headquarters  in  Duluth. 

Mr.  Dreier  was  married  April  19,  1888,  to  Miss 
Margaret  Elizabeth  McLaren,  a daughter  of  John 
and  Rachel  (Oliver)  McLaren.  Mrs.  Dreier  was 
born  in  Galt,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  is  a descendant 
of  Finlay  McLaren,  who  was  an  early  pioneer  in 
Onondaga  County,  New  York,  and  one  of  the  promi- 
nent ministers  of  his  time  in  the  Reform  Presby- 
terian Church.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dreier  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Dreier 
took  much  interest  in  local  affairs  at  Duluth  and  in 
other  communities  where  he  lived,  was  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  aside  from  his  prac- 
tical business  activities  found  much  diversion  'in  his 
interests  as  a student  and  reader. 

Ernest  Yost.  Thirty-one  years  of  age,  Ernest 
Yost  has  for  nearly  a decade  been  proprietor  and 
editor  of  the  Welcome  Times,  and  besides  his  influen- 
tial relations  with  the  city  and  surrounding  country 
as  a newspaper  publisher,  has  also  made  himself  a 
factor  in  public  affairs.  Mr.  Yost  is  one  of  the  best 
known  newspaper  men  in  Southern  Minnesota. 

Ernest  Yost  was  born  in  Fox  Lake  Township  of 
Martin  County  June  28,  1884.  His  father,  Fred  Yost, 
was  born  in  Germany  about  1842  and  died  at  Wel- 


come in  1897.  Coming  to  America  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  lived  in  Minneapolis  for  several  years, 
and  in  1883  moved  to  Martin  County  and  established 
his  home  in  Welcome  in  August,  1889.  He  was  a 
farmer,  a man  of  quiet  industry,  and  was  thoroughly 
esteemed  in  each  community  of  his  residence.  He 
married  Lena  Kletzke  who  was  born  in  Pomeroy, 
Germany,  and  was  also  about  twenty-one  years  of 
age  when  she  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  found  a home 
in  Minneapolis.  She  now  lives  in  Pine  City,  Minne- 
sota. The  children  are : Alfred  and  Albert,  who 

live  in  Pine  City  and  are  well  drillers;  Emil,  who  is 
a fur  buyer  for  a St.  Paul  company  with  headquar- 
ters at  Frazee  in  Becker  County,  Minnesota;  Ernest; 
Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three;  and 
August,  who  is  a printer  living  in  Pine  City. 

Ernest  Yost  left  school  when  seventeen  years  of 
age,  having  attended  the  schools  of  Welcome  up  to 
that  time,  and  spent  the  next  two  years  as  a flour 
packer  in  the  mill  at  Welcome.  A fortunate  direc- 
tion was  then  given  to  his  career  when  he  entered  the 
offices  of  the  Welcome  Times  and  beginning  at  the 
bottom  as  an  inexperienced  employe,  mastered  every 
detail  of  the  art  of  printing  and  finally  became  pro- 
prietor and  editor  of  this  well  known  paper.  The 
Times  was  started  many  years  ago  at  Welcome  by 
Chamberlain  Brothers,  and  has  long  been  a medium 
of  news  and  advertising,  and  a factor  for  good  in 
the  community.  It  is  independent  in  politics,  and 
the  paper  circulates  widely  throughout  the  county. 

Mr.  Yost  is  himself  independent  in  politics,  but 
has  served  as  recorder  in  Welcome  and  also  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  He  was  married  at 
Fairmont  July  11,  1910,  to  Miss  Eva  Swanson,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Swanson,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  in  the  farming  district  in  Martin  County  near 
Fairmont,  and  now  lives  retired  in  the  county  seat. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yost  have  two  children,  Wayne  and 
Velva. 

Otis  Gibson  Bates.  It  is  within  the  province  of 
the  editor  and  publisher  of  a newspaper  and  particu- 
larly so  in  the  smaller  cities,  to  make  or  mar  a repu- 
tation, to  secure  the  passage  of  a good  bill  or  to 
defeat  a bad  one,  to  encourage  those  movements 
which  make  for  progress  and  development,  and  to 
defeat  the  measures  which  will  prove  detrimental  to 
a community.  Therefore,  the  locality  is  fortunate 
whose  newspaper  is  in  such  thoroughly  clean,  reliable 
and  safe  hands  as  those  of  Otis  Gibson  Bates,  editor 
and  guiding  head  of  the  Times,  at  Monticello,  Minne- 
sota, a good  business  man,  a capable  newspaper  con- 
ductor and  a progressive  and  public-spirited  citizen, 
alive  to  the  needs  of  his  community  and  commetida- 
bly  anxious  to  see  that  they  are  filled. 

Mr.  Bates  was  born  November  23,  1873,  at  Wells- 
boro,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a son  of  James  K.  and 
Emma  L.  Bates,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1876 
while  the  latter  still  lives  with  her  son,  at  the  age 
of  seventy  years.  The  father  was  born  at  Owego, 
New  York,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  machinist, 
and  after  his  marriage  removed  to  Wellsboro,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  continued  to  follow  his  vocation 
until  the  time  of  his  early  death,  which  was  undoubt- 
edly hastened  by  the  severity  of  his  army  service 
during  the  Civil  war,  when  he  was  a commissioned 
officer  in  Company  K,  First  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry.  On  his  return  to  Wellsboro,  he 
served  as  a member  of  the  city  council  for  several 
years,  being  elected  to  that  office  as  a republican,  and 


* 

% 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1783 


was  a member  of  Wellsboro  Lodge  of  the  Masonic 
order.  Two  children  were  born  to  James  K.  and 
Emma  L.  Bates,  namely:  Edwin  G.,  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  Parker  Art  Company,  at  Minneapo- 
lis, and  Otis  Gibson. 

Otis  Gibson  Bates  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  place,  this  being  followed 
by  two  years  in  the  Wellsboro  High  School.  He 
was  only  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  decided  to 
try  his  fortunes  in  the  West,  and  in  1889  arrived  at 
Pipestone,  Minnesota,  from  whence  he  went  to  Min- 
neapolis. In  that  city  Mr.  Bates  secured  employment 
with  the  Minnesota  Linseed  Oil  and  Paint  Com- 
pany, as  a clerk,  and  during  the  twelve  years  he  was 
associated  with  that  concern  won  promotion  through 
industry,  ability  and  faithfulness,  from  position  to 
position  until  he  reached  that  of  sales  manager.  Mr. 
Bates  resigned  from  this  employment  to  accept  the 
position  of  city  salesman,  with  Forman,  Ford  & Com- 
pany, in  1902,  and  continued  with  that  firm  until 
1910,  then  going  to  the  Glidden  Varnish  Company, 
as  salesman  in  charge  of  North  and  South  Dakota 
and  Montana.  He  continued  as  a knight  of  the  grip 
until  1912,  in  which  year  he  entered  the  perilous  field 
of  journalism,  purchasing  the  Times,  at  Monticello, 
of  which  he  has  since  been  editor,  and  publisher. 
Here  Mr.  Bates’  long  business  experience  and  broad 
outlook  on  life,  gained  through  coming  into  contact 
with  all  manners  and  conditions  of  people,  have  stood 
him  in  good  stead,  and  he  has  steadily  built  up  this 
reliable  and  up-to-the-minute  newspaper,  advancing 
its  circulation  from  600  to  1,000,  placing  it  upon  a 
substantial  footing  and  making  it  an  influential  factor 
in  republican  politics  in  this  part  of  the  state.  The 
readers  of  the  Times  are  getting  an  eight-page,  well- 
printed,  well-edited  newspaper,  containing  all  the 
news,  both  national  and  local,  with  well  written 
editorials  and  many  interesting  features.  Mr.  Bates 
at  all  times  is  ready  to  devote  his  columns  to  the 
support  of  progressive  movements,  and  is  an  excel- 
lent type  of  the  energetic,  pushing  and  vigorous  man 
of  affairs  who  finds  time  to  devote  to  his  community’s 
interests.  In  connection  with  his  newspaper  plant, 
he  conducts  a large,  up-to-date  printing  office,  op- 
erated by  gasoline  power,  and  capable  of  turning  out 
the  best  jobwork.  A stalwart  republican,  he  has 
stanchly  supported  his  party's  interests,  but  his  only 
public  office  has  been  that  of  secretary  of  the  Mon- 
ticello School  Board.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Monticello  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  his 
religious  association  is  with  the  Methodist  Church, 
of  which  he  is  a trustee. 

Mr.  Bates  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  union 
taking  place  June  23,  1901,  when  he  was  united  with 
Miss  Zadie  E.  Wedgewood,  of  Monticello,  daughter 
of  G.  R.  and  ijarah  Wedgewood,  natives  of  Monti- 
cello, the  father  being  a pioneer  farmer  of  Wright 
County.  He  is  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  a mem- 
ber of  Sedgwick  Post  No.  52,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  is  now  living  retired  at  Monticello, 
Mrs.  Wedgewood  having  died  in  1904  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  Mrs.  Bates  died  January  24,  1910, 
leaving  two  children:  Russel  J.,  born  in  1906;  and 
Eleanor,  born  in  1909.  On  July  6,  1912,  Mr  Bates 
was  married  to  Elsie  E.  Lewis,  who  was  born  at 
Marquette,  Michigan,  daughter  of  John  I.  and  Mary 
E.  Lewis,  natives  of  that  city.  Mr.  Lewis  is  a mine 
“cruiser,”  or  prospector,  at  Marquette,  and  has  been 
the  father  of  three  children : Mrs.  Bates,  Pearl  and 
Hattie.  Mrs.  Bates  taught  domestic  science  in  the 
voi.  m—  33 


Monticello  High  School  from  1908  to  1912,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Detroit  School  of  Domestic  Science, 
and  is  a lady  of  fine  talents  and  much  culture.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bates  have  had  no  children. 

Charles  L.  Fink.  1 he  qualities  that  make  the 
successful  merchant  have  been  present  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  in  the  career  of  Charles  L.  Fink,  whose 
business  enterprise  is  now  the  leading  feature  of  the 
commercial  life  of  Bricelyn  in  Faribault  County.  Mr. 
Fink  was  reared  a farmer,  followed  agriculture  for 
several  years,  but  about  twenty  years  ago  became 
interested  in  merchandising  as  a clerk,  and  his  prog- 
ress has  been  one  of  steady  prosperity  ever  since  that 
time. 

Charles  L.  Fink  was  born  in  Freeborn  County, 
Minnesota,  February  6,  1868.  His  father,  Fred  Fink, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1830  and  died  in  Pick- 
erel Lake  Township  of  Freeborn  County  in  1906, 
emigrated  from  his  native  land  after  getting  an  edu- 
cation when  about  twenty-three  years  of  age,  lived 
in  New  York  State  a time,  and  in  1834  took  up  a 
homestead  in  Pickerel  Lake  Township  in  Freeborn 
County,  and  was  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  in  that 
vicinity.  His  life  was  spent  in  the  quiet  activities  of 
the  old  homestead  until  his  death,  for  more  than 
half  a century.  While  a young  man  in  Germany  he 
had  served  in  the  army.  He  married  Frederika 
Weiser,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1844,  and  died 
in  Pickerel  Lake  Township  in  1910.  Their  children 
are : Henry,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Pick- 
erel Lake  Township;  Rosa,  wife  of  Albert  Warnke,  a 
clothing  merchant  in  Jackson,  Minnesota;  Charles 
L. ; Frank,  Albert  and  Ferdinand,  all  farmers  in 
Pickerel  Lake  Township;  and  Nora,  wife  of  Ernest 
Klucow,  of  Pickerel  Lake  Township. 

Charles  L.  Fink,  like  his  brothers,  lived  on  the  old 
homestead  as  a boy,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Freeborn  County,  but  his  schooling  was 
ended  by  the  time  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  and 
he  has  since  depended  upon  his  own  exertions  for  a 
practical  training  in  business  and  to  advance  himself 
in  the  world.  The  first  twenty-two  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing three  years  he  was  an  independent  farmer.  In 
1893  Mr.  Fink  began  working  in  a hardware  store 
at  Albert  Lea,  in  1894  bought  an  interest  in  the  estab- 
lishment, and  continued  merchandising  there  until 
1902.  He  then  moved  his  stock  to  the  small  com- 
munity of  Bricelyn  in  Faribault  County,  began  his 
career  with  a somewhat  limited  stock  of  hardware. 
During  the  past  two  years  his  business  has  extended 
in  all  directions  and  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a 
group  of  stores,  including  hardware,  furniture, 
groceries,  dry  goods  and  shoe  store,  all  located  on 
Main  Street.  Mr.  Fink  owns  and  occupies  three  store 
buildings,  with  a total  frontage  of  seventy-five  feet, 
and  uses  another  building  with  a 25-foot  frontage' 
for  business  purposes.  Mr.  Fink  is  a stockholder  in 
the  Mutual  Investment  Company  of  St.  Paul. 

As  a Republican  he  takes  considerable  interest  in 
local  affairs  and  has  served  as  president  of  the  Brice- 
lyn council  several  terms.  He  is  a member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church  and  was  formerly  affiliated 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Modern  Brotherhood  of  America.  In  1890  in  Free- 
born County  occurred  his  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine 
Yost.  Her  father,  Christ  Yost,  is  a farmer  in  Pick- 
erel Lake  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fink  have  two 
children : Pearl,  a graduate  of  the  Winnebago  Com- 


1784 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


mercial  College,  now  bookkeeper  for  her  father ; and 
Orvil,  a student  in  the  Bricelyn  public  schools. 

Frederick  Douglas  Underwood.  Some  of  the  citi- 
zens of  whom  Minnesota  is  most  proud  and  whose 
achievements  have  added  most  to  the  progress  of  the 
state  as  a whole  have  been  the  group  associated  at 
different  times  and  in  varying  capacities  with  the 
splendid  railway  system  of  Minnesota  and  the 
Northwest.  There  is  a fine  flavor  of  individual 
character  and  self-attainment  about  these  men,  and 
practically  all  were  graduates  of  the  school  of  prac- 
tical experience.  Among  those  who  performed  most 
of  their  undergraduate  work  in  Minnesota  and  who 
can  properly  be  claimed  as  credit  to  the  citizenship 
of  the  state  is  Frederick  Douglas  Underwood,  one 
of  America’s  greatest  railway  men  and  president  of 
the  Erie  Railroad  System.  He  was  long  a resident  of 
Minnesota  and  was  an  important  factor  in  the  first 
period  of  the  Soo  lines. 

Frederick  Douglas  Underwood,  son  of  Enoch 
Downs  and  Harriet  Flint  Underwood,  was  born  at 
Wauwatosa,  Wisconsin.  As  a boy  he  had  some 
advantages  above  those  of  the  common  schools,  hav- 
ing two  years  in  Wayland  Academy,  Beaver  Dam, 
Wisconsin.  Leaving  there  he  began  in  railway  serv- 
ice as  a clerk  and  later  on  as  a brakeman  on  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railway.  He  rose 
in  its  service  from  brakeman  to  become  one  of  its 
principal  superintendents.  With  the  origin  of  the 
now  called  Soo  Line  he  came  as  general  superin- 
tendent, later  he  was  made  general  manager  in 
charge  of  all  departments.  From  1899  to  1901  he 
was  second  vice  president  and  general  manager  of 
the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad  during  its  remodel- 
ing, and  is  now  president  of  the  Erie  Railroad  and 
its  allied  companies. 

His  principal  achievement  in  Minnesota  was  dur- 
ing the  construction  and  later  the  management  of 
the  Soo  Line  before  and  after  its  affiliation  with  the 
Canadian  Pacific.  Those  who  observed  his  success 
in  that  work  were  not  surprised  that  he  accomplished 
great  things  in  the  broader  eastern  field  to  which  he 
was  called.  One  of  the  railway  officials  who  was 
associated  with  Mr.  Underwood  while  the  latter  was 
general  manager  of  the  Soo  Line  furnishes  some  par- 
ticulars which  strengthen  the  estimation  of  Mr. 
Underwood’s  services  as  a railroad  man  of  the 
Northwest.  While  he  was  with  the  road  there  was 
built  1,035  rniles  of  track.  He  created  the  first  gen- 
eral organization  of  the  Soo  Railroad.  The  offices 
were  located  at  the  corner  of  Washington  Avenue 
and  First  Street,  and  later  moved  to  the  Guaranty 
Loan  Building. 

For  a number  of  years  Mr.  Underwood  has  had 
his  home  and  business  headquarters  in  New  York 
City,  his  offices  being  at  50  Church  Street,  and  his 
home  address  at  277  West  End  Avenue.  He  is  widely 
known  in  railway  circles,  and  has  an  extended 
social  relationship.  He  is  a member  of  the  following 
clubs:  Atlantic  Yacht  (New  York),  Baltimore  Yacht 
(Baltimore),  Bankers  Club  of  America  (New 
York),  Buffalo  Club  (Buffalo),  Chicago  Club  (Chi- 
cago), Columbia  Yacht  (New  York),  Ellicott  Club 
{Buffalo)  ; India  House,  Lotos  Club,  Metropolitan 
(New  York)  ; Milwaukee  Club  (Milwaukee)  ; New 
York  Athletic,  New  York  Yacht,  Railroad,  Recess, 
Seawanhaka,  Corinthian  Yacht  and  Tuxedo  Clubs 
(New  York)  ; Governor  Automobile  Club  of  Amer- 
ica (New  York):  also  member  Traffic  clubs  of  Chi- 


cago and  New  York;  Chamber  of  Commerce  (New 
York)  ; Chamber  of  Commerce  (Milwaukee)  ; Japan 
Society  of  New  York  and  Minnesota  Society  of  New 
York. 

Joseph  L.  Kuechenmeister.  Owner  and  editor 
of  the  Minnesota  Lake  Tribune,  Joseph  L.  Kuechen- 
meister is  one  of  the  successful  younger  newspaper 
men  of  Minnesota.  Several  other  members  of  his 
family  are  printers  and  workers  in  the  newspaper 
field,  and  a number  of  years  ago  he  gave  up  another 
mechanical  trade  to  learn  the  art  of  printing,  and 
now  owns  one  of  the  best  papers  in  Faribault  County. 

His  relations  with  Minnesota  are  those  of  a native 
son,  whose  family  has  been  a factor  in  this  state 
since  the  earliest  pioneer  period.  Joseph  L.  Kuechen- 
meister was  born  in  Jordan,  Scott  County,  Minne- 
sota, August  5,  1881.  His  father  is  John  Kuechen- 
meister, who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1848,  and  at 
the  age  of  three  years  came  to  the  United  States. 
Grandfather  John  Kuechenmeister,  a native  of  Ger- 
many, was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  this  coun- 
try, and  more  than  sixty  years  ago  established  a pio- 
neer home  in  Henderson,  Minnesota.  He  was  a 
farmer  in  that  vicinity,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death.  John  Kuechenmeister,  the  father,  grew  up  at 
Henderson,  and  in  1879  moved  to  Minnesota  Lake, 
soon  afterwards  established  a home  at  Jordan,  in 

1892  moved  to  Montgomery,  and  is  now  a resident  of 
Wells.  His  trade  and  regular  business  throughout 
his  active  life  has  been  that  of  cooper  and  stone 
mason.  Few  living  Minnesotans  have  seen  more  of 
the  real  pioneer  conditions  of  the  state,  and  as  a boy 
he  saw  active  service  in  the  Indian  wars.  John 
Kuechenmeister  married  Elizabeth  Neubauer,  who 
was  born  in  Michigan.  Their  children  are:  Augusta, 
whose  husband,  G.  H.  Augst,  is  proprietor  of  a 
garage  at  LeSueuer  Center,  Minnesota;  Edward,  a 
printer  living  at  Wells;  Joseph  L. ; Mary,  who  died 
it  the  age  of  twenty  years ; Agnes,  a teacher  at 
Albert  Lea;  Alphonse,  a printer  at  St.  Paul;  and 
Valentine,  a printer  living  at  Wells. 

Joseph  L.  Kuechenmeister  received  his  education 
in  parochial  and  public  schools,  finishing  with  the 
high  school  at  Montgomery,  but  began  training  for 
practical  life  at  the  age  of  about  fifteen.  He  worked 
at  the  cooper’s  trade,  and  for  three  years  made  flour 
barrels  in  Montgomery,  and  then  followed  the  same 
trade  at  Wells  for  three  years.  Giving  up  this  occu- 
pation, Mr.  Kuechenmeister  went  to  Minneapolis,  and 
spent  two  years  with  a large  printing  house  in  that 
city,  learning  the  printer’s  trade  in  all  its  details. 
Returning  to  Wells,  he  was  employed  by  the  Forum 
Advocate  three  years,  spent  a short  time  at  St.  James, 
Minnesota,  with  the  Journal-Gazette  and  in  1911 
came  to  Minnesota  Lake  and  bought  the  Tribune 
from  Ed.  B.  Howe.  The  Tribune  was  established  in 

1893  under  the  name  The  Kodak,  but  in  1894  assumed 
its  present  title.  Mr.  Kuechenmeister  has  improved 
the  mechanical  and  editorial  features  of  the  Tribune 
in  many  ways,  and  its  circulation  now  covers  all  the 
eastern  half  of  Faribault  County.  It  is  conducted 
as  a democratic  paper,  but  its  influence  is  chiefly 
marked  in  the  cause  of  local  enterprise  and  good 
government  irrespective  of  politics.  Mr.  Kuechen- 
meister is  a democrat,  a member  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus, 
the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America  and  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Foresters.  In  1908  at  Montgomery 
he  married  Miss  Alta  Omundson.  daughter  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1785 


late  John  Omundson,  of  Wells.  They  have  four 
children : Cecilia,  Leonard,  Helen  and  Edward,  all 
at  home. 

Wardwell  Ames.  For  twenty-three  years  Ward- 
well  Ames  was  a resident  of  Duluth.  His  memory 
is  recalled  not  only  as  that  of  a successful  business 
man,  but  as  a citizen  whose  public  spirited  activities 
were  well  and  vigorously  directed,  as  a neighbor 
and  friend  who  having  experienced  both  fortune  and 
misfortune  knew  how  to  bring  succor  to  those  who 
needed  it,  and  as  a loyal  and  effective  worker  in 
church,  philanthropy  and  many  of  the  movements 
which  have  meant  most  in  the  life  of  that  city. 

Wardwell  Ames,  who  always  wrote  his  name 
Ward,  and  was  so  called  by  his  friends,  was  born 
at  Oswego,  New  York,  December  6,  1846,  and  died 
at  his  home  in  Duluth  March  21,  1910.  He  was  well 
educated,  having  attended  the  famous  old  school, 
Phillips  Academy  of  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and 
on  returning  home  from  that  school  engaged  in  the 
elevator  and  milling  business.  At  that  time  Oswego 
was  one  of  the  important  centers  of  the  milling  trade 
of  the  United  States.  When  the  grain  business 
shifted  its  centers  toward  the  West,  Mr.  Ames  fol- 
lowed, and  in  1881  engaged  in  business  at  Fargo, 
North  Dakota.  He  lived  there  five  years,  and  in  t886 
came  to  Duluth  and  engaged  in  business  for  himself. 
In  1890  the  firm  of  Ames-Brooks  Company  was  or- 
ganized, with  Mr.  Ames  as  president,  an  office  he 
held  until  the  date  of  his  death.  During  all  his  resi- 
dence of  twenty-three  years  in  Duluth  Mr.  Ames 
was  known  as  a progressive  business  man,  a civic 
leader  and  a worker  in  church  and  philanthropy. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  board  of 
trade,  and  his  sound  business  judgment  and  methods, 
acquired  by  a long  experience  in  the  grain  business, 
made  him  an  influential  member  of  that  organization 
and  enabled  him  to  contribute  materially  towards  the 
realization  of  its  aims  and  purposes.  At  various 
times  he  served  on  the  public  affairs  committee  of 
the  Commercial  Club  of  Duluth,  and  was  a member 
of  the  board  of  directors  and  chairman  of  the 
finance  committee  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  He  was 
also  on  the  St.  Louis  County  Poor  Board,  was  a 
director  of  the  Bethel  Society,  and  also  contributed 
toward  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  ade- 
quate hospital  facilities  in  Duluth.  To  church  and 
philanthropy  he  brought  the  same  sound  judgment 
which  enabled  him  to  succeed  in  business,  and  for 
that  reason  he  was  one  of  the  most  useful  members 
in  the  various  organizations  above  named,  and  par- 
ticularly the  Pilgrim  Congregational  Church,  in 
which  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  finance  com- 
mittee. 

His  church  and  religion  meant  more  to  him  than 
to  most  successful  business  men.  His  grandfather 
had  been  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  but  it  is  said  that  his  parents,  owing  to  the 
strictness  with  which  they  were  reared  in  early  life, 
allowed  their  membership  to  lapse,  and  Wardwell 
Ames  therefore  came  to  his  majority  without  any 
definite  church  connections.  Some  time  after  his 
marriage  he  and  Mrs.  Ames  united  with  the  Con- 
gregational Church  at  Oswego  in  1875.  He  was  soon 
made  church  treasurer.  An  incident  told  in  this  con- 
nection illustrates  Mr.  Ames’  thorough  business  prin- 
ciples, He  accepted  the  church  treasuryship  on  one 
condition,  that  the  minister's  salary  should  be  paid 
on  the  first  of  every  month  in  advance.  His  resig- 
nation was  ready  when  that  could  not  be  done.  The 
times  were  hard  after  the  financial  panic  of  1873  and 


the  church  in  debt,  but  under  his  leadership  the 
church  expenses  were  met  promptly  and  the  debt 
paid.  At  Fargo  Mr.  Ames  and  wife  became  charter 
members  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  and 
though  a poor  man  he  subscribed  $100  toward  a new 
church,  and  was  called  to  account  by  his  firm  for 
the  extravagance  of  his  gift.  Of  his  long  connection 
with  the  Pilgrim  Congregational  Church  at  Duluth, 
it  will  be  appropriate  to  quote  briefly  from  resolu- 
tions passed  at  the  time  of  his  death : “For  nearly 

twenty-three  years  he  was  a member  of  this  church, 
to  which  he  gave  the  most  faithful  and  loving  serv- 
ice, unsparing  alike  of  his  time  and  of  his  means, 
and  in  the  general  religious  and  philanthropic  work 
of  the  city  he  was  the  leader  upon  whom  his  fellow 
workers  had  learned  to  rely  for  counsel  and  en- 
couragement. 

“As  a citizen  and  man  of  affairs  he  commanded 
universal  respect  and  honor.  He  was  diligent  in 
business,  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord,  and  in 
him  the  highest  ideals  of  Christian  citizenship  found 
abundant  expression.  His  favorite  salutation  of 
‘neighbor’  may  truly  furnish  the  key  to  those  quali- 
ties of  mind  and  heart  which  endeared  him  to  an  un- 
usually wide  circle  of  friends,  many  of  whom  have 
personally  felt  his  helpfulness.” 

Mr.  Ames  was  married  in  Oswego,  New  York,  and 
Mrs.  Ames  and  two  children,  Ward  Ames,  Jr.  and 
Mrs.  R.  H.  Draper,  survive.  Mr.  Ames  was  buried 
in  his  old  home  at  Oswego.  Personally  he  was  a 
man  of  extremely  interesting  and  genial  character- 
istics. He  was  fond  of  music,  had  an  unusual  gift 
as  a teller  of  anecdotes  and  experiences,  and  was 
fond  of  the  outdoor  sports  of  hunting  and  fishing. 
While  in  the  West  he  showed  his  excellent  marks- 
manship and  ability  as  a hunter  by  killing  some  of 
the  Rocky  Mountain  sheep.  Grain  men  all  over  the 
Northwest  knew  and  esteemed  this  late  citizen  of 
Duluth. 

Eli  Boudrye.  As  early  settlers  and  pioneer  farm- 
ers, as  merchants  and  commercial  leaders,  and  also 
through  important  public  service  in  various  official 
re’ations,  the  Boudrye  family  has  through  three  gen- 
erations contributed  to  the  development  and  welfare 
of  Martin  County.  The  family  located  there  nearly 
fifty  years  ago  and  Eli  Boudrye,  who  represents  the 
third  generation,  is  a successful  young  business  man 
of  Granada,  where  he  is  a merchant  and  is  manager 
of  Coleman’s  Lumber  Company. 

Eli  Boudrye  was  born  in  Fairmont,  Minnesota, 
January  2,  1877.  His  father  is  Charles  L.  Boudrye, 
who  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  December  19, 
1854.  Going  back  still  another  generation,  the  grand- 
father was  Eli  L.  Boudrye,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1819.  Grandfather  Boudrye  was  a son  of 
John  Boudrye,  who  emigrated  from  France  and  set- 
tled at  Highgate  Falls  in  Vermont  and  was  a farmer 
and  lumber  man  in  that  state.  Grandfather  Eli  L. 
Boudrye  moved  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  1845,  and 
in  18^6  moved  to  the  Northwestern  frontier,  locating 
in  Winona  County,  Minnesota,  and  in  1865  becoming 
an  early  settler  in  Martin  County.  He  was  a cabinet 
maker  "by  trade,  but  in  Minnesota  followed  farming. 
Eli  L.  Boudrye  was  married  to  Mary  Bevington,  who 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1833,  and  died 
at  Dalton,  Georgia,  in  1900.  Grandfather  Boudrye 
died  at  Dalton  Georgia,  in  1898. 

Charles  L.  Boudrye,  who  for  many  years  has  been 
identified  with  Granada,  his  activities  as  a merchant 
and  official  giving  him  the  foremost  position  as  a man 


1786 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


of  affairs  in  that  village,  was  about  two  years  of  age 
when  the  family  came  to  Minnesota,  and  he  grew 
up  on  his  father’s  farm  until  1876.  He  attended  the 
rural  schools  and  the  Winnebago  city  schools  and 
the  Fairmont  schools.  His  career  was  spent  as  a 
farmer  in  Martin  County  until  1891,  and  in  that  year 
he  moved  to  Granada  and  established  a hardware 
store,  as  one  of  the  early  enterprises  of  the  village. 
In  1894  he  sold  out  and  then  entered  the  produce 
business  and  still  looks  after  a trade  along  those 
lines.  Charles  L.  Boudrye  is  a stockholder  in  the 
Guckeen  State  Bank  and  owns  stock  in  the  Twin 
City  Insurance  Company.  His  official  service  has 
made  him  prominent  in  Granada  for  many  years.  As 
a republican  he  was  appointed  postmaster  in  1897  and 
served  fully  seventeen  years,  leaving  the  office  on 
November  1,  1914,  at  which  time  Bert  S.  Colton 
became  his  successor.  During  his  seventeen  years 
as  postmaster  he  conducted  the  office  for  the  benefit 
of  the  patrons  and  in  a manner  to  reflect  the  highest 
credit  upon  his  efficiency  and  public  spirit.  .At  the 
present  time  he  is  serving  as  county  commissioner 
from  the  First  District,  and  has  served  on  the  vil- 
lage council  of  Granada  for  twelve  years  and  on  the 
school  board  for  five  years.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Congregational  Church  and  affiliates  with  Granada 
Camp  No.  4038  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Charles  L.  Boudrye  was  married  in  the  Township 
of  Fairmont  October  28,  1875,  to  Miss  Flora  M. 
Houston.  Her  father,  the  late  Samuel  Houston,  was 
a blacksmith  by  trade.  To  their  marriage  have  been 
born  the  following  children : Eli ; Izola,  a stenog- 

rapher living  in  Minneapolis ; Louis  R.,  who  has  a 
position  in  the  postoffice  at  Duluth;  Imogene,  a stu- 
dent in  the  St.  Cloud  Normal  School;  Ada,  a trained 
nurse  at  Minneapolis ; and  Samuel  a civil  engineer 
in  Montana. 

Eli  Boudrye  as  a boy  was  educated  in  School 
District  No.  8 at  Rose  Lake  and  in  the  Mankato 
Business  College,  being  a student  there  during  1898. 
His  first  regular  employment  was  as  a carpenter,  a 
trade  he  followed  three  years.  For  the  past  fifteen 
years  Mr.  Boudrye  has  been  manager  of  Coleman’s 
lumber  yard  at  Granada,  and  is  also  the  leading 
hardware  merchant  of  that  town.  He  has  followed 
the  methods  which  bring  success  in  mercantile  lines, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  public-spirited 
citizens.  In  politics  he  is  republican  and  is  affiliated 
with  Granada  Camp  No.  4038  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  Mr.  Boudrye  was  married  in 
1901  at  Granada  to  Miss  Mary  Hodgman,  daughter 
of  A.  J.  Hodgman,  a farmer  at  Pleasant  Prairie.  Mr. 
Boudrye  and  wife  have  one  child,  Minnie,  who  is 
now  a student  in  the  public  schools  at  Granada. 

Joseph  H.  Coates.  In  the  past  fifty  years  proba- 
bly no  one  citizen  of  Benton  County  has  taken  a 
more  active  part  in  the  development  of  the  primary 
resources  of  this  section,  its  lands  and  agriculture,  in 
the  upbuilding  and  business  advancement  of  Sauk 
Rapids,  and  in  public  affairs  generally  than  Joseph  H. 
Coates,  one  of  the  pioneers,  who  has  lived  in  Sauk 
Rapids  since  the  early  ’60s. 

Joseph  H.  Coates  is  a native  of  England,  born  in 
Lincolnshire,  November  30,  1847.  His  father  was  a 
magistrate  in  England,  and  in  1850  started  to  bring 
his  family  to  America,  but  died  on  the  ocean  trip. 
The  family  landed  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  first 
made  permanent  settlement  at  Pleasant  Valley  near 
Davenport,  Iowa.  In  1854  the  family  moved  to  the 
Northwestern  frontier,  locating  in  Fillmore  County, 


Minnesota,  and  in  April,  1861,  arrived  at  Sauk  Rap- 
ids, then  a frontier  village. 

Joseph  H.  Coates  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  private  select  schools,  and  his 
boyhood  was  spent  nearly  altogether  in  frontier  com- 
munities. He  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age  when 
the  family  moved  to  Sauk  Rapids,  grew  up  there,  and 
early  began  taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs. 
In  1870,  when  only  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Benton  County,  and  filled  that  office 
with  efficiency  for  two  years.  In  business  he  has 
been  chiefly  identified  with  farming  and  with  exten- 
sive real  estate  operations.  At  the  present  time  he 
owns  and  operates  a place  of  200  acres  adjoining 
the  City  of  Sauk  Rapids.  From  1883  to  1887  he  was 
associated  with  others  in  the  operation  of  sawmills, 
and  at  different  times  has  had  large  holdings  in  the 
agricultural  and  timber  districts  of  the  Northwest. 
In  1879  he  and  Mr.  John  Cooper  bought  10,000  acres 
in  this  state.  For  many  years  his  real  estate  opera- 
tions have  been  confined  to  handling  his  own  prop- 
erties. In  1873  Mr.  Coates  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
by  order  of  the  District  Court,  but  most  of  his  prac- 
tice has  been  with  his  own  affairs  as  the  basis  of 
his  clientage.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Sauk  Rapids  Manufacturing  and  General 
Store  Company. 

His  public  record  is  a long  one,  beginning  with  his 
election  to  the  office  of  sheriff  as  already  noted. 
After  leaving  that  office  he  served  as  judge  of  pro- 
bate four  years,  was  again  elected  sheriff  for  two 
years,  following  which  came  another  term  of  two 
years  as  probate  judge.  During  1890-1901  he  was  a 
member  of  the  legislature  and  in  1912  was  again  sent 
from  Benton  County  to  represent  this  district  in 
the  lower  house.  For  four  years  he  held  the  office 
of  clerk  of  courts,  and  for  seven  years  was  village 
justice.  Judge  Coates  has  been  very  active  in  the 
republican  party,  but  his  chief  activity  has  been 
directed  to  good  local  government  and  to  everything 
that  would  advance  the  interests  of  Benton  County 
and  Sauk  Rapids.  He  has  served  as  president  of 
the  Commercial  Club,  and  has  been  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity  since  since  1870. 

Judge  Coates  first  married  Mary  E.  Cross,  who 
was  born  in  Illinois.  Their  four  children  were: 
Henry  E.,  a farmer  at  Sauk  Rapids;  Ada  Jane,  wife 
of  Jacob  A.  Jochem  of  Milk  River,  Canada;  Fred, 
who  also  lives  at  Milk  River ; and  Mrs.  Emma 
Mansfield  of  Havre,  Montana.  The  present  Mrs. 
Coates  before  her  marriage  was  Julia  A.  Russell. 
Her  parents,  Jeremiah  and  Sophia  Russell,  were  pio- 
neer Minnesotans,  and  her  father  represented  his 
district  in  the  territorial  legislature. 

Carl  L.  Hacger.  The  distinctive  professional 
ability  of  Mr.  Hagger  as  a civil  engineer  is  well  rec- 
ognized and  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  is  serv- 
ing not  only  as  county  surveyor  of  Faribault  County 
but  also  as  city  surveyor  of  Blue  Earth,  the  county 
seat.  He  is  one  of  the  representative  young  men 
and  popular  citizens  of  this  section  of  his  native 
state  and  is  well  entitled  to  recognition  in  this  his- 
tory, which  in  a contemporary  way  offers  records 
that  will  be  of  perpetual  value  in  the  future. 

Mr.  Hagger  was  born  in  the  City  of  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota,  on  the  9th  of  October.  1887,  and  is  a 
scion  of  the  fine  Scandinavian  element  which  has 
been  a most  potent  and  benignant  force  in  connection 
with  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  the  state, 
along  both  civic  and  industrial  lines.  He  is  a son  of 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1787 


Ole  L.  and  Carethe  (Sannan)  Hagger,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Norway,  the  father  having  been  a 
native  of  Sogne,  where  he  was  born  in  the  year 
1851,  and  his  death  having  occurred  in  the  autumn 
of  1913,  his  widow  still  maintaining  her  residence  on 
the  old  homestead  farm,  in  Blue  Earth  County.  Of 
the  children  Carl  L.  is  the  eldest  and  is  the  only 
son;  Eda  is  the  wife  of  Julius  Halverson,  a farmer 
of  Delevan  Township,  Faribault  County;  and  Olga 
remains  with  her  widowed  mother  on  the  old  home- 
stead. Ole  L.  Hagger  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  he  first  set- 
tled at  Madison,  the  capital  city  of  Wisconsin,  from 
which  state  he  removed  to  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 
in  1878.  He  continued  his  residence  in  the  metropo- 
lis of  the  state  until  1889,  when  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Blue  Earth  County,  his  only  son  having 
been  at  the  time  about  two  years  of  age.  He  became 
one  of  the  industrious  and  progressive  farmers  of 
the  county  and  through  his  well  directed  endeavors 
achieved  definite  prosperity,  the  while  his  sterling 
attributes  of  character  caused  him  to  retain  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  a republican  in  his  political  proclivities  and  was 
a zealous  communicant  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  as 
are  also  his  widow  and  children. 

Carl  L.  Hagger  passed  the  period  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  the  home  farm  and  he  recalls  with 
satisfaction  that  he  was  enabled  to  lend  definite 
assistance  to  his  father  in  connection  with  its  work 
and  management,  the  while  he  made  good  use  of 
the  advantages  afforded  him  in  the  public  schools  of 
Blue  Earth  County.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years 
he  was  matriculated  in  Luther  College,  at  Albert 
Lea,  and  in  this  institution  he  completed  a thorough 
one  year’s  course  in  civil  engineering,  after  which 
he  gave  the  major  part  of  his  time  and  attention  to 
the  practical  work  of  his  profession  in  the  capacity 
of  assistant  to  the  county  surveyor  of  Faribault 
County,  an  experience  that  admirably  fortified  him 
for  the  positions  of  which  he  is  now  the  able  and 
valued  incumbent.  In  1912  Mr.  Hagger  was  elected 
county  surveyor  of  this  county,  and  he  has  since 
done  a large  amount  of  important  work  for  the 
county  in  this  office,  besides  which  he  has  served 
also  as  city  surveyor  of  Blue  Earth  since  May,  1914, 
his  official  headquarters  being  in  the  courthouse.  In 
the  autumn  of  1914  he  was  re-elected  county  sur- 
veyor for  a second  term  of  four  years,  and  this  indi- 
cates conclusively  the  high  estimate  placed  upon  his 
services  by  the  people  of  the  county.  Mr.  Hagger 
has  not  deviated  from  the  line  of  direct  allegiance  to 
the  republican  party  and  he  takes  a lively  interest 
in  all  that  touches  the  prosperity  and  progress  of  his 
home  city  and  county. 

Was  married  to  Miss  Esther  Willmert  of  Blue 
Earth  City  on  October  8,  1914. 

Judge  William  St.  Clair  McClenahan.  One  of 
the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  members  of  the 
bar  of  Central  Minnesota  is  Judge  William  S. 
McClenahan,  for  the  past  fifteen  years  judge  of  the 
fifteenth  judicial  circuit.  Judge  McClenahan  began 
practice  at  Brainerd  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  has 
been  honored  on  a number  of  occasions  with  posi- 
tions of  responsibility  and  trust,  and  in  the  judicial 
office  has  acquired  special  distinction. 

Judge  William  St.  Clair  McClenahan  was  born  in 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  June  19,  1854,  a son  of  Hugh 
Bell  and  Maria  Louise  (McComas)  McClenahan. 
His  grandfather  emigrated  from  Ireland  early  in  the 
last  century,  settled  in  Nova  Scotia,  Canada,  and  the 


family  came  to  the  State  of  Maryland  in  the  early 
’40s;  Hugh  Bell  McClenahan  was  a teacher,  and 
during  Lincoln’s  first  term  was  employed  in  the  Post- 
office  Department  at  Washington. 

Judge  McClenahan  was  liberally  educated,  attend- 
ing private  schools,  and  in  1875  graduated  LL.B. 
from  Dickinson  College  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania. 
He  later  took  the  course  in  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Maryland  and  finished  there  in 
1880,  when  he  was  awarded  the  prize  offered  for  the 
best  thesis  written  by  a member  of  the  graduating 
class,  the  judges  being  the  justices  of  the  Maryland 
Court  of  Appeals.  Judge  McClenahan  practiced  law 
at  Baltimore  until  1882  and  in  that  year  moved  to 
Brainerd,  Minnesota,  engaged  in  general  practice, 
and  for  a long  time  was  associated  with  the  late 
Judge  George  W.  Holland,  until  the  latter’s  elevation 
to  the  district  bench  of  the  state.  As  a lawyer  Judge 
McClenahan  was  noted  for  his  broad  learning,  his 
aggressive  ability  in  the  prosecution  of  interests 
intrusted  to  his  charge,  and  a clarity  of  judgment 
that  well  fitted  him  for  judicial  honors.  For  twelve 
years  he  served  as  city  attorney  of  Brainerd,  and  in 
1900  was  elected  judge  of  the  Fifteenth  Judicial  Dis- 
trict, and  has  now  held  that  office  fourteen  years. 
For  the  first  three  years  Judge  McClenahan  was  the 
only  judge  presiding  over  the  different  courts  in  the 
district,  but  the  duties  of  this  large  district  have 
since  been  divided  among  several  judges.  While  he 
has  sat  on  the  bench  many  important  cases  have  come 
before  him  for  decision,  and  one  that  deserves 
special  mention  because  of  its  prominence  was  the 
Hart  disbarment  case  of  1908  (104  Minn.  88).  Judge 
McClenahan  was  one  of  the  five  judges  selected  by 
the  governor  of  Minnesota  to  preside  in  these  pro- 
ceedings, and  the  other  four  were  Hon.  Frank  C. 
Brooks,  Hascal  R.  Brill,  Myron  D.  Taylor  and 
Nathan  Kingsley. 

Judge  McClenahan  is  a member  of  the  American 
Bar  Association  and  has  taken  thirty-two  degrees  of 
Scottish  Rite  Masonry  and  is  a Knight  Templar 
affiliated  with  the  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He 
also  is  a member  of  the  Brainerd  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 
At  Brainerd  on  September  4,  1911,  he  married  Rosalie 
Agatha  Poppenberg.  They  have  one  son,  William 
St.  Clair,  Jr.,  born  September  24,  1912.  Judge 
McClenahan  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Walter  Dwight.  Eligibly  situated  at  a point  two 
miles  north  of  the  thriving  little  City  of  Blue  Earth, 
Faribault  County,  is  the  fine  farm  homestead  of  Mr. 
Dwight,  who  has  proved  himself  one  of  the  progres- 
sive and  substantial  representatives  of  the  agricul- 
tural industry  in  his  native  state  and  whose  energy 
and  ambition  have  been  on  a parity  with  those  of  his 
honored  father,  who  settled  in  this  section  of  Min- 
nesota more  than  half  a century  ago  and  who  long 
held  precedence  as  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and 
influential  citizens  of  Blue  Earth  County,  of  which 
the  most  of  Faribault  County  was  originally  a part. 

Walter  Dwight  was  born  at  Vernon  Center,  Blue 
Earth  County,  Minnesota,  on  the  29th  of  October, 
1869,  and  is  a son  of  Leonard  and  Cornelia  (Mason) 
Dwight,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Cat- 
taraugus County,  New  York,  in  1835,  and  the  latter 
of  whom  was  born  in  Wisconsin  in  1838,  a repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  early  pioneer  families  of  the 
state,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated  and  where 
her  marriage  was  solemnized.  Leonard  Dwight  was 
reared  to  maturity  in  the  old  Empire  State,  and 


1788 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


within  a few  years  after  attaining  to  his  legal 
majority  he  joined  the  strong  tide  of  immigration 
to  the  West,  with  the  result  that  he  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Blue  Earth  County,  Min- 
nesota, where  he  established  his  home  about  i860. 
He  became  a pioneer  farmer  near  Vernon  Center, 
in  Vernon  Township,  where  he  remained  until  1876, 
when  he  removed  to  the  fine  old  homestead  on  which 
he  maintained  his  residence  for  many  years,  the 
same  being  now  one  of  the  splendid  farms  of 
Verona  Township,  that  county.  He  passed  the  clos- 
ing years  of  his  long  and  useful  life  in  well  earned 
retirement,  and  his  death  occurred  in  the  Village  of 
Elmore,  Faribault  County,  in  1903.  His  cherished 
and  devoted  wife,  who  had  shared  with  him  the 
labors  and  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life,  survived  him 
by  a decade  and  was  summoned  to  eternal  rest  on 
the  15th  of  October,  1913,  her  memory  being  re- 
vered by  all  who  came  within  the  compass  of  her 
gentle  influence  and  both  she  and  her  husband  hav- 
ing been  earnest  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Concerning  their  children  brief  data 
are  here  given:  Jennie  M.,  is  the  wife  of  Robert 

W.  Johnson  and  they  reside  on  the  old  homestead 
of  her  parents,  in  Verona  Township;  Walter,  of  this 
review,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Cora 
is  the  wife  of  William  R.  Barmore,  who  is  serving 
as  city  clerk  of  Winnebago,  Faribault  County,  at  the 
time  this  article  is  written. 

Reared  to  maturity  under  the  benignant  influences 
and  discipline  of  the  home  farm,  Walter  Dwight 
gained  that  varied  and  practical  experience  which 
has  proved  a most  potent  factor  in  insuring  his  suc- 
cess as  an  independent  representative  of  the  great 
basic  industries  of  agriculture  and  stock-growing. 
After  duly  profiting  by  the  advantages  afforded  in 
the  public  schools  he  further  fortified  himself  by 
completing  a course  in  the  Parker  Business  College, 
at  Winnebago.  He  continued  to  be  associated  in  the 
work  and  management  of  the  home  farm  until  the 
death  of  his  mother  and  had  virtually  assumed  the 
entire  supervision  during  the  decade  following  the 
death  of  his  father.  In  1910  he  purchased  the  old 
homestead,  and  with  additional  land  which  he  had 
acquired  he  thus  became  the  owner  of  a valuable 
farm  of  240  acres.  In  1913  he  sold  the  property  in 
an  advantageous  way  and  purchased  his  present 
farm,  situated  in  Blue  Earth  Township,  on  the  Blue 
Earth  and  Winnebago  turnpike  road  and  only  two 
miles  distant  from  Blue  Earth,  the  judicial  center 
of  Faribault  County.  This  is  one  of  the  model 
landed  estates  of  this  section  of  the  state,  the  farm 
comprising  280  acres  and  being  equipped  with  the 
best  of  modern  farm  buildings,  including  a substan- 
tial and  commodious  brick  residence,  large  and  sub- 
stantial barns  and  minor  buildings.  In  1914  Mr. 
Dwight  added  to  the  improvements  on  the  farm  by 
the  construction  of  an  excellently  arranged  cement 
well-house,  with  accommodations  for  the  gasoline 
engine  by  which  water  is  pumped  for  domestic  and 
general  farm  purposes.  In  the  agricultural  depart- 
ment of  his  extensive  farm  enterprise  he  gives  his 
attention  principally  to  the  raising  of  corn,  clover 
and  oats,  and  in  the  department  of  animal  industry 
to  the  raising  of  high-grade  shorthorn  cattle  and 
Duroc  Jersey  swine. 

Mr.  Dwight  not  only  holds  prestige  as  one  of  the 
most  progressive  and  scientific  farmers  and  stock- 
growers  of  this  section  but  is  also  recognized  as  a 
citizen  of  much  liberality  and  public  spirit.  In 
politics  he  maintains  an  independent  attitude  and 
gives  his  support  to  the  men  and  measures  meeting 


the  approval  of  his  judgment.  While  still  residing 
on  the  old  homestead,  in  Verona  Township,  he 
served  twelve  years  as  a member  of  the  school  board 
and  one  year  as  township  assessor.  In  a fraternal 
way  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Blue  Earth  Lodge  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  have  a host  of  friends  and  they  enjoy 
extending  to  them  the  hospitality  of  their  beautiful 
home. 

In  1901,  at  Bricelyn,  Faribault  County,  was 
solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Dwight  to  Miss 
Pauline  Paulson,  daughter  of  the  late  Peter  Paul- 
son, who  was  one  of  the  sterling  citizens  and  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  that  locality.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dwight  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living  except  one,  so  that  the  family 
circle  is  one  of  the  most  gracious  order.  Dora 
Eleanor,  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  died  in  1911, 
at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  the  names  of  the  other 
children  are  here  noted  in  respective  order  of  na- 
tivity: Floyd  Leonard,  Walter  Chester,  Harold 

Paulson,  Ralph  Bryan  and  Ward.  It  may  be  stated 
in  conclusion  that  the  genealogy  of  the  Dwight 
family  is  traced  back  to  staunch  English  origin  and 
that  representatives  of  the  name  were  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Walter  W.  Hulce.  The  cashier  of  the  Farmers 
National  Bank  at  Minnesota  Lake,  Walter  W.  Hulce 
is  one  of  the  progressive  young  business  men  of 
Faribault  County,  and  while  widely  known  through 
his  present  position,  is  perhaps  even  better  known 
over  the  county  as  a teacher,  having  been  identified 
with  the  public  schools  for  a number  of  years  prior 
to  taking  up  the  business  of  banking. 

Walter  W.  Hulce  was  born  in  Columbia  County, 
Wisconsin,  April  3,  1885,  a son  of  H.  W.  and  Anna 
(Friday)  Hulce.  The  Hulce  family  was  English  in 
its  origin,  was  established  in  Massachusetts  in 
Colonial  times,  and  the  great-grandfather  of  Walter 
W.  moved  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  1816.  There 
were  members  of  the  family  who  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  H.  W.  Hulce  was  born  in 
Columbia  County,  Wisconsin,  in  i860,  came  to  Blue 
Earth,  Minnesota,  in  1889,  moved  to  Welcome,  and 
thence  to  Elmore,  where  he  is  now  living,  being- 
connected  with  the  Elmore  Cement  Company.  The 
mother  was  likewise  a native  of  Columbia  County, 
Wisconsin.  Their  children  are:  Walter  W. ; Ada, 

who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three;  Maude,  who 
lives  with  her  parents ; and  Mamie,  who  teaches 
school  at  Oldham,  South  Dakota. 

Walter  W.  Hulce  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  at  Elmore,  attended  Parker 
College  at  Winnebago,  Minnesota,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  left  school  to  take  up  teaching.  That  work 
kept  him  employed  at  Easton  and  other  places  in 
Faribault  County  for  eight  years. 

In  1913  Mr.  Hulce  accepted  the  post  of  cashier 
with  the  Farmers  National  Bank  at  Minnesota  Lake. 
This  bank  was  established  in  1903.  It  has  a capital 
stock  of  $25,000,  with  a surplus  of  $1,250.  The 
president  is  W.  H.  Schroeder. 

Mr.  Hulce  is  independent  in  politics  and  is  affili- 
ated with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In 
1910  he  married  Miss  Elvira  E.  Herring.  Her  father 
is  J.  L.  Herring,  county  auditor  of  Faribault 
County,  with  residence  at  Blue  Earth. 

Charles  William  Seddon.  When  Charles  Wil- 
liam Seddon  entered  upon  his  active  career  his 
capital  consisted  of  a public  school  education  and 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1789 


a knowledge  of  the  machinist’s  trade  gained  through 
a long  and  arduous  apprenticeship.  These,  with  the 
opportunities  which  the  era  of  railroad  construction 
in  the  Northwest  offered,  with  the  skill  which  his 
energetic  nature  supplied,  and  a training  gained  in 
the  field  supplemented  by  diligent  study,  have  enabled 
him  to  achieve,  when  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  a 
substantial  position  among  the  railroad  men  of 
Proctor,  Minnesota,  where  he  is  superintendent  of 
motive  power  and  cars  for  the  Duluth,  Mesaba  & 
Northern  Railroad. 

Mr.  Seddon  was  born  at  Lima,  Ohio,  February 
4,  1865,  and  is  a son  of  Mark  and  Flora  (Good) 
Seddon.  The  son  of  a blacksmith,  he  inherited  a 
predilection  for  and  ability  in  mechanics,  and  when 
he  had  completed  his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  machinist,  which  he 
learned  thoroughly.  The  following  twenty-one  years 
were  spent  as  a journeyman,  and  from  1879  to  1900 
he  traveled  to  cities  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
including  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  Plattsmouth,  Ne- 
braska, and  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  In  1900  Mr.  Seddon’s 
railroad  career  began  when  he  accepted  a position 
at  Minneapolis  with  the  Minneapolis  & St.  Louis 
Railroad,  as  machinist.  Subsequently  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  at  Crooks- 
ton,  Minnesota,  and  from  machinist  rapidly  rose 
to  the  position  of  shop  superintendent  of  the  same 
road,  being  transferred  to  Barnesville,  Minnesota, 
also  holding  that  position  for  a time  at  Superior, 
Wisconsin.  On  December  1,  1906,  Mr.  Seddon  came 
to  Proctor,  to  accept  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  motive  power  and  cars  for  the  Duluth,  Mesaba 
& Northern  Railroad,  and  has  continued  in  this 
capacity  to  this  date.  Mr.  Seddon  has  risen  to  his 
present  position  solely  through  his  own  efforts,  for 
at  the  outset  of  his  career  he  has  no  pecuniary  as- 
sistance or  the  influence  of  friends  to  help  him. 
Sturdy  energy,  a doing  well  of  whatever  he  has 
found  to  do,  and  an  unwavering  fidelity  to  duty 
have  combined  to  form  the  medium  through  which 
he  has  won  success,  and  he  is  worthily  entitled  to 
the  esteem  and  respect  that  is  commanded  by  self- 
made  manhood.  While  he  has  given  his  chief  at- 
tention to  the  railroad  business,  he  has  been  in- 
terested also  in  enterprises  connected  with  com- 
mercial and  financial  activities,  and  is  a director  of 
the  Proctor  State  Bank,  director  of  the  Iron  Moun- 
tain Mining  Company,  near  Crosby,  Minnesota,  and 
a director  of  the  Idaho  Improved  Farm  Association. 
He  is  interested  in  sports  of  all  kinds,  and  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Proctor  Athletic  Association  and  a_  mem- 
ber of  the  Kitchi  Gammi  Club,  of  Duluth.  His  fra- 
ternal connection  is  with  the  Sioux  City  Lodge  of 
the  Masonic  order.  While  he  has  taken  a good 
citizen’s  interest  in  affairs  of  a public  character,  Mr. 
Seddon  has  never  found  the  time  to  seek  preferment 
in  the  political  arena. 

While  a resident  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  Mr.  Seddon 
was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  R.  Heddinger,  of 
that  place. 

Werner  Hemstead,  M.  D.  Up  to  about  fifteen 
years  ago  Doctor  Hemstead  was  one  of  the  most 
active  practitioners  of  medicine  at  Brainerd  and 
vicinity,  but  since  that  time  his  energies  have  been 
largely  devoted  to  his  varied  business  affairs.  Doctor 
Hemstead  in  the  early  days  acquired  interests  in  the 
Range,  still  owns  a large  amount  of  land  in  the 
mineral  section,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  develop 
the  Cuyuna  country. 


Dr.  Werner  Hemstead  was  born  in  Dubuque 
County,  Iowa,  April  19,  i860,  a son  of  Carl  and 
Rosamond  (Grobe)  Hemstead.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  and  the  son  grew  up  in  the  country,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was  liberally  and 
thoroughly  prepared  for  his  life  work.  He  attended 
the  Wesleyan  College  in  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa, 
and  took  his  course  in  medicine  in  the  Missouri 
Medical  College  and  in  the  University  of  Nebraska, 
graduating  M.  D.  in  1882.  His  first  experience  in 
practice  was  at  Omaha,  but  in  September,  1882,  he 
came  to  Brainerd,  Minnesota,  and  took  up  the  work 
of  a regular  practitioner,  which  he  continued  with 
very  gratifying  success  until  1900.  In  the  meantime 
Doctor  Hemstead  had  acquired  interests  in  other 
directions,  and  after  giving  up  his  practice  became 
identified  with  merchandising.  For  three  terms  he 
served  as  mayor  of  Brainerd,  was  a member  of  the 
board  of  education  for  some  time,  and  was  also  an 
alderman  in  the  city  government,  and  for  two  terms 
a member  of  the  legislature. 

Doctor  Hemstead  has  retired  from  active  business 
affairs  and  during  the  summer  months  lives  at  Arbor 
Lodge,  a beautiful  country  estate  on  the  shores  of 
Nokay  and  Eagle  lakes,  and  here  he  is  building  up 
a fruit  farm  without  destroying  too  much  of  the 
primeval  forest. 

On  September  26,  1894,  Doctor  Hemstead  mar- 
ried Marguerite  Johnson  of  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin. 
Their  two  children  are  Charles  W.,  now  a book- 
keeper, and  Rosemary,  a student.  Doctor  Hemstead 
is  independent  in  his  political  activities. 

James  W.  Stevenson.  One  of  the  many  fine 
landed  estates  of  Southern  Minnesota  is  that  which 
has  been  owned  since  the  spring  of  1908,  by  Mr. 
Stevenson,  this  admirably  improved  farm,  which 
comprises  234  acres,  being  situated  in  Verona  Town- 
ship, Faribault  County,  at  a point  on  Blue  Earth  and 
Winnebago  turnpike  road,  two  and  one-half  miles 
south  of  the  City  of  Winnebago.  Mr.  Stevenson  is 
not  only  essentially  progressive  and  ambitious  in  his 
chosen  sphere  of  enterprise  but  also  brings  to  bear 
an  excellent  scientific  and  practical  knowledge  of  the 
great  basic  industries  of  agriculture  and  stock-grow- 
ing, with  the  result  that  he  stands  forth  as  one  of  the 
prominent  exponents  of  the  same  in  this  section  of 
the  state.  His  status  as  a citizen  and  as  a prom- 
inent and  honored  representative  of  important  in- 
dustrial interests  well  entitles  him  to  definite  recog- 
nition in  this  history  of  the  state  of  his  adoption. 

A scion  of  a sterling  pioneer  family  of  the  Badger 
State,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  born  on  the  homestead 
farm  of  his  father  in  Columbia  County,  Wisconsin, 
and  the  date  of  his  nativity  was  January  1,  1871.  He 
is  a son  of  William  and  Agnes  (Wilson)  Stevenson, 
the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Columbia  County, 
Wisconsin,  in  1848 — a member  of  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative pioneer  families  of  that  section  of  the 
state.  William  Stevenson  was  reared  to  the  age 
of  sixteen  years  in  his  native  land,  where  he  received 
excellent  educational  advantages,  and  he  then  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  immigration  to  the 
United  States,  the  family  home  having  first  been 
established  in  Illinois,  whence  removal  was  made  a 
few  years  later  to  Columbia  County,  Wisconsin, 
where  his  parents  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  With  all  of  diligence  and  energy  he  applied 
himself  to  the  vocation  of  farming  throughout  his 
entire  active  career  and  he  became  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial agriculturists  and  honored  and  influential 


1790 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


citizens  of  his  community,  Columbia  County,  having 
continued  to  be  his  place  of  residence  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  May  22,  1914,  his  devoted 
wife,  who  likewise  was  a representative  of  one  of 
the  fine  old  clans  of  Scotland,  having  been  summoned 
to  eternal  rest  in  1911,  her  entire  life  having  been 
passed  in  Columbia  County,  where  several  of  their 
eleven  children  still  remain.  John  is  a representa- 
tive agriculturist  of  that  county;  James  W.,  of  this 
review,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth ; Mary  re- 
mains in  the  old  home  county;  Clark,  who  was  a 
successful  farmer  in  that  county,  died  in  1914,  a 
bachelor;  Thomas  is  a farmer  in  that  county,  as 
was  also  William,  who  died  in  1906;  Alexander  there 
follows  the  same  vocation;  Margaret  is  the  wife  of 
Tempest  Currie,  who  is  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  at  Big  Springs,  Texas;  and  Kenneth,  An- 
drew and  David  are  engaged  in  farming  in  their 
native  county,  with  whose  annals  the  family  name 
has  been  long  and  worthily  identified. 

Reared  under  the  invigorating  discipline  of  the 
home  farm,  James  W.  Stevenson  thus  acquired  his 
initial  knowledge  of  agriculture  at  first  hand,  and 
after  duly  availing  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county,  he  completed  a 
course  in  the  Northwestern  Business  College,  at 
Madison,  the  capital  of  Wisconsin.  In  the  same 
city  he  later  completed,  during  two  winter  terms, 
special  and  well  ordered  course  in  the  college  of 
agriculture  of  the  great  University  of  Wisconsin, 
this  department  of  the  university  being  one  of  the 
foremost  of  its  kind  in  the  entire  Union.  Thereafter 
Mr.  Stevenson  acted  as  an  associate  instructor  in 
the  college  of  agriculture  for  two  winters,  and  in 
the  meanwhile  he  spared  no  effort  in  widening  his 
own  knowledge  of  scientific  agriculture  and  stock- 
growing. In  his  independent  operations  as  an  agri- 
culturist he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Barron 
County,  Wisconsin,  for  a period  of  ten  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  he  sold  his  property  and,  in 
March,  1908,  came  to  Faribault  County,  Minnesota, 
where  he  purchased  his  present  fine  farm,  which  is 
equipped  with  excellent  buildings  and  upon  which 
he  himself  has  made  many  modern  improvements, 
the  entire  demesne  giving  every  evidence  of  thrift 
and  prosperity.  The  principal  agricultural  products 
of  the  farm  are  corn,  oats,  barley  and  clover,  for 
each  of  which  this  section  is  admirably  adapted,  and 
Mr.  Stevenson  stands  also  well  to  the  front  in  the 
department  of  animal  industry,  as  a grower  and 
breeder  of  high-grade  shorthorn  cattle,  with  an  av- 
erage herd  of  seventy  head,  and  the  most  approved 
breeds  of  swine,  including  the  Poland-China  and 
Duroc-Jersey  types. 

The  democratic  party  receives  the  enthusiastic  al- 
legiance of  Mr.  Stevenson,  though  in  local  affairs, 
where  no  generic  issues  are  involved,  he  is  not 
constrained  by  strict  partisan  lines. 

In  Columbia  County,  Wisconsin,  the  year  of  1900 
gave  record  of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Stevenson  to 
Miss  Agnes  J.  Mair,  daughter  of  Charles  Mair, 
who  was  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of_  that 
county,  where  he  is  now  living  retired,  in  the  Village 
of  Poynette.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevenson  have  two 
children:  Ina  Margaret  and  Vera  Agnes. 

William  Henry  Fletcher.  This  well  known 
citizen  and  prominent  business  man  of  Sauk  Rapids 
is  one  of  Minnesota’s  pioneers,  and  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  territory  and  state  for  the  past  sixty 
years.  Mr.  Fletcher  has  spent  most  of  his  active 
career  in  Benton  County,  has  been  in  the  insurance 


and  real  estate  business  at  Sauk  Rapids  since  1878, 
has  been  identified  with  a number  of  enterprises 
which  are  directly  associated  with  the  local  better- 
ment and  improvement,  and  has  filled  with  honor 
and  credit  several  county  and  local  offices. 

William  Henry  Fletcher  was  born  in  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  February  27,  1842.  His  parents  were 
William  and  Emma  (Ellis)  Fletcher.  His  father 
was  a miller  by  trade,  moved  out  to  Minnesota,  in 
1855,  first  locating  at  St.  Anthony  Falls,  and  in  1858 
constructed  the  first  flour  mill  at  Little  Falls,  Min- 
nesota. 

William  H.  Fletcher  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  at  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  where 
his  family  lived  before  coming  to  Minnesota.  While 
growing  up  he  acquired  an  expert  knowledge  of  the 
milling  business  under  his  father,  and  was  after- 
wards located  at  St.  Cloud  and  in  the  wagon  manu- 
facturing business  there  and  at  Sauk  Rapids  for 
about  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Fletcher  served  in  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer from  1874  to  1878,  was  county  auditor  of  Ben- 
ton County  from  1894  to  1896  and  since  1900  has 
been  a member  of  the  board  of  county  commission- 
ers, and  with  the  exception  of  two  years  has  been 
president  of  the  board.  He  was  the  first  village  re- 
corder of  Sauk  Rapids,  held  the  office  a number  of 
times  and  for  many  years  was  on  the  village  board. 
For  ten  years  he  served  as  clerk  of  the  district 
school  board.  Mr.  Fletcher  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  republican  party  affairs,  and  has  been  frequently 
honored  with  the  office  of  chairman  of  the  Republican 
County  Committee.  He  is  a director  of  the  Benton 
County  Cemetery  Association,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers.  These  various  positions  together 
with  his  business  as  a real  estate  and  insurance  man 
has  kept  him  busily  employed  for  many  years  and 
though  past  the  age  of  three  score  and  ten  has  not 
yet  retired  from  the  active  list. 

Mr.  Fletcher  was  married  April  27,  1879,  to  Alda 
M.  Everest,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Fletcher 
has  for  half  a century  been  affiliated  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  having  taken  his  first  degree  in  1865, 
and  is  now  a member  of  North  Star  Lodge  No.  23, 
A.  F.  & A.  M. 

Malcolm  J.  Farrish,  M.  D.,  C.  M.  As  physician 
and  surgeon  no  firm  in  Martin  County  has  a higher 
professional  standing,  better  professional  connec- 
tions, than  Farrish  & Farrish,  who  have  offices  both 
in  Sherburn  and  Ceylon.  This  firm  consists  of  Dr. 
Malcolm  J.  and  Dr.  Robert  C.  Farrish,  two  brothers, 
the  older  of  whom  has  practiced  at  Sherburn  for 
more  than  twenty  years. 

Dr.  Malcolm  j.  Farrish  was  born  at  Rockwood, 
Ontario,  Canada,  June  7,  1864.  His  father,  William 
Farrish,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1834  and  died 
at  Minneapolis  in  1906,  came  to  Canada  about  1850, 
and  for  many  years  lived  at  Rockwood,  where  he 
was  prominent  as  the  proprietor  and  operator  of  a 
flour  mill,  oat  mill,  and  grain  elevator.  William 
Farrish  married  Agnes  McFarlane,  who  was  born  in 
Halton  County,  Ontario,  in  1834,  and  died  at  St. 
Paul  in  1894.  Their  children  were : Mary,  who 

died  young;  Annie,  who  died  young;  John  F.,  who 
is  vice  president  of  the  William  McMurray  & Com- 
pany, tea  and  spice  wholesale  merchants,  in  St.  Paul ; 
Dr.  Malcolm  J.;  Dr.  Robert  C. ; and  Agnes,  wife 
of  Louis  G.  Foley,  who  is  state  inspector  of  hos- 
pitals and  prisons  in  Minnesota  with  residence  at 
St.  Paul. 

Dr.  Malcolm  J.  Farrish  grew  up  in  his  native  town 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1791 


of  Rockwood,  attended  the  public  schools  there,  and 
in  1882  was  graduated  from  the  noted  Rockwood 
Academy,  a school  which  is  known  both  in  Canada 
and  the  United  States,  and  has  graduated  many 
prominent  men.  While  Doctor  Farrish  was  a student 
there,  its  principal  was  Alexander  McMillan.  From 
the  academy  he  entered  Toronto  University  in  1882, 
spent  two  years  in  that  institution,  and  pursued  his 
medical  studies  in  Trinity  University  at  Toronto, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1891  and 
the  degrees  M.  D.  and  C.  M.  Some  years  after  get- 
ting well  established  in  his  profession,  Doctor  Far- 
rish took  post-graduate  work  in  the  New  York 
hospitals  in  1906. 

Doctor  Farrish  immediately  after  graduation  came 
to  Minnesota,  spent  the  winter  of  1891-92  as  house 
surgeon  in  the  Minneapolis  Hospital,  and  for  a short 
time  was  employed  as  physician  and  surgeon  by  one 
of  the  large  corporations  operating  on  the  Mesaba 
Range.  In  July  1892  he  opened  an  office  at  Sher- 
burn,  and  about  nine  years  later  was  joined  by  his 
brother,  and  they  have  since  alternated  in  practice 
both  at  Sherburn  and  Ceylon. 

Doctor  Farrish  besides  his  long  and  useful  record 
as  a physician,  has  also  been  identified  with  public 
affairs.  For  twenty  years  or  more  he  has  served  on 
the  health  board,  and  for  one  term  was  mayor  of 
Sherburn.  He  was  also  coroner  of  Martin  County 
from  1898  to  1900.  Doctor  Farrish  is  a member  of 
the  Martin  County  Medical  Society,  is  a democrat  in 
politics  and  was  brought  up  in  the  faith  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  A believer  in  fraternal  organiza- 
tions he  has  membership  in  Magnolia  Lodge,  A.  F. 
& A.  M. ; Fairmont  Chapter  No.  50,  R.  A.  M. ; Fair- 
mont Commandery  No.  27,  K.  T. ; Mankato  Lodge 
No.  225,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks; 
and  Sherburn  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  At  Sherburn  in  1902,  Doctor  Farrish 
married  Miss  Laura  Bettenhausen,  who  was  of 
German  family  and  a native  of  Illinois.  They  are 
the  parents  of  three  children : Charlotte  A.,  Mar- 

ian L„  and  Robert  M.,  all  of  whom  are  attending 
the  public  schools  of  Sherburn. 

Dr.  Robert  C.  Farrish,  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Farrish  & Farrish,  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
Sherburn  and  Ceylon,  was  born  at  Rockwood,  On- 
tario, September  16,  1867.  He  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  there,  later  came  to  Min- 
nesota, and  was  graduated  in  medicine  from  the 
University  of  Minnesota  in  1901.  He  at  once  be- 
came associated  with  his  brother  in  practice  at 
Sherburn  and  Ceylon.  Dr.  Robert  Farrish,  who  is 
unmarried,  is  prominent  in  Masonry,  having  taken 
thirty-two  degrees  in  the  Scottish  Rite  and  is  mem- 
ber of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Elks  Lodge  in  St.  Paul.  Before  beginning  active 
practice  at  Sherburn  with  his  brother  he  spent  six 
months  as  surgical  assistant  with  the  famous  Charles 
H.  Mayo  of  Rochester,  Minnesota. 

Sherman  H.  Taylor.  Many  of  the  most  impor- 
tant banking,  commercial  and  industrial  interests  of 
Elmore  are  concentrated  in  the  Taylor  family,  which 
has  been  continuously  identified  with  Faribault 
County  for  more  than  half  a century.  Sherman  H. 
Taylor  is  vice  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Elmore  while  his  father  is  president,  and  together 
they  are  the  active  heads  of  several  manufacturing 
and  general  business  concerns  and  also  been  promi- 
nent in  civic  affairs  of  the  locality. 

Sherman  H.  Taylor  was  born  in  Elmore,  Min- 
nesota, June  12,  1862.  His  father  is  George  A.  Tay- 


lor, who  was  born  in  Painesville,  Ohio,  June  11, 
1836.  The  grandfather  was  Hiram  Taylor,  born  in 
1891,  and  of  an  old  established  family  in  America. 
Hiram  Taylor  moved  out  to  Wisconsin  in  1839,  lo- 
cating at  Spring  Prairie,  establishing  a home  in  the 
wilderness,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Columbia 
County,  Wisconsin,  in  1866.  Hiram  Taylor  mar- 
ried Lovia  Kibby,  a native  of  New  York  State, 
who  also  died  in  Columbia  County. 

George  A.  Taylor  was  reared  among  the  pioneer 
surroundings  of  early  Wisconsin,  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  when  about  twenty  years  of  age 
began  farming  for  himself  in  Adams  County,  Wis- 
consin. In  1861  he  moved  out  to  Faribault  County, 
Minnesota,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  there,  and 
continued  life  as  a farmer  until  1874.  In  that  year 
he  extended  his  operation  by  buying  grain  and 
selling  lumber  in  Blue  Earth,  and  was  a resident  of 
that  city  for  five  years,  and  since  1880  has  been 
identified  with  Elmore.  At  Elmore,  George  A.  Tay- 
lor built  an  elevator  and  warehouse,  and  did  a large 
business  in  the  buying  of  grain  and  the  selling  of 
lumber  until  1888.  In  that  year  he  was  one  of  the 
principal  men  who  established  the  private  bank 
known  as  the  Exchange  Bank,  with  Z.  Roberts  as 
president  and  George  A.  Taylor  as  director.  In 
1890,  after  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Roberts,  George 
A.  Taylor  was  appointed  president,  and  has  been 
at  the  head  of  this  substantial  institution  for  nearly 
a quarter  of  a century.  In  1900  a national  charter 
was  taken  out,  and  a new  building  erected  on  Main 
Street  opposite  the  postoffice.  The  capital  stock 
of  the  First  National  is  $25,000,  and  its  healthy  con- 
dition is  indicated  by  its  surplus  of  $18,000.  George 
A.  Taylor  is  an  active  republican,  has  served  on  the 
town  board,  is  a trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  for  many  years  has  been  clerk  of  King 
David  Lodge  No.  79,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  also 
affiliated  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men of  Elmore.  Outside  of  banking  his  interests 
are  of  a varied  nature.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the 
Elmore  Cement  and  Tile  Company,  a stockholder  in 
the  Elmore  Milling  Company,  aad  a stockholder  in 
the  Elmore  Creamery  Company.  George  A.  Taylor 
was  married  in  1857  at  Portage,  Wisconsin,  to  Miss 
Eliza  Jane  Vining.  She  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Maine  and  died  at  Elmore  in  1894. 

Sherman  H.  Taylor,  their  only  child,  acquired  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Elmore,  spent 
five  years  in  the  schools  at  Blue  Earth,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  left  the  high  school  and  his  first 
regular  occupation  was  learning  telegraphy  in  the 
railroad  station  at  Elmore  during  1881-83.  In  1883 
Mr.  Taylor  began  selling  lumber  with  Mr.  Z.  Rob- 
erts, and  continued  in  that  line  for  five  years.  Since 
1888  he  has  been  continuously  identified  with  bank- 
ing, in  the  institution  of  which  his  father  was  one 
of  the  founders,  and  is  now  cashier  and  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank.  Mr.  Taylor  is 
president  of  the  Elmore  Milling  Company,  and  sec- 
retary of  the  Elmore  Cement  and  Tile  Company. 

In  public  affairs  his  work  has  long  been  of  benefit 
especially  to  his  home  town  and  county.  He  has 
served  for  a number  of  years  on  the  Republican 
County  Central  Committee,  also  for  a long  time 
as  secretary  of  the  school  board,  and  for  seventeen 
years  as  town  clerk  of  the  township.  For  two  years 
he  was  president  of  the  village  council.  Mr.  Sher- 
man is  a trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  his  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  King  David 
Lodge  No.  79,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Mount  Horeb  Chap- 
ter No.  21,  R.  A.  M. ; is  a past  noble  grand  of 


1792 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


Elmore  Lodge  No.  51,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  affiliates 
with  Lodge  No.  87,  A.  O.  U.  W.  of  Elmore. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  married  in  1884  in  Blue  Earth 
to  Miss  Matilda  Bay,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin 
and  died  in  1896.  There  are  two  daughters : Leila, 
who  graduated  from  the  Albert  Lea  College  for 
Girls,  from  the  Mankato  Business  College,,  and  Is 
now  bookkeeper  and  stenographer  in  Guthrie,  Ok- 
lahoma; Effie  May  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Rist,  a trav- 
eling salesman  with  home  in  Guthrie,  Oklahoma. 
In  1898  Mr.  Taylor  married  Miss  Ella  M.  Gunder- 
son, a native  of  Wisconsin  and  daughter  of  Thomas 
Gunderson,  a retired  farmer  of  Kingston,  where 
they  were  married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  the 
following  children : Eleanor  J.,  a student  in  the 

Elmore  High  School;  George  T.  and  Leslie  Elwood, 
both  in  the  grade  school. 

Lafayette  H.  Haeger.  Cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  at  Kiester,  Lafayette  H.  Haeger  is  a 
young  banker  who  has  had  successful  relations  with 
a number  of  banks  in  Southern  Minnesota  during 
the  past  ten  years,  and  the  success  of  the  Kiester 
Bank  is  largely  due  to  his  thorough  experience  and 
undoubted  ability  in  the  management  of  financial 
affairs. 

Lafayette  H.  Haeger  was  born  at  Eagle  Grove, 
Iowa,  March  10,  1885.  His  grandfather  came  from 
Germany,  and  was  ninety  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  Henry  J.  Haeger,  the  father,  was 
born  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  in  1862,  moved  out  to 
Boone,  Iowa,  lived  there  and  in  other  places  in 
Iowa  and  for  a number  of  years  was  a resident 
of  Eagle  Grove.  He  was  an  engineer  of  the  North- 
western Railway,  and  in  1905  died  while  in  Chicago 
from  the  results  of  a surgical  operation.  Henry  J. 
Haeger  married  Rose  Coyle,  a native  of  Tama,  Iowa, 
and  now  living  in  Chicago.  Their  children  are : 
Lafayette  H.;  Vivian,  wife  of  A.  H.  Lowenthal,  in 
the  advertising  business  in  Chicago;  Beatrice,  wife 
of  Ralph  Frank,  a clothing  merchant  at  Webster 
City,  Iowa;  Donald,  who  is  a bookkeeper  in  Chi- 
cago; Helen,  Henry  and  Naomi  at  home  with  their 
mother. 

Lafayette  H.  Haeger  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  at  Eagle  Grove,  Iowa,  graduating  from  the 
high  school  in  1903,  and  in  1904  from  a commercial 
course  in  the  Capitol  City  Commercial  College  at 
Des  Moines.  Practically  his  entire  active  career 
has  been  connected  with  banking.  His  first  employ- 
ment was  as  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  at  Elmore,  Minnesota,  where  he  remained  un- 
til 1908  and  then  took  the  post  of  cashier  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Elmore  for  two  years.  In  1910  Mr. 
Haeger  moved  to  South  Dakota  and  was  cashier  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Lemmon  a year  and  a half,  fol- 
lowing which  he  was  cashier  of  the  Securities  Bank 
at  Alden,  Minnesota,  until  January,  1914.  Since  then 
his  home  has  been  at  Kiester,  where  he  is  cashier 
of  the  First  National  Bank.  This  bank  was  origin- 
ally operated  under  a state  charter,  and  was  nation- 
alized in  1914,  with  a capital  stock  of  $30,000. 

Mr.  Haeger  is  a republican  in  politics.  His  frater- 
nal affiliations  are  with  King  David  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  at  Elmore;  Mount  Zion  Chapter,  R.  A.  M., 
at  Blue  Earth;  Fairmont  Commandery  No.  27,  K. 
T. ; Osman  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  and  also 
with  the  Albert  Lea  Lodge  No.  813  of  the  Ben- 
evolent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  In  August, 
1907  at  Elmore,  Mr.  Haeger  married  Miss  Florence 
Williams,  daughter  of  C.  D.  Williams,  who  for 
twenty  years  was  an  Elmore  banker,  but  now  lives 


retired  at  Wichita,  Kansas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haeger 
have  one  child,  Harlan  W. 

George  S.  Smith.  One  of  the  young  bankers  of 
Southern  Minnesota,  George  S.  Smith  is  cashier  and 
active  executive  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Bricelyn.  Mr.  Smith  began  his  business  career  be- 
fore he  reached  his  majority,  has  an  accurate  knowl- 
edge and  capable  skill  in  commercial  lines,  developed 
through  service  as  bookkeeper  and  other  positions, 
and  also  in  the  county  offices  of  Faribault  County, 
and  for  the  past  eight  years  has  been  identified  with 
banking. 

George  S.  Smith  was  born  at  Blue  Earth,  Minne- 
sota, December  5,  1875,  and  is  of  German  descent 
on  his  father’s  side.  His  father,  William  Smith, 
was  born  at  Fort  Berry  in  Canada  in  1835,  moved 
to  the  United  States  in  1865,  locating  in  Blue  Earth, 
Minnesota,  where  he  died- in  1900.  He  was  a car- 
penter, contractor  and  builder,  and  still  well  re- 
membered at  Blue  Earth  and  vicinity.  William 
Smith  married  Catherine  Lacey,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland,  came  as  a girl  in  America,  and  first  lived 
in  Rochester,  New  York,  and  is  still  living  with 
her  home  in  Blue  Earth.  Her  children  are:  C. 

E.  A.,  a harness  maker  at  Minneapolis;  Ella,  wife 
of  William  Dreblow,  living  on  their  farm  near 
Fairmont;  Emma,  widow  of  Fred  H.  Kenney,  and 
living  at  Waverly,  Iowa;  Catherine,  wife  of  M.  J. 
Haase,  now  county  treasurer  of  Faribault  County, 
with  home  at  Blue  Earth ; and  George  S. 

Mr.  Smith  spent  his  boyhood  in  Blue  Earth,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1891.  After 
a business  course  at  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin,  he  re- 
turned home  and  was  employed  about  six  years  as 
bookkeeper  for  an  agricultural  implement  house  in 
Blue  Earth.  For  another  six  years  he  served  as 
deputy  register  of  deeds.  His  career  as  a banker 
began  in  1906  as  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Blue  Earth,  and  from  that  position 
in  October,  1910,  he  became  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Bricelyn,  and  while  his  official  title 
is  still  cashier,  he  is  president  of  the  institution  in 
all  but  name.  The  First  National  Bank  of  Bricelyn 
is  eligibly  located  on  Main  Street,  and  it  was 
founded  in  1899  as  a state  bank,  and  took  out  a 
national  charter  in  1902.  The  capital  stock  is 
$25,000,  with  a surplus  of  $4,000. 

Mr.  Smith  for  a number  of  years  held  the  office 
of  city  clerk  in  Blue  Earth.  He  is  a republican,  at- 
tends the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  affiliated  with  Truth 
Lodge  No.  260,  A.  F.  & A.  M.  His  wife  before 
her  marriage  was  Miss  Sue  More,  a daughter  of 
A.  R.  More  of  Blue  Earth.  They  were  married  in 
1902  and  have  two  children.  Ward,  a student  in  .the 
public  schools  at  Bricelyn,  and  Robert. 

John  W.  Wolford.  Possessing  those  business 
qualifications  which  make  a man  of  exceptional  serv- 
ice in  any  community,  John  W.  Wolford  at  the 
age  of  thirtv-five  has  a secure  position  in  the  busi- 
ness affairs  of  the  town  of  Welcome,  Martin  County, 
and  besides  his  post  as  cashier  and  manager  of.  the 
Welcome  National  Bank  is  officially  and  financially 
interested  in  several  other  local  enterprises  and  is 
easily  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Martin  County. 

John  W.  Wolford  was  born  at  Sherburn,  Min- 
nesota, December  31,  1879,  a son  of  Mathias  Wol- 
ford, who  was  born  in  Coshocton,  Ohio,  in  1841. 
Mr.  Wolford’s  great-grandfather,  Godfrey  Wolford, 
was  a Pennsylvania  farmer  and  of  Pennsylvania  Ger- 
man stock.  Mathias  Wolford  died  at  St.  James,  Minne- 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1793 


sota,  in  1901,  having  come  out  to  Fillmore  in  this 
state  as  an  early  settler.  He  married  Hannah  Bur- 
sell,  who  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1838, 
and  died  at  Triumph,  Minnesota,  in  1911.  These 
parents  had  a large  family  of  children,  all  of  whom 
have  found  a work  to  perform  and  places  to  fill  with 
credit  and  usefulness.  The  children  are  mentioned 
briefly  as  follows : Addie  is  the  wife  of  August 

Stienka,  a farmer  at  Carlos,  Minnesota;  Susie  is 
the  wife  of  Ezra  Cooper,  a grain  buyer  at  Dunnell, 
Minnesota;  George  is  a contractor,  living  at  Ceylon, 
Minnesota;  William  is  a section  foreman  for  the 
Northwestern  Railway,  with  home  at  Welcome; 
Benjamin  is  a merchant  in  Yaniax,  Oregon;  Dora 
is  the  wife  of  Eagle  Britson,  a hardware  merchant 
at  Redstone,  Montana;  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Ed 
Wester,  a blacksmith  at  Triumph;  Viola  married 
M.  A.  Shipman,  and  they  live  on  a farm  in  Ambrose, 
North  Dakota;  John  W.  is  the  ninth  of  the  family; 
Maude  married  Mr.  White  who  is  a merchant  at 
Whitetail,  Montana. 

John  W.  Wolford  grew  up  in  Minnesota,  attended 
the  local  schools  and  the  high  school  at  Sherburn 
and  as  preparation  for  a business  career  in  1901  took 
a business  course  in  the  Toland  Business  University 
at  Farimont.  In  no  small  degree  the  secret  of  Mr. 
Wolford’s  progressive  rise  has  been  due  to  a con- 
centration of  effort.  In  1902  he  entered  the  Wel- 
come National  Bank  as  assistant  cashier,  was  pro- 
moted to  cashier  in  1907,  and  is  still  identified  with 
that  institution  as  cashier,  and  has  to  a large  degree 
the  responsibilities  of  practical  management  of  the 
bank.  The  Welcome  National  Bank  was  established  in 
1877  as  a state  bank,  and  took  out  a national  charter 
in  1903.  It  is  the  second  largest  bank  in  Martin 
County,  having  a capital  stock  of  $50,000  and  sur- 
plus of  $10,000.  The  bank  is  well  situated  for  the 
convenience  of  its  patrons  on  Dugan  Street  in  Wel- 
come, and  has  the  confidence  of  depositors  in  the 
safe  and  conservative  management.  Mr.  Wolford  is 
also  secetary  of  the  Welcome  Telephone  Company, 
is  a stockholder  in  the  South  Minnesota  Investment 
& Loan  Company  and  a stockholder  in  the  Lynd 
State  Bank. 

Mr.  Wolford  is  an  independent  democrat  in  poli- 
tics, is  secretary  of  the  Welcome  school  board,  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
at  Welcome  and  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at 
Sherburn. 

Fred  W.  Boesch.  One  of  the  representative 
young  business  men  of  his  native  county,  Mr.  Boesch 
is  the  efficient  and  popular  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Amboy,  Blue  Earth  County,  and 
is  a member  of  one  of  the  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed  families  of  this  section  of  the  Gopher 
State.  He  was  born  on  a farm  six  miles  west  of 
Amboy,  on  July  6,  1889,  and  is  a son  of  Fred  and 
Emma  (Bussman)  Boesch,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Switzerland,  in  1861,  and  the  latter  of  whom 
was  born  near  the  City  of  St.  Peter,  Nicollet  County, 
Minnesota,  in  1866,  a representative  of  a sterling 
pioneer  family  of  that  county.  As  a youth,  Fred 
Boesch  came  to  America  and  he  has  been  a resident 
of  Minnesota  about  thirty  years,  his  original  place 
of  residence  having  been  near  St.  Peter,  whence  he 
later  removed  to  Blue  Earth  County  and  purchased 
160  acres  of  land,  for  which  he  paid  only  $12  an 
acre  and  which  he  developed  into  one  of  the  fruit- 
ful and  valuable  farms  of  the  county.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  a fine  landed  estate  in  this  county  and 


both  he  and  his  wife  have  secure  place  in  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  all  who  know  them.  Of 
their  four  children,  Fred  W.,  of  this  review,  is  the 
eldest,  and  the  others  are  Francis,  Irma  and  Blanche. 
I he  maternal  grandmother  of  Fred  W.  Boesch  is 
still  living  and  resides  at  Truman,  Martin  County, 
Minnesota,  in  which  county  she  is  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  landed  estate  of  240  acres.  The  paternal 
grandparents  never  came  to  America  but  continued 
to  be  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  in  the 
fair  little  Republic  of  Switzerland  until  their  death. 

Reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of  the  home  farm 
and  acquiring  his  rudimentary  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  Fred  W.  Boesch  supplemented  this 
discipline  by  a course  in  the  Amboy  High  School, 
in  which  he  was  graduated.  In  1906  he  became  iden- 
tified with  the  banking  business  and  by  effective 
service  he  has  won  advancement  to  his  present  re- 
sponsible position,  that  of  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Amboy,  which  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  well  ordered  financial  institutions  of 
Blue  Earth  County.  Like  his  father,  he  is  a repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  both  are  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  in  which  latter  he  is  treas- 
urer of  the  camp  of  Amboy.  Mr.  Boesch  is  essen- 
tially one  of  the  progressive  and  public-spirited 
young  men  of  Amboy,  where  he  is  serving  as  village 
treasurer  and  as  manager  of  the  opera  house,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  as  do  also  his  parents. 

Joseph  Danly  Budd,  M.  D.  In  the  City  of  Two 
Harbors  Doctor  Budd  is  frequently  spoken  of  as  one 
of  the  most  useful  men  in  the  upbuilding  and  prog- 
ress of  that  community.  This  is  due  not  only  to  his 
long  service  as  physician,  but  to  his  many  activities 
outside  of  his  profession,  and  his  name  is  known 
and  esteemed  among  physicians,  bankers,  business 
men  and  citizens  in  general  in  many  localities  of  the 
state. 

Born  in  Lancaster,  Wisconsin,  May  5,  1848,  Joseph 
Danly  Budd  is  a son  of  Daniel  Henry  and  Eliza 
M.  (Richl  Budd.  His  parents  were  natives  of  New 
York  State,  and  his  father  during  the  greater  part 
of  his  career  was  a carriage  manufacturer. 

Doctor  Budd  did  not  take  up  the  medical  profes- 
sion until  about  thirty  years,  of  age,  his  early  career 
having  been  one  of  experience  in  business  lines. 
Though  only  a boy  when  war  broke  out,  his  patriot- 
ism could  not  be  altogether  restrained,  and  in  March, 
1865,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H of  the  Fiftieth  Wis- 
consin Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  in  service  until 
July,  1866,  when  mustered  out  at  Madison.  He  is 
now  a member  of  Culver  Post  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  and  has  served  as  chief  surgeon 
of  the  Minnesota  Department  of  the  Grand  Army. 
He  is  one  of  the  youngest  men  in  the  country  who 
can  claim  distinction  as  a veteran  of  the  great 
Civil  war. 

Doctor  Budd  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
Lancaster  Institute,  and  in  1872  graduated  from 
Lawrence  University  at  Appleton,  Wisconsin.  His 
professional  studies  were  carried  on  under  the  di- 
rection of  private  physicians,  but  in  1887  he  was 
graduated  M.  D.  from  the  St.  Paul  Medical  College. 
His  early  practice  was  at  Fayette  and  Nahma, 
Michigan,  and  since  1889  his  home  and  center  of 
practice  has  been  at  Two  Harbors.  Doctor  Budd 
came  to  Two  Harbors  as  chief  surgeon  for  the 
Duluth  & Iron  Range  Railroad,  and  has  been 


1794 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


acting  in  that  capacity  ever  since.  To  afford  facil- 
ities for  his  large  practice  Doctor  Budd  maintains  a 
well  equipped  hospital  at  Two  Harbors,  with  a ca- 
pacity for  seventy-five  patients.  It  occupies  a well 
chosen  location,  the  grounds  being  150  feet  front 
and  the  building  extending  back  60  feet.  This  hos- 
pital is  now  ranked  as  one  of  the  important  in- 
stitutions of  Two  Harbors,  but  its  founding  and 
his  individual  service  do  not  measure  all  of  Doctor 
Budd’s  activities  along  professional  lines.  He 
served  as  health  officer  at  Two  Harbors  twenty- 
three  years,  and  has  been  county  physician  twenty- 
five  years.  He  is  a member  of  the  National  Tuber- 
culosis Association,  and  of  the  St.  Louis  County 
and  Minnesota  State  Medical  societies  and  the 
American  Medical  Association. 

Outside  of  his  profession  his  work  both  at  home 
and  over  that  state  at  large  has  been  valuable. 
Doctor  Budd  was  president  of  the  Two  Harbors 
Public  Library,  and  while  in  that  office  raised  the 
money  for  both  the  building  and  the  grounds,  and 
is  credited  with  the  successful  carrying  out  of  the 
plans  for  the  library.  In  1903  he  served  in  the 
State  Legislature.  His  varied  interests  are  indi- 
cated by  the  fact  he  is  president  of  the  Lake  County 
Agricultural  Fair  Association,  president  of  the  Au- 
tomobile Club,  of  the  Rod  and  Gun  Club,  and  the 
Lake  County  Poultry  Association.  Of  the  last 
named  he  is  not  only  active  president  but  honorary 
president  for  life.  This  position  reveals  one  of 
Doctor  Budd’s  interesting  avocations.  For  a num- 
ber of  years  he  has  given  time  and  money  to  the 
breeding  of  prize  chickens,  his  birds  have  been 
awarded  the  highest  score  in  the  local  shows  for 
several  seasons,  and  he  is  the  man  generally  given 
credit  for  the  success  of  the  poultry  association, 
which  has  now  held  nine  annual  exhibits  at  Two 
Harbors.  The  influence  of  the  association  has  had 
a practical  relation  with  improvement  of  a general 
status  of  poultry  raising  in  this  section  of  the  state. 

Doctor  Budd  is  a director  in  the  Commercial 
State  Bank  of  Two  Harbors,  and  is  vice  president 
of  the  Minnesota  Mining  and  Manufacturing  As- 
sociation. Long  prominent  in  Masonry,  he  is  a 
Knight  Templar,  a member  of  Duluth  Consistory 
of  the  Scottish  Rite,  knight  commander  of  the 
Court  of  Honor,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Mystic 
Shrine..  With  all  the  versatile  interests  indicated  by 
these  relations,  Doctor  Budd’s  real  hobby  is  reading 
and  study.  He  possesses  one  of  the  best  professional 
and  private  libraries  in  the  state,  and  has  long 
been  both  a reader  and  collector  of  books,  has  spent 
a great  deal  of  money  in  the  collection  of  authentic 
rare  editions  and  any  book  lover  would  be  delighted 
to  own  his  splendid  collection  of  de  luxe  editions. 

In  1882  Doctor  Budd  married  Margaret  Carance 
of  Fayette,  Michigan.  Mrs.  Budd  died  October  28, 
1913.  There  is  one  daughter  living,  Leila  Mar- 
guerite Budd,  who  has  spent  one  year  in  study  in 
Switzerland,  two  years  at  National  Park,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  and  is  now  at  Radcliff  College  in 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

Frederick  Weyerhaeuser.  To  some  men  the 
means  and  methods  through  which  they  secure 
wealth  and  achieve  prominence  bear  but  a small 
part  in  their  scheme  of  life,  their  motto  being  that 
the  end  justifies  the  means,  but  such  was  not  the 
case  with  the  late  Frederick  Weyerhaeuser,  who  was 
known  all  over  the  world  through  his  vast  lumber 
interests,  in  which  he  was  a financial  power.  With 
unlimited  opportunities  for  advancement,  it  is  possi- 


ble for  almost  any  well  balanced  individual  to  attain 
a degree  of  prominence  in  the  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity or  country,  but  the  facts  of  history  demon- 
strate that  in  the  stern  contest  for  life’s  prizes,  deter- 
mination, unflagging  industry,  courage  and  patience 
are  the  qualities  that  prove  of  prime  importance. 
Otherwise  the  life  history  of  Frederick  Weyerhaeu- 
ser might  have  been  different  and  far  less  interest- 
ing and  instructive. 

In  the  little  village  of  Niedersaulheim,  Germany, 
just  south  of  Mainz,  in  the  Valley  of  the  Rhine, 
Frederick  Weyerhaeuser  was  born,  November  21, 
1834.  In  that  neighborhood  many  of  the  name  had 
lived  and  died  through  generations  before  Freder- 
ick Weyerhaeuser  came  upon  the  scene  of  life,  one 
of  a family  of  eleven  children  born  to  John  Weyer- 
haeuser and  wife,  and  the  only  son  to  reach  matur- 
ity. The  only  record  of  school  attendance  relates 
to  two  years  of  childhood,  for  he  was  but  eight 
years  old  when  his  help  was  required  in  the  tilling 
of  the  home  farm.  As  early  as  1849  some  members 
of  the  family  had  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  from  their  favorable  reports  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania other  members  followed  in  1852,  Frederick 
Weyerhaeuser  being  a member  of  the  second  body 
of  colonists.  An  uncle,  who  was  in  the  brewing 
business  at  Northeast,  a village  fifteen  miles  from 
Erie,  Pennsylvania,  offered  employment  to  his  young 
kinsman  and  the  latter  remained  at  work  in  the 
brewery  for  two  years,  and  then  engaged  with  a 
farmer  for  a year,  accepting  gladly  wages  of  $10  a 
month.  Honest  industry  marked  everything  he  did, 
but  personal  satisfaction  did  not  follow,  because 
as  he  grew  older  he  began  to  develop  that  clear 
visioned,  keen  -business  ability  that  demanded  an 
opportunity  and  that  later  made  him  such  a power 
and  brought  such  unparalleled  business  success. 

When  he  reached  manhood  he  came  into  posses- 
sion of  a little  capital,  his  share  from  the  sale  of 
the  old  German  home  farm,  and  with  this,  in  1856, 
he  left  Pennsylvania  and  went  to  Rock  Island,  Illi- 
nois, where  a construction  company  was  then  en- 
gaged in  building  the  Rock  Island-Peoria,  now  the 
Chicago,  Rock  Island  & Pacific  Railroad.  For  a 
short  time  he  worked  for  this  company  and  then 
secured  what  was  more  congenial  employment,  in 
a sawmill  which  was  owned  and  operated  at  Rock 
Island  by  Mead,  Smith  & Marsh.  Here  he  loaded 
lumber,  and  other  duties  were  soon  given  him  and 
he  was  required  to  keep  account,  as  tallyman,  of 
the  daily  output  from  the  one  rotary  and  the  one 
mulay  saw  of  the  establishment.  So  accurate  were 
his  reports  and  so  faithful  his  service  that  the  firm 
took  notice  of  his  efficiency  and  in  the  course  of 
time  Mr.  Marsh  gave  him  added  responsibility  by 
placing  him  in  charge  of  the  lumber  yard  and  local 
sales  field.  In  December,  1857,  when  Mead,  Smith  & 
Marsh  opened  a lumber  yard  at  Coal  Valley,  Illinois, 
to  which  point  the  railroad  had  been  completed,  the 
young  German  had  so  won  the  confidence  of  his 
employers  that  they  appointed  him  manager  of  the 
new  enterprise,  and  this,  perhaps,  might  be  called 
the  great  opportune  period  of  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser’s 
career. 

When  the  lumber  firm,  in  1858,  found  itself  in 
financial  straits,  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser  took  over  the 
mill  then  standing  idle  at  Rock  Island,  for  a small 
venture  of  his.  own,  buying  a raft  of  logs  at  Daven- 
port which  he  subsequently  was  able  to  deliver  at 
Coal  Valley  with  profit,  while  by  1859  he  had  be- 
come interested  profitably  also  in  lumber,  handling 
of  grain  and  in  building  construction.  When  the 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1795 


affairs  of  Mead,  Smith  & Marsh  were  wound  up 
and  the  mill  was  for  sale,  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser  and 
his  brother-in-law,  F.  C.  A.  Denkmann,  as  partners, 
invested  in  the  mill  property,  paying  $500  in  cash 
on  its  price  of  $3,000.  in  two  years  this  indebted- 
ness was  entirely  cleared  and  the  capacity  was  largely 
increased.  In  1871  a second  mill  was  bought,  at 
Rock  Island,  Mr.  Denkmann  in  the  meanwhile  being 
in  charge  of  the  mills,  while  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser, 
from  the  very  first,  looked  largely  after  the  log  sup- 
ply, gradually  gaining  an  intimate  knowledge  of 
standing  timber,  of  titles,  of  timber  estimating  and 
of  logging,  in  fact  becoming  proficient  in  the  lumber 
business  from  end  to  end,  from  stump  to  consumer. 
As  was  the  case  with  the  most  of  the  manufactur- 
ers along  the  Mississippi  River  in  the  early  years 
of  mill  operation,  this  firm  secured  their  raw  mate- 
rial from  the  river  loggers,  but  as  the  number  of 
mills  and  their  capacity  increased,  operators  began 
to  consider  the  value  of  the  white  pine  forests  of 
the  North  and  the  desirability  and  wisdom  of  sup- 
plying their  own  logs,  and  among  these  far  sighted 
men  was  Frederick  Weyerhaeuser.  In  1868  the  firm 
began  to  invest  in  pine  timberlands  on  the  Chippewa 
River  and  its  tributaries,  and  this  action  was  soon 
imitated  by  other  concerns,  and  the  floating  of  the 
logs  and  the  establishing  of  their  ownership  on  the 
broad  rivers  became  a very  serious  and  complex 
question  for  the  manufacturers.  Conferences  were 
called  at  frequent  intervals,  but  no  definite  method 
of  relief  was  adopted  until  December  28,  1870,  when, 
at  a meeting  in  Chicago,  attended  by  Mr.  Weyer- 
haeuser and  other  manufacturers,  the  suggestion  was 
made  that  united  action  be  taken  to  purchase  pine 
logs  ’on  the  Chippewa  and  to  drive  them  into  Beef 
Slough,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  where  they 
could  be  sorted  and  thence  rafted  to  the  parties  in- 
terested. The  result  of  this  important  meeting  was 
the  forming  of  the  Mississippi  River  Logging  Com- 
pany. The  business  carried  on  by  this  company  at 
first,  for  want  of  proper  management,  did  not  prove 
entirely  satisfactory  and  a reorganization  was  con- 
sequently effected,  and  on  September  5,  1872,  Mr. 
Weyerhaeuser  was  elected  president,  and  in  1873 
the  company  assumed  control  of  the  Beef  Slough 
boom.  In  1881  it  absorbed  the  Chippewa  Lumber  & 
Boom  Company  at  Chippewa  Falls,  and  in  the  same 
year  was  organized  the  Chippewa  Logging  Com- 
pany. The  operations  of  these  companies  were  vast 
in  volume  and  the  time  came  when  many  delicate 
questions  came  to  the  front  to  be  solved  involving 
absolute  integrity  and  faithfulness  as  well  as  hard 
work.  A committee  was  appointed  and  the  work 
was  mainly  done  by  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser,  chosen  be- 
cause of  the  implicit  confidence  placed  in  him  by 
other  millmen  as  to  his  ability  and  absolute  fair- 
ness, and  this  was  the  estimate,  throughout  a long 
life  in  association  with  other  men  of  capital  and 
importance,  that  was  placed  on  his  every  endeavor. 

In  the  meantime  the  Weyerhaeuser  & Denkmann 
interests  at  Rock  Island  and  other  points  had  been 
growing  and,  on  account  of  being  so  ably  handled, 
proved  uniformly  successful.  An  important  venture 
was  the  organization  of  the  Rock  Island  Lumber  & 
Manufacturing  Company,  with  a branch  at  St.  Louis. 
The  employing  of  labor  in  both  cities  in  connection 
with  these  enterprises  provides  for  the  maintenance 
of  thousands  of  people. 

So  vast  were  the  many  interests  in  which  Mr.  Wey- 
erhaeuser was  concerned  and  of  which  he  was  at 
least  partial  owner,  that  their  aggregate  value  may 
not  be  accounted  in  a paper  of  this  kind,  more  or 


less  limited  as  to  space.  In  the  lumber  industry, 
in  particular,  his  close  connection  with  everything 
of  large  importance  is  acknowledged,  while  to  the 
world  at  large  his  supremacy  in  this  line  will  always 
be  remembered.  The  first  great  extension  of  the 
Weyerhaeuser  institutions  was  in  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota,  having  plants  at  Chippewa  Falls,  Hay- 
ward, Lake  Nebagamon,  Rice  Lake,  Shell  Lake  and 
other  points  in  Wisconsin,  and  at  Cloquet,  Little 
Falls  and  Minneapolis,  and  in  late  years  at  Virginia, 
Minnesota,  where  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser  was  identified 
with  the  Virginia  & Rainy  Lake  Company.  His 
southern  investments  were  never  heavy  as  compared 
to  those  in  other  sections,  although  he  and  associ- 
ates secured  large  tracts  of  yellow  pine  timber  in 
Louisiana,  Arkansas  and  Mississippi,  and  in  the 
wake  of  their  purchases  came  the  founding  of  manu- 
facturing plants  which  benefited  the  section.  The 
Northland  Pine  Company,  now  operating  a mill  in 
Minneapolis,  was  organized  in  1899 ; later  came  the 
organization  of  the  Humbird  Lumber  Company,  at 
Sandpoint,  Idaho,  and  later  the  Potlatch  Lumber 
Company.  About  that  time  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railway  Company  had  brought  to  Mr.  Weyerhaeu- 
ser’s attention  the  large  acreage  of  standing  timber 
that  it  had  for  sale,  and  after  he  had  investigated 
the  situation  he  became  interested,  seeing  its  great 
probable  future  value.  In  1900  the  Weyerhaeuser 
Timber  Company,  the  greatest  of  all  the  corpora- 
tions in  which  he  was  ever  interested,  was  organ- 
ized and  acquired  900,000  acres  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  holdings  in  Western  Washington.  Mr. 
Weyerhaeuser  had  constant  faith  in  the  value  of 
standing  timber  and  to  the  above  large  holdings 
continued  to  add  both  in  Washington  and  Oregon, 
its  estimated  amount  in  Washington  being  $1,500,- 
000,  and  in  Oregon  450,000  acres.  His  investments 
aside  from  lumber  were  small  in  comparison, 
although  heavy  for  the  average  capitalist,  his  finan- 
cial interests  connecting  him  with  the  Merchants 
National  Bank  of  St.  Paul,  the  Continental  and 
Commercial  Bank  of  Chicago,  the  Third  National 
Bank  of  St.  Louis,  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Duluth,  and  he  was  on  the  directing  board  of  the 
Great  Northern  and  the  Chicago  & Great  Western 
railway  companies.  His  activity  of  mind  and  resist- 
less energy  constantly  urged  him  to  effort  and,  pos- 
sessing, as  he  did,  the  caution  and  sagacity  of  a wise 
business  man,  he  made  no  mistakes.  He  by  no  means 
demanded  to  be  a leader  in  the  countless  enterprises 
in  which  at  one  time  or  another  he  was  concerned, 
but  was  one  naturally  and  was  so  accepted  by  his 
associates  whose  trust  in  his  integrity  was  never 
disturbed  nor  their  confidence  in  him  disabused.  In 
1871  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser  moved  to  Rock  Island,  but 
with  the  extension  of  his  northern  and  western 
operations  some  years  later,  in  April,  1891,  he  re- 
moved to  St.  Paul,  which  continued  to  be  his  sum- 
mer home,  while  Pasadena,  California,  for  many 
seasons,  was  his  winter  place  of  residence,  and  it 
was  there,  on  April  4,  1914,  that  he  passed  out  of 
life. 

Mr.  Weyerhaeuser  was  married  October  11,  j S57, 
to  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth  Bloedel,  who  was  born  in 
the  same  village  as  himself  but  who  had  come  to  the 
United  States  with  her  parents  when  a child.  They 
were  permitted  many  years  of  happy  association, 
during  which  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser  had  the  loving  sup- 
port of  a true  helpmate,  one  frugal  in  his  poverty 
and  equal  to  every  social  demand  in  his  affluence, 
and  the  two  years  he  survived  the  bereavement  of 
her  death  told  sadly  on  his  health  and  spirits.  Their 


1796 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


seven  children,  all  born  at  Rock  Island,  survive : 
John  P.,  who  is  a resident  of  St.  Paul,  has  large 
lumber  interests ; Charles  A.,  who  is  also  a lumber 
capitalist,  is  especially  concerned  with  the  Idaho 
properties ; Rudolph  M.,  who  has  charge  of  the 
Northern  Lumber  Company,  at  Cloquet,  Minnesota; 
Frederick  E.,  who,  for  the  past  ten  years,  was  his 
father’s  active  representative  in  business ; Elise,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  William  Bancroft  Hill,  a mem- 
ber of  the  faculty  of  Vassar  College;  Margaret, 
who  is  the  wife  of  J.  R.  Jewett,  professor  of  Semitic 
languages  at  the  University  of  Chicago;  and  Apol- 
lonia,  who  is  the  wife  of  S.  S.  Davis,  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  Weyerhaeuser  interests  at  Rock  Isl- 
and. It  is  worthy  of  mention  and  illustrative  of  the 
sturdy  principles  of  Mr.  Weyerhaeuser  that  while 
his  children  were  liberally  educated,  he  insisted  that 
his  daughters  should  be  trained  in  household  duties 
and  that  his  sons  should  serve  an  apprenticeship  in 
actual  lumber  work  to  make  them  practical  and  effi- 
cient. Thus  these  children  of  the  multi-millionaire 
can  each  provide  for  himself  the  necessities  of  life 
in  the  most  practical  way. 

Mr.  Weyerhaeuser’s  remarkable  business  success 
was  but  the  natural  outcome  of  his  indefatigable 
industry  combined  with  his  character  of  absolute 
justice  and  his  comprehension  and  practice  of  the 
Christian  virtues  with  which  he  had  been  impressed 
in  childhood  by  a good  mother.  He  was  confirmed 
in  the  German  Reformed  Church  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  and  throughout  life  unostentatiously 
practiced  its  creed.  There  are  many  who  remem- 
ber, as  a rare  privilege,  a sight  of  the  old  German 
Bible  that  lay  convenient  to  his  hand  when  an  hour 
of  leisure  in  his  busy  life  gave  opportunity  to  read 
its  sacred  pages.  Those  who  knew  him  in  his  home 
and  social  circle  loved  him  for  his  kindness  and 
simplicity  and  this  kindness,  mixed  with  fitmness, 
he  carried  into  all  business  relations  and  brought 
him  the  regard  and  esteem  that  he  valued  at  all 
times  and  the  personal  affection  to  which  he  readily 
responded.  Among  those  who  lamented  his  death 
as  a personal  loss  were  men  of  the  highest  station 
in  life  as  well  as  the  humblest  of  his  employes  and 
their  loving  testimony  was  the  same.  He  was 
always  interested  in  the  success  of  young  men  and 
gave  generous  encouragement  to  all.  Mr.  Weyer- 
haeuser will  always  be  recalled  when  the  story  of 
American  development  is  told,  for  the  thousand  in- 
fluences that  radiated  from  his  personality  gave  in- 
spiration to  others,  and  the  cleavage  of  his  path 
through  the  forests  of  the  great  Northwest  marks 
an  epoch  in  industrial  annals. 

Henry  Anson  Castle  is  the  son  of  a New  England 
family,  but  a native  of  Illinois,  born  at  Columbus, 
Adams  County,  August  22,  1841.  His  parents,  Tim- 
othy Hunt  Castle  and  Julia  (Boyd)  Castle,  were 
born  in  Vermont.  His  four  great-grandfathers, 
Timothy  Castle,  Abram  Boyd,  Jonathan  Hastings 
and  Ozias  Dix,  as  well  as  one  of  the  preceding 
generation,  Zephaniah  Hatch,  were  Revolutionary 
soldiers.  His  elementary  education  was  supplemented 
by  a course  at  McKendree  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1862,  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M. 
being  subsequently  conferred  upon  him.  Close  upon 
his  graduation,  the  Civil  war  being  in  progress,  he 
enlisted  as  a private  in  the  Seventy-third  Illinois 
Infantry  Regiment.  Four  months  later  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  post  of  sergeant  major.  With  his 
regiment,  which  belonged  to  Sheridan’s  division  of 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  he  participated  in 


some  stirring  service,  which  included  the  Perryville 
campaign,  the  advance  on  Bowling  Green  and  Nash- 
ville and  the  battle  of  Stone  River  (Murfreesboro). 
In  the  latter  encounter  he  was  so  seriously  wounded 
as  to  necessitate  his  discharge  from  service.  Upon 
his  recovery,  however,  he  proceeded  to  raise  a com- 
pany for  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Illi- 
nois. He  was  unanimously  elected  captain  of  this 
company,  which  he  commanded  throughout  its 
service. 

As  a congenial  field  of  professional  activity  Cap- 
tain Castle  adopted  the  law.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  and  began 
to  practice  at  Quincy.  He  was  at  later  dates  ad- 
mitted to  practice  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Minne- 
sota, and  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  District  of 
Columbia.  In  connection  with  his  legal  studies  and 
practice  he  also,  at  intervals  from  1864  to  1866, 
wrote  editorially  for  the  .Quincy  Daily  Whig.  But 
his  army  experience  had  undermined  his  health, 
and  the  appearance  of  the  serious  symptom  of  lung 
hemorrhage  determined  him  to  give  up  his  profes- 
sional work  and  seek  the  bracing  air  of  Minnesota. 
In  July,  1866,  he  arrived  at  St.  Paul,  where  he 
resolved  eventually  to  make  his  home  and  engage  in 
business.  His  period  of  recuperation,  however,  he 
spent  in  Anoka  and  St.  Cloud,  during  most  of  which 
time  he  was  connected  as  an  editorial  writer  with 
the  Anoka  Union. 

It  was  in  1868,  when  he  settled  permanently  at 
St.  Paul,  with  arrangements  already  consummated 
for  opening  a wholesale  stove  depot  for  the  firm  of 
Comstock,  Castle  and  Company,  of  Quincy,  of  which 
he  had  become  a member.  His  connection  with  the 
Anoka  Union  he  retained  for  three  or  four  years 
after  leaving  St.  Cloud,  and  for  six  years  he  suc- 
cessfully conducted  the  stove  enterprise.  In  1874 
he  resumed  his  chosen  profession  of  the  law,  with 
his  office  at  St.  Paul. 

In  1876  a stock  company  was  organized  which 
effected  a purchase  of  the  St.  Paul  Dispatch  from 
H.  P.  Hall.  The  Dispatch  was  made  a republican 
organ,  and  Captain  Castle,  having  become  known 
as  an  earnest  exponent  of  that  party,  was  made 
president  of  the  company  and  editor  of  the  paper. 
With  the  exception  of  a short  time  in  1880  he  main- 
tained this  dual  relation  to  the  Dispatch  until  1885; 
indeed,  during  the  last  four  years  of  that  period 
he  was  its  sole  proprietor  as  well  as  its  editor-in- 
chief.  Meantime  he  had  become  much  interested  in 
real  estate,  and  in  favor  of  this  line  of  enterprise 
he  abandoned  his  journalistic  career  in  1886,  turn- 
ing his  whole  attention  to  his  new  interests,  which 
were  chiefly  in  suburban  property. 

Captain  Castle  has  held  a large  number  of  public 
offices.  Few  men  have  come  into  touch  with  their 
community  through  more  numerous  and  varied  ave- 
nues. He  was  a member  of  the  Minnesota  State 
Legislature  in  1873,  and  figured  prominently  as  the 
champion  of  Hon.  C.  K.  Davis,  in  the  campaign 
which  resulted  in  his  election  as  governer.  Two 
years  later  Governor  Davis  appointed  Captain  Castle 
adjutant  general  of  Minnesota.  In  1883  he  was 
appointed  oil  inspector  by  Governor  Hubbard.  The 
latter  position  he  held  for  four  years. 

In  February  of  1892  President  Harrison  appointed 
him  postmaster  of  St.  Paul,  and  such  was  the  general 
recognition  of  his  party  claims  as  a republican  that 
no  other  candidates  opposed  themselves  to  him.  He 
held  this  office  until  November  1,  1896,  although  this 
date  was  eight  months  later  than  the  expiration  of 
his  four  years’  term,  and  four-fifths  of  his  service 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


1797 


had  been  under  a democratic  administration.  His 
able  and  devoted  service  as  postmaster  paved  the 
way  to  his  appointment  by  President  McKinley,  on 
May  17,  1897,  as  auditor  for  the  postoffice  department 
at  Washington.  He  removed  to  the  national  capital, 
where  he  remained  in  charge  of  this  important  bureau 
for  nearly  seven  years.  He  was  the  head  of  an 
office  with  seven  divisions  and  a force  of  600  clerks. 
Its  functions  embrace  the  accounting  and  settlement 
of  the  financial  transactions  of  the  vast  national  and 
international  postal  system — these  transactions  aggre- 
gating three  billions  of  dollars  annually. 

After  holding  this  position  longer  than  any  of  his  . 
predecessors,  Auditor  Castle  resigned  in  October, 
1903,  but  retained  the  office  until  the  appointment  of 
his  successor,  Hon.  J.  J.  McCardy,  of  St.  Paul, 
January  23,  1904.  On  his  retirement  the  comptroller 
of  the  treasury,  who  presides  over  the  appellant 
tribunal  of  the  entire  governmental  accounting  sys- 
tem, sent  the  following  official  tribute  to  his 
efficiency : 

Treasury  Department, 

Office  of  Comptroller  of  the  Treasury, 
Washington,  January  26,  1904. 
Hon.  Henry  A.  Castle, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

My  dear  Mr.  Castle : I am  in  receipt  of  your 

esteemed  favor  of  the  22nd  instant,  announcing  your 
retirement  from  the  office  of  auditor  for  the  post- 
office  department.  I note  your  kindly  expression 
relative  to  the  intercourse  between  us,  both  officially 
and  personally,  during  your  long  incumbency  of  the 
office  of  auditor. 

It  was  with  the  most  profound  regret  that  I 
learned  several  months  since  that  you  had  tendered 
your  resignation  to  take  effect  upon  the  appointment 
and  qualification  of  a successor. 

If  the  President  had  known,  as  I know,  the  diffi- 
culties with  which  you  have  been  surrounded  during 
your  term  of  office,  and  the  fidelity  and  integrity 
with  which  you  have  performed  the  many  arduous 
duties  thereof,  I feel  confident  that  it  would  only 
have  been  for  a consideration  of  your  health  that  he 
would  have  consented  to  your  resignation.  Good 
auditors  for  the  postoffice  department  are  not  made 
but  must  be  born.  Even  though  one  could  be  made 
the  process  would  be  long  and  in  the  making  public 
interests  would  necessarily  suffer  more  or  less. 

I shall  always  recall  with  pleasure  your  intelligent 
zeal  for  the  institution  and  carrying  out  of  real  re- 
forms in  your  office,  and  the  cheerful  assistance  you 
have  always  given  me  in  any  matter  connected 
therewith.  There  is  no  officer  in  the  government 
service  who  is  possessed  of  more  information  as  to 
your  true  worth  to  the  Government,  nor  one  who 
will  realize  the  loss  of  its  being  deprived  of  your 
services  more  keenly  than  myself. 

I trust  your  successor  in  office,  who  is,  I under- 
stand, your  personal  friend,  will  possess  the  same 
qualities  of  head  and  heart  which  have  endeared  you 
to  those  with  whom  you  have  come  in  contact. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  a happy  and  successful 
future  which  ought  to  be  in  store  for  you,  I sub- 
scribe myself.  Your  true  friend, 

R.  J.  Tracewell. 

Thus,  for  a period  of  nearly  twelve  years, 'Captain 
Castle  occupied  positions  of  great  responsibility  in 
connection  with  the  mail  service,  and  was  brought 
into  relations  with  all  its  numerous  branches.  He 
thus  acquired  a theoretical  and  practical  knowledge 


of  its  operations,  which  has  caused  his  services  to  be 
in  constant  demand  since  his  resignation  from  office, 
both  as  an  advocate  and  a writer.  He  has  appeared 
frequently  before  the  department  and  before  com- 
mittees of  Congress,  since  1904,  as  the  representative 
of  associations  or  individuals  having  matters  to  urge 
for  consideration.  He  has  also  written  voluminously 
on  live  postal  subjects  for  all  the  leading  magazines, 
including  The  North  American  Review,  Harpers’ 
Weekly,  The  Independent,  The  Saturday  Evening 
Post,  World’s  Work,  McClure’s  Magazine  and  Col- 
lier’s Weekly. 

During  the  past  six  years  Captain  Castle  has  been 
principally  engaged  in  developing  suburban  property 
at  North  St.  Paul,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
founders,  and  where  he  maintains,  on  the  shores  of 
Silver  Lake,  his  summer  home. 

Apart  from  remunerative  offices,  Captain  Castle 
has  been  prominent  in  many  public  organizations, 
and  in  all  has  done  valuable  gratuitous  service. 
He  has  officiated  as  president  of  the  Library  Asso- 
ciation of  St.  Paul,  of  the  Minnesota  Editorial  Asso- 
ciation and  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.  He  has 
been  commander  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  Minnesota, 
department  commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  secretary 
of  the  State  Home  for  Soldiers’  Orphans,  and  for 
twelve  years  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Minnesota  Soldiers’  Home.  With  the  various 
organizations  over  which  he  has  presided  he  has 
long  been  identified  as  member  or  director  and 
continues  to  be  so  identified  with  most  of  them. 
He  is,  in  1912,  a vice  president  of  the  Minnesota 
Society,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  vice 
president  of  the  National  Society  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee. 

In  politics  Captain  Castle  has  long  been  a recog- 
nized and  respected  force  throughout  the  state.  His 
executive  ability  makes  him  a fine  organizer,  and 
for  nearly  ten  consecutive  years  he  was  the  most 
active  agent  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Com- 
mittee, on  which  he  served  as  chairman  in  1884, 
during  the  memorable  Blaine  and  Logan  campaign. 
His  vigorous  and  aggressive  work,  both  on  the  stump 
and  in  the  press  has  been  a potent  influence,  deter- 
mining for  good  or  ill  the  fortunes  of  many  men. 
Among  those  to  whom  he  rendered  notable  service 
may  be  mentioned  Senator  Davis,  Senator  Wash- 
burn, Senator  Nelson  and  Governor  Hubbard. 

As  an  orator  his  services  have  been  in  demand 
in  every  political  campaign  since  1866.  His  addresses 
on  Memorial  Day,  Independence  Day,  etc.,  as  well 
as  on  occasions  of  dedicating  buildings  and  monu- 
ments, editorial  and  educational  conventions,  have 
been  delivered  in  all  parts  of  Minnesota  and  in  many 
other  states. 

He  enjoys  wide  personal  acquaintance  with  the 
newspaper  fraternity  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say 
that  he  is  universally  regarded  by  its  members  with 
esteem  and  affection.  Of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  Loyal 
Legion,  also,  he  is  a cherished  comrade.  In  1897 
Captain  Castle  published  “The  Army  Mule  and  other 
War  Sketches” — a series  of  humorous  papers  which 
he  had  written  some  time  previously,  and  which  had 
been  read  at  meetings  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  This 
book  has  been  highly  approved  by  literary  critics 
and  has  had  a large  circulation. 

On  April  18,  1865,  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  Captain 
Castle  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  W.  Jaquess. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  this  union.  Of  the  three 
sons,  the  eldest,  Charles  W.  Castle,  now  captain  in 
the  infantry,  U.  S.  A.,  graduated  in  1894  from  the 
West  Point  Military  Academy  and  rendered  efficient 


1798 


HISTORY  OF  MINNESOTA 


service  as  aide-de-camp  to  Major  General  Brooke 
during  his  terms  of  duty  as  governor-general  of 
Porto  Rico  and  Cuba.  He  also  saw  active  service 
in  the  Philippines,  and  for  three  years,  ending 
August,  1912,  was  on  duty  as  paymaster  at  army 
headquarters,  St.  Paul.  The  second  son,  Harry  J. 
Castle,  died  in  1901,  and  the  third  son,  James  T. 
Castle,  died  in  1903.  Mrs.  Margaret  Jaquess  Castle 
died  in  St.  Paul,  November  12,  1908.  Of  the  daugh- 
ters, Helen  S.  and  Mary  J.  reside  with  their  father 
at  St.  Paul;  Margaret  married  Capt.  E.  R.  Stone, 
U.  S.  A.,  present  station  Fort  Lincoln,  North  Dakota; 
Anne  married  Frederick  C.  Christy,  of  Phoenix, 
Arizona. 

When  Captain  Castle  was  appointed  postmaster  in 
1892  the  St.  Paul  Globe,  the  democratic  organ,  made 
this  editorial  comment: 

“There  is  no  criticism  to  be  passed  on  the  Presi- 
dent’s selection  of  Henry  A.  Castle  for  the  St.  Paul 
postmastership,  and  he  adds  one  more  to  the  number 
of  very  satisfactory  incumbents  of  that  important 
office.  Captain  Castle  in  the  old  days  used  to  be  a 
newspaper  man,  and  he  generously  gave  many  of 
the  best  years  of  his  life  to  the  education  and 
enlightenment  of  the  public  in  the  ranks  of  the 
craft  whose  members  labor  not  for  their  own  profit, 
but  for  the  welfare  of  others.  When  he  felt  that 
he  had  made  all  the  sacrifices  that  could  be  reasonably 
expected  of  him,  and  that  his  duty  called  him  else- 
where, he  went  into  bigger  things.  Here  again  his 
abilities  have  won  him  success  and  he  is  counted 
among  the  first  men  of  this  community  in  character, 
attainments,  capacity  and  acquisitions.  Added  to  this 
he  has  many  charms  of  manner  and  mind.  He  is  an 
agreeable  companion,  an  effective  and  graceful 
speaker,  either  on  the  rostrum  or  at  the  dinner 
table,  and  at  all  times  a courteous  and  interesting 
gentleman.  He  will  bring  to  his  new  position  the 
fruits  of  a long  training  and  experience  in  just  those 
departments  which  will  be  of  value  to  him  now. 
He  has  been  closely  identified  with  almost  all  the 
movements  for  the  past  decade  or  two  for  the 
advancement  of  St.  Paul,  and  is  in  keen  sympathy 
with  the  spirit  which  has  animated  them.  He  is  as 
ambitious  as  is  anyone  to  see  the  city  among  the 
foremost,  not  only  in  material  prosperity,  but  also 
whatever  makes  for  the  comfort  and  convenience 


of  its  people.  An  efficient  mail  service  is  one  of  these 
things,  and  with  his  business  skill  and  energy  he 
will  secure  it  for  us  if  anyone  can.  The  Globe 
congratulates  Captain  Castle  on  his  promotion  and 
our  citizens  on  the  very  wise  choice  which  has  been 
made.” 

The  forty-ninth  annual  convention  of  the  Minne- 
sota Editorial  Association  was  held  February  20, 
1915.  Captain  Castle,  who  is  one  of  the  four  or  five 
survivors  who  organized  the  association  in  1867, 
was  present  as  an  honorary  member.  He  was  re- 
ferred to  in  substance  as  follows  in  remarks  at  the 
banquet  in  the  Hotel  St.  Paul  by  Hon.  Frank  A. 
Day,  editor  of  the  Fairmont  Sentinel,  former  lieu- 
tenant-governor, former  secretary  to  Gov.  John  A. 
Johnson,  etc. : 

“None  of  the  conspicuous  editorial  workers  of  the 
state  has  ever  served  it  with  more  single-hearted 
devotion,  unswerving  loyalty  and  instinctive  good 
judgment  than  did  Capt.  Henry  A.  Castle,  whom  we 
rejoice  to  welcome  here  this  evening.  For  nearly 
nine  years,  as  editor  of  the  Dispatch,  he  wielded  a 
powerful  influence  on  the  politics  of  Minnesota.  His 
paper  was  vigorous,  virile,  fearless  and  aggressive. 
It  made  and  unmade  Governors,  Senators  and  Con- 
gressmen. It  courageously  battled  against  social, 
financial  and  political  oppression.  It  was  generally 
right  and  it  was  always  honest.  Hence  its  unmatched 
political  influence  at  that  period. 

“Captain  Castle,  in  the  Dispatch,  first  recognized 
the  value  of  the  ‘concentrated  impact’  as  he  termed 
it,  of  the  editorial  opinion  of  the  country  press. 
He  encouraged  and  aided  in  the  concentration.  In 
several  strenuous  campaigns  he  showed  by  tabula- 
tions, name  by  name,  that  ninety  per  cent  of  the 
Republican  state  papers  held  the  same  view  as  the 
Dispatch  concerning  a policy  or  a candidate— and 
the  effect  was  irresistable.  He  thus  stimulated  the 
independence  and  the  self-respect  of  the  state  editors, 
consolidating  a power  which  remains  in  their  hands 
to  this  day,  and  has  led  them  to  their  present  per- 
sonal leadership  in  public  affairs.  We  of  the  suc- 
ceeding editorial  generations  are  glad  to  acknowledge 
our  debt  to  him  and  proudly  exalt  our  friend  to  the 
position  of  perpetual,  unofficial,  paternal  advisor  to 
the  craft  and  Grand  Old  Man  of  Minnesota  Jour- 
nalism.’’ 


r 


. 


977.6  qC353M  v.3  527918 
Gas"cle 


DATE 

ISSUED  TO 

